Our Mission
Sharing ourselves and our faith with others...
St. James is a Christian community that welcomes all with respect for
the inherent dignity and value of every person.
We strive to enable spiritual growth through worship, education, outreach, and stewardship for
the purpose of restoring all people to unity with God and each other.
St. James is a Christian community that welcomes all with respect for
the inherent dignity and value of every person.
We strive to enable spiritual growth through worship, education, outreach, and stewardship for
the purpose of restoring all people to unity with God and each other.
People of St. James Wear Masks in Public Because....
we respect the citizens of our community.
Our masks may not protect US from the Corona Virus, but they might protect our neighbors.
Wearing a mask is an act of LOVE.
Statement by the St. James Vestry May 27, 2020
we respect the citizens of our community.
Our masks may not protect US from the Corona Virus, but they might protect our neighbors.
Wearing a mask is an act of LOVE.
Statement by the St. James Vestry May 27, 2020
Holy Gospel for Sunday, November 1, 2020
ALL SAINTS' DAY Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
************************
October 29, 2020
A MESSAGE FROM FR. MAC BROWN
Friends,
Well, we have the Sermon on the Mount and All Saints Day all on this Sunday. That is a lot. And there is quite a bit to say. But for now, I will say, Remember that you are each Saints. Remember the life to which God calls us saints. We are to be peacemakers, reconcilers, meek, merciful, seekers of righteousness, pure in heart, and willing to stand for our faith as the over arching imperative of our lives. That is who we are. Thanks be to God.
I have quite a bit more to share with you all this week though. After years of faithful and loving service to St. James, our beloved bookkeeper, Diane Padoven, is leaving our employ. During these past months, Diane and Peter have realized their desire to travel as much as they can. So when they can, they will start traveling the world. Because of our particular oversight and management processes at St. James, we could no longer be one of Diane's clients as she travels the globe. Our finance committee and vestry investigated whether we could make the necessary changes and we did not see a way we could adapt to be able to make it work. Diane graciously continued to work with us through our audit and as we interviewed new candidates. She has even been so gracious as to spend multiple days training our new bookkeeper and even offering to help us in the future as we adapt to not having her as our bookkeeper. I am extremely thankful for the work Diane has done with us at St. James. I arrived at a parish with the opportunity to have a complete and understandable picture of our finances because Diane was always available to answer my questions (I have a lot of questions), and explain things to me in a way this simple priest can understand. I do not have the words adequately to convey my gratitude for Diane's ministry with us at St. James. Thank you.
Diane's last day with us is October 28th. I am terribly sad that we cannot, at this time, gather to celebrate and thank Diane. However, we will get on her travel schedule in the future so we can celebrate
properly.
Finding a new bookkeeper fell onto our treasurer Paul Richards and the Finance Committee. We gathered references from Diane and other sources around Taos. We contacted other Episcopal parishes in Northern New Mexico for references. And then we formed an interview committee consisting of me, members of the vestry, staff, and finance committee. After interviewing finalists, we were in unanimous agreement that our new bookkeeper would be Amanda Allalunas.
Amanda came highly recommended and her clients praised and love her. She impressed our interview committee and we are excited that she is joining our team at St. James. You can see a note from Amanda below.
There is more big news coming from St. James soon, but we aren't ready yet to announce it. Just keep us all in your prayers.
I do want to remind you all that this weekend, Friday and Saturday, the Diocese of the Rio Grande is gathering in our annual convention. Of course we are not gathering physically, but rather digitally. So delegates from all over New Mexico and far west Texas will convene via zoom for our legislative gathering. We will hear from our bishop and approve the tact the diocese is taking to navigate these perilous waters. Keep your diocese and convention delegates, Bill Humbert, Toby Pugh, Heather Leibman, and Sydney Cline in your prayers.
Speaking about digital gathering, again, I am most likely the most frustrated with our persistent digital difficulties. We have contracted with Electric Sheep and will solve any problems on our end. I, like you, am tired and frustrated with this problem. I look to solve it soon. It will take us a bit of time, but as I said to Electric Sheep, "Of all the cosmic mysteries I wrestle with, I am ignorant of these digital mysteries." As laughter erupted on the other end of the line, they replied with, "These cosmic mysteries are fun for us, so I think we will all be good." Our prayers are being answered.
Happy Halloween to all you Saints of God.
How I hope to be one too. Mac+
ALL SAINTS' DAY Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
************************
October 29, 2020
A MESSAGE FROM FR. MAC BROWN
Friends,
Well, we have the Sermon on the Mount and All Saints Day all on this Sunday. That is a lot. And there is quite a bit to say. But for now, I will say, Remember that you are each Saints. Remember the life to which God calls us saints. We are to be peacemakers, reconcilers, meek, merciful, seekers of righteousness, pure in heart, and willing to stand for our faith as the over arching imperative of our lives. That is who we are. Thanks be to God.
I have quite a bit more to share with you all this week though. After years of faithful and loving service to St. James, our beloved bookkeeper, Diane Padoven, is leaving our employ. During these past months, Diane and Peter have realized their desire to travel as much as they can. So when they can, they will start traveling the world. Because of our particular oversight and management processes at St. James, we could no longer be one of Diane's clients as she travels the globe. Our finance committee and vestry investigated whether we could make the necessary changes and we did not see a way we could adapt to be able to make it work. Diane graciously continued to work with us through our audit and as we interviewed new candidates. She has even been so gracious as to spend multiple days training our new bookkeeper and even offering to help us in the future as we adapt to not having her as our bookkeeper. I am extremely thankful for the work Diane has done with us at St. James. I arrived at a parish with the opportunity to have a complete and understandable picture of our finances because Diane was always available to answer my questions (I have a lot of questions), and explain things to me in a way this simple priest can understand. I do not have the words adequately to convey my gratitude for Diane's ministry with us at St. James. Thank you.
Diane's last day with us is October 28th. I am terribly sad that we cannot, at this time, gather to celebrate and thank Diane. However, we will get on her travel schedule in the future so we can celebrate
properly.
Finding a new bookkeeper fell onto our treasurer Paul Richards and the Finance Committee. We gathered references from Diane and other sources around Taos. We contacted other Episcopal parishes in Northern New Mexico for references. And then we formed an interview committee consisting of me, members of the vestry, staff, and finance committee. After interviewing finalists, we were in unanimous agreement that our new bookkeeper would be Amanda Allalunas.
Amanda came highly recommended and her clients praised and love her. She impressed our interview committee and we are excited that she is joining our team at St. James. You can see a note from Amanda below.
There is more big news coming from St. James soon, but we aren't ready yet to announce it. Just keep us all in your prayers.
I do want to remind you all that this weekend, Friday and Saturday, the Diocese of the Rio Grande is gathering in our annual convention. Of course we are not gathering physically, but rather digitally. So delegates from all over New Mexico and far west Texas will convene via zoom for our legislative gathering. We will hear from our bishop and approve the tact the diocese is taking to navigate these perilous waters. Keep your diocese and convention delegates, Bill Humbert, Toby Pugh, Heather Leibman, and Sydney Cline in your prayers.
Speaking about digital gathering, again, I am most likely the most frustrated with our persistent digital difficulties. We have contracted with Electric Sheep and will solve any problems on our end. I, like you, am tired and frustrated with this problem. I look to solve it soon. It will take us a bit of time, but as I said to Electric Sheep, "Of all the cosmic mysteries I wrestle with, I am ignorant of these digital mysteries." As laughter erupted on the other end of the line, they replied with, "These cosmic mysteries are fun for us, so I think we will all be good." Our prayers are being answered.
Happy Halloween to all you Saints of God.
How I hope to be one too. Mac+