The disciples experienced a violent wind and tongues of fire came from heaven and rested on each of the disciples. Acts 2: 1-8 |
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This Sunday is Pentecost
...considered by some to be the beginning of the Christian Church. As the full passage above tells us, the disciples (and others) were filled with the Holy Spirit and were able to speak in any language, giving them the ability to spread The Word to anyone. By the end of the day, the church had grown by more than 3,000 – and it burst forth from there. Today, Pentecost reminds us of how the Holy Spirit has empowered the life and work of every Christian in every generation since.
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As our rector, John McCard, once said: “The Holy Spirit wasn’t given so individuals could have a form of spirituality just for them. The Spirit wasn’t given to an elite group so that they could practice a religion close to their political opinions. The Holy Spirit was given to the church to enable it to be the church. In its power, the church is enabled to be together and to learn how to put things together.” |
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Here is the Episcopal Church’s Prayer for Pentecost
God of all power and love, we give thanks to you for your unfailing presence and the hope you provide in times of uncertainty and loss. Send your Holy Spirit to rekindle in us your holy fire. Revive us to live as Christ’s body in the world, a people who pray, worship, learn, break bread, share life, heal neighbors, bear good news, seek justice, rest, grow in the spirits. Where and however we gather, unite us in common prayer and send us in common mission that we, and the whole creation, might be restored and renewed through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Here’s a video about Pentecost featuring the former Archbishop of Canterbury.
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Monday, May 24 th
Community Yoga, Beginner: 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Mindfulness Training Class: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Tuesday, May 25th
Women’s Bible Wisdom Bible Study: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Wednesday, May 26th
Living Faith Bible Study: 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Lectionary Ladies: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Communion in The Garden: 5:30 pm
A short communion service in the Memorial Garden – you will receive communion – bread only
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This week's eChimes features |
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- Summer Worship Schedule
- Together Again at Shrine Mont
- Youth Summer Missions
- Youth Running Club
- Help us say "Hello"
- Communion in the garden
- Stephen Ministry is here to help
- Mindfulness Training Class
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- Education for Ministry - EfM
- Help Us Research Our History
- Creation Care Task Force
- St. James's App is back
- Amazon Smile
- Subscribe to YouTube
- In Our Prayers This Week
- Remembering the Departed
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Be on the lookout for some very exciting news
about Summer worship and beyond.
Our Summer Worship Schedule kicks off June 6th.
9:00 am -- Church in the Garden.
10:00 am -- Full service in the Church.
Masks and hand sanitizer will be provided to anyone who wants one. And with 80% of the people who have been attending our in-person services already vaccinated, we encourage all of you who haven’t received the vaccine to strongly consider doing so.
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“Together Again in the Mountains.”
We’re thrilled to announce that the Fall Parish Retreat--called “Together Again in the Mountains”--will be October 22-24 at Shrine Mont. But here’s the date you really need to remember: Registration starts June 1.
So check your calendar, then prepare to be part of this amazing St. James’s tradition, which will definitely be more like retreats of old again. There will be lots of activities (“Pickleball, anyone?), time to slow down, and plenty of chances to reconnect with family, friends, and our Lord.
The cost for two nights of lodging and six meals is $285 families (or two adults) and $185 for singles. After all we’ve been through, this promises to be a retreat with way more treats than usual.
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Last chance to sign up for our Youth Summer Missions.
Our Youth Summer Missions programs still have a few openings. Here are the dates.
The Mini Mission: Gleaning the fields with Harvest of Hope, July 16-18.
The Appalachian Youth Mission: with Hurley Community Development, July 18 -24. Our days will be filled with physical labor and life-changing work projects, and our evenings will be filled with relaxation, fellowship, worship, education and the strengthening (or beginning) of lifelong friendships.
You can' t make a difference until you make a reservation. Click here to see all the details. Register here.
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This Sunday is the final
Youth Running Club.
Our Youth Ministry Running Club has drawn St. James’s members of all ages to Byrd Park every Sunday morning this Spring. Today’s meet-up will be the last time we’ll be gathering to walk, jog or run together. It starts at 10:30. Directions and COVID info below.
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Park in the Dogwood Dell parking lot, next to Barker Field parking. This is where you'll check-in too.
A few safety rules: Masks on once you get out of your car. But you can remove your mask while running socially distanced.
No cost and no registration needed. See you there!
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Calling all friendly cookie bakers!
Help us say “Hello!” every Sunday with homemade cookies.
Every Sunday throughout the summer we’ll be setting up a welcome/hello table outside the church where people can touch base and have questions answered about upcoming events, like the Fall Parish Retreat. If you’d like to volunteer for this welcoming ministry (including baking cookies!) sign up here.
No limit. Volunteer as much as you’d like.
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Communion in the Garden
For those of you who miss receiving communion or are away on the weekends, now there’s Communion in the Garden—every Wednesday at 5:30 pm—that’s 5:30—in our lovely Memorial Garden. The short service uses Holy Eucharist Rite 2. Hope to see you there.
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We live in challenging times.
Stephen Ministry is here to help.
This has been a tough year, and having someone to listen helps. While we were busy social-distancing, hunkering down and feeling anxious, nine members of St. James’s were trained to provide fellow parishioners with caring, encouraging, Christian support.
If you or someone you know is currently experiencing the stress of the pandemic, grieving, chronically ill, unemployed, or needs support, Stephen Ministry can help.
Find out how to receive free confidential, Christian care by contacting our clergy or our Stephen Ministry Care Receiver Coordinator, Jane Dowrick,
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Come discover the joys of Mindfulness.
This coming Monday, May 24, at 4 p.m. our regular yoga practice will be replaced by a Mindfulness Training class led by Fraser Davis, a fellow St. James’s member and a certified mindfulness meditation teacher. Read Fraser's bio here.
Mindfulness is an ancient practice that modern science has proven leads to more calm, clarity, resilience and improved communications skills. Mark your calendar and feel free to invite friends who are interested.
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ARE YOU SENSING A CALL . . . to learn more about our Christian tradition, to deepen your faith or to discover a meaningful ministry that could transform your life—and the life of others? Education for Ministry—EfM—just may be the answer.
We’re currently enrolling new participants for 2021/22 for this powerful and enriching program. To learn more about EfM, go here.
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You can help us uncover
St. James's rich history.
Do you have research or writing skills? Are you interested in the racial history of St. James’s and wondering how you can help? Our Racial Justice and Reconciliation Formation Team (RJR) is beginning Part II: Reconstruction & Post-Reconstruction (1865-1900) of our parish history project and would love you to join our ministry.
The work will include combing through records and documents in print and online from your home and/or at libraries and museums. We’ve already uncovered fascinating and revealing information about our history—and we look forward to learning even more with your help.
High schoolers and adult parishioners are welcome.
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God’s creation needs your help.
The Diocese of Virginia's Creation Care Task Force is committed to being a sustainable and inclusive network of Episcopalians committed to faithfully uplifting, stewarding and protecting God's Creation. And every member of our Diocese--from teens to our most senior members--are invited to apply to serve--including you. It is the conviction of the Diocese that this group should represent a depth of diversity in Creation Care experience as well as experiential diversity.
The Task Force will be made up of 15-20 people. Terms will be staggered. Everyone who serves will be appointed by the Bishop.
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The St. James’s App
is back!
Want an easy way to watch the Sunday service on your phone? There’s an App for that. Want to read the eChimes, view the calendar or watch past sermons on your tablet? There’s an App for those things too. The St. James’s App has been updated and it’s ready to make your life easier. You can see the bulletins for the services, refer to the book of common prayer, even make a pledge. Click on your preferred button to download our app.
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Support St. James’s without it costing you a penny.
There’s an easy way to support St. James’s while you’re doing something else. Whenever you shop on Amazon, go to smile.amazon.com, instead. Once you’re there, designate St. James’s as the program you’re supporting, then a percentage of every purchase you make on Amazon will go the church. Easy-peezy.
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Why Subscribe?
What you'll get:
Easy access to video recordings of recent sermons, services, musical performances, bible studies and more.
What St. James's gets:
Free access to enhanced video capabilities that includes live streaming and more.
Subscribing is easy.
Go to the St. James’s Episcopal Church Richmond page on YouTube.com - find the red "subscribe button" and instantly be one of the 99 who gets us to the finish line.
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Click here to see the names of those we're remembering in our prayers this week.
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We commend Ashleigh Blumer Kohlitz
(passed away 5/13/2021) to God's love.
If you would like information on how to reach out to the loved ones of the deceased, please do not hesitate to contact the church offices.
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St. James’s Episcopal Church | DOERS.ORG | (804) 355-1779
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