Dear Friends, 

Our special Saturday night mass with American brass music is a unique collaboration with Gene Clarke, Kate Umble-Smucker, Saint James and the Lancaster Conservancy. The festive music and reflections enable us to thank God for the land, the people and the beauty of our country and Susquehanna region.

As we continue our work as a congregation to repair and renew our country and environment, we will give the offering to support the watershed care and education work of the Lancaster Conservancy.

The second of three brilliant podcasts on Saint James and the Revolution is out now, thanks to the research of our parish historian, Dr. Cordelia Moyse. This episode focuses on the life and ministry of the Rev Thomas Barton, the loyalist rector of Saint James in 1776. It explores with great sensitivity why many in the colonies opposed, with good reason, calls for independence that would sever the religious, social, political and economic ties to Great Britain. The podcast gives voice to the deep principles, prayers, sacrificial spirit and bravery that informed the loyalist position and so painfully split families, friends and churches apart in what they believed was an unfaithful and illegitimate civil war of rebellion.

As we reflect on the state of human rights around the world and our own democracy today, may we all find pathways of repair and renewal to walk in as contemplative citizens. I will lead the prayers and public reading of the Declaration of Independence in the churchyard on Saturday, July 4th, at 10 AM and on Sunday, July 5th, the Forum at 9:30 AM will be led by Dr. Moyse on Frederick Douglass, followed at 2 PM by the public reading at Bethal AME of his great oration, “What is the Fourth of July to a Slave?”

Yours in Christ,

David+

Walking the Camino Portuguese

Coastal Route in 2027

Information Meeting Tonight,

June 25th at 7:00 PM

Step away from the ordinary and into a sacred journey. Join Mother Stacey+ and Dr. Randall Zachman for a 12-day pilgrimage along the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route, May 17-28, 2027. Together, we will walk just over 100 km (64 miles), following the ancient path of pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela.

This pilgrimage is an invitation—to slow down, to listen, and to draw nearer to God. Grounded in our theme, “Draw Near to God” (James 4:8), each step becomes part of a deeper spiritual journey. As Christian George writes, pilgrimage is “a physical, emotional, and spiritual journey that goes inward, upward, and outward.” Along the way, we will share in prayer, reflection, and community, discovering not only new landscapes but also new depths within ourselves and our faith.

Whether you are seeking renewal, clarity, or simply the grace of walking with others on a sacred path, this journey offers space for transformation.

Tonight's information session is on Zoom at 7:00 PM

Click here to join tonight's Zoom session.

Please click here to contact Mother Stacey+ with any questions or to express your interest.

Available in person and via livestream.

Click here to view the livestream.

Sunday, June 28 | 9:30 AM

Forum Hour with Randall Zachman

In our concluding discussion of the spirit of religious and civic freedom in the Revolutionary Era, we look at the understanding of the relationship of religion and morality to civic freedom in the first four Presidents of the United States.

According to George Washington, "Of all the dispositions and habits that lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports." John Adams echoes this insight when he claims, "Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

Join us this Sunday as we examine the ways our first presidents appealed to religion, especially in their various Fast and Thanksgiving Proclamations, and how these appeals might be understood in light of the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

Available in person and via Zoom.

Click here for the Zoom link.

Sunday, June 28, 9:00 AM

Saint James Voices

Calling all Singers for June 28th!



Led by Kate Umble Smucker, the ensemble is open to anyone ages nine and above, with no experience required. The group will rehearse at 9:00 AM and then sing at the 10:30 AM service. If you'd like your music in advance, click here to email Kate.

Celebrating America's 250th Anniversary

~ Upcoming Events ~

New Podcast Now Live

Faith, Loyalty and Revolution

The first and second of a three-part Contemplative Citizenship series is now available on Podbean, Amazon and Spotify. If you'd like to hear it from our website, click here!

In this series, we explore with intellectual rigor and a contemplative spirit how our history as American citizens and as a faith community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has shaped us and others. In 1776, Lancaster was a thriving frontier town, and Saint James was at the heart of it. When revolution came, it tore the congregation apart. One member signed the Declaration of Independence. While many others enthusiastically embraced the patriot cause, the rector remained true to the King. And for a time, the church doors were nailed shut.

Parish historian Dr. Cordelia Moyse takes us back to meet the community that lived through it and asks what their choices might say about ours today.

Saturday, July 4 | 10:00 AM

Reading of the

Declaration of Independence

In the Churchyard

Join us for brief morning prayers, a reading of the Declaration of Independence and a singing of our National Anthem.

Sunday, July 5 | 9:30 AM

Forum Hour with Dr. Cordelia Moyse

Frederick Douglass and “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”

On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass (c. 1818–1895), who had escaped slavery and became the most important leader of the movement for African-American civil rights in the 19th century, delivered a scorching critique of American hypocrisy. In What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?, he masterfully contrasts the nation's soaring rhetoric of liberty with the brutal realities of slavery, arguing that the holiday is a painful mockery to enslaved Black Americans.

Dr Cordelia Moyse will discuss this document, and Douglass’ life, in preparation for its public reading at 2:00 PM at Bethel AME Church, Strawberry Street, Lancaster. 

Sunday, July 5 | 2:00 PM

Reading Frederick Douglass Together at Bethel AME 450 E Strawberry Street 

Sunday, July 12 | 11:45 AM -1:30 PM

Revolutionary Texts Lecture Series No. 2 

In the Parish House Forum Room

With a Catered Brunch

Join parishioner and vestry member Dr. Drew Hermeling to explore the Two Row Wampum Treaty of 1613 between the Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee (or Iroquois) and the colonial Dutch government, which is spiritually and culturally important to indigenous social history and American socio-political understanding.

Registration is required for catering, with a suggested $25 donation for adults. Click here for more information and registration.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MONDAY, JULY 6TH.

Summer Office Hours

and Doorbell

For the remainder of the summer, through September 4th, the Parish House office hours are as follows:

• Mon - Thurs: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
• Fri: Closed
• Open for scheduled yoga classes/by appointment only on Fridays

Please note that the Parish House doorbell is currently out of order. Visitors are welcome to enter during office hours (Mon-Thurs 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM) and should check in at the front office.

Summer Fellowship Before and

After the 10:30 AM Service

Stop by the narthex for coffee, lemonade and treats between services and after the 10:30 AM service. Enjoy this casual time to greet friends, catch up with long-time parishioners and introduce yourself to someone new!

Want to take part in this hospitality ministry? All you need to do is simply be present at the cookies/lemonade/coffee table to greet parishioners and visitors. Saint James will provide the coffee, lemonade and treats. Click here to sign up for this ministry. Have questions? Click here to email Andrew Flinchbaugh

Vestry Meeting Minutes Now

Available on our website!

Members of the vestry invite you to read the minutes of the monthly vestry meeting. They range from matters regarding worship to buildings and grounds, the annual budget, the Urban Well endowment, and children and youth ministries.

Click here to visit the vestry page on our website. You'll see the link to the minutes at the top!

Vestry members represent everyone in our faith community. Please reach out with joys, concerns and questions. Senior Warden Barbara Hough Huesken can be reached at bfroda@comcast.net.

Monday, July 13 – Friday, July 17

Intergenerational Service Trip & Retreat at Brookland Retreat Center

Saint James youth, adults, and families are invited to join us for an intergenerational service and retreat experience at the Brookland Retreat Center in Pennsylvania’s beautiful Northern Tier. This trip is open to rising 7th graders and older.

Now in its fifth year, Saint James folks and friends will return to Potter County to partner in meaningful service projects focused on conservancy and restoration, alongside learning on indigenous sacred grounds and engaging in contemplative practices. Together, we will live, work, pray, and play in a place known for its forests, streams, state parks, and wide-open skies.

In addition to service, the week will include time for hiking, swimming, stargazing, and community building. Service and retreat experiences like this can be deeply transformative, strengthening our connections with one another while working to assist the lives of others.

Interested in joining? Please click here to email StephJo ASAP to express your interest and to learn more! Or, click here to sign up.

July 19 | 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Celebrate Abilities Concert Series with

Halley Elwell and The UnSinkables

Join us for the inaugural performance of the ‘Celebrate Abilities’ Concert Series, in honor of Disability Pride Month.

This all-ages, inclusive musical performance will feature award-winning singer-songwriter Halley Elwell and The Unsinkables, Schreiber’s modern band and beautiful artwork from the artists of ASPIE. 

Halley Elwell is a singer-songwriter whose evocative music blends elements of jazz, folk, pop, and rock. Known for her rich voice and insightful lyrics, Elwell’s music has been featured on radio and television and in apps and has been recognized by ASCAP and the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. In 2025, she undertook her biggest project yet, a memoir-style concept album and podcast called Spontaneous Mutation.

Based on her experiences living with neurofibromatosis, the project explores chronic illness, the facial difference movement, disability, and the importance of telling new stories about all of them. Elwell is a member of Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities (RAMPD). Click here to learn more about the concert series.

Summer Camps at Saint James

Creator's Camp:

Making & Growing Together!

This faith-infused creative journey combines art, music, theater, gardening, cooking, mindfulness and more, where kids learn to create and nurture! The week wraps up with a heartwarming final sharing when families and friends can cheer on their young creators and see their beautiful lights shine!

Rising Kindergarten – Rising 6th Grade

Dates: July 27 - 31

Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Ages 3 – 5: Little Sprouts Camp

Dates: August 3–7

Time: 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Click Here to register and learn more!

*Scholarships are available! To apply for a scholarship or with any questions, click here to email the Director of Children, Youth & Families, StephJo Wise.

Pastoral Care at

Saint James

Pastoral care ministries at Saint James support parishioners at life’s major turning points, as well as during extended periods of disability and recovery. A team of clergy and lay persons provide timely, professional pastoral care in an intimate and confidential manner. Our team respects parishioners’ rights to privacy and keeps strictly confidential all information about anyone receiving pastoral care. Click here for more information about pastoral care, or click here to email Kristle Evans, Pastoral Care Coordinator



June 25, 7:00 PM | Pilgrimage information meeting via Zoom

June 27, 5:00 PM | Saturday Night Brass Mass

June 28, 10:30 AM | Saint James Voices

July 3, 9:00 PM | First Friday Compline at the Urban Well

July 4, 10:00 AM | Reading of the Declaration of Independence in the Churchyard  

July 5, 2:00 PM | Reading Frederick Douglas Together at Bethel AME 450 E Strawberry Street 

July 12, 11:45 AM -1:30 PM | Revolutionary Texts Lecture Series No. 2 

July 13 - 17 | Intergenerational Service & Retreat Journey

July 18, 8:30 - 10:30 AM | Upper Room Men's Group

July 19, 3 - 4:30 PM | Celebrate Abilities Concert Series

July 19, 10:30 AM | Nursery and Children’s Chapel Resume  

July 25, 5:00 PM | Saturday night Mass, Schools of Hope, a fundraiser for the School District of Lancaster

July 26, 8:30 & 10:30 AM | Patronal Feast

July 26, 5:00 PM | Vespers Patronal Feast & Holy Eucharist 

July 27 - 31, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Creator's Camp for rising

K - 6th grade

August 3 - 7, 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Little Sprouts Creator's Camp for ages 3 - 5

August 7, 9:00 PM | Compline at the Urban Well

Interested in hearing more about our

ministries, events and programs?

Click here to sign up for news from:

• Children, Youth & Families
• Mindful Yoga
• Mission & Justice
• Urban Well
• Women's Gathering