Our Weekly News & Updates |
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Greetings, friends!
With all of the awkwardness this year, we chose to delay our Annual Meeting a few weeks. We will be gathering virtually on March 7th directly following our Sunday Worship, sadly still virtual. We are called to announce our candidates for Vestry a month out.
This year we have 4 three-year slots to fill. Currently we have three candidates for three of the four positions. Vestry service is not for everyone, but we are seeking a fourth candidate to add to this slate if possible. I am pleased to announce that Kimette Cannady and Karen Davies have agreed to stand this year. Ian Sutton has served one year finishing someone else's term, and is allowed to stand for a full term of his own. Bios and pics of all three are below. Please reach out to me if you might be prayerfully called to serve the parish.
Next week Lent begins. Next Tuesday we have the fun of a "pancake supper" with Monique's Crepes Food Truck. Afterwards we will have a "virtual supper club" for those that are missing the interaction of Shrove Tuesday. From Sunday (Feb.14) you can pick up ashes for Ash Wednesday and other things for Lent at the office door, or at the Food Truck Tuesday night.
- a family craft-oriented Lenten series
- an adult Bible series working through the Gospel of Mark
- a parish Lent Madness online group
I hope you will grow with us over these weeks. Details for all of this will come out next week's Tuesday email. Many thanks to Karen, Kim, and Ian for standing for Vestry! Blessings!
Rock+
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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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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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Our very own Anabel Shifflett is coordinating a blanket drive for the UVA Children's Hospital. If you would like to donate an (adult size) blanket, feel free to drop it off at the church any weekday through March 1. We will have a bin right outside the door, under cover, in the Memorial Garden. We will be taking the blankets in daily. What an incredible act of beauty! Let's rally around her and help cover these children with love. |
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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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We are partnering with the Hanover ARC to send some Valentines to their clients and families. We still have a few people who need to be "adopted." They really enjoy getting mail, but don't get it often. Would you like to send some cheer to those who would really appreciate it? Email or call us and we will give you the name and address of someone who would love that!
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This would be a great thing to involve your children with. They could get creative and send their works of art to these wonderful folks. It will be fun for all ages and a great way to show care. |
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Lent Activities
Can you believe Lent starts next week? We are looking forward to a wonderful season of growth and love. There will be craft bags available to pick up at the church for families that contain crafts to complete throughout our season on Lent. We will be offering live instructional videos on Facebook every Friday at 5pm during Lent starting February 19th. Please join us here!
Family Survey
We have created a family survey to gather the most up to date contact information for our families and shape future programming to your needs. Please take a minute to fill out this very short survey.
Middle School & High School
Also we are hoping to get our middle school and high school youth in on the Lent action! We will be holding a Resurrection Garden contest. Request your starter kit here. You will have instructions on how to create the garden and then we want you to go wild! Decorate it in the most wonderful, creative, and outrageous ways! Can't wait to see what you all come up with!
Carolina's Farewell
We are collecting up some thank you coloring pages as well as money for Carolina to thank her for all she has done, especially during these challenging times. Her gift will be given to her tomorrow, Wednesday. Please let us know if you still have something you would like to contribute and we will make sure she gets it. |
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Dear Friends,
This has been a hard year in many ways for many of us and we miss each other. We miss you, seeing you in person, hearing your voices, catching up after church, the ordinary stuff of being a church community. You get to see us and hear our voices but we don’t get to hear yours. So here’s an idea: let’s have an on line conversation where we hear from you.
Each week we will post a few questions or prompts which you can choose from and answer, or come up with your own subject, and then write a brief reflection. These will be posted HERE. If anyone says anything outlandish like, “Harrison looked like a zombie this morning giving that sermon,” even if true, we may have to edit some things out. But mostly it is a way to stay in touch, minister to one another and hopefully have fun doing it.
Let’s give it a try and don’t worry about style or grammar ; just be yourself. The responses were fun last week. Please join us!
God bless,
Jake and Elwood ( The Blues Brothers), otherwise known as Rock+ and Harrison
PS. We are on a mission from God. All of us.
Prompts in this second edition are:
- What gives me hope is____________
- My favorite words that Jesus said are__________________
- My happy place is______________
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With the changing coronavirus case numbers, precautions and treatments, planning for Shrine Mont Camps in 2021 is underway. Please know that we are including many possibilities in our ideas and are hopeful that we may be able to have in-person camp this year. No matter what, next summer will look different than any we've seen before. Whether a camper attends a modified in-person session, a virtual camp experience, or a new hybrid camp, we are committed to encouraging the growth of relationships with self, others and God. More details about plans for this summer should be released in February. Read more at Shrine Mont Camps 2021 FAQs. All updates will go directly to those on our contact list. To receive information as it is released, click here to sign up for the Shrine Mont Camps newsletter.
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We've had a few from our community to get the COVID Vaccine. If you would like to see when a vaccine might be available to you, click this link for the Virginia Department of Health and they will take your contact information and let you know when it might be available to you. Also, Hanover County has set up a hotline to help you sign up for Covid-19 vaccine 804-365-3240.
VCU Health has started vaccinating existing patients who have received care at one of our hospitals or clinics in the past three years and meet the state’s Phase 1b requirements, ages 65 or older. Due to a limited supply of vaccine, they are starting with our oldest patients first. Please do not call your doctor’s office about COVID-19 vaccine appointments. They will contact you directly to make a vaccination appointment if you qualify under the state’s guidelines and as appointments become available. VCU Health's COVID-19 vaccine website has the most up-to-date information on vaccine scheduling, eligibility and related information. Please check back often, as this information does change.
Read the Latest COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Remember, COVID-19 is not the same as the flu. It’s extremely dangerous — to you and those you come in contact with. Now that vaccines are available, don’t take chances. Get the vaccine when it’s your turn — to protect yourself, your family and the surrounding community. Delaying care for a potential emergency condition, such as a heart attack, stroke or asthma attack, is also dangerous. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek immediate care.
We are so blessed to have a Parish Nurse, Bobbie Street, in our midst. We wanted to remind you that if you have a medical question, she is associated with a vast network of medical professionals that she can connect you with. She can help get answers to your questions. Feel free to text or call her at (804) 651-8289. You can also email her here.
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Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 7th at 11am for our Annual Meeting, following the 10am Morning Prayer Virtual Service. We will be meeting and voting via Zoom. For those who aren't comfortable with Zoom, we will be holding training sessions the week before to help ease any worries.
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The Ministry for Racial Justice and Healing of the Diocese of Virginia invites you to learn about the history of race and racism in America and the impact it has on our world today, while engaging in meaningful conversation through the Episcopal Church’s Sacred Ground curriculum.
There are two different courses, each with two meeting time options (you choose the best time for your schedule). They are:
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Sacred Ground General Course Sundays, 1:30-3 p.m.; or Tuesdays, 7:30-9 p.m. | 8 sessions every week beginning February 21 or 23. The Sacred Ground General Course is open to any person who would like to participate.
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Sacred Ground for Facilitators Mondays or Tuesdays, 3-5 p.m. | 6 sessions every other week beginning February 22 or 23. The Sacred Ground Facilitators course is appropriate for those exploring the possibility of becoming a facilitator, even if a participant does not decide to become a facilitator in the end.
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Mark your calendars for Tuesday, February 16th from 4:30-6:30pm. We will have Monique's Crepes food truck here in our parking lot! You will be able to pre-order and they email you when you dinner is ready for pick up. You can also walk up and order as well. Their menu looks fantastic! Take a look here.
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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 blessed ashes for Ash Wednesday that evening. Invite your friends and family. All are welcomed and wanted! |
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Wednesday
Join us for Morning Prayer this Wednesday at 7:30am 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. It is a wonderful time to reconnect!
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 6. 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:*3^evSN$
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Sunday Morning
We hope that you will join us at 10am for virtual Morning Prayer 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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Help With The Vaccine Distribution
Thursday, February 11, 2021 from 7am- 3pm
This event will be focused on our elderly population (75+) and one of the jobs we will be looking to fill with volunteers is that of guest service agent
- 1 Wheelchair team leader
- 5 Wheelchair team members
In this job, the wheelchair team helps patients with mobility difficulties get through the venue by pushing them in a provided wheelchair. When the golf cart team assists someone from the parking lot to the door of the venue, the wheelchair team picks them up just outside the door and helps them through the indoor venue and ultimately out the exit door to the waiting area for golf cart transport back to their cars. The majority of this assignment is indoors with a very short time outside when retrieving and returning the patient to the golf cart teams. This assignment will give the volunteers an opportunity to interact with those they are helping as well as staff throughout the event.
If you would like to volunteer to help, please contact Ian Sutton.
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Tuesday, February 9, 2021
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12pm- Noonday Prayer (online)
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
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7:30am- Morning Prayer (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)
Thursday, February 11, 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 12, 2021
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12pm- Noonday Prayer (online)
Sunday, February 14, 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 15, 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)
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OFFICE CLOSED - Federal Holiday (Washington's Birthday)
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, Kirsten, Carolyn Moore Lindau, 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 a spirit of unity and cooperation among all people in all jurisdictions; to earnestly seek the common welfare of this metropolitan city; to express compassion and care for our natural environment.
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 HOMILY |
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Fuzzy Navel Cake
(contributed by Pat Powell by p.132)
Ingredients:
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1/2 c. vegetable oil
- 1 6 oz. pkg. instant vanilla pudding
- 4 eggs
- 3/4 c. peach schnapps
- 1/2 c. orange juice
- 1/2 t. orange extract
- 4 T. peach schnapps
- 2 T. orange juice
- 1 c. confectioners sugar, sifted
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine first seven ingredients in mixing bowl and blend well. Pour into greased and lightly floured 9 1/2" Bundt pan. Bake 45-50 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Combine 4 T. peach schnapps, 2 T. orange juice and confectioners sugar. While cake is still warm in the pan, poke holes in cake; pour liqueur mixture over. Allow to cool in pan at least 2 hours before moving.
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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 9
John Temple
Prudense Reynolds
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February 10
Alice Lewis
Devon Ericksen
February 11
Diane Kubala
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