From Fr. David

A tribute to The Rev. Canon Stanley Imboden, D.D.

When Stacey is meeting with all the newcomers who want to learn more about Saint James this Saturday morning at 8:30 AM, and when we rejoice to welcome new members into the parish on Sunday at the 10:30 AM service, we will celebrate Saint James as a warm, vibrant and growing parish connected to so many in the heart of our city. This does not happen by accident nor in any given year. It takes generations of laypeople, staff and clergy leadership to nurture the character, culture and charisms of a congregation.

With the death of the former rector of Saint James, Rev. Canon Stanley Imboden, at the age of 93, the Episcopal Church, our diocese, and our parish have lost one of the great examples of the role of a parish priest. Canon Imboden was an inspiration as a pastor and evangelist, and the embodiment of the love of God that is inseparable from the love of neighbor. His ministry among us for 16 years (1978-1994), along with that of Diane, his wife of 49 years, and their children, Eric and Alton, was a great blessing that included a thriving and extended family life. Following Diane's death in 2004, he was blessed to meet, at an Easter service in 2005, a new Saint James member, Sandra Couch, who was serving on the bishop’s staff and as verger here at Saint James. Both remained in regular touch with many friends in the parish and returned on many occasions to assist in worship and pastoral care.

Sandra and Stan formed a new ministry and family team that was blessed to share 20 years of love and life with many across the diocese, especially at Bangor Church, the oldest church in our diocese, where Stan will be laid to rest on Saturday, January 10, 2026. The service will be led by Bishop Audrey Scanlan and the Bangor Church rector, Canon Mark Scheneman, on Saturday, beginning at 11:00 AM. I am honored to represent the parish as a concelebrant at his requiem and to share in the service alongside the Rev. Molly Solbak, who will be the deacon of the Mass. Both Molly and the Rev. Deacon Mary Lou Brought were among those who were trained and served as ordinands, deacons and other ordained associates during Stanley’s time. Before she was a deacon, Mary Lou was the co-chair of the search committee that brought Stan to Lancaster as the 19th rector of Saint James. The service will be live-streamed and can be accessed through their homepage at bangorepiscopal.org or via their YouTube channel found here. Bangor Episcopal Church is located at 2099 Main St. in Narvon, Pa 17555.

In a parish report, Canon Imboden defined the ministerial philosophy, shared by himself and his ministry team at Saint James as being characterized by “evangelical pastoring, liberal interpretation of scripture and doctrine, unboundaried outreach and social ministries, and broad, varied use of the liturgy with the involvement of many laypersons … Our staff believe this philosophy is advantageous for growth and comforting with those whom we pastor." (St James History volume II, p. 153)

The beauty of the churchyard and our ability to lay to rest so many parishioners in it, was but one abiding contribution that Stan made to the parish. May he rest in peace and rise in glory!

Yours in Christ,

David+

Saturday, January 10 | 8:30 - 11:00 AM

Membership Class to Meet in the New Year

Pathways: Exploring Membership at Saint James

Are you curious about the Saint James Community and the Urban Well? Do you want to explore the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion in more depth? These sessions are an engaging way to share our faith journeys, explore Church history and its impact on our present practices, tour our beautiful campus, and learn more about our school of prayer and service in the Lord. Join us to discover what it means to be a member of this vibrant community!

Click here for more info and to register.

Saturday, January 10 | 10 - 11:30 AM

Women's Gathering

Via Zoom

Women's Gathering walks through Epiphany with internationally celebrated poet, David Whyte.

In The House of Belonging, Whyte explores the individual and often lonely journey toward identity and voice and the longing we all have to belong. He places individual discovery in the context of belonging to homes, places, times, creatures, people, and "miraculous otherness." David speaks about how to live in deep appreciation and sympathy for all life, all of the time.

If you would like to discover how you can nourish those you love, please join us. Click here to email Lorraine Rollo for the Zoom invitation link.

Sunday, January 11 | 9:30 AM

Meet the Vestry Candidates

Not sure whom to vote for in our upcoming vestry elections? Join fellow parishioners in person or via Zoom on Sunday mornings, January 11th and 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.

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

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.

In a Greater Light

We pray for the soul of James (Jim) Sabino, who died on December 27th. His service will be on Friday, January 9th, 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 Patricia (Pat) Hershock, who died on December 24th. Service details are not available at this time. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

We also 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.

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.