Not Just a Cup of Coffee
Did you know that a cup of coffee at church is a spiritual tool? Caffeine alone does not bring you closer to God; but, a cup of coffee can be a way into relationship with another person. Though it can be done, but rarely does someone go into the lounge on Sunday morning, pick up a cup, fill it with coffee, doctor it if necessary, and lift it slowly to their lips without speaking to someone?
I’ve been told that coffee is hot enough that one does not gulp it down, neither does someone want to spill the steaming liquid on themselves or another. To accomplish a steady sip, a coffee drinker has to hold still or else move v-e-r-y slowly with a new, full cup. This necessary pause is an especially easy place for the Spirit to enter in. Usually there will be someone in the close vicinity. The cultural expectation is for people to speak to one another upon greeting. You never know what the other person will say or what you might be asked. The important thing is that this moment is a chance for God to work in you. Sometimes God can do more than we can ask or imagine in just a few words. You can love and be loved right then and there.
The church provides all manner of spiritual tools. Every time you come you can pick up your nametag and quickly put it on. Doing this marks you in several ways. By wearing it, you identify yourself as someone who belongs to the group, is willing to enter into conversation, and you invite even people who don’t know your name into speaking with you. This is making yourself available to the Christians around you.
With our comfortable new pew cushions, you won’t forget about the utility of having a common place to sit for worship services. The pew alone makes a great difference. Compare two scenes which begin the same way: Someone gets themselves up, dressed, and out of the door at home to come to church even though they feel quite fragile, possibly without encouragement, and very alone (regardless of whether they have a companion). The scene can unfold in two ways from here.
On the one hand, the worshiper may sit in a pew alone and hear prayers for the poor, the sick, the suffering, and those in grief as reminders of their own sad situation. They can sink into themselves at The Peace, avoid eye-contact at Communion, and leave without speaking to anyone.
On the other hand, the lonely worshiper may arrive and sit in a pew alone, only to discover that by the time the service begins there is someone else sitting in the same pew. There is no requirement for anything to be said between the pew-mates. If they share The Peace, if our worshiper looks at others during Holy Communion, they may discover that they have been accompanied through the morning without having to say a word. By the close of the worship service, when it is time to get up from the pew and leave, one may also have become open to sharing a few words with stranger sitting down the way. Sometimes simply knowing that one’s existence has registered with other people is life-giving.
One doesn’t have to know the warm body on the other end of the pew to know that they are not alone. There is a ministry in presence alone. One doesn’t have to exchange words with a person nearby to hear their voice in unison with others to be reminded of their humanity. We often don’t realize the value of sitting in a pew on Sunday, but our presence and participation carries other people along. It tells them that there is at least one place in the world where they can come, be welcome, and not feel judged.
Just think of the spiritual tools at our disposal. In addition to the fun you may share at church events, or the learning you may meet, there are items right here at hand to use as tools to share the love of God with your neighbor.
It is not just hot water and coffee beans, it is the meaning of life.
Peace be with you always, Mother Dawn+
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OpenStreets ICT is from 12:00-5:00 pm, this Sunday, September 18.
The Trivia Night & Potluck dinner celebrating Father Dillon will be this Sunday, September 18 at 5:30 pm. If you would like to donate to the purse for Father Dillon in thanks for his ministry at St. James, please mark your offering to St. James with his name in the memo by September 18.
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Open Streets ICT
OpenStreets ICT is from 12:00-5:00 pm, this Sunday, September 18. We will have a booth set-up with activities. It is a great event with lots of food, activities, and people. A reminder that Douglas Ave. will be closed starting at 10 am until 6 pm that day. If you would like more information about Open Streets ICT, click HERE
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Adult Forum starts this Sunday at 9:45 am. Father Dillon will kick us off as we continue our series of 'Going off the Lectionary Grid.' It will be his last time with us so it is definitely a can't miss!
The Daughters of the King (DOK) gathering has been moved to Sunday, October 2 between services around 9:30 am in the Chapel. We look forward to seeing everyone! This year's chapter dues are $2/person.
St. James Church, along with the Wichita Police Department, is offering a training about safety and active shooters. The training will be at St. James on Friday, September 30 at 6:30 pm.
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On September 14, 2022 Creation Care planted 30 native plants at Saint James. Most were planted in the Memorial Garden, but a few were planted in the beds on the Yale Street side of the Church.
Pocket Change Ministry: The Wichita Children’s Home is sponsoring a new program called Crossroads to aid run-away and troubled teens. The program provides counseling, temporary shelter, job training, and housing placement for teens. We are saving for a $500 donation to Crossroads. Thank you, St. James, for generously supporting our Pocket Change Ministry.
New Book! St. James/ St. Stephen's Book Club is reading The House of Unexpected Sisters by Alexander McCall Smith They meet every Thursday at noon and would love for you to join them! They are continuing to meet via Zoom for the month of September. Click here for the link. Questions, contact Mary Sloan.
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Basic A is starting on September 20 |
Basic A is a short-term class introducing and exploring the Episcopal Church. People at any point on a faith journey are welcome in this group. Adults, and their guests, are invited to take part on Tuesday evenings at 6pm. These fun sessions, each about an hour long, are conversations for the curious.
Those to be confirmed as members of the Episcopal Church attend all sessions prior to their formal confirmation on Sunday morning, November 20.
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Lauren Schmeidler, a long-time member, is our new Nursery Coordinator! She is trained in CPR and Safeguarding God's Children. As a long-time volunteer in the Nursery, she is excited about this new opportunity. The nursery is open each Sunday from 8:15 am - 12:00 pm and special events for newborns to five years of age. We are still looking for volunteers to assist Lauren, contact Chelsea.
Youth Group Date to Remember: Don't forget! Youth Group starts back with a Kick-off Cookout on Sept. 21 at 6:00 pm! Feel free to bring some food to share. Every Wednesday following that, we will have a joint Middle/High School Youth Confirmation Class at 7:00 pm, with Deacon Jeff Roper leading. If you’re looking to get confirmed when the Bishop visits in November, make sure you come to all the classes! We can’t wait to see you back at Youth Group and to ring in the new Youth Program year together!
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YAW (Young Adults Wichita) is a ministry of the Wichita Minster led by Father Dillon. It includes members from St. James, St. John’s, Good Shepherd, and St. Stephen’s. We meet weekly, currently Mondays at 6 p.m. (time/dates subject to change). If you know anyone interested in participating, please connect them with Dillon at 256-762-5110 or at dillongreen7@gmail.com. If you aren’t a young adult (18-35) and want to be involved, we are always looking for people to provide meals for the group each week. Instructions are to prepare for six to 10 people. If you’re interested in helping out that way, please contact Dillon.
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Parish Prayers for the Week of September 18 | |
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Parish Prayers
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer:
Pray for Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil
In the World Council of Churches Cycle of Prayer:
Pray for Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay
In the Kansas Cycle of Prayer:
Pray for Bethany House and Garden
St. James Church prays for these individuals as well:
Our seminarian, Maddy Bishop;
Those serving in the military:
J. David Anderson-Lusk, Will Corkins, Maureen Tanner.
Those who have recently died: Gretchen Hercher Waite; Morgan; Diana Samuelson; Sean Stephans;
And those who have died in Septembers past: Anne Allen; Virginia Armstrong; Nancy Avery; Betty Bacon; Iris Bain; Walter Bentley; Jim Callender; Colin Carroll; Jackie Davis; Joan Downs; Larry Elliott; L. Fox; The Rev. Jackie Gossard; Jan Hutchison; Janet Jenkins; Philip Knight; Sandra Lyon; Mac McPherson; Craig Miner; Beverly Mitchell; Russell Nelson; José Peggs; LaVerle Phelps; Linda Rutherford; Beverly Sarver; Chuck Shield; Chuck Steele; Emmy Lou Stewart; M.P. Van Kueren
Those in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness or any other adversity:
Phil S.; Sylvester; Peggy G.; Darwin; Diana; Sharon & Jerry; Astrid; Ryan; Cathy; Bill & Marjorie; Jan M.; Edna & James; Janet R.; Martha F.; Andy; Pat; Peggy S.; Gary; Deb H.; Bill and Jeri; Jayne P.; Barbara H.; Dana F.; Suzy R.; Helen B., Bill and Carolyn, Dave W.; Carole, Bob and Sue; Marge R.; Pam M.; Dal; Gus; Joan J.; Martha L.; Betty; Sage; Joseph B.; Sam and Beth; Jerry M.; Joy J.; Jonathan
For the sake of privacy, we do not list the last names of those who are on our prayer list because of trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or adversity. We do our best to include last name initials in the event that two parishioners with the same first name exist.
If your prayers have been answered, let us rejoice with you. Please contact the office to let us know we can remove your prayer request. If you have prayers you would like added to the prayer list, please contact the office at office@stjameswichita.org or 316-683-5686.
Loving, Liberating and Life-Giving
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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2022 Calendar of Retreats | |
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Guided Christian Meditation
Saturday, October 22, 7:30-8 am
St. Mary's Chapel, Grace Cathedral, Topeka
Spiritual Deepening for Parish Life
Saturday, November 19, 2022, 9:30 am-2 pm
St. Andrew's, Emporia
Learn contemplative prayer methods to bring to parish meetings and other groups to form spiritual community, support discernment, and shape prayer groups.
Advent Quiet Day: Let it Be, the spirituality of Mary of Nazareth
Saturday, December 3, 2022, 9 am - 2 pm
Grace Cathedral and Bethany Garden
The Canon for Spiritual Life and Clergy Care is offering quiet days and retreats around the diocese throughout the year. A complete list is kept on their website. If you would like to invite her to create something for your parish, minster or convocation please reach out.
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