Weekly News & Updates

March 13, 2026

Please note: there will be no Wednesday evening Silent Retreat tonight or the following Lenten Wednesdays. We will be rescheduling these at a later date. Thanks to Susan Parlier for her leadership. More updates soon.

Thursday, March 12:

6pm-Handbell rehearsal
7pm-Parish Choir rehearsal

Sunday, March 15:

8:00am Holy Eucharist Rite I
9:00am - Adult and Children's Formation
10:00am Holy Eucharist Rite II
6pm- Youth Group

Monday, March 16:

10am Good Grief Group (library)
7pm- Dream Group (4th Quarter room)

Wednesday, March 18:

7:30am- Holy Eucharist (bagels and coffee after)
12pm- Lenten Lunch (Parish Hall)
6:00-9:00pm: St. James the Less Free Clinic

Parish Updates

Who knew daylight savings could be so much fun!? Rev. Ohmer made some delicious treats to share with folks brave enough to come early for Adult Formation. We even had some new helpers in the kitchen this week. It's always good to be together!

Thank you to all those who joined us for the Annual meeting.

It was a lovely and energetic turnout.

We had hoped to have a Question and Answer session at the end, but ran out of time. So, please Join us THIS Sunday, March 15th following the 11am service for a "Coffee Pot" q&a with Rev. Ohmer for a brief follow up session. It will be a time not only for a Q&A, but also to meet your new Senior and Junior Warden, who will have been elected by then. All are welcome!

Join Us This Wednesday!

It has been wonderful gathering together each week, and we’d love for you to join us! Our Lenten Wednesday lunch series has been a fantastic time of fellowship and breaking bread together.

Whether you have been with us from the start or are looking to drop in for the first time, all are welcome. Join us this coming Wednesday at noon for a special treat.

When: Every Wednesday in March during Lent, 12:00 PM
Where: Parish Hall
What: Good food, great company, and a short, inspiring reflection.

Come nourish your body and spirit with us. No reservation needed—just bring your appetite!

Supper Club on March 14

Just a reminder that Supper Club is Saturday, March 14th at 6pm in the Parish Hall. You assignments are listed below. Hope you have a lovely meeting!

Join us for an evening of food, music, laughter, and a bit of Celtic cheer! Our Supper Club will gather for a Ceileigh — a festive community evening with live music, dancing, poetry, and shared food.

Bring a dish to share, and, if you like, bring a talent: play a tune, sing a song, read a poem, or dance a jig. All ages and abilities are welcome — participation or simple enjoyment both count.

Dress for the spirit of the evening: green if you are Irish, plaid if you are Scottish, blue if you are Welsh— or freely adopt whichever suits you! Heritage optional, good spirits required.

Come for the supper, stay for the music, and enjoy good company. All are welcome. Please rsvp to Beth Harrison.

Logistics: A-F. Side or salad. Also help to set up at 5:30 if able.

G-L. Dessert. Also help set up if able.

M-R. Entree. Help to clean up if able.

S-Z. Appetizers or drinks. Help to clean up if able.

Our Prayer Shawl Ministry will be meeting Sunday, March 15th, following the 11am service in the Parish Hall. All are welcome and wanted to join in! If you are interested in learning how to crochet, our team will teach you!

Contemplative Service- Sunday, March 22nd at 5pm. Escape the noise of daily life and find quiet rest in God. Featuring silent reflection, gentle music, Scripture, and readings, this service offers a peaceful space to deepen your connection with God and yourself.

St. James the Less Free Clinic Volunteer Meals

Every Wednesday the volunteers of the St. James the Less Free Clinic use their time, energy, talents and gifts on behalf of those that need it most in our community. It is a gift that we can provide dinner for them before they see patients. If you would like to sign up to bring a meal, click here. We are grateful for your care and support of this important ministry!

NEW CLASSES IN THE 4th QUARTER! SIGN UP SOON!

The 4th Quarter is a program at SJtL that promotes active engagement of our senior members who have lots of energy for learning, connecting with others and remaining involved with the world around them. Currently, the Good Grief meetings, Dream Group and Journaling classes are sponsored by the 4th Quarter. We’re excited to offer THREE new classes in April (with more to follow:) Please contact Kasey to sign up ahead for classes: All classes meet in the 4th Quarter room downstairs.

CREATE AN INDOOR SUCCULENT GARDEN April 16 at 10:30 a.m.

Each student will be provided with all materials needed to create a beautiful

tabletop garden of succulent plants that require little water or maintenance.

Class is led by Linda Bruce, a hydroponic garden expert, AKA as the former

“Lettuce Lady” at the Farmer’s Market. Price for all materials: $20. Make checks payable to “Linda Bruce”. Garden gloves optional. Contact Jenny Bruce with questions. (Scholarships available)

MENS’ BOOK CLUB

If you’re a reader who is looking for a setting where you can share ideas with

others after you read, Tom Hubbard is facilitating a book group for you. Potential books may focus on the classics, history, biographies, religion, etc. Let us know if you are interested. The group will determine the ongoing meeting dates and times. Contact Jenny Bruce with questions.

HOUSEHOLD FINANCES 101 April 30 at 10:30 a.m.

If you have questions about setting up automatic bill payments, making a

monthly bill paying schedule, or other issues with basic monthly finances, this

may be the class for you! Linda will provide a clear, easy way to get your bill

paying into a manageable procedure that even those who have never had to do

this before can follow. Contact Jenny Bruce with questions.

KNIT ONE, PURL TWO! May 12 and 19 1030-12;30

If you've always wanted to learn to knit, our knitting class, led by a friend of the church, Becci Pfister, is the class for you! The first class will teach you how to cast on and knit, and the second one will focus on the purl stitch and casting off. Please bring one skein of bulky or chunky yarn, and a pair of needles to match (it will say what size yarn to use on the label.) The instructor recommends "wooden or bamboo needles." Questions: contact Jenny Bruce

2026 Easter Flowers

As our tradition goes, we honor loved ones with the flowers in the service on Easter morning. If you would like to dedicate Easter Flowers in a loved ones name, please email the office with the name of the beloved(s). They can be "in the memory of" or "in thanksgiving of". The cost is $25. They will be assorted types of Easter/Spring flowers. It will be so beautiful to see our sanctuary filled with flowers representing our love of our cherished saints.

Animal Outreach Ministry

Are you a dog person or a cat person? It really doesn't matter. We welcome all! St. James the Less is starting an Animal Outreach Ministry. Our hope is to expand our traditional Blessing of the Animals service in October into a community event featuring a food truck, free chipping for pets, a petting zoo, an adoption event and the launch of an emergency pet food pantry.

Susan Higgins has graciously offered her time, energy and talents to St. James the Less so that we can celebrate our love of animals with our neighbors in Ashland. If you would like to be part of this ministry, please let us know. Susan will reach out to you about plans for our first meeting.

Prayers

Lord God, encourage us to faithfulness, righteousness, and compassion for all God’s children. We lift up Sean, our Presiding Bishop, Mark, Gail & Bud, our Bishops, and John, our Priest in Charge. May they be strengthened and encouraged as they work with us to proclaim your Good News in this world. We pray for Donald, our President, Abigail, our Governor, and Steve, our Mayor, and all our elected officials. Guide them to lead us to the common good.

We pray for members of our community, friends and loved ones who are ill, especially, Gus, Erin, Meghann, Haden, Hilda, the Smith family, Mary Lou, Pam, Alicia, Judy, Erik, Steve, Margaret, Patty, Jennifer, Susan, Dearing, Jason, Mike, Melissa, Amy, Martin, Cara, Sharon, Sandi, Jack, Winnie, Michael, Addison, Kim, Pat, Julie, Ray, Heather, Kelly, Jack, & Cleve.

We pray for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. We ask your prayers for those serving in the diplomatic corps, the military, and as missionaries: Larson, Greg, Matthew, James, Ellie, Andrew, Katherine and Duke.

We pray for those who have died, especially Ginger Brooking. We ask your prayers for those who grieve their missing loved ones. Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored.