Dear Friends in Christ,

This Sunday we continue our summer walk through Romans in the second of three weeks that cover Romans 9–11. We began last week in Romans 9, watching Paul wrestle with the question: What do we do when God seems to place before us two seemingly contradictory realities? This week we move into Romans 10:5–15. In a world that still turns God’s promises into weapons, Romans 10 calls us back to a word that comes near—on our lips and in our hearts—so that our speech about Christ and our neighbors bears mercy, not contempt.

If you have not had a chance to read chapters 9–11 in their entirety, I encourage you to do so. As I have been reading and re-reading these passages, I find them to be a reminder to look for the places in my life where I may be showing up with contempt instead of the mercy Paul is calling us to bring to all of God’s creation. I wonder how you are experiencing these texts in your own life and prayer over these weeks.

Our work of showing mercy in the world, especially to those who too often face contempt, continues with our annual Ollie’s Closet campaign. Thank you for your more than decade-long support of this ministry. This year, the campaign will include weekly communications in Headlines and Happenings that invite us to go deeper into the systemic impacts of poverty and to learn about opportunities to partner with local organizations working to undo the harm poverty causes.

As always, faithfully yours in Christ,

Mother Stacey+

First Friday, August 7 | 9:00 PM

Compline at the Urban Well

Ancient Music and Prayers

for the Modern Soul

Friday Compline has been part of the Saint James commitment to daily prayer for the last ten years. With it, we continue the centuries-old traditions that come to us from the desert prayer tradition of the early church, through the Middle Ages and the Reformation, and our Book of Common Prayer.

It has been a joy to see First Friday Compline at Saint James thrive and grow in the last decade. We now offer other contemplative prayer times and ministries through Saint James and The Urban Well. This fall, beginning September 13, we hope you will join us at our weekly contemplative Sunday Vespers service at 5:00 PM.

First Friday Compline will move to an occasional pattern along with occasional Sunday Choral Evensong, including the following dates:

First Friday November 6th, 8:30 PM: Compline for All Saints and All Souls
Sunday December 6, 5:00 PM: Evensong with Advent Lessons and Carols

With you, we regret the loss of a monthly choral compline. We thank you for your participation in this beautiful ministry that we have had for the last ten years.

Available in person and via live stream. Click here to view the live stream.

Sundays, August 9, 16, 23 & 30

Schools of Hope: Ollie's Closet Annual

School Supply Drive

Thank you to all who attended our Schools of Hope Saturday Night Mass. Because of your generosity, we raised almost $1,600 for the Lancaster

Education Foundation.

Our Schools of Hope work at Saint James continues with Ollie's Closet School Supply Drive August 9, 16, 23 & 30.

The beginning of the 2026-27 school year is just around the corner, and the teachers and students at Carter and MacRae Elementary School need our help.

Donating school supplies is easy. Look for the closet door in the narthex and pick a card from the door listing an item requested by the school. Add it to your shopping list and drop it off the next time you come to church.

Monetary donations to Ollie's Closet can also be made by check or online. Please make your check payable to Saint James with Carter and MacRae Elementary School in the memo line, and drop it in the offertory. Or, click here to give online.

PLEASE NOTE: The list of requested school supplies has changed! Click here to see what has been requested by Carter & MacRae teachers for the upcoming school year.

Each week of the Ollie's Closet campaign, we have an opportunity to go deeper into the systemic impacts of poverty and learn about local organizations working to undo the harm poverty causes.

We begin this series with a simple statement:

POVERTY IS NOT A CHOICE.

Right here in Lancaster City, nearly one in five residents (18.7%) live below the federal poverty line — more than double the countywide rate of 8.2% (Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County). For children, it's worse: 29% live in poverty (Lancaster County Community Indicators), and Black and Latinx children countywide face poverty at roughly three times the rate of white children (CAP). Even working families struggle — 55% of Lancaster City households fall below the ALICE threshold, earning too much to qualify for aid but too little to cover housing, food, and childcare (Lancaster County Community Indicators).

Poverty rarely arrives by choice. An unexpected emergency — a medical crisis that keeps a breadwinner from working — can throw a family's budget into chaos in minutes. Bills pile up, savings vanish, and the financial strain touches every member of the household.

For more information on how to help those experiencing poverty in our community, please see the Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County.

Saturday, August 15 | 8:30 - 10:30 AM

Upper Room Men's Group

Parish House Forum Room

For our next men's gathering, we will discuss a recent Wall Street Journal article by Nicholas Epley, titled "The Science of Talking to Strangers." The research suggests something surprising: most of us underestimate how rewarding conversations with unfamiliar people can be. We often assume such interactions will be awkward, uncomfortable or uninteresting, yet they frequently leave us feeling more connected, informed and encouraged than expected.

We will examine how closely these findings align with scriptural themes; time and time again, God works through unexpected encounters with strangers, travelers, neighbors and those outside our 'comfort zones.'

This meaningful discussion will give us an opportunity to reflect on how we connect with others, what holds us back from meaningful conversations and what God might be teaching us through people we have not yet met.

Please join us, whether you're a regular participant or a first-timer, to be a part of "the dudes of Saint James" for great community and conversation.

Menu: Assorted baked oatmeal dishes, sausage links, coffee, juice.

Sunday, August 16 | 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Youth Group Pool Party!

We’re closing out summer with a splash! All youth in grades 6 – 12 are invited to join us for an evening of swimming, soaking in the hot tub, and spending time with friends at the Clark family’s beautiful backyard pool.

We’ll have pizza and dessert to keep everyone fueled for fun. Adult supervision will be present. Bring a towel, your swimsuit and a friend!

Registration is required for planning purposes. Click here to let us know you'll be attending. Please RSVP by Aug 13th.

Wednesday, August 19 | 3:00 PM

Holy Eucharist at Willow Valley

Residents of Willow Valley are warmly invited to come together with clergy and staff from Saint James and Holy Trinity Lutheran churches to celebrate Holy Eucharist in Manor North Auditorium on the third floor of the main building in Manor North. All are welcome to partake in this meaningful occasion; feel free to bring a friend!

Thursday, August 20 | 6:45 PM

Episcopal Night at the Stormers!

The Lancaster Convocation is heading to the ballpark! Join us for an Episcopal outing at the Stormer's Game on Thursday, August 20 at 6:45 PM.

The Stormers are taking on the Long Island Ducks. Gates open at 5:30 PM. We'll all sit together and cheer on our home team! Please sign up so we can make sure there are enough seats in our section. This event is free for participants! Please sign up by August 7. See you at the ballpark!

Click Here to Sign Up!

Date: Thursday, August 20

Time: 6:45 PM - 10:00 PM EDT

Location: Penn Medicine Park, 650 N. Prince St., Lancaster

Saturday, August 22 | 8:30 - 12:00 PM

Growing in Faith at Saint James

Are you curious about the Saint James Community and the Urban Well? Do you want to explore the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion in more depth? These sessions are an engaging way to share our faith journeys, explore Church history and its impact on our present practices, tour our beautiful campus, and learn more about our school of prayer and service in the Lord. Join us to discover what it means to be a member of this vibrant community!

Click here for more info and to register.

Sunday, August 23 | 9:30 AM

Saint James Voices

Calling all Singers!

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.

Sunday, August 23 | 10:30 AM

Blessing of the Backpacks

As a new school year begins, we invite students, teachers and administrators to join us for our annual Blessing of the Backpacks during the 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM services on Sunday, August 23.

Bring your backpacks, lunch boxes, notebooks or lesson plans as we offer prayers for a year of learning and growth. During the service, students of all ages, along with teachers and school staff, will be invited to come forward to receive a blessing. Each participant will also receive a small gift as a reminder that your Saint James family is praying for you and cheering you on throughout the year ahead.

Sunday, August 23 | 5:00 PM

Vespers at the Urban Well

In the Chapel

Join us for a special Tai Chi vespers with guest leader Frank Hollingsworth. If you are thinking about participating in the fall Tai Chi series, this is a great opportunity to meet Frank and try some Tai Chi. Weather permitting, we will start outside, moving together to prepare our minds and bodies for prayer and meditation. We will then move into the sacred space of the chapel for the remainder of the service.

This contemplative service embraces Christian prayer traditions and nurtures our spiritual lives. Everyone is welcome—come as you are! In-person only at

the Chapel.

Beginning Tuesday, September 8 | 10 - 11:00 AM

Ignatian Spirituality with Pat Latshaw

A Transformational Program Based on the Teachings of St. Ignatius

Embark on a transformative journey with this 33-week program designed for those eager to deepen their connection with God and enrich their spiritual lives.

This is an invitation to commit to personal growth and encounter the divine in profound ways. Together, we will engage in daily and weekly spiritual practices, with the guidance and support of our spiritual director, Pat Latshaw.

Through the enlightening discussions of The Ignatian Adventure by Kevin O’Brien, we will explore timeless techniques that have inspired seekers for nearly 500 years. Join us as we open our hearts and minds to the transformative power of faith and embark on a path toward spiritual renewal and enlightenment.

The course meets weekly from September 9 through April 28, 2027. Click here for more information and to register. Scholarships available.

Memorial Altar Flowers: Remembering a loved one with the natural beauty of flowers

Adorning our church's high altar with flowers is a meaningful expression of worship and a cherished tradition that enhances our sacred space with natural beauty. Flowers serve as living gifts to the divine, representing beauty and creation. They showcase the vibrant colors and vitality of God's earth, conveying joy, honoring God, symbolizing life, and expressing gratitude for a family member or loved one.

If you'd like to remember a loved one with altar flowers, click here to learn more and get started.

Faith, Loyalty and Revolution

American Revolution Podcasts

The final episode of the three-part Contemplative Citizenship podcast series 1776 at Saint James: Faith, Loyalty, and Revolution is now available on Podbean, Amazon and Spotify.

In this episode entitled Independence for All but Only Liberty for Some, three contributors focus on the Patriots who worshipped at Saint James, particularly Edward Hand, who had a distinguished career in the Continental Army and George Ross, who was a signer of the Declaration. It looks at the paradox of fighting for liberty while being an enslaver, and tells the remarkable story of Dinah McIntire, a freed slave who is buried in our churchyard.

The episode invites reflections on the lives of the people featured in this series and asks what their choices might say about ours today. Click here to listen to the podcast.

July - August

Experience the ASPIE Artists Exhibit

Throughout the month of August, we invite you to explore a beautiful exhibition of artwork created by the talented artists of ASPIE, now displayed throughout the Church. With more than twenty pieces on view, the exhibition celebrates the creativity, skill, and unique perspectives of adults with disabilities.

Be sure to stop by the Groff Room near the Narthex, where you can watch a video introducing the ASPIE artists and hear their personal stories. The exhibition offers a wonderful opportunity to connect more deeply with the artists and the mission of ASPIE, a nonprofit organization that empowers adults with disabilities by providing opportunities for artistic expression and sustainable income through the sale of their work.

As you make your way through the Church this month, we hope you'll take time to enjoy the artwork, learn about the artists, and celebrate the gifts they share with our community.

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

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.

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

In a Greater Light

We pray for the soul of Katherine (Kathy) Cross, who died on July 10th. A private service will be held for the family in the chapel on Thursday, August 20th at 11:00 AM. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

Eternal rest grant to her, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon her. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Mark Your Calendar

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

August 9 | Ollie's Closet Annual School Supply

Drive begins

August 15, 8:30 - 10:30 AM | Upper Room Men's Group