01.13.23 News and updates from St. James Church

First Things First

Adult Forum starts again this Sunday, January 15 at 9:45 am in the Guild Hall. This week, Father Andy will lead us as we begin the curriculum Bridges Out of Poverty. On the weeks that Fr. Andy is not with us, we will continue the series Going Off the Lectionary Grid.

Message of the Moment

The Realm of Parish Communication

We rely on you to help make the parish directory as useful as possible. There are two ways you can keep your information up to date. You can print out this form, complete it, and return it to the office, or you can simply go to REALM by clicking here to confirm your contact information. Please, do it right now while you are thinking about it.

If you are new to St. James and haven’t received an invitation to join REALM (our password protected members-only app), or if you haven’t accepted the invitation to join REALM, we encourage you to do it. Previous invitations to REALM may lurk in your inbox. If you need your first invitation (or another one), it is easy. Just call (316-683-5686) or email Krystal and she will send you an invitation. Rest assured we won’t share your information or publish your birthdate. Your birthdate, however, is helpful in the office and makes it more likely you will receive age-appropriate communication.

The newest version of The St. James Church parish directory will be printed soon and distributed at the annual meeting on Sunday, January 29. Taking into consideration the human life cycle, variations in the status of relationships, the multiplicity of household structure, and ever-changing personal information, keeping every listing up-to-date is a work in progress. We rely on you to make that work successful.

A church directory may share a thing or two in common with The Yellow Pages, but it is not trying to sell you an ad for your business listing. It is not indiscriminate about publishing your contact information for the whole world to access. Only the members of our community have a copy. The people of St. James have identified themselves as individuals who have certain values. They have encountered God and who want to be among others continuing to seek, find, and share a sacred experience of life.

I was listening to a favorite podcast of mine this week, The Ezra Klein Show, when the pair talking shared a laugh because they both understood a reference to The Yellow Pages when younger listeners might not know what Yellow Pages are (or were). You don’t have to know what the Yellow Pages are to need and want a good parish directory. You may have given little thought to the role of the parish directory before, but please do so. The world of ever-advancing technology makes many things we do better and easier. Online you can choose which information you want share, make sure it is correct, and even upload a current picture. You have already told us something about yourself by choosing to be part of the St. James community. We want to get to know you further. The more connected we become, the more we will understand about God.

Stay in touch. God bless you always. Peace, Mother Dawn+

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 Second Sunday after Epiphany

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.

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.

Creation Care Committee members and Junior Warden, Danny Blair, plan to begin an energy audit of St James using the Diocesan Creation Care Self-Audit tool. Because of Danny's hard work and dedication to St James, many of the items included in the assessment have already been upgraded and improved! Watch for updates here on our progress.

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 context Chelsea in the office or Anne at 816-797-6177 or aws1155@yahoo.com.

The youth group is interested in having a rummage sale sometime next spring or summer but we need your help! We are wondering if there is another group or many individuals interested in helping put one together or at least working it. If so, please contact Anne Clark at 816 797 6177 or aws1155@yahoo.com. We won't be able to have one without enough interested adults to help.

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 15

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer:

Pray for the Church of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)

In the World Council of Churches Cycle of Prayer:

Pray for Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

In the Kansas Cycle of Prayer:

Pray for St. Peter’s, Pittsburg

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:

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:

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.

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