From the Rector

"Enter as strangers, leave as friends."

Jesus said, “I do not call you servants any longer…but I have called you friends…” (John 15:15)

At Saint James’ we have a sign above the entrance to the church that says, “Enter as strangers, leave as friends.”  I take that sign to mean that we may enter the church as strangers, but we leave as friends, friends with one another, and friends with God.  It is not too far from what the gospel according to John says Jesus told the disciples, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you…I do not call you servants any longer…but I have called you friends…” Friendship is part of Christian discipleship.  Part of our spiritual journey is to befriend one another as God through Christ has befriended us.

Friendship characterizes the life we live together at Saint James’.  It is one of our great strengths.  Saint James’ is a congregation that enjoys worshipping together, working together, serving together, and above all eating together.  I am also aware of the great friendships that have developed between members of this congregation that extend beyond the doors of the church.  One of my seminary professors, the Rev. Cynthia Kittredge says in her book on the gospel according to John that, “The prologue’s [of John’s gospel] affirmation that the word became flesh and tented among us is an image of accompaniment and companionship typical of friendship.”  That is what I have witnessed here at Saint James’: people willing to accompany one another, and be companions with one another whether in times of joy or in times of trial.  Those are hallmarks of friendship, which is the same friendship God extended to creation by the word becoming flesh. 

“Enter as strangers, leave as friends,” not only reminds us of one of our great strengths, but also serves as a constant challenge to us.  When we pass under the sign into the church we are challenged to make that sign a reality, that those who enter the church as strangers be truly welcomed by us, and that strangers leave us as friends.  We are challenged to make that a reality in our hospitality.

We are also challenged in another way.  One aspect of friendship is affinity.  It is much easier to be friends with people with whom we share things in common, with those whom we have an affinity.  Christian friendship though is more than affinity and sharing common interests.  Christian friendship crosses boundaries.  Jesus, the Word of God, befriends those who follow his commandment to love.  In doing so Jesus crosses boundaries to give us that opportunity.  We are challenged therefore to befriend those with whom we have less affinity, share less in common.  It might mean older generations befriending the younger generations and vice-versa, or befriending people from another denomination, other economic levels, or other cultures.  Christian friendship is more than sharing common interests, but sharing a common life in Christ.  Befriending strangers in this way is another challenge for us.

“Enter as strangers, leave as friends,” describes the life we share in friendship with one another and with God, but it also challenges us to always make it a reality, and to cross boundaries as God crossed them to befriend us.

The Rev. Daryl T. Hay

Rector

Contact Information
156 North Monroe St.

P.O. Box 507

La Grange, Texas 78945-0507

Church Office: 979.968.3910

Fax: 979.968.1557

Email: st-james@cmaaccess.com

www.HisTapestry.com