Saint James the Less Weekly News & Updates | |
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Good morning, Church Family!
Just before I left for my trip, the Book Club finished James Martin's Becoming Who You Are. I was reminded by the class members of the wonderful gift of the call of God. God expresses his love for us by never giving up on us, and wanting us to be in relationship fully, honestly, deeply with him. Jesus opened the door for us so that it could happen. God is calling each and every one of us to sanctity. That may seem daunting, but it is not only desired by God, but as we grow in Christ, that desire is given to us. We are not called to stop being bad so much as to start being holy. As Thomas Merton says, we only have to want to be a saint to be one.
That may seem simplistic or ridiculous, but that is why we read a whole book on it. As we sing, "...they were all of them saints of God, and I mean,
God helping, to be one too." God has not given up on any of us. Do not give up on yourself.
The trip has been going well, and if all works well I should be in Richmond late tonight. So many heartbreaking and amazing things to share with you all soon. I look forward to seeing everyone Sunday. As we celebrate Christ the King, we finish our liturgical year. God has continued to bless us so much.
In Christ,
Rock+
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Wednesday, November 20, 2024
- 7:30am- Eucharist Rite II (with bagels & coffee to follow)
- 10:30am- Vinyasa Yoga with Lorie (in the pavilion)
Thursday, November 21, 2024
- 6pm-Handbell Choir
- 7pm- Parish Choir
Sunday, November 24, 2024
- 8am- Eucharist Rite I (INDOOR)
- 9am- Sunday School (adults and kids)
- 10am- Eucharist Rite II
- 4:30pm- Confirmation Class today
Monday, November 25, 2024
- 10:30am- Good Grief
- 10:30am- Yoga with Lorie
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
- 10am- Book Club (in person and virtual)
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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
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What an amazing community of people! There is so much love here. We are grateful to our incredible volunteers that make it possible. | |
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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).
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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!
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Recap from the 230th Annual Convention
The 230th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Virginia took place November 7-9, 2024, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. More than 500 clergy and lay leaders representing churches across the diocese gathered for three days of worship, reflection, and decision-making. This year's convention provided a platform for delegates to discuss the future of the church, explore important ministry topics, and celebrate our shared call to love Jesus, embody justice, and be disciples. To learn more click HERE.
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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!
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Confirmation Class
We will be holding our annual Confirmation Classes on Sunday afternoons 11/24, and 12/1 from 4:30-6:30pm. If you would like to join us for Confirmation classes, let us know. We would love to have you come and learn more.
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The Diocese of Virginia Presents A Creation Care Webinar
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
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CHILDREN & YOUTH PROGRAMMING | |
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9am- Nursery & Children's Sunday School
10am- Children's Church
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The Kids Give Back
*November 24th is deadline* We have a number of children that love animals and want to find ways to give back to our community. This November the kids will be collecting donations of towels for Loving Acres Farm Sanctuary. This sanctuary rescues animals that would have otherwise been euthanized including Perogi the sheep in a wheelchair or Major Sparklepants the three legged They are in need of towels, crib sheets and old pack and plays. They also have shared an Amazon wish list for their farm. We look forward to delivering these donations to Loving Acres during the Thanksgiving holiday. If you would like to come along, I will share more details soon. Please help us to support this worthy cause and support the passions of our SJTL children.
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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!
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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 (we have a box in our hallway)
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Donate to Peter Paul Development Center. (box in our hallway)
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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 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, Christen Meacham, Bobbi Prentice, 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.
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November 20
Rosemary Jones
November 25
Jane Jones
Jim May
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November 26
Christen Meacham
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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. | | | | |
