Message of the Moment

Freedom and Joy

One of the best ways to get a feel for God’s essence is to watch a child at deep play. Such freedom! Such joy! Creativity is what happens when freedom and joy come together – and creativity generates freedom and joy. When Jesus said, “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it” (Mark 10:15), he drew the connection among God, childlikeness, and the domain of free, joyous expression. The creative power endowed in these things (and in us) makes life happen in its freshest, finest, and fullest way, over and over again.

Now think of what it is like to live in a rut. Comparing creative power with the stagnation of repeating life without thought or change shows us the marked difference between a life-giving spirit and the spirit of death.

God certainly gave us the gifts of rest, and safety; yet, if we give in to the temptation to dwell habitually in these things, then generative opportunities to thrive and create vanish.

When was the last time you saw a child walking down the hallway at church (or up the aisle to Communion) the same way every single time? Rarely, if ever! The joyous embrace of life alive in untrained spirits of wonder is truly a miracle. We should consider this truth for ourselves. How long have you been doing some of your regular activities the same way?

As we slip out of the grasp of pandemic rigidity and start to move ahead with life, we do not have to (nor can we) go back to doing everything just the same as we always did. There was a reason we were recently shocked to find ourselves outside of our routines – because we were suddenly out of their well-worn ruts.

The way we think and do things has changed, but it has not (yet) settled back into stagnation. We are at a point we can fruitfully think about the way we would like to live. We have a real chance to change habits which had become mind-numbing. This is the time to remember – and hold dear – our God-given aptitude for new life.

You know the deeply satisfying joy of knowing and feeling forgiven and fully loved by God. What if we could spread that generative spirit of joy into more of what we do? What if we looked for it in many aspects of life? We might have more of the childlike wonder Jesus recommended and held out as a way to enter fully into the reign of God.

We often pray, “Thy kingdom come,” so let’s open the door and welcome it in!

See you at worship, potluck breakfast, and the ministry fair of Re-Start Sunday, September 11. It’s time to re-start our lives together – anew.

God bless you always.

Peace, Mother Dawn+

“Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it”

First Things First

Re-Start Sunday is on Sunday, September 11th. Join us for a potluck breakfast and ministry fair from 9:30-10:45am!

A new session of Basic A is starting in September. The class will be held in the chapel on Tuesday evenings at 6pm from September 20 through November 20. Contact the parish office if you are interested in attending the class. For additional information, look under Parish News below, or find Basic A on the church website.

The Readings this Week

Click here to go to the Lectionary Page

Click here for a free PDF download of the Book of Common Prayer

The Lessons appointed for the Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost, Proper Sixteen, Revised Common Lectionary, Year C

Sirach 10:12-18

Psalm 112

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Calendar

Parish News and Updates

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.

Click here to learn more on our website!

Special Invitation for Newcomers: Please plan on joining the Welcome Team for Re-Start Sunday and Breakfast. There will be 2 designated tables for Newcomers to come and sit with us and enjoy some fellowship. We look forward to meeting you!

Everyone is invited to attend Re-Start Sunday on Sunday, September 11 from 9:30-10:45am in the Guild Hall. Re-Start Sunday will also include a ministry fair, so come and see what we are doing and where you can get involved! Starting on Re-Start Sunday, we are also bringing back Breakfast Sunday, potluck-style! The parish will provide donuts, coffee, and orange juice, and everyone is invited to bring a breakfast dish to share. Please make sure that the items you've brought to contribute are ready to be served when you arrive.

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.

Outreach is still collecting water, socks,

non-perishable food, backpacks and school supplies! This is the final week for school supplies, see the PANDO flyer HERE.

Kansas Payday Loan Problem

Today, Kansas families struggling to meet financial obligations often resort to payday loans. Currently the annual percentage rate for a payday loan in Kansas is 391%. A borrower of $300. who remains in debt for 5 months will repay $750. ($450. in fees and $300. in principal). Thirteen states prohibit payday loans, while other states have reformed their laws. For example, in Jan. 2021 Illinois imposed a rate cap of 36%, which has become the rate cap in 18 other states. Payday lenders complain about these restrictions on loan rates, but most remain in business in states with payday loan interest caps. For more information see Kansas Action for Children’s website (kac.org) and Kansans for Payday Lending Reform.

The next meeting of the Daughters (DOK) will be September 11th, between services around 9:30am in the Chapel. We look forward to seeing everyone! This year our chapter dues are $2.00 per person.

Consider EfM - Education for Ministry

This four-year study course is available to anyone interested in broadening their knowledge of the Bible and Theology. Through study, prayer, and reflection, EfM groups move toward a new understanding of the fullness of God’s kingdom. We will start up on September 14. If interested or for more information contact Dr. Paul Rillema or Deb Bagby

St. James/ St. Stephen's Book Club is reading Cloud Cukoo by Doerr. They meet every Thursday at noon and welcome new members to join. As of now, they are meeting via Zoom. Click here for the link. Questions, contact Mary Sloan.

Adult Forum meets every Sunday

Join us at 9:45 in the Guild Hall as we discuss the weekly readings in our series "Going off the Lectionary Grid."

Children and Youth

There is no Children’s Sunday School nor is there Children’s Chapel next month on Sunday, September 4 (it is Labor Day weekend). The first Children’s Sunday School and Chapel of the school year will be held on the first Sunday in October.

Wichita Minster News

Welcome Home Baskets for the rehoused

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.

See more information about the Wichita Minster on our website.

Prayers

Parish Prayers for the Week of August 28

Parish Prayers

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer:

Pray for the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia

In the World Council of Churches Cycle of Prayer:

Pray for Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal

In the Kansas Cycle of Prayer:

Pray for the young adult and campus ministries across the diocese, especially St. Anselm’s Canterbury in Lawrence and St. Francis Canterbury in Manhattan

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.

Thanksgiving for the birth of Parker Liam Mather, born Aug. 14 to parents Ashley and Taylor Mather and grandparents Vicky and Jim Petty.

Those who have recently died: Judy Wilkinson, Richard Coleman Clausen; Joyce Essmiller; Terry Downs;

And those who have died in Augusts past: Jewellean Alford; Jim Basham; Betty Blair; Robert Clark; Toby Graves; Lois Griffith; Brian Kahl; Nan King; Cathy Lawrence; Diane Lewis; Richard Lewis; Roger Nyenhuis; Duane Rector; Dean Ritchie; Cynthia Rutherford; Lloyd Tritle; Elisabeth Wannow; Brenda Wright;

Those in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness or any other adversity:

Edna & James; Janet R.; Martha F.; Lucy C. & family; Diana; Andy; Pat; Arnell & John; Peggy S.; Gary; Deb H.; Bill and Jeri; Tom T.; Tom G.; Jayne P.; Barbara H.; Dana F.; Suzy R.; Phil S., Helen B., Bill and Carolyn, Dave W.; Carole, Kitty; Laura S.; 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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