Good morning, St. James the Less!

I hope this finds you well. Thanks again for Dawn+ and Bruce+ holding down the fort while I got away for a weekend.

This Sunday is our called community conversation on our budget and finances. This is directly following the 10 am service. It will be much like the group exercise we did at Shrine Mont on our retreat, but with a real-world scenario. We, like most non-profits and churches in the USA, are experiencing a shift in our funding and work. Our committed givers are increasing their gifts (and hearty thanks to all our pledgers and givers), but the number of givers and the amount is declining. This is a multi-year trend that began before COVID. The pandemic only exacerbated it.

We will have a very accurate snapshot of where we are for you, and a good picture of where we are going this year. We will break up in small groups to think creatively on reducing costs, while increasing what comes in. We have a lot of good ideas that Vestry have approved and some things they are considering, but we know God has equipped us to provide for all our needs. God will not call us to things for which God does not provide. Together, will we have the faith to step out boldly to what God is calling us to do?

This should be a fun, creative, and productive way for us to look at often is an uncomfortable topic. If you have questions on process or any of this, please let me know.

Also, please add to your calendar the report of Rachel Easter on her mission trip scheduled for January 29 after the 10 am service.

Hope you can join us for both times!

Blessings,

Rock+

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

• 7:30am- Eucharist Rite II & breakfast to follow
• 10:30am-Vinyasa Yoga
• Noon- Chair Yoga

Sunday, January 22, 2023

• 8am- Eucharist Rite I (no music)
• 9am- Sunday School (children & adult)
• 10am- Eucharist: Rite II (music)
• 5:45pm- Journey to Adulthood

Monday, January 23, 2023

• 10:30am- Vinyasa Yoga (for all fitness levels)
• 10:30am- Good Grief group
• Noon- Chair Yoga (all fitness levels)

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

• 10am- Rule of Life Class

Please be aware, as we get further along in our Pavilion construction, that we may have a few days in the next week or two that the parking lot around the Memorial Garden and in front of the Pavilion may be marked off. Be safe and be alert for any construction messages around the property. Your safety is our main concern.

Bring a Meal for the Youth

The Journey to Adulthood (J2A) regional youth group here at Saint James The Less needs your help. We are looking for volunteers to provide one meal for 15-20 people. We would love for you to help serve our youth and share a meal with us! The doors will open at 5:30pm in Brydon hall and someone will be there to help you set up. We ask that you provide a meal that includes a main course, dessert and drinks. Some ideas include pasta casserole, pizza, salad with grilled chicken, hot dogs or burgers, etc. The possibilities are endless! If you would like to sign up, click HERE.

Please help us in our endeavor to create a community poised to give back and appreciate the gifts of people all around them. Thank you! 

Budget Conversation THIS SUNDAY 1/22

One of the main pieces of feedback on our Shrine Mont parish retreat was about our activity having hard conversations in respect and loving compromise. We heard from several, "Wouldn't it be nice to do that with a 'real' problem?" We heard you, and we would like to offer the opportunity to do just that. 

On Sunday January 22^nd following our 10 am service, we invite anyone who would like to participate in a "real world" conversation of our budget for 2023. We continue in the trend over the last few years of increased costs and declining total giving, while at the same time we are still growing in attendance and participation. How do we increase income without that becoming the goal? How do we lower costs without decreasing ministry? If having good, hard, and substantive conversations around this interests or intrigues you, please join us following the 10 am service.

Coffee Pot Conversation January 29th

Rachel Easter and her family are one of the new additions to our parish over the last few years, and you have loved her addition to the soprano section of the choir. Recently Rachel received funds from the Chenery Fund to help in going on a medical mission trip to Guatemala. She would love to have you come out on the 29^th to hear her stories and enjoy some pictures after the 10 o'clock service. Join us in the parish hall that day!

She has created an Amazon Wish list for her ministry if you wish to help in that way. HERE is the link.

Donations can be NEW or USED, I can use pretty much anything! Used donation descriptions as follows:

1. Small cotton or polyester tote bags, any color, with or without branding

2. Girls underwear sizes 4-12

3. Washcloths or towels, any color or pattern (can be dyed, cut, and repurposed)

4. Soaps, any size, wrapped or unwrapped 

Rule of Life Class

Our Rule of Life class is continuing on January 24th at 10am in person. This class will help you dive deeper practices that will enhance your faith. It is not a "one size fits all" situation. You will examine different ways and habits that you can introduce into your daily life. We hope this schedule works for you and you can join us.

Next Book Club Coming Soon!

Please join us for our next Book Club on Tuesdays at 10am on Zoom, starting February 7th. We will be reading the book Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. You can purchase the book from Amazon HERE . Hanover Library systems have it available for free in multiple different forms. You can reserve your copy with them HERE. If you are not on our Book Club email list already and would like to receive messages, please let us know. We would love for you to join us!

In the classic Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis, the most important writer of the 20th century, explores the common ground upon which all of those of Christian faith stand together. Bringing together Lewis’ legendary broadcast talks during World War Two from his three previous books The Case for Christianity, Christian Behavior, and Beyond Personality, Mere Christianity provides an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear this powerful apologetic for the Christian faith.

• 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 (see below)

Pantry: Boxed potatoes, Hot and cold cereal, Pasta sauce, Personal care items (soap, toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, toilet paper, etc.), Cleaning products (laundry soap, dish soap, etc.)

Adult Clothing: Men's athletic shoes (all sizes), Men's work boots (all sizes), Men's jeans (waist sizes 32 and larger), Men's winter coats (sizes L, XL and larger), Women's winter coats (sizes XL and larger), Men's and Women's plus size sleepwear, Men's undershirts (all sizes)

Children's Clothing: Boy's and Girl's shoes (all sizes), Boy's and Girl's larger size winter clothes (sizes 12 - 18), Boy's and Girl's larger size pajamas (sizes 10 - 18), Diapers (size 4 and size 6)

ACES is open on both Mondays and Wednesday from 8:30-11:30am. Thank you for your continued support!

Lord, we lift up this nation struggling with itself these days, reeling from this pandemic and its repercussions. Encourage us to faithfulness, righteousness, and compassion for all God’s Children. We lift up Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael, our Presiding Bishop, Mark, our Bishop, Rock+, our priest, and Dawn+, our Deacon. 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, 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, Meredith Moon, Meghann Batten, Michael Fox, Bill Blakemore, Dennis Folsom, Debra Bernard, Smith family, Court Warfield, Andrea Alexander McCallum, Tom Ficklin, Janet Taylor, Jessica and family, Joy Stevenson, Kim Keene, Brad Rose, Wendy Vaughan, Sara Reece, Richard Rennolds, Andy Newchok, Pam Bowers, Bettilee, Iana Mason, Bill Mercier, Jonathan Smith, Rebecca Hottman, Lyde Longaker, Haden Hopkins, Betty Kelley, Charles Bridges, Hilda Kelly, Lee & Susan Chambers, Michele Murphy, James Crump, Sr., Ginny Tilton, Tre’ Michael, Brennan McFarlane,Tim Easter, Marie Bohrer, Melanie Fischer, and Allison Provencher.

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: Kemper Jones, Greg Ericksen, Matthew Thomas, Philip Morison, James Ashley, Andrew Brunson, Jordan Fox, and Katherine Murphy. 

We ask your prayers for those who have died. We ask your prayers for those who grieve.  

We pray for governments and governing bodies of Metropolitan Richmond: For the Mayor and City Council of Richmond, the City Administrator, and all city employees.

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.

• Prayer List- Prayers of the People
• Giving Online- Click here to give online or text "GIVE2THELESS" at 73256 from your phone.
• Ask for prayer-Send in your prayer request (please acknowledge if the prayer is private or for our Parish list)
• List of Local Food Pantries- Click here for a complete list of local food pantries.
• Fall Line Farms- A wonderful organization that supports local farmers. Click here to order food so you can pick it up here at SJTL on Thursdays.
• Self- Guided Ways Of Worship Brochure- It has wonderful ways of engaging with your own space (and the spaces around the church) to find the Holy, already present, within them.
• Father Rock's Blog- Access reading of all of Father Rock's Homilies.
• Blessings & Dressings- A copy of the SJTL Cookbook 
• End of Life Planning Kit- Help with estate planning from the Episcopal Church Foundation.
• Diocesan Creation Care Website- Creation Care Task Force

Saint James the Less Episcopal Church

125 Beverly Road

Ashland, VA 23005

(804) 798-6336

Staff:

The Rev. Rock Higgins, tssf Rector

The Rev. Deacon Dawn McNamara Deacon

Reggie Long- Organist/Music Director

Miriam Smith- Christian Formation- Children & Youth Director

Kasey Buckland- Parish Administrator