SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER ON ZOOM
Topic: Sunday Morning Prayer
Time:  Every week on Sun, until May 31, 2020, 5 occurrence(s)
       
        May 10, 2020 10:30 AM
        May 17, 2020 10:30 AM
        May 24, 2020 10:30 AM
        May 31, 2020 10:30 AM
 
Meeting ID: 849 0239 1104
Password: Alleluia

Morning Prayer Liturgy, please click here.

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Prayer list. Please click here for the current Prayer List.

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From the Rector

Friends,
 
This past Sunday is often referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday. We read Psalm 23 and also John 10 in which Jesus speaks of himself as a good shepherd, and as the gate for the sheep. It feels that most of us are in the fold and not wandering during this time of social distancing. Bishop Cole will discuss, with clergy, plans for how and when we will begin to regather in person. So many of us long for that time. Just as we have been challenged with the virtual ways of being present, our gathering together in person will be different. We will be taking care to consider the health and well-being of the sheep. 
 
At the present time, we are still meeting virtually and learning new things every day. I am grateful that we have such technology to allow us to meet. I know many of you have stretched yourselves in learning some new things. I pray that we will all also see that so many of God's sheep have little room to stretch. The most vulnerable in our world are being hit the hardest by this crisis. St. James continues to meet the needs of our neighbors. Your generous gifts help make that happen. Thank you for continuing to give. 
 
Our mission at St James is to feed and tend God's sheep. We live that grounded in our faith in the Good Shepherd. It is Easter and we follow our risen Lord who comes to give us abundant life. I pray that you may know the lavish riches of God's grace. 
 
Peace, 
Fr. John Mark
 

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Church Office. For the immediate future, the office continues to be closed. Emails are checked throughout the day, so please feel free to reach out. As always, in the event of a pastoral emergency, you may call the church office, 865-523-5687, select Option 4. 

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Connecting and Learning
 
Fr. John Mark leads online discussions on the theme "Christ in All." These conversations draw primarily from The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr, though reading the book is not required. Contact Fr. John Mark, jwiggers@stjamesknox.org ,to get log-in information for these discussions happening on Wednesdays, through May 13 at 4:00 PM. 

Fr. John Mark is blogging on the Website at https://stjamesknox.org/rector/. with short commentaries on different subjects.  And people can even have a discussion on that subject, since comments can be left. 

ZOOM CAFÉ. Fr. RJ hosts a Zoom Cafe for anyone who would like to stop by and chat from 9:30-10:30am. Hope to see you there.

Topic: Zoom Cafe
Time: Every Wednesday,  09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) until Jun 24, 2020.
Meeting ID: 918 3144 2160
Password: Coffee
 
Thursday group, 10:00 a.m. Join us for an hour and 15 minutes of sharing, discussing, laughing and praying. Topics vary from week to week. If you have never attended the Thursday morning group, perhaps you’d like to give it a try. 
We welcome everyone.
 
Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96880058612?pwd=bnplWXA4bTZoT0RqbEQxdkRUaVpaZz09
 
Meeting ID: 968 8005 8612
Password: Golden
 

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Parish Care
 
Our phone tree is helping to keep us all in touch. You may have received a call from the person with your name. It’s a great way to visit and you may even make a new friend with your conversation! 
 
More phone tree callers are needed. If you are willing to make several phone calls each week to parishioners, please send an email to Fr. RJ (rjpowell@stjamesknox.org). Several volunteers need to take a break and would like to be switched out for a while. Currently each volunteer is getting 8-9 folks to contact each week, but the more callers, the lighter the load, and greater the connections. Thank you!!
 
If you or another parishioner needs help going to get groceries or medicine, please contact the church office by email, office@stjamesknox.org, if possible. We have people who have offered their services to help.
 
Parish Care Committee.  If you or someone you know has need of a meal, transportation, or assistance due to illness or other situation, please contact the church office, 865-523-5687 or Bea Emory, 865-687-2082, beaemory@att.net . If you are willing to help on occasions when needs arise, please contact Bea Emory.

Join the fun - become a nursery volunteer. If you would like to join the fun in the nursery please contact Theresa Ann DeRosa (tde444@yahoo.com) or Carol Yates (cyates0222@gmail.com). This is an opportunity to minister to our youngest parishioners in a fun setting. PLUS, we will soon have two infants to cuddle. ALL adult cuddlers welcome! Thank you.

 St. James on TV! Did you know that if you miss a Sunday sermon or you want to hear one again, you can catch it Thursday, 11:30 a.m. on CTV, following the link, www.archive.org, St James 4079.