The Messenger March 2025
St. James on the Lake Episcopal Church
Looking up – Reaching Out – Gathering In
10707 Co Rd 4022, Kemp, TX 75143
www.stjamesonthelake.org
Mother's Musings
We read in Luke 5:16, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (NRSV) We live in a world that makes finding “lonely places” rather difficult for some and the place where some, unfortunately, live perpetually. Many of those who find themselves living perpetually in “lonely places” find great joy and comfort when they are visited or receive phone calls, cards, or even emails. This communicates to them that they are not forgotten and that even though they find themselves in “lonely places” there are those who think and care about them. Some people live in “lonely places” surrounded by people!
How often do you go to a restaurant, attend a meeting, or sit in a waiting room filled with people and most of them have their heads down with phone in hand reading or texting messages, checking or sending emails, or a myriad of those things that one can do on the phone? There are people all around but they are not communicating with those who are physically present. They are “with” people who are not present.
Have you ever had the experience of trying to have a conversation with someone and they tell you to keep talking but the entire time that you are talking, s/he is looking at their phone or reading something, or watching an activity in proximity?
Jesus went off to a “lonely place” to give God, the Father, his undivided attention. He removed himself from the distractions of the world in order to be totally present to the Father. Although in 1st century Palestine there were no electronic devices with which to distract there were certainly distractions! Jesus was communicating to the Father and to those who were with him that he needed and wanted to be in a “lonely place” to give his full attention without distractions as he prayed. That time was a priority and he didn’t let anything keep him from it.
Watching people together who are not present to one another reminds me of a song from many years ago. Here are the lyrics:
My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talking ‘fore I knew and as he grew
He’d say, I gonna be like you, dad
You know I’m gonna be just like you.
Refrain:
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
When you coming home, dad?
I don’t know when
But we’ll be together then
You know we’ll have a good time then.
My son turned ten just the other day
He said, thanks for the ball, dad, come on let’s play
Can you teach me to throw, I said not today
I got a lot to do, he said that’s okay
And he walked away and his smile never dimmed
Said, I’m gonna be like him, yeah
You know I’m gonna be like him.
Refrain
Well, he came from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
Son, I’m proud of you
Can you sit for a while?
He shook his head, and he said with a smile
What I’d really like dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later
Can I have them please?
Refrain
I’ve long since retired and my son’s moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, I’d like to see you if you don’t mind
He said, I’d love to dad if I could find the time
You see, my new job’s a hassle and the kids got the flu
But it’s sure nice talking to you dad
It’s been sure nice talking to you
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He’d grown up just like me
My boy was just like me.
Refrain
Written by Sandy Chapin, Harry F. Chapin •
Copyright © Warner/Chappell Music,
Time is precious. It is one thing that can never be recaptured. Once it’s spent, it’s gone forever. Jesus set his priorities. He didn’t give the Father the time that was left (if there was any). He took time to go to a “lonely place” to pray. I pray that each of us makes our “lonely places” those intentional times when we retreat to be alone with the Father in prayer rather than those times when we are in a crowd of people with whom we will not be present.
Mtr. Elizabeth
WEDNESDAY STUDY GROUP
Bible Study will continue Wednesday, March 12 at 11:00 am. We will be reading and discussing the book “He Chose the Nails” by Max Lucado . Bible Study is led by Mtr. Elizabeth Papazoglakis. Study group is followed by a Noon Healing Eucharist.
HUNGRY BUNCH
Hungry Bunch will meet at Catfish Corner in Seven Points at 6:00pm, March 14. Please sign up if you plan to attend.
T.E.A.C.H.
John Antonisse is leading us in TEACH. Please join us after coffee time on Sunday mornings.
MISS A SERVICE?
Did you miss a service? Want to remember something from a sermon? Just want to remember the past? All Sunday services are livestreamed on our Facebook page: facebook.com/StJamesOnTheLakeEpiscopalChurch
St. James on the Lake Episcopal Church
Looking up – Reaching Out – Gathering In
10707 Co Rd 4022, Kemp, TX 75143
www.stjamesonthelake.org
Mother's Musings
We read in Luke 5:16, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (NRSV) We live in a world that makes finding “lonely places” rather difficult for some and the place where some, unfortunately, live perpetually. Many of those who find themselves living perpetually in “lonely places” find great joy and comfort when they are visited or receive phone calls, cards, or even emails. This communicates to them that they are not forgotten and that even though they find themselves in “lonely places” there are those who think and care about them. Some people live in “lonely places” surrounded by people!
How often do you go to a restaurant, attend a meeting, or sit in a waiting room filled with people and most of them have their heads down with phone in hand reading or texting messages, checking or sending emails, or a myriad of those things that one can do on the phone? There are people all around but they are not communicating with those who are physically present. They are “with” people who are not present.
Have you ever had the experience of trying to have a conversation with someone and they tell you to keep talking but the entire time that you are talking, s/he is looking at their phone or reading something, or watching an activity in proximity?
Jesus went off to a “lonely place” to give God, the Father, his undivided attention. He removed himself from the distractions of the world in order to be totally present to the Father. Although in 1st century Palestine there were no electronic devices with which to distract there were certainly distractions! Jesus was communicating to the Father and to those who were with him that he needed and wanted to be in a “lonely place” to give his full attention without distractions as he prayed. That time was a priority and he didn’t let anything keep him from it.
Watching people together who are not present to one another reminds me of a song from many years ago. Here are the lyrics:
My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talking ‘fore I knew and as he grew
He’d say, I gonna be like you, dad
You know I’m gonna be just like you.
Refrain:
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
When you coming home, dad?
I don’t know when
But we’ll be together then
You know we’ll have a good time then.
My son turned ten just the other day
He said, thanks for the ball, dad, come on let’s play
Can you teach me to throw, I said not today
I got a lot to do, he said that’s okay
And he walked away and his smile never dimmed
Said, I’m gonna be like him, yeah
You know I’m gonna be like him.
Refrain
Well, he came from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
Son, I’m proud of you
Can you sit for a while?
He shook his head, and he said with a smile
What I’d really like dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later
Can I have them please?
Refrain
I’ve long since retired and my son’s moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, I’d like to see you if you don’t mind
He said, I’d love to dad if I could find the time
You see, my new job’s a hassle and the kids got the flu
But it’s sure nice talking to you dad
It’s been sure nice talking to you
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He’d grown up just like me
My boy was just like me.
Refrain
Written by Sandy Chapin, Harry F. Chapin •
Copyright © Warner/Chappell Music,
Time is precious. It is one thing that can never be recaptured. Once it’s spent, it’s gone forever. Jesus set his priorities. He didn’t give the Father the time that was left (if there was any). He took time to go to a “lonely place” to pray. I pray that each of us makes our “lonely places” those intentional times when we retreat to be alone with the Father in prayer rather than those times when we are in a crowd of people with whom we will not be present.
Mtr. Elizabeth
WEDNESDAY STUDY GROUP
Bible Study will continue Wednesday, March 12 at 11:00 am. We will be reading and discussing the book “He Chose the Nails” by Max Lucado . Bible Study is led by Mtr. Elizabeth Papazoglakis. Study group is followed by a Noon Healing Eucharist.
HUNGRY BUNCH
Hungry Bunch will meet at Catfish Corner in Seven Points at 6:00pm, March 14. Please sign up if you plan to attend.
T.E.A.C.H.
John Antonisse is leading us in TEACH. Please join us after coffee time on Sunday mornings.
MISS A SERVICE?
Did you miss a service? Want to remember something from a sermon? Just want to remember the past? All Sunday services are livestreamed on our Facebook page: facebook.com/StJamesOnTheLakeEpiscopalChurch
