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.
A Message from Father Mac
Rector's Blog
September 19, 2019
In Godly Play, we talk about parables as gifts. The parable stories are even kept in golden boxes not too dissimilar from golden wrapping paper on a Christmas present. Each time we hear a parable, it is like unwrapping a new present. You see, parables are not intended to be understood but to be lived in to. I am sure you have heard that old adage, "You can't step in the same river twice, because the river always changes." I like that sentiment, but I appreciate it being a bit more personally reflective, say, "You can't step into the same pond twice, because the person who stepped in it years ago has changed and evolved and now is no longer that person who first stepped into the pond." We are like the river, we are always changing. We never experience the same event in the same way because we now see with new perspectives. That is why a parable is like a gift that can be continually opened anew. The parable may not have changed, but we do. Read the parable again, out loud. Listen, pay attention to what words hit you, where you get stuck. Then, on Sunday, see if it hits you the same way. Let us see if the Word is living and moving in our lives.
Fr. Mac+
Rector's Blog
September 19, 2019
In Godly Play, we talk about parables as gifts. The parable stories are even kept in golden boxes not too dissimilar from golden wrapping paper on a Christmas present. Each time we hear a parable, it is like unwrapping a new present. You see, parables are not intended to be understood but to be lived in to. I am sure you have heard that old adage, "You can't step in the same river twice, because the river always changes." I like that sentiment, but I appreciate it being a bit more personally reflective, say, "You can't step into the same pond twice, because the person who stepped in it years ago has changed and evolved and now is no longer that person who first stepped into the pond." We are like the river, we are always changing. We never experience the same event in the same way because we now see with new perspectives. That is why a parable is like a gift that can be continually opened anew. The parable may not have changed, but we do. Read the parable again, out loud. Listen, pay attention to what words hit you, where you get stuck. Then, on Sunday, see if it hits you the same way. Let us see if the Word is living and moving in our lives.
Fr. Mac+