Almost daily we provided meals, shelter, clothing, and love to the many homeless and poor in our city, and established a housing corporation, Hearts for Homes, which helped homeless children and moms get into safe and affordable housing. “I think God’s primary ministry to us is bringing us home - not to some far-off heaven, nor even to the Church, synagogue, or mosque, but to God’s extravagant, unqualified love which is for right now, and for absolutely everyone, no exceptions.  When we finally understand our own belovedness to God, we’ll want others to know theirs, too, which is a far more sacred work than getting more members and will take us out beyond our stained-glass windows and red doors to help heal the world of its brokenness. I hope that St. James will become famous for its radical hospitality and extreme inclusiveness! “I have a great love for the Church’s worship and hymnody, and published a book,  "Liturgy for the Whole Church: Multi-generational Resources for Worship," to help congregations worship with creativity and joy.  I also have great respect for the spirituality of children, which I am convinced is innate.  If Jesus was right about our need to “turn and become like the child again,” then children should be with us grownups at worship so we can learn from them how to open our hearts toward God and each other. I will be leading worship at St. James every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month (sometimes the fourth, sometimes the fifth) and at home in the rectory most weekdays. Please feel free to call me with any pastoral need. 

I hope all our parishioners, and any interested neighbors, will come to a service soon, so I can meet you, and you can learn more about our brave and beautiful parish.”