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Bishop Provisional!
The Rt. Rev. Diane M. Jardine Bruce
Bishop Diane M. Jardine Bruce is presented to the Diocese of West Missouri as our provisional (interim) Bishop to be affirmed at the Diocesan Convention of 2021 in Kansas City. Please listen to her comments and self-introduction.
Bishop Bruce Introduction (English)
Additional Service @ 9 am
An Additional Service on Sundays
Sundays 9 am
We will offer an early church at 9 am on Sundays if you are inclined to attend a shorter service.
Spiritual Habits - 15
Worshipping together!
Lots of things have changed in our world today. Even though a lot of stuff looks the same, our inner workings have changed as a result of the pandemic. We have begun to look at life differently and our need for community, for some, may have shrunk. We have learned to be more efficient through tiny screens. However, relationships are suffering as a result of shrinking into small screens.
So, I would like to encourage you to make extra effort to build relationships, care for the community you are part of, and be present to people for real and physically. Come to pray and learn together, encourage each other, and build a better society than the society of 2020 or before. Encourage children to attend school and church, pray in communities, study, and play together. I would like to invite you to participate in regular worship and study, sharing your time and talent with your St. James community. I know you must be tired of hearing this from me. But the truth is, I miss seeing some of you!! I would love to hear from you, visit with you and hear what is going on in your life, and be part of your journey. I will gladly visit you at home or pray with you at your workplace. I am here for you and would hope you would take my offer and accept my invitation.
Fr. Jos+
Book Review - Recommendation
by Elizabeth James
A SECOND CHANCE For You, for Me, and for the Rest of Us
Catherine Hoke
Of the directives we have from Jesus, to feed the hungry, to house the homeless, to welcomes the immigrant, and so forth, the one I have fallen most short of is to visit those in prison. I have a sort of pen pal who is a “lifer” in what has been described as one of the most notorious state prisons in the country. We don’t exchange letters often, but he tells me getting a letter really brightens his day. Can you imagine living such a life that getting a card or a letter from someone you don’t even know makes you happy?
My friend asked me to read a book called A Second Chance by Catherine Hoke. He told me it changed his life. The book has changed my life as well. It’s about a program in various prisons called DEFY. The program’s focus is that you should not be known for the worst thing you ever did, but for who you are now. This amazing program helps prisoners to believe in themselves, to accept themselves as “CEOs of their own lives”. It gives them opportunities to see the similarities between themselves and volunteers from “outside”. The participants are called Entrepreneurs in Training. They learn business skills and are encouraged to develop ideas for businesses with the possibility of assistance in starting up those businesses when they are released. Many of them have not only started up successful businesses but have employed many other released prisoners. I have to say that the book – and the program completely blew me away. I am sad that this program is so little known and that people don’t see the desire in these incarcerated people to better themselves and to become people they and their families can be proud of. I think it’s also really important to recognize that, despite what we see in the movies, there are Wardens and Corrections Officers who support this program and their inmates.
I don’t know what my friend did, other than he will spend his life in prison. It doesn’t really matter what he did. It isn’t my job to pass judgment on him. I do know that he never complains about his situation and he never blames his misfortunes on anybody. He takes responsibility for himself. That alone tells me what an amazing effect the DEFY program has. I urge everyone to seek out this book and to learn more about the program.
Christian Formation For All Ages
If we have learned anything in the last several months it is that we don't have much control over what happens in our lives. So it is essential for us to rely on God more and more and it will give us peace of mind and a heart that is not stressed.
To do that I invite you to
  • Pray regularly
  • Read scriptures every day
  • Attend worship every Sunday
  • Participate in studies weekly
  • Spend a few hours of total silence at least once a month
  • Help your neighbor if you can.
Our Sunday school for all ages will resume on Sunday, September 12th. Since our children will be back in school starting August 23rd, I am sure, parents can bring their children to Christian Formation programs at Church as well. As we get closer to the second weekend of September we will announce the schedule of programs and studies. Please watch for announcements here.
Weekly Summer Reflections
Youth and Children
Ephesians 6:10-20
Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
Hi kids! This week in EKC we take a look at the Armor of God! This armor isn’t a physical armor but a spiritual one. Let’s take a closer look at each piece.
1.    The Belt of Truth!
What is the belt of truth? The belt of truth is a symbol for the truth Jesus tells us in the Gospel. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” When we put on the belt of truth we believe in Jesus!
 
2.    The Breastplate of Righteousness!
What is the breastplate of righteousness? To be righteous we must follow the commands of Jesus, especially the most important commandments of them all, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
 
3.    The Shoes of Readiness
What are the shoes of readiness? If you’ve ever been on a long walk in the wrong shoes, you know your feet are all you can think about. Having the right shoes on can make all the difference in how steady we are and how long we can continue without giving up. When we fit our feet with the readiness that comes with the gospel of peace, we are preparing our minds to know and live out the gospel of Jesus. The gospel of Jesus is about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. It is about having the spirt of God so we can be ready to be hands and feet of God in this world.
 
4.    The Shield of Faith
What is the shield of faith? Faith is to believe in something even if we can’t see it. Believing in the sacrifice of Jesus and his message for all people is the shield of faith.
 
5.    The Helmet of Salvation
What is the helmet of salvation? Salvation is the gift Jesus gave to us when he died on the cross for our sins. He took the punishment for sin so that we could have eternal life. We must believe in our minds and hearts the truth of salvation through Jesus. It is a free gift and nothing we can do will separate us from the love which is Jesus Christ.
 
6.    The Sword of the Spirit
What is the sword of the spirit? The word of God is the spirit of truth given to us by Holy Spirit. The truth of salvation through Jesus Christ is our greatest weapon against hatred, sadness, war, unkindness, cruelty, thoughtlessness, and excessiveness.
This armor isn’t something we wear on our bodies, rather it’s something we decide in our minds. It is the decision to believe in God our creator, Jesus our savior, and the Holy Spirit our teacher. When we believe in them, we believe in the power of love. 
I would love to hear from you! Share pictures, video, thoughts or questions with on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/StJamesSpringfield
Prayers
Happy Birthday
Michael Ibrahim, Aug. 8th
Marge Francis, Aug. 9th
Phil Monroe, Aug. 14th
Louanna LeCompte, Aug. 16th
Nichol Hamilton, Aug. 28th
Francesca (Frankie) Rayl, Aug. 30th. 
Happy Anniversary
Kenton and Ann Wright, Aug. 1st
David and Nichol Hamilton Aug. 2nd
George and Judy Morawski, Aug. 16th
Larry and Tammy Larimore, Aug. 28th
Prayers for Families This Week
Gernhart, Gillogly, Haberman