Weekly News & Updates

April 30, 2026

Thursday, April 30:

6pm-Handbell rehearsal
7pm-Parish Choir rehearsal

Sunday, May 3:

8:00am Holy Eucharist Rite I
9:00am - Adult and Children's Formation
10:00am Holy Eucharist Rite II

Livestream of 10:00 service

10am service leaflet

Monday, May 4:

10:30am Good Grief Group (library)
7pm- Dream Group (4th Quarter room)

Wednesday, May 5:

7:30am- Holy Eucharist (bagels and coffee after)
6:00-9:00pm: St. James the Less Free Clinic

Parish Updates

What a wonderful weekend for our young people. Many SJtL parishioners showed up to support Jason Dowdy in his school's production of High School: the Musical. He did fantastic! We also celebrate Eli Harris and his recognition by Hanover County with a "Spirit of Promise" honor. What remarkable people!

A note from your Senior Warden

Hello everyone,

I missed you last Sunday. I was out of town attending my Family Reunion.

Taking an opportunity to tell ya’ll some good news.

We in the Vestry have been working on getting a new roof over the Sanctuary for a while now. I’m happy to say that everything is signed, we have the money to pay for it and they are getting started on it next week. A roof is not really something to get all excited about but I am excited about it. Sylvia and the team picked a contractor-K&J Roof Repairs LLC. Once they get started, it should be completed in a few days. I appreciate everyone’s help very much. Dale and Yancey have been great advisors through it all!

I love the lovely plants and flowers that are growing all around. I love the steady stream of volunteers watering too. It is just beautiful all around and our newest, The Pollinator Garden is adorable!

Great job everyone!

Thanks to everyone with the cleaning up around-inside and outside. You just kind of get used to things sitting around and don’t notice them. When they are gone or moved somewhere else, it’s seems fresher and newer. The efforts are noticed and appreciated!

Have a wonderful rest of week and hope to see many of you Sunday.

Nancy Chamlee

Help Us Celebrate Your 2026 Graduates!

It is that time of year again—graduation season! We know our community is full of proud parents, grandparents, and family members, and we want to help you shout your graduate’s accomplishments from the rooftops!

Whether they are graduating high school, or closing the chapter on college, we want to spotlight them in our next newsletter.

How to be Featured:

Please send us an email with the following information by May 12th.

Graduate's Name
School Name
Grade Level (e.g., Senior, Masters)
A Photo! (High-quality photos, please—cap & gown, or a fun, smiling portrait)
Optional: Future plans (e.g., "Attending VT in the fall," "Joining the workforce")

Let’s come together to honor the Class of 2026!

Help Us Spread the Good News Digitally!

Do you love taking photos on Sundays? Do you enjoy scrolling through Instagram or Facebook? We are looking for creative, passionate volunteers to help manage our church's social media channels.

Social media is more than just posting—it’s a powerful digital mission field that allows us to reach our community, share stories of how God is moving in our church, and connect with people throughout the week. Whether it's capturing a sacred moment, sharing a sermon quote, or highlighting one of our ministries, your help can make a difference.

We are looking for people to help with:

Taking photos/videos on Sundays.
Posting event updates.
Responding to comments and engagement.

No need to be a marketing expert—just a willingness to serve and a passion for our church community! Interested? Please contact Kasey in the office.

Supper Club Picnic May 9—All Families Invited

The final supper club get together of the spring season will be held at the pavilion on May 9 at 6 p.m. Supper club members (past and present) and their children are invited to celebrate a wonderful season of fellowship and good food. Please help us to set up and take down in the pavilion as you are able. We will set up beginning at noon on Saturday, May 9. Here is what you can bring in portions to share. If you last name starts with ___, please bring the following and also help in that way.

A-H- DESSERT & SET UP AT 12 NOON

I-P - MAIN/ENTREE & SET UP AT 12 NOON

Q-Z- SIDE DISH & TAKE DOWN AFTER DINNER

Appetizers will be provided. Please bring your preferred beverages; cups will be available. In order that we may ensure enough of each assigned dish, please let Kasey know if you can attend. Thank you. See you there!

After the youth-led service (or are we calling it “Graduation Sunday”) on May 17, the youth group will host a 5k at 11:30am. This event, “Jogging for James - To End Preventable Stillbirths” is a fundraiser to build awareness so more moms will be informed of the importance of monitoring their babies' movements and empowered to speak up if they notice a change. While the main event is in Chicago, we will join virtually by jogging and walking a 5k together in the neighborhood around St. James the Less. The event was created by the family of one of Aleta Meyer’s colleagues, who lost their son and brother, James, and is in honor of all families who experience this kind of tragedy. Through this fundraiser, more healthcare providers will have the opportunity to educate and empower with Count the Kicks. Sign up here to join the “St. James the Less Youth Group” for this fun event: here

NOAH’S ARK - Pet Food Pantry at St. James the Less

Noak’s Ark is the name of the new animal outreach ministry at St. James the Less. Our first project is a Pet Food Pantry to help our neighbors in need care for the pets who depend on them—so that no one has to choose between feeding themselves and feeding a cherished pet.

How you can help:

Donate a small unopened bag of dog/cat food or canned dog/cat food
Make a monetary gift to support pet food purchases

Donations may be left at the church entrance during services on Sunday mornings, or in the hallway across from the church office at any time. Kasey will collect monetary donations during the week. The food will be made available to the community on Wednesdays during clinic hours.

For more information, please contact Susan Higgins.

We creating a bulletin board in the hallway for our ministry- if you would like your pet's photo featured, please email us a picture. We would love to have their sweet face up there!

Share what you have. Give what you can. Every donation is an act of love.

We’re excited to offer FOUR new classes in April (with more to follow:) Please contact Kasey to sign up ahead for classes: All classes meet in the 4th Quarter room downstairs.

MENS’ BOOK CLUB

If you’re a reader who is looking for a setting where you can share ideas with

others after you read, Tom Hubbard is facilitating a book group for you. Potential books may focus on the classics, history, biographies, religion, etc. Let us know if you are interested. The group will determine the ongoing meeting dates and times. Contact Jenny Bruce with questions.

Hanover Churches Network

The mission of the Hanover Churches Network (HCN) is to coordinate the responses of local churches to social needs in Hanover County, VA. HCN fosters collaboration to better steward resources, addressing food and housing instability through a shared database, monthly meetings, and partnership initiatives, aiming to connect churches and community organizations. Click below to see the most recent updates.

Click here to read the lastest news

HCN Resouce Guide

Prayers

Lord God, encourage us to faithfulness, righteousness, and compassion for all God’s children. We lift up Sean, our Presiding Bishop, Mark, Gail & Bud, our Bishops, and John, our Priest in Charge. May they be strengthened and encouraged as they work with us to proclaim your Good News in this world. We pray for Donald, our President, Abigail, our Governor, and Steve, our Mayor, and all our elected officials. Guide them to lead us to the common good.

We pray for members of our community, friends and loved ones who are ill, especially, Gus, Erin, Meghann, Haden, Hilda, the Smith family, Mary Lou, Alicia, Steve, Margaret, Patty, Jennifer, Susan, Jason, Mike, Melissa, Amy, Martin, Cara, Sharon, Jack, Winnie, Michael, Addison, Pam, Julie, Ray, Kelly, Jack, Dale, Mark, Alex, Laura, Michael, Paul, & George.

We pray for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. We ask your prayers for those serving in the diplomatic corps, the military, and as missionaries: Larson, Greg, Matthew, James, Ellie, Andrew, Katherine and Duke.

We pray for those who have died, especially Heather Grande, Cleve Collins, Dearing Gardner, Erik Klauss, & Judy Sledd. We ask your prayers for those who grieve their missing loved ones. Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored.