11:00 am Regular Sunday Services and Sunday School

All are welcome! Please join us.

Good morning. It is another beautiful day in God's good creation.

This Sunday we gather to give God our worship and our thanksgiving in our words, our prayers, singing and learning together.

St. James worship will be a regular service and will include the "Sacrament of Holy Communion for a time of Sabbath Rest." This will be the last Holy Communion until world-wide Communion in October. Do come to feast at God's table.

Scripture readings for this Sunday are from 1 Samuel and the Gospel of Mark.

Our first reading is from 1 Samuel, Chapter 3, verses 1 through 10. In this reading, Samuel is called by God to go out into the world to work with God, building a kingdom of justice, love and compassion. Our second reading is from the Gospel of  Mark, Chapter 2, verse 23 through Chapter 3, verse 6. In this reading we hear that Jesus' disciples were seen working on the Sabbath and Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. Jesus is rebuked by the religious authorities for acting against the "law." Jesus in turn challenges the authorities saying their understanding of the law is too narrow and restrictive. He calls them to live by the heart and not by the letter of the law. Jesus calls them to a life of love and compassion regardless of the day of week. This second reading will only be heard at St. James as Trinity service will be abbreviated.

And, one final note from me. This is my last Sunday in the pulpit until late September. As you know, OKPC adopted a 3/4 time ministry model in 2017 and we are now in the second year of it. The way it works is: I am present full-time mid-September thru mid-June (or thereabouts) and then I disappear (I will leave at end of day, June 8). I do hope to see you this Sunday to offer you my blessings for a Summer of Sabbath rest. If not, do know I will hold you in my prayers until we see one another again.

Blessings on your Friday and weekend.