May 8, 2024

Saint James the Less Weekly News & Updates

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A Note From Father Bo

Worship is at the heart of parishes like SJTL. Worship is like the hub of a wheel, and the various activities and efforts -from community building to faith formation to outreach and beyond- are like spokes of a wheel. All of it, working together, moves the mission of the church forward.



In English, the word “worship” means to show honor, praise, reverence and respect, especially to God. (see Merriam-Webster). I had a professor in undergraduate school who saw no reason for worship. “Why should I be part of a group of people who are offering praise and compliments to God?” he said. “Why would God need people to do that? It seems silly.”


Of course, God does not need our praise. At the very same time, that beautiful sunset doesn’t need our praise either. But we just can’t help ourselves. We marvel at it and we can’t wait to reach out to someone else to share our wonder and awe. This is why we offer God praise. God’s being moves us and we can’t help ourselves.


It that exchange, we remember who and whose we are. Also, we are bound together in community, focused on God almighty. Of course, lots else happens in worship. We pray for the Church and the world. We remember each other. We sing, we hear scripture, we exchange God’s peace. Taken together, with praise of God at its heart, our worship is indeed at the heart of the community.

Worship takes a lot of support in terms of time and talent and money. Thank you for your stewardship, for making SJTL a priority in your giving and most of all for your presence -in person or online. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

JOIN US THIS WEEK

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

  • 7:30am- Morning Prayer (with bagels & coffee to follow)
  • 10:30am- Vinyasa Yoga with Lorie


Thursday, May 9, 2024

  • 6pm- Hand Bell Choir
  • 7pm- Parish Choir


Saturday, May 11, 2024

  • 11am- Holly Rison funeral


Sunday, May 12, 2024

Happy Mother's Day!

  • 8am- Eucharist Rite I -MOVED INDOOR DUE TO COLD TEMPS
  • 10am- Eucharist Rite II (music)
  • 11am- Prayer Cloth Ministry


Monday, May 13, 2024

  • 10:30am- Good Grief
  • 10:30am- Vinyasa Yoga with Lorie
Click Here to Watch Services Live or Later

May Calendar


  • 5/12- Mother’s Day 
  • 5/18- Supper Club
  • 5/19- End of Program Year
  • 5/19- Contemplative service-Evensong 5pm
  • 5/27-Memorial Day- Office Closed

St. Jimmy's Jam brought our community out with such a sweet spirit. It is always good to be together. You can feel the joy, love and connection. The kid's carnival and bounce houses were a huge hit! The bands were fantastic! The food and beverages were delicious. Thank you to all who made it possible. We couldn't do it without our fabulous volunteers.

Our kids put together bags for our community members that struggle with food and housing insecurities. Miriam does such a wonderful job teaching and training. We are so grateful for the volunteers that help every week.

Our Atlar Guild is the best in the world! We are so grateful for you and all you do for this community!

8am Service on Sunday Indoor This Week


The 8am service will be moved indoor this week due to colder temperatures. It will be 50 degrees at 8am this Sunday. We want to make sure we are keeping you warm and safe.

Holly Rison Funeral


We will be holding a celebration and thanksgiving of life for Holly Rison on Saturday, May 11th at 11am for, long time member, Holly Rison. You can view her obituary HERE. We hope you will join us to remember this beloved soul.

Supper Club


Our last Supper Club before we break for summer will be all together in the Pavilion on Saturday, May 18th, 5 - 7pm. Please bring hors d'oeuvres to share. We could use a few helpers to set up and clean up. If you could help with that, please email Beth at bethbill@aol.com.


Come hungry, with a happy face, and bring your best Supper Club story to share. Water provided. Otherwise, BYOB. Regrets only to Beth.

Evensong


Please join us as the choir presents Evensong on Sunday, May 19th at 5pm. Reggie has designed a beautiful program. We hope you will join us.

Adult Sunday School


You are invited to an Adult Formation study of the Book of Acts, lead by our Seminarian, Dr. Bart Natoli. There are discussions on Sundays between the two services from 9:00-9:45 am in the Parish Hall. The dates are April 14-May 19. You are invited to participate in as many discussions as you’d like, but you are not required to attend all discussions.


Each week, we will consider a different aspect of the Book of Acts:


May 12: Creating a Christian Identity (Acts 13:1-21:14)

May 19: Christians and Romans (Acts 21:15-28:31)


Please join us for this blessed study of the Book of Acts. No special materials are needed other than a bible in whatever translation you prefer.

CHILDREN & YOUTH PROGRAMMING

Sunday Schedule:


  • Children's Sunday School- Sundays 9am
  • Nursery- Sundays 9am
  • Children's Church- during the 10am service


The program year ends on May 19th. We will not have Sunday school, nursery or Children's church through the summer. We will be back with normal schedule in the fall. We hope you will bring your children into church.

Summer Programming


As we prepare to close down the Program year on May 19th. We look forward to family friendly events that will keep us connected through the summer.


  • 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)

Vacation Bible School


This year we will not be offering VBS, however we have compiled a list of local churches offering VBS. Below are the links. Hope this helps!


Ashland Area:

St. Ann's Church- June 9th - June 15th

Slash Christian Church - July 22nd- July 26th

Gwathmey Baptist Church - July 15th - July 19th


Richmond Area:

St. Stephen's Episcopal - July 29th - August 1

Reveille UMC - July 15th - July 18th

Third Church - June 10th - June 14th 

The Expansion of SJTL Youth Group: Discerning, Teaming, and Planning 


We are holding four workshops in April and May to bring together those who want to see what is possible for the next phase of youth group at SJTL. These workshops are open to anyone who wants to spend time together discerning, teaming, and planning. We will meet in Brydon Hall. Bring a note pad or journal to write down and save your thoughts and ideas. For more information, text or call Aleta Meyer at 804-380-7832.


  • Sun May 19, 6-7:30pm — Next Phase Workshop Four: What ideas do we have for our roles and overall plans for a next phase of youth group in 2024-2025?

Join us to celebrate an awesome program year following the 10am service on Sunday, May 19th! We will enjoy fellowship and popsicles.

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, 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, 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, especially Holly Rison. 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.

WEDNESDAY FUNNY

May 8

Charlie Rosser


May 9

Tim Morris


May 10

Finn Chambers

May 13

Parker Brown

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.