09/06/24 News and updates from St. James Church

First Things First

This is Start-Up Weekend

The choir will sing on Sunday morning. There will not be breakfast, but Adult Forum will begin again in the Guild Hall at 10:45 a.m.

Worship Servers New and Old

The Young and Not-So-Young are invited to become involved in a ministry which serves the entire congregation.

All interested in joining the ranks of the altar party are invited to a training session immediately following church on Sunday, Sept. 15. The opening part of training will be for new servers (starting acolytes) and will begin at 10:45. All existing servers (chalice bearers, lectors, etc.) are asked to be present for a quick refresher beginning at 11:15. There will be pizza.

Worth Remembering

To read the complete article, refer back to archives of the eTower indicated below (by date). https://stjameswichita.org/connect/etower/

Worship Service Schedule - Our opinion poll was nearly a draw with the majority indicating they would come to worship no matter what time the service is held. The vestry chose to stay with the 9:30 service on Sunday morning.

Organ Upgrade - The vestry has decided not to go beyond the stage of a feasibility study to replace our organ.

Sunday Breakfast and 4th Sunday Lunch Unite

These eating & greeting events join for a parish meal

on the 4th Sunday of most months.

September 22 - Outdoor worship followed by parish meal - picnic-style.

October 27 - Parish meal after service. Halloween party and chili cookoff.

November - Thanksgiving meal, 12:00 p.m., Nov. 28. (No parish meal on Nov. 24).

December 22 - Greening of the church (after service) for youth and adults with pizza for all.

Message of the Moment

Beginning this month, The Message of the Moment is published once monthly on the first Friday.

Off to CREDO

Very soon (the first week of October) I will be traveling to California for a week-long CREDO conference which is offered to priests occasionally in the life of their ministry. This will be the third time in 20 years that I have attended a CREDO conference. The following is a bit of information about what I’ll be doing. I will be away the first weekend on October 5 and 6, so services that weekend will be COMAP (Communion in the absence of a priest) services.

The CREDO conference is a holistic and transformative event designed to help Episcopal Church leaders, such as your priest, reflect deeply on four key areas of their lives: financial, health, spiritual, and vocational. This week-long retreat provides a structured environment for participants to examine their personal and professional lives, develop specific plans for growth, and discern their future direction in response to God’s call.

Participants engage in workshops, individual consultations, and group discussions led by experienced faculty members. These sessions cover a wide range of topics, from financial planning and health management to spiritual practices and vocational discernment. The goal is to support clergy in developing balanced, sustainable, and fulfilling lives and ministries.

During the conference, your priest will be encouraged to keep a journal, reflect on their experiences, and create actionable plans for personal and professional improvement. This process is not meant to occur in isolation; rather, it is designed to consider the impact on and involve the significant people in their lives. Participants will bring back insights and strategies that may lead to positive changes and strengthen their primary relationships.

You are invited to support your priest by sharing your concerns, questions, and hopes, which can help guide their reflections and planning during the conference. Upon their return, setting aside time to discuss their CREDO experience may facilitate a meaningful reintegration and enhance their ongoing journey of growth and transformation.

CREDO began in the mid 1990s when The Church Pension Fund’s (CPF) Wellness Initiatives Advisory Committee — a group charged with exploring wellness options for plan participants — recommended a program to give clergy a chance to pause their busy, demanding lives and focus on health and well-being through a discernment and wellness conference. The retreat is:

An intentional Christ-centered community

An experience for the mind, body, spirit and heart

A four-step life cycle process of identity, discernment, practice, and transformation

The total cost to the parish is the $500 registration fee for their priest. Since I thought the conference was in 2023, St. James paid for my registration last year. I later came to understand that the retreat was scheduled in 2024. I will spend the week at the Episcopal Church Retreat and Conference Center, The Bishop’s Ranch, in Healdsburg, CA. https://www.bishopsranch.org

To learn more about this benefit or the conference, visit this site: https://www.cpg.org/active-clergy/learning/credo/

Peace be with you always, Mother Dawn+

The Readings this Week

Click here to go to the Lectionary Page

Click here for a free PDF download of the Book of Common Prayer

The Lessons appointed for Sixteenth Weekend after Pentecost

Revised Common Lectionary, Year B, Track 1

Weekend Service Volunteer Schedules

September 7 - December 27

5:30 pm Service Volunteer Schedule

9:30 am Service Volunteer Schedule

Want to know if we need additional volunteers for a specific week? Click one of the service schedules below. If you see a +Add button on a particular serving role, that means someone has declined their assignment, and we still need a volunteer to fill in. You can click +Add to sign up for that spot.

Calendar

Parish News and Updates

Red Cross Blood Drive

The need for blood in our community and state continues to be strong. Please consider giving blood on Sept 22 between 8:30 am and 1:30 pm at Plymouth Congregational Church, 202 N. Clifton. Register for your appointment by calling 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Would you like to join EfM?

Education for Ministry (EfM) will begin a new session in early September when we have the requisite six participants which is the minimum number for a class. The EfM program is designed to help us prepare for ministry in the church or in life. EfM offers an opportunity to discover how to respond to the call to a Christian life.

Questions? Contact Deb Bagby, (316) 612-0628 or LoWaine Robison, (805) 612-4016

Learn to Livestream!

We are seeking volunteers to help run the weekly livestream process. We are looking to build a team of 6 or more folks to run this on a rotational basis. Everyone young and old can learn this skill and be part of an essential ministry to connect the parish virtually each week. If interested or you know of anyone that might be interested, contact Danny Blair, Bert Clark, or Woody Swain.

Holy Cross Day

Holy Cross Day is on September 14 each year. This year at all worship services on Sept. 14 and 15, we will celebrate salvation brought to us by way of the Holy Cross. The observance includes the use of lots of fresh basil sprigs. If you are growing basil and are willing to share your harvest with us that weekend, your bounty will be very appreciated. Everyone is invited to bring a small cross from their household. The crosses may be placed on the altar prior to the service for a special blessing. Please take crosses home after worship the same day you bring them.

Basic A

Our 8-week introductory course about the Episcopal Church will be held in the chapel on Tuesday evenings October 8 through November 26. Confirmation, which is open to all who complete the course, will be held at St. James on March 30, 2025.

Community Outreach

Volunteer with the Red Cross

The Red Cross needs volunteers to help with a variety of chores. If you have time to give to the Red Cross, call and ask about volunteer opportunities. St. James parishioner Deb Brinegar serves on the Red Cross Board, and she is happy to answer questions for you.

Breakthrough ESS

Breakthrough ESS BASKETS for Homeless people entering safe housing. Thanks to the generosity of this congregation, we filled nine baskets for Breakthrough. Five have been delivered, and the remaining four will be delivered in the next week. Thank you, St. James, for caring about the homeless!

Sandwich Saturday - Pet Assistance

Needed for Sandwich Saturday: cat or dog food. If bringing dry food, please place in one quart plastic bags. Please label each bag so that we know if it is cat food or dog food. Please leave donations by front desk in the container for Sandwich Saturday.

Children and Youth

Nursery Volunteers still needed!

We are still short-staffed in the Nursery and need volunteers. To keep the nursery open and operating, we need 10 volunteers to commit to a Sunday every 2 months. You can spend time with our kids, love them, and minister to their needs. If you are interested, please contact Chelsea or call the office, 683-5686.

Prayers

Parish Prayers for the Week of September 8

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer:

The Church of the Province of Myanmar

In the World Council of Churches Cycle of Prayer:

Ghana, Nigeria

In the Kansas Cycle of Prayer:

Pray for Bethany House and Garden

Those discerning a call to the priesthood:

Paul Leeker, Elizabeth Wenger

Those serving in the military:

Davis Jackson; Will Corkins; Maureen Tanner

Those in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness or any other adversity:

Gene B.; Judy W.; Ivan; Marie G.; Michael; Julie; The Myers family; Brad M.; Gabe; Shonda C.; Matt R.; Michael H.; Emma R.; Wes R.; John D.; Joel K.; Casey M.; Michelle L.; Janet C.; Buck & Gladys; Fred; Gail P.; Gerry H.; Thelma; Mary K.; Susan G.; Peggy S.; Ed & Kim; Jean E.; Darwin P.; Judy T.; Sam & Beth; Barbara S.; Bill M.; Hazel S.; Allie N.; Kris S.; Larry R.; Simon family; Drew H.; Elena S.; Bella P.; Daimon; Anna; Briana P.; Sylvester; Pat; Andy S.; Sue C.; Martha L.; Joseph B.; Joan J.; Jayne P.; Deb H.; Dal H.; Carole U.; Bill & Carolyn; Marge R.; Janice M.; Marcia & Lowell; Jerry M.; Gus G.

Those who have recently died:

Roger Pitts; Ken Breeden; Anne Coffin; Mary Nelson; Darrell Arnold

Some who have died in September in the past:

Becky Adams; Anne Allen; Virginia M. Armstrong; Nancy Avery; Betty Bacon; Iris Bain; Walter Bentley; Jim Callender; Colin Carroll; Jackie Davis; Joan Downs; Larry Elliott; L. Fox; The Rev. Jackie Gossard; Jan Hutchison; Janet Jenkins; Philip Knight; Sandra Lyon; Mac McPherson; Craig Miner; Beverly Mitchell; Russell Nelson; José Peggs; LaVerle Phelps; Linda Rutherford; Beverly Sarver; Chuck Shield; Chuck Steele; Emmy Lou Stewart; M. P. Van Kueren

For the sake of privacy, we do not list the last names of those who are on our prayer list because of trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or adversity. We do our best to include last name initials in the event that two parishioners with the same first name exist.

If your prayers have been answered, let us rejoice with you. Please contact the office to let us know we can remove your prayer request. If you have prayers you would like added to the prayer list, please contact the office at office@stjameswichita.org or 316-683-5686.

Loving, Liberating and Life-Giving

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Diocesan News

Silent Retreat - Grounded in Love

Trusting that "Silence is God’s preferred language," you are invited into an elongated time of presence with God. This sacred time will provide a spaciousness for the purpose to live more prayerfully, holistically, gently, generously and with fresh attentiveness to God, Creation and Neighbors.

Using contemplative teachings from a variety of saints and with guidance from The Rev. Canon Lisa Senuta you will feel confident to enter a silent retreat with orientation and supports to assist you along the way. The retreat is geared toward the first-time retreatant as well as those who make annual silent retreats. The teachings will be simple yet profound way to enter an interior space with the grounding love a community with you.

Labyrinth, reading materials, icons, and journaling will all be provided to aid your silent time with God alone. Spiritual Directors will also be available.

September 20-22 at the Marillac Retreat Center in Leavenworth KS. The Marillac property is a wonderful place to stay with extensive property for walking, spacious private rooms, and meals provided.

The cost will be $230 per person. Register Online.

Diocesan Convention October 18-19, 2024

Registration is now open for the 165th Convention of the Diocese of Kansas scheduled for October 18-19, 2024 at the Wichita Airport DoubleTree Hotel, 2098 S. Airport Rd, Wichita, KS 67209.

Convention Registration:

episcopal-ks.org/2024convention

Vendor and Exhibitor Registration:

episcopal-ks.org/2024vendor

Hotel Reservations:

episcopal-ks.org/2024hotel

For more information and updates, visit:

episcopal-ks.org/diocesan-convention-2024/

Have questions? Contact Michele Moss at mmoss@episcopal-ks.org or

800-473-3563.