Our Weekly News & Updates |
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Dear Church Family,
Yesterday was the shortest day of what has seemed the longest year, ever. I know I need God's light. I need the hope of Christmas. We are promised in Holy Scripture, that "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it." I have held onto that so often this year.
And in this year when we need the comfort of the coming Christ, the traditions that surround this time of year seem to have been taken away, or at least taken in the way we expect them to be. Even with the service that we have scheduled for Christmas Eve (4:30 pm), the weather is questionable at best as of now.
But I remind myself that nothing can halt the coming of Jesus, nothing can hinder God "for with God all things are possible." Even while we are apart, we are in this together. We are still a community. We still care for each other and God's children who are in need. We still worship, and pray, and serve. Our emotional and social needs might not be fulfilled as we would hope, but nothing of permanence has been lost. The eternal remains just that. In our baptisms we have been marked as Christ's own, forever. And nothing can take that away.
I am thankful for you. I am hopeful for what the new year can bring. I will be glad to have this year see its way out. Merry Christmas, and may the blessing of God Almighty be yours this day, and remain with you always!
Rock+
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You all are AMAZING!!! What kindness! Thank you for signing up and providing such joy to families here in Ashland. Together you have fulfilled 82 wish-list items for families that will deeply feel the love of God through your hands. Your generosity is unparalleled.
Be on the lookout for becoming a Pen Pal and sending a Valentine to one of the families of the Hanover ARC in the future.
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A big thank you to all those who donated to feeding over 100 gentlemen of CARITAS's Healing Place and Homeless Facility last Friday. St. James the Less provided them with some amazing hearty chicken and vegetable soup/stew. St. Peters of Montpelier brought rolls, ice cream, and homemade cookies to top it off. The men are so impressed and appreciative when we show up so much food. Bless you all. Thank you!
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GRIEF GROUP MOVED TO ZOOM |
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After great care, consideration and prayer Harrison and Rock+ are going to continue the Grief Group meeting, the safest way that they can. We are setting up a Zoom call on Monday mornings at 10:30am until we are allowed to meet again in person. We know Zoom isn’t ideal, but at least it is still a space that you can gather and help to carry one another’s load. (from the comfort of your own home, with a cup of coffee) . If this is your first experience with zoom, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or would like to walk through it ahead of time.
To join the meeting on Monday, simply click the link below:
If you would like to call in (audio only), dial (301)715-8592 and enter:
Meeting ID: 879 5406 9630
Passcode: 062583
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BOOK CLUB COMING IN JANUARY |
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Book Club finished the Book The Return of the Prodigal Son, by Henri Nouwen. It was full of rich conversation. We are already looking forward to the January Book Club. We will be reading The Ragamuffin Gospel:Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out, by Brennan Manning. You can order it here from Amazon. We are happy to order you a copy if you want us to. Book club will start again on Zoom Thursday, January 7th at 10:30am.
Please join us. Everyone is wanted and welcome!
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We have emailed and called those who requested pledge envelopes. They are labeled and on a table in the hallway. We can leave them out for you to pick up or bring them to the Christmas Eve service. Email us and let us know how you would like to get them. If you didn't request envelopes, but would like them, we are happy to provide those too. Just let us know!
If you would still like to pledge, there is still time. Email us if you need a new card. This helps us plan the budget for 2021. We are grateful for all the ways you continue to support SJtL!
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We've just gotten the next edition of the Forward Day By Day in for February, March and April. If you would like to pick one up, we have some outside the door in the Memorial Garden. We are happy to mail you one too if that would be easier. Just email us your name and mailing address and we will get it sent out.
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Wednesday
Join us for Morning Prayer this Wednesday at 7:30am and then a cup of coffee afterward at 8am on Zoom. Please make sure that your screen name is your name so we know who is there. It is a wonderful time to reconnect!
Link to join the conversation at 8am:
If you need to dial in call 1 646 558 8656 US
Meeting ID: 826 2172 6493
Password: 997124
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Thursday
A Christmas Eve Eucharist:Rite II Service at 4:30pm will be held outdoors and in person at the front of the church. We will have the loop blocked off. You are welcome to bring a chair to sit socially distanced. Please make sure to wear a mask. Please pay attention to our social media and your email if the weather is rainy. We will make a final decision on this service by Noon on the 24th.
Please join us online at 10pm for the first ever SJtL Christmas Special: Christmas Eve on Beverly & Lee. Take a stroll through our grounds with some of our own. Take a journey through the Advent Stations of the Cross. It will deepen your experience and may also be fun to see familiar faces as we welcome the Christ Child into the world and into our hearts.
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Friday
Please join us online for a Christmas Day Morning Prayer at 9am. Christ is Born! Let's celebrate that together in Spirit! The link to watch the service and bulletin are below in the schedule.
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Sunday Morning
We hope that you will join us at 10am for virtual Morning Prayer Worship service. It will be a beautiful time of connection and community. The link to watch and the bulletin is below in the schedule.
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Monday Morning
Grief Group is continuing via Zoom on Monday mornings at 10:30am until we are allowed to meet again in person.
To join the meeting on Monday, simply click the link below:
If you would like to call in (audio only), dial (301)715-8592 and enter:
Meeting ID: 879 5406 9630
Passcode: 062583
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OUTREACH
"We rise by lifting others." -Robert Ingersoll
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Many of you have been looking for ways to be generous this holiday season. Hanover Department of Community Resources put together a lovely flyer that show the needs of our community and how you can help. Please click here to see the many ways you can "love your neighbor."
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This year, they are re-imagining their Christmas Angel program. Instead of shopping for families' wish lists as they have done in previous years, they will be providing gift cards to each Peter Paul family as well as individuals in their Seniors program. The hope is that this change will provide their community with the flexibility to use the cards in any way they see fit. Donating by credit card? Put “Christmas Angel” in the comment box to designate your gift. Donating by check? Write “Christmas Angel” in the memo line. Be sure to follow them on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and subscribe to our newsletter for further announcements. Their website can be found here.
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First Baptist Church Food Pantry is offering food to any resident of Hanover County that might need it.
WHERE: 800 Thompson Street, Ashland 23005
WHEN: First Tuesday, Third Tuesday or Third Saturday from 9 until 11 am (come 1 time within a 30 day period)
They offer food, hygiene items, and baby needs. Tuesdays are drive through to receive a bag of food, freezer items, bread,hygiene items. Saturdays are self shop in fellowship hall. COVID procedures in place: Temperature checks, masks required, social distancing. Call 804 -798 -9014 for more information.
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Saint James the Less Free Clinic
Right outside our very own Saint James the Less Free Clinic the Girl Scouts have donated a food pantry. It is available 24/7 if people might have an immediate need. Please feel free to come by and donate non-perishables to this. It would be an incredible blessing to our community.
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ACES is in need of the following items:
- Pantry: Canned Meat (chicken, beef, spam, ham, salmon, tuna), Canned and Boxed Potatoes, Pork-n-beans, Protein Soups/Stews (with meat and/or beans), Pasta Sauce
- Children's Clothing: Diapers - size 6, Boy's New Underwear (sizes 8 - 10)
- Adult Clothing: Women's New Undergarments (bras & panties - all sizes), Men's Jeans - size 34 waist
- Household Item's: Queen Sheets and Blankets (new or gently used)
They respectfully request that clothing donations be limited to "in-season" only, as we do not have space to store "out-of-season" items. They are open to drop off donations Monday 8:30am-11:30am. Thank you for your continued support!
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POP TOPS
We are still collecting Pop Tops for Ronald McDonald house. Hang on to them or bring them by when you can. This is a valuable resource that goes to help families with children in the hospital here in Richmond.
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Tuesday, December 22, 2020
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12pm- Noonday Prayer (online)
Wednesday,December 23, 2020
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7:30am- Morning Prayer (online)
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Link to watch service
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Link for bulletin
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8am- Coffee & Conversation (online)
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12pm- Noonday prayer (online)
Thursday, December 24, 2020
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12pm- Noonday prayers (online)
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4:30pm- Eucharist:Rite II Christmas Eve Service (outdoor in-person & online)
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Link to watch
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Link for bulletin
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10pm- Christmas Eve on Beverly & Lee (Christmas Special) (online)
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Link to watch
Friday, December 25, 2020
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9am- Morning Prayer Service (online)
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Link to watch service
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Link for bulletin
Sunday, December 27, 2020
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9am- Children's Sunday School (online)
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Link to join
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10am- Morning Prayer Worship (online)
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Link to watch service
Monday, December 28, 2020
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10:30am- Grief Group (online)
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Link to join
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12pm- Noonday prayers (online)
Join us daily for Noonday Prayer online here. You can follow along with the service on page 103 of the Book of Common Prayer or visit BCPonline.org (Click on "Daily Office" and then"An Order of Service at Noonday")
If you can't join us live-time, no worries. All of our services can be viewed at your convenience afterward on Facebook. All our Sunday morning and Contemplative services will be posted on our YouTube Channel, "St. James the Less Ashland VA." You can access that here.
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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, Susan, Jennifer, and Porter our Bishops, Rock and Becky, our priests, and Harrison, our deacon. May they be strengthened and encouraged as the work with us to proclaim your Good News in this world. We pray for Donald, our President, Joe, our President Elect, Ralph, 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, Pat, Dick, Erin, Joanie, Anna, Meredith, Jan, Madge, Mary Ann, Katie, Kirsten, Carolyn Moore Lindau, Molly, Amy, Meghann, Mark, Carol, David, Alice, Dennis, Barbara, Colin and Caleb, Jimmy, Ricki Carson, Michael Fox, Bob Gravatt, Alex Gillette, Bill & Beth Arrott, Bobbie Street, Michelle Murphy, Bill Blakemore, Rose, Mason, Elizabeth Attkisson (Erin Cobb's mother), Jan Meacham, Karl Meyer, Chambers Cromwell (friend of Betty & Jim Moore), Horace Crowe (friend of the Meyer’s family), Delaney Thompson family, Ginny Miller (sister of Carol Barnes), Kathy Marshall and her mom Connie.
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, especially Jewel Sweat.
We ask your prayers for those who grieve.
We pray for Metropolitan Richmond: We pray for persons in financial need in Metropolitan Richmond: For healthy relationships; for constructive, safe, and caring households for the bringing up and nurturing of children and caring for the elderly.
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.
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HOMILY FROM THIS PAST SUNDAY |
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Christmas Bourbon Cake
(contributed by Kathy Ellis on p. 130)
Ingredients:
- 3/4 lb. butter, softened (no margarine)
- 1/4 t. salt
- 2 1/2 c. light brown sugar
- 2 c. white sugar
- 6 eggs
- 5 1/2 c. flour
- 1/4 t. mace
- 2 c. bourbon
- 1 lb. chopped pecans
In a large bowl, cream butter. In another bowl, mix brown sugar with white. Slowly mix 1/2 of sugar mixture into butter until very smooth. In a third bowl, beat eggs until fluffy. Slowly beat in remaining sugar mixture until smooth. Mix together the butter mixture and egg mixture. Sift together the flour, salt, and mace. Add flour combination and bourbon to batter. Fold in pecans. Pour into Bundt pan, greased, papered with greased brown paper and floured. Bake at 300 degrees for 1 3/4- 2 hours. Cool. Wrap securely in clean white cotton cloth, sprinkle cloth with the bourbon, then wrap with plastic wrap and keep in refrigerator at least 1 week to ripen. The cloth should be kept damp with bourbon. It can be aged up to a month or more, refrigerated, and improves with flavors blending. It is wonderful after dinner with coffee.
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NeverTheLess and Weekly E-News Deadline: If you have an announcement to be shared with the parish, please get the information to Kasey no later than noon on Monday. Thanks!
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December 22
Tom Fritter
Arleen Williams
Seth Mills
December 23
Freda Sergi
December 24
Teva Rittenhouse
PK Kinser
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December 25
Abby Friedman
December 26
Sojo Higgins
Eamon Rose
December 27
Lele Wehman
Dave Werner
Miriam Smith
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