November 27, 2024

Saint James the Less Weekly News & Updates

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A Note from Father Rock

Dear Friends,


Blessings this week of Thanksgiving. Sunday was a big day as we ended the liturgical year with Christ the King Sunday. Also, with two big pieces of sad news. 


Lyde Longaker, long time parishioner (since 1955), is moving to Colorado and we were able to have a time of saying goodbye to her. Our prayers surround her in this transition and we are thankful for the decades she was part of our Church Family.


Also, I read Kasey’s Letter (see below) to the congregation yesterday of her finishing her ministry here on December 13. We will miss her terribly and I am so thankful for her and her caring of this community the last 4 years. I wish her nothing but the best. 


I hope you are able to take some time this week to make a list of your blessings. And then take some time to be thankful. Even in hard days, God’s providence surrounds us and our belovedness is constant. I close with the Collect for Thanksgiving…

Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

A Note from the Parish Administrator


Cherished friends of St. James the Less,

 

It has been a privilege to serve you as your Parish Administrator. I will, sadly, be leaving my position Friday, December 13th

 

Being part of this community has been an incredible gift. You are all so special, and I knew it from the first day I arrived. You care for one another, this building, the property and the community like no other. You seek out opportunities to show care in every way. I can see the hands and feet of Christ because of you. 

 

This job has always been “personal,” and never just a "job.” I care deeply about you all. Thank you for that trust. I will always treasure my time here and be a beloved friend of St. James the Less. 

 

All my best,

Kasey Buckland 

JOIN US THIS WEEK

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

  • NO Eucharist Rite II
  • 10:30am-Vinyasa Yoga with Lorie (in the pavilion)


Thursday, November 28, 2024

  • Office Closed for the holiday
  • NO Handbell Choir
  • NO Parish Choir


Friday, November 29, 2024

  • Office Closed for the holiday


Sunday, December 1, 2024

  • 8am- Eucharist Rite I (INDOOR)
  • 9am- Sunday School (adults and kids)
  • 10am- Eucharist Rite II
  • 4:30pm- Confirmation Class today


Monday, December 2, 2024

  • 10:30am- Good Grief
  • 10:30am- Yoga with Lorie


Click Here to Watch Services Live or Later

November Calendar:

  • 11/27- No Wednesday service
  • 11/28 & 11/29-Thanksgiving- Office Closed


December Calendar:

  • 12/1- Year C starts, Advent Faire, 6pm Youth group
  • 12/8- Bishop Goff visit
  • 12/8- Cherub Choir sings 10am
  • 12/15- Julie Ericksen Coffee Pot on Ukraine following 10am service
  • 12/15- Evensong 5pm, Youth group 6pm
  • 12/16-Vestry Christmas Party at December Vestry Meeting at 6:30pm
  • 12/22- Rock+ Sunday School with the kids
  • Christmas Eve Services 12/24
  • 4:30pm- Family Service, Cherub Choir sings
  • 10:30pm- Christ Mass
  • Christmas Day Service- 12/25 10am
  • Christmas- December 25th, 2024- Office Closed
  • 12/28- Youth group reunion
  • 12/29- Lessons & Carols

Such a beautiful Sunday! We are so grateful to all our volunteers who helped make it that way. We had our longtime member Lyde Longaker here to celebrate her commitment to St. James the Less, prior to moving closer to family. We are grateful to all our saints!

A Few More Left


Thank you for participating in and supporting our annual Brunswick Stew sales. We hope you had as much fun eating it as we did making it. We have just a few quarts left in the freezer. If you would like one, reach out to the office! (before it's too late)


We want to hear your feedback so we can keep improving our stew and possible future events. Please fill out this quick survey and let us know your thoughts (your answers will be anonymous). 

Advent Fair


Advent Fair will be Sunday, December 1st following the 10am service. We will have crafts for the kids and Advent wreath making for the adults. There will also be a Santa Shop for kids to shop (and gift wrap) for their parents and relatives for free. We look forward to sharing in this wonderful time with our church family! 

Julie Ericksen Coffee Pot


Please join us for a Coffee Pot on December 15th following the 10am service where Julie Ericksen will share about what led to her decision to go to Ukraine, her experience there, and the potential relevance to our personal and spiritual lives here. How do we move forward in these challenging times of deep polarization and wars that impact the world order? We hope you will join us!

SJTL Youth Group Reunion



Please join us for a reunion of both youth group participants and leaders on Saturday, December 28th from 6:30-8pm. It will be a great to reminisce and reconnect. We will have food and drinks to share! Meet us at 319 Myrtle Street, Ashland VA 23005. Looking forward to a wonderful evening! 

The Diocese of Virginia Presents A Creation Care Webinar


Creation Care Webinar with Bishop Stevenson: Reflections on Hurricane Katrina

Date December 12, 2024, Time 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

 

Our new era of “extreme weather” promises storms that can smash infrastructure, wash away communities and lives, leave millions without power and the basic necessities of life. We are now also beginning to understand the lingering impact of “invisible” trauma on survivors, and the societal challenge of “climate refugees” within our own borders.

 

What tools exist for faith leaders, both ordained and lay, to prepare spiritually and to sustain their congregations in this new era? What does spiritual resilience look like for catastrophic weather events and their long aftermath?

 

Bishop Stevenson took up his post as Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Louisiana shortly before Hurricane Katrina struck in late August, 2005. Hurricane Katrina caused the deaths of at least 1,833 people while hundreds of thousands were displaced. A conservative estimate of damage was $100 billion.

 

The Spiritual Resilience Working Group of the diocesan Creation Care Committee invites you to a webinar via Zoom with Bishop Stevenson, where he will share his insights from this experience.

 

December 12, at 4 PM. There will be time for Q & A.

REGISTER HERE

CHILDREN & YOUTH PROGRAMMING

9am- Nursery & Children's Sunday School

10am- Children's Church

Song for the Bishop


I know the weekends have gotten crazy with the holiday season already starting. I wanted to let everyone know that we will be singing for the Bishop on December 18th at the 10am service. This is the link to the song. I will also put the sheet music on our Facebook Page. If you need anything, please let me know! On the day of we will robe and meet before the service. As of right now, we are practicing at the beginning of Sunday School. Looking forward to it!!

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, Dennis Folsom, Court Warfield, Andrea Alexander McCallum, Andy Newchok, 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, Clint Rose, Tim Yagla, Ken Perry, Jonah Smith, Erik Klauss, Teva Rittenhouse, Bobbi Prentice, Steve Crane, Rebecca Paxton, Louise Hopkins, Margaret Belyea, Tom Slaughter, 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. 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 FUNNY

November 27

Jason Grande


November 28

Coby FitzHugh

November 30

Jack Marshall


December 1

Alex Meade


December 2

Jack Kay

Carol Martin


December 3

Chris Parks

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

Kasey Buckland- Parish Administrator

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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.