A Sunday full of inspiration and insights.
This Sunday should be a very special day at St. James’s. For starters, it’s Youth Sunday, which means our youth will take over the 9:00 and 11:15 services, including preaching, ushering, reading the prayers, and on and on. It’s usually one of the most inspiring Sundays of the year as we watch our teenagers display their growth as Christians, as future leaders, and as young adults.
Between the services, St. James’s will welcome the Rev. Dr. J. Lee Hill, Jr., who will lead an Adult Forum called "Dream a World: Christian Imagination and the Quest for Beloved Community." He is the first ever Missioner for Racial Reconciliation and Healing in the Virginia diocese, a vitally important position created to help church leaders in the work of healing across racial and other divides. He knows that his work inspires strong feelings and he’s coming here to open up a meaningful dialogue. (Read more below.)
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Starting this Sunday we're
Mask Optional.
Beginning this Sunday, February 27, we will return to a mask optional policy for our worship services. This will apply to our 9 am, 11:15 am and 5 pm services.
While masks will be optional in the sanctuary, the children’s ministry and youth ministry will continue to require masks for all children, youth, and volunteers.
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Monday, February 28th
Community Yoga on Zoom:
Yoga for Mobility & Stability: 2:30 pm (suitable for beginners)
Vinyasa Yoga: 4 pm
Tuesday, March 1st
Tuesday Men’s Bible Study: 7:30 am
Valentine Hall
Education for Ministry (EfM) on Zoom: 6 pm
ASH Wednesday, March 2nd
Living Faith Bible Study: 10 am
ASH Wednesday Services & Ashes-To-Go
8 am to 10:30 am – Ashes-to-Go & Coffee outside the sanctuary
Noon – Ash Wednesday Service (live streamed)
7 pm – Ash Wednesday Service (nursery)
Thursday, March 3rd
Brown Bag Book Group: 12 noon
Valentine Hall
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This week's eChimes features |
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- Meet the Rev. Dr. J. Lee Hill
- Corey's Gospel Hour tonight
- Fox School Book Drive
- Corey's Gospel Hour
- 40 Days to the Cross - Lenten Calendar
- Holy Week at St. James's
- Adult Learning in Lent
- ASHE Wednesday & Ashes-To-Go
- Double your donation
- Outreach Project to help
St. James's Children Center
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- See Adult Confirmation in a different way
- Hilary's Last Day Celebration
- Don't miss St. James's Youth Ministry Summer Plans
- Are you interested in "Freedom Road" Pilgrimage
- Temporary part-time position at Parish House
- Becoming Beloved Community research assistant position
- Prayers of the People
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Meet the first-ever diocesan Missioner for Racial Justice and Healing this Sunday
St. James’s is honored to welcome The Rev. Dr. J. Lee Hill, Jr. to lead our February 27th Adult Forum (that’s this Sunday). He’s coming to St. James’s to get to know us better and, of course, to allow us to get to know him–and his mission–better too. Among many other topics, he’ll discuss the recent resolutions at the Annual Convention for reparations, and furthering our support for ministries like the Peter Paul Center and ReWork in our local community.
A native Virginian, Lee holds degrees from George Mason, Wake Forest, Emory University, and post-graduate certificates from Princeton Theological Seminary, the Morehouse School of Pastoral Leadership, and the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. He is an ordained minister with standing in the Alliance of Baptists and the United Church of Christ, and has served congregations in California, New York, and North Carolina. You might already know him as one of the readers at our recent Martin Luther King Day reading.
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Corey’s Gospel Hour is back.
Tonight, February 25th, at 7pm
Maybe you’ve seen his one-of-a-kind act at Main Line Brewery or Cary Street Cafe. Or maybe you’ve read about him in RVA Mag or Style Weekly. Or maybe you have no idea who Corey Axt is. It doesn’t matter, you’re gonna love Corey’s Gospel Hour, tonight at 7 pm in Valentine Hall.
We’re lowering the lights but turning up the intensity, whether it’s old gospel hymns, a quiet poetry reading, or original songs performed by Corey himself, it promises to be an unforgettable evening.
This is the third time Corey is bringing his gospel hour to St. James’s, joined by The West Gallery Choir and Guitar Ensemble. You don’t want to miss it.
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DOERS and the Richmond Community
helping Fox School
There’s an active and organized effort to help Fox School begin to recover from the fire that consumed the building a few weeks back. St. James is providing the storage and sorting space for Fox books and supplies.
If you want to help Fox and you treasure books, there are multiple ways you can donate.
Our own Katie Ricard, interim Director of Youth Ministry, is the head of the Fox PTA and has been at the center of the response to the fire. She was interviewed by CBS 6 reporter Tyler Layne. Watch the news story here.
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We’ve created special Adult Learning classes just for Lent.
On Sundays, the clergy will be teaching a series called The Story of Everything that’s open to everyone. Folks on the confirmation path are required to take The Story of Everything plus Pilgrim’s Path House Church Confirmation classes on Wednesdays.
There’s also a fascinating series called Why We Need Dante.
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Ash Wednesday is just a few days away, the beginning of the reflective and profound Season of Lent. There are two ways to participate in this powerful service.
We will be holding Ash Wednesday Services in the sanctuary.
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Noon (livestreamed)
- 7 pm (nursery)
We’re also offering Ashes-To-Go
- From 8 am – 10:30 am you can receive the imposition of ashes right on the steps of the church.
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One gift that does twice the good.
By doing little more than reaching out to your employer, you can increase your gift to St. James’s by two or even three times. All you have to do is find out if your company has a Matching Gift program, then take a few minutes to sign up.
Start by asking your HR or Community Relations Department if your employer offers a Matching Gift program. If it does, it typically takes about five minutes for you to sign yourself up.
If you want to talk to someone at St. James’s about a gift or pledge you wish to match, please contact Ryan Corrigan, Director of Development, at 804-928-1601.
To see if your employer matches charitable gifts and make your gift or pledge go further,
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The Family Outreach Project is helping St. James's Children's Center
Organized by our Children’s and Youth ministries
The Family Outreach Project is a chance for you and your family and all St. James'sers to do valuable work for one of St. James’s partners.
This year's outreach will be Sunday, March 6 from 10:15 to 11 am, and our focus will be our beloved St. James's Children's Center and supporting their facilities and staff.
We have lots of work to do, so the more people who sign up, the more great things we can get done.
- Building a Little Free Library by the playground
- Creating treat bags and posters for teachers of the Children’s Center to show some love
- Cleaning up the Children’s Center outdoors space behind Michaux House
- Sorting books for the Children’s Center
For questions, please contact:
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See Adult Confirmation
in a New Way.
Adult confirmation is a simple thing–it’s your chance to confirm your Baptismal covenant. But it’s really so much more than that.
It’s an amazing opportunity to learn more about The Episcopal Church, about St. James’s, and, most importantly, about your own relationship with God. It’s also a chance to connect with people going through the same journey as you–people with the same questions and the same spiritual aspirations. This year during Lent, we’re offering a very special Adult Confirmation, unlike anything we’ve done in the past.
All people seeking confirmation, adult baptism, reception into the Episcopal Church or reaffirmation of your baptismal vows will attend:
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The Story of Everything on Sunday mornings and House Churches on Wednesday evenings for prayer, study, reflection, and fellowship.
This format allows you to learn so much about what we believe as Episcopalians and to explore in a small group setting your own beliefs. It promises to be fascinating and revealing.
For the full schedule and registration, please click here.
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Hilary's last Sunday is March 13.
The Reverend Hilary Streever’s last Sunday at St. James’s Episcopal Church will be on March 13. The party celebrating Hilary and her family will be held between the 9 am and 11:15 am services.
We are also collecting funds for a gift for Hilary as she departs from St. James’s. Please send checks or online payments marked “Hilary Gift” to the church office by Friday, March 4th.
Mark your calendars and plan to be at St James’s on this special Sunday as we celebrate the gifts that Hilary’s ministry have brought to our community and to wish the Streever family well on their next adventure.
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St. James’s Youth Ministry has
big plans this summer.
Whether you’re in 5th grade or college, St. James’s has amazing opportunities for you this Summer.
Click here to see the big plans we have for you, including missions and pilgrimages near and far (including Florida), volunteer opportunities, and camps. You can also find registration and payment information.
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Or watch this video to hear what Katie Ricard, our Director of Youth Ministry, has to say about the terrific plans for this summer.
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Are you interested in a
“Freedom Road” pilgrimage?
The Becoming Beloved Community (BBC) team is planning several one-day pilgrimages for this Spring and Fall in the Richmond area. And we are starting to plan for a weeklong pilgrimage in 2023 to sites on the “Freedom Road,” including Atlanta, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Memphis.
We hope to partner with another church for this amazing faith journey. But first we’d like to get an idea of how many St. James'sers might be interested. If you think you might be, please contact Melinda Davis, chair of the BBC Steering Committee, at [email protected].
And keep watching the eChimes for specifics about upcoming mini-pilgrimages.
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We’re looking to fill this seat at the Parish House
St. James’s is looking for a temporary paid part-time Administrative Assistant, with an opportunity to become a permanent employee.
You’ll never be bored with these responsibilities:
- Greet visitors on the phone and in person
- Assist with print and copy jobs
- Help with creating and drafting MicroSoft Office documents
- Proofreading
We can also confidently say you’ll be working with a great bunch of people who love their jobs and are great to work with. If you’re interested–or know someone who’s interested–contact Michael Smith at [email protected]
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Becoming Beloved Community has a paid position for a research assistant.
The St. James’s BBC History Team is looking for volunteers and a paid part-time research assistant to help with research at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. We are working on Part III – 1900 to 1960: Jim Crow and Massive Resistance.
If you’re interested in volunteering or would like more information, please contact Alice Tousignant at [email protected].
If you know someone who might be interested in a paid part-time research assistant position, you can review the job description here.
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Click here to see the names of those we're remembering in our prayers this week.
We do our best to keep this list current, but if you want your name added or removed, please contact Mary Brown or call her at 804-355-1779, ext. 313.
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St. James’s Episcopal Church | DOERS.ORG | (804) 355-1779
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