March 11, 2019
Monday, March 11
1:00 p.m. | Christian Meditation

Thursday, March 14
7:30 p.m. | Choir Rehearsal
Sunday, March 17
8:00 a.m. | Holy Eucharist with Traditional Language
9:15 a.m | Thirty Worthy Minutes
10:00 a.m. | Holy Eucharist with Contemporary Language
0:00 a.m. | Godly Play
11:00 a.m. | Sweet Treats & Fellowship
6:30 p.m. | North Shore Meditation Group
Our Sunday Worship
During Lent our Sunday liturgy will change. As is our custom, Sunday worship refrains from the exclamation of ‘alleluia’, flowers will not adorn the altar, and the Cristos Rex will be covered. Additionally to invite reflection expect fewer readings, different music, and the use of a sacred bell throughout the service. Over the six Sundays, sermons will focus on forgiveness as a principle practice of our faith. All of these changes are designed so that we can hear God’s presence and guidance of us in a new way during the forty days of Lent. 
Thirty Worthy Minutes
Sunday Mornings | 9:15 a.m. 
During Thirty Worthy Minutes, we experience Traveling the Way of Love, a series videos and discussion regarding the principle acts of Love: Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, Rest. Endorsed by Presiding Bishop Curry, videos report on ministries across the Episcopal Church that teach us something about these principle actions of Christian Love.
Personal Reflection
For your personal reflection, we offer Living Well Through Lent: Practicing Forgiveness with your Whole Heart Mind Soul and Strength. You may pick up a booklet at church or go online at livingcompass.org to sign up for a daily email, download a pdf, or join a closed Facebook group.
Christian Meditation with Rev. Lisa
Monday, March 11 | 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 19 | 7:00 p.m.
Meditation is a practice of beginning again and again. God invites us to sit still in open presences as we are. When we sit, we learn to be gentle and generous like God. We learn to soften to our distracted selves and find the place of true rest under the surface.
Forgive and Live Quiet Morning 
Saturday, April 6 | 8:30—11:30 a.m.
Forgiveness is the central tenet of the Christian Faith, and yet our issues needing forgiveness are often swept under the rug and left for another day to deal with.

Utilizing Christian Meditation practices, scripture, and silence Rev. Lisa will guide you toward the living spring of God’s mercy and strength. Expect large group teaching, small group conversation and personal reflection time. Though we tend to shy away from thinking about the need for forgiveness in our lives, trust instead that in prayer we discover a power we did not think we had to forgive. Forgive and Live. Please sign up with Rev Lisa by emailing her. 
Clothing Drive for The Grove
Residents of The Grove sometimes arrive with only the clothes on their back. We can be the hands and feet of Jesus by donating new or gently used clothing.

Most needed are elastic waist pants, zipper or button down shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts, t-shirts and socks. Please drop items off in Ron’s old office. All sizes for men and women, especially larger sizes, are needed. Clothing must be able to be washed in hot water. 
Are you Ready for Spring--It's Time to Sign Up for a Garden Plot!
Spring is around the corner and the St James the Less Community Garden will soon be green, again! You are invited to join other members of the congregation and community in growing your own fruits and vegetables or to help with those plots whose produce is designated for the Northfield Township Food Pantry. Produce from individual plots may also be donated to the food pantry.

Plot sizes will be 5' x 8' and be priced at $25 for the season. Depending on demand, two plots may be requested for a total of $50 for the season. 

As a community garden, gardeners are expected to:
  • participate in Spring and Fall clean-up and regular maintenance of their plots and the food pantry plots
  • use only organic fertilizers and pest control methods
  • use water from spigots If extra water is needed as water is delivered via drip hoses
  • refrain from changing any water settings unless directed by garden coordinators
  • keep apprised of garden news and communicate with volunteers, garden committee and other plot holders as needed 

If you're interested in a plot this year, please send an email by March 17 to: stjamesthelesscommunitygarden@gmail.com.  

In your email, please include the following information:  
  • Name 
  • Phone number 
  • Plot preference – 5' x 8' or 5' x 16' 
  • Acknowledge you’ve read and agree to abide by garden expectations
St James the Less Community Garden Clean-up Days
Saturday, April 6 & 13 | 9:00 a.m.
All members and friends of the congregation are invited to participate in the St James the Less Community Garden Clean-up Days at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday April 6 and Saturday April 13. You not need to have a garden plot to join in this effort and all volunteers will be greatly appreciated. In case of inclement weather, the dates will be pushed back one week. For questions, please send an e-mail to: stjamesthelesscommunitygarden@gmail.com
Godly Play During Lent
Godly Play is offered for children aged 3-12 years old. Godly Play is a program designed to expand a child's spiritual identity through storytelling.

During Lent, we will be adding additional programming to our Godly Play schedule to appeal to our older children (ages 8-12). Each week will have a directed response (activity) that children will take part in.
 
March 10: Faces of Easter I: God's Eyes
March 17: Faces of Easter II: Prayer Scrolls
March 24: Faces of Easter III: Sacred Oil
March 31: Faces of Easter IV: Meditation Rocks
April 7: Faces of Easter V: Parable Boxes
April 14: Faces of Easter VI: Palm Crosses

Children and Youth of all ages are welcome to join us for the story and directed response. 
Journey to the Cross
An exploration of Jesus' last days on Earth
Friday, April 19 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Children aged 3-12 journey through a sensory experience--smell the Garden of Gethsemane, feel the weight of cross, and hear the ripping of the veil at the Temple. 

This is a great event to invite friends to--it's active, but also clearly represents an important aspect of our faith and ties children to our values as Christians. 

Tuesday, March 19
7:00 p.m. | Christian Meditation

Thursday, March 21
7:30 p.m. | Choir Rehearsal

Sunday, March 24
8:00 a.m. | Holy Eucharist with Traditional Language
9:15 a.m | Thirty Worthy Minutes
10:00 a.m. | Holy Eucharist with Contemporary Language
0:00 a.m. | Godly Play
11:00 a.m. | Sweet Treats & Fellowship
6:30 p.m. | North Shore Meditation Group

Wednesday, March 27
2:30 p.m. | Eucharist at The Grove

Saturday, April 6
8:30 a.m. | Forgive and Live Quiet Morning
9:00 a.m. | Community Garden Clean-up

Saturday, April 13
9:00 a.m. | Community Garden Clean-up
From the Chicago Diocesan Cycle of Prayer:   
We pray for Congregations in the Chicago-South Deanery: Nuestra Senora de las Americas in Chicago; St. Alban in Chicago; Holy Nativity in Chicago and in our Companion Dioceses of SE Mexico and Renk, South Sudan for La Transfiguración in Oaxaca; Jarbanat Sub-Parish.
We pray for Bishop Todd & Rev. Patsy McGregor that they might be strengthened, renewed and refreshed on their sabbatical. We pray for all the clergy and people of the Diocese of Toliara, Madagascar. We pray for the end of the measles outbreak in Madagascar, where more than 68,000 people have been infected and at least 900 have died.
For those who are sick: 
O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers; mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to your servants the help of your power, that their sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  
Dunbar Abston (friend of John Roberts)
Daniel Berry (son of Miriam Berry)
Maryann Bovio (friend of Dane Cleven)
Liz Bruce (friend of Synek family)
Maureen Burke (parishioner)
Debbie Carpenter (sister of David Mason)
Sandra Carpenter (sister of Shari Noble)
Mary Cato (friend of Miriam Berry)
Silvio DeBartelmaise (friend of John Roberts)
Vicky Dicks (friend of Dorothy Generes)
Connor Dolge (friend of Jack & Patricia Kessie) 
Bill Fox (parishioner)
Samantha Friese (niece of Amy Fahey)
Andrew, Chuck and Sarah Hensel (friend of Mary Allen)
RG Heydt (friend of Katie Synek)
Walter Holt (friend of John Roberts)
E. Bradley Jones (friend of John Roberts)
Rev. David Jones (former interim rector)
Ken Killion (friend of Kathy Smith)
Courtney Koshgarian (friend of Peggy Greene)
Gail Kotin (parishioner)
Nancy Lidecker (mother of Katie Synek)
Tom Lund (parishioner)
Holly Madigan (friend of Sandy & Bert Getz Sr)
John Marquardt, Jr. (son of Judy Marquardt)
Peggy Mason (parishioner)
Karen Mills Hensley (daughter of Mike Mills)
Phil Montross (parishioner)
Marcella Oyer (parishioner)
Joanie Phillips (wife of Gary Phillips)
JoAnn Powers (friend of John Roberts)
Joe Pryzbilla (friend of Ron Valentine)
Eric Ramos (resident of The Grove)
Donald P. Rand (friend of John Roberts)
Lucy Roe (friend of Jack & Patricia Kessie) 
Christopher Rogala (nephew of Karen Peterson)
Patti Ruff (fiancée of Barbara Stutz's son)
Mary Schwenk (wife of Henry Schwenk)
Joan Scott (resident of The Grove)
Emily Senuta (mother of Chad Senuta)
John Sivright (friend of John Roberts and others)
Brian Stanton (resident of The Grove)
Shirley Gately Straub (mother of Susie White)
Kathy Stutz (daughter-in-law of Barbara Stutz)
Bill Tobey (friend of Denny Scully, John Roberts & Henry Schwenk)
Jamie Trotter (parishioner)
Scott Trumble (friend of Scott Swank)
Elena Walke (friend of Jack & Tricia Kessie)
Tom White (son of John White)
Addison & her parents, Kara & Mark, & brother, William (cousin of kClare McKellaston)
Becky  (friend of Katie Synek)
Beth  (friend of Kathleen Dewey)
Daniel  (friend of Sarah Schneider)
David  (son-in-law of Sally Neuert)
David and Cindy  (friends of Miriam Berry)
Dominic  (friend of Sarah Schneider)
Kelly & Josh & baby  (daughter & son-in-law of Carol & Scott Swank)
Yvonne  (mother of Heather Mages)
For those who have died:  
O God of grace and glory, we pray to you for those we love, but see no longer. Grant them your peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and, in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of your perfect will.

We thank you for giving them to us to know and to love as companions on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by the call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Anna Maria Hasch (mother of Anita Ruesch)
Norman Hasch (stepfather of Anita Ruesch)
Prayers may be added to this list by completing the Prayer Request Card, which can be found in the pews and Parish Hall, or by emailing Sue Babbs at suebabbs385@gmail.com 

We invite you to join the Prayer Network which receives email notifications and prays for needs as they are shared with us. Contact Sue Babbs for further information.