Reflections



from Rev. Audrey



Beloved of God -



Discovery - I change jobs a lot. That is not a revelation to anyone who knows what I do. Switching church communities every 12 to 24 months, on average. So, I’m constantly in some sort of discovery phase.

Discovery meant something different to me when I was working as a civil litigation paralegal many years ago. But it’s really about the same concept. It’s a new case or contract, with new facts, new people and sometimes even new laws governing. The pace at which the legal codes can change is impressively rapid. And yet painfully slow too.

Though I, like many folks, don’t particularly enjoy chaos, I don’t mind change. In fact, I think change is healthy and besides we are changing all the time whether we recognize it or not. We are not the same today that we were yesterday.

What I particularly relish in the discovery phase - is how I am changing.

I am a different person in this community than I was in the last community. I mean, I’m still the same but I’ve learned new things from them and I’m learning about new people and new perspectives and new loves and new sorrows. I get the opportunity to learn all about you now. I enjoy this process and I find energy in it.

You have gifted me with this opportunity to get to know you, our discovery phase together will be layered with blessings of all sorts, and our time together will be both enlightening and - I hope - joyful. Oh, don’t worry we will also find times of challenge. Though maybe you find that a bit worrying.

During this discovery phase we have the opportunity to look deeply at where you are, this of course is partly born out of where you have been, and we will begin the work of where it is you want to go. I find this exciting and I hope you will as well.

I encourage you to ask lots of questions. I do. It is the best way to know something. In my old age I have discovered that guessing is a waste of my time. And as good at it as I think I am - I’m not.



Peace,

Audrey+

I invite you to contact me at rector@stjameswichita.org

From the Senior Warden

From Dana Stelter

Our parish began the Invite Welcome Connect program almost 2 years ago, and we are still going strong. This program empowers individuals and congregations to practice evangelism (invite), hospitality (welcome) and connectedness (connect) so that we can “go and make disciples of all nations.” 

Hopefully you have either been an active participant in a committee, attended an event or encountered the welcoming when you arrive at church. If you would like to be a part of this ministry, we would love to have you! Please reach out to any listed here:

Invite Committee

Woody Swain - swainwb@sbcglobal.net

Joan Moore - joansmoore1984@gmail.com

Welcome Committee

Suzanne Laycock - slaycock1@yahoo.com

Vicki Evans - vevans4695@gmail.com

Connect Committee

Phil Speary - jpspeary@gmail.com

Tim Newlin - brooksmountain@protonmail.com

From the Junior Warden

From Danny Blair

A few quick updates from the Jr Warden.

The elevator project is still moving forward. Home elevator was here this week to plan on bringing the elevator into the building and placing it into the opening. It is a large unit and the logistics of bringing it into the building and getting it installed require some careful planning.

The upstairs restroom project is ready for contract signing and we should soon have a start date from the contractor.

A quick reminder about doors. All exterior doors should be secured at all times unless there is someone monitoring that door continuously. All interior doors with the exception of one Lounge door should be closed unless the room is in use. This is all doors all the time. This is a Fire protection issue and is the only method that we have to slow the spread of fire in an emergency.

If you notice that the lights in the center row of the Guild Hall are not working correctly. The issue has been identified and will be corrected as soon as parts arrive.

Parish News and Updates

MEET AND GREET

This picture of Susie Stallings is from Reverend Audrey's first Sunday at St. James.

The Altar Guild Needs Your Help

 The Altar Guild will be preparing the church for Lent on Sunday February 15th immediately following the conclusion of the 10:45 service. We will be veiling and draping crosses, removing the Christ icons, relocating the St James Banner and the Episcopal church banner, and we need someone to climb a ladder in the Nave and veil the Root cross as well. With many volunteers it should take us less than 90 minutes.

'Parish Communicator' Needs Your Help

I will be out of the office next week, Tuesday through Friday, February 10-13. Krystal Poindexter and Deb Bagby will be covering the office most of the time, but there may be gaps. Plus, this is the week leading up to the Oyster Dinner. There is a sign-up sheet at the front desk, for those who are able volunteer to answer phones and handle ticket sales. Thank you - LoWaine

Oyster Dinner

Tickets are available at the church office. They can be purchased by cash, check or credit card.

You can also order your Oyster Dinner tickets by using this QR code: After entering your email address, it may say “we know you!.” and a blue box saying Sign In. Below that, in blue, it says “continue as guest”. Click the “guest” to order the tickets directly.

If you are available to volunteer, please contact Matt Carroll at mcarroll2@att.net. Many hands are needed to make this a successful event.

Joining St. James



Are you interested in becoming a member of St. James, transferring your membership, or exploring what it means to be an episcopalian? Reverend Audrey will soon begin classes about what is an episcopalian, the process of belonging, spiritual growth and the mutual support of belonging to this congregation.

If you have not spoken with Reverend Audrey about this process, please contact her at rector@stjameswichita.org or the church office: at office@stjameswichita.org. or (316) 683-5686.

Bulletins and inserts available to Download



Creation Care has exciting news to share. Last weekend the St. James Bulletin was available to download to your phone or table. The link is available in the E - Tower (see under 'readings this week'). If you are at church when you download you may use your data or connect to St. James' Wi Fi. Or download at home and open it at church when you are ready to read it.

Three of us in Creation Care have tried it on our phone and tablets and found it worked well. If you have issues using it, please email questions to Joan Bledsoe (pansy1918@icloud.com). A big thank you to LoWaine for helping us make this an easy process. Stay tuned as we consider how we would like to update our bulletin.

From Creation Care

 Here are two Kansas Legislative bills that may be of interest:

HB 2063 - Establishing various conservation funds, allocating state moneys for conservation, requiring reports to the governor and legislature, and authorizing fund transfers and providing for the use of such funds by the Kansas department of agriculture and the Kansas department of wildlife and parks.

HB 2476 - Permitting federal pesticide warning or labeling requirements to satisfy any state pesticide warning or labeling requirements.

You can read the bills, testimony about them given in committees, and locate your legislator to contact about these bills at: https://kslegislature.gov/li/

Adult Forum

Adult Forum meets between the 8:30 and 10:45 am services in the Guild Hall. All are welcome to attend. It does not meet on the second Sundays when there is a breakfast.

• February 8 - No Adult Forum as it is Scout Sunday Pancake Feed
• February 15 - Rev. Audrey will speak about her beginnings at St. James and will have a Q&A time.
• February 22 - Jay Price - Of Faith and Generation: The dynamics of US religious groups are intimately tied to shifts in generations. In this discussion, we're going to unpack some of the generational types with a focus on how their attitudes towards religion and faith will shape the future of denominations such as the Episcopal Church but also American religiosity... or the lack thereof... 

The Episcopal Grasslands Network

A Creation Care Conversation with

Rev. Maddy Bishop



St. James Creation Care Ministry invites you to attend a Creation Care

Conversation: The Episcopal Grasslands Network with Maddy Bishop.

“This network especially focuses on the joys and challenges of caring for creation in the Dioceses of Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Navajo land, Nebraska, North Dakota, Northwest Texas, the Rio Grande, South Dakota, Western Kansas, and Wyoming.”

You are cordially invited to learn more about the goals and needs of this

group:

On: Friday, February 13,2026

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Where: St. James Episcopal Church

3750 E. Douglas Ave.

Wichita, Ks. 67208

Martinus’/ Martha’s, aka all-parish workday is the first of the interior quarterly workdays being planned. Future dates to come for those indoor work-days.

Taste and See

Taste and See if the Bethany Community of Saints Mary, Martha and Lazarus is for you. This is a contemplative community in the Diocese of Kansas. Founded by Canon Lisa Senuta it is a group to practice silent prayer, read books by spiritual teachers, and commit to spiritual growth. The Taste and See is designed for you to check out what happens in the monthly in person meetings and learn about Christian contemplative prayer. February 14^th 10am-Noon at St John's Episcopal Church. If you would like to come, please email lsenuta@episcopal-ks.org

Breakthrough ESS

Breakthrough is asking for our help advocating for increased support for Accredited Clubhouse programs and Mental Health Crisis Centers in the upcoming FY 2026–2027 Kansas budget. Click here to read more about this request and the provided sample letter.

Canterbury Wichita

New! Canterbury Wichita

College-age young adults are invited for fellowship, food, and faith! Join us every Monday at 6:30 pm at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church (7404 E. Killarney Pl, Wichita) for a gathering with other young adults interested in talking about faith in community. Students from any area college, university, or school are welcome. Contact Campus Peer Minister Josh McCall with questions at jdmccall1215@gmail.com or 913-972-4619. We hope to see you there! 

Volunteers needed to provide meals for Canterbury Wichita

We need folks to help shop and prepare meals for our college students who are meeting weekly at St. Stephen’s. If you can help, sign-up online here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D4CADA92CABFE3-61882542-canterbury#/ Contact Campus Peer Minister Josh McCall with questions at jdmccall1215@gmail.com or 913-972-4619. 

From the Diocese

Please click the links to read the concluding messages from Bishop-resigned Cathleen Chittenden Bascom and from the Council of Trustees acting as the Standing Committee.

Click here for the lessons appointed for

Epiphany from the

Revised Common Lectionary Page

Year A, Track 1

Click for a PDF of the Book of Common Prayer

Worship Bulletin

Parish Prayers for the Week of February 8

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer

Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui 

In the World Council of Churches Cycle of Prayer

Andorra, Italy, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Vatican City

In the Kansas Cycle of Prayer

Pray for the Church of the Epiphany, Sedan. 

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:

June H; Jennifer R; Sam C; Mike; Pam C; Dave M; Damien E; Maeve; Charles W; Blair family; Morgan F; Rosie & Mary; Sarah P; Wayne W; The Schooler family, Buck and Gladys.

Those who have recently died

Philip Erdoes; Raymond Hedrick; Gus Gossard, Jason Higgins, Wes Rine, Shermie Robinson, Mary Ellen Joyner, Rev. Dawn Frankfurt, N.J. Abraham, Jay Sprague, Tracy Blair, Spenser Schooler.

Some who have died in February in the past

Debbie West, David Childs, Frank Kstor, Larry Reynolds, Krista Schnee, Colleen Didier, Darb Ratner, Patricia Bayles, Frances Brinegar, Edward Burns, Elizabeth Taggart, Sid Platt, Dolores Ann Carter, Betty Jo Durrant, Frederick Harrison, Billie Matzen, Peggy Hartman, Jess Sanders, Betty Burns, Virginia Buck, Bobbie Bastian, Constance Baker, Ruth McGuyre, Geraldine Lynd.

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 prayers 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.