Our Weekly News & Updates |
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Friends,
I am gearing up for the fall, and we have so many wonderful things coming soon. I want you to be aware, and prepared. Add these items as interested to your calendars, then enjoy your Labor Day Weekend. After Labor Day we will hit the ground running!
September 12- Kick-Off Sunday
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Services at 8 am- Rite I (ORIGINAL TIME) and 10 am- Rite II with music
- Choir and handbells will be added into our 10 am services starting the 12th! (Practices start the Thursday before.)
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Kick-Off Picnic following the later service. Bring Your Own Basket! We will have water bottles chilled and ready for everyone.
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Big day for a kids, as well! (See below...)
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Bluegrass Mass, 5 pm- Bring your chairs and join us in front of the Church for a fun, joyful service. (We will move in-side MASKED if weather is bad)
Youth Group
- The programming for our emerging adults is so important. We are banding with several of our sister Episcopal churches in our region for joint programming Sunday nights at 6 pm. A Parent-Youth dinner gathering is Sept 26 to learn more about "Journey 2 Adulthood" aka J2A. Parents of middle and high schoolers, we hope that you will join us on the 26th with your youth.
- The Youth programming will begin Sundays at 6 pm starting Oct. 3
Book Club
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NEW TIME- Tuesday at 10 am People requested that we stay online for these. Contact Kasey or call to 798-6336 and let her know to add you to the email list and you will get a Zoom link.
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Our book is My Life with the Saints, by James Martin, SJ. Be sure to get the 10th Anniversary edition.
Lastly, we have a bevy of news coming your way next week, so please pay attention to the emails. Great and exciting days are ahead.
Sunday night we will have the last of our online Contemplative Services looking at the Baptismal Covenant. This has been a powerful summer series looking at the 5 vows we make. This week we look at Respect, striving for Justice and Peace for all, and the dignity of every person. Join us for this special service of readings, music, and prayers. This will be on our Facebook page and our YouTube channel at 5 pm on Sunday.
Blessings,
Rock+
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Wednesday, September 1, 2021
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7:30am-Eucharist Rite II
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Link to watch service
Sunday, September 5, 2021
- 8:30am- Eucharist: Rite I Worship
- 10am- Eucharist:Rite II Worship
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Link to watch service
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Link for bulletin
- 5pm- Contemplative Worship (online)
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Link to watch service
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Link for bulletin
Monday, September 6, 2021
- OFFICE CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY
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Please join us online this Sunday at 5pm for our next Contemplative Worship. The theme this week is Respect. We hope you will join us in this beautiful series contemplating our final service in the Baptismal covenants series. It will be a beautiful time to deepen your faith. We hope you will join us! |
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It's back! The long awaited Bluegrass Mass is starting again at Saint James the Less. It will be held monthly on the second Sunday of the month outside at 5:00pm. Our first one will be held on Sunday, September 12th at 5pm. We hope you will bring your chairs and join us for this awesome worship service! |
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CENTERING PRAYER WITH BECKY+ |
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Next month Becky+ will begin offering a weekly Centering Prayer group at St. James the Less. Beginning on Monday, September 20th at 5:30pm in the library, we will gather once a week for an hour. Come in at the handicapped ramp at the front of the church. Park on the loop.
Centering Prayer is a method of meditation that deepens our relationship with God, relying on the principle of surrender or “letting go.” In this form of prayer we experience God’s presence within us, closer than our breath, deeper than the thinking mind. It is an ancient Christian practice that finds its home in the monastic sacred reading of Lectio Divina. Our Centering Prayer group will meet weekly to learn the practice, listen to spiritual readings and insights, and reflect upon God’s presence. No prior experience is necessary. You do not need to commit to weekly attendance; come when you are able and as you are.
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We are so excited to announce our next Book Club, starting Tuesday, September 14th at 10am. We will be reading My Life with the Saints by James Martin. (10th anniversary edition) The link to purchase the book on Amazon is HERE. If you need any help or would like us to get you a copy, let us know. We will be meeting virtually (on Zoom) through November 16th. We hope you will join us! |
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Our very own Saint James the Less Food Outreach is asking that we gather individually wrapped snacks to send home in backpacks for our food insecure students this fall. Anything that you can donate would be so appreciated. We are looking for things like individually wrapped goldfish, pudding cups, oatmeal pouches, raisins. There will be a box in the hallway that you can place the donation in. Thank you so much in advance! |
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Hanover Safe Place is an amazing local non-profit that supports those who are experiencing sexual and domestic violence. If you don't know them, please check out their website or social media. They do so much to support this community. They are collecting school supplies for their families for the 2021-2022 school year. If you would like to donate, you can purchase items and have them sent directly to their office on this Amazon link or, you can make donations of new school supplies in-person from the list below. Their office is open 9 to 5. If you arrive to donate school supplies, please call their office at 804-752-2728 and someone will open the main door for you. Thank you in advance for your support! |
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Join us for IN PERSON Eucharist:Rite II service on Wednesday morning at 7:30am in the church. Please still wear your masks. We will have coffee and bagels with spreads in Brydon Hall afterward. If you would like to watch live, please click HERE. We hope you will join us in whatever way you feel comfortable.
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We hope you will join us for one of our in person indoor Sunday services. We still require masks when in the service since we are not yet all fully vaccinated. This is how we can continue to show love for our neighbors. The balcony is reserved for our families that have children who are still unvaccinated. They are not required to sit up there, but have the option. We still have a section of seating for social distancing as well. We hope you join us!
8:30am (Sept 5), 8am (Sept 12 through May)- Eucharist: Rite I (no music)
10am- Eucharist: Rite II (with music)
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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 is: (if cost is a hindrance, please let us know. We can help!)Final payments are due October 1st.
- Adults (age 18+) $160
- Teens (ages 13-18) $80
- Children (ages 4-12) $60
- Young Children (0-3) Free
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Volunteer Sept 9th
We are looking for 5 volunteers to help with prepping a wonderful season for our youth. Your help will be needed to prep bags for each family as well as write notes of encouragement. Please email Miriam of you would like to help! |
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Youth Group
This year we will be launching an incredible curriculum for our youth groups!! Stay tuned to the family newsletter on Thursday for more details!
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Share your journey
We are looking for 2 congregation members a month to join us for Sunday school to share your experiences and celebrations of faith! Feel free to reach out to Miriam as we continue to create ways to share together in the virtual environment. |
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Parent Small Group
Join us for fellowship in the virtual Parent Small Group. Every Wednesday at 8pm we will meet over Zoom with your favorite beverage in hand to support each other throughout this journey of parenthood and grow in faith together.
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Sunday School Volunteers
If you would like to volunteer to be a Sunday School teacher or assistant in the fall for children or youth please, email Miriam. She would love to use your skills and talents with our awesome children and youth. |
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Reserved Family Section
We are offering the balcony as an option for families to use during worship. Many families have unvaccinated children and we want to make sure we protect you the best we can. You do not have to sit there, but know this is an option for you.
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OUTREACH
"We rise by lifting others." -Robert Ingersoll
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Emergency Food Pantry
Right outside our Saint James the Less Free Clinic we have a food pantry. It is available 24/7 and used a great deal as immediate needs come up. Please 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:
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Pantry: Non-sugar-coated cold cereal (cereal for adults),Tooth paste, Tooth brushes (small packs; 1 or 2 per pack), Shampoo, Deodorant, Small containers of laundry detergent
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Adult Clothing: Women's bras (all sizes), Men's undershirts (size L and XL), Men's athletic shoes (sizes 10 - 13), Feminine hygiene - pads
ACES is open on both Mondays and Wednesday from 8:30-1130am. 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
We are accepting school supplies on behalf of the Peter Paul Center downtown for their students. The collection boxes are in our hallway.
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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. 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 Miller, Erin Yagla, Anna Stiles, Meredith Moon, Madge Carter, Meghann Batten, Mark Longaker, Michael Fox, Bill Blakemore, Karl Meyer, Chambers Cromwell, Dennis Folsom, Carter and Lila, Shirley Dols, Jay Hart, Jack, Pam Bowers, Lin Varner, Connie Geisenderfer, Paul Robb, Jonathan Smith, Debra Bernard, Beth Arrott, Rev. Dr. Susannah Metz, the Rev. Victor King, Smith family, Alex Gillette, Pam Gillette, Sally Budd, Thad Green, Sarah Chamblee & family, Harrison May, , Loisanne Rockwell and the Diocesan Search Committee for our new Bishop.
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, Fran McConnell and Matt Chamblee.
We ask your prayers for those who grieve.
We pray for the workplaces and businesses of Metropolitan Richmond: For full employment opportunities for our young people and heads of families, for the long-term unemployed, and for the under-employed.
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 SERMON |
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September 1
Jay Fines
Cami Stiles
Harper Bowles
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September 5
Head Olin
Fox Urquhart
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Saint James the Less Episcopal Church
125 Beverly Road
Ashland, VA 23005
(804) 798-6336
Staff:
Miriam Smith- Christian Formation- Children & Youth Director
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Weekly E-News Deadline: If you have an announcement to be shared with the parish, please get the information in no later than noon on Monday. |
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