We Are Celebrating

the debut of a book by Bud Hill and  Billy Baldwin.  The official "launch" is Friday, Sept. 23rd at 7:00 pm at McClellanville's Town Hall.  Please join us!

Blessing of the Backpacks is This Sunday- August 21, 10:00 am

Please join us for the blessing and an ice cream party following Church.  All student, teachers, administrators, and helpers of all descriptions are welcome.  Fun aplenty.

 Also,  if you are out and about, pick up one school supply item for the offering.  We'll be taking them to Windwood Farm, one of our domestic mission partners.

 Read more about the wonderful work of Windwood Farm by clicking right  Here.

The Feast Day of our Patron Saint - St. James the Apostle

...was this week - July 25th -- below is a nice write up (heavy on legend)  about St. James and includes a recipe for a well known dish - Coquille St. Jacque - developed in honor of St. James...check it out!

St. James was the son of Zebedee, a Galilean fisherman, and Salome, a pious woman who tended after Christ. He and his younger brother, St. John (Feast Day: December 27), were called as disciples just after Simon Peter and Andrew were called, and Peter, James and John are often mentioned together in Scripture, having been witness to the raising of Jairus's daughter, the Transfiguration, and Christ's Agony in the garden of Gethsemani.

He and his brother must have been quick to anger and zealous as they came to be called "Boanerges" ("Sons of Thunder") -- a nickname given to them by Jesus Himself. After Our Lord's Ascension, tradition says that St. James's zeal for evangelizing took him to parts of Spain for a time, as St. Paul had wanted to do (Romans 15:24), whereafter he returned to Judea for his martyrdom.

In A.D. 44, Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great who tried to have the infant Jesus killed, set out to do the will of the Jews by dealing harshly with local Christians. St. James was accused, and Herod then "killed James, the brother of John, with the sword." (Acts 12:1-2). Church Historian, Eusebius, tells us that St. James's accuser followed James to martyrdom when he converted after hearing the Saint's confession to Herod.

Here tradition picks up again by telling us that James's relics were translated to Spain (of course, legends grew surrounding the event, one strange and lovely one in particular apparently meant to explain why the cockleshell is St. James's emblem. It is said that when the Saint's relics were being conveyed by ship from Jerusalem and approached the coast of Portugal, a man happened to be riding his horse on the beach. The horse disobediently plunged into the sea, with its rider, making for the boat. They sank, of course, but then rose again, covered with scallop shells, and hence the cockleshell became the symbol of our hero). The relics were entombed and rather forgotten after years of Roman persecution, Vandal and Visigoth invasions, and Muslim attacks -- forgotten, that is, until an early 9th century hermit named Pelayo discovered the tomb -- some say after seeing a star marking the place -- in an area that became known as Compostela, which means "Field of Stars." The King built a cathedral to mark the location (Pelayo's Bishop, Theodomor of Iria, is also buried there, refusing to be buried in his See out of his desire to be near the Saint).


The faithful began to make pilgrimages to the site -- so much so that Compostela became the third greatest place of pilgrimage, just after Jerusalem and Rome -- and still make the pilgrimage today. After making one of the many routes, known as "the Camino," pilgrims attach cockleshells or their facsimile to their hats or clothes as "pilgrim badges."

At the time of the Muslim ("Moorish") invasions mentioned above, a particular battle took place that was to seal St. James ever more closely to Spain, where he is known as "Sant  Iago."  (Saint James) At the Battle of Clavijo in A.D. 841, the Christians had lost and were in retreat when King Ramirez of Leon had a dream in which the Apostle assured him of victory. He relayed his vision to his men, and the next morning he had his trumpeters sound the call to battle. There, on the field, the men saw St. James on a horse adorned with cockleshells, waving a banner. He led the Christians on to a clear victory, and ever since, the Spanish battle-cry has been "Santiago!"

St. James is the Patron of Spain, equestrians, blacksmiths, tanners, veterinarians. He is usually depicted in art with his symbols -- the cockleshell, pilgrim hat, sword, Sacred Scripture -- or on horeseback, usually trampling a Moor.

For more (including the recipe)  read on...

http://www.fisheaters.com/customstimeafterpentecost4x.html

Here is..."his" Cathedral in Compostela, Spain

Click on image to enlarge it...

Trinity Sunday - Remember to Breathe

A Beautiful Thought about Our Triune God

And that same Father says to each soul in His infinite loving kindness, "Thou art Mine and I am thine: I am thine and thou art Mine, for I have chosen thee from all eternity." … When we unite ourselves to God by love, then we are spirit: but when we are caught up and transformed by His Spirit, then we are led into fruition. And the spirit of God Himself breathes us out from Himself that we may love, and may do good works; and again he draws us into Himself, that we may rest in fruition. And this is Eternal Life; even as our mortal life subsists in the indrawing and outgoing of our breath.



-John of Ruysbroeck c. 1294-1381

De Septem Gradibus Amoris, ch. 14

 
A Spiral-Shaped God © Jan L. Richardson

Our Annual Brick Church Service....

.....is THIS Sunday - May 1st.  You and yours are warmly invited to join the St. James Santee Parish Episcopal Church Family.  11:00 am, followed by Cover Dish Picinic! 

Scroll down on the right side of this page for directions.

Easter Day 2011

Alleluia!  Alleluia! Alleluia! -

Christ is Risen!

The Lord is Risen Indeed!  Alleluia!  Alleluia Alleluia!

Church was so beautiful and  full, music was uplifting, children scampered to pick up 350 plus Easter eggs and the Lord Jesus was glorified.    Resurrection is Real!   Alleluia!

Holy Week 2011

...began with a glorious Palm-Passion Sunday and will continue with Maundy Thursday at 6:30 pm and Good Friday at noon.  Come, walk the week and keep watch.

Here are some more pictures from the Windy Fire...they are such a strong symbol of the desolation that surely was the Lord's as he hung on the cross...

"For us to wicked hands betrayed, scourged mocked, in purple robe arrayed, he bore the shameful cross and death; for us gave up his dying breath."  (O Love, how deep, how broad, how high - Hymnal 1982 - 449)

Click on the pictures to enlarge them

Controlled Burning

Last week a good sized fire named "The Windy Fire"  came calling in the vicinity of Brick Church, Old Georgetown Rd, Rutledge Road and the South Santee area.  We are thankful to God that there were no injuries or loss of life.  The fire consumed about 2,600 acres of timber by the time it was done.  It started on Wednesday, the 23rd and  I noted one or two spots still smouldering when I rode out there on Sunday.  It was considered 95% contained by late Friday.
What an anxious time.  I sat by the radio scanner listening to the various firetrucks and divisions all working together in a pretty wonderfully coordinated way.  Ben Chapman told me that there were two fire truck stationed at Brick Church and apparently they were staged all around to protect some our other historic properties - Hampton Plantation, Harrietta,  the Wedge, and Fairfield on the South Santee side. 
By Sunday, we realized just how close the fire had come to Brick Church and to the Wambaw tract.  The fire burned right up to the northeast corner of the Wambaw tract.  Firefighters and the forestry folks are convinced that it did not go further because of the controlled burning we've been doing (well, the Nature Conservancy) over the past two years.  Also, the firefighters were using back burning to block areas as well as firebreaks.  Fighting fire with fire is a common expression but I understand it better now.  The controlled burning took out what would have been fuel for a big fire and cleared out the undergrowth so the long leaf pines could stretch out and have room to thrive.  Some of the area (the Peachtree tract) is absolutely burnt to cinders and is so damaged that it will not be able to come back.  A good bit of the rest of the forest looks as if it will be able to make a comeback - although it looks pretty fire darkened now.   I suspect there are more than a few sermons in this all too real happening, but the thing that strikes me right away is the lesson in controlled burning.  Perhaps, just perhaps, God can use the difficult times in our lives as a kind of controlled burning -- the undergrowth burns up so that our spirits can have room to grow and flourish.  I don't know.  It is certainly difficult to think this way when one is in the middle of adversity and it is only in retrospect that we can see.  I like something St. Paul had to say about suffering  (Romans 5). He writes, "We boast in our suffering..."  Eugene Peterson puts it this way  "We continue to shout our praise even when we are hemmed in with trouble." (The Message)...the NRSV continues...knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope , and hope does not disappoint us..."..So, Paul says when the controlled burning, when the back burning starts, praise God for what it will bring.    All in all , I think I'd rather go through a fire having had controlled burning  overseen by the Almighty ahead of time, so that when the big and really dangerous one shows up, I have some degree of protection.  I'd like for you to have that too.   Blessings,  Jennie

Photo by Tom McGree

Ash Wednesday 2011 - Come Back To Me

        Ash Wednesday is come again.  Thank God. 
       The Lord says through Joel,  "Return to Me."  St. Paul says, "I BEG you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."  I think he would prefer that be put in all caps. BE RECONCILED TO GOD!  In email and internet parlance, all caps is the equivalent of shouting. 
         I want to ask you just what does one DO with all of this kind of talk?  What if I (or you or we) were not even aware in the least that we have need of such thing?  Well, then, that might be a problem  and which is precisely why Joel is talking about blowing trumpets (wake up call) and why the Ash Wednesday Collect says, drawing from Psalm 51, "Create and make in us new and contrite hearts."  It is just when we start to think - "I don't need this stuff : God and I are just fine" that we are in the most difficulty.  We are in quicksand and don't even realize that we have fallen.  The simple truth is just what John says - All have sinned and fallen short....When our hearts are softened toward God, we realize just how much we fall short.  I did it at 4:00 this afternoon, Lord, help me. It wasn't huge in the big scale of things, but it was one of those little stumbles that lets you know - "O wait a minute...that wasn't exactly right."  So, we do need to return and we do need to be reconciled.  If you don't have a sense of your need for this--then ask God for that new and contrite heart.  He will give it to you, and it will be as tender as the skin of a newborn baby.  And, that will be something worth having.  May God bless you this Lent.

Morning Prayer

by our resident poet, William Baldwin











Add 'em up

Odds and ends

Equating to oblivion.

Oceans rise,

Planets spin

Light goes straight

Then it bends.

Christ, the Master,

Hear this prayer.

Make our day

A world contained

By Vital Love

And Care.

Woke up this Morning

With this tune going through my head.  It's the very beautiful setting of the Twenty-Third Psalm by Howard Goodall.  Below is a video of the music with images of the English countryside.
I was unsure just why this was my morning feast, but then, arrived at school and began my first class (2nd grade this morning).  Our topic of the week is the story of Gideon - the unlikely hero.  Yesterday I created a handout using the acronym FROG (Fully Rely on God).  I told the story and then had the children color the sheet - which had a picture of a frog on it along with the bible verse - "The Lord is my helper.  I will not be afraid." - Heb. 13.6 .  I found myself wishing for some beautiful music they could color to...and there it was.  Perhaps I also needed music for coloring...  or  Whatever the reason, here it is.. Enjoy.

Happy New Year!

May God bless you  in 2011!

Here is a great way to begin the New Year!  Check out this beautiful setting of Ps. 117 by Mozart.



Hat tip Anglican Curmudgeon

Here is the text:

LAUDATE DOMINUM

Laudate Dominum omnes gentes; laudate eum, omnes populi.
Quoniam confirmata est super nos misericordia ejus, et veritas
Domini manet in aeternum.

Gloria Patri et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio,
et nunc et semper, et in saecula seculorum. Amen

Here is our prayerbook translation:

Praise the LORD, all you nations;
laud him, all you peoples.

For his loving-kindness toward us is great,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures for ever. Hallelujah!


Wiener Konzerthaus, 13.12.2008
Soprano: Genia Kühmeier
Choir: Wiener Sängerknaben & Chorus Viennensis

Wiener Symphoniker
directed by Karel Mark Chichon

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree"

Sung most often as a Christmas carol but wonderful for any time of the year. The The hymn is composed by Elizabeth Poston and sung here by the Choir of Kings College, Cambridge (1993) ...Here are the words



Jesus Christ the Apple Tree



The tree of life my soul hath seen
Laden with fruit and always green
The tree of life my soul hath seen
Laden with fruit and always green
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the apple tree


His beauty doth all things excel
By faith I know but ne'er can tell
His beauty doth all things excel
By faith I know but ne'er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the apple tree.


For happiness I long have sought
And pleasure dearly I have bought
For happiness I long have sought
And pleasure dearly I have bought
I missed of all but now I see
'Tis found in Christ the apple tree.


I'm weary with my former toil
Here I will sit and rest a while
I'm weary with my former toil
Here I will sit and rest a while
Under the shadow I will be
Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.


This fruit does make my soul to thrive
It keeps my dying faith alive
This fruit does make my soul to thrive
It keeps my dying faith alive
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the apple tree.

You are Warmly Invited

 To St. James Santee  Episcopal Church for the 2010 Christmas Eve service.  Friday Evening, 6:00 pm - Holy Communion, Rt. II, Carols, Violin, Organ, Homily and Children's offering - "The Stars of Bethlehem"

The Christmas Story

told in a slightly different way!

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a wonderful surprise!

Christ the King

The Sands of Time Are Sinking

words by Ann Cousin, based on letters of Samuel Rutherford.

1. The sands of time are sinking,

The dawn of heaven breaks;

The summer morn I’ve sighed for -

The fair, sweet morn awakes:

Dark, dark had been the midnight

But dayspring is at hand,

And glory, glory dwelleth

In Emmanuel’s land.

2. The king there in His beauty,

Without a veil is seen:

It were a well-spent journey,

Though seven deaths lay between:

The Lamb with His fair army,

Doth on Mount Zion stand,

And glory, glory dwelleth

In Emmanuel’s land

3. O Christ, He is the fountain,

The deep, sweet well of love!

The streams on earth I’ve tasted

More deep I’ll drink above:

There to an ocean fullness

His mercy doth expand,

And glory, glory dwelleth

In Emmanuel’s land.

4. The bride eyes not her garment,

But her dear Bridegroom’s face;

I will not gaze at glory

But on my King of grace.

Not at the crown He giveth

But on His pierced hand;

The Lamb is all the glory

Of Emmanuel’s land.

5. O I am my Beloved’s

And my Beloved is mine!

He brings a poor vile sinner

Into His house of wine

I stand upon His merit -

I know no other stand,

Not e’en where glory dwelleth

In Emmanuel’s land.

For Your Calendar, Pt. II

The Concert was glorious...please be sure to join us for....

A Talk by Suzy McCall, Long Term Missionary to Honduras and Founder of the LAMB Institute....

Thursday Evening, Oct. 21st, at 6:30 pm - Talk and Covered Dish
St. James Santee is proud to be a mission partner with LAMB Institute...Here is a little bit about their ministry..

LAMB is a Christ-centered, multifaceted ministry based in Tegucigalpa, Honduras which seeks to reach out to the world with the love of Jesus. LAMB was founded in 1999 by long term missionary, Suzy McCall as a training school for Hondurans called to world mission. Today, LAMB also operates an elementary school with over 250 children, a large youth outreach ministry, and a community assistance program which ministers to the needy with food, medical care, construction help, microfinance assistance. These three ministries are centered in one of the most violent and poverty stricken areas of Tegucigalpa – Flor de Campo. LAMB also operates a residential home and school for over 60 abused and neglected children in a rural setting outside the city. LAMB’s newest ministry is an outreach and shelter for girls and young women who have been victims of human trafficking.

Please bring a dish, a friend and join us. You will be inspired! For more about LAMB, check out their website at The LAMB Institute

For your Calendar.....

A Concert - Sept. 19th,

4:00 pm *  Chapel of Ease

Songs of Praise and Thanksgiving. Organ, Cello, and Voices.

Featuring: Handel, Bach, contemporary hymn arrangements and spirituals.  Musicians: Mindy Burgin- Cello - St. James’ Church Musician; Elsie Pollack - Organ, Organist at Holy Cross-Faith Memorial Episcopal Church at Pawley’s Island; Patti Edwards, Soprano, and Brink Norton, Tenor.   Free!

Please join us and bring a friend.

And

A Talk by Suzy McCall, Long Term Missionary to Honduras and Founder of the

 LAMB Institute....

Thursday Evening, Oct. 21st, at 6:30 pm   - Talk and Covered Dish

St. James Santee is proud to be a mission partner with LAMB Institute...Here is a little bit about their ministry..

LAMB is a Christ-centered, multifaceted ministry based in Tegucigalpa, Honduras which seeks to reach out to the world with the love of Jesus. LAMB was founded in 1999 by long term missionary, Suzy McCall as a training school for Hondurans called to world mission. Today, LAMB also operates an elementary school with over 250 children, a large youth outreach ministry, and a community assistance program which ministers to the needy with food, medical care, construction help, microfinance assistance. These three ministries are centered in one of the most violent and poverty stricken areas of Tegucigalpa – Flor de Campo. LAMB also operates a residential home and school for over 60 abused and neglected children in a rural setting outside the city. LAMB’s newest ministry is an outreach and shelter for girls and young women who have been victims of human trafficking.

Please bring a dish, a friend and  join us.  You will be inspired!  For more about LAMB, check out their website at    The LAMB Institute

A Beautiful Meditation on Psalm 139

...by Liz Babbs

Happy Independence Day!!

Here is a wonderful excerpt from a 1775 letter...
I received by the Deacon two letters from you, this day, from Hartford. I feel a recruit of spirits upon the reception of them, and the comfortable news which they contain.
We had not heard any thing from North Carolina before, and could not help feel ing anxious, lest we should find a defection there, arising more from their ancient feuds and animosities, than from any settled ill-will in the present con test ; but the confirmation of the choice of their delegates by their Assembly, leaves not a doubt of their firmness ; nor doth the eye say unto the hand, " I have no need of thee." The Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.

Great events are most certainly in the womb of futurity ; and, if the present chastisements which we experience have a proper influence upon our conduct, the event will certainly be in our favor.

The distresses of the inhabitants of Boston are beyond the power of language to describe ; there are but very few who are permitted to come out in a day ; they delay giving passes, make them wait from hour to hour, and their counsels are not two hours together alike. One day, they shall come out with their effects ; the next day, merchandise is not effects. One day, their house hold furniture is to come out ; the next, only wearing apparel ; the next, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, and he refuseth to hearken to them, and will not let the people go. May their deliverance be wrought out for them, as it was for the children of Israel. I do not mean by miracles, but by the interposition of Heaven in their favor..... 

--A letter from Abigail Adams (1744-1818) to John Adams (1735-1826) 7 May 1775

Still Celebrating Easter

Dear Friends, the Brick Church service was wonderful this year. It seems as if every year I say, "This one was the best EVER." Perfect weather, a great sermon, beautiful music, yummy picnic, but best of all our wonderful extended family. If you did not attend, put it on your calendar for 2011 - April 30th.

Easter is a season of 50 days but it is worth celebrating every day because an empty tomb changes everything.

Here is a terrific video which makes the case far better than I can...be sure to watch it all the way to the end. Be sure to click on the "Full Screen" icon (to the far right on the bottom frame with four arrows)- otherwise you won't be able to read the words which, for this video, is important to be able to do.

Happy Easter forever!!!

Brick Church Sunday is This Coming Sunday - April 11th

Plan to join us for our continuing celebration of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ!

Our preacher will be the Rev. Brian K. McGreevy (see bio below)...Brian is a thoughtful and engaging preacher...
Special music offered by  SJS Church Musician Sue Tanner - hammered dulcimer and vocals accompanied by Brink Norton, vocalist..
Our usual wonderful picnic...

The Rev. Brian K. McGreevy, J.D., serves as Head Chaplain at Porter-Gaud School, where he is also Chair of the Religion Department. He is also on the clergy staff at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. Rev. McGreevy, an alumnus of Porter-Gaud, attended Duke University and holds a B.A. with high honors from Furman University and a J.D. from Emory University School of Law with Honors in Family Law, where he did work in the law and theology program. He has over twenty-five years’ experience with youth ministry and teaching high school and college students in several Episcopal churches, having served as College Minister at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta as well as having served on associate staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He has completed the three-year training program for vocational deacons administered by the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. Following a successful 15-year career in international law and management, Rev. McGreevy and his family returned to Charleston, where they owned a bed and breakfast for ten years. Rev. McGreevy is part of the senior administration at Porter-Gaud, teaches courses on New Testament and C.S. Lewis, and oversees a vibrant student ministry where nearly 100 Upper School and 60 Middle School students are involved in voluntary weekly Bible studies and discipleship groups. He is married to the former Jane Hollis Whitney, and they have four children—Whit (a sophomore at Furman University), Amy (a senior at Porter-Gaud), Mary Hollis (a freshman at Porter-Gaud), and Anne (10 years old and home-schooled).

Photo by Brenda Kay

A Blessed Easter to You All!

It has been said that most preachers really have only one or two sermons irregardless of how often he or she might preach.

The late Rev. Canon Samuel Fleming's was "Jesus is Lord." St. John the Beloved was known to have wearied his congregations by constantly preaching on "Love One Another." If I were to attempt to articulate my "one" Easter sermon, it would have to be drawn from these two texts: "even when we were dead through our trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ ..." (Eph. 2:5) and "Death is swallowed up in victory." (1 Cor. 15:54c).

Few poets have written more beautifully on this topic than John Donne. Here is an excerpt from his Sonnet X, read so well by actor, Emma Thompson from the film "Wit".

Holy Week 2010

Such a beautiful song and just right for Holy Week....

"How Deep the Father's Love for Us" - Stuart Townend