St. James E-Newsletter for August 23, 2005
Pax et Bonum

The Online resource for inspiration and information from St. James Parish

The whole Jesus demands the whole man.

Archbishop Michael Ramsey

God be in my head,
And in my understanding.
God be in my eyes,
And in my looking;
God be in my mouth,
And in my speaking;
God be in my heart,
And in my thinking;
God be at my end,
And at my departing

Native American Traditional

Today is the feast day of St. Bartholomew. Bartholomew appears in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and may be the same person as Nathanial - indeed his name may be Nathanial bar-Tholmai, or something similar. Bartholomew was a close companion of Philip. There is very little known about Bartholomew. Tradition says he may have preached in Asia Minor, Ethiopia, India, and Armenia, and may have been martyred at Albanopolis.

The Collect for Saint Bartholomew:

Almighty and everlasting God, who gave to your apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach your Word: Grant that your Church may love what he believed and preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

The Rush Down the Waterfall

   Fall is quickly approaching and with it comes the inevitable rush toward busyness which comes at this season. For those of us who still have children in school, the next two weeks will change our daily routines back to the “school mode” complete with carpools, school sports, activities, and days in which our children are occupied elsewhere. Others of us are sending our kids off to college for the first time. I have heard many “dorm horror stories” over the last few weeks, which doesn’t help us face this transition peacefully. Whether we have children in school or not, it seems that fall brings with it more activities, as the more sedated summer draws to a close.
    At times, I feel as though the approaching fall is the waterfall just in front of my canoe. I need to gear up for its coming, and prepare myself, so that I can negotiate the white water of a cluttered life safely.   For me, this means the following:
    Take a deep breath
    Back-paddle in order to slow down and stay in control
    Stay alert
    Remind myself that “all shall be well”
    And make sure my “life jacket” of prayer and meditation is firmly fastened

The rush down the waterfall can be overwhelming. Change always is, whether large or small. But the wonderful thing about our faith is that we serve an ever-present God. Jesus was also called Immanuel, “God with us” and we can trust that in that canoe ride, we won’t be alone.
    So prepare yourself...its coming.
            and then enjoy the ride.

Thou layest Thy hand on the fluttering heart,
    and sayest, “Be still!”
The silence and shadow are only a part
    of Thy sweet will;
Thy presence is with me, and where Thou art
    I fear no ill.
                       FR Havergal

Dearest Readers:
I’m wondering if perhaps you might have a favorite prayer, inspirational poem or quote you’d like to share with the St. James E-Community. If so, please email it to me. I have begun a file of prayers and poems, and am always looking for new things. We can all benefit from each other. Let’s share what has blessed us.
LP

Debra’s Mid-week Meditation

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

Romans 12:9-10

What does it mean to Christians when we say "let love be genuine?"

As we read last week, we are all part of One Body. We are connected to a source of Love which is much more powerful than we are.

Just as our gifts come from One Spirit, our love comes from One Savior.

Paul is encouraging us, as he did the Romans, to live in harmony and to practice forgiveness.
These two qualities, if nothing else, will certainly make a new kind of community.

And this new community may have something to teach the world.

Blessings, Debra

Love all God’s creation, both the whole and every grain of sand. Love every leaf, every ray of light. Love the animals, love the plants, love each separate thing. If you love each thing you will perceive the mystery of God in all; and when once you perceive this, you will thenceforward grow every day to a fuller understanding of it: until you come at last to love the whole world with a love that will then be all-embracing and universal.
Fyodor Dostoevsky

Daily Morning Prayer
http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html

If the link doesn’t open, highlight it, click copy, and then paste it into your web server address line.

This Week at St. James

Sunday:        8:00 and 10:15 Holy Eucharist in Susan Tucker Moore Room
                    9:00 Christian Formation group

Monday:       7:00 Youth Focus
Wednesday: 6:00 Mending Creation – Childhood Sexual Abuse Prevention workshop

Prayers Etc.

Those in need of healing and their families:

Chloe       Sarah J.        Vallie L.       Anna B.     Lelia G.        Margaret        Jeffrey     Natalie K.      Mary Anne S.
Matty       Henry H.        Joel B.         Susan L.    Nancy B.      Rosemary        MS              Phil O.           Aris        Dave
Paul & fritz        Uncle Bob O.         Maria R.     Earl C.        David W.           J.B., Heather, Chase & Sandy      Charlie M.

All wounded soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen in our military hospitals.

Prayer for the Beginning of a new School year:

Living God, Only when I am empty can you fill me; Only when I am poor can you enrich me; Only when I serve can You be seen through me.
Give me the strength to serve you faithfully and with great enthusiasm as we begin a new school year.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.
from ACE resources

In Closing

O God, in the course of this busy life, give us times of refreshment and peace; and grant that we may so use our leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, that our spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
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