For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1   Dear Parish Family,   Pentecost Sunday (May 24th) was a grand and wonderful celebration. The downtown flowers (so thoughtfully prepared by parishioners Ann and John Parker), the fiery splendor of the color red, the wonderful liturgy and the joyful baptisms of three beautiful young people made for a distinguished morning.   In our liturgical season, we have now moved to something known as  “Ordinary Time.”  Traditionally, Ordinary Time is any part of the church year outside of the major seasons  (Christmastide and Eastertide), and their preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent. That generally means the time between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday, and then the twenty-eight (or so) weeks between Pentecost and the First Sunday of Advent.  This year, we will be in ordinary time until November 29th.   Ordinary Time can be seen as an opportunity to return to the ordinary of daily life, and also to reflect on Christ’s earthly mission, including his travels, teaching, healing, and ministry. It’s also a great opportunity to reflect on how we might live day to day as faithful Christians, and to ponder our own spiritual lives.  The liturgical color is green, which symbolizes growth and new life. That’s why you’ll see green vestments and altar cloths.   For St. James Parish, our season did change as our beloved Mount Lebanon Chapel opened for Sunday worship on May 10th to significant and joyful gatherings of both regulars and newcomers.  At the same time, a robust congregation continues to worship downtown. This will be an important season to remember that although we are blessed with two extraordinary worship locations, we remain one beloved parish family.   Be sure to mark Sunday, September 13th, on your calendars.  That will be “Welcome Sunday,” when we all return to one worship location – our historic downtown sanctuary.   The author of Ecclesiastes reminds us that “for everything there is a season.”  As we move into this our summer season, may we remain grateful for all the blessings God has placed in our lives.  And then let us in our daily lives find ways to represent Christ’s love, seeking and serving him on all that we do.  In this Ordinary Time, may our words and actions be Christ-like, which is anything but ordinary, and so desperately needed in our world and community this season.   Blessings, Phillip+ The Rev. Phillip Craig The post From the Rector ~ June 2026 appeared first on St. James Episcopal Church.