Saint James the Less Weekly News & Updates | |
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Good morning, friends! Welcome to Epiphany-tide!
Huge thanks to all the families and volunteers who made the Epiphany play such a fun and lovely success. It is always an annual favorite. Kids, you were awesome!
Over the weekend I had the wonderful experience of 7 ordinations at our sister church, All Saints. It is always a wonderful reminder of my vows, but it is always special when some friends who have been traveling to this day for years finally arrive at their long-desired destination. I was sitting in the midst of the clergy section, and I was actually surprised. I did not expect to be surprised at an ordination service. I definitely was not expecting to be convicted and inspired. The Preacher of the day was the Reverend Steve Schlossberg. At one point, the preacher/priests sitting around me actually gasped. I would encourage you to fast forward to Steve+'s sermon at the 59-minute mark and listen to his wisdom. It was delightful to hear a sermon commissioning every single soul who heard it to their order, Lay, Deacon, Priest, and Bishop. I do hope you will take the time to listen. Here is the VIDEO, sermon at 59:00 minutes.
As a reminder, our snow policy is below. We want you safe. If weather hits, remember, Safety First.
Blessings, and in thanksgiving!
Rock+
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Wednesday, January 10, 2024
- 7:30am- Eucharist Rite II (with bagels & coffee to follow)
- 10:30am- Vinyasa Yoga with Lorie
Thursday, January 11, 2024
- 6pm- Hand Bells Choir
- 7pm- Parish Choir
Sunday, January 14, 2024
- 8am- Eucharist Rite I (no music)
- 8:45/9am- Adult & Children Sunday School
- 10am- Eucharist Rite II (music)
Monday, January 15, 2024
- Office Closed for the Holiday
- No Good Grief or Yoga
- 7pm- Dream Group (Harrisons)
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
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January Calendar
- 1/15- Martin Luther King Day- Office Closed
- 1/20- Supper Club
- 1/21- Contemplative Service 5pm
- 1/28- Lunch & Learn- Drug policy & prevention
- 1/28- Youth Group 6-8pm
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We are so blessed to have such an incredible group of people who work at SJtL. We really enjoy one another and have a great time. We gathered as a staff to celebrate Tenth Night. (We missed Dawn+ but she was there in spirit!) There is so much love in the planning that is done for this community. We hope you can feel it and know you are cared for deeply! | |
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Snow Policy
As we approach the season of snow we wanted to remind folks of our policy for closures. We follow the Hanover County School closings. If schools are closed, all activities at the church will be as well.
If we are closed, Father Rock will make a final call by 7am and put it on all our social medias (Facebook & Instagram) and send an email.
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Contemplative Service
Please join us for a Contemplative Service at 5pm January 21st. It will be a welcomed time of quiet and care for the soul. Please join us for this time of contemplation.
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Lenten Series
This Lent, the Diocesan Community is invited into a journey to commit in new ways to becoming Beloved Community and growing loving, liberating, life-giving relationships across the human family of God. We make the journey not only as individual Christians and congregations, but as a whole church, seeking to make a commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice. We will be meeting 5 weeks on Wednesdays 7-8pm. February 21st will be the first class. There is no class Holy Week. Our Seminarian, Dr. Bart Natoli will be leading us for this incredible series.
In the ministry of racial healing and justice, none of us walks a straight line. We enter the labyrinth wherever God has provided an opening – telling the truth about our church’s story around race; discerning and proclaiming God’s dream of Beloved Community where we are; learning and practicing Jesus’ way of healing and love; and bravely working to transform systemic racial injustice. We keep moving from one quadrant to another and back. No one is ever really finished. That is the way of ongoing spiritual formation. And so, this Lent, we will “walk” sections of this labyrinth, gathering as a group, engaging with the scriptures, and reflecting on our experiences.
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Pledge Envelopes
If you ordered pledge envelopes this year, they are ready to be picked up in the Narthex. If you ordered them and they are not in or if you would like envelopes, please let me know. We are happy to help! Thank you!
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Book Club Starting January 16th
We will be starting our next Book Club (a non-fiction piece) starting on January 16th at 10am. We will be meeting in person (and via zoom for our hybrid friends) on Tuesdays at 10am for 9 weeks. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive information about the group, let us know. We hope you will join us!
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CHILDREN & YOUTH PROGRAMMING | |
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Sunday Schedule:
- Children's Sunday School- Sundays 9am
- Nursery- Sundays 9am
- Children's Church- during the 10am service
Children's Supplies -Help us get ready for the new program year. Click the link HERE to see the needs for our youth and children’s programming. Thank you all so much for your continued support!!!
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Our children were precious in our annual Epiphany Play! Thank you Miriam, Jane and Margaret for organizing these incredible kids! | |
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Family Lego Night
Get your bricks ready! We will be hosting a family Lego night in January 24th at 6pm. Meet in the Sunday school room and we will have all the legos you need for your creations. Come join us for legos and of course snacks!
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Go Fourth Sunday
We will have our January Go Fourth Sunday on the 28th in Brydon Hall. We will be making blankets for CJSTUF. Dinner is provided. Let Miriam know if you have any questions!
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Triangle of Hope Youth Pilgrimage Accepting Applicants
2024 pilgrimage, July 24-August 4, Virginia
Current 8th graders and high schoolers interested in learning and engaging with the historic legacy of the Mid-Atlantic Slave Trade are encouraged to apply to participate in the Triangle of Hope Youth Pilgrimage. The Triangle of Hope Pilgrimage is a three-diocese program dedicated to transforming the long history, ongoing effects, and continuing presence of slavery in our world through repentance, reconciliation, and mission. There will be pilgrims from Kumasi, Ghana, Liverpool, England, and Virginia participating in the 2024 pilgrimage in Virginia. Ideally, students will be current 8th or 9th graders, so that they can complete the three-part pilgrimage before graduating from high school. Costs and other information are on the application form. Questions? Contact the Rev. Rock Higgins.
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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
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Donate to ACES (Click HERE for current needs)
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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 Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael, our Presiding Bishop, Mark, Dabney & Gail, our Bishops, Rock+, our priest, and Dawn+, our Deacon. 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, 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, Dennis Folsom, Court Warfield, Andrea Alexander McCallum, Janet Taylor, Joy Stevenson, Andy Newchok, Rebecca Hottman, Haden Hopkins, Kim Keene, Pam Bowers, Hilda Kelly, Lee & Susan Chambers, Harry Hassell, Joel Blunk, Holly Rison and family, Bower family, Gavin Yonce and family, Smith family, Lyde Longaker, Mary Ann Harris, Michele Parks, Gini Dryden, Steve Sullivan, Leslie Crabbs, Diana Timberlake, Bob & Mary Lou Brown, Kay Kemper, David Bandas, Trinity Episcopal Church, Rone Deas, Wilson Loving and Lee Roberts.
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, Liam Higgins, and Katherine Murphy.
We ask your prayers for those who have died. 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.
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Click HERE to read the sermon | |
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January 10
Ellen Pleasants
Ashton Cobb
January 12
Georgia Field
Lara Brown
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January 13
Ben Marshall
January 14
Mallory Brown
January 16
Erin Yagla
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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. | | | | |
