05/03/24 News and updates from St. James Church

First Things First

Egad! OET tomorrow.

Maddy Bishop's Ordination will be at 10:30 on June 15 at Grace Cathedral. We are accepting now your contributions toward her ordination gift from the parish. We seek to raise $750 for a wool clergy cloak, a winter overcoat to wear with vestments. This is such a substantial garment that she will have this cloak for the whole of her ordained life. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Maddy graduates from Princeton Theological Seminary on May 18.

New Presiding Bishop 2024 - See the nominees to be the next Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church here:

https://generalconvention.org/nominees-for-the-28th-presiding-bishop/

The election will be held at the 81st General Convention which will take place June 23 – 28, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky

Message of the Moment

Our Kudos

Dear eTower community of St. James Church:

God calls us to be thankful in all circumstances, meaning that we should express our gratitude for all that God has done for us. This is a primary part of prayer life, but it is not the only place where saying "thank you" is meaningful. Saying thank you is drawing closer to God, deeply and intimately receiving blessings, and learning to thank others in our lives more deeply. Gratitude can change our hearts and our lives.

In this issue of the eTower, I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for your extraordinary volunteer efforts. Your dedication, compassion, and generosity make an important impact on our congregation and on and our surrounding community.

This week I am particularly grateful to the following for their outstanding service:

Joan Bledsoe, Karla Fazio, the kitchen angels, and numerous others who gave their best to our community by way of the Olde English Tea in 2024. Thanks to Danny Blair for installing the new disposal just in time.

Woody Swain, our treasurer, for his pursuit of detail, his careful attention to parish financials, and our commitment to transparency.

Krystal Poindexter, our parish communicator, who saved the day - again.

Susie Stallings, our bookkeeper, for sharing precious time with the people of St. John's Church as they get their accounts in order.

I also thank:

The members of the choir: you share your beautiful voices with us each week. Your music fills our hearts with joy and lifts our spirits.

Everyone who leads and teachers: for nurturing our faith and the faith of our children. Your patience, love, and dedication are inspiring.

The outreach team: for your tireless work to help those in need. Your compassion and generosity make a real difference in many, many lives.

The building and grounds crew: for keeping our sacred space in excellent working order and looking its best. Your hard work and dedication are greatly appreciated.

All of our volunteers who serve in so many other ways: Thank you for giving of your time, your treasure, and your talent. Your way of sharing the love of God makes our church a vibrant and welcoming community.

I am truly humbled by your generosity and dedication. Thank you for making St. James Church such a special place.

In Christ's Love, Mother Dawn+

P.S. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the families and loved ones of our volunteers. Your support of those who serve this congregation is essential to their ability to volunteer faithfully. Thank you for sharing your loved ones with us.

P.P.S. Send your sincere kudos to office@stjameswichita.org. Thank you.

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 Sixth Weekend of Easter

Revised Common Lectionary, Year B

April & May Schedules

Through Pentecost

5:30 Service Volunteer Schedule

8:30 Service Volunteer Schedule

10:45 Service Volunteer Schedule

Want to know if we need additional volunteers for a specific week? Click one of the service schedules below. If you see a +Add button on a particular serving role, that means someone has declined their assignment, and we still need a volunteer to fill in. You can click +Add to sign up for that spot.

Calendar

Parish News and Updates

Seasons Newsletter

Don't forget! Articles for the Summer Seasons newsletter are due this Sunday, May 5! This newsletter will focus on Pentecost and the summer season.

We can't wait to see everyone this Saturday, May 4. The morning seating is sold out, but there are a few tickets left for the afternoon. You will be able to purchase them at the door, but please note that seating is limited and once they tickets are gone, we won't be able to sell any additional spots.

Community Outreach

Undies Sundays Drive

The Undies Sundays Drive collected more than 3900 diapers and underwear items for the Wichita Children's Home, Thank you to the project chair, Louise Brinegar, and her helpful husband, Gene Carr. And THANK YOU to the generous St. James congregation!

BREAKING NEWS - JUSTICE TOGETHER MAY 9

It won’t be necessary for us to drive and park at Century II on the evening of May 9, in order to join our fellow faith community members of Justice Together and attend the Nehemiah Assembly.

We will meet here at St. James on Thursday evening at 5:00 in order to board the bus. The bus will deliver us to the entry at Century II. The doors will open at 5:30. The Assembly will begin at 6:00 and end at 8:00pm. The bus will pick us up and deliver us back to St. James.

IMPORTANT: We need to know how many passengers in order to reserve the proper sized bus. So, please sign up on the clip board at the front desk as soon as you can! (or, email Vicki to reserve a seat)

There is no charge to attend this Assembly. It will only cost a few hours of our time in order to be there and advocate for our neighbors in need of housing and increased access to mental health care.

….”and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” - Micah 6:8

The St. James Outreach Committee invites YOU to join us for a special one hour tour of the Sedgwick County Child Advocacy Center, 1211 S. Emporia, on Tuesday, May 7 at 3:30 p.m. We will gather in the St. James parking lot at 3 pm on May 7 to carpool.

Please plan to join us, and please email me to let me know if you can come.

We will learn a great deal about the issues of child abuse and neglect as well as family therapy. Bring a friend and join us, but please email me with your names.

IRC Update

After a long and somewhat complicated labor and delivery, “Z” gave birth to a baby boy on the evening of April 12. They were able to go home on Wednesday. There are a lot of cultural differences in caring for an infant here in America compared to what the family is used to. Please pray for them as they continue to settle in, and especially for the baby and mother.

We have been able to find resources for various programs throughout the city that help babies and mothers. We will be getting them enrolled in as many programs as possible in the near future.

Our official contract with IRC is coming to an end at the end of April. We will continue supporting the family and walking alongside them through the end of their first year here. Your continued generosity is appreciated!

Children and Youth

This Sunday, May 5, is Children's Sunday School and Children's Chapel starting at 9:30 am upstairs in the Kidz Zone. All kids in preschool- 5th grade are welcome. Questions? Contact Chelsea.

Episcopal Summer Camp

Camp Wood YMCA features a variety of activities such as horseback riding, archery, climbing tower, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, water slide, mud slide, arts and crafts, and sports. The volunteer Episcopal staff provides solid Christian education, featuring worship, music, small group discussions, and prayer.

When: June 2-8, 2024

Where: Camp Wood YMCA, Elmdale, KS

Who: Young people in grades 3-12 for 2023-24 school year (you must have finished third grade to attend)

Cost: $525 through May 1, $575 after May 1 (registrations will continue to be accepted until we have reached capacity)

Registration: online via UltraCamp

Scholarships: You can apply for scholarships on the registration form.

Learn more about Mega Camp. Check these out:

Full Camp Promo Video (on YouTube)
Camper Testimonials (video on YouTube)
12 Steps to prepare you and your camper for camp
Parent Handbook (PDF)

Questions? Contact Karen Schlabach at kschlabach@episcopal-ks.org.

Attention high school students and parents:

We are planning to take high school students to Washington D.C. in the summer of 2025. If you have a student that would be interested in attending, please let either Chelsea or Anne Clark know so we can start fundraising to cover expenses.

Volunteers needed!

We need Nursery volunteers! We are looking for those that want to supervise and love on the kiddos in the Nursery at the 8:30 or 10:45 service. You decide how often you'd like to volunteer and when. Safe Church Training is required and provided by the church. Please let Chelsea know if you are interested, formation@stjameswichita.org or call the church office.

The Nursery is open each Sunday from 8:15 am - 12:00 pm and special events for newborns to five years of age.

Prayers

Parish Prayers for the Week of May 5

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer:

Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil

In the World Council of Churches Cycle of Prayer:

India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

In the Kansas Cycle of Prayer: Pray for St. Paul’s, Kansas City

Our seminarian, Maddy Bishop

Those discerning a call to the priesthood:

Paul Leeker, Elizabeth Wenger

Those serving in the military:

Davis Jackson; Will Corkins; Maureen Tanner

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

Janet C.; Gus G.; Buck & Gladys; Erin S.; Helene; Fred; Gerry H.; Gail P.; Thelma; Tom H.; Bill M.; Robin S.; Erin C.; Joan M.; Peg B.; Diana M.; Ed & Kim; Susan G.; Peggy S.; Jean E.; Kelby; Judy T.; Mary; Darwin P.; Sam & Beth; Barbara S.; Hazel S.; Allie N.; Kris S.; Judy; Larry R.; Jodie & family; Simon family; Nancy C.; Drew H.; Elena S.; Bella P.; Ann B.; Daimon; Anna; Dick & Judy; Liz; Peer M.; Brianna P.; Sylvester; Sharon & Jerry; Jan M.; Pat; Andy S.; Sue C.; Martha L.; Joseph B.; Joan J.; Jayne P.; Deb H.; Dal H.; Carole

Those who have recently died:

Ruth Bledsoe (mother of Gene Bledsoe); Terry House; Jeri Moss; Peter Criss (son of Sam Criss); John Osborne;

Some who have died in May in the past:

Aloha Ayers; Sharon K. Basham; H. Marvin Bastian; Fred Bell; Helen Cabell; Anne Caldwell; Merleyn Calvin; Alexandar Carlson; Jane Ellet; Jo Ann Estes; Don Foster; Julia Goodland; Dorothy Goodpasture; Skip Hankins; Joseph Hodnett; John Jaedicke; Verne Laing; Barbara Mallonee; Frances I. McCoy; Heather McEwen; Ernest McRae; Ryan Reep; Michael Rogers; Chris Sifford; Donna Stricklan; Gloria Tilford; Lucy Gene Wendelken; Virginia Winters; Donald Yoder; Janet Yoder

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

Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe nominated by petition for election as presiding bishop

The committee said that Duncan-Probe was vetted through the same process of background and reference checks as all nominees, as required by Canon I.2.1(d)(4). The election will take place on June 26 during The Episcopal Church's triennial General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

Slate of 4 bishops announced for 28th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church

Episcopal News Service] The Episcopal Church's next presiding bishop will be chosen this June from a slate of four nominees, whose names were released April 2: Nebraska Bishop J. Scott Barke...

Living God’s Future Now: A 2024 Tocher Event

The Diocese of Kansas is pleased to welcome the Rev. Dr. Sam Wells for the 2024 Tocher Lecture on May 15-16 at St. Michael and All Angels, Mission.

The Lecture will truly be an event with the St. Martin’s Voices choral ensemble joining from Vicar Sam’s parish, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Earis.

Funded through the generosity of the Diocese of Kansas’ Tocher Fund for Clergy Education and the St. Michael and All Angels Foundation, this is a formation event for the clergy, musicians, and other lay leaders of parishes and institutions in the six Bishop Kemper School for Ministry partner dioceses: Kansas, Western Kansas, Nebraska, West Missouri, Missouri and Iowa.

Focusing on themes of evangelism, community and parish development and the Church’s role in God’s future, Sam Wells and his musicians will gather participants for seminars and worship. This will be an exciting formation endeavor for the BKSM dioceses outside the classes and programs offered directly by the School.

Click here for more information

Click here to register for Tocher Event