Saturday, Dec. 2

9:00 a.m. | Intro to Centering Prayer in the Trinity Room

5:00 p.m. | Advent Lessons & Carols in the Nave (doors open at 4:00 p.m.)

Sunday, Dec. 3

8:00 a.m. | Spoken Holy Eucharist Rite I in the Nave

9:00 a.m. | Advent Wreath-Making Workshop in Stillwell Hall

10:00 a.m. | Sunday School for Children in the Atrium

10:15 a.m. | Holy Eucharist Rite II with the St. James Choir in the Nave

5:00 p.m. | Advent Lessons & Carols in the Nave (doors open at 4:00 p.m.) *WILL BE LIVESTREAMED ON FACEBOOK*

Monday, Dec. 4

8:30 a.m. | Monday Morning Prayer in the Sanctuary

Wednesday, Dec. 6

9:30 a.m. | Yoga in the Trinity Room

Noon | Healing Prayer and Holy Eucharist in the Nave

5:00 p.m. | St. Nicholas Party in Stillwell Hall

Update on Associate Rector Search

The search for St. James' next associate rector has been underway for the past month, advertising on our website, in the diocesan newsletter, the Episcopal News Service, as well as at seminaries. A small committee—Erin Rainey, Ellen Lind, Jimmy Chandler, and Sarah Carpenter—is helping David+ vet applicants. So far, there have been four interested applicants. Our team is mindful that this search is taking place at a time when many families are not looking to move. If it becomes clear that an associate will not be in place before Easter, an interim associate will be explored. You can find the job posting on our Website, under the About Us tab.

Thank you to all those who have already returned their stewardship commitment cards for 2024. Your commitment makes a difference! It's not too late to return your commitment card by mail, in-person or even online.

Advent Lessons & Carols is Saturday, Dec. 2 & Sunday, Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. Doors will open at 4 p.m. Plan now to attend this glorious service with The St. James Choir and Montreat Scottish Pipes and Drums. While no tickets are required, contributions of any amount are welcomed and appreciated in support of the music ministry of St. James. The Sunday service will be livestreamed on our Facebook page.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PARKING FOR THE SATURDAY SERVICE:

Because the Downtown Christmas Parade begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday, getting to St. James should not be an issue. Road detours will be in place after 5:30 p.m. Leaving St. James after Lessons & Carols after Saturday night’s service:

🚗Depart out of the back entrance on N. Grove Street. Turn to the left and take an immediate right onto 8th Avenue. Go through the intersection at Locust Street. At Maple Street, turn left to get to North Main beyond the parade shut down. To get to Martin Luther King Blvd, turn right on Maple Street for one block, turn left onto 7th Avenue (first left), then turn right onto Ashe Street (second right).

Upcoming Sunday Evening Services include Allelu! on Sunday, Dec. 10, and a Contemplative Candlelight Eucharist on Nov. 17 featuring guitarist Doug Woofter.

The monthly Saturday Evening service will be on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 5 p.m. in the chapel.

On Sunday, Dec. 31, the liturgy of the word (readings and sermon) at the 10:15 and 5 p.m. service will take the form of a sermon drama by the St. James Players. Come watch their thought-provoking and relevant piece on the Nativity.

Gluten-free wafers are available during communion for those with celiac disease or medical issues. You may request this gluten-free option at communion from the priest. 

Introduction to Centering Prayer workshop on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9-12:30 p.m. in the Trinity Room led by Chris and Rev. Wendy Pinzino. At this workshop, we will learn the method and have time to experience this ancient Prayer form. We will explore its historical and theological background and learn ways to sustain and support this practice. What a beautiful way to begin the sacred time of Advent. For more information and/or to RSVP please email Chris and Wendy at wpinzino228@yahoo.com or text/call 561-400-0157. 

We are having an All-Parish Advent Wreath-Making workshop on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 9 a.m. in Stillwell Hall! Join us as we create our own unique Advent wreaths for your home during the season leading up to our celebration of Christ’s birth. St. James will provide the bases, candles and some greenery but we encourage you to bring your own evergreen clippings to share for the gathering to ensure there are enough supplies for everyone.

On Sunday, Dec. 17, join the Rev. Canon John Peterson and David+ for Formation Hour as they discuss the oft-neglected nativity story found in Matthew's gospel.

Short Stories for the Soul is Tuesday, Dec. 12 at noon in the St. James Room. Bring your lunch and join us for a soul-stretching conversation about the short story, "The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World" by Gabriel García Márquez. Readings can be found on the Adult Formation page on our website. SSS meets the Second Tuesday of every month in the St. James Room.

On Sunday mornings through Dec. 17, we welcome you to write Advent Blessing greeting cards to parishioners who aren't able to be with us in-person. The cards will be delivered to parishioners during the week of Christmas. Visit the table in Stillwell Hall on Sunday mornings, choose a card, and write a note or blessing to parishioners at home or in care centers.

Soon we will be transforming a section of the North Lawn into an open air Sanctuary Garden Chapel! This park-like setting will be a re-grading and improvement of the north side of the property to allow for more use of this space for weddings, services, funerals, and special religious events.

We are excited to offer the opportunity to contribute to the installation of a grove of redbud and holly trees in dedication to a friend or family member.

For more information or to submit a dedication, click here.

Our next yoga classes will take place on Wednesdays Dec. 6 and Dec 20 at 9:30 a.m. in the Trinity Room. Participants need to arrive 10 minutes early and be ready to begin promptly. Individuals who might have come to chair yoga are welcome and we will adapt poses into chair versions. Contact the instructor, Dianne Hunter, for any questions.

The next Men's Fellowship Breakfast is Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 9 a.m. at the Mustang Cafe (140 Tracy Grove Rd, Hendersonville). Please wear your nametags.

Calling all St. James artists and crafts-people!

SAVE THE DATE and start creating for our 2024 Art and Soul Gala and Silent Auction set to take place on Saturday, March 16 from 3-5:30 p.m. at St. James. Join us for a special, fun afternoon of fine art and crafts created by St. James parishioners and friends. Artwork will be available for purchase. Enjoy wine, snacks, live music and a thrilling silent auction with artwork and gift baskets from community vendors! Stay tuned for more information! Brought to you by the St. James Fun Force.

HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE A SUCCESS! Thanks to your generosity, we delivered 583 pounds of food to Interfaith Assistance Ministries for their holiday food drive. Our contribution helped ensure those in need celebrated Thanksgiving with a meal in their own home. Our December collection will go to The Storehouse, so grab a purple shopping bag the next time you are at church, so we can continue to provide non-perishable foods and personal care and hygiene items to our neighbors who lack these essentials.

Coins for Change in Cuba! Start collecting spare coins and pocket change as we join with other Episcopalians to provide Vacation Bible School for children in Cuba in collaboration with the Episcopal Diocese of Cuba. Contact Jack Watson for more details. Bring your coins to the Christmas Pageant on Dec. 24 at 10:15 a.m. to join with the Magi in placing your gifts before the Christ Child.

Stewardship Tip from the Creation Care Ministry:  Recycling is expanding at St. James! New receptacles are now in place around the campus. Please help us reduce waste and capture materials for manufacturing supplies. The material collected will go to a processor in Asheville where it will be sorted, baled, and shipped in truckload quantities to processors in the region. Watch for more info in the coming weeks.

We are having an All-Parish Advent Wreath-Making workshop on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 9 a.m. in Stillwell Hall! Join us as we create our own unique Advent wreaths for your home during the season leading up to our celebration of Christ’s birth. St. James will provide the bases, candles and some greenery but we encourage you to bring your own evergreen clippings to share for the gathering to ensure there are enough supplies for everyone.

St. Nicholas Party 🎅🏼 on Tuesday, Dec. 6 from 5–6 p.m. in Stillwell Hall for our families, especially with younger children. Join us for German Christmas sweets and a screening of the Peanuts Christmas special. A little bird hinted that St. Nicholas himself will visit.

Our St. James Christmas 🎄 Pageant will be on Christmas Eve at 10:15 a.m. during the Sunday Service. All children, from babies to high school teenagers, are welcome to join us as angels, shepherds, kings, animals, Mary, Joseph, and narrators. Please email or text Diane King at echomtn1@yahoo.com or (828) 674-1461 if interested. 

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Sunday School is offered every Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Atrium by the Trinity Room for ages 2 through 5th grade. Children will return to the church during the Peace.

Tired of Emails? Youth and Parents Can Stay Connected with St. James via text! Join our Remind account by texting @2fhfhb2 to 81010. We will post upcoming events, photos, and reminders here and all will go directly to your phone.

Fall & Winter Programs Brochure Available! Be in the know every week! Pick up our hot-off-the-press formation brochure today and mark your calendars for events and gatherings for all ages.

To ensure that you receive St. James emails in your inbox, please add office@stjamesepiscopal.com to your contact list. If you have issues getting our weekly emails, call Mindy at (828) 693-7458 or email mindy@stjamesepiscopal.com.