Monthly Newsletter and Events

Rector’s Reflection (about forthcoming Gospel passages)

Jesus said to the twelve disciples, “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves…. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. …Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:16, 34, 37-38

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28, 30

How do we reconcile these two (seemingly) contradictory messages from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? In one breath, Jesus orders people into dangerous places, invokes an image of combat rather than community, and requires them to prioritize His mission over family ties. And yet, merely one chapter later, Jesus abruptly turns into jolly old Saint Nick, giving piggybacks to happy children while carrying their schoolbags and fluffing their favorite pillows.

How can this be the same person? How can we accept both messages simultaneously?

First, let’s consider the audience to whom Jesus speaks. In chapter 10 of the Gospel of Matthew 10, the author clearly states that Jesus is talking to the twelve apostles. These are the hand-picked adults whom Jesus called to be his first disciples. To them, he delivers a challenge. In effect, he’s saying: You have seen glimpses of my true identity and my extraordinary capabilities. You know my yearning to save people from the power of sin and death. But the forces of darkness will not relent easily. We’re going to have to overcome hatred, fear, shame, defensiveness, distraction, despair, and selfishness, among other dynamics that divert us from God’s love. You must be prepared to handle opposition no matter its origin: a perfectionist rabbi, an unforgiving magistrate, a self-absorbed king, or an unsupportive family member.

Jesus has previously identified his disciples as workers. He recognizes their potential as ministers (even if they don’t know it yet), believing them to have the faith, charisma, and the constitution to endure the rigors of ministry. Because Jesus knows them intimately, he can send them beyond their comfortable routine, trusting that they can share his message of hope across the world.

By the time we hear Jesus say, “Come to me, all you who are weary,” Jesus has concluded his pep talk with the twelve. Now, he’s off to “teach and proclaim his message in their cities,” (Matt 11:1). This is a different audience which presumably includes people who don’t yet know him. They haven’t heard Jesus preach, haven’t witnessed his acts of healing, and have yet to build a trusting relationship with him.

Perhaps there is a lesson here: the longer we know Jesus, the deeper our relationship and the stronger the trust between us. The stronger the trust, the more that Jesus can challenge us. The more we believe in Him, the more that we will do for him (and the more He will ask of us). The better we understand the core of Jesus’ message, the more strongly he can remind us to get back on track; after all, we should know better.

At the same time that Jesus pushes his disciples, he also simultaneously is always offering comfort, especially to those who are unacquainted with His ways. He loves everyone – everyone! – no matter what. Even and especially when we fail to live 100% according to his endorsed manner of life, Jesus opens his door for us, pulls out a chair, pours a glass (goblet?), and welcomes us fully.

With this in mind, I encourage you to hear these Gospels over the next few weeks not as consumers of church but as disciples of Christ. Given how long you have known the Good News, how much do you trust and believe in Jesus now? If you are strong in your convictions, what not-so-easy task might He be asking of you, today? If you’re not feeling secure in your faith, then I encourage you to spend time with the “all you who are weary” passage. What affirmation do you need to hear from Christ, and what obstacles are hindering your receiving that love? ~ Father Sean

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James Gang: The next "James Gang" LUNCH will be on Tuesday, June 9th @ noon. We'll be at Jakes’s Eatery, 49 Cambridge Rd., Newtown. We will continue our monthly gatherings throughout the summer; on July 14th we'll be at Garden of Eatin’ in Levittown. Hope you can join us if you're in town. Contact Chris Parker at cprk210@aol.com to RSVP (helpful but not required) or if you have any questions.

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As a non-profit organization, our business meetings are open to the public. Here is the schedule for the next round of business meetings:

Finance and Property

Monday, June 15, 6:30 pm (in the library or online via Zoom); Monday, July 13, time and format TBA

Vestry

Wednesday, June 17, 6:30 pm (in person only at Fr. Sean’s home – 1203 Birch Ave, Yardley) RSVP to Fr. Sean

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Sign-up Genius is our online platform for volunteering: readers, Eucharistic Ministers, and Coffee Hour hosts. Contact Edith in the church office with any questions.

Pentecost: May and June 2026 (May 23 – June 28):

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F48ACAF2DA2FD0-63408031-pentecost#/

Pentecost: July 2026 (July 5 – 26):

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F48ACAF2DA2FD0-63869551-pentecost#/

Pentecost: August 2026 (August 1 – 30):

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F48ACAF2DA2FD0-64415076-pentecost#/

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Outdoor “Mass on the Grass” services will be offered, weather permitting, on the lawn in between the church and Apartment House building. If the weather does not cooperate, we will worship in the church building. The dates are as follows: June 6, 13, and 20 (all Saturdays at 5:00 pm). Bring your own lawn chair. If you don’t have one, come anyway; we have extra seating available. Beginning on June 27, the Saturday summer services will be inside the air-conditioned space of the sanctuary, narthex, or church library.

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St. Mark’s Food pantry – This Saturday, June 6 is our next trip to St. Mark’s in Philadelphia. After this one, we take a summer break until we resume in the fall. Drop off dates and times for the soup are Thursday, June 4 from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM and Friday, June 5 from 1:00 PM until 3:30 PM.

HEARTY BEEF AND VEGETABLE SOUP RECIPE

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 ½ pounds of beef stew meat, cut into ½ -inch cubes
1 ½ cup finely chopped onion
3 garlic gloves, minced
2 14 ½ -ounce cans diced tomatoes

6 boiling potatoes (about 1 ¼ pounds) cut into 1-inch cubes
1 ½ cup chopped celery
1 ½ cup sliced carrots
1 cup shredded green cabbage
3 bay leaves
1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
8 cups canned beef broth
3 10-ounce packages frozen mixed vegetables
Chopped fresh parsley

1 ½ cups pearl barley (Please provide packaged barley on the side.)

Heat oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook until brown, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add onion and garlic and sauté until onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes with juices and all remaining ingredients except frozen vegetables and parsley. Cover and simmer until meat is tender, about 1 hour 10 minutes. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat before continuing.) Stir in frozen vegetables. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender for about 10 minutes. Sprinkle soup with parsley and serve. Serves 12.

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Future St. Mark’s dates: Saturdays of October 17, November 14, and December 5.

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Capital campaign corner

Bad news and good news. As you may know, St. James applied for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) with the County of Bucks for funds to replace our apartment house roof. Because we are a non-profit organization providing affordable, below-market rate housing to the community, we are eligible for funding through the CDBG program (state funds administered through the County government). Although we were eligible, ultimately our application was denied. The County told us that they received an unusually high number of applications, and there wasn’t enough funding for everyone.

A note of gratitude here for Steve Moran, Len Mizia, Les Venella, and Barry Hitchen for their many hours of work on this application. Even though we did not receive an award this time, we should all be proud of them and appreciative of their effort. Kudos, gentlemen!

Although it is disappointing that we were not awarded this grant, the good news is that we no longer are bound to wait on the County timetable or required to follow their bidding procedures for a contractor. Instead, we are free to proceed at our own pace and select the company which best suits our needs. To that extent, we are actively soliciting bids from contractors and keeping the Langhorne Historic Review Board informed of our plans. We are making every effort to complete the roof project before the kickoff of the Eagles verses Cowboys game at 4:30 pm on Thanksgiving Day (a quirky way of saying that we want to finish before winter).

Simultaneously, we have secured an architect to design our restrooms in the Education Building. The project will include new toilets, sinks, vanities, and will likely improve ADA accessibility. Our goal is to complete the project before the Preschool classes start on September 14, 2026.

As always, the Committee is grateful for your patience, generosity, and devotion to the ministry of Saint James!

Parish Prayer list

HEALING: Anne, Audrey Serfass, Beth York, the Cancila family, Charlie, Charlotte Wallace, Craig and Staci Hitchen, Darryl, Gary Schlecter, Grace, Keith, Pat and John W., Nick B., Sue Brown, Tim Stout, Tom Berger

SPECIAL PRAYERS: Babe Sidman, Christopher, Doris Laino, Ginny Manning, Larry, Joan Eiker, the Redjal family, Ryan, Terri Lotierzo, Tim McCarthy, Zachary

EXPECTING NEW BIRTH: Nick & Julianna Frisch, Erinn & Taylor Strobl

FAITHFUL DEPARTED: Alan Garner, Garney Morris, Doug Sherwood

ANGLICAN CYCLE OF PRAYER: The Church of Pakistan (United) The Most Reverend Dr Azad Marshall, Primate

OUR GRADUATES:

Ainsley Massey (from Temple with a BA in advertising and entrepreneurship; enters the workforce next week)

Andrew Benedetti (from Quarry Hill Elementary, headed to Pennwood Middle school)

Finn Pfluger (from Neshaminy High school, headed to Penn State University main campus)

Josh Weissman (from Neshaminy High school, attending Penn State University main campus)

J.T. Massey (from CB West; will study music & music production at Bucks and Montgomery County Community Colleges and finish his degree at Temple)

Nick Cush (from M.A.cc Program at Penn State University with a bachelor’s and master’s --+degree in accounting)

Owen Kern (from Saddle Brook High school, attending Ramapo College of New Jersey)

Simone Pettit (from Notre Dame High school, attending Villanova University)

Tyndale Slack (from Makefield Elementary school, bound for William Penn Middle School)

ALTAR FLOWERS (dates, names of donors, and the faithful departed):

June 6-7 Gary Williams In memory of Jerry Chonin and Mr. & Mrs. Walter Williams

June 13-14 Eileen Brody In memory of Wilma E. Brody

June 20-21 Len & Marcie Venella In memory of Windsor & Hope B. Lynch

June 27-28 John & Debbie Widenmeyer In thanksgiving or our granddaughters Aurora & Phoenix

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Sally’s parents were going out, and Sally said, “For twenty dollars, Dad, I’ll be good.”

“Oh please,” said her father. “When I was your age, I was good for nothing.”

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Sign-Up Genius links

Sign-up Genius is our online platform for volunteering: readers, Eucharistic Ministers, and Coffee Hour hosts. Contact Edith in the church office with any questions.

Pentecost: May and June 2026 (May 23 – June 28):

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F48ACAF2DA2FD0-63408031-pentecost#/

Pentecost: July 2026 (July 5 – 26):

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F48ACAF2DA2FD0-63869551-pentecost#/

Pentecost: August 2026 (August 1 – 30):

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F48ACAF2DA2FD0-64415076-pentecost#/