From Fr. David

Dear Friends,

PRAYER is the way of non-violence. Our Martin Luther King Jr. reflections should celebrate the great changes in American law and consciousness we have achieved. The current distress and tension present in many cities around whiplash immigration policies and enforcement that lack national consensus tells us we must find a better way. As befits a great nation of equal citizens in a democracy, the better way can only be found through serious non-violent spiritual work of those blessed to be its citizens.

Dr. King built his vision of a beloved community in and through PRAYER. He knew, as did his great mentors Mahatma Gandhi and Howard Thurman, that social action without being rooted and grounded in the love of God through a new understanding and experience of embodied prayer would be ineffective and undisciplined. Worse, because such action would be in haste and led by reactivity, anger and rage on all sides, it would spiral into unnecessary and tragic violence.

Saint James is blessed to offer three things that equip us for Godly love to help us discover and build across our political divides a Godly justice rooted in God’s shalom:

This Sunday morning, we gather for Beloved Sunday celebrations in church with special readings, prayers and reflections by Debbi Miller, who will invite us to join new Sacred Ground circles to gain new insights and form new relationships.

Sunday evening, join me and our youth for the annual NAACP MLK, Jr. Service at 5:00 PM at Holy Trinity Church on South Duke Street. We will hear Bethel AME’s new and first female pastor's call and challenge to us to do the Christian work of justice and peace together that remains to be done in and from our churches across our communities.

Third, the pioneering work, beginning again on February 10th, of Contemplative Tuesdays from 7 - 8:00 PM in the chapel or via Zoom. We will explore what it means to live non-violently in the world with transformative prayers and practices that equip us for our spiritual work of love and joy, even in the midst of difficult times.

Stacey, David & Glenn

Saturday, January 17 | 8:30 - 10:30 AM

Upper Room Men's Group

2026 New Year's Resolution: What's true, what's realistic and what's never going to happen?

What's true? These are truths we can actually stand on: spirituality and, humanly speaking. What's realistic? These are practices that have a fighting chance of sticking. What's never going to happen? And that's okay! What is a healthier way to reframe the new year? What options should we consider?

Join us for a meaningful discussion as we kick off the new year together. Our meal will include breakfast sandwiches, stewed apples, yogurt parfaits, coffee and juice. Have questions? Click here to email Chuck Smith.

Sunday, January 18 | 9:30 AM

Part 2 of Meet the Vestry Candidates

Not sure who to vote for in our upcoming vestry elections? Join fellow parishioners in person or via Zoom this Sunday morning, January 18th, at 9:30 AM in the parish house forum room, when candidates for vestry will be introduced.

Kate Brossman
Carol Becker
Drew Hermeling
Leslie Mann
Eric Schwarz
Sam Slaymaker

Click here to read the candidates' bios on our website. Click here to join forum via Zoom. Reminder: Voting begins this Sunday at noon!

Sunday, January 18 | 9:30 AM

Women's Bible Study

Women's Bible Study will pause on January 18th. All women are invited to join fellow parishioners in the forum room to meet the vestry candidates. Women's Bible Study will resume on February 15th at 9:30 AM in the library.

Sunday, January 18 | 10:30 AM Mass

Beloved Sunday

Gather with us for a Sunday morning celebration of our growing understanding of the importance of racial justice through the Sacred Ground study circle curriculum of the Episcopal Church. We’ll listen to the testimonies of past participants, allowing us to consider joining a new study circle that uses documentary films and discussions to explore the historical and ongoing distortions of race and racism in our country.

Sunday, January 18 | 4:00 - 6:30 PM

Youth Group: Martin Luther King Jr. Service

Welcome to Youth Group 2026! We’ll begin the year together with an evening centered on community, reflection, and justice.

We’ll meet at 4:00 PM in the Parish House Forum Room for a quick dinner, then walk together to Trinity Lutheran Church to attend the 5PM Martin Luther King Jr. Service hosted by the NAACP. After the service, we’ll return to Saint James to wrap up Youth Group by 6:30 PM.

Please register by January 15 so we can plan appropriately for dinner. Click here to register.

This evening is a meaningful opportunity for our teens to honor Dr. King’s legacy and engage with our wider community. We hope you’ll join us for this special start to the year.

2026 Giving Envelopes

Giving envelopes have been ordered for people who mail in their contribution or give weekly/often by check or cash.

Please note that we have discontinued the numbered envelope system for identifying households; instead, our Realm software scans checks to determine the giver. Those who give with cash will need to add their name to their envelopes. Any envelope can be used; a quantity of these giving envelope books will be available in the narthex and parish house office.

Wednesday, January 21 | 3:00 PM

Holy Eucharist at Willow Valley

Willow Valley residents are invited to join clergy and staff from Saint James and Holy Trinity Lutheran churches to celebrate Holy Eucharist in Manor North Auditorium, located on the third floor of the main building in Manor North. All are welcome; bring a friend!

ALL ARE INVITED TO

THE ORDINATION OF

JOSEPH EDWARD PRITCHETT

To The Sacred Order of Priests

In Christ's One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church

January 24, 2026 | 10:00 AM

St. John's Episcopal Church

321 West Chestnut St.

Lancaster, PA 17603

Click here to view via livestream.

Sunday, January 25 | 9:30 AM

Annual Church Meeting

In person and via livestream

Gather with us on January 25 at 9:30 AM in the sanctuary for our annual meeting, when Fr. David and vestry leadership will present a new annual report highlighting the growth of our parish, along with what's on the horizon for Saint James. Click here to join via livestream.

Tuesday, February 10 | 7:00 PM

Contemplative Tuesdays Resumes

Contemplative Tuesdays will resume on Tuesday, February 10, for a seven-week series exploring the question: What kind of person must I become to live non-violently?

Together, we will reflect on what we mean by non-violence—and what we mean by violence—drawing from scripture, contemplative practice, and the wisdom of those throughout history who have wrestled with this question before us. Through guided reflection, shared conversation and embodied practices, we will explore how inner formation shapes outer action, and how a grounded, compassionate presence becomes the foundation for loving resistance in the world.

Click here to register for Contemplative Tuesdays.

Thursday, February 12th - July 16th | 6:30 PM

New Sacred Ground Circle Being Offered

Every other week on Thursday

6:30 - 8:30 AM EST

Online only

Beginning on February 12th, the Episcopal Diocese of the Susquehanna* is offering Sacred Ground, the 11-part series on racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries and our society.

Part of Becoming Beloved Community, Sacred Ground is a faith-based film-and-reading dialogue on race. Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity.

The sessions will be held from 6:30 - 8:30 PM EST, on every other Thursday from February 12th to July 16th.

Click here to learn more and register. After registering, one of the facilitators will contact you to discuss participation expectations and answer any questions. Our own Lissa Olsen is one of the facilitators.

*The Episcopal Diocese of the Susquehanna was formed from the reunification of the Episcopal Dioceses of Central Pennsylvania and Bethlehem, effective January 1, 2026.

Sunday, February 15, 9:00 - 10:00 AM

Saint James Voices Begin

A new once-a-month

intergenerational Sunday choir

Led by Kate Umble Smucker, the ensemble is open to anyone ages nine and above, with no experience required. The group will rehearse and sing at 9 AM on the 4^th Sunday of each month, then sing at the 10:30 AM service, beginning February 22^nd.

The first gathering is a meet-and-greet on February 15th at 9:00 AM in the chapel. For more information, click here to email Kate Smucker.

February 18, 2026

Ash Wednesday

Observe the beginning of Lent—a season of introspection, fasting, and prayer, symbolic of the 40 days and nights Jesus spent in the wilderness in prayer and fasting.

Ash Wednesday services:

7:30 AM
12:00 PM
3:00 PM at Willow Valley in Manor North Auditorium
5:30 PM Children, Youth & Family Ash Wednesday Mass in the chapel
7:30 PM

Unless indicated otherwise, all services are in the sanctuary at Saint James. The 7:30 PM service will be streamed.

February 19 - March 26 | 7 - 8:00 PM

Mercy Seminar

Thursday Evenings, 7:00 - 8:00 PM

Via Zoom

Now In its seventh year, the 2026 Mercy Seminar invites you to explore the profound insights that different faith traditions offer about embracing life and navigating death with grace. How can the certainty of death inspire us to cultivate a deeper focus and a heart full of gratitude, transforming potential feelings of anxiety into a courageous appreciation for the present moment? Is death merely “nothing at all,” or does it open the gateway to an eternal adventure beyond this life?

Join us as we delve into selected sacred readings from Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scriptures, along with enlightening contemporary secular spiritual writings. Together, we will uncover the wisdom that encourages us to live our best lives and face death not with fear, but with hope and understanding. Click here for more information and registration.

In a Greater Light

We pray for the soul of S. Kendrick (Ken) Eshleman, III, who died on December 21st. His service will be at Saint James on Friday, January 16, at 11:00 AM, with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

We also pray for the soul of Edith Elizabeth (Beth) Rogers, who died on December 13, 2025. Her service will be at Saint James on Friday, February 27, at 11:00 AM, with visitation at 10:00 AM. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.