Our Weekly News & Updates |
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Friends,
We are looking forward. That alone is a statement. So much of the last two years has seemed to have no "future tense." We are reacting as needed, and on a good day merely responding. The last few weeks, while having had to react/respond, we have also been looking ahead. In the coming days you will see the result of a lot of behind-the-scenes work by a lot of folks. Kudos to them. But it has also allowed me to realize that we have reached a turning point in the COVID crisis, in that we are moving into "living with it."
Scientists are shifting language from pandemic to endemic. The definition of endemic, to be clear, is "(of a disease or condition) regularly found among particular people or in a certain area." And that "certain area" is now everyone everywhere, as we hate to admit. It is not going away, and variants will be the course for the foreseeable future. As long as so many around the world are not vaccinated, variants will emerge and spread. This virus is and will be endemic. As the maps show, most of the USA is in the high category and all of Virginia is.
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Living with something and waiting something out are two very different things. One takes planning and preparedness, and one takes patience. And for many, their patience is all used up.
Looking at our numbers in Hanover County (details here if you are curious), are down significantly. We closed when the daily new cases per 100k people on a 7-day rolling average reached 125, 5 times higher than when the bishop instructed as to when we would be closed. The highest peak I saw under the Omicron variant was 229. We are now at 150, down 79. The staff and the Vestry both discussed this at length, and we have decided to reopen when these numbers go below 100. This gives us a benchmark that we can all see, and it leaves the back-and-forth of decision-making to a clear and mutually discernable level.
When we arrive at that benchmark, we will re-open as we can, as quickly as we can. We all pray for that day, even as exasperated as we may feel. But know this, whatever this continues to bring us, we are here. We are cared for. We are loved. We have hope and light to offer to the world. I so appreciate your staying faithful and encouraging during this time. Brighter days are ahead and we look forward to sharing great news soon!
Blessings,
Rock+
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Tuesday, January 25, 2022
- 10am-Book Club
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Link to join Zoom
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
- 7:30am-Eucharist Rite II
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Link to watch service
- 8am-Coffee Hour on Zoom
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Link to join Zoom
Sunday, January 30, 2022
- 9am- Children's Virtual Sunday School
- 10am- Eucharist: Rite II (music)
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Link for bulletin
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Link to watch
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Right after service- Virtual Coffee Hour
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Link to join Zoom
Monday, January 31, 2022
- 10:30am- Grief Group- VIRTUAL
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Link to join Zoom
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We are excited book club has started again. We meet virtually on Tuesdays at 10am. We are meeting for 6 weeks via Zoom. The link to join the group is HERE.
If you would like to call in, dial 1 301 715 8592 and enter Meeting ID: 821 8112 3575, Passcode: 298264
The book is Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr. It is $15 on Amazon. (HERE is the link). It’s going to be another WONDERFUL book club! Amazon does have a few used copies that are less, but the shipping may take a little longer. You can look at the local libraries or they do have a free version on Hoopla if you like to listen to the book. We hope you will join us!
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Since we are not meeting in person for our Wednesday morning Eucharist service, we will have Coffee Hour following the virtual service at 8am. We hope you will grab your favorite hot beverage and join us for this time of connection. We look forward to seeing you!
To join the meeting click HERE. If you would like to call in, dial 1 301 715 8592 and enter Meeting ID: 825 6722 4007 & Passcode: 808819 |
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We will be holding a virtual coffee hour after our worship hour on Sunday. Please join us directly after the service by joining the link HERE. If you would like to call in, dial 1 301 715 8592 and enter Meeting ID: 891 1435 5992 & Passcode: 842530
We hope you will join us for a time of community and connection!
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Grief Group is such a special place. If you would like support from the weight of what you are carrying, please join this thoughtful group of folks who gather virtually on Monday mornings at 10:30am. The link to join the meeting is HERE.
If you would like to call in, dial 1 301 715 8592 and enter Meeting ID: 876 0720 2870 & Passcode: 440919
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Our wonderful Vestry met in January for their meeting. As promised, we wanted to send you "highlights" from what they discussed. We are grateful for their leadership in these unprecedented times!
•Pavilion-Questions and Answers with the proposed builder, Yancey Jones and Dale Hill.
•Good news, we gained 16 new pledgers!
•We re-visited Covid Restrictions and developed a timeline when we can resume being in church. This will be once the moving average of new cases drops below 100 in Hanover.
•The Landscaping Group met and decided on the 4 new trees we will plant and where they will be planted. James River Nursery got our order and said when the weather breaks, they will come and plant them for us.
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SJTL is a supporter of Circles Ashland . This is a program that helps individuals/families in poverty, not to just meet immediate needs but to create a plan to leave poverty behind. It’s not a quick or simple program, Circles asks for a two year commitment for participants. The group meets Thursday evenings. Each Circle Leader (the person who is striving to move out of poverty) is linked with two allies (volunteers who serve as intentional friends to help them with community networking, accountability to their goals, and just general support and encouragement.) If you are interested in learning more, use this link or contact Info@CirclesAshland.org to sign up to receive more information.
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FREE AT HOME COVID-19 TESTS |
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Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here’s what you need to know about your order:
- Limit of one order per residential address
- One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
- Orders will ship free starting in late January
You can place your order by clicking HERE. |
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Shrine Mont is so excited about camp this summer, and hope that you are too. We want to encourage you to sign up for camp as soon as possible, so they have good counts for staffing and other preparations for the summer. In the hopes it will encourage you to SIGN UP NOW, they've created a discount code that is good for one week only. Enter "EARLYBIRD" at checkout to get $25 off of your total tuition. The link to the parent portal to sign up is HERE. They can't wait to see you this summer at CAMP!
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SJTL CHILDREN'S SUPPLY DRIVE |
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We are collecting supplies for SJTL Children's Church for 2022. Please click HERE for an Amazon wish list. You are welcome to purchase off here or to contribute craft items (glue, pens, crayons, etc) you pick up locally. We appreciate you!
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CHILDREN'S FACEBOOK GROUP |
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We wanted to invite any and all of our SJTL members to join our Children and Families Facebook Page. (You can do that HERE) They have super cute updates that lift the spirit. Everyone could use some Good News! |
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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: Instant potatoes, apple sauce (small sizes), toothpaste & toothbrushes
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Adult Clothing: Women's bras (C and larger cup, 38 and larger band), men's jeans
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Children's Clothing: Boy/girl fall and winter clothes (seizes 10 and larger)
*They ask we not donate spring and summer items just yet due to space.
ACES is open on both Mondays and Wednesday from 8:30-1130am. Thank you for your continued support!
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Peter Paul wishes to thank you for the much needed supplies for the children. The Center greatly appreciates all your thoughtfulness. Teachers will be able to hand our plenty of items to students returning to the after school program in 2022. Thank you again for your donations! |
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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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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, Glenn, 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, Meredith Moon, Madge Carter, Meghann Batten, Mark Longaker, Michael Fox, Bill Blakemore, Chambers Cromwell, Dennis Folsom, Carter, Shirley Dols, Jack, Pam Bowers, Lin Varner, Connie Geisenderfer, Paul Robb, Debra Bernard, Rev. Dr. Susannah Metz, Smith family, Alex Gillette, Pam Gillette, Sally Budd, Sarah Chamblee & family, Wiley Hughes, Jimmy Smith, Jeff Lawrence, May and family, Debbie Hill, Brian, Llelwyn Schofield, Schuyler, Harry Hassell, Melanie Fischer, Court Warfield, Deborah Leggott, Alice Cobb, The Rev. Richard Simpson, Beth Renswick, Scott Heron, William Major, Meredith Roemer, Eric Truitt, Gus Meyer, 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, especially Lila Snipes Slappey, Michael Campbell Woods, William Jonathan Smith, & Betsy Moore.
We ask your prayers for those who grieve.
We pray to overcome in Christ’s name the heritage of racism: To proclaim in word and deed the establishment of a beloved community in Metropolitan Richmond.
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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January 23, 2022
Third Epiphany
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January 25
Tyler FitzHugh
January 27
Brett Bajcsi
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January 31
Roger Reynolds
Stephanie Werner
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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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