Easter Blessings, sisters and brothers in Christ!

The Lord is Risen! THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED!

I am so thankful for such a glorious weekend of services. The Choir, the Altar Guild, Dawn+, Reggie, Miriam, Kasey, Tripp, and everyone else who made it so special, THANK YOU! I was particularly thankful for the folks who made using the new pavilion possible. What a beautiful addition to our campus, and may God be glorified in its use. 

Some parishioners have approached me about doing a joint gift to the new Secretariat statue on behalf of St. James the Less. While we normally would not do something like this for a town statue, the Chenerys were (and still are) such a huge part of our parish and its history. It would be a grand appreciation to their legacy and the impact they are still making on our congregation. Mr. Chenery was not only Senior Warden and longtime Vestry member, but he also individually gave half of the money for the Church building. And even more, the gift from Secretariat's winnings gave us the Chenery Fund with which we have been able to give more than $1 ½ Million dollars away over the course of the last 50 years. If that is not a reason to say thank you, I cannot imagine one.

If you would like to contribute to our mutual gift, please make out checks to the Church and in the memo say "Secretariat statue" or give in other ways clearly stating the intent. Or, we encourage you to give on your own if you would prefer. Here is the link.

Hope to see you Sunday!

Rock+

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

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

Thursday, April 13, 2023

NO CHOIR OR BELL REHEARSAL

Sunday, April 16, 2023

• 8am- Eucharist Rite I (In Pavilion)
• 9am- Sunday School for adults and children
• 10am- Eucharist: Rite II (music)
• 5pm- Contemplative Service
• 5:45pm- J2A (youth group)

Monday, April 17, 2023

• 10:30am- Vinyasa Yoga
• 10:30am- Good Grief group

What an amazing Easter we had together. Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers that made our time together so rich. Thank you for using your gifts in our community!

Graduates

It is getting close to the time we start celebrating our graduates in our community. Our graduate Sunday is June 4th. We would love to have them participate in the service if they are willing.  It is always a favorite for this community to be able to celebrate with our graduates and their families.  

If you have a graduate (high school, college, trade school, etc), we'd love to know:

• Full name as they would like to be celebrated
• Where they are graduating from 
• Their degree (if applicable)
• Their future plans (if known)
• And we’d love a picture to put in our weekly eblast to celebrate them
• If they would like to participate in our Graduate Sunday service at 10am on June 4th

If you can get this information to me by May 21^st, I’d be so grateful.  We look forward to celebrating with you!

Youth Group Meals

We have only 2 meals left for our Youth Group that meets on Sunday evening. HERE is where you can sign up.

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. We will provide utensils, plates and cups. We do have one gluten allergy, but no additional restrictions. Some ideas include pasta casserole, pizza, salad with grilled chicken, hot dogs or burgers, etc. The possibilities are endless! 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!

Contemplative Worship Service

Please join us for the Contemplative Worship Service on Sunday, April 16th at 5pm. This will be a time to let your soul exhale as you let Spirit surround you in this meditative service.

• 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:

• Canned meat (spam, chicken, ham, salmon, tuna, etc.)
• Canned fruit
• Peanut butter
• Spaghetti sauce
• Instant potatoes (smaller size boxes)
• Cereal (healthier varieties preferred)
• Pork & beans 
• Personal care items (soap, toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, toilet paper, etc.)
• Cleaning products (laundry soap, dish soap, etc.)

Children's Clothing:

• Boy's and Girl's larger size summer clothes (sizes 12 - 18)
• Boy's and Girl's summer pajamas (all sizes)
• Boy's and Girl's shoes (all sizes)
• Girl's larger size underwear (sizes 16 - 18)
• Diapers (size 4, size 6 and size 7)... We do not need pull-ups
• Baby Wipes

Adult Clothing:

• Men's athletic shoes (all sizes)
• Men's jeans (waist sizes 30 - 36)
• Men's white undershirts (all sizes)
• Women's bras (band 36 and above; cup D and above)
• Women's underwear (size large thru 3x)
• Women's sanitary products

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 & Gail, our Bishops, 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, Janet Taylor, Jessica and family, Joy Stevenson, Kim Keene, Brad Rose, Wendy Vaughan, Andy Newchok, Pam Bowers, Bettilee, Iana Mason, Bill Mercier, Rebecca Hottman, Lyde Longaker, Haden Hopkins, Charles Bridges, Hilda Kelly, Lee & Susan Chambers, Michele Murphy, James Crump, Sr., Tre’ Michael, Brennan McFarlane,Tim Easter, Marie Bohrer, Melanie Fischer, Frank Buckingham, Jim Segneri, Barbara Brzozowski, Richard Grosse, Gordon Sutton, Harry Hassell, Morgan Winfrey, Margaret Rush, Robert & family, Carl Morlock, Luke David, Baker/Penland family, Carol Barnes, Joanne Flanagan, Vikki Snelgrove, and Christen Meacham.

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 Flangan, 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 John Wade. 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.

April 6, 2023

Maundy Thursday

April 7, 2023

Good Friday

Holy Saturday

April 8, 2023

Easter Vigil

April 8, 2023

April 9, 2023

Easter Sunday

• 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)
• The Collect Collective- Daily short prayer with Father Rock
• 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