Peggy and I certainly look forward to visiting all our friends at St. James’ and renewing once again those relationships that meant so much to us from the first moment we walked up the steps and passed through those large doors into that remarkable and majestic space.
As the parish approaches its 200th year, there is much to celebrate, far more than any of us could possibly list. While my list is long, a single thought, what floods my memory, is the physical space itself and how it has been made available to the world. For me it is a lovely metaphor of sorts for all that Saint James’ has been and needs to be as it engages its future.
One must always be on guard not to worship or pay undue attention to such things as physical space, but having recognized that reality, I do rejoice in the simple fact that Jean-Claude rises each morning from his well deserved night’s rest to open wide the doors of St. James’ Church. In that action something occurs that is, I am most certain, most pleasing to the heart of God. In that action each morning a free, grace-filled gift is offered to the world. It is a gift that enables anyone to find needed sanctuary, a sense of mystery and a place of inner discovery. It is a gift that allows persons to stand upon holy ground and engage the Living God in a transcendent intersection of human soul and the Divine. It has and continues to be a great gift to the community and a worthy tribute to the God we understand and worship in that place.
During ordinary days of the week I would often kneel all by myself in that space...kneel in both my brokenness and my Godly potential and find that which only God provides: the deepest kind of peace for my soul and the inspiration to rise from that posture and attempt to honor the God to whose glory that space was constructed and maintained.* I rejoice with the untold numbers who have benefited as I have and who have come away from the majesty of that space quieted, comforted, forgiven, inspired and resolved to better serve and honor the God before whom they have knelt. Is that not a fair metaphor for all that the parish has sought to be in the period of these 200 years, opening wide itself to make known the boundless love and care of Jesus Christ?
Yes, we have much for which to be grateful as St. James’ celebrates those years. We have the God inspiring space itself, mysteriously and practically drawing persons into the very embrace of God. We have all the life changing outreach, the soul enrichin Christian education, the warm fellowship, the embrace and comfort we have received in faithful pastoral care, all of the wisdom of rank upon rank of extraordinary clergy and lay ministers, the rich memories of baptisms, confirmations, the deep comfort received as the Burial Office was echoed off those walls and the wonder each Sabbath as bread and wine were held high in that space to become the Body and Blood of Christ. Let us rejoice in it all. In these celebrations may the God of all the heavens know our gratitude and our willingness, our passion to see the substance of the Christian Gospel continually proclaimed from the corner of Madison and 71st Street. And, as those doors are flung open each morning may all the world better know the power of Almighty God, the love of Jesus Christ and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
-Mark Anschutz
Rector of St. James' Church 1992-1996
*May I not let this opportunity to pass without thanking Brenda and all the parish’s lay leadership who so magnificently and wisely restored the properties. They have, very literally, provided “foundations” which will make the peace, guidance and love of God available for so many who will make their way up those steps and through those doors as they seek to have their lives be in rhythm with the God who dwells so evidently in that place.
The Rev. Mark Anschutz will be the next Bicentennial Guest Preacher at St. James' on Sunday, November 15. He will preach at both the 9:10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services and speak at the adult education forum at 10:30: "Questions and Answers on Forty Years of Priesthood."
