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Dear Friends,
What is transition ministry? It’s the work that happens during the time between settled rectors in a parish. This isn’t the first time St. James’s has been through a transition, but transition ministry has changed over the years. No longer just an in-between time of waiting for a new rector to be called, transition time is now a time of intentional work to assess the overall health and vitality of a parish and to clarify its identity and mission. That work is done by both the interim rector (supported by vestry and staff) and the parish itself. It’s important for the parish to define its mission for itself, based on its particular context and resources, and not wait for a new leader to come and define it for them.
The work of the interim rector begins with a period of assessment – everything from programs to meeting canonical requirements and using best practices to staffing to determining the soundness and health of the finances. That work goes on throughout the interim period. The work of the parish is to look intentionally at its heritage, to re-assess its mission, to identify and strengthen its connections with its neighbors as well as the Diocese, plus review the organizational and leadership structure, and finally (as a last step), imagine a future through creating a parish profile to invite potential rector candidates to enter into mutual discernment with the parish discernment committee.
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During Lent this year, we are going to focus together on some of this work. On Sunday at the forum (in Valentine Hall) between services, I’ll be giving an overview of the work we do during the interim period along with some of my assessments so far, and then on four Wednesday nights (February 21 and 28, March 13 and 20), again in Valentine Hall, at 7:00 p.m., I invite you to gather with me to do some of the work of the parish. We’ll be focusing on heritage/history the first two sessions and mission the last two. (The focus areas of connection and future will come later.)
Why do this work? Can’t we just identify some great candidates out there and interview them? One of the things "The Church” has learned over the years (often by way of negative experiences) is that inviting a new rector into a system that has not done this kind of work runs the risk of a mismatch and/or expectations on either side that are unrealistic, and, sadly, just a bad experience because of baggage left over from the past that comes back into play in the future. Further, sometimes there is subtle conflict within a system that, if it isn’t identified and addressed during the interim period, can blow up unexpectedly in the new rector’s tenure. Just like when personal relationships end, it’s good to do some self reflection and to work through grief or conflict – to learn to appreciate the past but also to understand that it will not be repeated in a new relationship which needs to develop into its own thing. A new rector will want to be welcomed as the person that they are, not in comparison (or being expected to be like) to any former rectors.
Just as importantly, a parish needs to be clear about its identity and mission in order to write that parish profile. The question is not “What are we looking for in our next rector?” but, “What is God’s call to this community, and who can lead that?”
While the particular work we will do this Lent is not exhaustive, it’s a start, and I invite you to join in the work of the parish by attending the forum on Sunday and participating in the workshops on Wednesday nights.
Blessings,
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St. James's In Transition: LENTEN DISCUSSION SERIES DATES
This five-part discussion, led by Penny, begins this Sunday with an overview of the transition process – focusing on the job of the interim rector and the parish, with an update on the interim rector’s work and a look ahead at the work we’ll do together during the Wednesday night sessions.
The Wednesday sessions will include guided exercises and table discussions on the areas of work that a parish undertakes during transition to clarify its identity: Heritage and Mission.
Here’s the schedule:
Sunday February 18 at 10:15 am – KICK OFF
Wednesday, February 21 at 7 pm -- Heritage, Part 1
Wednesday, February 28 at 7 pm -- Heritage, Part 2
Wednesday, March 13 at 7 pm -- Mission, Part 1
Wednesday, March 20 at 7 pm -- Mission, Part 2
There will be childcare available during the meetings. Here’s the link to sign up.
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We're making
Baptism Banners
this Saturday.
No experience necessary
to help.
Parents, join us for a Baptism Banner workshop in Valentine Hall on Saturday, Feb. 17, from 9:30-11:00 am. Learn to assemble banners and help us replenish our supply before spring baptisms.
No prior experience needed! Coffee and snacks will be provided.
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Help us celebrate Doug as he ends his tenure here.
On Sunday, February 25, we’ll be celebrating Doug as he ends his tenure as member of the St. James’s clergy with a party after the Annual Meeting in Valentine Hall. If you, like us, are grateful for his service to our church, you won't want to miss this get-together.
If you are able to help provide food, we would greatly appreciate it.
To sign up, click here.
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Mark Your Calendar
for Our Annual Meeting
Our 2024 Annual Meeting is next Sunday and we need 161 parishioners to reach a quorum. Come vote on the new class of Vestry members and hear reports on the state of our church.
Remember, the 9 and 11:15 am services will be combined into one service, which begins at 10, followed by the Annual Meeting, then a reception in Valentine Hall where we’ll say goodbye to Doug.
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Please note, we’ve moved the Worship section to the bottom of eChimes on Friday. It will still be at or near the top of the Sunday email. | |
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Monday, February 19
Church offices closed
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Tuesday, February 20
Tuesday Men's Bible Study - 7:30 am, Valentine Hall
For details and contacts see the DOERS guide
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Wednesday, February 21
Living Faith Bible Study - 10 to 11:30 am
Currently on Zoom (in person gatherings TBD)
For details and contacts see the DOERS guide
Noon Eucharist & Healing Service -- 12 noon in the Chapel
Wednesday Night Dinner tonight
at 6 pm in Valentine Hall
St. James's In Transition - 7 to 8 pm, Valentine Hall
Part 2 of the series looking at our transition process
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Thursday, February 22
Thursday Men's Breakfast Bible Study - 7:30 am, Valentine Hall
For details and contacts see the DOERS guide
Coffee on The Street - 9 am to 10:30 am
Corner of West Franklin and Birch Streets
If you’re interested in learning more about this ministry, contact Rev. Blake.
Contact: The Rev. Blake Singer, bsinger@doers.org
Women in Fellowship - 7pm
For details and contacts see the DOERS guide
Saturday, February 24
Service of remembrance for Jeanne Lapierre -- 5 pm, the Sanctuary
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The Parish House will be closed on Monday,
February 19, in observance of Presidents Day.
For pastoral emergencies,
call our pastoral care number:
(804) 914-2808
The parish office hours are
Monday - Friday: 9 am-5 pm
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Around 225 St. Jamesers joined the Krewe of Doers and raised over $37,000 for Outreach Grants through our Mardi Gras fundraiser on Fat Tuesday 2/13. The food was amazing. Good will was in abundance. Excitement was in the air. And everyone had a great time.
It takes so many DOERS to create an event as special as Mardi. We want to offer special thanks to Mark Shuford and Dick Fowlkes for their leadership.
To the Mardi Gras Committee: Melinda Fitzgerald, Staige Grymes, Jennifer Pollard, and Michael Whitlow.
To the Kitchen Krewe led by Brent Schneider, Dave Sealey, and Michael Whitlow.
And to all of our auction and raffle donors and event volunteers.
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Here's a video reminder of where the money we raised will be used. | |
More Parish News & Ways to Get Involved | |
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Next Sunday,
a special Choral Evensong featuring the Saint Singers
Our Choral Evensong next Sunday, February 25 at 5pm, will be sung by The Saints Singers, select voices from St. Catherine’s School (Meghan Stoll, Director) and St. Christopher’s School (Greg Vick, Director/Organist).
This beautiful service will be a wonderful way to end your weekend and prepare for the week ahead.
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Join us for
Interfaith Dialogue
Tuesday, February 27
Our next Interfaith Dialogue is this coming Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 7 pm. We’ll be joining our friends at Beth Ahabah for session #3 – Jesus in Ancient Israel and Jerusalem. Each session stands alone but attending as many as possible will make it a richer experience.
We’d love for folks to sign up in advance.
We'll meet in Beth Ahabah's main meeting building (the modern one) for dessert and learning.
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Three great opportunities to live out our mission this Summer.
It’s a very exciting and active time for missions at St. James’s. After a long period of discernment, the Missions Committee has generated a new mission statement:
“Following the example of Jesus Christ, the Missions Ministry of St. James’s seeks to cultivate and sustain mutual relationships with God, our mission partners, and each other.”
This summer, we’re attempting to live into our mission as we invest in relationships with three mission partners.
- Our Little Roses Home for Girls in Honduras
- Harvest of Hope on the Eastern Shore of Virginia
- Hurley Community Development Center
To see our Summer Missions flyer, go here.
To visit the Missions page on our website, go here.
Please note that the deadline to arrange for our Honduras Mission is March 15.
You can also support our efforts without ever leaving Richmond by participating on our Mission Committee. To know more, you can reach out to the chair of the Mission Committee, Julie Wade (juliecwade@gmail.com) or Rev. Blake Singer.(bsinger@doers.org)
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Have you signed up for
a youth mission trip
or
volunteering for
Vacation Bible School yet?
June 22-28: Youth in grades 9-12 will go to Hurley, VA to work in a community food bank and help residents with necessary home repairs.
July 14-17: Youth in grades 5-8 will go to the Eastern Shore to glean (pick) crops for local food banks and participate in hunger education (while also having fun at camp!).
June 3-6: Youth in grades 6-12 can volunteer for Vacation Bible School. The children have so much fun spending time with our youth.
For more information and to sign up, go to here.
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Save the date for
Vacation Bible School.
June 3 thru 6, 2024
Vacation Bible School is less than four months, too early to sign up but not too early to put on your calendar. Stay tuned for more details.
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The email above – pnash@doers.org – is the only legitimate email for Rev. Penny Nash.
If you receive an email from her that doesn’t originate from this email, please ignore it – it’s spam. Sorry for any inconvenience.
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St. James’s Episcopal Church | DOERS.ORG | (804) 355-1779
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