Message of the Moment

The Season of Generosity


Welcome to the season of generosity at St. James Church. Setting aside a time of year to focus on stewardship and generosity at St. James is a misnomer. It has been my experience that the members of our community are glad to share their resources all year long. Of course, there are needs year round, and our parish has numerous pathways to giving and volunteering to help those in need.


The “stewardship” time of year (for lack of a better word for it), is a time to reflect on the some of the many theological reasons Christians have for being generous. It is also a time for us to join each other in solidarity; to come together with one voice declaring our faith in God and proclaiming our commitment to each other and this community. Even if you pledge the smallest amount (a gift of any size is truly appreciated), the fact that you go to the length of filling out, signing, and turning in your pledge makes it an outward and visible sign of the inward and spiritual grace we receive by being Christians together. Please participate in the “season of generosity” in the way you can. You are very important to us.


Scripture tells us that God first placed human beings in a garden to practice stewardship: cultivating tending, toiling and caring for God’s garden (Genesis 2:15). From the opening verses of Genesis, God blesses and calls all of creation to be fruitful and flourish. As God’s stewards, it is our highest privilege to use the gifts that have been entrusted to us—relationships and resources—to ensure that the entire created order reaches its potential of life abundant.


May you always flourish in faith. Yours in Christ, Mother Dawn+

First Things First


The Gardening Crew will meet at 8 am on this Saturday, October 8 to continue to pull weeds. All tools provided. Bring willing hands and gloves.


This Sunday is Breakfast Sunday! Remember, it is potluck style, so bring a favorite breakfast dish to share. A hashbrown casserole will be provided.


The Readings this Week

Click here to go to the Lectionary Page

Click here for a free PDF download of the Book of Common Prayer

The Lessons appointed for the Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost, Proper Twenty-Three, Revised Common Lectionary, Year C

2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c

Psalm 111

2 Timothy 2:8-15

Luke 17:11-19

Calendar

Parish News and Updates
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Halloween Party and Chili Cook-Off


Save the Date! We are bringing back our community wide Halloween Party and Chili Cook-off on Wednesday, October 26. There will be games, candy, and a "haunted" event put on by the youth group for all the kids in our community. You are invited to bring sides for the chili cook-off. If you'd like to enter the competition with your own award-winning chili and/or volunteer, email Chelsea


We will need donations of candy and toys for the kids at the Halloween party. You can drop off a bag of goodies in the basket marked Halloween party by the front doors. If you'd like to volunteer for a game please contact Chelsea. The youth group also need donations of large cardboard boxes (big enough to crawl through) for the haunted maze. Thank you!

Creation Care will have their regular monthly meeting this Saturday, October 8, at 4:30 pm at St. James in the Lounge. Everyone is welcome to attend!


New Book, and In-Person! St. James/St. Stephen’s Book Club is starting The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian on October 13 and will meet in person at St Stephen’s at noon. They meet every Thursday at noon and new reading fans are always welcome. Questions, contact Mary Sloan.


Adult Forum continues with our series of 'Going off the Lectionary Grid.' Join us every Sunday (except for Breakfast Sunday) at 9:45am in the Guild Hall.

Membership Connections with Realm


Exciting changes are coming for members! We have recently updated the computer software (you may have heard staff mentioning ‘Realm’), and in a few weeks we will be inviting members to create their own log-in. This will allow you to update contact information and pledge/giving info, and see church events (including Zoom links for online meetings & events). We will announce when the emails inviting you to join are going to come out. We are hoping for a smooth transition and useful experience for everyone. More updates will be coming soon!

Our Annual Blanket Drive for the Homeless served by Humankind’s winter shelters here in Wichita has started. Please bring new, home-made, or serviceable blankets of any size to church. Just leave them in the basket by the red doors, and we will deliver them. Thank you!


Our Pocket Change Ministry has recently presented a check for $500 to Wichita Children’s Home for their program called CrossRoads. This program focuses on the homeless youth of South-Central Kansas. The CrossRoads shelter officially opened last month in order to help provide Wichita’s youth with the resources they need to move out of homelessness and into sustainable living arrangements. For more information on all services provided by Wichita Children’s Home, go to www.wch.org. Thank you St. James’ members, for making our Pocket Change Ministry such a heartfelt success.


HELPING UKRAINE: Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is partnering with other churches to help endangered citizens in Ukraine. By joining with the Convocation of Episcopal Churches of Europe and the ACT Alliance (ecumenical alliance of 130 groups), ERD is providing food, shelter, and transit for people fleeing the war, as well as food, shelter, and comfort for those unable to leave- the elderly, women, and children. In addition ERD and the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe are working inside Europe to provide refugee resettlement as well as psychological and social care for refugees.


Children and Youth

Lauren Schmeidler, a long-time member, is our new Nursery Coordinator! She is trained in CPR and Safeguarding God's Children. As a long-time volunteer in the Nursery, she is excited about this new opportunity. The nursery is open each Sunday from 8:15 am - 12:00 pm and special events for newborns to five years of age. We are still looking for volunteers to assist Lauren, contact Chelsea.

Prayers

Parish Prayers for the Week of October 9

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer: 

Pray for the Church of the Province of Central Africa

 

In the World Council of Churches Cycle of Prayer: 

Pray for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama


In the Kansas Cycle of Prayer: 

Pray for St. Paul’s, Leavenworth


St. James Church prays for these individuals as well:

 

Our seminarian, Maddy Bishop;

 

Those serving in the military:

J. David Anderson-Lusk, Will Corkins, Maureen Tanner.



Those who have recently died: Diana Samuelson; Sean Stephans


And those who have died in Octobers pastLarry Anderson; Tunice Blair; Kathleen Cox; Rollie Enoch; Dennis Evans; Joanne Fleming; Constance Fort; Carl Haas; Alfred Littleton; Dorothy Love; Al McClure; Donald Pipkin; Tish Ralstin; Marjorie Riley; Paul Shannon; Bud Shaw; Eden Strutt

 

Those in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness or any other adversity:

John R.; Marge Rine & family; Janet R.; Phil S., Celia B.; Sylvester; Darwin P.; Sharon & Jerry; Astrid; Ryan; Cathy; Bill & Marjorie; Jan. M., Edna & James; Janet R.; Martha F.; Andy S.; Pat; Peggy S.; Gary; Deb H.; Bill and Jeri; Jayne P.; Barbara H.; Dana F.; Suzy R.; Helen B., Bill and Carolyn, Dave W.; Carole; Bob and Sue; Pam M.; Dal; Gus; Joan J.; Martha L.; Betty; Sage; Joseph B.; Jerry M.; Joy J.; Jonathan

 

For the sake of privacy, we do not list the last names of those who are on our prayer list because of trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or adversity. We do our best to include last name initials in the event that two parishioners with the same first name exist.

 

If your prayers have been answered, let us rejoice with you. Please contact the office to let us know we can remove your prayer request. If you have prayers you would like added to the prayer list, please contact the office at office@stjameswichita.org or 316-683-5686.

  

Loving, Liberating and Life-Giving

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Diocesan News

Spiritual Life: 2022 Calendar of Retreats

Guided Christian Meditation

Saturday, October 22, 7:30-8 am

St. Mary's Chapel, Grace Cathedral, Topeka


Spiritual Deepening for Parish Life

Saturday, November 19, 2022, 9:30 am-2 pm

St. Andrew's, Emporia

Learn contemplative prayer methods to bring to parish meetings and other groups to form spiritual community, support discernment, and shape prayer groups. 


Advent Quiet Day: Let it Be, the spirituality of Mary of Nazareth

Saturday, December 3, 2022, 9 am - 2 pm

Grace Cathedral and Bethany Garden


The Canon for Spiritual Life and Clergy Care is offering quiet days and retreats around the diocese throughout the year. A complete list is kept on their website. If you would like to invite her to create something for your parish, minster or convocation please reach out. 

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