Weekly News & Updates

May 7, 2026

Thursday, May 7:

6pm-Handbell rehearsal
7pm-Parish Choir rehearsal

Sunday, May 10:

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 Bulletin

Monday, May 11:

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

Wednesday, May 13:

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

We join the family of Teva Rittenhouse -- a long-time and much beloved parishioner of St. James the Less -- in both grieving her death (Tuesday, May 5th) and in giving thanks for her remarkable life.

Keep her family in your prayers as they navigate the coming days. We will let you know as plans for a memorial service are made.

"O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our sister, Teva. We thank you for giving her to us, her family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage.

In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord." (BCP, p. 493).

Parish Updates

What a good week to be together! We celebrated John's one-year anniversary of being at St. James the Less. The good folks of SJtL that live at Avery Point were able to gather for a delicious lunch. It was such a treat to be together and share a meal.

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE: Roof Repairs Scheduled 5/11–5/12

Please be advised that professional contractors will be performing extensive roof repairs on the sanctuary Monday, May 11, and Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

To ensure everyone's safety and to help the crew complete this work efficiently, please adhere to the following safety precautions:

Avoid the Work Zone: The area immediately surrounding the sanctuary will be marked with caution tape. Please avoid this area completely, as falling debris, tools, or materials can pose a hazard. There will be no access to or through the Memorial Garden. Please come through the downstairs if you need to come in.
Move Vehicles: If you park in the lot closest to the sanctuary, please remove your vehicle Monday, May 11, to prevent damage from falling debris.
Secure Indoor Items: Vibrations from roofing work can sometimes shake walls. It is advisable to secure or remove any fragile items from walls or shelves.
Use Designated Entrances: Please use only the approved safe entry and exit points indicated by the contractors, avoiding walking underneath active work areas. There will be no access to or through the Memorial Garden. Please come through the downstairs if you need to come in.

We understand this is an inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe environment.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email us.

Altar Guild Request

Dear Parishioners,

I am writing on behalf of our Altar Guild asking for you to prayerfully consider joining this ministry. Our numbers have diminished over the years from six teams to now four teams. Unfortunately the ages of our team members have not diminished (mine included) and all of our teams could use additional support. We are in special need of additional help setting up the sacraments for our weekly services. Training will be provided. By increasing the numbers on each team it allows for much needed flexibility for family obligations and emergencies. Please take time to consider this ministry. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions.

Karla Batten, Altar Guild Chair (804) 441-3406

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!

Journal Group

The Journal Group that meets on Wednesdays is complete for the program year. There will be no more meetings until the fall.

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 supper

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!

Youth Sunday, May 17th

The 10:00 service on May 17th will be a “Youth Sunday” service, and quite different from what we offer the other Sundays of the year at that hour. Our youth group has been meeting with Rev. Ohmer and the youth group volunteer leaders on several Sundays over the past month, and taking their recommendations and ideas for the service seriously has resulted in a creative combination of 1) traditional (but shortened!) worship, 2) an opportunity to make connections with one another, and 3) an opportunity to serve others – all in the same 10:00 - 11:00 hour! All are warmly welcome!

As part of the “serve others” portion of the service, we are hosting a Toiletry Drive- The Youth group is collecting toiletries to help support veterans and the unhoused in our area. Please bring travel sized soaps, shampoo and lotions, clean toiletry sized bags, small suntan lotions, and travel tissues. The donation box is located in the hallway. You can bring them on or before May 17th. Thank you!

Contemplative Service

Join us May 17th at 5pm for our Contemplative Service. This offers a sacred space to intentionally slow down and breathe. This service combines quiet music, meditation, contemplative prayer, and scripture reading to help anchor your soul. Unlike traditional services, the goal here is not to "do" more, but simply to "be" in the presence of the Divine. It is an act of resistance against the culture of hurry and exhaustion, allowing you to settle and get quiet. We hope you will join us!

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

Church Picnic May 31st

Please join us for the Church-wide picnic to celebrate the wonderful program year we've had on Sunday, May 31st, following the 10am service. We’re gathering for a day of food, fun, and connection. We will provide the delicious chicken (from Around the Table) and drinks. Please bring a side or dessert to share. It will be in the Pavilion and we will also have yard games and other activities for everyone to enjoy celebrating community, faith, and fellowship.

Youth: Join us on Sunday, June 7^th from 2-6 pm for a special event with the R-MC Chaplain's Office. We'll explore the theme of Birds and the Bible, learning about ancient birds in the Holy Land and about birds that live in our area today. Each participant will make their own birdhouse to take home. We'll enjoy snacks & games together too! While this is a youth event, all congregants are welcome and wanted, even if you aren't in middle or high school.

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

A Note From Beth Harrison

Dear friends,

There are seasons when we discover again how deeply our lives are held by one another.

In the long hours of the hospital, in the uncertainty of surgical procedures, glitches, and recovery, I became aware —again and again— of the quiet ways love makes itself known. A meal left at the door. Blueberry muffins. Flowers opening beside the bed. Karla redressing a wound. John driving 60 miles for a prayer and a shaky laugh. Cards and messages arriving like small lights. Prayers carried across distance. Gentle check-ins. The simple grace of people who stayed near.

There were moments when the road felt lonely and fragile. Yet beneath it all ran a steady current of care that carried me when my own strength felt thin.

A new pacemaker now keeps rhythm within me. But through these weeks, it was friendship, compassion, and community that helped steady my heart.

Thank you for every kindness offered, every prayer. I am coming through this season more aware of the grace that lives between us, and more grateful than I can say. There are no small mercies.

Beth Harrison

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, Mike, Melissa, Amy, Martin, Cara, Sharon, 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.