January 15, 2025

Saint James the Less Weekly News & Updates

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A Note From Father Rock

Dear Church Family,


Sunday School for the Winter/Spring got off to a good start. I hope you will join us this week. Any of our classes would love to have you. I had conversations with two families about baptisms and nothing could make me happier.


We have lots of new faces attending and checking us out most weeks. Wear your name tags. Let them know who you are, and help them feel welcome and wanted. Invite them to coffee hour if they can stay. 


Saturday we have Andy Newchok’s funeral service at 10A.M. You may want to bring an umbrella for the interment, just in case. There will be a reception following.


In the coming weeks, we will be announcing our candidates for Vestry, holding our annual meeting, and moving into Lent. Pray for our church and all our leaders. We are told that we will be known as Christians by our love. May that be our hallmark and our guiding principle in all we do. 


Blessings! Stay warm and safe!

Rock+

JOIN US THIS WEEK

Thursday, January 16, 2025

  • 6pm Handbell choir
  • 7pm Parish choir

Sunday, January 19, 2025

  • 8am Eucharist Rite I
  • 9am Sunday School for Adults and Children
  • 10am Eucharist Rite II with music
  • 11am Prayer Shawl Ministry after 10am service

Monday, January 20, 2025

  • OFFICE CLOSED

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

  • 10am Book Club

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

  • 7:30am Eucharist Rite II
  • 10:30am Yoga with Lorie
Click Here to Watch Services Live or Later

January Calendar:

  • 1/19- Prayer Shawl Ministry after 10am service
  • 1/20- Martin Luther King Jr. Day- Office Closed
  • 1/26- Youth Group 6pm


February Calendar:

  • 2/9- Youth Group 6pm
  • 2/16- Valentine's Dinner led by Youth
  • 2/23- Youth Group 6pm

2025 Book Club


We will be reading Jesus a Pilgrimage, by James Martin, SJ in our next Book Club. HERE is a link to purchase . It will be on Tuesdays at 10am 1/22-4/8 in 2025. We hope you will join us in person for our next Book Club! All are welcome!


Andy Newchok Funeral


The funeral for Andy Newchok will be January 18 at 10 a.m. This will be a full Eucharist service with a reception following. Please join the family as we celebrate the life of Andy.

Prayer Shawl Ministry


Kim Cannady will be heading up our Prayer Shawl Ministry moving forward in the new year. They will meet the 3rd Sunday of the month, following the 10am service. All are welcome and will be trained. The first meeting will be on January 19th. Please reach out to Kim with questions.

Brunswick Stew Still for Sale


Friends, we have a few, precious remaining quarts of this year’s amazing “Bishop Blessed” Brunswick Stew. If you would like some quarts, they are $14 each. They were stowed safely in the freezer the day of the event. Grab us on a Sunday or Wednesday after services and we can set you up. We can also reserve for you if you contact the office. We will sell till we are out. Thanks!

2025 Altar Flowers


Sign up sheets are up for the 2025 Altar Flowers. Our Altar guild does an incredible job honoring the lives of the ones we remember. The cost is $35.

Rosemary Jones Funeral


The funeral for Rosemary Jones will be February 2nd at 2 p.m. Please join the family as we celebrate the life of Rosemary.

Fall Line Farms Volunteer Opportunity


Do you have time once a month to help distribute food orders for church and fellow members of the Ashland area? We would love to add a person or two to our small team of staff. Requirements are about 3.5 hours of a Thursday once a month from 2:30pm -6pm. Foods are delivered, you divided it into orders for clients and then greet people with a friendly face. (I read or catch up on podcasts while waiting.) Can you join us? Please contact Heather Grande with your availability and join her and the Sehlhorsts for an easy, but wonderful chance to help.

CHILDREN & YOUTH PROGRAMMING

January 19, 2025

9am Nursery, Children's Sunday School

10am Children's Church


Youth Group Meals


Youth Group is finally back into full swing for the year!! We had a wonderful first session and are looking forward to many more. One of the ways we need help is through meals. Below is a sign up genius for meals for our meetings. Please help us to fill the gaps and show the youth how important they are to our community! Click HERE to sign up. Thank you!

WAYS TO HELP

  • 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- Click HERE for current needs (we have a box in our hallway)
  • Donate to Peter Paul Development Center. (box in our hallway)

PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE

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 Sean, our Presiding Bishop, Mark, Gail & Bud, our Bishops, Rock+, our priest. 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, Donald, our President elect, 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, Meghann Batten, Court Warfield, Andrea Alexander McCallum, Haden Hopkins, Pam Bowers, Hilda Kelly, Harry Hassell, Bower family, Smith family, Lyde Longaker, Mary Ann Harris, Bob & Mary Lou Brown, Diana Timberlake, Kristi Elles, Pam Gillette, Ruth Beaudry, Tom & Fran Burke, Dennis Ray, Dawn Haase & Family, Kimette Cannady, Traci Smith, Alicia Wood, Jenny Bruce, Anna Marie, Dale Halter, Judy Sledd, Floyd Moore, Debra Molter, Tim Yagla, Erik Klauss, Teva Rittenhouse, Bobbi Prentice, Steve Crain, David Bandas, Jessica Wingo, Sharon Street, Margaret Belyea, Tom Slaughter, Ray Tyson, Calvin Stanley and Lee Chambers.


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, and Katherine Murphy. 


We ask your prayers for those who have died, Andy Newchok and Rowan Hayden. 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.

WEDNESDAY WIT

January 16

Erin Yagla


January 18

Barbara Olin

Jennifer Rose


January 19

Dale Hill

Danah Massey

January 20

Rev. Becky McDaniel


January 21

Mark Fitzhugh

HELPFUL LINKS

Saint James the Less Episcopal Church

125 Beverly Road

Ashland, VA 23005

(804) 798-6336


Staff: (click on the name to email them)

The Rev. Rock Higgins, tssf Rector

Dr. Bart Natoli- Seminarian

Reggie Long- Organist/Music Director

Miriam Smith- Christian Formation- Children & Youth Director

Dawn Baker- Interim Parish Administrator

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