Saint James the Less Weekly News & Updates | | |
This last Sunday I mentioned in my sermon, "Home is where you are always welcome." We have been blessed lately with so many folks coming, worshiping, and checking us out. So many of them have mentioned to me how welcome they felt. Thank you! When you see someone on a Sunday, and you do not know them, maybe ask, "Have we met yet?" Maybe they have been coming when you have not and vice versa, or they may be here for their first Sunday. Either way you are welcoming and encouraging.
We are living in a time of isolation, from social divisiveness or social media, we are living in a deep state of loneliness and pain. Church can be an answer to that, and better than the theoretical, YOU can be an answer to that. Follow their lead and answer any questions they may have. Invite them to coffee hour and introduce them, or if you really hit it off out to lunch. Be the Church you wanted when you were looking for when and if you were ever in that position. I am so happy to say, so many of you are already doing this. It is not about being convincing, just open and inviting. We have had lots of people checking us out, and in the coming days as we get closer to Easter I believe that will increase.
In the living of these days, relish that we have each other. In his poem Secret Language of the Heart, Bishop Steven Charleston shared:
And know that we are still here, still together
Still doing what we can to make hope have meaning.
I trust you have our Holy Week dates on your calendar and have plans to join us as we can to celebrate why we have the ultimate hope. If you are able to participate in the Blood Drive, I do hope that you will sign up. If you have friends or neighbors for whom donating blood is a practice, please encourage them to join us that day. Information on signing up is below.
Blessings, Rock+
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Thursday, April 3, 2025
- 6pm Handbell choir
- 7pm Parish choir
Sunday, April 6, 2025
- 8am Eucharist Rite I
- 9am Sunday School
- 10am Eucharist Rite II with music
Monday, April 7, 2025
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
- 10am Book Club
- 7pm Lenten Evening Program
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
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April Calendar:
- 4/5- Property Work Day
- 4/13- Blood Drive
- 4/9- Egg Stuffing Night 6pm
- 4/13- Palm Sunday Church Begins in the Memorial Garden and Youth Group 6 pm
- 4/17- Maundy Thursday Service 7pm
- 4/18- Good Friday Service 7pm
- 4/19- Noon-Holy Saturday Service; 7:50pm Easter Vigil
- 4/20- Easter Service 8 AM (Pavilion) & 10 AM(Cherub Choir sings)
- 4/21- Office Closed day after Easter
- 4/26- Deacon Ordination (including our own Stephanie Werner)
- 4/27- Youth Group 6pm
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Acolytes Wanted!
Every Sunday, we work together to celebrate and worship. We are a liturgical church, and "liturgy" literally means "the work of the people." A big part of that is having folks who assist in the service by carrying the cross, bringing out the Gospel book, gathering the offering, and assisting at the altar. If we have enough, we also have torchbearers lighting the way. Often we have older children and teens helping out. Of our regular Sunday morning attendees, our two main acolytes are both seniors. We will soon be holding a training, and would encourage interested parties, no matter your age, to participate as we rebuild our post-COVID ranks of our acolyte team. Let the office or Father Rock know of your interest or your child's interest.
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We’re looking forward to seeing you next month on Sunday, April 13 for the blood drive there.
Please call 1-800-RED CROSS
(1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: stjamestheless to schedule an appointment.
Our donor promo is:
- All who come to give blood April 1-13, 2025, will receive a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Plus, all who come to give April 1-30, 2025, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a $5,000 gift card. There will be three lucky winners.
Our goal for your blood drive is to sign up 30-35 donors to meet our goal for the patients.
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Brunswick Stew Still for Sale
(Less than 6 left)
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!
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2025 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.
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In Remembrance of Jim Carson
We are very sad to report that Jim Carson passed away. We hope you will join us as we celebrate his life. His service will be on May 31st at 10am at Bruton Parish Church in Williamasburg, Virginia.
The burial and reception will immediately follow the service.
Please remember Jim, his family, and friends in your prayers.
| | | | | We are gearing up for an incredible Easter Egg Hunt after the 10am service on April 20th. We hope to have over a thousand eggs ready to go!! Which means, I'm going to need help hiding those eggs on the morning of Easter. We will meet downstairs in the Sunday School room at 9:15am to hide all of the eggs out in the field and in the playground. Eggs will be organized for younger and older kids. Please email Miriam if you can help with the hiding, or just show up in your Easter finest! Thank you so much!! | | | |
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.
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In Remembrance of Lyde Longaker
We are very sad to report that Lyde Longaker passed away. She was beloved by this church family. We hope you will join us as we celebrate her life. Her service will be held here May 3rd at 2pm.
If you would like to be in touch with the family, please mail:
Eliza Longaker who lives at 9467 West Alabama Drive in Lakewood, Colorado 80232
Please remember Lyde, her family, and friends in your prayers.
| | | CHILDREN & YOUTH PROGRAMMING | | |
April 6, 2025
9am Nursery, Sunday School
10am Childrens' Church
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Palm Sunday
Join us on Palm Sunday for some noise making in the garden. We invite the kids to make a joyful noise leading us into the church! We will have palms and instruments to help our kids lead the procession back into the sanctuary from the memorial garden. Don't forget we start outside before heading in. 8am service will be outdoors for the entire time and 10am will lead into sanctuary after beginning in the garden.
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United Thank Offering
All of the families should have UTO offering boxes now at home that are beautifully decorated! During Lent, kids(and adults) will collect change for UTO. There is a wonderful monthly calendar as well as seed cards and additional UTO boxes downstairs if you need any additional guidance. These boxes will be due the Sunday after Easter (April 27th). We will then gather our donation as a group together! Looking forward to giving back to our community and showing our kids the importance of helping those around us even with just the change we can spare!
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Youth Group Dates
Below are the remaining dates for Youth Group. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. We would still love to have you join in for any or all of the dates. Please register HERE. MS Youth leaders are planning a group outing this spring. More details are to follow. Thank you!
- April 9th- Egg Stuffing Night 6pm
- April 13th- Youth Group 6-7:30p
- April 27th- Youth Group 6-7:30p
- May 4th- MS Field Trip
- May 10th- Mother's Day Car Wash
- May 18th- Graduate Sunday/Bart Goodbye/End of Year Party 6-7:30p
- May 25th- Church Picnic
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Wish List
We are so excited to have everyone back in the classroom and with that comes lots of amazing supplies. HERE is our wishlist link. Thank you so much for your continued support!!!
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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 Donald, 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 including those of the Ukraine. We pray especially for Gus Miller, Erin Yagla, Meghann Batten, Court Warfield, Andrea Alexander McCallum, Haden Hopkins, Hilda Kelly, Harry Hassell, Smith family, Mary Ann Harris, Bob & Mary Lou Brown, Diana Timberlake, Kristi Ellis, Pam Gillette, Ruth Beaudry, Tom Burke, Dawn Haase & Family, Kimette Cannady, Alicia Wood, Anna Marie, Judy Sledd, Floyd Moore, Debra Molter, Tim Yagla, Erik Klauss, Steve Crain, Jessica Wingo, Margaret Belyea, Calvin Stanley, Lee Chambers, Bill King, Patty Smith, Douglas and Karen Bower, Derek Osterfeld, Joanne Flanagan, Ginger Brooking, Jennifer Fewell Gardner, Jane Robinson, Tom Slaughter, Ken Sehlhorst, Mike Slagle and John Hoar.
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, including Jim Carson and Dr. Carter Slappey, brother-in-law to Betsy Snipes. We ask your prayers for those who grieve their missing loved ones.
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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April 2
Katherine Ellithorpe
April 5
Henry Shifflett
April 7
Michele Murphy
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April 8
George Spagna
Steph Lewis
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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
Office Hours: Monday 9am-2pm, Wednesday 9am-2pm and Friday 9am-12pm
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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. | | | | |
