James Journal - February 23

Lent Madness is a fun, engaging way to learn about the men and women comprising the Church's Calendar of Saints. This year, 32 saints are placed into a tournament-like single elimination bracket. Each pairing remains open for a set period of time, and people vote for their favorite saint. Sixteen saints make it to the "Round of the Saintly Sixteen"; 8 advance to the "Round of the Elate Eight"; 4 make it to the "Faithful Four"; 2 to the "Championship"; and one winner is awarded the coveted "Golden Halo."

Brackets will be available in the Narthex and outside the Chapel this Sunday (or you can email Mother Rebecca for a PDF). To play along, simply predict which saints you think will win, give a copy of your predictions to Mother Rebecca, and then follow along with the competition by signing up for Lent Madness emails on the Lent Madness Sign Up Page. Each day, you'll get a message about the day's match up, with a link to take you to the website where you can cast your votes.

Experience Lent in a new way this year as you get to know some amazing people who have come before us in the faith!

Lenten Adult Education Series Begins March 5: How To Become A Saint

Our Lenten Adult Education series will begin to answer the question: "How can I become a saint?" It may sound like a lofty goal, but it is one to which all Christians are called to aspire.

Join Mother Rebecca and Deacon Roger beginning Sunday, March 5 for this 5-week series. We'll meet Sundays in the Chapel from 9:05-9:45 a.m.

Blood Drive Sunday March 5

St. James Blood Drive will be held on Sunday, March 5th. Sign up sheet is in the Narthex of the church. 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM on the Carter BloodCare Bus in our parking lot. If you have any questions, contact Joe French (214) 394-6121 or call church office (214) -348-1345.

It just takes ONE pint of blood to save THREE lives! Please donate if you are able. This drive is open to the community, so

help us spread the word. You can pick your time on the sign-up sheet in the Narthex of the church.

Turn In Last Year's Palm Crosses Before Sunday

This Sunday is the final day to return any palm branches from last year. A collection basket is located in the narthex of the church. Each year, we burn last year's palms, and the ashes become part of our Ash Wednesday services.

Shrove Tuesday - Pancake Supper Night

Tuesday, February 28 is Shrove Tuesday. We will celebrate with our traditional Pancake Supper.

We'll serve from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dinner for adults is $5 and for children under 12 is just $2.

Shrove, derived from "shrive," refers to the confession of sins usual in the European Middle Ages as a preparation for Lent. Shrove Tuesday eventually acquired the character of a carnival or festival in European countries, and many customs developed in connection with this day that recedes the beginning of the Lenten fast. Traditionally pancakes were eaten on Shrove Tuesday, because eggs and fat, forbidden during the Lenten fast, were used up from kitchens so they would not be a temptation during the season.

Ash Wednesday Services at St. James

"I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the
observance of a holy Lent."

Join us this Ash Wednesday for the imposition of ashes and Holy Eucharist.

Ash Wednesday
(March 1, 2017) at 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (choral service)

Attention Parents Sunday School Group!

We hope you enjoyed NT Wright's Surprised by Hope . We're taking this Sunday off and will begin again on
March 5.

For parents who've been wanting to join, March 5 is the perfect time to enter this dynamic group of parents for fellowship and study.

Each week, we will read a short articles, book chapter, or watch a video clip. We'll come together on Sunday mornings to discuss our takeaways. We hope this will mean:

No need to commit to reading a full book during an already over-scheduled week.
Focus on Sunday is fellowship - there is no pressure if you haven't read the book.
Chance to connect with fellow parents.
We know it's early, but there is coffee.
Sunday School is an easy thing to focus on during Lent.

We meet Sundays at 9:05 in the School Library (on the way to the kids Sunday school classes). To be added to our weekly e-mail list please e-mail Kara Showers or join our Facebook group (St. James Parents Sunday School). See you Sunday!

Last Chance to RSVP for the Meditation/Mindfulness Workshop

Deacon Roger is leading a meditation and mindfulness class, and all are invited. Join him to learn what mindfulness is, how and why it works, how it relates to our Christian vocation, and more.

Saturday, February 25, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm in the Chapel

To participate, in this class please email your registration to Deacon Roger Button. All are welcome - we simply need a headcount for planning purposes.

Liturgical Servers for Sunday, February 26

Vergers: Joe French (8) and (10) Scott Doggett

Readers: Ed Chamberlain (8) and Mimi Bunton (10)

Server: Betsy Elam

Bells: Ted Pittman

Chalice: Dan Stewart
Crucifer: Elton Tankersley

Torchers: Natalie and Grant Shafer

Ushers: Russ Pate and Jim Raley (8) and Clayton Christian, John Turner, Ryan Parker, and James Barlow (10)

Audio: Rob Klarer

AltarGuild: Stephanie Baker, August Claybrook, Denise Woerner, Kirsten Conover, Kara Showers, and Angela Watkins
LEVs: Claudia Stephens, Marion Johnson, Miriam Grayson, and Kathy Townsend

Worship This Sunday

Lectionary Readings:

Exodus 24:12-18

Psalm 2

2 Peter 1:16-21

Matthew 17:1-9

Preacher & Celebrant
at 8 & 10 am:

Mother Rebecca

Church in the Chapel:

The Rev. Bubba Daley

High School "Assurance" Retreat

March 24-26th

All high school students are invited to unplug from the stress of everyday life and enjoy a weekend at beautiful Camp All-Saints on Lake Texoma. The retreat will feature your very own Miss. Amanda as the camp speaker and the weekend will be filled with great camp worship and fellowship. Don't miss this chance to recharge and refresh your spirit! Cost is $100 per student, need based scholarships are available. To register please e-mail [email protected].

First Communion and Discovery Class

Sunday, April 2nd 9:00-10:00 am

All baptized children are invited to this special class that gives them understanding, reverence and love for the Sacrament of Holy Communion. We will instruct children on liturgy, theology of the sacrament, symbols and what the elements of communion mean in an age appropriate manner.
All baptized children are welcome and we encourage 1st-5th grade children to attend.

Communion Discovery class will be held on Sunday, April 2nd and first informed communion will be at the 10 am Palm Sunday Servic e.

If you would like your child to participate please RSVP to Amanda Payne at [email protected].

Sermon & Education Recordings

Our sermons and adult education classes are recorded and made available online! This is a wonderful way to stay in touch if you are traveling or have to be away on a Sunday

morning.

Please also consider sharing sermons or classes that are particularly useful to you with friends and family who might not attend St. James (or any other church). We hope these resources might draw others into fellowship with us at St. James.

For sermons, visit the Sermons page on our website. For adult education classes, check out our SoundCloud stream.

Spiritual and Social Activities

Sundays

Holy Eucharist 8 a.m.
Holy Eucharist in Church 10 a.m.
Church in the Chapel 10 a.m.

Children's Sunday School 9:05 a.m. - 9:45 a.m., Old Parish Hall, School Lunch Room

Youth Sunday School in the Youth Portable is at 9 - 9:45 a.m.

Adult Education
9:05 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. in the Chapel

Confirmation Class - 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in the Youth Portable

Daughters of the King meet 3rd Saturday and Sunday of the month from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in the Chapel

Tuesday

6:15 p.m. Church Chicks, Chapel

7:30 p.m. Bible Study, Chapel

St. Elizabeth's Guild meet 2nd Tuesday of the month in the Parish Hall.

Wednesday

10 a.m. Holy Eucharist/Unction in Chapel (resumes after Ash Wednesday)

10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (on Ash Wednesday) Bible Study in Chapel with Mother Rebecca

6:30 - 8 p.m. Youth Group in Parish Hall

Thursday

7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Ping Pong in Parish Hall

Do You Have A Prayer Request?

St. James is a community characterized by prayer. Please share your prayer concerns with us: it is our joy to lift up your prayer concerns to the Lord just as we lift up our own. We welcome you to bring these concerns to our clergy or the church office or you can share them with us on a prayer request form (located in the entry to the Church) or through our website under the heading "Connect."

James 5:13-14 Are any among you suffering? You should pray... Are any among you sick? You should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.