Return with all your heart

Ash Wednesday this year, for me, is about the condition of our hearts. The Collect for Ash Wednesday gets at this. It reads:

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the god of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness...

The painting above is entitled Prodigal Son. It is by the contemporary Russian artist Vladimir Zunuzin www.zunuzin.com I have found myself drawn to this biblical image as depicted by many different artists, but no one captures the colors of the heart the way this painting does.

During this Lent, may we, like the Prodigal lament our sins and acknowledge our wretchedness ....just perhaps we will receive a brand new heart.

Ash Wednesday

A Portion of the poem Ash Wednesday from TS Elliot.

VI

Although I do not hope to turn again

Although I do not hope

Although I do not hope to turn

Wavering between the profit and the loss

In this brief transit where the dreams cross

The dreamcrossed twilight between birth and dying

(Bless me father) though I do not wish to wish these things

From the wide window towards the granite shore

The white sails still fly seaward, seaward flying

Unbroken wings

And the lost heart stiffens and rejoices

In the lost lilac and the lost sea voices

And the weak spirit quickens to rebel

For the bent golden-rod and the lost sea smell

Quickens to recover

The cry of quail and the whirling plover

And the blind eye creates

The empty forms between the ivory gates

And smell renews the salt savour of the sandy earth

This is the time of tension between dying and birth

The place of solitude where three dreams cross

Between blue rocks

But when the voices shaken from the yew-tree drift away

Let the other yew be shaken and reply.

Blessèd sister, holy mother, spirit of the fountain, spirit of the garden,

Suffer us not to mock ourselves with falsehood

Teach us to care and not to care

Teach us to sit still

Even among these rocks,

Our peace in His will

And even among these rocks

Sister, mother

And spirit of the river, spirit of the sea,

Suffer me not to be separated

And let my cry come unto Thee.

Annaul Meeting is January 20th

What fun! Vestry elections, membership report, year in review.....what more could you want?

You are Invited...

For more details, click here http://www.dioceseofsc.org/mt/archives/000306.html/

The E-100 - 2011-2012 - New Testament Cycle

Dear St. James Santee Members and Friends,


The story of Jesus Christ began before time, and the threads of this “ best story of all” run throughout the whole of the Old and New Testaments. The E-100 plan has been adopted to help us follow those threads so that we might be better able to grasp the breadth and depth of God’s love for us. It is suggested that each week you read and meditate on the passage for the week. On Sundays, except for major feast days, we will hear a sermon on a portion of that reading. May you be blessed in your study, reflection, hearing and learning.

Jennie+


E-100, Pt. 2 - The New Testament Plan

The Living Word

51. The Word Became Flesh- John 1:1-18 -  Jan. 16

52. Gabriel’s Messages Luke- 1:1-80  - Jan 23

53. The Birth of Jesus -  Luke 2:1-40 - Jan 30

54. John the Baptist  - Luke 3:1-20  - Feb 6

55. Baptism and Temptation -  Mt. 3:13-4:17  - Feb. 13

The Teachings of Jesus

56. Sermon on the Mount - I Mt. 5:1-6:4  - Feb. 20

57. Sermon on the Mount -II  - Mt. 6:5-7:29 -  Feb 27

58. The Kingdom of Heaven  - Mt. 13:1-58 -  March 6

59. The Good Samaritan Luke  - 10:25-37 -  March 13

60 Lost and Found  - Luke 15:1-32  - March 20

The Miracles of Jesus

61. Feeding the Five Thousand -  Luke 9:1-36 -  March 27

62 Walking on the Water  - Mt. 14:22-36 -  April 3

63 Healing a Blind Man  - John 9:1-41  - April 10



Palm Passion Sunday April 17


Easter Day April 24


Second Sunday of Easter – Brick Church May 1



64 Healing a Demon-Possessed Man  - Mark 5:1-20  - May 8

65 Raising Lazarus  - John 11:1-57 -  May 15

66 The Last Supper - Luke 22:1-46 -  May 22

67 Arrest and Trial  - John 18:1-40 -  May 29

68-70. The Crucifixion & Resurrection  - John 19:1-42 -  June 5

The Church is Born



71 - Pentecost Day - Acts 2:1-47  June 12

72 Growth and Persecution  - Acts 3:1-4:37  - June 19

73 The First Martyr -  Acts 6:8-8:8  - June 26
74 Sharing the Word -  Acts 8:26-40  - July 3

75 Good News for All  - Acts 10:1-11:18  - July 10

The Travels of Paul


76 The Road to Damascus -  Acts 9:1-31  - July 17

77 The First Missionary Journey -  Acts 13:1-14:28  - July 24

78 The Council at Jerusalem  - Acts 15:1-41 -  July 31

79 More Missionary Journeys  - Acts 16:1-20:38 -  August 7

80 The Trip to Rome -  Acts 25:1-28:31 -  August 14

Paul to the Churches


81 More than Conquerors -  Romans 8:1-39  - August 28

82 The Fruit of the Spirit -  Gal. 5:16-6:10 -  Sept. 4

83 The Armor of God  - Ephesians 6:10-20  - Sept. 11

84 Rejoice in the Lord -  Philippians 4:4-9  - Sept. 18

85 The Supremacy of Christ -  Colossians 1:1-23 -  Sept. 25

Paul to the Leaders

86-87 Elders &  Deacons   - 1 Tim. 3:1-6:21 -  Oct. 2

  88 Good Soldiers of Christ  - 2 Tim. 2:1-26  - Oct.  9

89 All Scripture is God-Breathed  - 2 Tim. 3:10-4:8  - Oct. 16

90 The Coming of the Lord  - 1 Thess. 4:13-5:11  - Oct. 23

The Apostles’ Teaching

91 The Most Excellent Way -  1 Cor. 13:1-13 -  Oct.  30

92 A New Creation in Christ -  2 Cor. 4:1-6:2  - Nov. 6

93 A Living Hope - 1 Peter 1:1-2:26 - Nov. 13


Christ the King – Last Sunday after Pentecost  - Nov. 20


1 Advent C Nov. 27


2 Advent C Dec. 4


3 Advent C Dec. 11


4 Advent C Dec. 18


Christmas Day Dec. 25


Christmas 2 Jan. 1, 2012



94 Faith and Works -  James 1:1-2:26  - Jan. 8

95 Love One Another  - 1 John 3:11-4:21  - Jan. 15

The Revelation

96 A Voice and a Vision -  Rev. 1:1-20  - Jan. 22

97 Message to the Churches -  Rev. 2:1-3:22 -  Jan. 29

98 The Throne of Heaven  - Rev. 4:1-7:17  - Feb. 5

99 Hallelujah!  - Rev. 19:1-20:15 -  Feb. 12

100 The New Jerusalem -  Rev. 21:1-22:21  - Feb. 19 Last Epiphany











Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,










and a light unto my path. (Ps. 119:105)















St. James Santee Episcopal Church

The Rt. Rev. Mark J. Lawrence., Bishop

Vicar – The Rev. Jennie C. Olbrych: 843-571-7915

stjamesec@tds.net & stjamessantee.blogspot.com

205 Oak St. * P.O. Box 123, McClellanville, SC 29458

Be sure to check December happenings

Click Here http://stjamessantee.blogspot.com/2003/09/this-month-at-sjs.html

Christmas Eve 2007

Christmas Eve Blessings to one and all! Here is a Christmas story that touched me. Unfortunately, I do not know who the author is. I pass it along in hopes that it will be meaningful to you. God bless you all!

TWO BABES IN A MANGER

In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage. They relate the following story in their own words: It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word. Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city. Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia, were used for the baby's blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States. The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately...until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad-lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, "If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?" And Jesus told me, "If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me. So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him for always." As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him...FOR ALWAYS. I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that counts.