Dear Friends,

This week, your Saint James clergy and staff invite you into two meaningful opportunities that support the life of our parish and our shared call to become Beloved Community.

Communications Survey

We are conducting a parish-wide communications survey, and your perspective is essential. As we refine how we communicate about Saint James and The Urban Well, your insights will help guide us.

Your feedback will help us:

Clarify our messaging so it better reaches our community
Strengthen our website and social media presence
Ensure our story reflects what matters most to those who know us best

Take the Survey: Congregational Communication Survey

We know your time is valuable. If you are able to respond by Sunday, July 25, we would be deeply grateful.

Celebrate Abilities

The Urban Well at Saint James continues its Encountering Disability work this Sunday in partnership with the Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development through the inaugural Celebrate Abilities Concert Series.

Join us from 3:00–4:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, for an all-ages, inclusive musical performance featuring award-winning singer-songwriter Halley Elwell and The Unsinkables, Schreiber’s modern band.

We hope you will join us for worship in the morning and return in the afternoon for this joyful celebration.

God’s peace,

Stacey+

Saturday, July 18 | 8:30 - 10:30 AM

Upper Room Men's Group

How do we find hope, faith, and forgiveness in a changing world?

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, it is a poignant time to contemplate our own place in the

American story. In his final New York Times column, David Brooks reflected on how the world has changed over his career—most noticeably through a collective loss of faith. Yet, he pointed toward a path forward, anchoring his conclusion with a profound quote by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr.

"Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we are saved by love. No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as it is from our standpoint. Therefore we must be saved by the final form of love, which is forgiveness.”

What does this mean for us as men, fathers, friends, and citizens?

We are a welcoming group of men of all ages and walks of life. Join us for a hearty breakfast, great conversation, and community in the Parish House. Bring a friend!

Summer Fellowship Before and

After the 10:30 AM Service

Stop by the narthex for coffee, lemonade and treats between services and after the 10:30 AM service. Enjoy this casual time to greet friends, catch up with long-time parishioners and introduce yourself to someone new!

Want to take part in this hospitality ministry? All you need to do is simply be present at the cookies/lemonade/coffee table to greet parishioners and visitors. Saint James will provide the coffee, lemonade and treats. Click here to sign up for this ministry. Have questions? Click here to email Andrew Flinchbaugh

Sunday, July 19 | 10:30 AM Mass

Children's Chapel and Nursery Care

Resume This Sunday!

Nursery care on Sundays at the 10:30 AM Mass is for infants through age 3 in the lower-level seminar room of the church. Parents/guardians are asked to drop off their tots at 10:15 AM in the lower level of the church and pick them up by 11:45 AM.

Children's Chapel with StephJo Wise also resumes this Sunday. Children and youth ages 3 and above begin the morning in the sanctuary, where they can experience the processional and the opening congregational prayers.

After the opening Collect, children are invited to the front of the sanctuary to make their way to the chapel and participate in songs, prayers, brief meditation and storytelling of the day’s Gospel and/or New and Old Testament readings. For more information, click here to email StephJo Wise, Director of Children, Youth and Families.

Sunday, July 19 | 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Celebrate Abilities Concert Series with

Halley Elwell and The UnSinkables

Join us for the inaugural performance of the ‘Celebrate Abilities’ Concert Series, in honor of Disability Pride Month.

This free, all-ages, inclusive musical performance will feature Halley Elwell, a singer-songwriter renowned for her rich voice and insightful lyrics. Her evocative music blends elements of jazz, folk, pop, and rock, drawing inspiration from iconic artists such as Laura Nyro, Carole King, and Joni Mitchell.

Also joining Halley will be The Unsinkables, Schreiber’s modern band and beautiful artwork from the artists of ASPIE.

Saturday, July 25 | 5:00 PM

Schools of Hope: A Saturday Night Mass to Benefit School District of Lancaster

Join us for a night of inspiration and community on Saturday, July 25th at 5:00 PM as we come together to support the School District of Lancaster. We are thrilled to welcome the incredible April Hartman of Apes of the State as our special guest!

This event promises to be a vibrant fusion of music and purpose, uniting us in our commitment to education and hope for a brighter future.

Whether you join us in person or tune in virtually, your presence will make a difference! Available in person; click here to view via livestream.

Sunday, July 26, 9:00 AM

Saint James Voices

Calling all Singers for July 26th!

Led by Kate Umble Smucker, the ensemble is open to anyone ages nine and above, with no experience required. The group will rehearse at 9:00 AM and then sing at the 10:30 AM service. If you'd like your music in advance, click here to email Kate.

Sunday, July 26 | 5:00 PM

Evening Vespers at the Urban Well

In the Chapel

Join us for Vespers, a welcoming weekly gathering at Saint James, this reflective service embraces Christian prayer traditions and nurtures our spiritual lives.

Enjoy uplifting singing, moments of silence; choose your preferred posture with available cushions, yoga mats or chairs. We will also celebrate Holy Communion and the patronal Feast of Saint James.

Everyone is welcome—come as you are! In-person only at the Chapel.

Summer Camps at Saint James

Creator's Camp:

Making & Growing Together!

This faith-infused creative journey combines art, music, theater, gardening, cooking, mindfulness and more, where kids learn to create and nurture! The week wraps up with a heartwarming final sharing when families and friends can cheer on their young creators and see their beautiful lights shine!

Rising Kindergarten – Rising 6th Grade

Dates: July 27 - 31

Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Ages 3 – 5: Little Sprouts Camp

Dates: August 3–7

Time: 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Click Here to register and learn more!

*Scholarships are available! To apply for a scholarship or with any questions, click here to email the Director of Children, Youth & Families, StephJo Wise.

Faith, Loyalty and Revolution

American Revolution Podcasts With

Dr. Cordelia Moyse

The first and second of a three-part Contemplative Citizenship series is now available on Podbean, Amazon and Spotify. If you'd like to hear it from our website, click here!

In this series, we explore with intellectual rigor and a contemplative spirit how our history as American citizens and as a faith community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has shaped us and others. In 1776, Lancaster was a thriving frontier town, and Saint James was at the heart of it. When revolution came, it tore the congregation apart. One member signed the Declaration of Independence. While many others enthusiastically embraced the patriot cause, the rector remained true to the King. And for a time, the church doors were nailed shut.

Parish historian Dr. Cordelia Moyse takes us back to meet the community that lived through it and asks what their choices might say about ours today.

Summer Office Hours

and Doorbell

For the remainder of the summer, through September 4th, the Parish House office hours are as follows:

Mon - Thurs: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Fri: Closed
Open for scheduled yoga classes/by appointment only on Fridays

Please note that the Parish House doorbell is currently out of order. Visitors are welcome to enter during office hours (Mon-Thurs 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM) and should check in at the front office.

Sunday, August 9

Ollie's Closet Annual School Supply Drive Begins This Sunday

It's time to start stocking the closet for the coming school year.

Donating school supplies is easy. Stop by the closet door in the church narthex and pick a card from the door listing an item requested by the school. Add it to your shopping list and drop it off the next time you come to church.

Monetary donations to Ollie's Closet can also be made by check or online. Please make your check payable to Saint James with Carter and MacRae Elementary School in the memo line, and drop it in the offertory. Or, click here to give online.

PLEASE NOTE: The list of requested school supplies has changed! Click here to see what has been requested by Carter & MacRae teachers for the upcoming school year.

Look for the display in the narthex beginning this Saturday, August 9th and running through Sunday, September 6th.

Sunday, August 16 | 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Youth Group Pool Party!

We’re closing out summer with a splash! All youth in grades 6 – 12 are invited to join us for an evening of swimming, soaking in the hot tub, and spending time with friends at the Clark family’s beautiful backyard pool.

We’ll have pizza and dessert to keep everyone fueled for fun. Adult supervision will be present. Bring a towel, your swimsuit and a friend!

Registration is required for planning purposes. Click here to let us know you'll be attending. Please RSVP by Aug 13th.

Pastoral Care at

Saint James

Pastoral care ministries at Saint James support parishioners at life’s major turning points, as well as during extended periods of disability and recovery. A team of clergy and lay persons provide timely, professional pastoral care in an intimate and confidential manner. Our team respects parishioners’ rights to privacy and keeps strictly confidential all information about anyone receiving pastoral care. Click here for more information about pastoral care, or click here to email Kristle Evans, Pastoral Care Coordinator