December 18, 2024

Saint James the Less Weekly News & Updates

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A Note from Father Rock

Dear Church Family,


Greetings! We finish Advent this Sunday and one of our Vestry members, Tripp Hudgins will be sharing with us. Tripp taught preaching at a seminary level, and we are glad he can be with us this Sunday. During Sunday School I will be with the Children as they prepare for Christmas, telling stories, answering questions, and celebrating the Season.


Before you receive our next email it will be Christmas, and we will have all of our regular services. Christmas Eve, we will have the 4:30 Family Eucharist and 10 pm for music especially compiled by our talented organist Reggie Long and 10:30 for our Candlelight Christ Mass. Christmas Day we will celebrate at 10 am with a relaxed service. I hope you will be with us, whatever your speed.


This week Dawn Davis-Baker came fully on board in the office and her email is office@stjamestheless.church if you need to be in touch with her. 


The office hours are Monday and Wednesday, 9-2, and Friday, 9-12 noon. The office is closed on federal holidays and we follow the Hanover County School Snow Closings. If in doubt, we will post on our social media feeds (Facebook and Instagram) by 7 am the day of the event.


Heather Grande, one of our newly received, has taken on the Wednesday newsletter responsibilities. Many thanks to Heather for her graciousness.


Blessings this season of Grace and Forgiveness. As O Holy Night concludes:

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Advent and Christmas blessings, dear sisters and brothers. We hope to see you soon!

Rock+

JOIN US THIS WEEK

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

  • 7:30am- Eucharist Rite II
  • 10:30am-Vinyasa Yoga with Lorie


Thursday, December 19, 2024

  • 6pm Handbell Choir
  • 7pm Parish Choir


Sunday, December 22, 2024

  • 8am- Eucharist Rite I
  • 9am- Sunday School (adults and kids)
  • 10am- Eucharist Rite II


Monday, December 23, 2024

  • 10:30am- Good Grief
  • 10:30am- Yoga with Lorie


Tuesday, December 24, 2024

  • 4:30pm- Family Christmas Eve Service (All Welcome)
  • 10pm- Musical Selection compiled by Reggie Long
  • 10:30pm- Christ Mass


Wednesday, December 25, 2024

  • 10am Christmas Day Service
Click Here to Watch Services Live or Later

December Calendar:

  • Christmas- December 25th, 2024- Office Closed
  • 12/28- Youth group reunion
  • 12/29- Lessons & Carols 10am service only

Christmas Eve Musical Selection


Come early for the the late Christ Mass service to hear selections from our own Reggie Long. This will begin shortly after 10pm on December 24th.

SJTL Youth Group Reunion



Please join us for a reunion of both youth group participants and leaders on Saturday, December 28th from 6:30-8pm. It will be a great to reminisce and reconnect. We will have food and drinks to share! Meet us at 319 Myrtle Street, Ashland VA 23005. Looking forward to a wonderful evening! 

Prayer Shawl Ministry


Kim Cannady will be heading up our Prayer Shawl Ministry moving forward in the new year. They will meet the 3rd Sunday of the month, following the 10am service. All are welcome and will be trained. The first meeting will be on January 19th. Please reach out to Kim with questions.

2025 Altar Flowers


Sign up sheets are up for the 2025 Altar Flowers. Our Altar guild does an incredible job honoring the lives of the ones we remember. The cost is $35.

Julie Ericksen's Ukraine Sharing


A hearty shout-out to Julie for her presentation on her September trip to the Ukraine. It was a powerful and hope-filled talk about the Non-Violent Communication work she does. Over 50 were there, many of them outside guests. Thank you, Julie, for challenging and encouraging us to make a difference in our own lives!

2025 Book Club


We will be reading Jesus a Pilgrimage, by James Martin, SJ in our next Book Club. HERE is a link to purchase . It will be on Tuesdays at 10am 1/7-4/8 in 2025. We hope you will join us in person for our next Book Club! All are welcome!

Fall Line Farms Volunteer Opportunity


Do you have time once a month to help distribute food orders for church and fellow members of the Ashland area? We would love to add a person or two to our small team of staff. Requirements are about 3.5 hours of a Thursday once a month from 2:30pm -6pm. Foods are delivered, you divided it into orders for clients and then greet people with a friendly face. (I read or catch up on podcasts while waiting.) Can you join us? Please contact Heather Grande with your availability and join her and the Sehlhorsts for an easy, but wonderful chance to help.

CHILDREN & YOUTH PROGRAMMING

December 22, 2024

9am-Nursery & Children's Sunday School with Father Rock

10am-Children's Church


December 29, 2024

No Nursery, Children's Sunday School or Children's Church


Father Rock will be joining the Children's Sunday School this Sunday, December 22, to share some Christmas stories and to answer questions and spend time with the children. Please bring your kids for this special holiday event during our normal Sunday School hour. We are looking forward for a special day!

Hanover ARC- Senior Youth Group


Please join us in collecting gifts for the adults in need with Hanover ARC. We will be collecting gifts over the next week. The lists for specific items are on the youth group bulletin board upstairs near the choir room. The boxes are wrapped and labeled in the hallway for drop off. Please contact Aleta with any additional questions. Thank you for all of your assistance in making a wonderful Christmas for these individuals! Purchased and wrapped items need to be back at St. James by December 22nd.


Saint Cecilia's Choir


The kids choir will be performing for the family Christmas Eve service at 4:30p. They will be singing "Away in a Manger". The kids will have the chance to practice with Mr. Reggie this Sunday. We will vest and be part of the beginning of the service. If you would like to participate, please come to the choir room at 4pm on Christmas Eve. If you have any questions let me know. 


Epiphany Play


Epiphany will be here before we know it! We will have our Epiphany Play on January 5th. Just come at Sunday School time and we will get parts assigned and give you a little time to practice. We welcome kids and young adults to participate!! We would love to have a full array of farm animals and kings! Please email me with any questions. 


Youth Group Meals


Youth Group is finally back into full swing for the year!! We had a wonderful first session and are looking forward to many more. One of the ways we need help is through meals. Below is a sign up genius for meals for our meetings. Please help us to fill the gaps and show the youth how important they are to our community! Click HERE to sign up. Thank you!

WAYS TO HELP

  • Sign up to bring meals for the Clinic Volunteers HERE
  • Help stock our Emergency Food Pantry (outside the clinic)
  • Send in your Pop Tops for McDonald House
  • Bring in Hygiene or laundry items for Peter Paul
  • Donate to ACES- Click HERE for current needs (we have a box in our hallway)
  • Donate to Peter Paul Development Center. (box in our hallway)

PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE

Lord, we lift up this nation struggling with itself these days. Encourage us to faithfulness, righteousness, and compassion for all God’s Children. We lift up Sean, our Presiding Bishop, Mark, Gail & Bud, our Bishops, Rock+, our priest. We pray for Bart, our Seminarian, in his formation. May they be strengthened and encouraged as the work with us to proclaim your Good News in this world. We pray for Joe, our President, Donald, our President elect, Glenn, our Governor, and Steve, our Mayor, and all our elected officials. Guide them to lead us to the common good. 


We ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well-being of all people. Remembering especially Gus Miller, Erin Yagla, Meghann Batten, Court Warfield, Andrea Alexander McCallum, Haden Hopkins, Pam Bowers, Hilda Kelly, Harry Hassell, Bower family, Smith family, Lyde Longaker, Mary Ann Harris, Bob & Mary Lou Brown, Diana Timberlake, Kristi Elles, Pam Gillette,  Ruth Beaudry, Tom & Fran Burke, Dennis Ray, Dawn Haase & family, Kimette Cannady, Traci Smith, Alicia Wood, Jenny Bruce, Anna Marie, Dale Halter, Judy Sledd, Floyd Moore, Debra Molter, Clint Rose, Tim Yagla, Ken Perry, Jonah Smith, Erik Klauss, Teva Rittenhouse, Bobbi Prentice, Steve Crane, Rebecca Paxton, Louise Hopkins, Margaret Belyea, Tom Slaughter, Calvin Stanley, and Lee Chambers.


We ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. We also ask your prayers for those serving in the diplomatic corps, the military, and as missionaries: Larson Flanagan, Kemper Jones, Greg Ericksen, Matthew Thomas, Philip Morison, James Ashley, Ellie Deas, Andrew Brunson, and Katherine Murphy. 


We ask your prayers for those who have died including Rosemary Jones. We ask your prayers for those who grieve.  


Our citizens who live in Hanover County, the Board of Supervisors, School Board, and Manager. The print and broadcast media. The churches of metropolitan Richmond: members and clergy. All who live in poverty. All who suffer from mental illness. Our citizens who live in Ashland, Hopewell, Colonial Heights, and Petersburg, the town and city Councils and Managers. All who work in banks and finance; all making financial decisions for greater Richmond. Prisons and jails of metropolitan Richmond: prisoners and staff. All who are unemployed or underemployed. All public servants.


For all those who seek peace in the world and for ourselves, that we may bring about God's Kingdom here on earth. For our enemies, and for those who wish us harm.



Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored.

WEDNESDAY FUNNY

December 16 (Belated)

Loretta Pearson

Whit Miller


December 22

Tom Fritter

Arleen Williams

Seth Mills

Jemma Cobb

December 23

Freda Sergi


December 24

Teva Rittenhouse

P.K. Kinser

HELPFUL LINKS

Saint James the Less Episcopal Church

125 Beverly Road

Ashland, VA 23005

(804) 798-6336


Staff: (click on the name to email them)

The Rev. Rock Higgins, tssf Rector

Dr. Bart Natoli- Seminarian

Reggie Long- Organist/Music Director

Miriam Smith- Christian Formation- Children & Youth Director

Dawn Davis-Barker- Interim Parish Administrator

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Weekly E-News Deadline:  If you have an announcement to be shared with the parish, please get the information in no later than noon on Monday.