Our Weekly News & Updates |
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Friends,
The numbers have only gotten worse since we decided to go entirely online this week. Thank you for your understanding and support in this. It made the hard decision easier.
I saw several of you online worshiping together at 10 on Sunday, and as I said, these days make us emphasize our unity all the more. The only way we can lead ahead is together.
Pray for all our staff, as we had to turn our plans around in less than a day last week. We are planning now to be out for most of January, and if the numbers change, we can revert to in-person sooner. But being professionals dictates that we plan and prepare for what we can know now. I was so appreciative of our team who shifted at the drop of a hat. Kudos to all of them!
I know of several people in our community who have tested positive, with varying degrees of symptoms. Pray for them and for our whole county. As of writing this Monday, over 40% of people tested in Hanover are positive, and with asymptomatic folks not being tested those numbers can only be higher. Stay safe, wear KN-95 masks, and take care of the "least of these" through your actions.
Know of our prayers, and if there is anything we can do, please let us know.
I found this and it brought me comfort and challenge.
Prayer for a New Normal
The World as we knew it is gone, and for what feels like such a long time we have experienced so much hardship during this Pandemic. As we prepare to walk into the future we pray for the "new normal" to come. May our hearts be unified in You more than ever. May the tender moments of seeing someone again in person be all the more rich and treasured. May the reunions, interactions, and moments ahead be held in such intentionality and may we turn to You in sincere gratitude. Help us to come out of this Pandemic better, not bitter. Help us to become more considerate of others, more mindful of how we can help one another, and how we can serve You and Your children well. We thank You that no matter how dark the night may get, there is the hope of the dawn to come.
Blessings, my friends!
Rock+
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Tuesday, January 11, 2022
- 10am-Book Club
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Link to join Zoom
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
- 7:30am-Eucharist Rite II
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Link to watch service
- 8am-Coffee Hour on Zoom
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Link to join Zoom
Sunday, January 16, 2022
- 8am- Eucharist: Rite I
- 9am- Children's Virtual Sunday School
- 10am- Eucharist: Rite II (music)
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Link for bulletin
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Link to watch
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11:30am- Virtual Coffee Hour
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Link to join Zoom
Monday, January 17, 2022
- 10:30am- Grief Group- VIRTUAL
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Link to join Zoom
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We are excited to announce our next book club starts today, Tuesday, January 11th at 10am. We’ve missed being together. We are meeting for 6 weeks via Zoom. The link to join the group is HERE.
If you would like to call in, dial 1 301 715 8592 and enter Meeting ID: 821 8112 3575, Passcode: 298264
The book is Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr. It is $15 on Amazon. (HERE is the link). It’s going to be another WONDERFUL book club! Amazon does have a few used copies that are less, but the shipping may take a little longer. You can look at the local libraries or they do have a free version on Hoopla if you like to listen to the book.
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Since we are not meeting in person for our Wednesday morning Morning Prayer service, we will bring back the Coffee Hour following the live service. Coffee hour will start at 8am on Wednesday. We hope you will grab your favorite hot beverage and join us for this time of connection. We look forward to seeing you!
To join the meeting click HERE. If you would like to call in, dial 1 301 715 8592 and enter Meeting ID: 825 6722 4007 & Passcode: 808819 |
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We will be holding a virtual coffee hour after our worship hour on Sunday. Please join us at 11:30am by joining the link HERE. If you would like to call in, dial 1 301 715 8592 and enter Meeting ID: 891 1435 5992 & Passcode: 842530
We hope you will join us for a time of community and connection!
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Grief Group is such a special place. If you would like support from the weight of what you are carrying, please join this thoughtful group of folks who gather virtually on Monday mornings. The next gathering is Monday, January 17th at 10:30am. The link to join the meeting is HERE.
If you would like to call in, dial 1 301 715 8592 and enter Meeting ID: 876 0720 2870 & Passcode: 440919
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YOUTH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY |
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A PIVOT DUE TO INCREASED COVID CASES |
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Just a reminder that we are not meeting in person right now due to the uptick of Covid cases right now. We honor our community by keeping our community safe.
We follow Hanover County Public Schools for the office and Wednesday Eucharist cancellations. If the schools are closed, the church is closed.
Thank you for your flexibility in these times. We are so grateful to be in loving community like this.
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Ashland Christian Emergency Services (ACES) provides services and assistance to people living in the Ashland community. The organization is supported by many churches in the area, including St. James the Less.
ACES held its annual meeting last month. The services provided are returning to pre-pandemic levels, although there are still limitations. (Please visit https://aceshanover.org/services/ to learn the current status.) Financially the organization is in a good position.
The Senior Rides program is going well. There are opportunities for both riders and drivers. Riders need to be 60 years old or over (with some exceptions), live in the Ashland area and be able to walk to and from an automobile. Drivers are volunteers who use their own cars. They are paid mileage expenses and are provided with additional insurance while driving for this program.
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SJTL CHILDREN'S SUPPLY DRIVE |
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We are collecting supplies for SJTL Children's Church for 2022. Please click HERE for an Amazon wish list. You are welcome to purchase off here or to contribute craft items (glue, pens, crayons, etc) you pick up locally. We appreciate you!
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We wanted to invite any and all of our SJTL members to join our Children and Families Facebook Page. (You can do that HERE) They have super cute updates that lift the spirit. Everyone could use some Good News! |
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OUTREACH
"We rise by lifting others." -Robert Ingersoll
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Emergency Food Pantry
Right outside our Saint James the Less Free Clinic we have a food pantry. It is available 24/7 and used a great deal as immediate needs come up. Please 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:
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Pantry: Instant potatoes, apple sauce (small sizes), toothpaste & toothbrushes
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Adult Clothing: Women's bras (C and larger cup, 38 and larger band), men's jeans
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Children's Clothing: Boy/girl fall and winter clothes (seizes 10 and larger)
*They ask we not donate spring and summer items just yet due to space.
ACES is open on both Mondays and Wednesday from 8:30-1130am. Thank you for your continued support!
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Peter Paul wishes to thank you for the much needed supplies for the children. The Center greatly appreciates all your thoughtfulness. Teachers will be able to hand our plenty of items to students returning to the after school program in 2022. Thank you again for your donations! |
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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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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. 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 Miller, Erin Yagla, Meredith Moon, Madge Carter, Meghann Batten, Mark Longaker, Michael Fox, Bill Blakemore, Chambers Cromwell, Dennis Folsom, Carter, Shirley Dols, Jack, Pam Bowers, Lin Varner, Connie Geisenderfer, Paul Robb, Debra Bernard, Rev. Dr. Susannah Metz, Smith family, Alex Gillette, Pam Gillette, Sally Budd, Sarah Chamblee & family, Loisanne Rockwell, Wiley Hughes, Jimmy Smith, Jeff Lawrence, May and family, Debbie Hill, Brian, Llelwyn Schofield, Schuyler, Harry Hassell, Melanie Fischer, Court Warfield, Deborah Leggott, Alice Cobb, The Rev. Richard Simpson, Beth Renswick, William Jonathan Smith, Scott Heron, Wagner family, William Major, Becky Moore, and the Diocesan Search Committee for our new Bishop.
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 Lila Snipes Slappey.
We ask your prayers for those who grieve.
We pray to overcome in Christ’s name the heritage of racism: For racial reconciliation, healing, and justice in Metropolitan Richmond; for an end to all personal and structural racial prejudice and discrimination.
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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January 9, 2022
Epiphany (Observed)
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January 12
George Field
January 13
Ben Marshall
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Saint James the Less Episcopal Church
125 Beverly Road
Ashland, VA 23005
(804) 798-6336
Staff:
Miriam Smith- Christian Formation- Children & Youth Director
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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. |
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