2025 Worship Services
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Sunday, March 9, 2025
Rescue Me
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 91: 1-2, 9 – 16; Luke 4: 1-13 (NRSVue)
As we worship today, let us celebrate the Christ who knows us and our journey because he has walked this same lonesome valley.
9:20 am – Ringing of the Bell
9:30 am – Live and Online Worship in the Sanctuary
10:30 am – Friendship Time
- Rev. Patricia Abell, Pastor
- Antuan Hairston, Director of Music Ministry
- Clarice Snyder, Organist/Pianist
- Mary Anne Espenshade, Liturgist
- Tainya Clarke, Children’s Message
- Saint James Chancel Choir
Sunday, March 2, 2025
Transfiguration
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 34:29-35; 2 Corinthians 3:12–4:2; Luke 9:28-36 (37-43) (NRSVue)
The revelation of God’s glory intermingles with the glorification of God’s followers in today’s readings. Not only is Jesus transfigured before the disciples’ eyes, they are brought into a new level of understanding of Jesus’ greatness and glory. Just as Moses reveals God’s instructions by bringing the tablets of the covenant to the Hebrew people, Jesus’ transfiguration reveals a new understanding of who Jesus is to his disciples. The letter to the Corinthians pulls these ideas together, reminding us that God’s glory has not only been revealed to us in Christ, but is being revealed through us as disciples of Christ.
9:20 am – Ringing of the Bell
9:30 am – Live and Online Worship in the Sanctuary
10:30 am – Friendship Time
- Rev. Patricia Abell, Pastor
- Antuan Hairston, Director of Music Ministry
- Clarice Snyder, Organist/Pianist
- Nancy Janson, Liturgist
- Edie Candee, Children’s Message
- Saint James Chancel Choir
Sunday, February 23, 2025
Fill My Cup With Grace
SCRIPTURE: Luke 6: 27-38 (NRSVue)
In this series, we have reframed the four pillars of economics: earning, spending, saving, and investing. We have been reminded that our yearn to earn can become misplaced as fear of scarcity ravages our energy and keeps us only mindful of caring for “our own.” We have been reminded that when we spend the true commodities of hope, purpose, healing, meaning, and grace at the center of God’s vision of the future, we will never run out. Savings becomes salvific when we are offering gratitude and storing up the will for generosity spurred by the gifts we are given by God every day. And investing our interest in the wellbeing of all is the way of freedom from fear. Today we hear that the measure of goodness will overflow into our laps when we dip from the stone jars of God’s love.
9:20 am – Ringing of the Bell
9:30 am – Live and Online Worship in the Sanctuary
10:30 am – Friendship Time
- Rev. Patricia Abell, Pastor
- Antuan Hairston, Director of Music Ministry
- Clarice Snyder, Organist/Pianist
- Edie Candee, Liturgist
- Amanda Yoo, Children’s Message
- Praise Team
Sunday, February 16, 2025
Fill My Future With Vision
SCRIPTURE: Luke 6: 17-26 (NRSVue)
Being “blessed” is something we too often associate with good luck or privilege or prestige. But in the economy of Jesus, blessedness is quite the opposite. It relies only on active participation in a kin-dom of God in which all are blessed and lifted up to a level playing field, especially those whose identity is demeaned by the powers-that-be. Jesus proclaims a vision of the future in which the jars of plenty never run dry and those who need to dip from plenty the most go to the front of the line.
9:20 am – Ringing of the Bell
9:30 am – Live and Online Worship in the Sanctuary
10:30 am – Friendship Time
- Rev. Patricia Abell, Pastor
- Antuan Hairston, Director of Music Ministry
- Clarice Snyder, Organist/Pianist
- Jan Petrosh, Liturgist
- Jelinda Blum, Children’s Message
- Saint James Handbell Choir
- Laural Clark, Handbell Director
Sunday, February 9, 2025
Fill My Days With Meaning
SCRIPTURE: Luke 5: 1-11 (NRSVue)
As we continue to examine how we might be transformed into devotees of the economy of Jesus, we remember this week that abundant lives are ones filled with meaning. Work and play are important parts of life but in the economy of Jesus, we are also called to fill our jars with meaning. What does this “mean,” so to speak? Amassing more resources than we need is a game that can leave us empty and can make us feel frightened even though we have enough. But when our lives are spent playing a different game of communal cooperation and transformation, we find a richness of soul and more than enough even in hard times.
9:20 am – Ringing of the Bell
9:30 am – Live and Online Worship in the Sanctuary
10:30 am – Friendship Time
- Rev. Patricia Abell, Pastor
- Antuan Hairston, Director of Music Ministry
- Clarice Snyder, Organist/Pianist
- Mary Anne Espenshade, Liturgist
- Tainya Clarke, Children’s Message
- Saint James Chancel Choir
Sunday, February 2, 2025
Fill My Wounds With Healing
SCRIPTURE: Luke 4: 14-21 (NRSVue)
Our call to “plenty” today on this third week of our worship series is to plentiful healing. Indeed there are plentiful wounds in this world, and plentiful threats of more wounds to come. It was as true in Jesus’ day as it is in ours. People came to Jesus carrying wounds of body, mind, and spirit. This week we continue the story of Jesus in his own hometown. Especially when wounding hits “close to home,” we tend to panic. Fear and anger may set in. The antidote? Join Jesus in his economy of healing for all people.
9:20 am – Ringing of the Bell
9:30 am – Live and Online Worship in the Sanctuary
10:30 am – Friendship Time
- Rev. Patricia Abell, Pastor
- Antuan Hairston, Director of Music Ministry
- Clarice Snyder, Organist/Pianist
- Nancy Janson, Liturgist
- Donna Benson, Children’s Message
- Saint James Chancel Choir
Sunday, January 26, 2025
Fill My Plans With Purpose
SCRIPTURE: Luke 4: 14-21 (NRSVue)
We continue our worship series on the economy of Jesus. Six stone jars in which water was turned to wine at the beginning of his ministry was a sign and symbol of the transformation of the community into abundant life. But this takes understanding our purpose–not as those who simply take care of “our own,” but those who especially are called to alleviate suffering in this world, bringing the kin-dom on earth as it is in heaven. Today we hear Jesus lay out his purposeful plans clearly–the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of freedom for the oppressed.
9:20 am – Ringing of the Bell
9:30 am – Live and Online Worship in the Sanctuary
10:30 am – Friendship Time
- Rev. Patricia Abell, Pastor
- Antuan Hairston, Director of Music Ministry
- Clarice Snyder, Organist/Pianist
- Jan Petrosh, Liturgist
- Edie Candee, Children’s Message
- Praise Team
Sunday, January 19, 2025
Fill My House with Hoping
SCRIPTURE: John 2: 1-12, Psalm 36: 5-10 (NRSVue)
A miscalculation has occurred. The wedding guests have drunk all the wine before the party is over. At times, life can feel like we’re “running out” of so much, and scarcity is shutting down the party. In these moments, we are invited to turn to the currency and economy of Jesus. In his economy, the true measure of abundance is fullness for the whole community, not just for some. Let us build the Kin-dom of God by drawing from jars of Hope, Purpose, Healing, Meaning, Vision, and Grace for all people.
9:20 am – Ringing of the Bell
9:30 am – Live and Online Worship in the Sanctuary
10:30 am – Friendship Time
- Rev. Patricia Abell, Pastor
- Antuan Hairston, Director of Music Ministry
- Clarice Snyder, Organist/Pianist
- Antuan Hairston, Liturgist
- Laural Clark, Handbell Choir Director
- Saint James Handbell Choir
Sunday, January 12, 2025
I Will Be With You
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 43: 1-7; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 (NRSVue)
Water and fire flow through these passages. Both elements have the power to destroy and the power to sustain life. In God’s hands, water and fire are signs of the Holy Spirit. God’s love keeps us safe and secure. As we hear the story of Jesus’ baptism, we remember that we too are baptized and dwell safe in God’s loving embrace.
9:20 am – Ringing of the Bell
9:30 am – Live and Online Worship in the Sanctuary
10:30 am – Friendship Time
- Rev. Patricia Abell, Pastor
- Antuan Hairston, Director of Music Ministry
- Clarice Snyder, Organist/Pianist
- Barbra Cook, Liturgist
- Saint James Chancel Choir
Sunday, January 5, 2025
Arise, Shine…Let Your Light Shine
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 60: 1-6; Matthew 2: 1-12 (NRSVue)
The Word has become flesh and dwelt among us.
Let Christ’s light shine in the darkest corners of your life.
Let Christ’s love shine in the darkest corners of our world.
Do not fear, God is with us.
Let your light shine. Alleluia!
Let Christ’s light shine in the darkest corners of your life.
Let Christ’s love shine in the darkest corners of our world.
Do not fear, God is with us.
Let your light shine. Alleluia!
9:20 am – Ringing of the Bell
9:30 am – Live and Online Worship in the Sanctuary
10:30 am – Friendship Time
- Rev. Patricia Abell, Pastor
- Antuan Hairston, Director of Music Ministry
- Clarice Snyder, Organist/Pianist
- Nancy Janson, Liturgist