Our Weekly News & Updates |
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Friends,
I am pleased to announce that we dropped out of the Red Zone and we can now regather in-person for our outdoor worship. We will have Eucharist, and the Rev. Becky McDaniel will be our preacher. A few reminders:
- Bring chairs if you can. We will have some available if you need them.
- Masks are required.
- Bring your friends! Always include your friends if they are open to coming.
I know I am excited to be back together, and my hope and prayer is that we have turned a corner and will not have to stop gathering going forward. We are also preparing for regathering in the church soon, but it is still a few weeks away. It will be significantly different with the various restrictions, but it will still be a comfort after so long away.
On Saturday, some of you may be aware that we had a special called Convention of the Diocese to vote on a budget. Many thanks to Bill Harrison who served as our Representative at both the regular Convention, and this special called one on the budget which was rejected in November. Here is his report to you on what took place.
Blessings,
Rock+
After the rules and procedures for a Zoom meeting were set up, the first piece of business was introduced.
Budget Resolution One eliminated cost of living increases for diocesan staff. After a vigorous discussion, the question was called. Your representative, reasoning that during a time of budget cuts and staff reduction it sent a wrong message to award survivors a cost of living increase, however small, voted in favor. The resolution was defeated.
Budget Resolution Two increased the projected income for the diocese by $125,000 (on the assumption that recovery from the pandemic would entail financial gains) and restored cuts to three programs, Campus Ministries by $20,000, Direct Support of Congregations by $95,000, and Post COVD ministry by $10,000. After discussion that seemed going nowhere, the bishop suggested tabling it and moving on to BR 3. Tabled.
Budget Resolution Three proposed to restore full funding of Episcopal College Ministries, adding $20,000 to the $250,000 budgeted, by subtracting funds from the Committee on Aging (approximately $11,000, eliminating its funding altogether) and the Committee on Stewardship of Creation (approximately $9,000 of the $29,000 budgeted). I voted yes. The resolution was approved.
We then returned to Budget Resolution Two. Support for provisions apart from College Ministries seemed lukewarm or lacking. The resolution was defeated.
Budget Resolution Four proposed the re-allocation of $1,000,000 from investment assets to income and then the funding of Ministries of Human Dignity and Justice and of Reparations and the Undoing of White Supremacy. The discussion went on (with delegate approval) beyond the noon deadline. Your representative swallowed hard and voted yes, but the resolution was defeated.
It was moved and seconded that the Diocesan Budget be approve as amended. I voted yes. Approved.
There was a brief religious service and an announcement that the regular Annual Convention at the Crystal City Marriott would be held November 11-13, 2021.
William A. Harrison III
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Our Parish Retreat at Shrine Mont is being held October 15-17. If you would like to go ahead and sign up, email us. You can mail us your deposit (50%) or bring it by. We so hope you will join us for this glorious time in the mountains for a deepening of your faith and time of connection together!
The cost will be:
- Adults (age 18+) $160
- Teens (ages 13-18) $80
- Children (ages 4-12) $60
- Young Children (0-3) Free
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THE MINISTRY OF PLANNED GIVING |
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Wednesday, April 28 | 1 p.m. via Zoom
Join Stephanie Gurnsey Higgins, Minister for Diocesan Development and Congregational Giving, to explore the ministry of planned giving. This webinar – for clergy, congregational leaders, and parishioners – will delve into how your generosity can enrich the ministry potential of your church for generations to come through assets you never thought of using. Click to join the webinar.
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Do you have a graduating senior this year? We want to make sure that we, as a community, celebrate all the good news in our midst. If you have a graduate, will you pass along their name, school and degree (if applicable). We would love to acknowledge them and mark this special time with you! You can email us the good news here. |
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WANT TO JOIN OUR LECTOR TEAM? |
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Would you like to join our outstanding team of lectors? We would love to see your face and hear your voice reading our scriptures. You are welcome to record it at home (we will give you plenty of instructions) or you can come here and we can record it. Once we start meeting in person again, you can read in the services (if you are comfortable) or continue to be an online reader. Email us if you'd like to be part of this awesome ministry! |
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We've put up the Stations of the Resurrection. Please feel free to come by and enjoy these beautiful reflections as you walk these incredible grounds. We are grateful to those who tend the property and help to keep it so thoughtfully maintained. |
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Congratulations to the Grosse family! Dylan Grosse married Caroline Haupt at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens and Richard was able to officiate. What a gift to celebrate along with this wonderful family! Blessings upon you all! |
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STEVE PACE-ORDINATION OF DEACONS |
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Middle & High School Youth
Youth Outreach
In the month of May, we will have an outreach project for those in our community. More details will be coming, but for now please help us to collect some of the items below.
Personal Care Items (Toiletries, Small bags, Etc)
School Supplies (Pens, Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, Etc)
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This precious picture is based on the children's Sunday school learning about early believers sharing inside and outside of their church communities. Each of the kids came up with a way to give to our outside church community that week and share it with us the following week. Some gave toys to the local Goodwill, filled up the local food pantries, and drew pictures to cheer people up. What cheerful givers! |
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Wednesday
Join us for the Morning Prayer service this Wednesday at 7:30am and then a cup of coffee afterward at 8am on Zoom. Please make sure that your screen name is your name so we know who is there. We look forward to seeing you!
Link to join the conversation at 8am: click here.
If you would like to call in (audio only) dial (646) 558 8656 and enter the Meeting ID: 826 2172 6493 and Password: 997124
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Thursday
Please join us this week for Book Club at 10:30am on Thursday as we delve into Searching For Sunday, by Rachel Held Evans. The conversations will be rich as the book is insightful, honest and enriching to your faith. The link to purchase the book is HERE. The link to join the meeting is HERE.
Please read chapters 4-6 (they are short chapters). Chapter 4- Chubby Bunny, Chapter 5-Enough, Chapter 6- Rivers. Even if you aren't able to read this, please still join us. It will be accessible to everyone!
If you would like to call in, please dial 1 301 715 8592 and enter:
Meeting ID: 840 2332 3497
Passcode: 570346
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Sunday
Please join us for an in-person outdoor worship service at 10am. It will be a beautiful time of connection and community. We hope you will join us if you are comfortable. Please maintain social distancing and wear a mask. The link to watch is HERE.
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Please join us for the Contemplative service online Sunday at 5pm. It will be a time of deepening your faith and coming into Presence. We hope you will join us HERE. |
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Monday
This is a thoughtful group of souls. We hope you'll join if you are looking for support. To join simply click, on Mondays at 10:30am, HERE.
If you would like to call in (audio only), dial (301) 715-8592 and enter the following: Meeting ID: 879 5406 9630, Passcode: 062583
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OUTREACH
"We rise by lifting others." -Robert Ingersoll
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First Baptist Church Food Pantry is offering food to any resident of Hanover County that might need it.
WHERE: 800 Thompson Street, Ashland 23005
WHEN: First Tuesday, Third Tuesday or Third Saturday from 9 until 11 am (come 1 time within a 30 day period)
They offer food, hygiene items, and baby needs. Tuesdays are drive through to receive a bag of food, freezer items, bread,hygiene items. Saturdays are self shop in fellowship hall. COVID procedures in place: Temperature checks, masks required, social distancing. Call 804 -798 -9014 for more information.
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Saint James the Less Free Clinic
Right outside our very own Saint James the Less Free Clinic the Girl Scouts have donated a food pantry. It is available 24/7 if people might have an immediate need. Please feel free to come by and donate non-perishables to this. It would be an incredible blessing to our community.
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ACES is in need of the following items:
- Pantry: Canned beef stew (smaller cans), Canned Brunswick stew (smaller cans), Adult and Children’s toothbrushes (individually wrapped, or two packs)
- Children’s Clothing: Girl’s new underwear (size 8)
- Adult Clothing:Men’s socks (sports style – black or white), Men’s briefs (sizes M – XL)
Please be advised that ACES will be closed on Memorial Day (Monday, May 31st) Thank you for your continued support!
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POP TOPS
We are still collecting Pop Tops for Ronald McDonald house. Hang on to them or bring them by when you can. This is a valuable resource that goes to help families with children in the hospital here in Richmond.
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PETER PAUL
Students at present time need school supplies. They would be grateful to receive any of the following:
- note book paper
- spiral note books
- high lighters
- pencils
- pens
- erasers
- pencil boxes
- crayons
- markers
In front of the Coleman Center there is a small closet for non- perishable food. Students and families can take what they need. Canned food and small boxes are requested. Cereal boxes are too big. These donations would be much appreciated as well. You are welcome to bring the donations here and we can get them down there. Thank you!
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Tuesday, April 27, 2021
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12pm- Noonday Prayer (online)
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
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7:30am-Morning Prayer Service (online)
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Link to watch service
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Link for bulletin
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8am- Coffee & Conversation (online)
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Link to join
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12 pm-Noonday prayer (online)
Thursday, April 29, 2021
- 10:30am- Book Club (online)
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Link to join
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12pm- Noonday prayers (online)
Friday, April 30, 2021
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12pm- Noonday Prayer (online)
Sunday, May 2, 2021
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9am- Children's Sunday School (online)
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Link to join
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10am- Spiritual Eucharist Worship (online)
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Link to watch service
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Link for bulletin
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5pm- Contemplative Worship (online)
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Link to watch service
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Link for bulletin
Monday, May 3, 2021
- 10:30am Grief Group (online)
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Link to join
Join us daily for Noonday Prayer online here. You can follow along with the service on page 103 of the Book of Common Prayer or visit BCPonline.org (Click on "Daily Office" and then"An Order of Service at Noonday")
If you can't join us live-time, no worries. All of our services can be viewed at your convenience afterward on Facebook. All our Sunday morning and Contemplative services will be posted on our YouTube Channel, "St. James the Less Ashland VA." You can access that here.
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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, Jennifer, and Porter our Bishops, Rock and Becky, our priests, and Harrison, 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, Ralph, 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, Pat, Dick, Erin, Joanie, Anna, Meredith, Madge, Mary Ann, Katie, Molly, Amy, Meghann, Mark, Carol, David, Alice, Dennis, Barbara, Colin and Caleb, Jimmy, Michael Fox, Alex Gillette, Bill & Beth Arrott, Bill Blakemore, Mason, Jan Meacham, Karl Meyer, Chambers Cromwell (friend of Betty & Jim Moore), Horace Crowe (friend of the Meyer’s family), Delaney Thompson family, Aubrey Fletcher, Dee Alvarez, Shelby, Lyla Buchanan, Kathy Marshall, Kimette Cannady, Elaine Belyea, Pam Gillette, Melanie Fischer, Dennis Folsom, Tom & Fran Burke (Beth Renswick’s aunt & uncle), Ginny Miller (Carol Barnes’ sister), Doris Hassell, Carter and Lila (family of Betsy Snipes and Kristina Raney), The Paxton family (Pat Jordan’s son-in-law’s family), Jackie Banker (Alice Cobb’s friend), Katherine Tinker, Shirley Dols, Jay Hart, Cliff Pierce (cousin of the Wehman-Hopkins family), Jack, Holly Rison, Mallory Sutherland, Judy Malory, Mackenzie Greene and Rev. Dr. Susannah Metz.
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, especially Katherine Tinker.
We ask your prayers for those who grieve.
We pray for the Spirit of the Resurrection in Metropolitan Richmond: For a spirit of justice, righteousness, equality, and mutual benefit.
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.
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THIS PAST SUNDAY'S HOMILY |
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NeverTheLess and Weekly E-News Deadline: If you have an announcement to be shared with the parish, please get the information to Kasey no later than noon on Monday. Thanks!
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April 28
Danielle Stockbridge
April 29
Doris Hassell
Karla Batten
Cindy Fawsett
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May 1
Cathy Bach- McElroy
Missy Roberts
May 2
Tim Markwood
May 3
Bob McDougall
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