Our Weekly News & Updates |
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The day has arrived. In March of 2020 none of us, especially me, would have believed that it would be 15 months before we would hold another indoor service. But we have made it through the storm. There are still rattles of thunder, and dark clouds floating by, but the worst is passed. Thanks be to God! We have stayed strong and maintained. While often the things we have done would have been no one's first choice, it did enable us to feel connected. Thank you for your graciousness during this season. None of us was prepared or trained for the trials of a global pandemic, and we weathered it well.
This Sunday we will have two services, 8:30 and 10 a.m. They will be the same liturgy, Rite II, with music. We will limit numbers per service for the safety of all. We will be masked and distanced. Not everyone is fully vaccinated, especially our youngest who cannot be vaccinated yet.
On Friday, we will share a video that will walk through what to expect when you arrive for church, and the protocols we will follow.
Thank you for your faithfulness, and your care for the "least of these" as we move forward. I know this Sunday is an answer to prayer for many of us.
Blessings,
Rock+
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We are thrilled to announce that we will be moving Sunday morning services indoors beginning THIS Sunday, June 6th. Please click the on-line sign up below so that you can sign up for your spot since space is limited. You can also call the office between 8:30am- 2pm weekdays to reserve your spot. We will be offering two services, one at 8:30am and 10am, both Rite II with music.
8:30am services
10am services
Increasing numbers of our members are vaccinated. However, we cannot and will not be asking for anyone’s vaccination status, so be aware that you attend this service at your own risk and please do NOT attend if feeling at all ill. We will be cleaning between services to ensure safety for all. Masks are REQUIRED indoors to protect those in our congregation who are unable to get vaccinated or are not yet fully vaccinated.
What to expect:
- The doors that will be open are the doors up the ramp at the library and the door from the Memorial Garden to the office.
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There will be a check in desk in the library. Attendees will be checked in, temperature taken and a series of questions asked, per the CDC. (Questions listed here) Once you have done that, ushers will seat you.
- Everyone must wear a mask.
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As some of our beloved members usher in new chapters in their lives, we want to send them on with encouragement and well wishes. We will be collecting letters to the Reverend Deacons Harrison Higgins and Steve Pace to mark their journeys with huge support. You can mail in your letters to the Church, email them to us, or bring them in for a Sunday worship. We will compile them all in a book for them. Please have your letters in by Sunday, June 6th. |
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Harrison Higgins accepted an offer to be the deacon at St. Mary’s Church in Goochland. He knows the Priest and the community of and near St. Mary’s from childhood and felt a call to reconnect with it.
We know he will be a blessing to all those he engages with and will further the Kingdom of God. We wish him meaningful connections and experiences as he serves.
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Steve Pace has recently been ordained into the Sacred Order of Deacons.
Steve was a member of St. James the Less and our acolyte master for over 40 years, and served on Vestry and as a Senior Warden. He is woven into the fabric of SJTL in deep and beautiful ways. We wish him well as he serves the community of the Church of Our Savior in Montpelier.
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We will be having our Contemplative Service this week on Sunday, June 6th at 5pm. This service will continue to be an online experience for now as we navigate coming back indoors. The service's theme this week will be Reconciliation. We hope you will join us for a time of deep grounding as we reflect.
The link to the bulletin is HERE. The link to watch is HERE.
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It's time to start up ROMEOS! They will meet on June 8, 2021 at Jake's Place in Ashland at 11:30am. It has been a long time since they've had the opportunity to gather together and share thoughts and experiences. They will meet in the screened in porch at the back of Jake's Place where they have great ventilation and usually have the windows and doors open. Masks are optional and will respect the wishes of the establishment. Please RSVP to Leon HERE, this time only, to insure they have adequate tables set up.
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Thanks to some generous donations, we now have several how-to books in the church library related to handcrafts, including knitting, crocheting, and quilting. Look for the shelf marked "Handwork and Crafts." |
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Our Parish Retreat at Shrine Mont is being held October 15-17. If you would like to go ahead and sign up, email us. You can mail us your deposit (50%) or bring it by. We so hope you will join us for this glorious time in the mountains for a deepening of your faith and time of connection together!
The cost will be:
- Adults (age 18+) $160
- Teens (ages 13-18) $80
- Children (ages 4-12) $60
- Young Children (0-3) Free
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Area you or your youth thinking of the sacrament of Confirmation? Father Rock is hoping to host a Zoom class for those interested in learning more or getting confirmed. Email us and let us know if you would like to be part. We will make sure you get all the information. We hope you will join us! |
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WANT TO BE AN USHER OR GREETER? |
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If you would like to sign up to be an usher or greeter for any of our up coming services, please click the link below. We would love to have you join our team of smiling faces. We will happily train you, all you have to do is show up. For the summer services, if you sign up, you will be signing up for both the 8:30am and 10am services.
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Yoga
We will be offering a monthly young adult/young family yoga once a month during the summer. Stay tuned for dates and times!
Pop Tops
Since we weren't able to be together this week to count Pop Tops, we will postpone this to June 20th. These will be donated to the Ronald McDonald house in loving memory of Charlotte Reynolds.
Outreach
We willput together care packages for ACES and school supplies for the Peter Paul Development Center on June 20th. Thank you so much for your generosity to our community!
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Wednesday
Join us for the Morning Prayer service this Wednesday at 7:30am and then a cup of coffee afterward at 8am on Zoom. Please make sure that your screen name is your name so we know who is there. We look forward to seeing you!
Link to join the conversation at 8am: click here.
If you would like to call in (audio only) dial (646) 558 8656 and enter the Meeting ID: 826 2172 6493 and Password: 997124
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Thursday
Please join us this week for Book Club at 10:30am on Thursday as we delve into Searching For Sunday, by Rachel Held Evans. The conversations will be rich as the book is insightful, honest and enriching to your faith. The link to purchase the book is HERE. The link to join the meeting is HERE.
Please read chapters 20-22 (they are short chapters). Even if you aren't able to read this, please still join us. It will be accessible to everyone!
If you would like to call in, please dial 1 301 715 8592 and enter:
Meeting ID: 840 2332 3497
Passcode: 570346
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This Sunday
Please join us for an in-person INDOOR Eucharist: Rite II Worship Service at 8:30am and 10am. There will be limited seating, so please click the links in the article above to reserve your seat. If you aren't able to join us and you would like to watch from home the link to watch is HERE.
We also have an abbreviated Spiritual Eucharist service at 9am. The link to watch is HERE.
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Monday
Grief Group will be meeting in person, outdoor in the Memorial Gardens at 10:30am on Monday. We hope you will join this special time of connection.
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OUTREACH
"We rise by lifting others." -Robert Ingersoll
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Saint James the Less Free Clinic
Right outside our Saint James the Less Free Clinic our very own, Flory Brockwell, did her Gold Award Girl Scouts project by donating a food pantry. It is available 24/7 if people might have an immediate need. Please feel free to come by and donate non-perishables to this. It would be an incredible blessing to our community.
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ACES is in need of the following items:
- Pantry: Canned beef stew (smaller cans), Canned Brunswick stew (smaller cans), Adult and Children’s toothbrushes (individually wrapped, or two packs)
- Children’s Clothing: Girl’s new underwear (size 8)
- Adult Clothing:Men’s socks (sports style – black or white), Men’s briefs (sizes M – XL)
Please be advised that ACES will be closed on Memorial Day (Monday, May 31st) Thank you for your continued support!
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POP TOPS
We are still collecting Pop Tops for Ronald McDonald house. Hang on to them or bring them by when you can. This is a valuable resource that goes to help families with children in the hospital here in Richmond.
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PETER PAUL
Students at present time need school supplies. They would be grateful to receive any of the following:
- note book paper
- spiral note books
- high lighters
- pencils
- pens
- erasers
- pencil boxes
- crayons
- markers
In front of the Coleman Center there is a small closet for non- perishable food. Students and families can take what they need. Canned food and small boxes are requested. Cereal boxes are too big. These donations would be much appreciated as well. You are welcome to bring the donations here and we can get them down there. Thank you!
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Tuesday, June 1, 2021
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12pm- Noonday Prayer (online)
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
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7:30am-Morning Prayer Service (online)
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Link to watch service
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Link for bulletin
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8am- Coffee & Conversation (online)
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Link to join
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12 pm-Noonday prayer (online)
Thursday, June 3, 2021
- 10:30am- Book Club (online)
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Link to join
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12pm- Noonday prayers (online)
Friday, June 4, 2021
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12pm- Noonday Prayer (online)
Sunday, June 6, 2021
- 8:30am & 10am- In Person, Indoor Eucharist:Rite II Worship
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Link to watch service
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Link for bulletin
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5pm- Contemplative Worship Service (on-line)
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Link to watch service
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Link for bulletin
Monday, June 7, 2021
- 12pm- Noonday Prayer (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 "Daily Office" and then"An Order of Service at Noonday")
If you can't join us live-time, no worries. All of our 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.
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Lord, we lift up this nation struggling with itself these days, reeling from this pandemic and its repercussions. Encourage us to faithfulness, righteousness, and compassion for all God’s Children. We lift up Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael, our Presiding Bishop, Susan, Jennifer, and Porter our Bishops, Rock and Becky, our priests, and Harrison, our deacon. 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, Ralph, 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, Pat, Dick, Erin, Joanie, Anna, Meredith, Madge, Mary Ann, Katie, Molly, Amy, Meghann, Mark, Carol, David, Alice, Dennis, Barbara, Colin and Caleb, Jimmy, Michael Fox, Alex Gillette, Bill & Beth Arrott, Bill Blakemore, Mason, Jan Meacham, Karl Meyer, Chambers Cromwell (friend of Betty & Jim Moore), Horace Crowe (friend of the Meyer’s family), Delaney Thompson family, Aubrey Fletcher, Dee Alvarez, Shelby, Lyla Buchanan, Kimette Cannady, Pam Gillette, Melanie Fischer, Dennis Folsom, Tom & Fran Burke (Beth Renswick’s aunt & uncle), Ginny Miller (Carol Barnes’ sister), Doris Hassell, Carter and Lila (family of Betsy Snipes and Kristina Raney), The Paxton family (Pat Jordan’s son-in-law’s family), Shirley Dols, Jay Hart, Cliff Pierce (cousin of the Wehman-Hopkins family), Jack, Rison and Sutherland families, Judy Malory, Teva Rittenhouse, Connie Geisenderfer, Paul Robb, Roxanne, Sarah Reece, William Timberlake, Jonathan Smith, Anne Ericksen (Julie Ericksen’s mother-in-law) and Rev. Dr. Susannah Metz.
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: Kemper Jones, Greg Ericksen, Matthew Thomas, Philip Morison, James Ashley, Andrew Brunson, Jordan Fox, and Katherine Murphy.
We ask your prayers for those who have died, especially Elaine Belyea.
We ask your prayers for those who grieve.
We pray for the criminal justice system in Metropolitan Richmond: For just institutional policies and programs that foster restorative practices, leading to wholeness and healing.
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.
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THIS PAST SUNDAY'S HOMILY |
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NeverTheLess and Weekly E-News Deadline: If you have an announcement to be shared with the parish, please get the information to Kasey no later than noon on Monday. Thanks!
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June 2
Rebecca Hottman
June 5
Holly Rison
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June 6
Curtis Shifflett
June 7
Michael Fox
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