Justin

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Dear Friends in Christ,

Toward the middle of the second century, there came into the young Christian community a seeker for the truth, whose wide interests, noble spirit, and able mind greatly enriched it.

Justin was born into a Greek-speaking pagan family about the year 110 in Samaria. He was educated in Greek philosophy. Like Augustine after him, he was left restless by all the knowledge. During a walk along the beach at Ephesus, he fell in with a stranger, who told him about Christ. “Straightway a flame was kindled in my soul,” he writes, “and a love of the prophets and those who are friends of Christ possessed me.” He became a Christian as a result of this encounter, and thereafter regarded Christianity as the only “safe and profitable philosophy.”

About 150, Justin moved to Rome, started a school of Christian philosophy and accepted students. And, he wrote some significant books about the faith. However, while teaching, he also engaged in many public debates. One of his opponents had him and six students arrested and brought before the prefect. They were given the opportunity to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ, but refused.
Justin and all his companions were put to death about the year 167.

How times change! With most people, faith in Jesus Christ is not foremost in our learning desires and expectations to begin with, and I haven’t heard much about even a healthy debate lately. And, heavens, when was the last time any Christian we know was executed over their beliefs!

There is, however, a great little group within the Saint James Family who has really been studying, having lively debates and learning about what it means to be a Christian! Back on March 25, they began meeting and will probably go through until Bishop Read visits St. James on September 23. Some will be confirmed in the Episcopal Church, some will be received from other churches and some will renew
their Baptismal Vows.

They are: Terry and Susan Smart, Herminia Petersen, Travis and Vanessa
Tompkins, Sally Moreman, Bryan and Sarah Nalley, Ann Darley, Ginny Cordell,
Edrie Newberry, Byron and Ann Hodge and Sara Winters. I congratulate them on
their studies.

We started out by studying “Welcome to the Episcopal Church” by Christopher L. Webber, An Introduction to Its History, Faith, and Worship. And we have been spreading out from there!

If you are anything like Justin, it is enough to die for, Father Doug.

IF THERE ARE OTHER ADULTS OR PARENTS WHO WISH THEIR CHILDREN
TO BE CONFIRMED, PLEASE NOTIFY FATHER HUTCHINGS AT ONCE!

PRAY FOR OUR PARISH AND SCHOOL DAILY!

Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and on earth, hear our prayers for the Faith Community of Saint James’ Church and Saint James’ School. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Guard and Protect all our families and children. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to beof one heart and mind within this Body of Christ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN