This Sunday at 5pm is our beautiful and moving Advent Lessons & Carols service.
This service, created back in the 1880s, chronicles the story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus through readings and hymns. It’s one of two services of Lessons & Carols we’ll be offering during Advent & Christmas. Both are meaningful ways to immerse yourself in the season and we encourage you to attend.
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The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation
We're now offering wine at our Communion service. We strongly request that you drink from the chalice and not dip (or intinct) the body. All scientific evidence makes it clear that drinking from the cup is safer than dipping the wafer.
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Monday, December 6th
Community Yoga on Zoom:
Yoga for Mobility & Stability: 2:30 pm (suitable for beginners)
Vinyasa Yoga: 4 pm
Tuesday, December 7th
Tuesday Men’s Bible Study on Zoom: 7:30 am
Education for Ministry (EfM) on Zoom: 6 pm
Wednesday, December 8th
Living Faith Bible Study: 10 am
Wednesday Night Worship, Study & Fellowship on Zoom: 5:30 pm - 8 pm
Meeting ID number: 838 0728 2761
The Great Preachers: Advent Series
Topic: The Rev. Dr. John R. Claypool's sermons -
Facilitator: John McCard
Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm,
Study at 6 pm, Fellowship at 7 pm
Come for all or part of our evening together
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This week's eChimes features |
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- The McCard's Open House
- Be in our amazing Christmas pageant
- Invite someone to St. James's
- Hurry, order your Christmas poinsettias
- Advent & Christmas schedule
- Help us fill the Giving Tree
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- The Service of Hope
- Wednesday evening - The Great Preacher: Advent Series
- Become a small group leader
- Discover something new this Advent
- Prayers of the People
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John & Cynthia’s OPEN HOUSE is next weekend. Please RSVP by Tuesday.
John & Cynthia love decorating for Christmas and hosting an Open House. It's a warm and wonderful tradition here at St. James's. This year, it’s happening on Sunday, December 12, from 5 to 8 pm in their home at 1104 West Ave.
To help the caterers plan for everyone, we’re asking folks to RSVP by Tues., Dec. 7th here. (scroll down the list until you see a Sign-Up box, check this and then click on the green Sign-Up and Submit button). If you are having a problem with SignUp Genius, just send an email to communications@doers.org.
By the way.... the photos are from their house.
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Being in our amazing Children’s Pageant is an experience you’ll always remember.
The St. James’s Christmas Pageant–for many parishioners the highlight of the Christmas season– is Sunday, December 19, at 5:00 p.m. There are still openings for children 3 years old through 5th grade. Costumes are provided and masks will be required for all participants.
Youth in grades 6-12 are also invited to participate in speaking roles, cameo appearances, or as part of the stage/tech crew. If you’re interested, please contact Mary Beth Abplanalp at mbabplanalp@doers.org
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Think back to how you discovered
St. James’s.
For many of you there’s a really good chance that a friend or acquaintance first introduced you to our church.
With your help, that could be someone else’s story as they look back on how they came to know this special place.
As we move through Advent toward Christmas, it’s the perfect time to invite friends or family to worship with us, get to know us, and add an extra layer of meaning to the season.
After all, our Church will be more beautiful than usual, ringing with familiar music, and filled with smiling faces. What better time could there be to bring someone to a service?
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The Flower Guild welcomes memorial gifts for poinsettias during the Christmas season. They will be delivered to home-bound parishioners after Christmas.
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Here’s our Advent & Christmas schedule…
.... all neatly wrapped and tied up with
a bow. Click the image to know everything that’s happening.
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Help us fill the Peter Paul Giving Tree
Following our annual Christmas tradition, St. James’sers are invited to give to the Peter Paul Giving Tree. Because of COVID, Peter Paul is again asking for gift cards rather than gifts, which empowers families to select Christmas presents of their own choosing.
There will be a table setup in the Narthex this Sunday and next, where you can donate either in cash, by check, or online. Once you make the donation, you will have the opportunity to write your name (or someone else’s name whom you’re giving in honor of) on an ornament and put it on the Giving Tree.
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In order to pay by check, please make the check out to St. James’s, and put “Giving Tree” in the memo line.
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If giving online, also make sure to put “Giving Tree” in the memo. If you wish to give online, you may also do so at any time at this link.
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The Service of Hope.
Because grief knows no season.
While Advent and Christmas are times of joy, they can be a challenging time too, especially if you’re dealing with the loss of a loved one or loneliness or grief of any sort. Solemn, candle-lit, prayerful, and moving, Our Service of Hope is a time to slow down, feel supported and loved, and reconnect with our God and others feeling grief.
Part of this service includes the reading of the names of those being remembered, whether they have passed away or need to be remembered for another reason.
If you have a name or names you wish to submit, please send them to Mary Brown (mbrown@doers.org) by December 9th.
Our Service of Hope will be Monday, December 13th at 7 pm in the Sanctuary. It will not be live-streamed.
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WEDNESDAY Evening:
The Great Preachers: Advent Series
A truly great sermon can not only enrapture you in the moment, but its message can change the way you see yourself, the world, and our God forever. In our Advent Great Preachers series -- you’ll hear transcendent sermons, each chosen by one of our clergy.
This coming Wednesday, December 8, we’ll focus on the sermons of The Reverend Dr. John R. Claypool. Rev. Claypool was noted for both his preaching and writing, especially on the topics of grief and hope. His popular book on grief, Tracks of Fellow Struggler, chronicles his own journey with grief following the death of his daughter. The class will be watching and discussing two sermons available on You Tube, “The worst things are never the last things,” and “Ambiguity and Gratitude.” John McCard will be leading the discussion.
Here’s where to register for our Wednesday Zoom Gatherings, if you haven't already.
Wednesday Night.... Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm / Study at 6 pm / Fellowship at 7 pm
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We’re looking for Small Group leaders.
Our Sunday Small Groups have been a popular and meaningful Adult Learning program this fall. Participants have found the topics and the small group setting to be engaging and compelling. As we look ahead to the winter and spring, we’re looking for folks to host or lead a Small group.
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Discover something new this Advent.
The Stations of the Nativity.
All (or most) of us are familiar with the Stations of the Cross. Well, there’s also the Stations of the Nativity. Modeled after the traditional Stations of the Cross walked on Good Friday, the Stations of the Nativity are designed to guide our footsteps through the scenes of the Incarnation, and the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Between services on The Third Sunday of Advent (December 12), the display of the stations will begin in the Parkinson Room then wind their way around our campus and grounds.
It’s a meditative and beautiful way to soak in the mystery of the season. Please find some time between the services to take this meaningful walk.
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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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