St. James the Less Scarsdale

Today is Scout Sunday. Thank you to all of our scouts for your contributions!

It is such an honor to be the host parish of the Episcopal Metropolitan Japanese Ministry. Yesterday was the feast day of the Martyrs of Japan, and so what better occasion to give thanks for this decades-long partnership between St. James the Less and the Japanese Congregation of the Diocese of New York. From their mission statement: "MJM offers you an oasis of support, the enjoyment of ecumenical and interfaith friendships, and wide ranging opportunities to understand Christian faith and American life. Through MJM Americans can meet and share experiences with Japanese people. The participation of both Japanese and Americans make MJM unique ministry."

Here's a young woman's story that must be told, especially in Black History month. Manche Masemola, whose Feast Day is today, was a South African martyr whose statue stands above the west entrance of Westminster Abbey. Read more about her here. https://www.westminster-abbey.org//commemo/manche-masemola Her story brings to mind a quote from James Baldwin, only I substituted "Anglican Church" for "America." The sentiment remains much the same. "[Anglican Church] history is lo...nger, larger, more various, more beautiful, and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it." In addition, some members of our Racial Reconciliation Task Force recommend the following offering of the New York Historical Society: https://www.nyhistory.org//white-fright-sexual-panic-heart Peace to all.

Happy Candlemas Day! Did you know you could have left up your Christmas decorations until today? It's the 40th day after Christmas, when we celebrate Mary bringing Jesus to the Temple. After today, our Church Calendar revolves around the date for Easter instead of Christmas. So spring is coming, buried now under all this snow! Light some candles, then make crepes (France) or tamales (Mexico) and give thanks for every sliver of light and life that comes our way. Here's a collect for Candlemas for tonight's grace: "Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."

Today was our 172nd annual meeting! Thanks again to our outgoing Vestry members: Ruth Boser, Tom Finlan, and Senior Warden Douglass Hatcher. We voted and welcomed our new Vestry slate: Juan de Cos, June Winward, Toni Lewis, Joyce Russell and Junior Warden Mary Brennan. Although the caesar salads were missed, the fellowship was ever present.