St. James' Church

Matthew 13:24-30,36-43   Jesus put before the crowd another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”   Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He an

(note: our Summer Forum series is meeting on Zoom in June and July; click here for more information)   Join us in our Summer Forum series to learn more about the Psalms and to explore how they might help you pray deeply and truthfully in this season. The Book of Psalms is a surprising and enduring collection of poetry that models open and honest prayer, where every range of emotion is allowed. In these complicated days, they can help us find words for and give voice to our anger, sadness, fear, joy, thanksgiving, hope, and everything in between. This session, led by the Rev. Jay Sidebotham, is titled "God’s Goodness."

Matthew 13:1-9,18-23   Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!” “Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky groun

(note: our Summer Forum series is meeting on Zoom in June and July; click here for more information)   Join us in our Summer Forum series to learn more about the Psalms and to explore how they might help you pray deeply and truthfully in this season. The Book of Psalms is a surprising and enduring collection of poetry that models open and honest prayer, where every range of emotion is allowed. In these complicated days, they can help us find words for and give voice to our anger, sadness, fear, joy, thanksgiving, hope, and everything in between. This session, led by the Rev. Eva Suarez, is titled "Rage."

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30   Jesus said to the crowd, “To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke u

(note: our Summer Forum series is meeting on Zoom in June and July; click here for more information)   Join us in our Summer Forum series to learn more about the Psalms and to explore how they might help you pray deeply and truthfully in this season. The Book of Psalms is a surprising and enduring collection of poetry that models open and honest prayer, where every range of emotion is allowed. In these complicated days, they can help us find words for and give voice to our anger, sadness, fear, joy, thanksgiving, hope, and everything in between. This session, led by the Rev. Brenda Husson, is titled "Lament."

Matthew 10:40-42   Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

(note: our Summer Forum series is meeting on Zoom in June and July; click here for more information)   Join us in our Summer Forum series to learn more about the Psalms and to explore how they might help you pray deeply and truthfully in this season. The Book of Psalms is a surprising and enduring collection of poetry that models open and honest prayer, where every range of emotion is allowed. In these complicated days, they can help us find words for and give voice to our anger, sadness, fear, joy, thanksgiving, hope, and everything in between. This session, led by the Rev. Zack Thompson, is titled "Praise."

Matthew 10:24-39 (note: this recording was extracted from the live stream)    Jesus said to the twelve disciples, “A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will ack

(note: our Summer Forum series is meeting on Zoom in June and July; click here for more information)   Join us in our Summer Forum series to learn more about the Psalms and to explore how they might help you pray deeply and truthfully in this season. The Book of Psalms is a surprising and enduring collection of poetry that models open and honest prayer, where every range of emotion is allowed. In these complicated days, they can help us find words for and give voice to our anger, sadness, fear, joy, thanksgiving, hope, and everything in between. This first session, led by the Rev. Brenda Husson, is titled "Why the Psalms?"

John 6:47-58 (note: this recording was extracted from the live stream)    "Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will

Matthew 28:16-20   The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

John 20:19-23   When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Parishioner Stephen de Francesco reads Acts 27:13-28:44: Shipwreck; Paul Reaches Rome.   To learn more about this offering, please visit www.stjames.org/acts.

Parishioner Wendy Wade reads Acts 27:1-12: Paul Sails for Rome.   To learn more about this offering, please visit www.stjames.org/acts.

Vicki Hall, Director of Children's and Family Ministries, reads Acts 25:23-26:32: Paul before the King.   To learn more about this offering, please visit www.stjames.org/acts.

Parishioner Brad Whitehurst reads Acts 25:1-22: Paul appeals to the Emperor.   To learn more about this offering, please visit www.stjames.org/acts.

The Rev. Ryan Fleenor reads Acts 24:1-27: Paul before the Governor.   To learn more about this offering, please visit www.stjames.org/acts.

Parishioner Charles Curtis reads Acts 23:12-35: Plot to Kill Paul.   To learn more about this offering, please visit www.stjames.org/acts.

John 17:1-11 (note: this recording was extracted from the live stream)    Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. ”I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world