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Weekly News from St. James' Episcopal Church | Leesburg, Virginia
April 11, 2025
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Please note that, weather permitting, the 10 a.m. service will begin outside directly in front of the Parish House on Cornwall Street for the blessing and procession of the palms. The remainder of the service will take place inside the
church.
| | Watch the service live at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning or at your leisure at a later time. | | |
Palm Sunday, April 13, Children's Formation
Families should gather with the full congregation for the Liturgy of the Palms at 10 a.m., held in front of the Parish House on Cornwall St., weather permitting. When the congregation processes into the church for the service, children attending Children's Formation should follow Jess Eastridge and the "Hosanna" banner into the Parish Hall. Children will return to the worship service at the Peace.
| | This Sunday at St. James' | | | |
Planned Giving Information Session
Sunday, April 13 | 9 a.m. | Parish Hall
We are pleased to announce the launch of a Planned Giving program at St. James'. Planned Giving provides for a means to include St. James’ in your long-term financial planning and encompasses bequests from your estate as well as gifts, which can take various forms. While you have always had the ability to include the church in your plans, this program aims to make members aware of their options in making gifts to the church that will continue to support the vitality of our ministries for future generations.
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Join us for an information session on Sunday, April 13, at 9 a.m. in the Parish Hall to learn about Planned Giving, why it matters, and what steps you can take now to build your legacy at St. James'.
The program will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.
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Morning Prayer Service
Monday and Friday Mornings During Lent (thru April 14) | 9 AM | The Church
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Holy Week begins this Sunday, April 13th, as we make the journey from Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, to the Upper Room on Maundy Thursday, and to his crucifixion on
Good Friday. Join us on this journey by participating in our Holy Week Services:
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Stations of the Cross Service
Wednesday, April 16 | 11:30 a.m. - led & walked as a group
Maundy Thursday - April 17
7 p.m. - Choral Eucharist & Stripping of the Altar
Good Friday - April 18
12 noon & 7 p.m. -Good Friday Liturgy and Passion Narrative
Holy Saturday - April 19, 2025
8:30 a.m. - Liturgy for Holy Saturday
Easter Sunday - April 20
6:00 a.m. Easter Sunrise Vigil
Watch the sunrise on Easter morning during the beautiful Easter Vigil.
The service begins in the Parish Hall with the lighting of the Paschal fire and then moves into the church.
9 & 11 a.m. Choral Holy Eucharist Rite II
Experience a beautiful Easter worship service with Choir, Brass, Children’s Sermon, and Children’s Chapel. The whole family will enjoy these traditional Easter services.
12:15 p.m. Family Easter Egg Hunt
All children are invited to join us outside for an Easter egg hunt directly following the 11 a.m. service.
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Easter Offering
In order to be responsible stewards of our resources, 2/3rds of the collected offering at our Easter services, if not designated as a pledge or other purpose, will be donated directly to outside local charities. We plan to resume giving 100% of this offering to outside organizations when we reach a balanced budget. The vestry has chosen two non-profits as this year’s recipients:
Loudoun Hunger Relief
Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter
Please take the time to learn more about each of these charities and the important work they do in our community and give generously as you are able.
| | Each year, we celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection by adorning the Nave with white lilies. Click the button below to dedicate a lily in memory of/thanksgiving for a loved one. The suggested donation on the giving form is $75, but you can change that to any amount of your choosing. Submit by noon on Monday, April 14. | | |
Changes to Children's Formation/Chapel for Spring
Easter Sunday, April 20, Children's Chapel
Children's Chapel will be held during both the 9am and 11am services. Children will begin with their families in the pews. After the children's sermon with Fr. Chad, children follow the junior acolyte to Children's Chapel. Children will return to the worship service at the Peace.
Sunday, April 27
Children's Formation and Children's Chapel will be on hiatus. Please join us to witness several baptisms this day and stop by the St. James' table on Cornwall St. for Flower and Garden Festival.
Sunday, May 4
Children's Chapel will return to its traditional format. Children will begin with their families in the pews on Sunday morning and will follow the junior acolyte to Children's Chapel following the children's sermon. Children will return to worship at the Peace.
Make sure you're in-the-know about all Children's Formation news and updates...sign up for the periodic email updates from Rev. Marybeth for Families with Children!
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Arts Camp VBS: Creating with God
Dates: June 23-June 27, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Students will encounter the wonder of God’s Creation as they make music and visual art in classes with professional artists. Mornings will also feature the usual VBS offerings with a daily Bible lesson, games, and snacks.
Camper ages: rising Kindergarten to rising 5th grade
Volunteer helper ages: rising 6th grade and up - no registration fee required
Registration fee this year is on a sliding scale. All of the fee goes to support programming and formation for Children at St. James’.
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Youth Group
All 6th through 12th graders are invited to join regular meetings of St. James' students, led by our fantastic team. If you are interested in getting your student involved, reach out to Rev. Marybeth.
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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
Make sure you're in the loop on all things YOUP!
Download the Band app and join our group below:
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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.
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Adult Forum: Spirituality in Film, Art, and Popular Culture
Sundays, May 4-June 1 | 9 a.m. | Parish Hall
Join us for a 5-week series on finding spirituality in film, art, and modern-day culture. More details to come! Please note that we will not offer Adult Forum on Sundays, April 20 and 27.
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St. James' Preschool
Providing children with a creative learning experience in a Christian atmosphere of love and acceptance since 1972.
Registration is now open for 2025 Summer Camps and for the 2025-2026 school year! Visit the preschool website for all the info.
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Sacred Soil Society Workday
Saturday, April 12 | 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
Help us tend to God's creation and keep our grounds looking beautiful. No experience needed! We'll gather in the church's rear parking lot. Questions? Contact Pamela McGraw.
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Easter Egg Candy Donations
We welcome donations of individually wrapped candy (NO chocolate, please) for the Easter egg hunt following our 11 a.m. Easter Sunday service. Please drop off your donations in the narthex or church office by Sunday, April 13.
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Foyer Groups
Spring/Summer Session: May-September
Foyer groups are small groups of parishioners who meet monthly during a six-month period for simple meals and conversation in each other's homes. There’s no agenda, simply a time to get together to make new friends & reacquaint with old. Please prayerfully consider signing up by emailing Donna Cash or Ready Snodgrass. Please reply by April 14.
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Spring 2025 Women's Ministry Retreat
Fri. May 23-Sun. May 25, 2025 | Claggett Center
Deadline to Register: May 1
All women of St. James' are invited to our annual Women's Ministry Retreat in Adamstown, MD (about an hour from Leesburg). We have 3 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.
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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/
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Farewell Reception for our Seminarian, Josh House
Sunday, April 27 | After 8 & 10 a.m. Worship | Janney Parlor
Although we may see him occasionally in the future, Josh’s last official Sunday at St. James’ is Sunday, April 27. Please join us after each service in the Janney Parlor, as we thank Josh for his service to St. James’ and wish him well in his future ministry.
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St. James' Cemetery Project off to a Great Start
Our Historic Cemetery Committee has been working to create awareness and secure funding to preserve the St. James' Cemetery in downtown Leesburg. We're pleased to report that we have secured a $25,000 grant from the Town of Leesburg as well as a $5,000 grant from the Diocese of Virginia to begin this work. Together, these grants represent 60% of the proposed budget for the project. Join us on this healing journey. Contact: Kathleen Hughes.
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(Asterisk * denotes those in the St. James’ community)
Those Requesting Prayers This Week: Roger, Shannon Burns, *Larry Potts, *Dj Gunning, *Di Cook, Pamela Scott, *Bill Rice, and *Harold Neely.
Those on Our Long-Term Prayer List: Isaiah Rice, *Kevin Smith, Erik deVriendt, The Householder family, Katie B. Sullivan, *Steve Page, Neil Gwinn, Charlotte Giblin, *Rachelle Graves, *Charlotte Woods, Virginia Cogger, *Michael Fabian, Stephanie Kreuger, Dwayne Traylor, *Michael Dowling, Darrell Ackmann, 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: *John Powers, Tom Lynch and *Steven Cooksey.
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.
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
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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.
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