The Children’s Ministry needs opinionated moms and dads.
As St. James’s looks to hire a new director to manage our Children’s Ministry, we want to get an idea of what you think--really think--about our Children’s Ministry: What you’d change, what you wouldn’t change, and what we need to add. Not only will that information help us improve the program, it will also help hire just the right person to manage it.
To that end, we’re holding a series of Listening Sessions next Tuesday (October 12th), and Wednesday (October 13th) with Ministry Architects, a firm that helps churches assess their ministries, then helps them design ways to improve them, and even helps them find the best person to hire. Then on Thursday, October 14th (2pm-3pm) via Zoom, Ministry Architects will share their assessment findings during a report presentation.
If you can’t attend, you can still give us feedback online here by Tuesday, October 12th, please.
Whichever way you choose to participate, thank you in advance for giving us an honest assessment of how we’re doing. It will go a long way to making sure we’re doing what’s best for the children at St. James’s.
Please note that there is nursery care and even dinner available for your kids during two of our Tuesday in-person sessions.
|
|
Monday, October 11th
Community Yoga on Zoom:
Yoga for Mobility & Stability: 2:30 pm (suitable for beginners)
Yoga Vinyasa: 4 pm
Tuesday, October 12th
Tuesday Men’s Bible Study: 7:30 am
Women's Bible Wisdom: 5 pm
Education for Ministry (EfM) on Zoom: 6 pm
Wednesday, October 13th
Living Faith Bible Study: 10 am
Wednesday Night Worship, Study & Fellowship on Zoom: 5:30 pm - 8 pm
Art & Theology - Christian Faith and Modern Art
with Christina Carnes Ananias
Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm,
Study at 6 pm, Fellowship at 7 pm
Come for all or part of our evening together
Friday, October 15th
Stewards of the Earth on Zoom: 11 am
Organ Recital - Daniel Benjamin Sanez: 7 pm
St. James's sanctuary
|
|
This week's eChimes features |
|
- Season of Unity
- Oops!
- Adult Learning
- Doing doesn't change. How we do it has.
- TASTE of St. James's, calling all makers and bakers
|
|
- Say hello to Ashlee and Doug
- Daniel Sanez Organ Recital
- St. James's Bluegrass Mass
- St. James's Podcast is here.
- In Our Prayers this week
|
|
Season of Unity
Every one of us has our own relationship with St. James’s. You may find the most meaning in our Adult Learning program. Sunday worship and fellowship may be what moves you most. You may find joy in a Bible Study. Or one of our many choirs. Or serving the church on Sundays. Maybe it’s our Children & Youth ministries Or our ambitious outreach program. To paraphrase Jesus, wherever your heart is, your treasure is there also.
As we move further into our Season of Unity, please think about those places at St. James’s you treasure, the places where you find meaning, comfort, guidance, inspiration, a chance to serve, and, ideally, a clearer view of God.
Our campaign is going well, as you can see from our Steeple-ometer. But we’re not there yet. The sooner you pledge, the sooner the Season of Unity will be done--and the sooner we can confidently plan all the generous and moving things we'll do in 2022.
|
|
The Greeter Ministry signup link was wrong in the previous eChimes. We’re so sorry. If you are interested in being a greeter at the 9 am, 11:15 am or 5 pm service, here's the correct one.
|
|
Adult Learning
There’s so much happening in our Adult Learning program. So many choices. So many days to attend. So many ideas to ponder. To see the full breadth of what’s being offered, go here or the Adult Learning section (under Learning) of doers.org.
Sunday Small Groups--Five choices every week.
Instead of a large lecture series, this October and November Adult Learning will be done in small groups hosted by lay leaders. There are five different classes to choose from each and every Sunday, covering a wide range of fascinating and provocative topics. To help us make sure each class doesn’t exceed the limit of 8 to 12 people, we’re asking folks to register here.
But you can also drop in on Sunday and if a class has room, you’re more than welcome to join in. Click here or on the image for in-depth descriptions of the topics.
|
|
People loved Sacred Ground. So we brought it back.
The powerful Sacred Ground series we held in the Spring was extremely popular, so we’ve brought it back this Fall. It’s a powerful 10-part film and readings-based series on race, grounded in faith. The series is especially designed to help white people talk about a very challenging subject--racism. Our small, lay-led groups will meet once or twice a month and together we’ll walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism.
Register for a Sacred Ground small group here.
|
|
Doing doesn't change.
How we do it has.
As Doers of the Word, St. James’s has always found so many ways to be active in our community…and beyond. Over the last few months, we’ve taken a hard look at how we harness our resources—giving, missions and outreach—and have made some changes.
Today we want to share with you how our Outreach—called Doers Doing in the Community—has evolved. Starting now, we will have three outreach partners, CARITAS, REAL LIFE and Peter Paul. And each month we will heighten our attention and generosity toward one of our partners, while still providing everyday opportunities at all three organizations.
Our October partner is REAL LIFE, which “serves individuals who have been impacted by incarceration, homelessness, or substance use disorder by giving them an opportunity to overcome their personal and community barriers that hinder their pathway to a Thriving Life”
Between now and October 13th, you’re invited to bring linens to the church--either to the Narthex on Sundays or to the Parish House Mondays thru Thursdays, 9 to 4. You can also volunteer to help set up the new house by putting together bunk beds and setting up the kitchens. Sign up here.
As for the everyday opportunities to be a Doer doing, click here to see what you can do at CARITAS, Peter Paul and REAL LIFE.
|
|
THE TASTE of ST. JAMES’S
Calling all makers and bakers.
The Taste needs you.
The TASTE of St. James’s is right around the corner--YAY!--and we’re looking for folks who are makers and bakers.
The TASTE will feature four soups (recipes and containers provided), chicken pot pies (created by cooking groups) and a variety of delicious baked goods.
|
|
Additionally, we would love to feature special condiments, teas, sauces, etc. that any of you may have in your repertoire. Products will need to be delivered to the church on Thursday 11/18, or Friday, 11/19, prior to distribution on Saturday, 11/20.
|
|
Say Hello to
Ashlee Ligon and The Rev. Doug Wigner
We are thrilled to announce that Ashlee Ligon will serve as our interim director of children’s ministry effective immediately. She may be new to this role, but she is hardly new to St. James’s. Ashlee is a long-time parishioner and active lay leader. She and her husband, Grey, have two boys, William and Henry. Ashlee will be coordinating Sunday School, baptisms, and children’s ministry offerings on a part-time basis while we conduct a search for our next full-time director. Ashlee can be reached at childrensministry@doers.org.
|
|
The Rev. Doug Wigner has joined St. James’s church as a Clergy Associate. He will be leading the Sunday Bible Study at 10:15 am, which is focusing on The Gospel According to Luke. He will also be serving at other services.
Doug was born in Baltimore, MD, and grew up in the Northern Neck. He graduated from VA Tech, served four years in the Army in Germany, Vietnam, and Ft. Meade, MD before entering Virginia Theological Seminary where he earned his MDiv in 1972 and his DMin in 2007. He has served churches in Virginia, Connecticut and is the Rector Emeritus of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Lynchburg, VA. He was a senior trainer with the Church Development Institute and serves on the Board of Trustees of VTS.
He and his wife Nancy serve as Diocesan Parish Discernment Facilitators. Doug has two sons and two grandchildren who live in Richmond. He’s a life-long birder, loves to garden and fish.
|
|
Organ recital featuring Daniel Benjamin Sanez
Friday, Oct 15 at 7 pm
St. James’s is delighted and honored to present an Organ Recital by Daniel Benjamin Sañez, Director of Music and Liturgy and Principal Organist and Choirmaster at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. He’ll be playing selections by Bach, Langlais, Cochereau, Marchand, Vierne, Franck and Pärt.
Admission is free.
|
|
The annual St. James’s Bluegrass Mass
Sunday, Oct 17, 8:45 am
The Bluegrass Mass is one of the most cherished musical days of the year here at St. James’s. So make sure to mark your calendar for October 17 at 8:45 (after all, you don’t want to miss the prelude.) Our renowned West Gallery Choir and the Guitar Ensemble, along with guest artists Charles Arthur (mandolin, dobro and banjo), Molly Sharp (fiddle), and singer Tarran Turvey will fill our Sanctuary with some serious pickin’, fiddlin’ and twang.
The music will include classic bluegrass songs--which has roots in traditional English, Scottish and Irish ballads and dance music--plus a Bluegrass Mass setting by Mark Whitmire. This is a wonderful service to introduce your friends and neighbors to St. James’s. Even though this is a 9 am service, remember that the Prelude begins at 8:45 am.
|
|
The St. James’s Podcast is here.
St. James’s has launched a podcast called Be Ye Hearers, which will feature sermons from the St. James’s clergy. Over time, we may add other content, but for now we’ve observed that parishioners really want to hear the sermons, even when you can’t view or attend the service.
So go to Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts and search for Be Ye Hearers.
Happy listening!
|
|
Click here to see the names of those we're remembering in our prayers this week.
We do our best to keep this list current, but if you want your name added or removed, please contact Mary Brown or call her at 804-355-1779, ext. 313.
|
|
St. James’s Episcopal Church | DOERS.ORG | (804) 355-1779
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
