September 4, 2025

Saint James the Less Weekly News & Updates

This Week

Sunday, September 7, 2025

8am Eucharist Rite I (OUTSIDE)
9:00am Christian Formation For All Ages (Parish Hall)
10am Eucharist Rite II with music
11:15am Ministry Fair in Parish Hall (see details below)

Monday, September 8, 2025

10:30AM Good Grief Group in the library

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

7:30am Eucharist Rite II

Message from our Priest in Charge:

Dear people of St. James the Less,

It was only two Sundays ago (August 24) that your Senior Warden, Jim Allen, announced that the Priest-in-Charge who would be shepherding this faith community over the next 18 to 24 months would be not someone new, but--for better or worse--me, the same guy who’s been your supply priest since late May.

Many of you have told me you are pleased with this decision and are looking forward to ministering together.

Please know the feeling is mutual.

God has great things in store for this faith community over the short and long term, and I am honored and excited to play a role in seeing it unfold.

So let’s jump right in.

As you know, this Sunday is the launch of the fall program year. That means in addition to our normal 8:00 and 10:00 services of the Holy Eucharist, you’re invited to attend one or both of these special events:

9:00 am, Christian Formation for All Ages (Parish Hall)

Miriam Smith will
give us an overview of what is planned for Children’s Sunday School and Youth Group
Introduce new and returning nursery workers and others who help.
Beth Harrison will
give us a brief overview of what to expect at the Adult Bible Study which takes place in the 4th Quarter Room during Christian Education Hour between services.
Beth also coordinates the offerings of the Fourth Quarter ministry, which you can read about here.

I will then take this opportunity to (re)introduce myself, speaking briefly about what my hopes are for our overall ministry together, and then open the floor to hear what YOUR hopes are for our overall ministry are.

We’ll end (before 10:50) with a Choose Your Own Adventure exercise where you’ll have a chance to let me know which of two Adult Forum topics you’d like me to offer between now and Advent, and which one you’d like me to offer later. More on those, Sunday!

11:15 am, Ministry Fair (Parish Hall)

This year you are invited to a PUB (Places U Belong) Crawl.

Miriam has come up with a super creative and fun way to for you to experience this year’s Ministry Fair: everyone attending the Ministry Fair will be given a plain, unfrosted, undecorated cupcake.

You will then be invited to go from table to table--to get toppings and hear from your fellow parishioners about the many exciting ministries happening at and through St. James the Less. So it’s a “PUB (Places U Belong) Crawl!

See you Sunday,

John

Children & Youth Programming

September 7, 2025

Nursery and Children/Youth Sunday School

Childrens Sunday School and Youth Group Sign Ups:

Childrens Sunday School

Welcome Back to Youth Group

Parents and youth are invited to join us on September 14th for a shared meal and information session. Parents will meet with the Youth Group admin while the youth get to know their leaders for the year! We look forward to seeing everyone soon!

Contact Miriam with any questions or for more information.

Looking for new Choir Members and Handbell Ringers!!

The Parish Choir is looking for new (and former) members to join. We welcome any and all voice parts but are especially in need of sopranos.

I urge you to consider joining this group. We prepare music each week for our Sunday services, enjoy each other’s fellowship in our weekly rehearsals, and have some fun in the process.

The choir is open to all from high school students and up. Please give the choir a try and be a part of this vital ministry to the church. We rehearse on Thursday nights at 7:00 pm in the choir room.

The Handbell Choir is also seeking new (and former) members to join. We play several times throughout the program year. This is a fun and happy group of people who enjoy making music. An ability to read music at an elementary level is helpful but not required. We rehearse on Thursday evenings at 6:00 pm in the parish hall.

If you would like more information about these groups or have any questions, please email Reggie Long at Reggie@stjamestheless.com.

Supper Club meets in groups of 6:30-8 on the 3^rd Saturday of the month. The first one is on September 20. (Each group may move the night to Friday or Sunday if they prefer.) Groups meet at 6:30 p.m.

Our first supper will meet in the Parish Hall. We are asking those with last names beginning with A-H to bring entree enough to feed 8, names with letters I-P bring a side and names with Q-Z a dessert.

This first supper club is open to anyone who has an interest in joining. It doesn’t necessarily imply a commitment to the whole year. We are going to look at alternatives and tweaks to the way we have currently done it. So bring your food for thought along with your contributions to the feast.

If you have any questions, please contact Jenny Bruce (804-759-9608) or Beth Harrison (540-903-7000) or email Jenny jbruce@rmc.edu. We would love to see lots of returning folks and new faces joining us for the fun!

Help us to get the much needed supplies for our ever growing program by clicking HERE. Please make sure to include who sent it so we can properly thank you! Snacks, crafts and so much more to choose from. Thank you all for your continued support!

St. James the Less Members:

When you spot a new person at church, be sure to welcome them and invite them to fill out a Newcomer Card.

Cards are available in the sanctuary and narthex.

We'll help them find a Vestry member to connect with!

Volunteers Welcome for Red Shoe Gala

Volunteers who help work the gala are invited to attend the gala before/after their shift to enjoy free food, drinks, and live music as a small token of our appreciation for your hard work. We need folks to sell raffle tickets, help us pass out prizes during the live auction, and the biggest need is help with checkout. Click the link to see the volunteer shift options and sign up.

Red Shoe Gala Volunteer Signup

I can't promise that there won't be hiccups on event day. But I can promise that your contribution will be valued and met with sincere thanks from me. We could not do this work and care for families with a child in medical crisis without the steadfast support volunteers like you provide.

Feel free to call me, Charlie Burgess (they/them) at 804-223-8594 if you have questions.

Lee Chamber's Funeral Service

Sept. 20 at 2 pm

Reception to follow in the Parish Hall.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in thanksgiving for Lee's life be made to the St. James the Less Free Clinic, checks made payable to the Hanover Interfaith Free Clinics, memo line: "St. James the Less Free Clinic."

You can help

Supplies needed for the St. James the Less Free Clinic Red Box:

non-perishable foods (cereals, and canned goods, veggies & fruits)
toiletries
personal niceties

St. James the Less Free Clinic Wish List:

40-50 year old volunteers during the week and during clinic hours
Spanish interpreters
Technology gurus
Professional volunteers (medical doctors, PA's, nurses, dentists, dental assistants, and people who like to work with numbers.
Volunteers to provide meals on Wednesday nights (sign up here)

Other ways to help:

Donate to ACES- Click HERE for current needs (we have a box in our hallway)
Donate to Peter Paul Development Center. (box in our hallway)

Prayers of the People

Lord, encourage us to faithfulness, righteousness, and compassion for all God’s Children. We lift up Sean, our Presiding Bishop, Mark, Gail & Bud, our Bishops, and John, our Priest in Charge. May they be strengthened and encouraged as they work with us to proclaim your Good News in this world. We pray for Donald, our President, Glenn, our Governor, and Steve, our Mayor, and all our elected officials. Guide them to lead us to the common good.

We pray for all those who work to respect the dignity of every human being.

We pray for members of our community, friends and loved ones who are ill, especially, Gus Miller, Erin Yagla, Meghann Batten, Haden Hopkins, Hilda Kelly, the Smith family, Mary Ann Harris, Mary Lou Brown, Pam Gillette, Ruth Beaudry, Alicia Wood, Anna Marie, Judy Sledd, Floyd Moore, Tim Yagla, Erik Klauss, Steve Crain, Jessica Wingo, Margaret Belyea, Patty Smith, Douglas and Karen Bower, Ginger Brooking, Jennifer Fewell Gardner, Susan Arthur, Dearing Gardner, Jason Robb, Paul Schofield, Teva Rittenhouse, Jerry Peart, Mike Littlefield, Melissa Deas, Christine, Amy Balsinger and the Skidmore family.

We pray for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. We ask your prayers for those serving in the diplomatic corps, the military, and as missionaries: Larson Flanagan, Greg Ericksen, Matthew Thomas, James Ashley, Ellie Deas, Andrew Brunson, and Katherine Murphy.

We pray for those who have died, especially Lee Chambers. We ask your prayers for those who grieve their missing loved ones.

Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored.