Prayer - to - Square: Moving Church back to the center of town

Sunday, Jan Wilsden celebrated her 90th birthday with her family. She and husband Derek grew up in a place and time when the village church was literally at the center of everyday life. The church spire could be seen from everywhere (inspiring!) and bells rang for prayer morning, noon, and night. Would we all be more mindful of what Mo Mariclair called the abundance of God's love if we could all put St. James at the center of our lives that way?

Actually, St. James does still stand at the center, at least on Saturdays. Like the village markets of olden times, the Marietta Farmers Market sets up every Saturday morning where the sounds of our tower bells reach the stalls. Parishioner Susan Rouse has done the bulk of her shopping there for many years. It's a community, she says, where farmers, chefs, and discerning consumers all know each other. And it's all blessed by the bells of St. James.

After worship services, parishioners who don't go home right away can sample an abundance of good things, many of them family-friendly. This past week, as I came out of the Polk Street gate, I saw Jessica Reynolds and Matilda returning from an excursion via the Mountain-to-River Trail (M2R). They were passing by the striking works by professional artists and art students, all local. Some of the works are beautiful, some are surprising, all are intriguing.

If it's history that interests you, go down hill from the railroad tracks to the home of our church's founder William Root. Keep going, and you'll find our St. James Cemetery, where Root is NOT buried, because his wife disapproved of Episcopalians. To find where he's buried, go to the Marietta Cemetery located along the M2R trail not far from where the Reynolds ladies are standing. (I've walked my little dog that way many times.)

Mid-way there's the Marietta Museum, where grandparents might enjoy showing grandkids the toys and record players of the remote 1960s, and the 1940s-vintage kitchen that's just like their grandma's.

Then, there are opportunities for exercise. One Sunday, I saw a parishioner in track clothes running from our Polk Street lot towards Kennesaw Mountain on the M2R. I had just seen him dressed in his Sunday best at the hospitality hour. With a change of clothes, he used St. James as a base for his run. Inspired by his example, this past Sunday I brought my road bike and cycling shorts for a thirty minute round trip to the battlefield park. (See photo below) Another time, I'll leave from church to explore the way to the Chattahoochee River. (Call it Narthex-2-Spandex)

When we start our new series of Wednesday Family Game nights, consider coming to our regular Evening Prayer service, 20-30 minutes long, playing games until 8, and then strolling altogether to Marietta Square for ice cream at Sarah Jean's, a couple of doors away from the space where William Root ran his pharmacy, now housing a bakery.

And think of how you might invite neighbors or co-workers for worship and a stroll into town. Call it Prayer-2-Square.

This article was written for The Bells of St. James, the newsletter that I send out every week.