September always meant a blank slate, a tabula rasa, and that always made me happy. After getting a few graduate degrees, and teaching for 12 years, it shows I REALLY like school. School supplies always meant fresh starts, and new beginnings. When I taught at one middle school, I would always say to a kid who had a rough day, "Tomorrow is a new day." We all need grace. We all need to feel we can begin again. School starting, New Year's, birthdays, spring planting, whatever, we draw lines to say, "After this we are new." Marriages, baptisms, ordinations, our rites reflect that innate need for a Day One.

However you start, whenever you start, do it to the glory of God. Soli Deo gloria! (Glory to God alone.) Be blessed today, and every day. Hope to see you at church and the picnic next Sunday, and maybe back for Bluegrass Mass.

This past Sunday we held our virtual Contemplative Worship. The theme was Respect. We hope you will join us in this beautiful series contemplating our final service in the Baptismal covenants series. Click the link to watch.

Don't forget that we are moving our Rite I service back to 8am on Sundays this week. We look forward to seeing you there!

Please join us this Sunday after our 10am worship for a Church-wide picnic. It is a (BYOB) Bring-Your-Own- Basket affair. We will have chilled bottled waters available for everyone.

Children's Virtual Sunday school starts this Sunday at 9am. At 11am, after the 10am service we will be holding our Children's Carnival at the Church Picnic, where you can pick up some fun materials to do at home as a family!

The Handbell Choir and Parish Choir resume their rehearsals this week. All are welcomed and encouraged to join these groups. The Handbell Choir rehearses Thursday at 6:00 and the Parish Choir rehearses at 7:00. We are always looking for new singers and ringers and we have a place waiting for you. In keeping with church and diocesan guidelines, wearing a mask will be needed at both of these rehearsals. If you have any questions or need additional information about these groups, please email Reggie with any questions. We look forward to seeing everybody back on Thursday and hope to see many new faces!

It's back! The long awaited Bluegrass Mass is starting again THIS WEEK at Saint James the Less. It will be held monthly on the second Sunday of the month outside at 5:00pm. Our first one will be held on Sunday, September 12th at 5pm. We hope you will bring your chairs and join us for this awesome worship service!

(We will move indoors with masks if the weather is questionable)

We are so excited to announce our next Book Club, starting Tuesday, September 14th at 10am. We will be reading My Life with the Saints by James Martin. (10th anniversary edition) The link to purchase the book on Amazon is HERE. If you need any help or would like us to get you a copy, let us know. We will be meeting virtually (on Zoom) through November 16th. We hope you will join us!

Next month Becky+ will begin offering a weekly Centering Prayer group at St. James the Less.  Beginning on Monday, September 20th at 5:30pm in the library, we will gather once a week for an hour.  Come in at the handicapped ramp at the front of the church. Park on the loop.

Centering Prayer is a method of meditation that deepens our relationship with God, relying on the principle of surrender or “letting go.”  In this form of prayer we experience God’s presence within us, closer than our breath, deeper than the thinking mind.  It is an ancient Christian practice that finds its home in the monastic sacred reading of Lectio Divina.  Our Centering Prayer group will meet weekly to learn the practice, listen to spiritual readings and insights, and reflect upon God’s presence.  No prior experience is necessary.  You do not need to commit to weekly attendance; come when you are able and as you are.

Just a reminder about the sweet Little Library that we have out by our playground. You can add to our collection, borrow or take for your enjoyment. Please feel free to come by and see the collection we are filled with!

Our very own Saint James the Less Food Outreach is asking that we gather individually wrapped snacks to send home in backpacks for our food insecure students this fall. Anything that you can donate would be so appreciated. We are looking for things like individually wrapped goldfish, pudding cups, oatmeal pouches, raisins. There will be a box in the hallway that you can place the donation in. Thank you so much in advance!

Hanover Safe Place is an amazing local non-profit that supports those who are experiencing sexual and domestic violence. If you don't know them, please check out their website or social media. They do so much to support this community. They are collecting school supplies for their families for the 2021-2022 school year. If you would like to donate, you can purchase items and have them sent directly to their office on this Amazon link or, you can make donations of new school supplies in-person from the list below. Their office is open 9 to 5. If you arrive to donate school supplies, please call their office at 804-752-2728 and someone will open the main door for you. Thank you in advance for your support!

Join us for IN PERSON Eucharist:Rite II service on Wednesday morning at 7:30am in the church. Please still wear your masks. We will have coffee and bagels with spreads in Brydon Hall afterward. If you would like to watch live, please click HERE. We hope you will join us in whatever way you feel comfortable.

We hope you will join us for one of our in person indoor Sunday services. We still require masks when in the service since we are not yet all fully vaccinated. This is how we can continue to show love for our neighbors. The balcony is reserved for our families that have children who are still unvaccinated. They are not required to sit up there, but have the option. We still have a section of seating for social distancing as well. We hope you join us!

8:30am (Sept 5), 8am (Sept 12 through May)- Eucharist: Rite I (no music)

10am- Eucharist: Rite II (with music)

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 is: (if cost is a hindrance, please let us know. We can help!)Final payments are due October 1st.

This year we will be supporting our middle and high school youth groups through a new program called Journey 2 Adulthood. This will take place on Sundays at 6pm and will include our sister Episcopal churches from our region. Please join us for the Parent-Youth dinner gathering on September 26th. If you are interested in learning more or volunteering, please email Miriam. Looking forward to seeing you all soon! 

We are looking for 5 volunteers to help with prepping a wonderful season for our youth. Your help will be needed to prep bags for each family as well as write notes of encouragement. Please email Miriam of you would like to help!

We are looking for 2 congregation members a month to join us for Sunday school to share your experiences and celebrations of faith! Feel free to reach out to Miriam as we continue to create ways to share together in the virtual environment.

Join us for fellowship in the virtual Parent Small Group. Every Wednesday at 8pm we will meet over Zoom with your favorite beverage in hand to support each other throughout this journey of parenthood and grow in faith together.

If you would like to volunteer to be a Sunday School teacher or assistant in the fall for children or youth please, email Miriam. She would love to use your skills and talents with our awesome children and youth.

We are accepting school supplies on behalf of the Peter Paul Center downtown for their students. The collection boxes are in our hallway.

We ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well-being of all people. Remembering especially Gus Miller, Erin Yagla, Anna Stiles, Meredith Moon, Madge Carter, Meghann Batten, Mark Longaker, Michael Fox, Bill Blakemore, Karl Meyer, Chambers Cromwell, Dennis Folsom, Carter and Lila, Shirley Dols, Jay Hart, Jack, Pam Bowers, Lin Varner, Connie Geisenderfer, Paul Robb, Jonathan Smith, Debra Bernard, Beth Arrott, Rev. Dr. Susannah Metz, the Rev. Victor King, Smith family, Alex Gillette, Pam Gillette, Sally Budd, Thad Green, Sarah Chamblee & family, Harrison May, Loisanne Rockwell and the Diocesan Search Committee for our new Bishop.

We ask your prayers for those who have died, Fran McConnell and Matt Chamblee.

125 Beverly Road

Ashland, VA 23005

The Rev. Rock Higgins- Rector

The Rev. Becky McDaniel- Priest Associate

Kasey Buckland- Parish Administrator

Reggie Long- Organist/Music Director

Miriam Smith- Christian Formation- Children & Youth Director