Get your leashes and pet carriers ready!
The annual Blessing of Animals (also known as the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi) will be this Sunday, October 3, at the 9 am service.
Bring your beloved furry, scaly, feathered and hard-shelled friends to the parking lot next to Michaux House, also known as St. Francis Chapel, so they can receive their deeply deserved blessing. This festive service begins with ebullient music led by the St. James’s Children’s and Cherub Choirs. It’s the feel-good event of the fall. We can’t wait to see you there.
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Monday, October 4th
Community Yoga on Zoom:
Yoga for Mobility & Stability: 2:30pm (suitable for beginners)
Yoga Vinyasa: 4pm
Interfaith Dialogue: Sukkoth and Hospitality
at Congregation Beth Ahabah
Pizza and fellowship at 6:00 pm in the Main Lobby
Program at 6:45 pm
Tuesday, October 5th
Tuesday Men’s Bible Study: 7:30 am
Education for Ministry (EfM) on Zoom: 6 pm
Wednesday, October 6th
Living Faith Bible Study: 10 am
Wednesday Night Worship, Study & Fellowship on Zoom: 5:30 pm - 8 pm
Art & Theology - A sudden gift: Poetry, prayer, and the space between
with Brett Stonecipher
Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm,
Study at 6 pm, Fellowship at 7 pm
Come for all or part of our evening together
Thursday, October 7th
Men’s Bible Study Breakfast: 7:30 am
Brown Bag Book Group: 12:00 pm
Book: The Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
Shrine Mont Parish Retreat Potluck: 5:00 pm
Memorial Garden
For more information about these events, go to the Calendar at doers.org.
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This week's eChimes features |
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- REAL LIFE outreach
- The Palestrina Mass
- Praise the Lord and pass the pizza
- Why do you pledge?
- 7:45 am service
- Interfaith dialogues strengthen everyone's faith
- Adult Learning
- Church merch is back on sale!
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- Daniel Sanez Organ Recital
- St. James's Bluegrass Mass
- 5 pm Contemporary Service songlist
- Paper Calendar
- Greeters
- All aboard the Wheels Ministry
- In Our Prayers this week
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Settle in there's a lot of news |
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You can offer Real life solutions to REAL LIFE situations.
St. James’s has restructured our Outreach programs so we can have deeper relationships with each program. So moving forward, Doers Doing in the Community will focus on working with three organizations: Caritas, Peter Paul and REAL LIFE.
October is the first month under our new structure and our first partner is REAL LIFE, which “serves individuals impacted by incarceration, homelessness or substance use disorder.” One of the ways they offer assistance is to provide housing, and on October 13th, they’ll be opening their 11th home, named in honor of Robbie Morris, father of St. James’ser Whit Morris.
This is where you come in.
Between now and October 13th, you’re invited to bring linens to the church--either to the Narthex on Sundays or to the Parish House Mondays thru Thursdays, 9 to 4. You can also volunteer to help set up the new house by putting together bunk beds and setting up the kitchens. Sign up here. For more information, look for an email next week or a post at doers.org/outreach
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The Palestrina Mass
Sunday, Oct. 3, 11:15 am
The Parish Choir will sing some of the most beautiful sacred music ever composed, Missa Aeterna Christi Munera (Mass of The Eternal Gifts of Christ) by Palestrina, during this Sunday’s Choral Eucharist at 11:15 am.
"He is the real king of sacred music and the eternal father of Italian music." -Giuseppe Verdi
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594) was the long-time director of papal choir at St. Peter’s in Rome, where he composed hundreds of masses and motets considered to be perfect models of sacred music. The feeling imparted by his music, of solemnity, meditative thought, and divinity, transcends the bounds of language. Join us as we celebrate the gifts of Christ and let Palestrina’s divine sacred music calm the agitations of our souls. To read more about Palestrina, click here.
A Choral Eucharist is Eucharistic liturgy where the main parts are sung or chanted by a choir and clergy.
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Praise the Lord and pass the pizza.
This Sunday’s 5 pm contemporary service will be followed by pizza in the Memorial Garden. So come enjoy our intimate, casual and worshipful Eucharistic service, then dig in to some tasty ‘za.
Here’s a link to a Spotify playlist featuring our 5 o’clock songs performed by Michel and Kim. Listen at your leisure. Then sing with abandon.
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Why do you pledge to St. James’s?
As we move deeper into our Season of Unity, we are asking you to think deeply about why you pledge & give to St. James’s. This Sunday, before and after The Blessing of the Animals, and before the Palestrina Mass, we’ll be asking you to write down why you pledge. We’ll then share your thoughts with other parishioners in our social media outlets and in next week’s eChimes.
If you’re ready to pledge, you can do so here.
We had a lot of fun with our blackboard project during our Season of Gratitude. We hope you bring the same enthusiasm to it during our Season of Unity.
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The 7:45 am service is on hold.
For a variety of reasons, most importantly because our Choir needs the sanctuary as its Sunday morning practice location since social distancing requirements prevent them from practicing in the choir room, we will be putting the 7:45 am service on hold.
Please remember that we have added the 11:30 am outdoor Eucharist in the Memorial Garden and our new 5 pm service.
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Interfaith dialogues strengthen everyone’s faith.
We are excited to join Congregation Beth Ahabah for interfaith dialogues throughout the program year. This fall, Congregation Beth Ahabah invites us into their sukkah (booth) for a conversation about Christian and Jewish understandings of hospitality.
Pizza and fellowship at 6:00 p.m. in the Main Lobby; Program 6:45 p.m.
No reservation necessary.
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Church Merch is back on sale!
As you can see from the picture, everybody’s wearing the new St. James’s t-shirt. If you want one--or one of our new mugs and/or car coasters--bring cash or a check to church this Sunday and visit our Church Merch table.
Comfort Cotton T-shirts are a $30 donation
Mugs are $10
Car Coasters are 2/$5 or 4/$9.
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Car Coasters for your car cup holders
Absorbs the mess left by your cup or water bottle.
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Classic Diner Coffee Mug
Your morning coffee will taste even better with this mug.
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Moving Toward a Deeper Understanding.
A couple of location changes:
Sunday Bible Study will be in Valentine Hall, not in the Parkinson Room (due to a lingering dampness issue).
Intentional Spirituality Group has been moved to the Michaux House Garden, not Peterkin Parlor.
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SUNDAY SMALL GROUPS - 10:15 am
Sunday, October 10 - Sunday Small Groups begin
This October and November adult education will be available in small, lay-hosted groups. Connect with fellow parishioners and God as you go deep with the topic of your choice for a limited time!
- Did Jesus really just say that? with Billy Baxter and Bennette Burks
- Contemplative Practices of the Heart with Sarah Eck and Suzanne Hall
- Readings that Charm, Challenge, and Inspire with Anna Evas
- Parenting Group with Emily Stock
- Earth Care, Soul Care with Monica Lewis and Br. Leo Campos
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WEDNESDAY NIGHT ZOOM - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm, class at 6 pm, conversation at 7 pm. Come for all or some.
Wed., October 6 - Art & Theology: A sudden gift: Poetry, prayer, and the space between
Speaker: Brett Stonecipher, a doctoral student at Duke University, where he thinks about the relationship between theology and literature. He’s interested in the ways that encounters with literary texts can form, deform, expand, and compress visions of the world and of others—and why this is not just of social but also theological significance.
Register once in advance for the Wednesday Zoom gatherings here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. This link will be emailed each Wednesday to all registered attendees.
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OTHER ADULT LEARNING OPTIONS
Sunday Bible Study
Most Sundays, October 3 to December 19, at 10:15 am Parkinson Room. The Rev. Doug Wigner will be focusing on the Gospel According to Luke.
Intentional Spirituality Group
First Sunday of the month, 10:15 am Peterkin Parlor, with Brother Leo Campos and
the Rev. Hilary Streever.
Interfaith Dialogue: Sukkoth and Hospitality
Monday, October 4 at Congregation Beth Ahabah
Pizza and fellowship at 6:00 pm in the Main Lobby; Program 6:45 pm
We are excited to join Congregation Beth Ahabah for interfaith dialogues throughout the program year. This fall, Congregation Beth Ahabah invites us into their sukkah (booth) for a conversation about Christian and Jewish understandings of hospitality.
Numerous Book Clubs and Bible Studies
The Tuesday Reader, Brown Bag Book Group, Tuesday Men's Bible Study, Women's Bible Wisdom, Living Faith Bible Study, Thursday Men's Bible Study Breakfast
Go to Adult Learning on doers.org then click on the Adult Learning Program Summary. It’s all there.
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“Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul;
it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.”
- Martin Luther
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Organ recital featuring Daniel Benjamin Sanez
Friday, Oct 15 at 7 pm
St. James’s is delighted and honored to present an Organ Recital by Daniel Benjamin Sañez, Director of Music and Liturgy and Principal Organist and Choirmaster at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. He’ll be playing selections by Bach, Langlais, Cochereau, Marchand, Vierne, Franck and Pärt.
Admission is free.
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The annual St. James’s Bluegrass Mass
Sunday, Oct 17, 8:45 am
The Bluegrass Mass is one of the most cherished musical days of the year here at St. James’s. So make sure to mark your calendar for October 17 at 8:45 (after all, you don’t want to miss the prelude.) Our renowned West Gallery Choir and the Guitar Ensemble, along with guest artists Charles Arthur (mandolin, dobro and banjo), Molly Sharp (fiddle), and singer Tarran Turvey will fill our Sanctuary with some serious pickin’, fiddlin’ and twang.
The music will include classic bluegrass songs--which has roots in traditional English, Scottish and Irish ballads and dance music--plus a Bluegrass Mass setting by Mark Whitmire. This is a wonderful service to introduce your friends and neighbors to St. James’s. Even though this is a 9 am service, remember that the Prelude begins at 8:45 am.
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It’s easier to sing along when
you know the songs.
One piece of feedback we’ve received about the new 5 pm services is that folks want to know the songs better so they can sing along with more passion and energy.
So here’s a link to a Spotify playlist featuring our 5 o’clock songs performed by Michel and Kim. Listen at your leisure. Then sing with abandon.
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Do you have room on your fridge?
St. James’s is bringing back the paper calendar that so many of you have hung on your refrigerators, bulletin boards and other spots in your home. The calendar condenses the whole month of activities into a single page so you can quickly reference what’s doing with our congregation of doers.
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We’re looking for smiling faces and welcoming hearts.
Welcoming people (visitors and existing parishioners alike) is an essential part of the Sunday worship experience. If you’d like to be the friendly face and the helpful presence that makes people feel welcomed and confident, please become a Greeter. All the positive energy you put out will come back to you ten-fold. To sign up, click here.
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All aboard the Wheels Ministry.
This is one of the easiest and most satisfying ministries available to St. James’s’ members. You provide transportation on Sunday mornings to gracious and grateful Westminster Canterbury residents who attend the 11:15 am worship service.
Training for driving the WCR van is provided. Our goal is to engage 8 to 10 drivers so each Wheels Ministry member only has to drive once every two months.
Open your heart, then open the doors of the church to people who otherwise can’t get here.
If you are interested in volunteering and/or leading the team, please contact Mary Brown at mbrown@doers.org.
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Click here to see the names of those we're remembering in our prayers this week.
We do our best to keep this list current, but if you want your name added or removed, please contact Mary Brown or call her at 804-355-1779, ext. 313.
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St. James’s Episcopal Church | DOERS.ORG | (804) 355-1779
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