Good morning, friends! Blessings on this 4^th day of Christmas! (4 calling birds, and all that)

Many thanks to so many for making a glorious and memorable Christmas. I loved seeing the families come out for our 4:30 service with the St. Cecilia and Bell choirs, the 10:30 high mass with our wonderful Chancel choir, and the simplicity of the Christmas day service. The too often unremembered Altar Guild was so pivotal in making things run so smoothly. Our phenomenal staff made it so special. Thanks to you all!

We did learn that our new heating in the church did better than we thought. We were told that these units just do not work well under 17 degrees, and that is such a rare instance for us (normally) that we took the calculated risk. Little did we realize that it would happen within weeks, and on Christmas. But the units kept the church in the 60s even in the extreme cold. (Word to the wise, if it is below 17 and you are coming to church, wear a sweater.) All that being said, we are thankful that we have these wonderful additions that will save us much in our bills in the years to come.

Today is one of the hard days on our Christian calendar. The 4^th day of Christmas is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the children 2 and under that were ordered killed by King Herod when the Wise Men told him when the star appeared that they then followed to Bethlehem. The thought of infants and toddlers dying because of a ruler's insecurities is horrific. This is the dark side of Christmas that we readily ignore. Today, remember them, and all who are martyred in the name of Truth and Love. Here is the collect for today:

We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod. Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

We do hope that you will join us this Sunday for our traditional Lessons and Carols service. A reminder, we will only have one service this Sunday at 10 am. We hope to see you there. Blessings as we finish 2022, and step into 2023 in faith and hope. 

In Christ,

Rock+

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

• NO Eucharist Rite II

Sunday, January 1, 2023

• NO 8am Eucharist Rite I or Sunday School
• 10am- Eucharist: Rite II (music)- Lessons & Carols (no nursery or Children's Church)

Monday, January 2, 2023

• OFFICE CLOSED
• No Yoga or Grief Group

Schedule

There is no Wednesday morning Eucharist this week. This Sunday is our Lessons & Carols service at 10am. There will be no 8am service, Sunday School, nursery, Children's Church or Blue Grass Mass on 1/1/23.

The Directory is Here!

Our 2022 St. James the Less Directory has arrived! We are thrilled this project has come to completion and we can stay connected. (One directory per family please) Be looking in the next few weeks for news on how we can download the directories to our phones. We will let you know when that information is available.

Pledge Envelopes

If you requested pledge envelopes for 2023, they will be out in the Narthex to be picked up. If you would like to request pledge envelopes, please let us know.

Rule of Life Class

Our Rule of Life class is coming up on January (10th, 17th, 24th). The class will be on Tuesdays in person at 10am. We hope this schedule works for you and you can join us.

• Sign up to bring meals for the Clinic Volunteers HERE
• Help stock our Emergency Food Pantry (outside the clinic)
• Send in your Pop Tops for McDonald House
• Bring in Hygiene or laundry items for Peter Paul
• Donate to ACES (see below)

Pantry: Personal care items (soap, toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, toilet paper, etc.), Cleaning products (laundry soap, dish soap, etc.)

Adult Clothing: Men's boxers and boxer briefs (all sizes), Men's shoes (all sizes), Men's underwear, Men's jeans, Men's extra large winter clothing (sizes 2x, 3x, 4x), Women's underwear (all sizes)

Children's Clothing: Girl's & Boys underwear (sizes 8 and 16), Large kid's socks, Pajamas, & Diapers

ACES is open on both Mondays and Wednesday from 8:30-11:30am. Thank you for your continued support!

Lord, we lift up this nation struggling with itself these days, reeling from this pandemic and its repercussions. Encourage us to faithfulness, righteousness, and compassion for all God’s Children. We lift up Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael, our Presiding Bishop, Susan & Mark, our Bishops, Rock+, our priest, and Dawn+, our Deacon. May they be strengthened and encouraged as the work with us to proclaim your Good News in this world. We pray for Joe, our President, Glenn, our Governor, and Steve, our Mayor, and all our elected officials. Guide them to lead us to the common good. 

We ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well-being of all people. Remembering especially Gus Miller, Erin Yagla, Meredith Moon, Meghann Batten, Michael Fox, Bill Blakemore, Dennis Folsom, Debra Bernard, Smith family, Court Warfield, Andrea Alexander McCallum, Tom Ficklin, Janet Taylor, Jessica and family, Joy Stevenson, David Turner, Kim Keene, Brad Rose, Wendy Vaughan, Sara Reece, Richard Rennolds, Andy Newchok, Jim Smith,Pam Bowers, Bettilee, Iana Mason, Bill Mercier, Shirley Miller, Jonathan Smith, Aubrey Fletcher, Rebecca Hottman, Lyde Longaker, Ken Sehlhorst, Haden Hopkins, Betty Kelley, Charles Bridges, Declan Hall, Hilda Kelly, Michele Murphy, and Allison Provencher.

We ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. We also ask your prayers for those serving in the diplomatic corps, the military, and as missionaries: Kemper Jones, Greg Ericksen, Matthew Thomas, Philip Morison, James Ashley, Andrew Brunson, Jordan Fox, and Katherine Murphy. 

We ask your prayers for those who have died. We ask your prayers for those who grieve.  

We pray for governments and governing bodies of Metropolitan Richmond: For the Mayor and City Council of Richmond, the City Administrator, and all city employees.

For all those who seek peace in the world and for ourselves, that we may bring about God's Kingdom here on earth. For our enemies, and for those who wish us harm.



Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored.

• Prayer List- Prayers of the People
• Giving Online- Click here to give online or text "GIVE2THELESS" at 73256 from your phone.
• Ask for prayer-Send in your prayer request (please acknowledge if the prayer is private or for our Parish list)
• List of Local Food Pantries- Click here for a complete list of local food pantries.
• Fall Line Farms- A wonderful organization that supports local farmers. Click here to order food so you can pick it up here at SJTL on Thursdays.
• Self- Guided Ways Of Worship Brochure- It has wonderful ways of engaging with your own space (and the spaces around the church) to find the Holy, already present, within them.
• Father Rock's Blog- Access reading of all of Father Rock's Homilies.
• Blessings & Dressings- A copy of the SJTL Cookbook 
• End of Life Planning Kit- Help with estate planning from the Episcopal Church Foundation.
• Diocesan Creation Care Website- Creation Care Task Force

Saint James the Less Episcopal Church

125 Beverly Road

Ashland, VA 23005

(804) 798-6336

Staff:

The Rev. Rock Higgins, tssf Rector

The Rev. Deacon Dawn McNamara Deacon

Reggie Long- Organist/Music Director

Miriam Smith- Christian Formation- Children & Youth Director

Kasey Buckland- Parish Administrator