As summer draws to a close, there are many signs that nature is already gearing up for the next season. And what a spectacular season it is. Autumn – nature’s last hurrah before the colder winter months. Each year at Harvest Festivals, schools sing a song called Autumn Days which describes lots of the beauty of the life in Autumn and to be thankful.

At St James church, we have a lot to be thankful for. A year ago, we started Footprints Stay & Play Group which has a focus on sensory play and providing a lovely space for all children, especially those with special educational needs and disabilities to explore play together. The group has flourished and good supportive relationships have grown – I think the chats over tea and cake help here! So a big thank you to all who come and all those who help make it possible. Please see dates list for when we meet.

The leaders of Footprints understand that not everyone likes to celebrate Halloween and so are having a Light Party on October 31st from 1 until 3 at St James Church. Lots of family fun, games, play and food to share together. Dress up in your brightest coloured clothes and enjoy celebrating Light. No charge, but donations are always welcome.

In September, some lovely volunteers opened up St James church for the Heritage Open Coffee Morning. Thank you to Southam Heritage for leading tours around the town and for everyone who came to the coffee morning and donated cakes. To date, we raised just over £210 which will go towards the buildings fund for the much needed repairs.

On Saturday October 14th , we’re excited to have a concert by ‘Vinyl Times’ to raise further funds. The band will perform music from the Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, Travelling Wilbury’s, Tom Petty and Leonard Cohen to name a few. Doors open 7pm with 7:30pm start. Licensed bar. Tickets £10 each from the Church office southamstjames@gmail.com or 01926 812413, or Jane Jones on a Sunday morning.

Just a quick update about the church building – we are so thankful to those who are supporting the work with their time, expertise and energy as well as those giving financially. The amount of work needed is significant, but we know how much the church means to the community and we are so thankful for your support. I hope that you will have noticed works already happening with work on the churchyard and also the south and north aisle doors being repaired and treated ready for the colder months ahead. It’s planned that in the week of October 16th a steeplejack company will be inspecting the tower and spire, removing loose debris, investigating and removing the shrubbery, and providing a full report for us. This sort of work doesn’t often happen, so do look out for the steeplejack but please do also keep your distance as they clear the debris etc. We’re hoping that after the works are completed that we may be able to restart the clock for which I know that we will all be thankful for! The clock hands are likely to require some work in the future, but we’ll keep you updated as we’re able to.

A few more dates for your diary…
October 26th – Poppy Appeal Launch – keep an eye out for more info from Galanos House
October 29th – Breakfast Church at St James 9:45am all welcome
November 12th – Remembrance Sunday Parade & service at St James
November 24th – 26th – Christmas Tree Festival – please get in touch with church office if you’d like to be involved this year.
December 2nd – Christmas Church Fayre

Stay thankful,
Rev Vikki

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

This may be a really familiar Bible passage to you or you may be reading it for the first time. I wonder, as you take a moment to think about this reading, what things distract you or prevent you from taking time to sit with Jesus or just even take time out?

Martha is very busy and distracted whilst Mary appears to be sitting idle. Martha is doing all the work, while Mary has, in the culture of the day, invaded the space culturally and traditionally left for men. Rather than assuming the role expected of women in her culture, Mary takes a place at the feet of Jesus and listens to his words. She assumes the posture of a student learning at the feet of a rabbi, a role traditionally reserved for men.

The account takes a sharp turn when Martha, distracted by her many tasks, comes to Jesus and asks, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me”. Many who read or hear this story may cheer for Mary in her inversion of traditional roles. Many may also empathise with Martha’s resentment of her sister for leaving her to do all the work. Jesus’ response to Martha seems less than empathetic, chiding her for her distraction and worry, and praising Mary: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

The problem with Martha is not that she is busy serving and providing hospitality, but rather that she is worried and distracted and her heart is not in the right place. Martha’s distraction and worry leave no room for the most important aspect of hospitality – gracious attention to the guest. In fact, she breaks all the rules of hospitality by trying to embarrass her sister in front of her guest, by asking her guest to intervene in a family dispute and then accusing the guest of not caring about her!

Martha’s worry and distraction prevent her from being truly present with Jesus, and it causes her to drive a wedge between her sister and herself, and between Jesus and herself. Jesus’ words to Martha may be seen as an invitation rather than a rebuke. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.” The one thing needed is for Martha to receive the gracious presence of Jesus, to listen to his words, to know that she is valued not for what she does or how well she does it, but for who she is as a child of God.

In a culture of hectic schedules and the relentless pursuit of productivity, we are tempted to measure our worth by how busy we are, by how much we accomplish, or by how well we meet the expectations of others. It’s true that much of our busyness and distraction stems from the noblest of intentions. Indeed, where would the church be without its ‘Martha’s’ – faithful folk who perform the tasks of hospitality and service so vital to making the church a welcoming and well-functioning community?

And yet if all our activities leave us with no time to be still and hear God’s word, we are likely to end up anxious and troubled. Jesus doesn’t condemn Martha for trying to be a good hostess, rather he tells her that the problem is she has become anxious and troubled. She had lost her perspective of why she was serving in the first place. Jesus said that even though what Martha was doing was important, there was only one thing that was needful. What was that one thing? It was sitting at Jesus feet learning from his teaching.

Both listening and doing, receiving God’s Word and serving others, are vital to the Christian life, just as inhaling and exhaling are to breathing. Taking time out from busy schedules is such a blessing and much needed. So my prayer for you all this month is that the lighter summer days give you space away from worries and distractions, and that you have time to step away from busy schedules so that you can just sit and breathe and come to know that you are valued just as you are – a child of God.

As most of you are aware, the church building needs much repair work and to raise funds we will be hosting a variety of concerts and events over the coming months. It’s a big encouragement that we’ve been asked by talented local folk whether they can perform at St James to raise funds for the church. On Saturday 15 July at 3pm we will be hosting an afternoon concert performed by Divertimento. It’s called ‘Best of British’ and the music will span from Henry VIII to the Beatles and beyond! Tickets are £10 for adults or £5 for under 16s (Family tickets £25) and are available from the church office during office hours (Mon, Wed, Thurs 9am-1pm) 01926 812413 southamstjames@gmail.com or from Vikki 07983 402614 vicarpad@gmail.com. You can also order tickets from Jane Jones on Sunday mornings at church, or book through Eventbrite (subject to booking fees). We’ll be raising further funds by serving refreshments in the interval, so if you’d like to volunteer to help serve, bake or donate sweet treats then please speak to Vikki.

After two years of missing the fellowship as well as the privilege of being able to take Holy Communion together, we are very pleased to say that 10am services will be starting again in church on Thursday 7 April.

To begin with it will just be the first Thursday in every month but hopefully will soon become more frequent.

If you haven’t been to one of these services before, you’ll be very welcome to join us at what is a traditional, reflective and friendly celebration of Holy Communion. So, please put in your diaries 7 April, 5 May and 2 June.

Since the start of the Covid outbreak over two years ago we have been constantly reflecting on the changing national guidance as we have made decisions about when and how we are able to gather together. At each stage we have reflected the national guidance and tried to care for those who are most vulnerable, whilst recognising everyone’s desire to get together as freely as possible under the circumstances. Following the latest government announcement, we wish to update the church family about how things will look at our Sunday morning service.

From this Sunday people will not be required to wear masks during the service. We would, however, encourage wearing them to keep the vulnerable safe as we recognise, understand and respect that some of our congregation remain at risk and/or are cautious about the continuing possibility of becoming infected by the Covid virus. For that reason, we will be offering seating for those that want to stay slightly away from those who are not wearing masks. This area will be clearly set aside for those who wish to use it.

On a Sunday, if you have any concerns, please discuss them with one of our Welcome Team who will be only too pleased to try to help you. They will also be able to indicate the area that we will be keeping free for those at risk.