Advent Adult Formation Series

December 1,8,15,22 at 6:30pm, Parish Hall

We’ll journey through Barbara Brown Taylor’s book Learning to Walk in the Dark and take an in-depth look at how elements of both dark and light play a significant role in Advent and our spiritual lives.

A simple soup dinner will be provided and a copy of the book. RSVP to Rev. Abby (abby@sjbts.org) to reserve your spot.

Register for Childcare HERE.

Festival Choir

As is our custom every year, the Parish Choir welcomes into its ranks singers of all ages) and experience levels (children and youth are welcome) to sing in the annual Christmas Lessons and Carols.

This year, that popular service will be on Sunday, December 15, at 5 pm. Come, join our beloved Parish Choir and brass instrumentalists, as we ring in the season with an afternoon of congregational hymns (and descants!), carols, readings and prayers!

On the first two Sundays listed below, simply stick around after the final hymn at the 10 am Eucharist, then proceed into the chancel to join in the rehearsal. Music will be provided: you only need to bring your enthusiasm!

Here is the rehearsal schedule:

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1 (11:30 am -- 12 noon)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 (11:30 am -- 12 noon)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 (3:30 pm | warm-up, 5 pm | Christmas Lessons and Carols)

Men's Breakfast

Sat., Dec. 14, 8:00 am, Parish Hall

The next Men's Breakfast will be Saturday, Dec. 14 at 8:00 am.

Rev. Mark will lead this month's topic: "PSALMS—voicing Creation’s praise."

RSVP to mark@sjbts.org

Blue Christmas Requiem Eucharist

Wednesday, Dec. 18, 12:00 pm

Join us for a “Blue Christmas” service and Requiem.

A “Blue Christmas” service is for those of us who are grieving or struggling to find joy during the holiday season. We will have time to acknowledge our pain, struggles and loss. This service offers respite and comfort with special prayers and reflections. (Livestream link HERE)

This will also serve as our monthly Requiem Eucharist service, in which we remember those who died in the month of December. The service will immediately be followed by an organ concert.

Organ Recital

Wednesday, Dec 18, 12:45 pm

Please join us for a free 30-minute organ recital featuring talented local organists and St. James’ celebrated Rosales/Parsons Organ. Each recitalist brings a fresh voice to the organ’s 4,551 pipes. Stop by and enjoy a musical break in the midst of a busy day.

Our guest organist is Samuel Buse, also a member of our choir. He will be joined by mezzo-soprano Laurel Styner, to sing a program of French music for Advent and Christmas.

Honor Someone Special This Christmas Season

A perfect way to acknowledge a loved one is to make a special dedication in our Christmas services. A donation in any amount will be gratefully received and your dedication will be added to all of our bulletins on Christmas Eve. We will need to know:

1 - Name of Dedication

2 - Choice of introduction from below:

___In Loving memory of

___In Remembrance of

___In Honor of

___In Thanksgiving for

___In Celebration of

3 - Your name(s) as to be printed in the bulletin

Please use the envelope provided in the December issue of the Chimes, All dedication requests need to be received by the office no later than Wednesday, Dec. 18. Contact Walter if you have any questions at walter@sjbts.org

St. James Christmas Party Returns on December 20th!

Come mix, mingle, and make merry as we gather together to celebrate the Christmas Season! So set your calendars for Friday, December 20th from 5 - 8pm at the home of Chris and Lorna McKellar.

Tickets are $50 and include a Mexican catered fiesta, hosted bar, sing-along led by a caroling quartet, not to mention a whole lot of fun!  All are encouraged to bring a plate of cookies or dessert to

share.

Reservations will be taken on Sundays after services or you can email walter@sjbts.org. Space is limited, so reserve your place now. Your reservation is confirmed with payment by check, cash, or credit card link HERE.

Toy Drive Brings Cheer to Deserving Military

Families!

Sundays, Dec. 1, 8, & 15



Help Santa bring a smile to young military families struggling at the holidays to provide a Merry Christmas for their children. Once again this year, our Outreach Committee will be assisting St. Nick.

Please bring a gift valued at approximately $30 to the volunteers at the table on the church steps after both services. Our hope is to get as many actual real toys as possible from the parish. Great sources are Amazon, Costco, Target, CVS and Walmart. Gift cards, checks and cash are also welcome.

Our goal this year is to bring a smile to 125 children on Christmas morning. Thank you!

Senior Singles Holiday High Tea

Saturday, December 21st at 3:00 pm, Rectory

You are invited to join us at Rev. Mark and Laura Hargreaves’ home for a High Tea. RSVP via text to Laurie Hammers at 805.300.7689 by December 15th. Email: seniorsingles2025@yahoo.com.

STEWARDSHIP 2025 "Be Transformed"

It's never too late to pledge

To date we have already received pledges from over 175 households—nearing our goal of 210! It's never too late to register your pledge, and it helps since those tallies help to craft the budget for 2025.You should all have received a pledge card in the mail. If not, extras are available in the pew racks, with the ushers, or in the office. Thank you for your generosity.

As part of our campaign this year, all households that have pledged for 2025 are welcome to take one of the shells from our “Giving Tree”, which will be by the front doors of the church next Sunday.

See the letter HERE. Online Pledge Card HERE.

For additional information, contact Walter at walter@sjbts.org.

Children & Youth this Sunday

Sunday, Dec. 8

• ADVENT 2 celebrated with

Saint Nicholas- At the 10:00 service, Saint Nicholas will make his yearly visit. All children are invited to enjoy a special children’s sermon, traditional treats, and a fun Children’s Chapel. Please meet on the lawn prior to the service to prepare for St. Nicolas.

• 9:45-11:15- Baby Nursery + Toddler Nursery- Children 0-3 will enjoy story, crafts, song, and feast. This week's story is on Mary the Mother of Jeuse and all will continue practicing their pageant song.
• 10:00 WORSHIP All children + youth meet at the 10:00 for worship + Children's Chapel (4k-5th grades) leave after the Gospel reading for Children's Chapel in the Godly Play Room. This week's Godly Play story is Advent 2 to prepare our hearts for Christmas. We continue pageant practice and songs. 
• 11:15 FESTIVAL CHOIR PRACTICE

Register your kids for Sundays at SJBTS! Click HERE

La Jolla Christmas Parade

Sunday, Dec. 8, 1:30 pm

La Jolla Parade fun! We invite you to stay after the 10:00 service to picnic, make crafts, take pictures at our Bethlehem photo booth, sing carols and enjoy the parade with us. The parade starts at 1:30 and Saint James’s lawn is the perfect place to enjoy the celebration. Bring a picnic lunch or walk around the La Jolla Festival. Children and youth will be selling popcorn and drinks during the parade with all proceeds going to Outreach. It will be a great day for church community!

Sign up to Serve in the Interfaith Shelter

Jan. 6 - 18, 2025

On January 6th our guests from the Interfaith Shelter Network will arrive to launch their twelve-day stay in our Parish Hall. Shelter guests are screened to be free of addiction and mental health

problems. Most have jobs and are saving up for their own housing. They are provided a cot, a semi-private sleeping area, and nutritious meals.

Representing Christ’s love and conversing with them can be a very fulfilling experience. Carrying on the Interfaith Shelter Network tradition at St. James is possible only through your contributions of time and talent. Please review the online sign-up at https://bit.ly/sjbtsshelter2025 to find the right fit for you.

For questions, please contact Clark Guest at clark.guest@gmail.com or 858-414-2112.

Opportunity to Serve

RefugeeNet, an Episcopal diocesan organization, supported by our Outreach Committee, is being asked by the US government to resettle refugees who will be arriving soon from South Sudan. All of the churches in the diocese are being asked to help them begin their new lives here.

St. James is being asked to assist in the care of two 20 year old young men and a 50 old woman and her 20 year old daughter. We’ll meet with the new arrivals and help them get started. They’ll need everything imaginable; new or used furnishings, clothing, school supplies, canned goods. They’ll also need volunteers willing to help with transportation, shopping, and any concerns they may have. Whatever we can’t provide, RefugeeNet will be there for them. 

Contact Joanne Stark at joannemstark@gmail.com for more info.

Sunday Sermon

Sunday, Dec.1, Advent 1

Another Day is Coming

While the rest of the world rings with bells of the Christmas season, we commence a new church year with apocalyptic words from Christ. To help us, the Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves gives us some questions to ponder, and invites us to “…wake up this Advent from our materialist slumber. Let's not forget that another day is coming.”

Watch or read the sermons HERE.

Bach Collegium San Diego presents: A FRENCH TWIST-À LA VIERGE • MUSIC FOR THE VIRGIN MARY AND THE NATIVITY

Sat. Dec. 7, 7:00 pm, St. James

An unusual meeting of repertoire by Charpentier, Poulenc, and Villette covering a span of over three hundred years, yet connected aesthetically by way of musical sensuousness and elegance. BCSD

welcomes Guest Director, Dana Marsh (Artistic Director of the Washington Bach Consort and Director of the Historical Performance Institute at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music).

We would love to give St. James congregants a 20% discount to tickets to the upcoming BCSD concert. Those tickets can be purchased here: bachcollegiumsd.org/afrenchtwist with the code

JAMES20.

Bach’s Lunch Returns with a Holiday Program

Wednesday, December 11, 12:30 pm

San Diego Baroque’s noontime series – “Bach’s Lunch” – continues on Wednesday, December 11, at 12:30 pm, immediately following our Noon Eucharist service.

Alison Luedecke, Artistic Director, always fascinates with her programming ideas, and her program of Christmas music will feature old treasures, as well as rarely-heard baroque masterpieces.

The concert is offered free-of-charge, but donations are always appreciated. More information at www.sdbaroque.com .