What a joy to worship with you yesterday on my first Sunday as your temporary Priest in Charge! Thank you for your gracious welcome – and for wearing name tags! It’s a bit of a hassle – I know – but it will help me get to know you. 

Here is some information that I trust will be helpful in the coming weeks:

Several of you have asked “What do we call you?” I go by “Ross” – or if more formal address is called for, “Mr. Wright” or “Dr. Wright.”

How to reach me: You can reach me directly by phone (804_822_6813) or email (rossmwright@gmail.com) or by contacting Kasey Buckland at the church office. I will normally respond within 24 hours. For urgent matters, Kasey always knows how to find me. I will be in the office on Mondays for at least a part of the day and am available to meet at other times of the week by appointment.

My voice: Since January, I’ve been dealing with a paralyzed vocal cord and am unable to project with normal volume. Please bear with me as I figure out how to lead the liturgy and preach with a compromised voice. I’m working with a speech therapist and expect that the voice will get stronger in the coming weeks. 

Prayer for wisdom: I had a request to share the prayer for wisdom with which I ended yesterday’s sermon. Here it is:

Holy Wisdom,

you granted Solomon’s request

for an understanding mind

and the knowledge to discern good from evil.

Fill us with such understanding and knowledge

that we may act as instruments

of your loving desire for creation,

working with you to transform

our conceit into concern for others,

our fear into love,

our violence into peace,

and our brokenness into wholeness. Amen.

From the Revised Common Lectionary Website

Vanderbilt Divinity Library 

The Rev. Dr. Ross McGowan Wright

Interim Rector

I am grateful for the warm welcome from Saint James the Less and look forward to being a part of this lively community in the coming weeks. Our family moved to Ashland in 2005 from Scotland, where I was doing graduate work in theology at the University of St. Andrews. I was ordained in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina and served parishes in New York City, Norfolk, and Richmond before retiring from fulltime parish ministry in 2020. I now serve as the Director of Vocational Ministries for the Diocese of Southern Virginia, overseeing the ordination process, and teach courses in the Religious Studies Department at Randolph Macon, where my wife, Lynda has been a faculty member since 2005. We have three sons and two granddaughters, all of whom live in Richmond, enabling us to enjoy time with our family. I play the trombone in a variety of musical organizations throughout Richmond, including the Richmond Pops and the pit orchestra for musicals at Fort Gregg Adames. 

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

• 7:30am- Eucharist Rite II (with bagels & coffee to follow)
• 10:30am- Vinyasa Yoga with Lorie (in the pavilion)

Sunday, August 25, 2024

• 8am- Eucharist Rite I -outside in Pavilion
• 10am- Eucharist Rite II (music)
• 1pm- Family Open House

Monday, August 26, 2024

• 10:30am- Good Grief
• 10:30am- Vinyasa Yoga with Lorie (in the pavilion)
• 5:30pm-Pray for the Country Group

August Calendar:

• 8/25- Blessing of the Backpacks
• 8/25- Kid’s Open House 1pm

September Calendar:

• 9/2- Labor Day- Office Closed
• 9/8- Program Year Begins
• 9/8- Lunch & Learn- Safety & Security (following 10am service)
• 9/8- Time & Talent Stewardship Fair (following 10am service)
• 9/14 (10am-12, 1-3pm) & 9/15 (11am report)- Rev. Bailey Abbot visit
• 9/15- Youth group 6pm
• 9/29- Church Picnic following 10am service (bring a dish to share)
• 9/29- Blessing of the Animals/Blue Grass Mass 5pm
• 9/29- Youth Group 6pm

We are so grateful to all our volunteers. You've been hard at work! Thank you!

Altar Guild Members Needed

Calling all folks who might be interested in joining our awesome Altar Guild team. We need someone on the sacrament side. It is a once a month commitment and training is provided by Karla Batten. Please reach out to Karla or Kasey if you have questions or would like to volunteer.

Fall Sunday School

Sunday, September 8th marks the beginning of our program year. We are starting back with our Adult & Children Formation Sunday school classes at 9am.

Bart and Rock+ will be co-leading a Sunday School class in Parish Hall at 9am beginning 9/8. The book will be Short Stories By Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of A Controversial Rabbi, by Amy Jill Levine. You can purchase it on Amazon HERE. We have some copies in the office you can purchase for $10. We hope you will join us!

Lunch & Learn September 8th

Join us on Sunday, September 8th following the 10am service for lunch and a program on Security and Safety. Deputy Bland from Hanover Sheriff’s Office and Officer Watts from Ashland Police Department will be sharing tips on Personal Safety, Scams, and what to do in the case of a medical emergency where an AED needs to be utilized. We hope you will join us!

Wednesday Yoga 5:30pm

The Rev. Becky McDaniel, former associate priest at St. James the Less, is offering an evening yoga class on Wednesdays at 5:30 in the pavilion. The class is a gentle vinyasa flow and is open to all levels. Like Lorie's classes, the requested payment is $12 per class. Becky has been teaching yoga since 2003, and before attending seminary she owned and operated two yoga studios in Virginia, one in Williamsburg and one in Blacksburg. Yoga is a deeply spiritual practice for Becky, one of many contemplative practices that has carried her through her journey as a priest.

Housekeeping

As we near the beginning of the program year and welcome Father Ross to our community, let's remember a few basics that will benefit all.

• Wear your name tags - if you need a new one, just email Kasey and she will get you one.
• Make sure the door fully closes when you lock the door behind you. (you will hear a "click" noise when it is locked)

Pray For Our Country Group

Join us on Monday evenings at 5:30pm as we gather to pray for our country, led by Deacon Harrison Higgins. In a year of decisions to be made that affect our communal life together, we come together to pray and ask God's guidance as we care for our world and each other. Join us! This is a program open to all!

Parish Visioning

As the culmination of reflection on this year's theme (Make All Things New!), and in preparation for Rock+'s return from sabbatical, our parish is gathering in a variety of ways on September 14 and 15 to dream out loud about who we've been and how God is calling us anew in mutual ministry. This will lay the foundation for deeper conversations about God's call for St. James the Less Church in the years ahead.

On Saturday, September 14, there will be two opportunities to gather. You are invited to attend ONE OR BOTH Saturday gatherings, as your schedule permits. 

• 10:00 am to Noon - Folks will be invited to enter into a time of guided reflection through various contemplative spiritual practices such as walking the labyrinth, art, journaling, and contemplation of nature. Following this time of dreaming with God, we will then gather to share insights and imaginings in a contemplative space. There will also be special activities for children during this time.

• 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm - We'll gather in a group setting for interactive activities meant to stimulate our hearts and imaginations through conversation and play.

On Sunday, September 15, after the 10:00 am church service, we'll have a parish-wide gathering and an opportunity hear significant themes that emerged in the Saturday gatherings. 

Everyone is invited to take part in this important time of dreaming together. We want to hear from everyone of all ages!  We hope YOU will be able to participate in at least one Saturday session AND in the parish-wide gathering on Sunday. We would love for you to let us know if you can come or sign up on the bulletin board, but please know you are welcome even if you don't.

We hope this will be a time of excitement and joy in looking back and looking ahead to all God has in store for St. James the Less. 

This retreat is being led by the Rev. Abbott Bailey. Ordained in 2005, Abbott has served in both diocesan and parish roles as canon, rector, associate rector, school chaplain, and co-executive director of an Episcopal Service Corps Program. She has worked extensively with church and nonprofit leadership to help cultivate strong practices of shared leadership, organizational vitality, trust-building, and communication that support healthy and vibrant organizational cultures. Prior to ordination, Abbott worked in several regional and statewide nonprofit organizations in community health care, health policy, and health philanthropy. She is a professional leadership coach (certification track), consultant, retreat/workshop facilitator, Positive Intelligence® Coach, and a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator with additional training in mediation and leading contemplative prayer groups and retreats. Abbott delights in meandering walks in the woods with her pup Thunder, immersing herself in good storytelling, nourishing foods and deep conversations with friends, and tending her relationship with the earth and more-than-human world.

Confirmation Class

Are you or someone in your family interested in getting confirmed? Let us know. We are building a list of candidates and will email you separately to find best times to hold the class in October and November before our Bishop visit in December.

We will not have Sunday school, nursery or Children's church through the summer, starting this Sunday. We will be back with normal schedule in the fall. We hope you will bring your children into church. We welcome all!

Program year begins September 8th and will resume the following schedule:

9am- Nursery & Children's Sunday School

10am- Children's Church

Children's Program Registration

It's that time of year!! The program year is upon us and registration is open for all children's and family activities here. Please complete one form per family. We will have an open house on August 25th at 1pm. Miriam looks forward to seeing everyone and meeting our new families!! If you ever need anything, please feel free to email Miriam at Formation@stjamestheless.church. 

Middle School and High School Youth Group

We have amazing news for all youth in grades 6th – 12th! St. James The Less WILL have a Youth Group program this school year! Youth Leaders have been working hard to design a fun, spiritual, and purposeful program and we want all our Middle and High School Youth to please join. ALL are welcome. The first Youth Group event will be on September 15th and will meet approximately two times per month.

To ensure that we have all the necessary information and can provide the best experience for your child, we kindly ask you to complete the registration form HERE. This will help us keep accurate records, understand specific needs or preferences, and ensure that your child is fully involved in all our activities. We encourage our youth to bring a friend. Please share the registration link with the parent/guardian of any friend who might attend so we can properly plan for meals, activities, and transportation.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to reach out to Miriam Smith. We look forward to welcoming your child to the group!

Wish List

We are so excited to have everyone back in the classroom and with that comes lots of amazing supplies. HERE is our wishlist link. Any and all items are extremely appreciated!! Thank you so much for your continued support!!!

Pop Tops

We are set for a record breaking year!! There is an additional bucket now in the hallway downstairs to handle the overflow. We could not be more excited!!! Please bring all pop tops in by August 25th as we will be counting them at the Open House at 1pm. Remember this is one the outreach opportunities that we do to honor the incredible Charlotte Jennie Reynolds! All proceeds go to RMHC! Thank you! 

Blessing of the Backpacks

Please make sure your kids/grandkids/children you care for bring their backpacks to church on Sunday, August 25th at the 10am service. We will have our annual Blessing of the Backpacks. We want to assure those kids that they are covered in prayer as they head back into their learning environments.

Children's Open House

Join us on Sunday, August 25th at 1pm in the Sunday School room downstairs for our Children's Open House to find out more of what to expect from this coming Program Year. Please join us for pop tops and popsicles! Come see the classroom and help us to kick off the program year with our favorite service project, Pop Tops!! We will count all of them and enjoy some treats as well. Hope to see everyone there! 

Visioning

We will be meeting on September 14th for a church wide visioning with Abbott Bailey. We want you to know that children and youth are an important part of the conversation!! We will be having adapted visioning activities to include both youth and children. The first session of the day will have children's activities. In the second part of the day, the youth are invited to join in. On September 15th the children and youth will share their own discoveries and hopes for our future together. Please join us for a reflective and creative time to vision the future of our church! 

• Sign up to bring meals for the Clinic Volunteers HERE
• Help stock our Emergency Food Pantry (outside the clinic)
• Send in your Pop Tops for McDonald House
• Bring in Hygiene or laundry items for Peter Paul
• Donate to ACES- Click HERE for current needs (we have a box in our hallway)
• Donate to Peter Paul Development Center. (box in our hallway)

Lord, we lift up this nation struggling with itself these days. Encourage us to faithfulness, righteousness, and compassion for all God’s Children. We lift up Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael, our Presiding Bishop, Sean, our Presiding Bishop elect, Mark & Gail, our Bishops, Rock+, our priest, and Dawn+, our Deacon, Ross+, our supply priest. We pray for Bart, our Seminarian, in his formation. May they be strengthened and encouraged as the work with us to proclaim your Good News in this world. We pray for Joe, our President, Glenn, our Governor, and Steve, our Mayor, and all our elected officials. Guide them to lead us to the common good. 

We ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well-being of all people. Remembering especially Gus Miller, Erin Yagla, Meghann Batten, Dennis Folsom, Court Warfield, Andrea Alexander McCallum, Joy Stevenson, Andy Newchok, Haden Hopkins, Kim Keene, Pam Bowers, Hilda Kelly, Harry Hassell, Bower family, Smith family, Lyde Longaker, Mary Ann Harris, Gini Dryden, Bob & Mary Lou Brown, Rone Deas, Diana Timberlake, Kristi Elles, Pam Gillette,  Ruth Beaudry, Tom & Fran Burke, Dennis Ray, Dawn Haase & family, Kimette Cannady, Traci Smith, Jerry & Carolyn Peart, John Wagner, Alicia Wood, Lisa Capen, Jenny Bruce, Tom Gillman, Anna Marie, Steve Crain, Lizzie Campus, Mark, Virginia, Sharon Street, and Elizabeth Whitmire, Patty Atkins- Smith, Kay Kemper, Leslie Crabbs, Heather Grande, John Hodges, Fred Shirey, and Lee Chambers.

We ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. We also ask your prayers for those serving in the diplomatic corps, the military, and as missionaries: Larson Flanagan, Kemper Jones, Greg Ericksen, Matthew Thomas, Philip Morison, James Ashley, Ellie Deas, Andrew Brunson, Liam Higgins, and Katherine Murphy. 

We ask your prayers for those who have died. We ask your prayers for those who grieve.  

Our citizens who live in Hanover County, the Board of Supervisors, School Board, and Manager. The print and broadcast media. The churches of metropolitan Richmond: members and clergy. All who live in poverty. All who suffer from mental illness. Our citizens who live in Ashland, Hopewell, Colonial Heights, and Petersburg, the town and city Councils and Managers. All who work in banks and finance; all making financial decisions for greater Richmond. Prisons and jails of metropolitan Richmond: prisoners and staff. All who are unemployed or underemployed. All public servants.

For all those who seek peace in the world and for ourselves, that we may bring about God's Kingdom here on earth. For our enemies, and for those who wish us harm.



Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored.

• Prayer List- Prayers of the People
• Giving Online- Click here to give online or text "GIVE2THELESS" at 73256 from your phone.
• Ask for prayer-Send in your prayer request (please acknowledge if the prayer is private or for our Parish list)
• The Collect Collective- Daily short prayer with Father Rock
• List of Local Food Pantries- Click here for a complete list of local food pantries.
• Fall Line Farms- A wonderful organization that supports local farmers. Click here to order food so you can pick it up here at SJTL on Thursdays.
• Self- Guided Ways Of Worship Brochure- It has wonderful ways of engaging with your own space (and the spaces around the church) to find the Holy, already present, within them.
• Father Rock's Blog- Access reading of all of Father Rock's Homilies.
• Blessings & Dressings- A copy of the SJTL Cookbook 
• End of Life Planning Kit- Help with estate planning from the Episcopal Church Foundation.
• Diocesan Creation Care Website- Creation Care Task Force

Saint James the Less Episcopal Church

125 Beverly Road

Ashland, VA 23005

(804) 798-6336

Staff: (click on the name to email them)

The Rev. Rock Higgins, tssf Rector

The Rev. Deacon Dawn McNamara Deacon

Reggie Long- Organist/Music Director

Miriam Smith- Christian Formation- Children & Youth Director

Kasey Buckland- Parish Administrator