Our Weekly News & Updates |
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Good morning, friends,
Most Sunday evenings you will find me working with the Youth Group doing the fantastic Journey2Adulthood curriculum that comes from the national church. We host the Regional Youth Group with kids and adults usually coming from All Saints, Church of our Savior, Fork Church, and here. Most weeks I am here to help: serving dinner, packing up the trash, and being an extra adult as needed. This last week was different.
Sunday there was a need for me to step in at the last minute to talk about prayer. Thankfully, that is a topic that I could speak for hours about with little to no preparation. But I started with the question, "What is prayer? What does the word prayer make you think of?" The middle schoolers I was working with gave very safe Sunday School answers. But we jumped quickly to the nature of prayer, and how our prayers can contain anything as long as it is true to our heart. God is big enough to handle our anger, our grief, our regrets, our confessions, as well as our hopes, dreams, praise.
And then we talked about forms of prayer. It does not necessarily mean bowing our heads and closing our eyes. I took them outside to see our Stations of the Cross prayer stations (which still are up and change regularly) as well as our Saints Walk labyrinth. One of our adults even said, "I had no idea these were here!" However we pray, God wants to hear with us and even more to be with us. Silence is a part of prayer, too!
When we got back inside, I introduced Anglican Prayer beads, and we will be making those next week. In closing, we talked about the most prayed prayer in the Church, the Lord's Prayer. We looked at the Adoration, the Confession, the Thanksgivings, and the Supplication in it. I try to model my prayer life around these, the A.C.T.S. of Prayer so that my prayer life has balance and isn't just a laundry list of wants and needs. We even looked at some alternate versions of the Lord's Prayer from the New Zealand Anglican Prayer Book (New Zealand link) and the Message translation of the Bible (Message link). Sometimes it is important to hear things with fresh ears.
As we continue in Lent, how do you view prayer? How do you utilize this most precious privilege as a child of God? As you prepare your heart for Easter, how can you draw closer to God through your prayers and praise? We still have precious time. How will you use it?
Blessings this Holy Lent,
Rock+
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Tuesday, March 22, 2022
- 10am- Book Club
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Link to join
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7pm-Lenten Program
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Thursday, March 24, 2022
- 6pm- Hand bell choir
- 7pm-Parish choir
Friday, March 25, 2022
- 7:30pm- Outdoor Movie- Price of Egypt
Sunday, March 27, 2022
- 8am- Eucharist: Rite I Service
- 8:45am-Adult Sunday school (Brydon Hall)
- 9am- Children's Virtual Sunday School
- 10am- Eucharist: Rite II (music & Children's Church)
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Link for bulletin
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6pm - Journey to Adulthood
Monday, March 28, 2022
- 10:30am- Grief Group
- 7pm- Dream Group
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We are so blessed to have the dedicated and talented Altar Guild that we do! Every week they work so hard to make sure all the details are done with the most integrity. They even have our hymn board back up! Thank you Altar Guild for all you do! |
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LENTEN SERIES-
The Framework of God's Covenants
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Lent is a time of commitment, when we make promises for a season out of devotion to God. But when God makes promises, they are not a short periods. In light of this time of vows and devotion, we will look at the covenants God has made and recorded in Scripture. Join us as we go in-depth, starting with Genesis and working our way through.
We will gather in the parish hall at 7 pm on Tuesday nights, and we will also record and post on YouTube the next day. I hope you will come out and join us for the presentations and the discussion to follow. Tuesdays, March 8-April 5.
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Session One: Adamic & Noahic |
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We hope you will join us for an outdoor family movie this Friday, March 25th at 7:30pm at the church near the picnic tables. We will be showing Prince of Egypt. Bring your friends, family, a chair and all the snacks that make you happy. We will have popcorn available. The rain date will be on the 26th. Please join us! |
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One form of spiritual practice is to participate in a quiet time of prayer, meditation, and study. Participants come with their open minds and hearts to offer their time of thoughtfulness and reception to the Triune God. Clergy or lay member usually facilitates a quite time with reflections during many Church seasons. Quiet times, build a community in silence.
The Reverend Deacon Dr. Susan Parlier will facilitate a quiet morning at St. James the Less in the Church Library on April 1, 2022, from 9 AM to 12 noon. Everyone is invited to participate in this Quiet Morning of prayer, reflection, study, and meditation. Please feel free to bring friends and family to the Lenten Quiet Morning.
The following items often help the participants remain open in prayer: journal, prayer book, Bible, pencils, pens, crayons, colored pencils, drawing paper, and so on. The Stations of the Cross and the Labyrinth will be available for prayers. Also, if you want to bring snacks and remain afterward for a brief time, please feel free to bring a lunch of quiet foods and beverages.
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TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME |
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Saint James the Less is going to the Richmond Squirrels game for Faith Night on Saturday, April 30th at 6pm. We have reserved seats on the field level to sit together as a group. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. We hope you can join us for this fun event! Maybe even....buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks! |
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MEAL TRAIN FOR CAROL MARTIN |
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If you would like to sign up to take our beloved Carol Martin a meal, click HERE. Not having to think about dinner is such a gift when you aren't feeling well. Carol appreciates it very much! |
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We have seen an increased usage of the Emergency Food Pantry that we have outside of the Clinic doors. Many families use it when they come for clinic on Wednesday. If you happen to have some extra cans in your pantry that you could bring in, we'd be grateful. |
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We are so excited our Hand Bell Choir played this past Sunday! It was gorgeous music. They are currently looking for another ringer. If anyone is interested, let Reggie know. No experience necessary. Rehearsal is for 45 minutes on Thursdays at 6pm. They laugh a lot and have a great time learning and practicing! We hope you will join them. |
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As you heard at the annual meeting, we are thinking of organizing a van pool on Sunday mornings. We would provide transport to church for those who choose not to drive themselves.
The idea would be to pick up people who live at Westminster Canterbury and others who live in the Ashland area. As of now we do not have a schedule, but we would very much like to have the program up and running before Easter Sunday on April 17th.
In order to make the program work we need volunteers. First, we need someone to drive the van itself. Next, it would be good to have someone to accompany the driver and to help people on and off the van. Third, we need passengers. If you are interested in helping us get this program started, please contact Ian or Kasey.
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Would you like to honor a loved one in memorial or in thanksgiving of for our Easter services? We will fill our gorgeous sanctuary with these flowers. The cost is so $35. You can email us or call us and let us know who you would like to honor. |
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It's that time again! It's Lent Madness season. If you would like to get into the fun, join us on our Saint James the Less Lent Madness page HERE. They've announced the saints in the bracket. Will your favorite saint win?
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INVITATION TO FRITTER CELEBRATION |
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Mark your calendars! Our annual Parish Retreat is October 14-16, 2022 at Shrine Mont. It is always such an beautiful time of community, rest and deepening of our faith. We hope you will make plans to join us! |
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SJTL CHILDREN & YOUTH UPDATES |
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We are having a blast in Children's Church. We are so grateful for our volunteers who have helped us! |
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Resurrection Garden Contest
We will be having our annual Resurrection Garden Contest. It is always so much fun! Supplies are available Please reach out to Miriam if you would like them. |
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Youth Group Sunday 6- 7:30pm
Journey to Adulthood has been such a special time for youth to come and build fellowship, relationships and deepen their faith. If you would like to come, please do! A meal is served followed by fun and inspirational activities and discussions.
We hope you can join us for the rest of the schedule:
- March 20 & 27
- April 3, 10 & 24 (no meeting on Easter)
- May 1
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Easter Egg Hunt
Please join us for our annual Easter egg hunt on Sunday, April 17th after the 10am service. We will have sections for all different ages. If you would like to help hide or stuff the eggs, let us know. We would appreciate it!
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Become an Acolyte
Is your youth interested in becoming an acolyte? We are hoping to hold a training this spring. Please email us and let us know if your youth would like to be included on this. We would love to have them!
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Pop Tops
We are hoping to surpass our record-breaking year of 2021 with Pop Tops. Please bring any and all of your pop tops. We will be counting them on June 1st. You can drop them by the office or in the blue bucket downstairs by the Sunday School room. Thank you!
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OUTREACH
"We rise by lifting others." -Robert Ingersoll
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Meals for the Clinic Volunteers
As many of you know, Saint James the Less Free Clinic meets every Wednesday evening. It is staffed by some INCREDIBLE volunteers who care in remarkable ways for our community. We have the opportunity to provide meals for them. If you would like to bring food over for 8-10 people before clinic starts on a Wednesday evening, click HERE to choose your date. More information is listed on the website. We are grateful for your willingness! |
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Emergency Food Pantry
Right outside our Saint James the Less Free Clinic we have a food pantry. It is available 24/7 and used a great deal as immediate needs come up. Please 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:
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Pantry: Canned fruit (smaller cans), Rice (smaller bags), Shampoo, Toothbrushes, Laundry detergent (smaller containers)
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Adult Clothing: Women’s bras (C and larger cup; 40 and larger band), Women’s underwear (xl and larger),Men’s athletic shoes (sizes 10 and larger), Men’s undershirts (all sizes), Men’s boxer briefs (all sizes), Men’s jeans (all sizes)
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Children's Clothing: Boy’s winter clothes (sizes 8 thru 20), Boy’s summer clothes (sizes 8 thru 20), Girl’s winter clothes (sizes 8 thru 20), Girl’s summer clothes (sizes 8 thru 20)
*They are now looking for spring and summer items.
ACES is open on both Mondays and Wednesday from 8:30-1130am. Thank you for your continued support!
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Peter Paul is currently in need of the following items. If you are able to give you are welcome to put them in the box in the hallway.
Hygiene items- bar soap, body wash, lotion, deodorant, toothpaste, chapstick, Vaseline, sanitary products.
Laundry items- Detergent pods, rolls of quarters, dryer sheets.
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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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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. 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, Madge Carter, Meghann Batten, Mark Longaker, Michael Fox, Bill Blakemore, Chambers Cromwell, Dennis Folsom, Carter, Paul Robb, Debra Bernard, Smith family, Alex Gillette, Pam Gillette, Sally Budd, Sarah Chamblee & family, Jeff Lawrence, May and family, Harry Hassell, Melanie Fischer, Court Warfield, Meredith Roemer, Jane Howard, Amanda and family, The Rev. Susannah Metz, Carol Martin, Pam Bowers, Gene England Simons, and the Diocesan Search Committee for our new Bishop.
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 health care in Metropolitan Richmond: For persons living with terminal illnesses and for their families, friends, and communities; for persons working to find cures for diseases.
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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March 23
Daniel Ellithorpe
Head Jones
March 24
Dick Shirey
James Cox
Ann Lawrence
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March 26
Margaret Rush
March 27
Betty Moore
Kiera Tucker
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Saint James the Less Episcopal Church
125 Beverly Road
Ashland, VA 23005
(804) 798-6336
Staff:
Miriam Smith- Christian Formation- Children & Youth Director
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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. |
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