On the heels of Juneteenth and headed toward the Fourth of July, our two most significant American secular celebrations of freedom, we have this week in the lectionary one of the most profound statements on the nature of Christian freedom in the Bible. St. Paul tells us in Galatians that we are “called to freedom…only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.”
The freedom that we have in Christ is a freedom from: freedom from the fear of death, freedom from oppression. However, it’s more importantly freedom for: freedom for submission to our neighbor and freedom for the worship of God. Our notion of freedom is often warped by a society that calls us to accumulate wealth and material goods, to self-determine and follow our own path, but the wonderful truth of St. Paul’s message, and of Jesus’ encounters with disciples and followers in this week’s Gospel, is that freedom is only truly freedom when it is conceived of in God’s economy, God’s Kingdom of love which binds us together and enables us to be truly joyful and peaceful and patient and kind and generous and faithful and gentle and self-controlled for God, for each other, and for ourselves.
As we continue to reflect as a country on freedom and in worship on the nature of God’s call on our lives, I pray that you consider reaching out to someone in the congregation you don’t know or haven’t really spoken to before and connecting to their lives in a substantive way. This kind of connection is the very heart and message of the Gospel. It says, “We are God’s, and we are one, and that is freedom.”
Blessings!
-Father Dillon+
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Water for Breakthrough ESS: It's really hot on the streets of Wichita. Bottles of water are URGENTLY needed for the people who come to Breakthrough/ESS. Please drop water off in the church entry. They'll be taken to ESS every Wednesday Morning.
Wichita Minster Summer Picnic & Ice Cream Social: June 26 - 12:00-3:00 pm at St. Stephen’s. This event is to raise money for Breakthrough ESS. There will be food, games, music, and a raffle. Fun for all ages! Click here to Volunteer. Click here to donate a basket.
Historic St. Anthony Church at 2nd & Ohio is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its pipe organ on Sat. June 25 at 1:00 pm., with a concert of sacred and classical music. It is the oldest functioning Hinners pipe organ in Wichita. Public is welcome and its free.
Volunteer at the Front Desk
If you are a member of our congregation and would be willing to contribute your time to the parish as a front desk volunteer this summer, you are invited and needed.
Please contact Mother Dawn for information and about times for volunteering.
It is our pleasure to have Dakota Bennett as our organist this summer. Volunteer musicians will also be included in services this summer. If you are interested in playing, please contact the church office. Those interested in the position(s) of leading music at St. James beginning the first of September are encouraged to request a job description and submit their resume.
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The Lessons appointed for the Feast of the Holy Trinity
Revised Common Lectionary, Year C
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Parish News and Updates
Adult Forum meets every Sunday this Summer. Join us at 9:45 in the Guild Hall as we discuss the weekly readings in our series "Going off the Lectionary Grid."
Water for Breakthrough ESS: It's really hot on the streets of Wichita. Bottles of water are URGENTLY needed for the people who come to Breakthrough/ESS. Please drop water off in the church entry. They'll be taken to ESS every Wednesday Morning.
Volunteer at the Front Desk
If you are a member of our congregation and would be willing to contribute your time to the parish as a front desk volunteer this summer, you are invited and needed.
Please contact Mother Dawn for information and about times for volunteering.
It is our pleasure to have Dakota Bennett as our organist this summer. Volunteer musicians will also be included in services this summer. If you are interested in playing, please contact the church office. Those interested in the position(s) of leading music at St. James beginning the first of September are encouraged to request a job description and submit their resume.
Children and Youth
Next Sunday school and Children's Chapel is Sunday, July 3rd starting at 9:30 am.
Our Nursery is open! Gracie Moore is our new Nursery Care staff for the summer. She will be in the Nursery on Sunday mornings for our services and Adult Forum until August. We are still in need of volunteers, please contact Chelsea if you are interested.
Thank you for donating Kleenex boxes, we do not need anymore!
Paxton Blessing Box! You can drop off food at anytime, please leave items on the stairs next to the Church office Please donate non-perishable goods and hygiene products. Read more
Outreach
Suitcase Drive – Our Suitcase Drive was a great success! Thank you St. James for bringing us. more than 50 suitcases (and counting) in excellent condition. We are delivering them to foster children served by several agencies. No doubt the suitcases will ease the children's minds in a time of crisis and confusion.
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Father Dillon is offering Morning Prayer by Zoom at 9:30 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Morning Prayer Zoom Link.
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 June 24 |
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For our seminarian: Maddy Bishop;
Pray for those serving in the military: Will Corkins, J. David Anderson-Lusk and Maureen Tanner;
Pray for those who have died: John Luerding, Keith Johnson, Betty Bonnell, Lou Ann McFerson, Thelma Shannon.
Pray for those who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness or any other adversity: Tom T., Deb H., Jayne Pierce, Barbara H., Dana F., Suzy R., Taci F., Sue R., Ashley M., Phil S., Isabella, Cathy W., Helen B., Marcia & Lowell, Bill & Carolyn, Dave W., Carole, Kitty, Laura S., Bob & Sue, Marge R., Pam M., Dal, Gus, Joan J., Martha L., Betty S., Sage J., Joseph B., Sam & Beth, Jerry M., Joy J.
Our Parish Prayer List: All members of our parish community are asked to pray for each person on our prayer list. To share your prayers of thanksgiving (births, weddings, new jobs, anniversaries, etc.), to notify us that someone you love is serving in the military, to share that you or someone you love is suffering, or to tell us of a death, please call 316-683-5686 or email office@stjameswichita.org.
If your prayers have been answered,
we would love to rejoice with you.
Please let us know so your name may be removed
from our list of people most urgently in need. Thank you.
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