Dear Friends,

This week, we hear a familiar story in the life and ministry of Jesus - the story of the “secret visit” of Nicodemus, a leading member of the religious establishment that was so deeply opposed to Jesus. Yet Nicodemus came and declared that Jesus had to be from God, because of the great things he was doing; because of all that was demonstrated in him and his life.

As we “make a new beginning “ in this holy Lenten season, Nicodemus is a model worth remembering, for he, too, seems to be making a new beginning in this late-night visit. He is breaking away from the pack, from the norms and expectations that have governed his life. Yet he comes. For in Jesus, he recognizes something wonderful and new.

What must you break away from this Lent? What is God calling you to reexamine in your life? How shall you come to Jesus?

Glenn+

Lenten Prayer Resources

The season of Lent at Saint James invites us to embrace the theme of Making a Right Beginning. As we journey toward Easter, we have the wonderful opportunity to deepen our connection with Christ and with each other. To nurture our spiritual growth, we’ve created prayer resources to encourage a simple yet profound daily prayer practice. Let this be a time of reflection and renewal, guiding us into the heart of Holy Week. Together, let’s commit to this journey of faith, finding strength and inspiration in our shared devotion.

The resources are available in the narthex, or click here to download a PDF file.

Saturday, February 28 | 2:00 PM

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Commemoration Service

The NAACP’s Lancaster branch will hold its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Service this Saturday, February 28, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, located at 31 South Duke Street. The original service scheduled for January was postponed due to icy weather.

Sunday, March 1 | 9:30 AM

Forum Hour with Randall Zachman

Love Your Enemies

John Calvin (1509-1564) rejects the teaching of Thomas Aquinas and the Roman Church that the command to love our enemies is a counsel of perfection, as he sees it as a commandment binding on all baptized believers. Calvin claims that this command is exactly what God taught through Moses when he said, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," so he sees Jesus as correcting the false interpretation of this commandment given by the scribes of his day.

Jesus reinforces the binding nature of this commandment by telling us that only when we love our enemies will we be children of God. "The statement amounts to this, 'Whoever shall wish to be accounted a Christian, let him love his enemies." Join us this Sunday as we explore Calvin's claim that loving enemies is essential to our calling as Christians.

Available in person and via Zoom. Click here to join via Zoom.

Sunday, March 1 | 5:00 PM

Vespers at the Urban Well

In the Chapel

Join us for Vespers, a warm and inviting weekly gathering in the serene surroundings of the Saint James Chapel. This quiet, reflective service embraces the rich prayer traditions of Christianity and the embodied practices that nurture our spiritual lives today. Everyone is welcome - come as you are!

Engage in uplifting singing, find solace in moments of silence, and choose the posture that feels most comfortable for you as we open our hearts to listen for God’s voice. We have meditation cushions, yoga mats, and chairs available for your comfort. We’ll celebrate Holy Communion on the third Sunday of the month. We can’t wait to see you there! In the Chapel;

in-person only.

Tuesday, March 3 | 7:00 PM

Contemplative Tuesday

In the Chapel

In Person and via Zoom

What kind of person do I need to become in order to live nonviolently in the world?

We will continue to answer that question through guided reflection, conversations, and practical exercises. We'll explore how inner transformation shapes our actions and how a compassionate presence fosters loving resistance in the world.

Click here to register for Contemplative Tuesdays.

First Friday, March 6 | 6:30 PM

Unbound: Poetry, Presence and the

Art of Becoming

The Ware Center

42 N. Prince St.

Join the Urban Well for an evening of contemplative reflection and poetic performance, exploring the intersection of disability, spirituality, and the arts. This first Friday event features poetry, visual arts, and guided contemplative practice. Unbound honors the legacy of poet and disability rights activist, Vassar Miller and other artists whose voices transcend limitation and invite us into deeper belonging.

Performance contributions by Schreiber Center's modern band, the UnSinkables and artists from The Arc Lancaster Lebanon and United Disability Services. FREE EVENT

First Friday, March 6 | 9:00 PM

Compline: Ancient Music and Prayers for the Modern Soul

After the event at the Ware Center, we invite you to experience the serene beauty of Compline, an ancient office that has inspired souls since the 6th century.

Traditionally sung in the tranquil spaces of monasteries, Compline is a series of prayers, sung a cappella, that seek divine protection, peace and restorative rest as day transforms into night. As darkness falls and the day comes to a gentle close, join us in this sacred time of reflection and hope, embracing the stillness and the comfort it brings as we prepare for restful slumber.

Available in person and via live stream. Click here to view the live stream.

Saturday, March 14 | 10:00 - 11:30 AM EDT

Women's Gathering

Via Zoom

Women's Gathering walks through Lent with Sister Joan Chittister, OSB and former Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop Rowan Williams and their book, Uncommon Gratitude: Alleluia for All That Is, in which the authors offer us a sweeping set of things and circumstances to be grateful for.

Some are things we naturally feel grateful for, but when set alongside other things—hardships, suffering, and death—we begin to see that life itself is an exercise in learning to sing alleluia in this life, in order to recognize the face of God hidden in the recesses of time. In this series of reflections, it becomes clear that singing alleluia is not a way to escape reality but a way of being receptive to what is now and what is to come.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on uncommon gratitude and the power it can have in our lives. Click here to email Lorrain Rollo for the Zoom link.

Saturday, March 14 | 2:00 PM

The installation service of

Mother Shayna Watson

All are invited to the installation service of Mother Shayna Watson, former Associate Rector of Saint James, as she celebrates this milestone in her ministry!

Sunday, March 15 | 2:30 PM

Youth Group at the Lancaster Symphony

Youth Group & Families

You’re Invited!

On Sunday, March 15th at 2:30 PM, our Youth Group and families are invited to attend an extraordinary concert FREE OF CHARGE — and it’s one you won’t want to miss.

The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra and LancasterHistory are partnering for a powerful performance celebrating Lancaster’s own Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith.

The highlight of the afternoon will be the world premiere of Second Founding, a brand-new orchestral suite composed by Saint James parishioner Michael Wege. This incredible piece tells the story of Stevens and Smith. Other moving pieces will be Copland’s Lincoln Portrait and Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony. Experience an unforgettable afternoon where music and history unite to tell the story of America’s past, present, and future.

This is more than a concert — it’s a chance to:

Hear history come alive through music
Celebrate Lancaster’s role in the ongoing story of freedom and equality
Support a fellow Saint James parishioner
Experience a world premiere performance

Location: Gardner Theatre at Lancaster Country Day School

Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026

Time: 2:30 PM

Cost: FREE for Youth Group & families

RSVP: Tickets are limited. Email StephJo ASAP to reserve your spot. First-come, first-served!

Ministry Opportunity

Tech Team Members Needed

We are looking for new members to join our Tech Team, the volunteers who make our Sunday services—and our monthly Friday and Saturday liturgies—accessible through livestream.

No prior experience is needed; we will provide all the training and support you need. If you can press a button, follow a simple checklist, and serve with care, you can help extend our worship beyond the walls of the church. Join us in this quiet but powerful ministry of welcome.

For more information, click here to email Mother Stacey or Jeremiah Velez.

Latest Phishing Attempts

There is a routine and regular scam in which someone pretending to be clergy sends a fraudulent email or text asking for money or to meet privately, a tactic commonly known as phishing.

The emails are typically from a made-up Gmail account or a cell phone number and are unrelated to a Saint James email address. The origin of the data hack is unknown, and unfortunately, these phishing attempts happen all too frequently.

Please remember that no clergy or staff from Saint James will ever solicit odd or urgent personal or financial gifts via email or text message. If you receive a phishing email or text, do not open it. Instead, delete the email from your inbox and remove the text from your phone's messaging app.

Parking News

On Sunday mornings, if you enter the Duke or Christian Street garages before 11:00 AM, you have 4 hours of free parking. On-street parking is also free on Sundays.

Note that the former library lot is now a construction zone and is NOT available for parking at any time.

In a Greater Light

The funeral for Edith Elizabeth (Beth) Rogers, who died on December 13, 2025, will be on Friday, February 27th, at 11:00 AM. Visitation is at 10:00 AM.

The funeral of Raymond Gerhardt, who died on February 17, 2026, will be on March 5th at 11:00 AM. Visitation is at 10:00 AM. Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon them.