Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ,

Perhaps I’ve shared this story before…  In a neighboring city where I grew up there was a bakery.  Pechter’s Bakery had been making fresh bread in the city of Harrison for a century before my parents took me there.  The bakery itself took up most of the city block.  Although a small retail store was on one corner most of the baked goods were delivered by a fleet of bread trucks.   The store was usually crowded and simply impossible to enter on Saturdays and before the big holidays. 

Although I can picture the wire shelves that would hold monstrous loaves of Russian Rye and recall the sound of the vintage bread slicing machine on the counter, what stands out most for me was located outside the shop.  As you walked along the sidewalk on the one side of the colossal building you passed under giant vents.  We would always stop and breathe… breathe in the amazing smell of fresh baked bread.  It brought such joy and made us hurry inside the shop with anticipation of the joy that was to be found within its walls.

That wonderful smell that wafted through the neighborhood brought with it an invitation – come inside and see the goodness; come inside and be filled with the joy of fresh bread.

How might this image inform the way that we ‘Share the Bread’ at St. James?  What invitations do we share beyond the church walls with our friends and family that say, “Come inside and be filled with joy”?   How often do we respond to the invitation ourselves?  How often do we come to worship and taste the goodness of God?

In just a week’s time, St. James is offering a wonderful opportunity for us to go, as a community, out into our neighborhood and serve.  Our Third Annual Servant Event has something for everyone, every age can be involved.  There are projects that require the physical labor of cleaning and raking and there are projects that involve sorting and packing.  For those who have a hard time getting around, there are things for you to do right at church that will have an impact on the lives of those outside our walls.  Together, as Christ’s body in this place, we will share the active love of God.  Like the aroma from Pechter’s bakery, our actions will be inviting others to experience with us the joy that is found in Christ. 

Are you ready to help share the bread of life on October 2? Are you ready to have your own joy increased?  Follow the link on this website (see sidebar) for more information and to sign up today.  I look forward to seeing you in church on Sunday,

In Christ,

Pastor Walt

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ,

I have said for many years that if you want a sure way to grow in your own understanding of God and the Bible and have your faith challenged to grow then you should think seriously about teaching Sunday Church School. 

This truth comes from my personal experience of long ago.  When I was in high school, the church where my family attended didn’t have much for youth to do on a Sunday morning.  There wasn’t a youth group that met or even a closet designated for youth in which to hang out.  Wanting to do something (weekly attendance at church was our family’s expectation) I offered to help with the nursery program.  A year later I found myself (a tenth grader) teaching first grade Sunday Church School.  It was an absolutely wonderful time of learning. 

In order to teach bible lessons, I myself had to pick up scripture and not only read it but try to apply its truths in a way that children could understand.  Fortunately the materials were helpful but it remained a constant challenge.   Another challenge came from the children themselves.  It wasn’t their behavior, which was surprisingly good, but rather their questions.  I’ll never forget one Sunday after Easter when a little boy, who had just lost his father, asked me if his daddy would be coming back just like Jesus did.  The question caused me to examine what resurrection is all about – a process that led to a strengthening of my own hope. 

This Sunday we will be praying for our teachers, facilitators, Bible Study leaders, assistants, and everyone who has made the commitment to work in Christian Education at St. James.   We will be asking for God’s strength, guidance, imagination, and enthusiasm for their important work.  St. James is blessed to have folks who are willing to make a commitment to growing the faith of children, youth, and adults.  I am grateful for the leadership of our Education and Youth Coordinator, Jill Schoen and the Christian Education Committee who provide critical leadership to our program.  If you would like to help out with any of the many educational offerings please be sure to contact Jill and she will be happy to find a place where your gifts can be used.  Again, if you want to grow in your own faith you might want to give it some serious thought.     

You are invited to come to worship at both 8:30 and 11:00 and share your appreciation and support for our educators.  Sunday will also be the first day of classes for children, youth, and adults.  Sunday Church School (G.A.P.P. – Grace And Promise People) will begin at 9:45 am.   Our Adult Education program will begin at 10:00 am with a special program led by Pastor Will on food/theology.  

When it comes to matters of faith, the importance of being lifelong learners cannot be overstated.  Being involved in a study, teaching a class, reading scripture with a desire to have God’s Word speak to us… these are all good ways of developing our own discipleship.  I look forward to learning and growing with you as together we walk along this path God has placed us on.

in Christ,

Pastor Walt

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ,

This is not a repeat of the email that you just received but rather a separate invitation.

As we approach the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our nation, many are reflecting back upon the events of that horrible day in our shared memory.  Most likely you can tell where you were when you first heard the news of the towers being hit.  For me, I was in my office (an hour commute away from ground zero) when my secretary came in and told me that a plane crashed into one of the Trade Center towers.  Quickly everything seemed to shift into another gear – another tower was hit.  Cell phones stopped working.  People who missed trains and meetings in the towers started to show up at church.  Within two hours we had received our first tragic call.   In the coming days we clung tightly to our faith in God.  Through fears and funerals and indescribable grief we lit the Christ candle and worshiped….

And we were joined in our worship by Christians around the country and globe who were also trying to make sense of the horror.  Candles were lit at St. James in those early days of our national tragedy as this congregation gathered in the presence of Christ for special worship.  Although the attacks were on the east coast, the grief was felt by our whole nation.  Families were directly and indirectly affected and changed by the events which were unimaginable by most of us.

Ten years later, St. James is offering a worship service of remembrance and hope.  On Sunday night at 7:30 pm we will gather for worship.  Once again, candles will be lit as we seek God’s presence.  We’ll pray and sing hymns of faith.  Together we will reflect not only upon what happened but also upon God’s abiding presence in each day of our lives.

This second email comes as an invitation to you, your family, and your neighbors to come to this special time of worship.

As always, I look forward to seeing you in worship,

in Christ,

Pastor Walt

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ,

This week has been one of new starts in my family.  Both of my boys began new school years at new schools.  New bus schedules have generated new bed times.  If this has been the experience in your household then you know how exciting and tiring it all can be.  I am looking for the weekend and a time for our batteries to be recharged.

This week’s email comes in two parts – this one will focus on this coming Sunday’s Rally Day celebration; the next one you receive will focus on St. James’ 9/11 Remembrance. 

With a sense of anticipation and joy I look forward to Sunday’s Rally Day.  By now you should have received our mid-August Rally Day mailing which included tickets for our “Share the Talent Raffle”.   [If you reply to this email by noon tomorrow – September 10 – I will set aside an additional five tickets for you to pick up and use on Sunday].  Donations for the “no-cost” raffle continue to come in and we have over 100 items.  This generosity of sharing is consistent with this year’s worship/education theme, “Share the Bread”.  Through this raffle, we are sharing the time, talents, and treasures of each other.  We will grow as a community as we get to know and appreciate the gifts each of us has been given by God.  One of the reasons we didn’t charge any money for the tickets is that there is no price that can be placed on the joy that results when we share our lives with others in meaningful ways.  As a church we are not about fundraising – we are about sharing the gifts of God (which includes more than just dollars)so that our mission to praise God and serve others might grow. 

On Sunday we will also be sharing opportunities for you to grow in your faith.  A lot of hard work has been shared over the summer to get our remodeled G.A.P.P. (Grace and Promise People – St. James’ innovative Sunday School program) ready for another exciting year of children/youth education.   Come to the Ministry Fair in the fellowship hall and see not only the newly painted and decorated space for children but also see what is being offered for adults to grow in their faith as well.  Our newly organized Adult Education Committee has approved a year-long schedule for Adults that is truly impressive.   There will be more at the Ministry Fair as Committees and Task Forces share information and invitations for multiple ministries. 

On Sunday we will gather after our second worship (don’t forget worship is at 8:30 and 11:00 am – back to our regular schedule)  for a BBQ picnic (catered by Divine Swine), complete with games, balloons, crafts – in short, lots of fun that you won’t want to miss.

As we start another program year together, I am reminded of the blessing that St. James has been in my life and in the life of my family.  Together, God has blessed us with abundant grace.  Let us continue (even more so) to Share THE Bread (of life) with each other and beyond our doors.

Don’t forget – WORSHIP is at 8:30 and 11:00 am Sunday.

As always, I look forward to seeing you in worship,

In Christ,

Pastor Walt