Dear Friends,



Our October annual giving campaign begins this Sunday with beautifully filmed profiles of parishioners whose generosity of their time, talents and treasure will inspire us all.

Our campaign theme comes from the gospel this Sunday when the disciples approach Jesus, saying, "Lord, increase our faith!” Kim Lemon and Timi Kirchner reflect on what this means for them and their membership with you at Saint James.

A letter of encouragement from us, as your clergy, along with instructions for making a pledge, should arrive at your home in the coming days. Please let us know if you did not get it. Copies will also be available at the back of the church.

Click here to pledge online or download the pledge form. Don’t hesitate to call the office with any questions 717-397-4858 or click here to email the office.

Yours in Christ,

David, Stacey & Glenn

As we approach the end of the Season of Creation, we invite you to join our siblings in Christ from St. John's for two events on Friday, October 3rd, in honor of The Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Friday, October 3 | 6:00 PM on the

Eve of The Feast of Saint Francis

Blessing of the Animals in the

Courtyard at St. John's

All companion animals—furry, feathered, winged, and more—and their owners are invited to the courtyard at St. John's for the Blessing of the Animals. We will celebrate the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, honoring the bond between humans and animals, acknowledging God's creation, and our stewardship over all His creatures.

St. John's is located at 321 W Chestnut St, Lancaster, PA 17603

Friday, October 3 | 9:00 PM

First Friday Compline: Ancient Music and

Prayer for the Modern Soul

After the Blessing of the Animals at St. John's, we will gather at Saint James for a contemplative service of Compline, joined by clergy and choir members from St. John’s.

Compline—Night Prayer—is the church’s ancient way of ending the day in stillness, trust and quiet song. This service will draw from the New Zealand Anglican Prayer Book, whose strikingly poetic language helps us glimpse God in new ways: addressing the Creator as “Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,” and praying that “the hallowing of your name echo through the universe.” These words remind us that our lives and prayers are woven into the fragile beauty of creation.

The liturgy will include psalms, the Canticle of the Sun, and a choral setting of the Prayer of St. Francis. In the gentle rhythm of night prayer, we will honor Francis’ witness of humility, compassion, and joy—discovering how ancient prayer and sacred music can renew us for the challenges of our own age.

Whether you bring a pet to be blessed in the early evening or join in the late-night stillness of Compline, you are warmly invited to be part of this celebration of Francis, creation, and the peace of Christ.

Attend in person or via livestream. Click here to view the livestream.

Saturday, October 4 | 9 - 11:00 AM

Gravestones and Gardening

Join Cordelia Moyse and StephJo Wise as we tend to our historic churchyard. Teens and adults can gently scrub pollution and lichen from our fascinating church gravestones. Cordelia will reflect on our communion of saints and how to care for our history together. A special bucket and brush will be provided for cleaning the gravestones for those who register.



Families of all ages are also invited to give our church yard some much-needed care. Families will work together to remove invasive plant species from the garden and tidy up the grounds. Bring gardening gloves if you have them; we will also have some on hand.

We'll kick off our morning with coffee and donuts in the gazebo. Please wear work clothes and enclosed shoes or boots, and bring some elbow grease!

Click here to sign up!

Sunday, October 5 | 9:30 AM

Sunday Morning Forum

Parish House Forum Room

This week in Forum, Randall turns our attention to creation as the work of the love of God. When God's work of creation is celebrated in Psalm 136, the constant refrain is: "for God's steadfast love endures forever." This means that God's love creates the universe, so that everything that exists is the object of God's love. As Zwingli says, God "by his nature loves not only man, but all God's creatures. For unless God loved them, God would not create them, sustain them, live and work in them." We now have a much fuller grasp of the vastness of the universe God has created, and of the long history of life on earth, which includes countless creatures besides human beings, all of whom were and are loved by God, even the sparrow (Luke 12:6). What difference might it make were we to regard all of creation, and all of life, as loved and cared for by God? Join us this Sunday as we explore the love of God for all that God has created.



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

Ollie's Closet School Supply Drive Results

Thank you to all who gave so generously!

This note of thanks brings much gratitude to all those who contributed to this year's school supply drive for the students at Carter and MacRae Elementary School. The needs were a little different this year, and Saint James parishioners rose to the challenge.

Thanks to everyone's generosity, just over 2,600 items were donated, including pencils, glue sticks, underwear, socks, toothbrushes and crayons/colored pencils and more!

Monetary donations exceeded $2500, all of which will be put towards closing the supply gap as the school year continues. A huge thank you to all our volunteers this year who did a fantastic job of collecting, boxing and delivering the supplies to Carter and MacRae. Thanks also to the Saint James staff who were a tremendous help throughout the entire process.

LaTrelle M. Renaud

Saint James Ollie's Closet Coordinator

All Saints and All Souls Season

Remembering our dearly departed

All Saints All Souls season is a time to remember the deceased, including martyrs, saints and all those in the faith who have passed into a greater light. If you have a loved one who died between October 30, 2024 and Monday, October 27, 2025 and would like them to be remembered, click here to use the form

on our website to submit their name.

Names may also be submitted by calling the church office:

717-397-4858. Or, click here to email your submission to

Kristle Evans, Pastoral Care Coordinator. The name submission deadline is Tuesday, October 28th.

For the Month of October

Urban Well Yoga Studio News!

During the month of October, newcomers are invited to enjoy complimentary mindful yoga sessions. If you're interested in mindful yoga but uncertain about which style is right for you, this is an excellent opportunity to try gentle or chair yoga and find your best fit!

With the appointment of Sarah Shelton as our Mindful Yoga Studio Coordinator, she will also begin teaching privately at the Urban Well Yoga Studio through her business, Holding Space Yoga. Her new students will receive two free classes in October. For more information about Holding Space Yoga and to contact Sarah, click here.

The Urban Well Yoga Studio is located in the lower level of the Parish house (119 North Duke Street). Click here for session times.

Tuesday, October 7 | 7:00 PM

Healing the Divide

Led by Jen Donovan with Mother Stacey and Father David,  these sessions are a journey into deeper listening, compassionate presence and building bridges across differences. In a world that often feels divided, this group creates a safe and curious space where we can slow down, ground ourselves, and practice being fully present with one another—even when we disagree.



In our session on October 7th, we will focus on healing the outer divide by addressing our own inner conflicts. We will explore how difficult conversations affect us physically, and we'll learn to tune in to our bodily responses. This increased awareness will help us build our capacity for understanding, allowing us to listen and communicate with greater calmness and less reactivity.

A Contemplative Tuesday series, the group will meet in person and via Zoom on Tuesday evenings through November 18th, in the Chapel, from 7:00 - 8:00 PM. Attend all sessions, or drop into classes as your schedule allows. Click here to register.

Saturday, October 11 | 10:00 - 11:30 AM

Women's Gathering

Via Zoom



Women's Gathering begins its new season with Richard Rohr's book about embracing the prophetic "way of tears."

This book draws on the enduring teachings of biblical prophets and the compassionate insights of Richard Rohr to reveal how our trials in life can ignite hope, justice and love in our hearts.

Join Women's Gathering to learn and discover how our struggles can become a sacred call to action. Click here to email Lorrain Rollo for the Zoom link.

Sunday, October 12 | 11:30 AM

Faith and Blue

Building Bridges to

More Inclusive Communities

Join us after the 10:30 Mass on Sunday, October 12, for an informal conversation and Q & A with representatives from the Lancaster City Police Department and our clergy. This will be an opportunity to engage in a productive dialogue and build relationships.

Faith & Blue was launched to facilitate safer, stronger, more just and unified communities by directly enabling local partnerships among law enforcement professionals, residents, and community groups through the connections of local faith-based organizations.

The initiative aims to strengthen relationships and trust. The heart of Faith & Blue is the belief that communities thrive when residents and law enforcement professionals can connect as neighbors with shared values, hopes, and dreams. By focusing on what unites us, we can build bridges rather than barriers.

A light brunch will be provided. Kindly click here to register for planning purposes.

Wednesday, October 15 | 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!

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

Upper Room Men's Group

Join the Upper Room Men's Group for breakfast in the parish house forum room on October 18th. Men of all ages are welcome to enjoy a time of food, fellowship and engaging discussions on some of today's most important topics. Bring a friend and your appetite! For more information, click here to email Chuck Smith.

Sunday, October 19 | 9:30 AM

Women's Bible Study

Join Kristy Clark for Bible study, prayer and fellowship in the parish house library. This is a time to get to know each other better and grow in our faith. Women's Bible study meets the 3rd Sunday of the month. Have questions? Please click here to email Kristy Clark.

Sunday, October 19 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Lancaster Crop Hunger Walk

At Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

The Crop Walk is a mission-driven event where funds raised help feed those most vulnerable in our community, as well as support programs addressing food insecurity worldwide. Whether one takes part in the physical walk, helps raise money, or simply donates, you are making a tremendous impact for the greater good. The event is held rain or shine. Free to walk, but donations/pledges are welcome. 

1:00 PM Registration

1:30 PM Program

2:00 PM Walk begins

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is located at 64 Hershey Ave, Lancaster, PA. Click here to learn more and join Team Saint James!

Sunday, October 19 | 5:00 - 6:30 PM

Youth Group

Pumpkins, Werewolves & Treats, Oh My!

Fall is here, and Youth Group is bringing the festive fun! We’ll share dinner together, then enjoy a cozy (and slightly spooky) night of pumpkin painting, a round of Werewolf, a showing of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Halloween treat-making.

But we’re not keeping the fun to ourselves. Our spooky snacks will be shared with the younger children of Saint James on Sunday, October 26, as well as with the Habitat for Humanity crew and the family moving into their new home.

Teens are also invited to help spread the joy by handing out treats at our intergenerational coffee hour on October 26 at 9:30 AM. A $5 donation, at the door, per teen to help cover pumpkins and supplies, is welcome (but not required).

Bring your fall spirit and a friend. This is going to be a night you do not want to miss! Please register by October 17^th. Click here to register!

Habitat for Humanity Team Announces October Build Dates

All are invited to join the Saint James and friends Habitat for Humanity team to help with the build in October.

Location: 1021 Walnut Street in Lebanon

Time: 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Dates: Wednesday, October 22 through Friday, October 24

Wednesday, October 29 & Thursday, October 30

Meet new homeowner, Estefanye. She will be the first person in her family to own a home. And hopefully, she says, she’ll be the first of many future homeowners in her family.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to have my own home, where I can see my kids grow up and then pass it down to them,” says Estefanye, a 26-year-old single mother of four young children. “I wanted to show my kids that anything can happen if you put in the work.”

Click here to learn more about volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

Saturday, November 1 - Monday, November 3

Encountering Disability,

Three Days of Community Building

Saturday, Nov 1:  At Saint James: A family-friendly, intergenerational day of contemplative experiences, including a labyrinth, movement, poetry, music, sound, and art, along with a curated art show of works by Friendship Community artists like the painting above.

Sunday, Nov 2: At Saint James: A saint for our times: Vassar Miller and the Poetry of Disability: A brunch lecture by The Rev. Canon Dr. Judith Maltby following the 10:30 AM Mass. 

Monday, Nov 3: A conference that reflects on community health and policy changes affecting everyone with disabilities and their families.

Click here for more information and to register for all or part of the event.

In a Greater Light

We pray for the soul of John H. Crowe, who died on September 24th. Funeral arrangements are not available at this time.

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

October 3, 6:00 PM | Blessing of the Animals at St. John's

October 3, 9:00 PM | First Friday Compline: Ancient Music and Prayers for the Modern Soul

October 4, 9 - 11:00 AM | Gravestones and Gardening

October 5, 8:30 & 10:30 Masses | Annual giving campaign begins

October 7, 7 - 8:00 PM | Contemplative Tuesdays with Jen Donovan

October 11,10 - 11:30 AM | Women's Gathering

October 12, After the 10:30 Mass | Faith and Blue

October 14, 7 - 8:00 PM | Contemplative Tuesdays with Jen Donovan

October 15, 3:00 PM | Holy Eucharist at Willow Valley

October 18, 8:30 AM | Upper Room Men's Group

October 19, 9:30 AM | Women's Bible Study

October 19, 1:00 PM | Lancaster Crop Hunger Walk

October 19, 5:00 - 6:30 PM | Youth Group

October 22, 23, 24, 29 & 30 | Habitat for Humanity Build

October 26 | New member welcome

November 1 - 3 | Encountering Disability, Three Days of Community Building

Saturday, Nov 1:  At Saint James: A family-friendly, intergenerational day of contemplative experiences, including a labyrinth, movement, poetry, music, sound, and art, along with a curated art show of works by Friendship Community artists like the painting above.

Sunday, Nov 2: At Saint James: A saint for our times: Vassar Miller and the Poetry of Disability: A brunch lecture by The Rev. Canon Dr. Judith Maltby following the 10:30 AM Mass. 

Monday, Nov 3: A conference that reflects on community health and policy changes affecting everyone with disabilities and their families.