The Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer are found in the Book of Common Prayer or online: 

Morning            Evening      

Ephesians 4:4: There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

This verse may sound familiar to you: it forms the opening words of our baptismal liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer. It is the reminder that we are all one, sharing in one Spirit, with one faith, in one God, through our one baptism. 

We Anglicans tend to value a diversity of opinions, and we never expect that we will all agree. Historically Episcopalians have appreciated differences of opinion in our "via media" approach. And yet we embrace the call to hold on to the clear sense of being "one" in Christ. In other words, we value unity in the midst of diversity. Sadly in our culture today we are becoming more and more divided, not just by differences of opinion but by hatred for those who disagree with us. And, perhaps more distressingly, we are beginning to lay claim to different versions of reality itself. We are quickly moving into a position in which "unity" as a culture is becoming less and less possible, even as we face a common threat in this pandemic. 

As people of faith, we are called to be witnesses to the wider world: it is essential that we model what unity in diversity can look like because we live this out as the Church every day. This is a gift we have to offer our world right now. But we have to be intentional and prayerful about it ... we have to think before we speak, write, share, post, text, etc.   

How might we model unity in diversity to the wider world? How can we "speak the truth in love" as verse 15 of this passage enjoins us?  What are some concrete ways we can demonstrate what it looks like to be "one" while disagreeing?  Let's share this gift! 

~Rebecca+

Pentecost marks the day that the Holy Spirit descends and gives birth to the church. These pieces of choral music are from a variety of traditions, from Negro spirituals to Taizé, Mozart and Bach. Listen to how different styles of expression capture this unique holiday.

Listen to all the music in its entirety HERE
OR 
sample each piece in the player below.

The Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer are found in the Book of Common Prayer or online: 

Morning           Evening      

1 Samuel 16:7b:  “…the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Isn’t it wonderful that our outward appearance means nothing to God? For all the focus and hype in our culture on good looks and the resulting anxiety so many of us have about it, it’s good to recall that appearances mean nothing in the spiritual life. Maybe this time of quarantine is helping us to care less too, given all the jokes about lack of showers, haircut fails, and quarantine “fashion”/ the lack thereof. It can be good because we may have more mental space to care about what God cares about: our hearts.

This word for “heart” in Hebrew is “lebab” and it has to do with our inclinations, our will, and understanding. The heart is the “seat of life” itself.  So, in what direction are we inclined? Where are we leaning?  Are we inclined towards God, towards aligning our will with God’s will?  

In the end, it is only our hearts that matter – and having a heart focused on God is the most beautiful and important attribute we can ever have. (I still recommend brushing your teeth. )

​~Rebecca+

The Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer are found in the Book of Common Prayer or online: 

Morning           Evening      

Psalm 89:9: "You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them."

Our world has felt a lot like a raging sea with rising and falling waves (curves?) in this pandemic. The feelings inside me have also at times felt like a raging sea of rising and falling waves of uncertainty and grief. And so I resonate with this ocean imagery a great deal. I have loved swimming and surfing in the ocean over the years but I always have an acute clarity about just how fragile I am when I'm at the mercy of the ocean waves. This season of pandemic has offered me, and all of us, a similar reminder about our fragility as humans. When confronted with the current "raging sea," we are aware of just how little power we have over our external circumstances. It can cause us deep anxiety. But  then the Psalmist reminds us that even in the midst of rising waves, there is One who has the power to still them. And God can give you and I the grace to still the raging sea inside of us as well.   

May God bring peace and stillness to us all in this time - both internally and externally, as we surrender to the loving and all powerful Creator of the universe. 

~Rebecca+

​Join with everyone using the service bulletin HERE.    Join our Coffee Hour after the service at 11:00 am HERE.

​​Video of only the sermon HERE. (usually posted Mondays)​​
If you are new to St. James and would like to get acquainted, please tell us a little about yourself HERE.
​Prayer requests can be sent to our clergy HERE.

​The Schola Cantorum of St. James offers a virtual service of Compline-by-Candlelight. The most contemplative of the monastic offices, Compline has been prayed as the last service before bedtime since the middle ages. You may follow the order of service HERE.

Mother Rebecca prepares us for peaceful sleep with prayer, scripture and contemplation (almost 14 minutes). Follow along in the Book of Common prayer, page 127, or by clicking HERE.

The Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer are found in the Book of Common Prayer or online: 

Morning          Evening      

Matthew 7:1-12

Yesterday Jesus told us not be anxious and today he says “judge not.” Some things are simply easier said than done! We can’t help but be anxious and judging just comes so naturally to us that it’s not easily avoided. Jesus’s teaching is nothing if not challenging. 

It's also very compelling and simple. What Jesus says about judgement is conveyed so graphically in what he says about logs and specks. And then he manages to sum up so much of his teaching in just a few words, “do to others as you would have them do to you.”

As disciples of Jesus let us seek to walk his ways with confidence and simplicity.

Mark

The Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer are found in the Book of Common Prayer or online: 

Morning           Evening       

Matthew 6:25-34

Three times in these verses Jesus says “do not be anxious.” Did he not know how much we have to be anxious about?

He also offers three strategies we might adopt to lessen our anxiety;

First, he encourages us to live in the moment. Focus on today, the present, he says, as “tomorrow will be anxious for itself.” 

Second, and related to the idea of focusing on the present, is his suggestion that we “consider the lilies of the field.” Let’s fill our minds with the beauty of simple things.

Third, he says, “seek first God’s Kingdom.” Let us seek God, whose love casts out all fear.

Mark

​You may use this recording to have Noonday Prayer anytime. The order of service is in the Book of Common Prayer, page 103.

The Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer are found in the Book of Common Prayer or online: 

Morning          Evening      

Psalm 119:105: "Your word is a lantern to my feet and a light upon my path."

I have always loved this passage from Psalm 119. Not only does it remind us of the necessity of God's Word to aid us in our journey through life as a light to our path, but it reminds us of the way God works in our lives. When we walk in the dark, a lantern only shines about as much light as we need to take the next few steps.  A lantern is not a set of headlights or floodlights or a blazing light of any kind. A lantern shines a light upon our path to keep us safe and aware of any changes or obstacles immediately ahead of us, but it does not light up the entire path.  

As we journey through life, we often wish we had the ability to see into the future and know exactly what would happen to us and when.  But God tends to lead us in a way that requires faith: we are given only the light we need to see for today or for the next decision we must make ... we will know where our feet should go for the next few steps if we follow God's lead, but often not beyond that. The greater future is yet unknown. Like walking along a dark path with a lantern, God's Word and work in our lives provides light for us to see the next step, the next choice, the next bend in the corner ... but we walk by faith and will have to trust God for the journey itself.   

We are currently living with a lot of uncertainty and what will ultimately happen is not yet clear. But we can rely on the lantern that God has given in us in God's Word and trust God for the light we need to light our path today. 

Thanks be to God.    

~Rebecca+ 

This thursday marks Ascension Day, 40 days after Easter when Jesus left earth and ascended into heaven. Here is some music written especially on this theme, including some best loved favorites of the Anglican choral tradition. You can go directly to hear the whole playlist HERE. 
​
or sample the music in the player below.

Alex

The Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer are found in the Book of Common Prayer or online: 

Morning          Evening      

Matthew 13:23: "But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’"

Whenever I read the parable of the sower and the seeds I find myself hoping and praying that I will be the "good soil" that Jesus describes. And don't we all want to be the good soil? Perhaps this time of isolation is the perfect time to cultivate some good soil in our hearts and souls. But how do we cultivate "good soil" in our hearts and souls?  If we break this passage down, we see there are several components to being good soil:

1. We hear the word: To hear the word necessitates listening  - actually spending time in prayer and with God's Word (the logos). We can do this by reading Scripture, participating in worship, praying the Daily Office, and simply listening and looking for God in the world around as well as in the silence (among other things). Where do you hear God? 

2. We understand the word: We gain understanding of God's Word as we prayerfully listen, study, ponder, and seek the Holy Spirit's guidance. We can be assisted in our understanding in many ways - through commentaries, listening to sermons, taking classes, talking to others, participaing in Bible Studies (even online), and by utilizing other study tools and books written by trusted authors. What helps your understanding? 

3. These lead to bearing a "harvest": Our hearts and souls are fed and fertilized by hearing and understanding the word and this leads to bearing fruit - a plentiful spiritual harvest that includes the fruits of the Spirit, good deeds, wisdom and insight, and the following of God's will for our lives.  What fruit do you want to bear?  
​
Thanks be to God for opportunities and assistance in cultivating good soil in our hearts and souls.   

~Rebecca+

​Miss Gabby reminds us that sometimes being out of sorts leads us to who we are and what our work is supposed to be. Remember to have creative materials available for children's work, and to enjoy a feast together.