Our Annual Meeting will take place this Sunday, February 1, at 9 a.m. This is an important occasion in the life of our parish family, so please make every effort to join us as we celebrate all we've accomplished in 2025 and hear about the exciting things to come in the year ahead.

If you cannot attend the meeting in person, we hope you will join via livestream on Facebook or YouTube. We value the voice of each parishioner and encourage you to participate however you are able.

The nursery will be open and Jess Eastridge will offer activities for kids during the meeting.

Vestry Elections

We will officially elect these candidates to the Vestry for the next three years at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 1.

Mike Carren
Stephanie Meeks
Katherine Stethem
Sandy Wilson

2025 Annual Meeting Minutes

Please review prior to this Sunday's meeting as we will vote to approve the minutes during that time.

View the 2025 Annual Meeting Minutes

The 2025 Annual Report will be available on Sunday morning.

Shrove Tuesday Offerings

Family Mardi Gras Party

February 17 | 10:00 a.m.

Come help us celebrate the last hoorah before Lent begins. We'll crown Mardi Gras kings and queens, play games, prepare our Alleluias to be buried, and have a parade around the church. Donuts, orange juice, and coffee!

Shrove Tuesday Beignets

February 17 | 6:00-7:00 p.m. | Parish Hall

Stop by the Parish Hall on Mardi Gras to enjoy beignets fried fresh by St. James’ Youth along with Mardi Gras music and a toppings bar. All donations will go towards St. James’ Youth Ministry. Beignets are also available “to-go;” we’ll even will deliver them to your car!

Lent Begins February 18

Ash Wednesday Services & Offerings

Labyrinth Walk
Drop in from 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. or 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Ash Wednesday Rite of Reconciliation
Individual timeslots available soon
Ash Wednesday Worship
Noon & 7:00 p.m.

Other Lenten Offerings:

Lenten Small Groups (see below for info on how to join a group)
Men's Breakfast Speaker Series
Lenten Adult Forum Series
Guest Preacher: The Rev. Ricardo Sheppard (February 22)
Holy Week (March 29-April 4)

Stay tuned for more details!

Christian Formation

Join a Lenten Small Group Today!

This Lent, you are warmly invited to be part of a small group using the 2026 Lenten Meditations from Episcopal Relief & Development. These thoughtful reflections, written by Sister Monica Clare—an Episcopal nun and author—invite us to rediscover or deepen holy habits of prayer, worship, and engagement with Scripture.

In a supportive small-group setting, we’ll share conversation, reflection, and fellowship as we seek lives more deeply rooted in God. Groups will be offered at various times throughout the week to accommodate different schedules and will meet for five sessions during Lent.

Small groups are forming now! Click here complete the interest survey.

Whether this is your first small group or you’ve participated before, we hope you’ll consider joining us for this meaningful Lenten journey.

Questions? Please contact Sarah Bauer at or call/text (703) 896-0174.

Children's Formation

Children PreK-4 through 5^th grade are invited to join us at 9:45 each Sunday on the 2^nd floor of Janney house for formation filled with Bible lessons, games, and prayer.

Nursery

Children are always welcome in worship! If needed, Nursery care is available beginning at 9:30. The Nursery is located through the front left doors of the sanctuary. Go through the Parish Hall and up the stairs – the Nursery is around the corner from the kitchen.

Youth Sunday School

6th through 12th grade

9 a.m. Sunday School and snacks in the Youth Room

"Who or What Do We Serve?"

This class provides a unique lens on the nature of sin, suffering, and our human vulnerability.

Questions? Email Jon Coate

St. James' Preschool

Now Enrolling for 2026-2027!

Registration for 2026-2027 is open for all families! Please visit our website for more information. Parents of new students should fill out a contact form to sign up for a tour and to receive an application through our education management app, Brightwheel! We are excited for our 54^th year of Ministry!

Visit the Preschool Website

Opportunities to Serve

The Honduran Mission Trip has a new page on our website!

Click below to learn more about next month's trip and learn how you can contribute.

Last Minute Opening to Travel to Honduras!

We've had a spot open up to participate in this year's mission trip. Please contact Henry Stribling (571-238-5992) if you're interested.

Parish Life

Newcomers Class

Sunday, February 15 | 11:30 a.m. | Janney Parlor

Join Fr. Chad to hear more about the history, values, and mission of St. James, and discover what it means to be a member of the Episcopal Church. You will also learn more about our active ministries and ways to get involved. Child care available by request with advance registration. Register here.

Baptism Sunday

February 15 | 10:00 a.m. Worship

If you're interested in being baptized or having a child baptized, please email info@stjameseleesburg.org or call 703-777-1124.

Helping Our Neighbors

Last month, we joined with generous partners from Leesburg Presbyterian Church and the wider community to provide Christmas gifts to 75 children from 39 families in the Leesburg Mobile Home Park, where residents are facing displacement due to new development. Volunteers wrapped gifts with care, and families picked them up on our campus in donated Trader Joe’s bags. We are deeply grateful to everyone who gave, wrapped, and showed up—this collective generosity offered comfort, dignity, and hope during a season of great uncertainty. Click here to view more photos.

Don't Fall for Scams!

Reminder: St. James' staff will never reach out to you via text or email asking for gift cards. If you receive a message like this, it is a scam. These messages should be ignored. If you are unsure about a suspicious message or have questions about scams, you are welcome to reach out to communications@stjamesleesburg.org.

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

Those requesting our prayers this week: *Art Blakeslee, Elliot Giammetta & family, *Bethea Dowling, *Christopher Osborne, Kalpana Ronlov & Family, *Sandy Garlick, Mark Mangilit, and *DuBose Fleming,

Those on our long-Term Prayer List: Steve Trull, The Spealman family, Tracy McGuire, Jane, Kate Pinson, Jan, Bill, *Fred Lang, Brianne Fabian, Ann T., Teri Fortier, *Rene, Mary Galloway, Bob Longo, *Mark Mobley, *Meagan Carren, *Lois Krumwiede, *Michael Fabian, *Denise, *Christine, *McKenna Hagler, *Michael Dowling, Nancy Giffin, Pamela Scott, Richard Ford, Dacia Rolando, *Rebecca Page, Sue Roberts, Bill F., *Alice Forlini, *Darrell Ackmann, Judy Popple, *The Carren Family, Nathan Rodney, *Harold Neely, Isaiah Rice, *Rachelle Graves, Tony Beltrano, Mary Ellen Hurley, *Fran Smith, Nicholas Rodney, Ed, and Virginia Laughlin.

Those who have died: Lew Morrow, *Eeda Dennis, Beverly Elero, and Carol Ann Sauer.

Those Who Need Our Prayers: All those affected by the fires and floods 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 those suffering from the war in Sudan; 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 5:00 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