STEWARDSHIP 2025 "Be Transformed"

It's never too late to pledge

To date we have already received pledges from over 170 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.

Monthly Requiem Service

Wednesday, November 27, 12:00 pm. in-person and LIVESTREAM

This is a Simple Eucharist service, in which we remember those who have died in the month of November. For those who can’t join in person, there is a livestream link available.

Thanksgiving Eucharist

Thursday, Nov. 28, 10:00 am

Start your Thanksgiving Day celebrations right by giving thanks together with your St. James famly. Join us for a special service with organ and hymns.

Intergenerational Advent Wreath-Making & Breakfast

Sunday, Dec. 1, 9:00 am, Parish Hall

On Sunday, December 1st, SJBTS welcomes everyone to make their Advent wreaths in the Parish Hall and enjoy a simple breakfast together.

Supplies will be provided. All are welcome to bring

trimmings to share.

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.

Advent Procession of Lessons & Carols

Sunday, Dec. 1, 5:00 pm St. Mary's Chapel, The Bishop's School

The procession from darkness to light marks the beginning of Advent, the season of anticipation and hope, featuring seasonal hymns, readings, and anthems, including Herbert Howells’ A Spotless Rose, Palestrina’s Canite Tuba, and Paul Manz’s E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come. Sung by the St. James Choir.

Festival Choir Returns!

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)

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!

Children & Youth this Sunday

Sunday, Dec. 1

• 9:00 ADVENT WREATH MAKING + BREAKFAST All are welcome to eat breakfast and make your annual Advent Wreath in the Parish Hall on Advent 1. Supplies provided but please bring any greenery clippings you can spare from your yard for fillers. 
• 9:45-11:15- Baby Nursery + Toddler Nursery- Children 0-3 will enjoy story, crafts, song, and feast. This week's story is "Jesus had a Family" and 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 1 to help prepare our hearts for Christmas. We continue practicing for the pageant on 12/22.
• 11:15 COMMUNITY on the lawn with refreshments and games
• 11:15 FESTIVAL CHOIR PRACTICE

Register your kids for Sundays at SJBTS! Click HERE

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!

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.

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.

Interfaith Shelter Returns to St. James

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.

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

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, Nov. 24, Christ the King Sunday

King of the Jews

Pilate mockingly called Jesus “King of the Jews”, but the Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves points out the ultimate irony that Christ is in fact King of all creation, and that as St. Paul has told us “…we, his subjects will one day wear an imperishable crown in his eternal kingdom.”

Watch or read the sermons HERE.

St. Paul’s Senior Services Annual “Motor Mingle” Drive-Thru Event

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Spread warmth this holiday season by donating a new blanket to St. Paul’s PACE participants at this annual drive-thru event.

Click HERE for more information.

328 Maple Street, San Diego, CA 92103

(event will be held in the parking lot)

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 .