01.20.23 News and updates from St. James Church

First Things First

The St. James Oyster Dinner will be on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 5:30 pm. Tickets will be available to purchase soon. When ticket sales begin, you will also be able to purchase tickets online using the Give Now button at the top of the homepage. If purchasing online, the fund “Oyster Dinner” will have the ticket price listed, but you will need to calculate your total based on the number of tickets you are purchasing.

Annual Reports are due TODAY! If you are a nominee for an elective position, the chair of a committee, or the leader of a project/event, please send in your reports or articles! Krystal needs them when she comes in on Monday, January 23 so that there is time to format the report and print it. Annual reports are a great way to share what has been happening at St. James over the last year.

We are printing the new directory next week! If you have any information to update, please do it this weekend. You can log-in to Realm and update your information, email the office, or fill out a form at the volunteer desk.

The Guild Hall Players production The Merchant of Venice, originally scheduled for the end of January, has been postponed until next season. There will not be a performance this month from the Guild Hall Players.

Message of the Moment

Pray for Christian Unity

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated in January each year as an ecumenical initiative in which Christians from all over the world belonging to different traditions and confessions, gather spiritually in prayer for the unity of the Church.

Officially initiated by the Episcopalian Reverend Paul Wattson in Graymoor, New York, in 1908 as the Octave for Church Unity, it is held annually between the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter and the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.

Do good; seek justice (Isaiah 1:17) is the theme of the Week in 2023. The theme was chosen by the Minnesota Council of Churches, which is part of the wider Faith and Constitution Commission (World Council of Churches). They met in Bossey, Switzerland, September 19-23, 2021 in preparation for this year’s observation.

The theme of the Week of Prayer 2023, taken from the book of Isaiah, is very timely. Isaiah taught that God asks for righteousness and justice, at all times and in all dimensions of life. Today’s world re-proposes, in many ways, the challenges of the division Isaiah faced in his preaching. God’s will to create a new humanity “out of every nation, race, people, and tongue” (Revelation 7: 9) calls for the peace and unity that God has always wanted for creation.

The resource material (available online) updates the passage, “Isaiah, in his time, challenged the people of God to learn to do good together; to seek justice together, to help the oppressed together, to protect orphans, and defend widows together. We have the opportunity to understand that the prophet’s challenge also applies to us today. How can we live our unity as Christians to face the evils and injustices of our time? How can we engage in dialogue and grow in mutual awareness, understanding, and sharing of lived experiences? Our prayer and our heart-felt encounter have the power to transform us, as individuals and as a community. Let us open ourselves to the presence of God in each of our encounters, as we ask for the grace to be transformed, to dismantle systems of oppression, and to be healed from the sin of racism. Together, let’s fight for justice in our society. We all belong to Christ.

I greet you in solidarity and in the love of Christ.

Peace, Mother Dawn+

Let us pray.

Gracious and loving God, expand our vision that we might know the mission we share with all of our Christian brothers and sisters, to show forth your justice and loving kindness. Help us to welcome our neighbors as your Son welcomed us. Help us to be more generous as we witness to the grace that you freely give us. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you.

And give you peace.

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 Third Sunday after Epiphany

Isaiah 9:1-4

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Matthew 4:12-23

Psalm 27:1, 5-13

5:30 Service Volunteer Schedule

8:30 Service Volunteer Schedule

10:45 Service Volunteer Schedule

Calendar

Parish News and Updates

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2023 takes place from January 18 to 25. The theme is year is: “Do good; seek justice” (Isaiah 1:17). Complete worship and background devotional materials are available on the World Council of Churches website HERE or on the Episcopal Church website. The WPCU has been a focus of annual ecumenical worship, education, and work since 1908.

The Annual Meeting will be on Sunday, January 29 at 10:45am. The agenda includes elections and the 2023 Finance reports. We will only have one worship service that day, at 9:30 am. The Annual Meeting will follow the service. Click HERE for an updated list of the 2023 nominations for elective offices to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.

Our Pocket Change Ministry is now saving for a special project at St. Francis Ministries. St. Francis Ministries has obtained 18 horses and begun an innovative Horse Therapy Program. Our check for $500. will go to help this program with costs. Just imagine how much foster children can gain by loving and caring for animals!

Please join the Outreach Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 4:00 pm in the lounge to hear Vicky Roper discuss the work Kansas Children’s Service League does to help families in crisis and to prevent child abuse. Vicky has been honored locally and nationally for her work to prevent child abuse. We know and enjoy her as the wife of our Deacon Jeff Roper, but she has built a very impressive career with KCSL too. Guests are always welcome.

Volunteer Opportunity: Reality U is a Finance Workshop sponsored by the Pando Initiative for Middle and High School students. To help students understand daily living expenses, this workshop asks students to visit monthly expenditure booths and write “checks" for all their expenses. Volunteers staff the booths. You can sign up to volunteer at realityu.org. You will select the school and your desired time. You can sign up for a 2-hour slot or a four-hour period. For questions, contact our Reality U Chair, Hew Goodpasture: 316-214-5400. Upcoming Reality U workshops are these:

Marshall Middle School: Jan. 27
Curtis Middle School: Jan. 19
Truesdell Middle School: Jan. 25
Pleasant Valley Middle School: Feb. 2
South High School: Feb. 23-24

Handbell Choir rehearsals began on Wednesday, January 4. If you are interested in joining the handbell choir, please contact Adrienne Edwards. Rehearsals are every Wednesday at 6:00 pm - experience is not required but the ability to read music is necessary.

Sandwich Saturdays

Dates for 2023 for St. James are Saturday March 11, June 10, September 9 and December 9. We usually make our own sandwiches and put our lunches together at home and either meet at St. James Parking lot around 1020-1025 AM to load in my car or if you want to help hand out waters and lunches you can go directly to St. Johns on Topeka Avenue in downtown Wichita. We meet there no later than 1045 to set up tables and get organized. I usually like 3-4 people to volunteer to help hand out lunches as well as other items people donate. Items range from dog and cat food that we are frequently asked for to socks, hats, gloves, coats and other assorted items. Yes, we do take dog and cat food donations and then we fill gallon or quart sized bags so we can hand out to people.

If you know there is a month you would like to help you may sign up early and I will check with those that have signed up 1-2 weeks before the date, as people sometimes are unable to help when they thought they could and if that happens it gives me enough time to get other help. Most people make about 20 lunches but some make 10 and others make 40. Any amount is received with gratitude. We are currently making 150 lunches and bring 150 waters. Currently I bring all the waters as it makes it easier. If I do need extra help I will put out an email to all other volunteers to see who is available about 1-2 weeks before our Saturday.

What’s in a lunch sack? A sandwich, a fruit, bag of chips, a cookie or health bar. Sandwiches - can be peanut butter and jam, ham or chicken, cheese, meat and cheese. I tend to stay away from putting mayo on especially in the summer. If you have those individual packs to add to bag that is fine. Mustard is safe to use. fruit - whole apples can be difficult for some to eat so bananas, orange or apple sauce(with spoon) is preferable. Please contact Joan Bledsoe if you are interested in joining this group of volunteers.

Looking for an easy way to access Realm? If you aren’t using the Realm Connect app, you can now find a log-in button on the home page of the St. James website. Click Realm Login at the top-right of the homepage, next to the Give Now button.

Online giving has been updated at St. James! It is now easier than ever to set-up recurring payments or one-time gifts using Realm. You can give by logging into your Realm account and selecting Giving, or by going to our websi te and clicking the Give Now button on the top-right of the screen. Log in to Realm to check it out!

St. James/St. Stephen’s Book Club meets in person at St. Stephen’s every Thursday at noon. New reading fans are always welcome. Questions, contact Mary Sloan.

Children and Youth

The youth group is needing more adult volunteers to help this spring semester. We meet 7:00 - 8:00pm on Wednesday nights. We need at least one more adult leader to help in order to offer this program. Anne has everything planned, just need another adult to keep within Safeguarding God's Children requirements. If interested contact Chelsea in the office or Anne at 816-797-6177 or aws1155@yahoo.com.

The youth group will not have a rummage sale in 2023, due to lack of volunteers. They have other ideas for fundraisers for the year - more info to come later!

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 looking for volunteers to assist Lauren. To volunteer, contact Chelsea.

Prayers

Parish Prayers for the Week of January 22

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer:

Pray for the Church of North India (United)

In the World Council of Churches Cycle of Prayer:

Pray for Cyprus, Greece, Turkey

In the Kansas Cycle of Prayer:

Pray for St. Paul’s, Coffeyville

St. James Church prays for these individuals as well:

Our seminarian, Maddy Bishop

Those serving in the military:

Will Corkins, Maureen Tanner

Those who have recently died:

Fr. John Kuenneth; Shirley Brookins Dewert; Janice Collins; Ron Harrison; Emily Swain Smith; Pam McCausland; Gloria Jean Davis

And those who have died in Januarys past:

Sally Bell; Katharine Burns; Eila Daily; Jenny Davis; Russell Duckworth; Paul Edwards; Jimmy Grey; George Harris; John Howell; Lorayne King; Rick Kuenneth; Bea Kumberg; Donna Littleton; Samuel Massimini; Carol McEwan; Joan McRae; Ruth Meyer; Al Miller; Matt Mitchell; Doris Moran; Ted Riley; Barbara Ritchie; Caroline Rowley; Dave Rumley; Sonny Watson

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

Friends & family of Taylor; Jim P.; Liz; Marilyn T.; Jaime; Roberta P.; John O. and family; Darwin P. and family; Brianna P.; Peer M.; Drew H.; Kai; Ron D.; John R.; Marge Rine & family; Janet R.; Phil S., Celia B.; Sylvester; Sharon & Jerry; Jan. M., Edna & James; Pat; Peggy S.; Gary; Deb H.; Bill and Jeri; Jayne P.; Barbara H.; Suzy R.; Helen B., Bill and Carolyn, Dave W.; Carole; Bob and Sue; Dal; Gus; Joan J.; Martha L.; Betty; Sage; Joseph B.; Jerry M.; Joy J.

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

The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas seeks to hire a Program Assistant for the Canterbury House at Kansas State University. The Campus Ministry Program Assistant facilitates the development and administration of Episcopal Campus Ministry at KSU. Their work focuses on identifying and forming student peer ministers who will grow and maintain the ministry. The Program Assistant works collaboratively with peer ministers and diocesan staff members to best serve the needs of students. This is a rewarding and life-giving position for those who desire to help college students grow in faith and love of God, through serving others and embodying the Episcopal expression of Christianity. See the full position description here. Submit resume and cover letter to Chad Senuta, Director of Young Adult Ministries to apply. csenuta@episcopal-ks.org

Link to the Position Description
https://edokformation.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/canterbury-ksu-program-assistant-pd-2022.pdf
Program Assistant page on diocesan website
https://edokformation.wordpress.com/program-assistants/

Click here for the most current Diocesan News and Events

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