A Thanksgiving Break
Take some time over the Thanksgiving holiday to give some attention to the way you receive parish information or consider trying something new, like ringing in the bell choir.
Just this Tuesday (before Thanksgiving) an e-mail invitation was sent to those who still need to sign on to use REALM (our new church software). Once you have clicked the link to accept your invitation to join REALM, you may use the tool in two ways. From your computer, you simply go to the website (www.onrealm.org/StJamesWichita) and log in. Or, on your mobile phone you can go to your app store and download the REALM Connect app. Once the app is installed on your phone and you open it, you will be asked to sign in with the account information you got when you accepted the REALM invitation in your e-mail. Many already have opened the e-mail, accepted the invitation, and begun to explore the information available. The more members who log on and use this new software, the better it will be, so give it a try!
Lots of us have noted again and again the dedicated service of our sexton, Jose Alonso. In spite of the ups and downs we experience in life, Jose has been with us for years. He stuck in there through the pandemic only working part-time. He cleans, gets our facility ready for every event, and maybe most importantly of all, provides security for all of us. He is truly irreplaceable.
In an attempt to express our gratitude for everything he does, we invite you to contribute to an end-of-year bonus for him. You can write a check to St. James and put his name down on the memo line (like always).
Very soon you will be able to use a new, super easy way to give online thanks to REALM. We are almost finished setting up ways to give towards your pledge, your church offering, or for special gifts such as the bonus for Jose. We will also have the option of contributing to the endowment (PMEF) on the giving form soon. Our purpose is to make supporting the ministries of St. James Church easy for you. Expect to learn more about giving with REALM next week. If you have any questions, please call the church office.
There are many ways to give to the parish which don’t involve money. If you can keep time with music, you may be just the person we are looking for to join the St. James Bell Choir. We hear the voice of angels through the playing of the bells and invite all interested persons to let us know of your interest in participating. The bell choir will begin rehearsing thrice a month after the first of the year and contribute the music of the bells to our worship once each month. Rehearsal times will be established according to the schedules of those involved, so don’t hesitate to express your interest now. You can call the church office (316-683-5686) or send us an email at: office@stjameswichita.org. Our new choirmaster, Warren Kim, will lead the bell choir, and Adrienne Edwards will help with coordination.
As we count our blessings this time of year, let us not forget those who suffer due to injustice, hate, and violence. Our hearts go out to all victims of random violence including those in Idaho, Virginia, and Colorado. God, we know that you bring into existence that which does not exist. We trust that you can help us break the cycle of senseless killing and bring us into cooperation with peace.
Please, don’t neglect gratitude for all that we have, and lift a prayer like this as well:
A prayer in times of violence
God of all humanity,
In times of violence
We see how inhuman we can be.
We pray for those who, today,
Are weighed down by grief.
We pray for those who, yesterday,
Were weighed down by grief.
And the day before,
And all the days before the day before.
We pray, too, for those who help us turn towards justice and peace.
Turn us all towards justice and peace
Because we need it. AMEN.
This prayer is one offered by the Corrymeela Community (https://www.corrymeela.org).
May your know your life full of blessing.
Yours in Christ, Mother Dawn+
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