By Joey McWilliams
After more than three and a half decades of service to the Durant community, Father James Blagg is stepping down from the role of pastor at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Rev. Blagg was honored on Saturday with a celebration of his 36 years of dedication to the St. John’s parish and area.
Father Blagg has been in full-time ministry for 45 years overall, with stops in Texas in Big Spring, Monahans and Abilene. In 1988, when he was searching for another pastorate at which to serve, he had interview in Louisiana, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas.
“I came here and it was just like magic,” Blagg said. “It was like the lights were on. And I was called here. I had just come from another place that was fine, but like I said, it was like the lights were off there and the lights were on here.
“I just received a call, so here I came.”
Father Blagg said that he has seen a lot of changes in Durant in that time with the city council, the school board, the industrial authority and just the population.
“It feels like we’re really developing as a community right now in all aspects and I’m delighted that the congregation has reached out and asked some community leaders, ‘What can we do?’
“And they have found some ways to serve the community. From the Blessing Box here to helping with the Boys and Girls Club to helping at the hospital with some baby gifts to many things. I’m just pleased that God has led the congregation in that kind of involvement.”
He said also that he has ideas about what might be the next steps for him.
“I plan being available as a supply or substitute pastor in Oklahoma and in the area. I’m looking forward to that. And maybe to working with some committees of our Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma to better serve the churches and serve the communities.
“And on a personal level as well, I’m looking forward to working with our gardens. We love our vegetable gardens. We already have okra in the ground. And we’re just looking forward to traveling.
“Since both my wife and I are now retired – her from the school system and I from the church – we’re not tied to a schedule. So if we need to go see relatives or friends, it’s a little more possible now.”
The leave-taking service for Father Blagg is scheduled for Sunday, April 6.