Results are important.  It is natural and necessary to ask the questions: “What am I trying to do?  Am I in fact doing it?  How can I measure the effectiveness of what I am doing?”

I served for a while on the board of Circles RVA, a wealth building initiative focused on relationships to bring about real change.  It was important that we kept records and made sure that the goals we had set -transformative change for people in poverty- were being met.

I am sure that with the many activities of SJTL the same kinds of questions are getting asked.  In fact, right now there is the opportunity to fill out a questionnaire about St. Jimmy’s Jam so that this great effort can be even better.

Sometimes it is possible to see the results of our efforts and to evaluate them.  However, this is not always true.  As faithful Christians we set out to be a part of God’s transformation of this beautiful but broken world.  And the fact is, we may not live to see the results of our labor.  It may seem that our efforts, no matter how good or well intended, were fruitless.  We might be tempted to give up.

In such moments we do well to remind ourselves that resurrection is coming, indeed the whole creation will be renewed. And in that moment all of our efforts on behalf of the Reign of God will be revealed and given life in the new age.

So keep doing what you are doing through the Church and in the community on behalf of God’s love.  Each act of kindness, every push for justice, all moments of compassion are eternally worth while.  It may not feel that way sometimes; even Jesus cried out from the cross that he had been forsaken.  And yet, there was resurrection.  In the end, never forget, we worship a God of hope.

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

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

Sunday, June 2, 2024

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

Monday, June 3, 2024

• 10:30am- Good Grief
• 10:30am- Vinyasa Yoga with Lorie (in the pavilion)

June Calendar



• 6/9- Family Mario Kart Night
• 6/16- Father’s Day (No Contemplative Service)
• 6/19- Juneteenth- Office Closed

What a special weekend in community! The memorials in the Memorial Garden were beautiful. (thank you Newchok family) Altar Guild did a fantastic job on the flowers as well. We are so grateful for our volunteers.

7:30am Wednesday Services

We have wonderful news for our Wednesday morning attendees. Father Bo will be coming every two weeks to serve Eucharist, 5/29, 6/12 & 6/26. Father Rock will be back in July. The weeks in between will be Morning Prayer services. All services still followed by bagels, coffee/tea and fellowship in the Parish Hall. We hope you will join us!

8am Service on Sunday OUTDOOR This Week

The 8am service will be in the pavilion this week. It will be 70 degrees at 8am this Sunday. We are excited to get back out there!

June 30th- Gratitude for Bo+

Sunday, June 30th, following the 10am service, we will have an "elevated" Coffee Hour in honor and gratitude of The Rev. Bo Millner. He has helped us through the first part of Rock's+ sabbatical so beautifully. We hope you will join us in saying "thank you." Please bring a side dish or finger food to share. We look forward to this time together.

Need For Service Streaming Crew

Since Covid, when we started streaming our 10:00 service, Stephanie has generously been single handedly working the iPad every….single….service! So, it’s time to create a streaming crew to help out!  We need approximately 5-6 volunteers to commit to one Sunday a month to help stream the service.  Does it sound difficult?  I assure you it’s not!  If you have ever zoomed in with your cell phone camera or streamed music to a speaker, then this will be a snap for you!  And we’ve created easy to follow, step by step directions which are absolutely idiot proof! ;)

Folks, this a spectacularly easy way to give back without taking much time out of your schedule – because you’re already at church anyway. Interested, but not quite sure you’re ready to commit to the challenge?  Then I invite you to sit with me during a service and I’ll show you just how easy it is. This is also a wonderful way for your middle schooler or high schooler to see that they too can make a difference by assisting you with this task if you find the idea a little intimidating. Please consider helping us out on this worthwhile mission to share our service with those who cannot attend in person.  If you have an interest then please reach out to Kasey or me and we will also have a sign up sheet on the bulletin board by the office.  Beth Baxter

Shrine Mont Annual Retreat

We are thrilled to announce that 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. We hope you can join us! Please complete the form HERE or sign up in the hallway to let us know you are interested. 

The cost is $55 for children (ages 4-12), $70 for teens (13-18), and $155 for adults (18 +). If you would like to complete a Chenery grant request to help with the cost of your trip, please let the office know and we can get you a copy of the application, 804-798-6336. We don’t want cost to hinder anyone from this awesome experience. All are wanted and welcome!

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!

Summer Programming

With the program year over, we look forward to family friendly events that will keep us connected through the summer. Please make plans to join us.

• June 9th- Mario Kart Night- 6:30pm- Popcorn and Treats 
• July 21st- Family Lego Night- 5:30pm- Pizza and Ice Cream 
• August 8th- Flying Squirrels game (more information to come)

Episcopal Church Women of The Diocese of Virginia Scholarship Program Scholarship

It is time to reach out to high school seniors and college undergraduates in local churches. The ECW (Episcopal Church Women) will be awarding the 2024 Scholarships this July. Completed applications must be received by June 30, 2024.

The 2024 Scholarship application is attached HERE as well as a College Finance Worksheet HERE. The application asks for a transcript, two letters of support as well as the student’s educational purpose and goals.  Copies of the application are also on the table in the hallway.

All Diocese of Virginia Episcopal students planning to attend a four-year college or university, a community college, or a trade/vocational school are eligible to apply.

• 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, Mark, Dabney & Gail, our Bishops, Rock+, our priest, and Dawn+, our Deacon, Bo+, 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, David Bandas, Rone Deas, Diana Timberlake, Kristi Elles, Sharon Street, Pam Gillette, Joanne Watkins, Ruth Beaudry, Tom & Fran Burke, Dennis Ray, Dawn Haase & family, Tuck Davis, Kimette Cannady, Traci Smith, Jerry & Carolyn Peart, John Wagner, Alicia Wood, Lisa Capen, Heather Grande & family, Lee Hopkins, and Margaret Belyea.

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