January 24, 2024

Saint James the Less Weekly News & Updates

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A Note From Father Rock

Greetings, Church Family,


We have been looking diligently for new Vestry members for several weeks. While we have many people who could serve, some of those approached feel that they are not currently called to this ministry of servant leaders. If you have ever pondered if Vestry might be a good place for you to serve, I do hope that you will reach out to me or any of our Vestry members to ask what it entails. We still need a couple of candidates for this year's slate. Like with all areas of service, God equips the called. If you feel a nudging, let us know.


I am very pleased to say that we have secured priests to fill in for me in my role during my sabbatical which starts soon after Easter. Both are strong candidates and will be great in preaching and celebrating during my time of renewal. We will also be bringing in leadership to guide the church in renewal while I am away. There will be more on all of this in the coming weeks. Lots of details and work are required for things worth having, and this time of faith and sabbath are no different. Our theme this year is "All Things New" and that includes all of us. 

Continue to lift up Church Family as we grieve the loss of Rick Roberts and Susan Chambers this last weekend. We hold Melissa and Lee up, and their families.


Blessings, and thanks!

Rock+

JOIN US THIS WEEK

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

  • 7:30am- Eucharist Rite II (with bagels & coffee to follow)
  • 10:30am- Vinyasa Yoga with Lorie
  • 6pm- Family Lego Night


Thursday, January 25, 2024

  • 6pm- Hand Bells Choir
  • 7pm- Parish Choir


Sunday, January 28, 2024

  • 8am- Eucharist Rite I (no music)
  • 8:45/9am- Adult & Children Sunday School
  • 10am- Eucharist Rite II (music)
  • 11am- Lunch & Learn- Parish Hall
  • 6pm- Youth Group


Monday, January 29, 2024

  • 10:30am- Good Grief and Yoga with Lorie
  • 7pm- Dream Group (Harrisons)


Tuesday, January 30, 2024

  • 10am-Book Group
Click Here to Watch Services Live or Later

January Calendar


  • 1/24- Family Lego Night
  • 1/28- Lunch & Learn- Drug policy & prevention
  • 1/28- Youth Group 6-8pm


February Calendar

  • 2/13- Shrove Tuesday Meal 5:30-7pm
  •  2/14- Ash Wednesday- 7:30am & 7pm Service
  • 2/17 – Supper Club
  • 2/18- Contemplative Service 5pm
  • 2/19-Washington’s Birthday- Office Closed
  • 2/21- 3/27- Lenten Program (Wednesdays 7-8pm)

It has been a tough time for our community with all the loss but we are grateful to carry it together. As Ted Lasso says (from the tv show that shares his same name), "I promise you, there is something worse out there than being sad, and that is being alone and being sad. Ain't nobody in this room alone. Let's be sad now. Let's be sad together.”

Donations Needed


Our very own Rachel Easter is looking for donations for her upcoming trip to Honduras doing women's care. She needs more tote bags, washcloths, and clothing snaps. She's created an Amazon wishlist. Non-Amazon purchases of travel sized soaps, washcloths, tote bags can also be made. You can ship or bring to the church and she can pick up from there. We will have a box in the hallway 

 

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/21BZQVQMFUXS3?ref_=wl_share

 

She will be hosting a Coffee Pot in March to tell us all about her trip!


Lunch & Learn- January 28th


Please join us on Sunday January 28th following the 10am service to hear from the Hanover Community Services will be coming back to educate us on drug policy and prevention in our community. We will have a meal as we learn. Everyone is welcome! Let us know you are coming, please. That helps us with planning food. But, don't let that stop you. Please come even if you haven't let us know.


REVIVE is the Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education (OONE) program for the Commonwealth of Virginia. REVIVE! provides training on how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose emergency using naloxone. (SAM) Smart approaches to marijuana preventing another big tobacco. They will be going over this with us.

Susan Chambers' Funeral


Many of you have asked about a date for Susan Chambers' funeral. We are confirmed for the afternoon of Saturday, February 10th. We do not have any other details or times, but will update you when we do. Thank you for your care.

Shrove Tuesday


Please join us on Tuesday, February 13th 5:30pm- 7pm for our annual delicious Shrove Tuesday Pancake meal. We will "feast before we fast." There will be pancakes, bacon, sausage, fried apples. The cost is $6/person (with a max of $20/family). We hope you will join us for this fun time in community!

Ash Wednesday Services


Please join us for our Ash Wednesday services, Wednesday, 2/14 at 7:30am and 7pm. There will also be stations set up all over for Ashes to Go as well.

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. 

Book Club Tuesdays 10am


We started our next Book Club (a non-fiction piece) 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! It's not too late! Everyone is welcome!

CHILDREN & YOUTH PROGRAMMING

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!!!

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! 

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! 

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)

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 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, Bob & Mary Lou Brown, Kay Kemper, David Bandas, Trinity Episcopal Church, Rone Deas, Wilson Loving, Phil Edmonds, Diana Timberlake, Kristi Elles, Sharon Street, Nellee, Meg and family, 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, especially Susan Chambers, Rick Roberts and Johnny Ellis. 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.

Epiphany 3 Homily

Click HERE to read the sermon

WEDNESDAY FUNNY

January 24

Cameron Bajcsi

James Bajcsi


January 25

Tyler FitzHugh


January 27

Brett Bajcsi

January 31

Roger Reynolds

Stephanie Werner


HELPFUL LINKS

Saint James the Less Episcopal Church

125 Beverly Road

Ashland, VA 23005

(804) 798-6336


Staff:

The Rev. Rock Higgins, tssf Rector

The Rev. Deacon Dawn McNamara Deacon

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.