Weekly News from St. James' Episcopal Church | Leesburg, Virginia

March 7, 2025

WORSHIP

Sunday Worship

March 9 | First Sunday in Lent

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist

View the 8 a.m. Service Order

10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist

(live streamed)

View the 10 a.m. Service Order

Watch the Service Live on YouTube

Watch the Service Live on Facebook

Watch the service live at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning or at your leisure at a later time.

New! Sermon Playlist on YouTube

Sermons are now available as stand-alone videos on our YouTube channel.

View the Sermon Playlist

Daylight Saving Time starts this Sunday--don't forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday evening!

Lent & Easter

Lenten Offerings

We're offering several special studies, services, and activities for Lent & Holy Week, click here to learn more.

10 a.m. Liturgy Change for Lent

As we begin the season of Lent, you are invited to be formed and shaped in new ways through the penitential Rite I liturgy. This form of worship reflects the ancient beauty and poetry of the Elizabethan-era language found in the first BCP, which dates back to 1549. We will resume Rite II on Easter Sunday.

Sanctus Bells During Lent

Praise Him with sounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:5-6)

During the season of Lent we will once again be incorporating Sanctus bells into our worship. Bells began to be used in the fifth century, but it wasn’t until the thirteenth century that they were used to call attention to significant parts of the service. Originally they were tolled outside by the bell tower, allowing people to stop what they were doing and pray. Later, the bells were moved inside to be part of the service, helping worshippers to refocus their attention toward God.

Christian Formation

Sunday Morning Lenten Forum Series: "What Is Holy Week?"

Sundays, March 9-April 6 | 9 a.m. | Parish Hall

Join Fr. Chad, Rev. Marybeth and Michael Fabian as we discuss the final week of Jesus’ life, including Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and the Easter Vigil.

Save the Date for VBS!

June 23-27, 9 a.m.-noon

Our VBS theme for 2025 is Arts Camp: Creating with God!

If you'd like to be involved, you're invited to attend an organizational meeting on Sunday, March 23, following the 10 a.m. service in Janney Parlor. Two internship spots are available for young adults/students! An interest in the arts is a plus but not required. Questions? Contact Rev. Marybeth.

Children's Formation Registration is Open!

Teachers needed! To best serve multiple age groups, we would love a team of regular teachers. Reach out to Jess Eastridge if interested in teaching.

Calling all Children's Chapel Assistants

Help welcome and support families and visitors in this essential ministry. As partners with Children's Formation Minister, Jess Eastridge, no weekly preparation is required of Children's Chapel Assistants. To volunteer and then receive access to the schedule, let us know more about you.

YOUP is for Youth Group

All 6^th through 12^th graders are invited to join Youp (a portmanteau of "Youth"+"Group") led by fantastic team of couples and parents. If you are interested in getting your student involved, let us know.

Take the YOUP Survey

Youth Sunday School

6th through 12th grade

9:00 AM Sunday School and snacks in the Youth Room

We're currently discussing the Biblical theme of deliverance.

Please join us!

Questions? Email Jon Coate

Lenten Book Study: "24 Hours That Changed the World"

Wednesdays, March 12-April 9 | 10 a.m. | Janney Parlor

Led by The Rev. Dr. Chad Martin
Come for one or more forums! No registration needed.
Get the book here (not required to participate)

Men's Service Ministry Book Study-

All men of St. James are invited to join a weekly MSM meeting at 7 p.m. Mondays in the lower level of the Parish House. For additional info or should you have questions, please email Mike Scott.

Saint James' Preschool is looking for a positive, energetic, and motivated Director! If you can help SJP provide children with a creative learning experience in a Christian atmosphere of love and acceptance, apply now! Application deadline is March 31.

Visit the NEW Preschool Website

St. James' Preschool

2025-2026 Registration now open!

Providing children with a creative learning experience in a Christian atmosphere of love and acceptance since 1972.

Creating Community

St. James’ Women’s Book Club Inaugural Meeting

Wednesday, April 9, 2 p.m. | Janney Parlor

“To Build Community, Form Friendships, and Read a Good Book”

Meetings will take place on the second Wednesday of each month. The first meeting will be led by Fran Smith and will be a discussion of the book Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. You can get the book from Amazon, Thrift Books, or the Loudoun County Library. Please let us know you're coming so we have enough refreshments: Click here to register.

Spring 2025 Women's Ministry Retreat

Fri. May 23 - Sun. May 25, 2025 | Claggett Center

All women of St. James' are invited to our annual Women's Ministry Retreat in Adamstown, MD (about an hour from Leesburg). We have 5 more slots open for registration. The total cost of the retreat is $310 and includes a private room with ensuite bath and 5 meals over the weekend. The deposit to secure your spot is $75. Our goal is to welcome everyone who wishes to attend the retreat. Please reach out to Rev. Marybeth for financial aid. All requests will be kept confidential.

Shrine Mont Summer Camp Registration is Now Open

Registration for Shrine Mont summer camps is now open. Last summer, we had several campers from St. James' and Rev. Marybeth served as chaplain for one of the St. George's sessions. We would love to continue to strengthen the connections between St. James' and Shrine Mont. Click here for more information and to register: https://www.shrinemontcamps.org/

Parish Life

Seminarian Kara Laughlin's Ordination Featured on Diocesan Website

St. James' Seminarian, Kara Laughlin, was ordained as a Deacon along with two others at St. George's in Arlington on March 1. The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia has featured the news of the ordination on their website, where you can also view the service recording. Check it out here.

We will welcome Kara back to our parish on Sunday, March 16, as our preacher.

St. James' Accessibility Efforts Featured by the Episcopal Diocese of VA

Our recent pew reconfiguration project has been featured on the Diocesan website and E-news! We're also delighted to report that a parish in Massachusetts saw these features and reached out to us for advice on a similar project for their facility. This project continues to be a wonderful way to share our witness of inclusivity and inclusion not just for the St. James' and Leesburg community, but beyond the borders of our state!

(Asterisk * denotes those in the St. James’ community)

Those Requesting Prayers This Week: *Dj Gunning, *Di Cook, Isaiah Rice, *Kevin Smith, *Steven Cooksey, Pamela Scott, Erik deVriendt, *Bill Rice, and *Harold Neely.

Those on Our Long-Term Prayer List: The Householder family, Katie B. Sullivan, *Steve Page, Neil Gwinn, Ruth Ann Fox, Timothy McKimmie, Charlotte Giblin, *Rachelle Graves, *Charlotte Woods, Virginia Cogger, *Michael Fabian, Stephanie Kreuger, The Porter family, Ralph Dale, Dwayne Traylor, Brayan Cruz, Jefferson Zapata, *Michael Dowling, Darrell Ackman, Kaleb Cortes, Tony Beltrano, Emily, Mary Ellen Hurley, *Barbara Roark, *Fran Smith, Nicholas Rodney, Ed, *Scott Clark, *Pam Mossburg, Virginia Laughlin, and *Alice Lynn.

Those who have died: *Dan Thomas and *Page Barrett.

Those Who Need Our Prayers: All those affected by the fires in the US, for the lives lost and that God will sustain them for the recovery ahead, for all those across the globe who suffer the effects of natural disasters; for those who suffer acts of violence around the world, especially for Ukraine and for the Holy Land; for federal employees and those serving in the armed forces at home and abroad; for those who are unemployed or underemployed; and for those who continue to be affected by COVID-19 and for protection of the most vulnerable through flu season and cold weather.

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: In thanksgiving for God’s Creation and those who care for it.

Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan

Do You Need Prayer or Care?

"In case of illness, the minister of the congregation is to be notified." (BCP p. 453)

Make a prayer request here.

Call the Church Office | Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(703)777-1124 ext 1 | info@stjamesleesburg.org

After Hours Pastoral Care Line | (202)750-4247

Prayer List Changes

The clergy and Pastoral Associates of the Parish have been considering ways to deepen the prayer life of St. James’. Our parish prayer list is a vital part of our corporate and individual prayers. We also know there are many in need of prayer who are known to God alone.

One of the ways we hope to hold our St. James’ family in prayer is to denote St. James’ congregants using and asterisk in our printed list. This way, whether on the short-term or long-term, those praying in worship will be able to hold those closest to us in mind. We will always continue to pray for friends and family.

Though we only name a few names out loud, please use the long-term list in your personal prayers. Many who reside on the list are our home bound folks we send communion to. They are a part of us. Please check our weekly email each week for suggested prayers and our diocesan and Anglican prayer cycles. For questions or suggestions, please reach out to Rev. Marybeth.

Click the image to view our full weekly calendar

St. James' Episcopal Church | stjamesleesburg.org