Our Weekly News & Updates |
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Friends,
Today we begin our approach to Jerusalem. Tonight is the Church's tradition of finishing off the fat of the last year (hence pancakes) in a celebration of life, as tomorrow we turn to a season of lament acknowledging our sins and ultimately our deaths. Our penitence over our shortcomings prepares our hearts and spirits for Easter. This year, after a year of fasting it so often felt like, I am choosing to embrace rather than forsake this Lent. I am taking on disciplines rather than giving up things. Here are our offerings for this Lenten season.
Tonight we will be offering the closest things to pancakes we could think of, crepes from Monique's Crepes. Information is below. There we will be giving Ashes for Ash Wednesday and copies of the Gospel of Luke for our Lenten Book Study (information below in this article). These are also be available outside the office door if you need some and cannot come out for the food truck.
The food truck will be serving from 4:30-6:30pm, and at 6:30pm we will have a Supper Club gathering on Zoom for about an hour or so. LINK
Tomorrow at 7:30 am and 7 pm an Ash Wednesday service will premiere on Facebook Live. LINK Anytime tomorrow you can view the service on YouTube. LINK We hope that you will join us and impose ashes on yourself and your household. Here is a way to get the ashes if you need help. LINK
We will be starting our Lenten Book Study next Tuesday. A video will be released weekly on Tuesdays covering three chapters of Mark a week. Our deacon, Harrison, and I have conversations with a weekly guest and wrestle with passages sequentially. The conversations we have already filmed have been fun and I hope you will join with us studying Scripture and preparing our hearts for Easter.
Miriam, our new Christian Formation Director, has special plans for our young families and youth.
Friends, it is so hard being apart, but know we will gather when we can do so safely. Please let us hear from you as you have needs.
Lenten blessings,
Rock+
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Join us TONIGHT, Tuesday, February 16th from 4:30-6:30pm. We will have Monique's Crepes food truck here in our parking lot!
When an order is placed, an email confirmation of the order will be sent and then a SECOND email will be sent when the order is READY. They do their best to meet the assigned pickup times but depending on the volume of orders, times may be delayed. They can also accept walk up orders but those orders will be placed into the online order queue, so we'd recommend ordering online and waiting for the second email to notify when the order is ready for pickup.
When you get home join us at 6:30pm for a Shrove Tuesday Zoom call to connect with each other.
Join Zoom Meeting
*Or you can phone in by dialing +1 301 715 8592, enter Meeting ID: 829 7462 3772, Passcode: 543408
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Since we can't meet together for pancakes, we thought this might be the next best thing. You will also be able to pick up individual bags of ashes for Ash Wednesday and the CEB Study Bible of Mark that evening. Invite your friends and family. All are welcomed and wanted!
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Join us as we observe Ash Wednesday together. We will hold a 7:30am Spiritual Eucharist service online. It will show again at 7pm, in our usual tradition. We will have bags of ashes and the prayers outside on the table in the Memorial Garden for you to pick up. Also, we will be studying the Gospel of Mark throughout the Lenten season. Please also pick up a copy (to keep!) of the Mark study bible and commentary.
Below you will find an instructional video on how to impose the ashes on yourself since we can't be together in person right now.
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Join our "Lent Madness at Saint James the Less" Facebook page HERE. We will have some fun as determine who the Saint of the Year is. This year's line up of saintly souls feature 32 inspiring men and women, both known and unknown, along with a plethora of themed battles, some of which are obvious and some of which will soon be revealed. These particular saints have been hand-selected by the Supreme Executive Committee, following muchy discernment and based on nominations from the global Lent Madness public. |
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Family Survey
The family survey is up and running. We are hoping to collect all responses by March 1st. It is extremely short and helps to shape future programming. Please take a minute to fill out this very short survey.
Youth Resurrection Garden Competition
We will be having a youth competition for the most creative resurrection garden. We will provide all of the basic supplies and you provide the imagination! Sign up here.
Lent Activities
The craft bags available to pick up at the church on Wednesday afternoon. We will be offering live instructional videos on Facebook every Friday at 5pm during Lent starting February 19th. Please join us here! We would love to have you tune in and interact! |
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COVID Vaccine Information forHanover Residents
(Chickahominy Health District)
As the Chickahominy Health District (CHD) rolls out the COVID vaccines to community members who fall within the phases established by the state, remember:
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Please DO call the COVID call center at 804-365-3240 or visit https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/chickahominy/ and complete the CHD Vaccine Sign-up Survey, if you’d like to add your name to the vaccine list. The call center is handling a large volume of calls so if you leave a message, the team will contact you as soon as possible. You only need to do one of these steps to be on the list.
- Please DO NOT expect an immediate call to schedule a vaccination appointment. Please be patient. You will be contacted when an appointment slot is available based on your eligibility and vaccine supply. When a Chickahominy Health District (CHD) team member contacts you, please do not give out their contact information without asking them first.
- DO (safely) help your eligible family and friends sign up to be on the vaccine list, if they are not able to do so on their own.
- DO NOT call or email daily to check on your status. CHD will contact you when an appointment is available. There is a process that must be followed for this to work.
- DO be kind and help if you are able. The links below are a few ways you can support local vaccine and COVID response efforts. As you wait for your turn, please continue to practice mask wearing, physical distancing, and hand washing. We are in this together and we will end this together.
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Join us in celebrating some wonderful news that our very own Keenan Field graduated from University of Virginia in December with a M.A. Religious Studies. George Field could not be more proud! We are celebrating along with them! Congratulations and we know you will continue to bring goodness into this world! We are praying for you! |
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As we approach Annual Meeting on March 7th we have the opportunity to elect some new Vestry members. We will miss those rotating off and appreciate their service deeply on behalf of this community. We are excited to welcome and elect those called to the team. Below you will see the current candidates for Vestry. If you are interested in being on Vestry or would like to nominate someone, please reach out to Father Rock. You can email him or call him at (804) 306-2112. |
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Jenny Bruce
Don and I met in the SJTL choir and were married here in 2001. We have four grown sons and four grandchildren. I’m retired from Randolph-Macon College, where I taught and assisted students with special learning needs. I have served on the vestry in the past as well as being an active choir member, eucharistic minister, lector and member of various committees. I am honored to have been asked to stand for the vestry. I feel called to step back into a more active role at this time of hope. As we emerge from the pandemic, reopen our doors to worshiping together, listen to the music of our new organ, and resume our lives dedicated to service, I look forward to working with the wonderful members of our vestry, led by Father Rock, as we begin a new and exciting chapter in the life of our church.
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Kimette Cannady
Kim and her husband, Steve, found SJTL when they first moved to Ashland. They reaffirmed their faith, joined the Episcopal Church, and stayed here until 1997. They then moved to Colonial Beach, VA, where she attended St. Mary's Episcopal Church. She served on the Vestry there. They came back to Ashland in 2017 and has been here ever since, in the town and SJTL. Steve passed away in 2017 and her SJTL community surrounded her with love. She leads the Prayer Shawl ministry here at SJTL. Kim feels called to the Vestry, after much prayer, because as someone with years of life experience, she wants to set an example for the younger generations.
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Karen Davies
My husband Paul and I joined St. James the Less soon after we moved to Ashland in 2014. We previously lived in Lynchburg, and before that Durham, NC, where we raised our three (now grown) children. During our children’s formative years I served as a Girl Scout leader for six years and then on a regional GSA board. I also worked as a preschool teacher, and as a reading tutor at their elementary school. I am a cradle Episcopalian and pulled my Presbyterian husband into the fold shortly after we married in 1985. Prior to becoming empty nesters, we were active in Sunday School, VBS, Coffee Hour and various “kid-themed” ministries at our churches in Lynchburg and Durham. Now that we’re empty nesters I have enjoyed branching out into other types of service. Since joining SJTL I have prepared food for the Free Clinic and parishioners requesting meals, and baked bread for Communion. Paul and I joined the usher group and have enjoyed participating in the Supper Club and the Brew n’ Que Festival. Up until this past March you could find me working at the Ashland Library. I have since retired and now spend time volunteering at Hanover Humane Society and hiking with our dog around the area. St James the Less welcomed us very warmly, and I would consider it an honor to serve on the vestry, welcoming new members into our fold.
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Ian Sutton
Val and I moved to Ashland in ten years ago from Houston, Texas. We quickly found St. James the Less and immediately felt right at home. And it has felt like home ever since.
Last year I was asked to serve on the vestry to fill a vacancy. Almost immediately, we had to move the meetings to Zoom. Nevertheless, I have found vestry work to be both interesting and rewarding. We can be thankful that we have been able to maintain our church life so effectively during these difficult times, and that we have been able to reach out to so many people with our church’s videos. But, like all of us, I look forward to the time when we can all assemble in one place as a community (and listen to the new organ).
St. James the Less provides a wonderful base for community work. In my case it has been ACES and its senior ride program, but the church provides many opportunities for all of us to serve others.
It would be a privilege to continue to serve on the vestry.
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Wednesday
Join us for the Ash Wednesday service this Wednesday at 7:30am (and again at 7pm) 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
We are thrilled Book Club has started! We meet on Thursdays at 10:30am.
We will be reviewing Chapter 7. Please read the chapter before, if you can.
We are reading The Ragamuffin Gospel:Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out, by Brennan Manning. You can order it here from Amazon. We are happy to order you a copy if you would like. Please join us. Everyone is wanted and welcome! Also, if this is your first time using Zoom, we are happy to help you get set up.
To join the Zoom meeting click here
If you would like to call in (audio only), dial (301) 715-8592 and enter the Meeting ID: 840 2332 3497 and Passcode: 570346
To watch the recording from last week, click here. Password:2YRUxE.Z
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Sunday Morning
We hope that you will join us at 10am for virtual Spiritual Eucharist Worship service. It will be a beautiful time of connection and community. The link to watch and the bulletin is below in the schedule.
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Monday Morning
Grief Group is continuing via Zoom on Monday mornings at 10:30am until we are allowed to meet again in person.
To join the meeting on Monday, simply click here
If you would like to call in (audio only), dial (301)715-8592 and enter
Meeting ID: 879 5406 9630 and 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 and Boxed Potatoes, Applesauce, Oatmeal, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes
Adult & Children's Clothing Closet & Household items are currently closed due to COVID-19 spike. We are only accepting food and financial donations at this time. Because our clothing closets are closed, we do not have the staff to handle clothing or household item donations. Thank you for your understanding.
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 is an outreach and community center serving children and families in Church Hill and neighboring communities in Richmond’s East End. Founded by John Coleman in 1979, Peter Paul is the oldest continually operating community center in the area. Our mission is one of empowerment through education: to support our neighbors in the East End and educate their students, equipping them to serve as positive contributors to their family, community, and society. We help prepare students for long-term success by providing them with intensive academics in a supportive community of family and friends. Through programs that target families, Peter Paul helps parents in Richmond’s East End enhance their ability to create healthy family environments. And by enhancing the academic performance of students in our neighborhood and engaging their families in the process, we can create a community of care, a place that meets the immediate needs of our neighbors and promotes long-term self-sufficiency.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Peter Paul is providing the following programs:
- For children typically enrolled in any of Peter Paul’s five Promise Center locations, Peter Paul teachers are operating remote classrooms with virtual academic support and enrichment opportunities for students. We hope to be back in person at our locations this summer.
- An in-person emergency childcare/facilitated learning center for children of essential workers and teachers in the East End, operating out of MLK Middle School. While at this center, students receive facilitated instruction, breakfast, lunch, and snack, and enrichment/physical activities.
- All senior citizens in this program have been given and trained on using a tablet, and participate in weekly activities with each other and with community partners.
- Weekly virtual hangouts and workshops for parents and caregivers.
- Neighborhood food bank and distribution.
- Ongoing support including resource connections, referrals, and emergency assistance for issues related to employment, housing, and more.
To learn more or to contribute, please visit www.peterpaulrva.org. Your support helps us sustain our COVID-19 relief efforts and enable us to continue responding to the evolving needs and priorities of the people and community members we serve. Thank you to our Parishoners that give on behalf of the SJtL family! What a wonderful organization to support!
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Tuesday, February 16, 2021
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12pm- Noonday Prayer (online)
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4:30-6:30pm- Moniques Crepes Food Truck (here in our parking lot)
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6:30pm- Shrove Tuesday Zoom Call
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Link to join
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
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7:30am- Ash Wednesday 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)
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7pm-Ash Wednesday Service (online)
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Link to watch service
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Link for bulletin
Thursday, February 18, 2021
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10:30am- Book Club
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Link to join
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12pm- Noonday prayers (online)
Friday, February 19, 2021
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12pm- Noonday Prayer (online)
Sunday, February 21, 2021
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9am- Children's Sunday School (online)
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Link to join
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10am- Morning Prayer Worship (online)
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Link to watch service
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Link for bulletin
Monday, February 22, 2021
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10:30am- Grief Group (online)
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Link to join
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12pm- Noonday prayers (online)
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, Ricki Carson, Michael Fox, Alex Gillette, Bill & Beth Arrott, Michelle Murphy, Bill Blakemore, Rose, Mason, Elizabeth Attkisson (Erin Cobb's mother), 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, Ginny Miller (sister of Carol Barnes), Shelby Davies, John Murphy, Lyla Buchanan, Kathy Marshall, Kimette Cannady, Melanie Bruce, Bob Ellithorpe, Elaine Belyea, Pam Gillette, Melanie Fischer, Dennis Folsom, Ginny Miller (Carol Barnes’ sister) 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.
We ask your prayers for those who grieve.
We pray for Metropolitan Richmond:We pray for the coming of God’s realm in Metropolitan Richmond: For healthy economic development, which enhances the Metropolitan community, employs the unemployed, and contributes to the common good.
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 SERVICE |
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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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February 19
Derrick Rosser
February 20
Pam Gillette
Olivia Hoar
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