Recently the Revised Common Lectionary used passages from the Letter of James for the preaching texts for some Sundays. That has renewed my interest in it and I would like to share some of the ideas from the letter. It begins: "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, ..." (NRSV). Who is this James? It is most likely that it is the brother of Jesus who came to believe in him gradually from what sounds like lack of faith (John 7.5) to becoming a leader in the Early Church (Acts 12.17). The question for reflection is: How has your faith grown over the years? What were the influences (such as a brother) who helped you grow in faith?

This coming week I will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison Professional Development & Applied Studies program "Visioning and Planning: Holy Conversations About Your Congregation's Future" and attending a family wedding.

Have a good week, Tim