August 7, 2024

Saint James the Less Weekly News & Updates

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A Note from Father Rock

Good morning, friends! 


I trust you are well and staying cool. I hope to see you this Sunday as I will be heading out for the remainder of my sabbatical. This week we look at Jesus being the Bread of Life. A beautiful image that nurtures not just our bodies but our souls.


In the coming weeks we will be starting Sunday School and heading into the academic and program years. We are going to delay our Church picnic a couple of weeks to September 29 for my return, and it helps our finances as the sabbatical grant can help cover some of the costs. More to come, but it will be a fun day with a special guest joining us for the day!


This last Sunday, the Rev. Ross Wright from here in Ashland was present and met with the staff. He is another great priest, who lives here in Ashland and normally attends the Fork Church. His bio is below. I trust you will find him a great addition in my absence.


Sunday after services the staff and wardens met with Father Ross and I was so excited for the coming weeks, but even more I was appreciative. Our staff loves this parish so much, and they give so much of themselves in service to us. I can clearly and honestly say you are in good hands in the coming weeks.


Blessings!

Rock+

The Rev. Dr. Ross McGowan Wright


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. 

JOIN US THIS WEEK

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

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


Sunday, August 11, 2024

  • 8am- Eucharist Rite I -outside in Pavilion
  • 10am- Eucharist Rite II (music)


Monday, August 12, 2024

  • 10:30am- Good Grief
  • 10:30am- Vinyasa Yoga with Lorie (in the pavilion)
  • 5:30pm-Pray for the Country Group
Click Here to Watch Services Live or Later


August Calendar


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

We were so blessed to have Leslie Long with us this past Sunday for our Anthem, playing the oboe. It was a gift to witness! Bart's sermon was lovely as well. (you can watch here) We are so blessed with incredible people in this community!

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!

Save the Date! 


On Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15, we'll be gathering in a variety of ways to explore where our parish has been and where we're headed in mission and ministry. This time of visioning, which is made possible as part of the sabbatical grant from the Lilly Endowment, will lay the foundation for deeper conversations with Rock+ when he returns from his sabbatical in late September. Mark your calendars to spend a couple of hours with the St. James the Less community on Saturday, September 14 (either in the morning, or the afternoon, or both), and Sunday, September 15, after church, and stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks! 

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.

Shrine Mont Annual Retreat


We are taking our annual Parish Retreat to Shrine Mont on October 4-6, 2024. It is always such a restorative time of community and faith building.


The cost is $55 for children (ages 4-12), $70 for teens (13-18), and $155 for adults (18 +).


*We are at capacity as of now for our retreat. If you would like to be put on the waiting list (if someone cancels or we get more housing), please us us know.

CHILDREN & YOUTH PROGRAMMING

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!

Wish List


We are beginning to prepare for the program year!! 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!! With Prime Day approaching (July 16 and 17), we wanted to make sure we sent the list in time. 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 to 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! 

WAYS TO HELP

  • 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)

PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE

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, 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 die. 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.

LINK for Father Rock's Homily from Sunday

WEDNESDAY FUNNY

August 8

Laura Crenshaw


August 10

Lou Flanagan

August 13

Peter Moberg

HELPFUL LINKS

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

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Weekly E-News Deadline:  If you have an announcement to be shared with the parish, please get the information in no later than noon on Monday.