PRAYING SHAPES BELIEVING
A Meditation for You
by Stephanie Werner (including photos)
Let Freedom Ring!

This month,  Praying Shapes Believing  is devoted to concepts of freedom, which we will explore through diverse inputs. 
Freedom begins in our own hearts. It’s an inside job.
 
“There can't be any large-scale revolution until there's a personal revolution, on an individual level. It's got to happen inside first.”
-Jim Morrison, American singer, songwriter and poet, who served as the lead vocalist of the rock band The Doors.
  
… this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
 -Jeremiah, one of the major prophets of the Hebrew Bible who, according to Jewish tradition, authored the Book of Jeremiah (verse above from 31:33), the Books of Kings and the Book of Lamentations.

Using the “Prayer for Our Community” of Franciscan Father Richard Rohr : O Great Love, thank you for living and loving in us and through us. May all that we do flow from our deep connection with you and all beings. Help us become a community that vulnerably shares each other’s burdens and the weight of glory. Listen to our hearts’ longings for the healing of our world. [Please add your own intentions.] . . . Knowing you are hearing us better than we are speaking, we offer these prayers in all the holy names of God, amen. .
A Note From Father Rock
Part of the joy of the summer is spending time with each other when the pace is more relaxed, when there is no agenda (or at least a light one), and we can just be. We have been desperately missing each other, and I do hope that you and yours will take the time to be silly, or funny, or beautiful, whatever, and that you will share it with our community. 
 
Last Friday we announced our St. James the Less Talent-Less Show. Send in your "act" (5 minutes or less) and we will fit in as many as we can. (More details below.) We do hope you can help us be together having fun. We will premiere it on July 26 at 7 p.m. on Facebook and YouTube. Please keep it a family show! Sing! Act! Show off some visual art you have created. If you did it, please share it. 
 
I do hope you will be a part! The more the merrier. Missing you all!
Rock+
Compline Service
Our next Compline service will be  this Sunday, July 12 at 8pm  on the lawn behind the church (where we have picnics and the Stewfest). The Diocese has opened for outside services only. We are making these choices out of love and concern. The link for watching from home and bulletin are listed below.

A few notes about the service:
  • IT IS SAFER TO STAY AT HOME
  • All people who attend must be masked. 
  • There will be no hand-shaking or passing of the peace.
  • We must maintain 6 foot distancing between individuals/family groups.
  • We will hold the service, but once we have 50 people we will have to turn people away. (This is from the Governor, not the Bishop.) 
  • If more than 50 come, I will hold a second service at 8:30. 
  • If this goes well, we will look at another one at a later date.
  • We will attempt to Livestream this on our Facebook page if our technology cooperates in case you would like to join us in spirit and not physically. 
  • We will email and post on our Facebook by 6pm on Sunday evening if we will need to cancel for rain. Keep an eye out if the forecast isn't favorable.
  • You can sit at the picnic tables, bring a lawn chair or stand.
  • We will have a box out if you would like to drop off your pledge.
St. James the Talent-Less Show
Calling all artists, musicians, poets, dancers, actors/actresses and dreamers! We are looking for you!
St. James the Less is hosting its first ever Virtual Talent Show! Please send us a video, less than 5 minutes in length, showing us your creation by Wednesday, July 22.

Art is always in the eye of the beholder, so whatever you deem to be art- send it! Text all submissions to Father Rock's cell phone, 804-306-2112. If you have any questions, reach out . If needed, we can film you here at the church. We are so excited to see what you send in. We will premier the submissions on Sunday, July 26th at 7pm. It will be a fun way to "see" each other and celebrate the gifts we have collectively.
  • Click here to see the VA & DC Diocese plan for the phased reopening.  
  • Click here for the most current response from Bishop Goff and The Diocese.
  • Shrine Mont Camps programs are suspended for this summer. The letter from Shrine Mont Camp Director, Paris Ball, can be found here.
Staying Connected
Friday, July 10, 2020
  • 12pm- Noonday prayers (online)

Sunday, July 12, 2020
  • 12pm- Worship (online)
  • Link to watch service
  • Link for bulletin
  • 8pm- Compline Service (in person outside & online)
  • Link to watch service
  • Link for bulletin

Monday, July 13, 2020
  • 12pm- Noonday prayers (online)

Join us daily for Noonday Prayer online here . You can follow along with the service on page 103 of the Book of Common Prayer or visit BCPonline.org (Click on "An Order of Service at Noonday")

If you can't join us live-time, no worries. All of these services can be viewed at your convenience afterward on Facebook. All our Sunday morning and Contemplative services will be posted on our YouTube Channel, "St. James the Less Ashland VA." You can access that here .
Helpful Links
  • Ways to Give- Useful suggestions for your giving
  • Prayer List- Prayers of the People
  • Ask for prayer-Send in your prayer request (please acknowledge if the prayer is private or for our Parish list)
  • Lectors & Pray-ers for Prayers of the People Wanted- Email us if you would like to read one of our Readings for Sunday Worship. All you need is a cell phone, a good speaking voice and a willingness.
  • Forward Day By Day- Email us if you would like us to mail you a copy of the Forward Day By Day. Please make sure to include your first and last name and US Postal address.
  • Giving to the First Baptist Food Pantry- Here's all you need to know about giving to our neighbors.
  • 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.
  • Good Chi Yoga- Barbara Olin is offering her yoga classes, via Zoom, on Wednesday and Fridays. Click the link to email her and let her know you are interested in joining!
  • Shrine Mont Survey- a quick survey to get some feedback on moving forward with our Annual Parish Retreat scheduled for October.
  • Father Rock's Blog- Access reading of all of Father Rock's Homilies.
St. James the Less
125 Beverly Rd. | Ashland VA 23005 | (804) 798.6336