Our Weekly News & Updates |
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Friends,
We are slowly peeling back the re-opening restrictions and changes that we have been following. We are gathering in-person and inside. We are not requiring distancing in our seating, but have spaces reserved for those who wish to do so. We have the balcony re-opened for families with unvaccinated children if the feel more comfortable sitting there. We have resumed Wednesday morning Eucharists in-person, and we are enjoying fellowship afterward. We are slowly emerging from where we have been, and we are hopeful and prayerful that we can continue on this course.
This Sunday we will be resuming Rite I in our 8:30 early service without music. We will continue Rite II with music in the late service. Every Sunday more and more people are coming our way. We have had regular visitors every week since reopening. PLEASE WEAR YOUR NAMETAGS, for new folks and memory's sake. We will keep wearing masks during our services as well as not everyone can be vaccinated yet. We are thankful where we have come from, and where we are moving. Thank you for all the assistance in our guidelines so we can continue re-opening and resuming things.
Two big, new things this week:
- Friday night at 8 pm we will have an outdoor movie behind the Rectory. Bring a blanket. We will have s'mores, popcorn, and maybe even some hot dogs. Lots of good things. We will be seeing the latest Pixar animated movie this week. If there is rain, we will move it back a week.
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Sunday afternoon at 4:30 pm we will begin our Confirmation Class. If you are interested in the Episcopal Church, or if a teen and want to be a fully recognized member, please join us. Let the office know you are coming so we have enough materials. More information is below. These are always wonderful, rewarding times. I look forward to your being with us.
Blessings this week, and I trust that you had a great Independence Day weekend.
Rock+
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Please join us this Friday, July 9th at 8pm for family movie night on the lawn to watch Disney's+ Luca. Sunset is around 8:30pm. We will have popcorn, but feel free to bring a blanket, chairs, snacks and get ready to settle in for some cinema magic. It is a beautiful movie about self acceptance and overcoming adversity. |
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JULY CONTEMPLATIVE SERVICE |
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We hope you will join us to watch the Contemplative Service for July. The theme this month is Proclamation.
We pray your faith will be enriched as you take a deeper look into our baptismal vows.
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We are changing the way we do things on Wednesday mornings. Join us for IN PERSON Eucharist:Rite II service on Wednesday morning at 7:30am in the church. Please still wear your masks. We are thrilled this service is opening back up in person. We will have coffee and bagels with spreads in Brydon Hall afterward. If you would like to watch live, please click HERE.
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We are going to start offering Eucharist: Rite I at the 8:30am service starting this weekend. The 10am service will continue to be the Eucharist: Rite II. We hope you will join us for one of these services. |
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We have loosened our restrictions for our worship services as cases continue to decrease. Here are a few reminders for our Sunday indoor services:
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We will no longer be requiring sign-ups, or checking-in. Just come to either the 8:30 or the 10 am.
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We will be cleaning between services.
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We will still be requiring masks when in the service while we are all not yet fully vaccinated or for folks who are immuno-compromised.
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We will reserve the balcony for families with unvaccinated children. (They are not required to sit there but may.) We ask all others to sit downstairs.
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We will reserve a section of the seating for social distancing in the seating.
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As we begin to come together indoors again, we are reminded of our practices from "pre-Covid" times. We have all these wonderful name-tags that we wear to let people know our names to make our space feel more inclusive. If you need a new name-tag or don't have one, please email us and let us know. We will make sure you get one. |
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We've just gotten in the August/September/October Forward Day by Day devotional books. If you would like us to mail you a copy, please email us your name and mailing address and we will get it to you. We will also have copies here at the church in the office and also on the table in the Memorial Garden. |
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We will be starting our next round of Confirmation Classes on Sunday, July 11th from 4:30-6pm in Brydon Hall. We are hoping to finish in 4 weeks, but are leaving the 5th week open just in case. They will meet July 11-August 8 on Sunday afternoons from 4:30-6pm in person. Would you like to join the class? Email us and let us know if you would like to be part. We will make sure you get all the information. We hope you will! |
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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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VBS Sign Up
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!! (click there) Don't forget to sign up for VBS this year! We will be learning about the parable of the sower and taking care of God's gifts. This will be a wonderful hands on session that includes music, art and gardening!
Pop Tops
It's official! St James the Less donated the largest pop top donation of 2021 weighing in at 92 pounds. Don't forget you can bring your Pop Tops into church any time throughout the year!
Yoga
Our next Yoga offering will be July 22nd. Save the date!! This is open to young adults and adults alike 😁
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Wednesday
Join us for IN PERSON Eucharist:Rite II service on Wednesday morning at 7:30am in the church. Please still wear your masks. We are thrilled this service is opening back up in person. We will have coffee and snacks in Brydon Hall afterward.
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Thursday
Please join us this week for our final Book Club at 10:30am on Thursday for 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 32-33 (they are short chapters). 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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This Sunday
Please join us for an in-person INDOOR Eucharist: Rite II Worship Service at 8:30am and 10am. If you aren't able to join us and you would like to watch from home the link to watch is HERE at 10am.
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Monday
Grief Group meets Mondays at 10:30am in person. Everyone is wanted and welcomed to this special group.
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OUTREACH
"We rise by lifting others." -Robert Ingersoll
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Saint James the Less Free Clinic
Right outside our Saint James the Less Free Clinic our very own, Flory Brockwell, did her Gold Award Girl Scouts project by donating 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 mixed vegetables and canned potatoes
- Adult Clothing: Men's jeans (sizes 36 and larger)
- Warehouse: Oscillating or box fans
ACES will be open on both Mondays and Wednesday from July 7th thru the remainder of the summer (or until further notice) Thank you for your continued support!
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ACES Senior Ride Program
ACES joined with MCEF (Mechanicsville Churches Emergency Functions) in 2014 to offer rides to seniors (60+) who are no longer able to drive but would like to stay in their home as long as possible. This free transportation program is for scheduled medical appointments, grocery shopping and for personal business, such as banking. Our riders must be ambulatory. We also provide rides to anyone who may have a medical condition that requires frequent trips for medical treatments such as dialysis or chemotherapy. An envelope is provided to our riders so that, if they wish, they can make a donation to help sustain our program. Additional information can be found on their website (www.aceshanover.org) by clicking on the tab “About Us” and then “Services.”
We would love to increase the number of volunteer drivers for their program.
Their potential drivers are asked to provide a copy of their DMV record and take an 8-hour AARP Safe Driving Course – the cost of both is reimbursed by ACES. A background check is required and that is handled by the Senior Rides program. Their drivers use their personal vehicles for the transportation of our senior riders and are paid 25 cents per mile. In addition, through Risk Management of Virginia, they provide liability insurance that protects the driver and the rider. If you are interested in driving for their program, please contact us on the ACES Senior Rides phone line at 804-543-6115 or call ACES at 798-2784. You may also contact them at email address: youraces@verizon.net. Additional information can be found on their website (www.aceshanover.org) by clicking on the tab “About Us” and then “Services.”
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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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Wednesday, July 7, 2021
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7:30am-Eucharist Rite II (in person)
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Link to watch service
Thursday, July 8, 2021
- 10:30am- Book Club (online)
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Link to join
Sunday, July 11, 2021
- 8:30am & 10am- In Person, Indoor Eucharist:Rite II Worship
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Link to watch service
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Link for bulletin
Monday, July 12, 2021
- 10:30am- Grief Group (in person)
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, Kimette Cannady, Pam Gillette, Melanie Fischer, Dennis Folsom, Tom & Fran Burke (Beth Renswick’s aunt & uncle), Ginny Miller (Carol Barnes’ sister), Carter and Lila (family of Betsy Snipes and Kristina Raney), Shirley Dols, Jay Hart, Cliff Pierce (cousin of the Wehman-Hopkins family), Jack, Judy Malory, Connie Geisenderfer, Paul Robb, Roxanne, Sarah Reece, William Timberlake, Doc and Karen, Jonathan Smith, Anne Ericksen (Julie Ericksen’s mother-in-law), Debra Bernard, and Dick Shirey, Rev. Dr. Susannah Metz 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.
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.
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THIS PAST SUNDAY'S SERMON |
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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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July 6
Harry Hassell
July 9
Walton Vaughan
Woodi Sprinkel
Ted Tweel
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July 10
Nancy Fines
Jeannette Toscano
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