Reflections

from Rev. Audrey



Beloved of God -

What do we notice? And then I wonder - why? Why that? Why not something else?

Unless we are walking through our lives in complete ignorance, we are all paying attention to...something. Context is important of course because we are probably paying attention to something specific in our work, for example, than in our leisure. But and also, we still probably have a tendency to notice this rather than that.

So, what do you notice? When you are paying attention to the world around you, what catches your eye or your attention?

Is it something positive or is it something negative?

When you are in a meeting, for example, are the negative behaviors what catch your attention? Are you able to hear the uplifting message or have you found yourself stuck on a negative message?

Or do you simply “make note” of what is going on around you? Without judgement - so to speak.

I really pondered this question while traveling back to California this week.

I’m fairly aware, sometimes I’m too aware and have a hard time turning off that awareness of what is happening around me. It’s part of my ADDness. When I was a teacher, my students loved to make fun of this part of me. That easily distracted part!

For example, while sitting on the first flight from Wichita to Denver I noted everyone who passed me in the plane aisle - mostly I noted what the sweatshirt/jacket or cap was advertising. I’m still not used to seeing so many CHIEFS logos. Which I love of course.

But just the act of making these notes and paying attention got my mind to wandering and then to wondering: what captures my attention and then why?

What takes our attention takes our time. Are we wasting time spinning in negative? Are we wasting our time daydreaming in positive? Is it even “wasting time”?

For example, is this very activity of where my attention goes...wasting my time?

I hope not because these are often the spaces my mind finds itself occupying. Even if for a little while.

Easter blessings.

Audrey+

I invite you to contact me at rector@stjameswichita.org or you can set up an appointment(s) to meet by calling the church office (316) 683-5686.

Parish News and Updates

Deep Cleaning

A big thank you to the Martha cleaners, and the work they accomplished this past Saturday.

The next scheduled time for deep cleaning is on Saturday, July 11, 9:00-11:00 am - for the interior of St. James. Please add it to your calendar. Please contact Anne Clark for details: aws1155@yahoo.com

 Coffee Break

There will be a Coffee Break between the two May 3rd Sunday services in the Lobby. Grab a cup of coffee, a snack and take the time to visit with your fellow worshipers or head to Adult Forum.

Adult Forum

Adult Forum meets in the Guild Hall between the two Sunday services on May 3rd for a guided discussion on the day’s lectionary readings. This Sunday will be led by Malachi Biffle. All are welcome to join. 

Connect Committee

The Connect Committee will meet in the lounge after the 10:45 am service this Sunday to plan a movie event and any other summer activities.

Second Sunday Breakfast

May 10th

The Second Sunday breakfast is served in the Guild Hall between 9:00-10:30am. It will be a full country breakfast for our final breakfast until fall. So, we hope everyone will come and enjoy! 

Nourish Your Soul

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

There are many kinds of prayer. Contemplative Prayer is not meant to replace other prayers, rather to shed a new light and depth on them. It is considered a pathway of return, a means of opening up oneself to the intimacy of a relationship with God.

The Centering Prayer summer session begins Monday, May 4th in the Lounge from 4:00 - 5:00 pm and will be meeting weekly. Each meeting time is self-contained, and there are no materials required. Join us for the whole summer of when you can make it.

Basic A

Starting May 31st, the Basic A class will begin. It will be held during the Adult Forum time, Sunday mornings between 9:30-10:30am.

This year's class is for EVERYONE - from cradle Episcopalians to those newish to the St. James community. It is encouraged that the 'settled' members join in as shepherds for the newer folks.

The Reverend Deborah Hill

The Diocese of Kansas announced that Mother Deborah has been called as the next rector to St. John's. Read the full diocesan article here.

First Quarter Endowment Fund Update

As of March 31st, St. James' Perpetual Memorial Endowment Fund (PMEF) stood at $1,493,333. During the first quarter of 2026 it decreased by only $1,585, in spite of the stock market's drop in March due to the Iran conflict. During the 1st quarter we had 27 donations totalling $6,955, nearly all of which were memorials to Mother Dawn. Our Dillons rebates amounted to $150 of this.

99% of our Fund is invested with State Street Investment Management through the Episcopal Church Foundation, with roughly 70% of it invested in stocks and 30% in bonds and money market. Our portfolio returns have been excellent...17.3% over the past year and 8.3% over the past 10 years. For 2026, $34,636 of our Fund has been transferred to our operating budget, and $5,583 of that will go to Outreach designees.

If you have any questions about the PMEF or want to know more about its Legacy Society, please contact any one of the Board members: Woody Swain, Tom Zerger, Bert Clark, Mary Halley, Tom Snyder or Dana Williams.

St. James Olde English Tea

– It is tomorrow! ☕🌸

This year’s proceeds will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities, St. Francis Ministries as well as the ministries right here at St. James.

There's still time to spread the word—invite a friend (or many more) share posts in social media along the way and join us for a lovely day of fellowship and fun. Ticket sales through the website closed yesterday. Call the church office (316) 683-686 for reservations. Walk-ins are accepted.

Friday, May 1 – Guild Hall Final Set Up Day (all day) – All donations of baked items by 10:00 AM if possible, so we know what we have to work with.

Saturday (Tea Day): We make open-faced sandwiches such as cucumber, the strawberry/cream cheese sandwiches, etc., and fill lemon curd tarts throughout the day. Refresh fruit and vegetable trays on the buffet between seatings .Keep the tray room supplied as needed. Then it's clean-up and a champagne toast!

Cheers! - Your Tea Chairs, 

Cheryl Schmeidler & Andy Aitken  

Please contact:

Cheryl Schmeidler mgcleaning@hotmail.com ((316) 992-8536

or

Andy Aitken ataitken1202@icloud.com (316) 207-1217 to let them know how you will be assisting.

To All Our Bake Shop and Tea Table Bakers

We’ve built our reputation on the quality, assortment, and TLC that goes into our food because it’s homemade. Nobody buys a ticket to eat store bought cookies, so please bake something!

Anything made mini-muffin size is the “right” dainty size for the tea table. Ideally, sweets are delivered to the tray room (church lounge) the day before the tea, or sooner, labeled “Tea Table”.

Some important points to remember:

 Please do NOT bring anything that requires refrigeration! Anything needing refrigeration can be brought the day of the tea but not sooner.

Also, please label anything that contains nuts or is gluten free.

Please cut any bar cookies that are brought in pans.

Remember, you’re not limited to cookies, bars, and tarts. We can use tea breads in the kitchen and Bake Shop. Think banana bread, strawberry, orange, cranberry, etc. In the kitchen, we make lovely tea sandwiches when we spread slices with cream cheese. The Bake Shop would welcome small foil pans of various breads. Another option- bake them into mini-muffins for the tea table.

Ideally, bake sale products are delivered to the church lounge the day before the tea clearly labeled “Bake Sale”. Tea breads for the kitchen can be brought by Thursday before the tea, labeled “Tea Table”.

If you need recipes and helpful hints, check out the “Olde English Tea Handbook for Kitchen Angels and Busy Bakers” on Realm. Just log onto Realm, click on More, then Groups, then St. James Episcopal Church. Choose Files. Select Busy Bakers Guide for full pdf.

Bakeshop and Tea Table Bakers Tips

Support community-based mental health in Bungoma, Kenya!

You’ve seen what community-based mental health can do in Wichita.

Now our model is changing lives 8,000 miles away!

Join us for a community dinner supporting the Bungoma Health Link Forum (BHLF). Serving over 200 members with 40+ daily attendees, BHLF is a lifeline for individuals and families living with mental illness in northwestern Kenya.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Time: 5:00 PM

Location: St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 7404 E Killarney Pl, Wichita, KS

REGISTER HERE

Click here for the registration form.

CHILDREN & YOUTH

Sunday School & Children's Chapel

Sunday, May 3rd, starting at 9:30 a.m.

We are going outside! We will walk the stations of the Resurrection and talk about the 50 days of Easter.

Parents (and kids) of young kids (up until 6th grade)

Rev. Audrey would like to invite you to a family luncheon on May 17th at noon to discuss: Why/when did you come to St. James? Why do you stay? What is important to you, for you and your children?

Join us for a casual conversation and fellowship, with a meal and activities for the children. We hope to have an honest and frank conversation about the life of families today - not yesterday - and not what you think you are supposed to say. Your input will help to guide the search process and St. James as she wrestles with who she is and where she wants to go.

RSVP to formation@stjameswichita.org and 316-683-5686. Activities and nursery available for the kids.

Volunteers needed for the Nursery: St. James is growing with young kids and we are in need of extra help for the 10:45 service in the Nursery. If you are 16+, please contact Chelsea - formation@stjameswichita.org for more information.

Graduation Sunday

May 17th

Books for St. James’ 2026 high school graduates are in the corner conference room. Everyone is invited stop by to sign these books wishing our high school graduates well. If there is family who has someone graduating from high school not listed, please contact the office. The books will be presented to the graduates on May 17th. If you have anyone graduating from Middle School, High School, College, higher education, etc. please let the office know by April 29th.  

It's VBS time! We are ecstatic to host the Ecumenical VBS on St. James campus. And because of that we will need volunteers! We need help with games, crafts, classroom teachers (really managing the herd), and kitchen crews. Please register NOW at on our website or contact Chelsea, formation@stjameswichita.org

In this Vacation Bible School curriculum by Global Ministries, kids will learn about how we are All God’s Children no matter who we are, where we may come from, or what we believe. Students will have the opportunity to hear Bible stories about people who were different from one another but were still able to learn from one another, help one another, or find beauty in their diversity. Kids will also have the opportunity to learn about different places, cultures, and faith traditions present in Southern Asia.

Register Kids - preschool to 6th grade. Invite your neighbors, friends, family and help spread the word. More information on our website and links to sign up.

Episcopal Summer Mega Camp

When: May 31-June 6, 2026

Where: Camp Wood YMCA, Elmdale, KS

Who: Students in grades 3-12 for 2025-26 school year (you must have finished third grade to attend). Camp is not restricted to Episcopalians or regular churchgoers. All are welcome, so feel free to invite friends and family.

There's boating, horseback riding, archery, climbing tower, hiking, arts & crafts, plus Episcopal worship and formation. New this year, Camp Wood is installing a Kangaroo Jumber!

Cost: $550 (price increases $50 after May 1)

There is a $25 non-refundable deposit due at registration.

Registration: online via UltraCamp starting January 1; priority deadline is May 1. Register by clicking here.

Scholarships: You can apply for scholarships on the registration form. Information about your household income will be required. Scholarships are awarded by a committee. Your parish should also be able to provide some scholarship money.

Make sure to review the Parent Handbook available at https://edokformation.wordpress.com/camp/camp-faq/

Revised Common Lectionary Page - Year A, Track 1

For the lessons appointed for Lent, click here

Click here for this week's Worship Bulletin /Livestream

PDF of the Book of Common Prayer

Parish Prayers for the Week of April 19

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer

The Church of northern India 

In the World Council of Churches Cycle of Prayer

Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

In the Kansas Cycle of Prayer

St. Paul's, Kansas City

Prayers for Public Policy and Witness:

click here

Our seminarians

Paul Leeker; Elizabeth Wenger

Those serving in the military

Anna Broadbent; Davis Jackson; Will Corkins; Maureen Tanner

Those in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness or any other adversity

Pingleton family; Cathy W.; Diane M.; Andrew S.; John B.; Judy T.; Corrine M.; Nikki; Stephen; Jayne P. family; Jackie; Maeve; John R.: Dalrona H.; Dan W.; Nancy P.; Keith S.; Barbara S.; Tammy S.; Dottie E.; Anna; Barbara P.; Cogburn family; Thorpe family; Preston W. & his father; Lela; Vicky R. & family; Kim H; June H.

Those who have recently died

Emily B.; Jayne Pierce; Barbara Potter; Bill Hercher; Janet Christie.

Some who have died in May in the past

Robin Spurrier. Ryan Reep, Gloria Tilford, Donald Yoder, Donna Stricklan, Skip Hankins, Sharon K. Basham, Fred Bell, Barbara Mallonee, Alexandar Carlson, Janet Yoder, Jo Ann Estes, Anne Caldwell, Merleyn Calvin, Virginia Winters, Don Foster, Ernest McRae, Helen Cabell, Joseph Hodnett, Chris Sifford, Julia Goodland, Aloha Ayers, H. Marvin Bastian, John Jaedicke, Dorothy Goodpasture, Lucy Gene Wendelken, Jane Ellet, Michael Rogers, Verne Laing, Frances I. McCoy, Heather McEwen.  

All victims of natural disasters

and all who reach out to give them aid.



  For the sake of privacy, we do not list the last names of those

who are on our prayer list because of trouble, sorrow,

need, sickness, or adversity.

If your prayers have been answered, let us rejoice with you. Please contact the office to let us know we can remove your prayer request. If you have prayer requests you would like added to the prayer list, please contact the office at office@stjameswichita.org or 316-683-5686

Loving, Liberating and Life-Giving

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.



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