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Volume 11, Issue 6 June 2019 Look Inside Transitions For. ur lives are full of transitions. After we emerge from the womb and get used to O this new environment, we learn to walk and talk, and to feed ourselves without throwing too much food on ourselves or the floor (okay some of didn’t learn that too Page 2 well!!). Our bodies change and grow as we transition from babyhood to childhood, from Bishop Committee Reports teenagers and to adulthood, and finally into old age. Our bodies will change again as we move through death to new life in Christ and resurrection. Within each of those Page 3 transitions, we are also constantly changing physically, emotionally, psychologically Transition News and spiritually. In fact, at any given point in time, we’re never the same! Music Corner é Taiz A s a community of faith, we welcome new members, and we celebrate births, baptisms, and marriages. We also say goodbye to those who move for jobs, family Page 4 or retirement, and we mourn for those who die. There is only one constant in our lives 7th Annual Ladies Tea and that is God in Christ Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews St. James Social 13:8). As we also read in the letter to the Hebrews 13:5b-6, “‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’" The Lord is steadfast in faithfulness, in forgiveness, and most Page 5 importantly in love. The Lord continues to love us, welcome us with gracious Children & Family Ministries hospitality and help us to love our neighbors through our many ministries. VBS 2019 od is also the source of all provision and resources in our lives, including one Page 6 G another. A community of faith was so important to Jesus that gathering a group Thank You’s of disciples was the first thing he set about doing when he began His public ministry. With only one notable exception that first group of disciples went on to spread the Page 7 good news of Jesus, continuing the mission of loving service and reconciliation that Our Graduates Christ embodied and taught in His earthly life. The Lord has empowered us all to face C FFA changes with courage and life’s transitions filled with the confident knowledge of God’s Adult Bible Classes love and peace that passes all understanding. Outreach Ministries od always has the best plan for all of our lives. We just need to trust in the Lord, Page 8 G and continue to serve with loving compassion and gracious hospitality. And, as Fellowship Opportunities the author of Hebrews writes: Acolytes Needed “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has Acolyte Schedule promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but Page 9 encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Refugee Ministries – Hebrews 10:23-25 Episcopal Habitat Build Deacon’s Corner od has got us covered! This wonderful community of St. James – that’s you – G will continue to be blessed beyond anything we can ask or imagine. Be a co- creator of that blessing with the Lord. God’s peace to all! +++ Susan Page 2 Treasurer’s Update January 1 through May 30, 2019 Actual As you can see, we fell behind in our giving in May. Operating Expenses are actually less than budgeted, but general contributions YTD Operating Income $ 91,200 (that is, not Building Fund, Outreach Endowment, etc.) are quite a bit YTD Operating Expense $ 96,297 less than budgeted, so we’ve had to dip into our reserve YTD Surplus / (Deficit) $ -5,097 funds. please take the time to catch up, or even get ahead with your pledges and contributions before summer sets in. Thanks for your generosity! Gerry Carlston ( [email protected] ) Treasurer From the Senior Warden Music is the language of the soul. It has also been said that music is another form of prayer. A short while ago, many of us joined together as a group from St. James and took a tour of the Musical Instrument Museum in Scottsdale. This outing made me realize that no matter how important music is in our lives, it is still only a fleck in what it has meant in the lives of people around the world and through the ages. Tonight my mood has been mellow listening to music like Spirit singing Nature’s Way and Neil Young singing Unknown Legend. Last night my mood was the youthful jazz of Joey Alexander. If you have not listened to this young jazz artist, you need to. This brings me to St. James. Music is the language of our soul. The retired Rt. Rev. Kirk Smith (the former bishop who believed in us) always mentioned our music and youth programs when describing our church! St. James has created its own identify within the diocese. The love of music creates an identity other people want to be around. We are in a transition right now and it is important that our love of music reaches out. It is also important that our youth programs remain healthy. This cannot be done without all of us keeping St. James healthy financially. I ask that as we escape the heat, we remember that we are in transition with uncertain financial obstacles ahead. Peace, Bob Klassen One of my favorite songs “Turn, Turn, Turn” was written by Pete Seeger based on verses from the Book of Ecclesiastes: “To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time to every purpose, under heaven A time to build up, a time to break down A time to dance, a time to mourn Junior Warden A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together” St James is facing a change of seasons with the retirement of our Pastor and I am sure that many are mourning the changes that we are experiencing. But as the song/biblical verses say, there is “a time to gather stones together.” We as a parish will start this gathering process at our Day of Discovery on June 23, 2019. The purpose of this day will be to LISTEN. Everyone will have a chance to have their voices heard, so please, please mark this on your calendar and come to this Day of Discovery. As you have seen in the weekly bulletin, we have had some major repairs such as to the irrigation system (new controller), tree trimming and SARRC gate. We also need to do some preventive maintenance which will also be costly. So if you can help out and slip some “extra change” in the collection basket designated for the building fund, it will be much appreciated. As your Warden, I want to be responsive to your suggestions and concerns regarding the physical structure of St. James. I cannot address issues if I don’t know about them, so please feel free to contact me at my email address ([email protected] ), by phone, (623) 261-1507, or talk to me directly when you see me at Church. Denise Boyd Page 3 28 19 At Your Service: Transition Update 5 - - Your Bishop’s Committee ave the date! The Day of Discovery will be Sunday, June 23rd . Bob Klassen (Bishop’s Warden) This is the first Sunday following Pastor Susan’s retirement and Denise Boyd (Junior Warden) the most important day in determining our future as a parish. Gerry Carlston (Treasurer) S Ann Marie Bellamy-Bartholomew Your Bishop’s Committee has decided that we will have one service that day at 9:30 with lunch and the Discovery discernment following Joan Besonen after. This is your chance to have your thoughts and desires known. This is Mary Hovden Larry Kenyon also a chance for our youth to have their thoughts and desires known. The Tara Papaccio parish profile for St. James that is posted will be derived from the information gleaned during this day of discernment. This first step begins with your input, so save the date and have your voice heard. “Life is a series of natural and t. James is headed towards an exciting future. Remember, St. James has been approved by the diocesan Standing Committee spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; S to transition from a mission church to a parish. This makes the that only creates sorrow. Let reality be development of our parish profile so important. So, come with an reality. Let things flow naturally open mind to share your voice and hear what others have to say. St. James belongs to you. forward in whatever way they like.” Your Bishop’s Committee - Lao Tzu MUSIC CORNER at St James I didn’t expect to have much to report for June. I will be away the first Sunday, attending and helping with my daughter’s student performances in Oregon and your esteemed organist, John McIlray will be in the ‘hot seat’! However, with the big pastoral changes coming up, June is a month of trepidation and excitement. Both the 9th and 16th of June, we will have a number of guest singers and extra inspirational and favorite music to celebrate Pastor Susan and her wonderful contributions to St James. As a seasoned church musician, pastoral change can be a tremendous boost or a tremendous downer.