Inquirer's/Confirmation Class Starts January 19 - Sign Up Today!

The Inquirer's/Confirmation Class begins on Sunday! If you still want to sign up, please email Fr. David today. We are preparing booklets for the class and need to know the number of participants.

This class is for people who want to learn more about The Episcopal Church OR prepare for the sacramental rite of Confirmation/Reception, which will be administered by Bishop Mariann Budde when she visits St. Monica-St. James on Sunday, May 11.

Tuesday Eucharist, January 21, 6:15 pm

At the 6:15 Tuesday Eucharist on January 21, we will celebrate the Feast of The Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle (transferred from January 25). Bookended with The Confession of Saint Peter, those two feasts mark the ecumenical Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Read more about this feast day here.

Thursday Evening Prayer, January 23, 6:15 pm

As we resume worship during the week at St. Monica and St. James, the next step is the resumption of the Daily Office, beginning with Evening Prayer, starting Thursday, January 23, at 6:15. Come for a few minutes of prayerful calm toward the end of the work week.

Welcome Joe Neal, Parish Administrator

Joe is a born and raised Washingtonian, briefly leaving to study in West Virginia. He’s proud to be a girl dad and the parent of an amazing cuddly rescue cat Nala. Through his faith, Joe utilizes his background in law and business management to serve God and his community. 

Joe is a member of All Souls Episcopal Church, serving as a bell ringer, Usher, and member of the Christian forum committee. 

He loves listening to sports podcasts and reading historical novels. 

New Contact for the Ave and SMSJ Social Media

While our new Parish Administrator settles into his position, Catherine Freemon will be providing volunteer support on the Ave and with the church social media. You can contact her with inquiries or announcements at cefreemon@icloud.com until further notice.

Catherine joined Saint Monica and Saint James with her fiancé Ian during the summer. She works as a Communications Associate for the William & Mary Global Research Institute, and she is very passionate about communications in all its forms! In her free time, Catherine likes listening to good music or reading while snuggled up with her cat, Pumpkin. She also enjoys traveling and amateur photography.

Parish Winter Weather Policy

It is now parish policy that when DC Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the church will be closed as well. Staff will not be required to come in person, and scheduled worship services will be canceled.

January 12 Sermon: "Personal Renewal of Solidarity"

As Jesus went down in the river to pray, studyin’ about that good ol’ way, he went down in solidarity with his people, identifying himself totally with all their hope and all their tragedy, singing, O sinners, let's go down, come on down, down in the river to pray, even though he himself had not inflicted any of that tragedy himself. And when he came up and in effect replaced John after his arrest, Jesus the Christ would share everything there was to share with the people of the Old Covenant as he renewed that Covenant. So here we are, “the community of the New Covenant,” which is how our Outline of Faith defines the Church, renewing that Baptismal Covenant, for ourselves as individuals and as a church. And what is the New Covenant? The “new relationship with God, given by Jesus Christ…[who] promised to bring us into the kingdom of God and give us life in all its fullness…[and] commanded us to believe in him and to keep his commandments.” In that Baptismal Covenant we are about to renew, the statement of belief comes first in The Apostles’ Creed, followed by some specific promises.

You can read the full text by clicking the button below.

Fr. David's sermons are posted on the website under the Worship menu in the top navigation. Hover over Worship and you will see the new page. You can also navigate to it from the Worship page or use the button below.

Great Thanksgiving Stewardship Campaign

Friends and Members of St. Monica and St. James,

As we begin this year’s Annual Pledge Campaign, we want to first thank you for your presence at St. Monica and St. James Episcopal Church. We are blessed by all who walk through our doors and hope that our services and fellowship nourish and support you in your faith journey.

This year’s annual giving theme, Great Thanksgiving, focuses on the powerful relationship between being thankful for all God has given us and being a good steward. As we recall in our Eucharistic Liturgy, “All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee.” It is out of a thankful heart that we can approach God and each other to encounter Christ in our midst. We have so much to be thankful for at St. Monica and St. James: Fr. David’s new rectorship, a successful transition season with lay leaders emerging at every step of the way, and a time to envision the mission and vision of our parish.

Read the letter from our Stewardship Co-Chairs, Emma Knowland and Ian Nelson on the website here. Pledge forms for 2025 can be found on the table in the Parish Hall.

Parish Life at St. Monica and St. James

There are many ways to get involved in the community life at St. Monica and St. James. How can YOU share your gifts of the spirit?

Service Opportunities

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." -- 1 Peter 4:10-11

It takes many hands to create the beautiful worship service each Sunday.

Through our service, we live out our baptismal covenant to love one another.

Will you volunteer to serve this parish? We need Ushers and Element Bearers for the 11am Sung Mass and Coffee Hour Hosts.

• Ushers: Greet people entering our doors before the service with a smile and a bulletin; help collect the offertory and bring it to the altar; guide newcomers to the Parish Hall or answer any of their questions after the Mass.
• Element Bearers: Bring the wine and the communion wafers to the altar
• Coffee Hour Hosts: Help set up for coffee hour before the 11am Mass, putting out snacks and making coffee; helping clean up after coffee hour, running the dishwasher.

New Sign-Up Book for 2025 in the Parish Hall

We would love to have you volunteer in 2025 to be an Usher, Element Bearer, Lector or Coffee Hour Host. Sign-up in the binder on the table in the Parish Hall or join our email list of Ushers, Element Bearers, or Lectors Email office@smjec.org to add your name to the monthly email request for volunteers.

Come and Sing!

Do you like to sing? Come join the choir! Rehearsals are Sunday mornings before the 11:00 service, and most anthems are hymns or other familiar music. This is a chance to learn the service music better, learn those hymn harmonies, and experience the joy of singing with a small group again. No prior training is required, and you don’t have to commit to be there every Sunday (we know, we go on vacation, too!). 

Interested? Not sure? Speak with Daniel Elmer, our Music Director, at coffee hour after mass, or by email at music@smjec.org, or phone at 703-919-5417.

Sunday, January 19 - Second Sunday after the Epiphany

8 a.m Said Mass

11 a.m. Sung Mass

The Rev. David P. Kendrick, Rector

Tuesday, January 21

6:15 p.m. Said Mass

The Rev. David P. Kendrick, Rector

Thursday, January 23

6:15 p.m. Evening Prayer

The Rev. David P. Kendrick, Rector

Sunday, January 26 - Third Sunday after the Epiphany

8 a.m Said Mass

11 a.m. Sung Mass

The Rev. David P. Kendrick, Rector

Resolutions on Reparations

On January 25, Diocesan Convention will consider three recommendations submitted by the Committee on Diocesan Reparations. These recommendations, in the form of resolutions, urge the diocese to: 

• Acknowledge wrongs done to Black congregations, clergy, and parishioners in EDOW and the Black community at large and move toward a culture of equity;
• Establish a Reparations Committee; and 
• Allocate $5 million over 10 years to remedy racialized inequity. The newly established committee would allocate funds. Diocesan leadership will identify and recommend potential sources from diocesan revenues, not from parish financial contributions. 

Learn more about these resolutions on this page. 

For more information about reparations in EDOW, go to edow.org/reparations.

Convention Resolutions

A resolution is a proposed action or decision to be discussed and voted on at Diocesan Convention, which is the governing body of the Diocese. This year, five resolutions will be presented for our collective discernment and action at the annual EDOW Convention on Saturday, January 25 at Washington National Cathedral. 

• Resolution 1: Acknowledgement & Equity
• Resolution 2: For the Creation of a Reparations Committee for Reparations in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington
• Resolution 3: Funding Reparations in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington
• Resolution 4: Urging the Diocese and Parishes to Participate in Energy-Usage Study
• Resolution 5: Affordable Healthcare for Social Justice

Convention delegates are invited to attend the two online Resolution Hearings on Wednesday, January 8 (for resolutions 3 & 4) and Wednesday, January 15 (for resolutions 1, 2 & 3). Both hearings begin at 6:30 p.m. and provide delegates an opportunity to hear from the resolution sponsors and ask any questions or offer any comments they may have in advance of the Convention. Zoom links will be emailed to delegates closer to the hearing dates.