St. James Episcopal Church

7486 Union Park Avenue Midvale, UT 84047

801.566.1311

Click here to visit our Website or go to stjamesutah.com

Koinonia

"Christian fellowship or communion, with God or, more commonly, with

fellow Christians."

A newsletter of life and ministries

at St. James Episcopal Church

photo by Ann Charat

August 14, 2020

Sunday Worship Services St. James will continue hosting online worship via Zoom at 9 am, Sundays.

Sunday School will take place after services. (see calendar below for information re: this week's class.) A virtual coffee hour will take place after Sunday School.

Click here to go the the St. Mark's web-page for online worship services. Sunday services start at 11:00 am.

If you ever have trouble accessing services, please reach out to Wendy through text. She's happy to help!

This Saturday, August 15, Nikki Kelson will be baptized. Family will make up the small, socially distanced

group at the baptism. You can join in on a Facebook Live stream, at 10 am,

to show your love and support for Nikki.

Congratulations, Nikki! We love you!

Click here for the baptism bulletin.

Vestry Corner

By Angela Micklos

The Ties That Bind

Over the course of the past several months, we’ve all had to distance ourselves from friends, family members, and fellow parishioners. While this

has been unfortunate and difficult, we should be thankful that modern technology allows us to connect even when we are apart. Although virtual church services are not the same as in-person worship, they provide an avenue for togetherness and community that we would otherwise lack. We’ve all heard a variety of sayings, the gist of which is that true friends may be separated by great distances but are never truly apart. Although we don’t see each other in person these days, we have common beliefs, love, and a sense of community that continue to bind us together. Above all, we have the Holy Spirit that is alive in each and every one of us. Humans were not meant to be solitary creatures. We, like our canine companions, thrive in a pack and need to continue to support each other during these trying times. I’ve really enjoyed 9:00 morning prayer, as it offers an opportunity to celebrate our Savior together - - - even if it is via a video feed. I absolutely believe that the power of prayer is exponentially increased when done together as a group. If you haven’t already availed yourself of the Sunday morning prayer services, I encourage you to do so. You might just get to see five-month-old Charlie Ettenger “dance” to Seth’s masterful music playing. If that doesn’t bring joy to your heart, I don’t know what will. I look forward to seeing you all soon - - - even if it is on a computer screen. May God keep watch over all of you every day.

Peace and blessings,

Angela

Rector's Thoughts

Dear People of St. James ~ Today, August 13th, marks five months since the unbelievable decision was made to close the parish office and suspend in-person worship services as we scrambled to figure out how to respond to pastoral needs, become proficient in Facebook live streaming and Zoom, provide Christian education resources, and committees learned to function virtually. (Photo: Top, L-

R: Susan Furca, Fr. Christopher, Norma Oliver--Middle, L-R: Roger Bon, Deacon Robert Shoop, Laura

Orcutt--Bottom: Nazanin Nourmohammadi. Not pictured Dave Klemm and Rev. John Dillon.) I've been reminded through these months that we experience the faithfulness of God, the presence of Jesus, and the creativity of the Holy Spirit. I fully acknowledge that this is a time that is very challenging for many of us and, through it all, the ministry of the Church is thriving and I observe aspects of our parish community becoming stronger. Christian education continues, the Food Bank adapted quickly to seamlessly provide service, and worship adapted to new forms. And St. James is growing! Elizabeth, George, and Charlie Ettenger recently joined the parish. Nikki Kelson will be baptized on Saturday morning and I hope you'll be able to attend via Facebook live stream (current distancing requires that we limit the attendees to Nikki and Jacob's family members.) Bishop Hayashi and I are in conversation about the Confirmations at St. James this fall. St. James Pastoral Care Team continues to be available to support you. The members are Roger Bon, Rev. John Dillon, Susan Furca, Dave Klemm, Nazanin Nourmohammadi, Norma Oliver, Laura Orcutt, Deacon Robert Shoop, and me. We are intentional about praying for the people listed in the Prayers of the People, making phone calls to visit and offering to pray with people, and paying attention to practical needs that may exist that the parish may respond to. (Pre-COVID-19, we also made home and hospital visits and shared Holy Eucharist, which will resume when we may safely do so.) Like other committees at St. James, we currently meet via Zoom. I encourage you to reach out to us if you, or someone you know, needs pastoral support. Our contact information is in Breeze. If you cannot access that, please email or leave a message on the parish voicemail and our Parish Administrator, Wendy Ormsby, will share that with you.

As always, be assured of my prayers for you and all that you love. Peace and blessings, Father Christopher

Please note that I will be away for family needs beginning August 19th and will respond to messages around September 3rd. Please contact me before I leave if there are important needs to attended to. Thank you! Please send me a Facebook friend invitation if you would like to be connected there. I do not extend these invitations myself to parishioners since not everyone wants to be connected in this forum. I love it when I receive the invitations.

Your St. James Pastoral Care Team: Roger Bon, Susan Furca, Dave Klemm, Nazanin Nourmohammadi,

Norma Oliver,Rev. John Dillon, Ven. Robert Shoop, Rev. Christopher Szarke.

Vestry: Angela Micklos--Sr. Warden, Staff, Food Bank, 60th Anniversary Class of 2020 Doug Sward --Jr. Warden, Buildings/Grounds, Columbarium, Finance/Counters Policy Jesse Parent--Christian Education, Communications/Technology, Safe Church Training Petey McKnight --Pledge Drive, Fundraising/Stewardship Class of 2021 Susan Furca --Pastoral Care, Welcome & Hospitality Dave Klemm --Pastoral Care Mike Mitchell --Missional Planning, Christian Education Class of 2022 Wendy Hutchinson --Christian Education, Finance Clive Oliver --Music, Finance Jinx Strout --Liturgy, Altar Guild/Ushers/Acolytes Therese MacWilliams--Clerk of the Vestry

Calendar Reminders:

Food Bank delivery and restocking can always use your help. August 22-23 at 12 pm. Contact Alec Parent to let him know you can help.

Men's Coffee "Grumpies" and Women's Coffee

are still meeting online, on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, respectively. You need an link to join. Contact Fr. Christopher or Terry Palmer, the administrators of the online get-togethers, for that link. These meet-ups are so fun and a great way to talk to other people than your house mates!

Games Night is postponed until it is safe to meet together again.

Adult Sunday School 8/16 Adult Sunday School after online Sunday Services at 9am.

Virtual Coffee Hour to follow.

Sunday School in the Age of Zoom

Fellow parishioners! As we begin this new school year, as a Sunday School teacher I'm left to ponder... what should I be doing? How can St. James best serve our youth during this time? If you are a parent, let us know what you would like to see us doing to progress your children's education. If you are a youth, tell us what you would like to see and have us do. We'd love your ideas and innovation! Please send your ideas (or other people's better ideas) to Jesse Parent at jesseparent@gmail.com

A reminder that the following items need to be submitted by the following times:

Koinonia submissions - deadline is Wednesdays by 6pm

Gospel Reflections - deadline is Thursdays by 10 am

Our Parish Administrator works part-time, Monday through Thursday morning, so it's best that communication be sent during those days. Please let the Wardens or Fr. Christopher know if

there are important items that cannot wait until Monday.

To contact her: wendy@stjamesutah.com

Some parishioners are finding this time of self-quarantine as an experience of deepened prayer and expansive creativity. You are invited to email spiritual reflections to share with the rest of the parish. These reflections may include words, photographs,

paintings and drawings, music, or other creative outlets. Thank you!

Please send us favorite poems, art, photos, etc... This section has become so popular that we will likely continue it for a long time. Don't be shy, send us your favorite things

so we can share some light and joy with each other!

I’m Worried about Money I can balance a checkbook, make a workable budget, but I don’t understand the complexity of big scale world finance. This Pandemic has tossed a heavy burden on the entire world’s economy. The poor always suffer the most. I worry about the masses on the bottom of the heap who were already barely scraping by, many not even that. How do we feed your hungry, clothe your naked, house your homeless, heal the sick in this time of trial? Help.

-Lynn Hoins

Photo by Ann Charat "Moose"

Zentangle by Ann Charat "Starfish"

Photo by Ann Charat "Alta"

Prayer for the Search for a new Bishop

Gracious God, we are grateful for all that You are and for all you have done through the Episcopal Diocese of Utah. We ask you now to draw us closer to you and to each other as we engage in the search for our new bishop. Grant us discerning hearts which will fully trust in the guidance of your Holy Spirit. Bless the people of this diocese with your power and purpose and bless this holy work we do in your name to your glory. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Education for Ministry (EfM) is an incredible journey of growth in faith and understanding for anyone to embark on. For those desiring to delve deeper into your faith, this is an excellent avenue to do so. We, as lay persons, often face the difficult and subtle task of interpreting the richness of the church's faith in a complex

and confusing world. EfM provides a theological education to support our faith and also teaches us to express that faith in day-to-day events. This TOTAL MINISTRY is nothing less than the exercise of the church's vocation to continue the ministry of Jesus. He reconciled the world to God. We are called to incarnate that reconciliation in our own time and in our own place through worship, service to others, and by proclamation of God's Word to all people. As the emphasis on lay ministry has grown, EfM has come to play an important role by providing a program that develops an informed and knowledgeable laity.

This upcoming year, we are planning to host EfM at St James. It will be online via Zoom to start due to COVID19, but we will hopefully transition to in-person sometime during the year. Laura Orcutt will be the trained mentor and is incredibly excited to mentor this opportunity. This four-year journey of faith forms strong relationships and builds your faith. The group meets weekly from Sep to May. Everyone gathers in a seminar group of ideally 6-10 people that meet weekly for 2-2.5 hours each week Sep through May. Each person shares about themselves and the corresponding weekly reading for the year that they are in. The group can consist of people in each of the four years as everyone shares about what they are learning, with the mentor facilitating the group but not leading it. The group guides itself through the basic weekly meeting structure. With the lessons from each of the years often overlapping, it is fascinating to see how people connect the information between the years. It is an incredible growing experience no matter where you are in your faith journey. Some nice to know facts:

The University of the South, an Episcopal university commonly called Sewanee, provides EfM.

It is a four-year distance-learning certificate program. You do not have to complete all four years in a row consecutively. You can take breaks between years. You can stay with your EfM group or switch to other groups if it is more convenient for

you. You can do EfM online or in-person. Both are still conducted in groups. You do not have to be an Episcopalian to participate in EfM. It is for all adult ages from 18 to 99.

The following is the curriculum:

Year One: The Hebrew Bible Year Two: The New Testament Year Three: Church History Year Four: Theology, Ethics, and Interfaith Encounter

Registration is now open for the upcoming year. It is online this year for the first time. The cost is $375 per year, which includes all books and study materials. This is an incredible price for a four-year certificate program. Financial assistance is available if needed. The seminar will begin approximately the week of Sep 14th. Please contact Laura Orcutt at 801.368.5437, phone or text, or laura.orcutt007@gmail.com. She will gladly assist you in the process and answer any questions you may have.

EFM Testimonial by Lili Brady In these weird times we are in, it is easy to feel disconnected. From each other, from ourselves, and from our faith. It is easy to feel mind numbingly bored. To feel lost and just bleh. When the topic of EfM came up a few weeks ago, it sparked an idea in me. Even though I have been at St. James most of my life, I wouldn't say I am super educated in the history and theology of the Episcopal church. This could be a very awesome way of stimulating my mind and my soul while still maintaining social distancing. I am excited for the first year to really delve into the old testament and really get a foundation of "where it all started." I would love to share this journey with others and get their perspective on it as well. Lili

Online Worship Resources

Daily Office: Mission of St. Clare

Daily Scripture: Lectionary Page

Saints & Commemorations of the Episcopal Church

Book of Common Prayer

Our Food Bank--Year to date:

349 Volunteers have unloaded, stocked shelves, and distributed food. 1,346 clients have gotten food for 4,291 people. 137,718 pounds of food delivered to St. James for distribution!

Volunteers are always welcome! (Contact Alec Parent for more details.)

It's a rewarding ministry to be a part of.

Our friends at the Jewish Family Service Food Pantry

have asked us to spread the word about their food pantry open Mon-Fri,11am-1pm.

If you know someone who may benefit from this, please share!

Jewish Family Service

Food Pantry

In the Comfort Care Pediatrics building

495 E 495 E. 4500 S., Suite 100 Salt Lake City, UT 84107

801.746.4334

Hours: Monday-Friday 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM CURBSIDE PICKUP PLEASE CALL 801-746-4334 from the parking lot.

Can Be used once a week No ID, financial or citizenship requirements All faiths welcome

Pre-packed non-perishable food provided by family size,

with options for perishable products depending on supply.

How to Give Without Going to Church

First, we want to thank you for your generous gifts throughout the year to support the ministries of St. James! During this time of physical distancing, with no public worship services, you might be wondering how to continue to financially support St. James. As your treasurers, Mindy and I want to encourage you to continue your financial support. The most popular ways are with check and credit card. If you normally write a check, you can put that check in the mail to the church office (7486 S Union Park Ave, Midvale, UT 84047). Checks will continue to be processed and deposited on a regular basis. Another way is to use ‘Bill pay’ which is a payment service through your financial institution that allows you to make a one time or recurring payment. The source of funds for the payment is usually a checking account but you are able to designate the account you wish to use. Bill Pay is setup through your online banking feature. Simply add St. James as a new payee. You will need the church address (7486 S Union Park Ave, Midvale, UT 84047) and phone number (801-566-1311) then check either a one-time or recurring payment. Fill in the amount, select the date for the payment, and send. Bill Pay is usually free but please check with your financial institution. You do not need St. James bank account number to use this

feature. St. James receives your payment through a mailed check from the institution. A third way is to make your offering on our secure church database, Breeze: If you need an invitation to Breeze, please contact Wendy and she'll get that to you asap. You can also follow this link to see a short video about giving on Breeze. We cannot fully express our deep heartfelt appreciation for your faithful prayers and financial support for St James. We pray for your safety and continued health during this current normal and beyond. Blessings from your Treasurers Mindy Mitchell and Nancy Tanner

Click the links below for more resources:

Parents of Love Addicted

Utah AA Meetings

Utah Al-Anon

Link to information about rental aid program assistance

Fill the plate: Tell Congress why hunger matters

Follow this link to fill up a plate with reasons hunger matters to your community

and share it on your social media. Don’t forget to tag Utah’s Congressional Delegation!

Food insecurity has more than doubled. In February, 1 in 12 Utah families

experienced food insecurity, from April to June, 1 in 6 households didn't have the resources to buy enough food.

Congress could help many of these families by including a 15% increase in SNAP

benefits. #boostSNAPnow

Around the Utah Diocese

Click here to visit the Utah Diocese website.

Click here for a link to Bishop Hayashi's pastoral letter "Road Map For the Way Forward"

Please click here for updated information from our Utah Diocese regarding Covid-19.

Click here for the latest newsletter from the Diocese.

Godly Play Online

Introducing a new Godly Play program inviting families with children ages 5-12 years old. Over the course of the summer there will be offered four live, Godly Play sessions over Zoom. Those who RSVP to the program will be mailed little activity packets in advance of the live session that will complement the Godly Play lesson of the week. Here is a link with a full description of the program and a link to RSVP: https://stmarksutah.org/summerofgodlyplay. This program was developed by Brooke Parker, Director of Children and Youth Formation, and Shanon Burke, Sunday School Teacher at the Cathedral Church of St.

Mark.

Welcome at St. James At St. James, we consider persons 16 and older to be adults, and they are welcome at all

Parish activities unless otherwise regulated by law. Persons under 16 years may attend parish events if accompanied by an adult.

If organized childcare and/or youth activities are not available, the accompanying adult agrees to provide them appropriate supervision and care.

We LOVE getting your submissions for the newsletter! We LOVE it when you send us

photographs you've taken and articles/ideas that you want to share. When you send us something make sure you put in the subject line "newsletter".

Don't put "Koinonia" (because there are many ways that gets misspelled and then I can't search it to make sure I find your submission.)

Koinonia is published weekly, sent to you on Thursdays.

Please submit your articles, ideas, and photos to wendy@stjamesutah.com by Wednesday noon.

If you aren't getting the newsletter in your email box right now, let the office

know and they will add you to the database. Thank you!

We appreciate your contribution on the newsletter!

Wendy Ormsby, editor / Fr. Christopher Szarke, editor Carol Gentner, editors' editor