Our Weekly News & Updates |
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Friends,
It is with great joy that we can talk about gathering for joint worship THIS SUNDAY, Palm Sunday, at 10 a.m. (Weather permitting)
So that you are fully prepared, here is the schedule for the day:
- 9 a.m. Children's' Sunday School (Zoom), and a pre-recorded shortened service premieres on YouTube and Facebook. (Links are below.) If weather is questionable or bad and we need to CANCEL, we will announce it at 9 a.m., also.
- 9:45 Gather for worship (weather permitting)
- MASKS REQUIRED & MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING
- BRING CHAIRS IF YOU CAN, and PLACE THEM IN THE LOOP IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH
- If comfortable, leave your chair and wear your mask to gather in the Memorial Garden for our Procession of the Palms
- If walking is difficult, please stay with your chairs and the service will return to you.
- We will have some chairs for those who need them.
- Eucharist of One Kind (bread) will be served. Follow the directions given to receive. Blessings will also be available.
- We will livestream as best we can, but the quality of the video and audio are never the best. We will do the best we can.
Our numbers are moving back up in Hanover County, and I hope that they are below the threshold for Easter Sunday. We will see. It is imperative that we continue doing the Masks/Distancing/Hand Sanitizing that we did when all this started a year ago. While many are vaccinated, one can still be vaccinated and spread the virus if you are asymptomatic. We all need to behave as if we have it, and simultaneously, like we do not want to get it. We are so close to things being better, and we must not slack so deep into the 4th Quarter. Together we can beat this.
My favorite services of the year are next week, the Triduum. We have already done much of the filming as we cannot hold outdoor services in the dark. We will say more next week, but the times for the Triduum Services are as follows.
- Maundy Thursday- 7 p.m. on Facebook and YouTube
- Good Friday- 7 p.m. on Facebook and YouTube
- Holy Saturday- Noon on Facebook and YouTube
- Easter Vigil- 7:35 p.m. (at sunset) on Facebook and YouTube
I encourage you to try and be with us for all of them. Together they are an amazing experience. Blessings as we finish our holy Lent!
Rock+
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MARK LENTEN CONVERSATIONS |
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We are thrilled to announce a thoughtful and creative way to read through the gospel of Mark in the Lenten season together. Each week we will be posting a different conversation between Rock+, Harrison and a member of our Parish. They read three chapters and discuss it as Spirit leads them. We are reading through the CEB (Common English Bible) Study Bible. Please come pick up your own copy on the table in the Memorial Garden. They are free for the taking.
We hope you will join us as we move into Mark chapters 13-16 with Becky McDaniel, Father Rock and Harrison. The link to watch is HERE on YouTube. (In case you missed the weeks with Neale Smith, the Leggotts, Bob Hughes or Gay Gibson- they there too!)
If you would prefer to listen as a podcast, click HERE.
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In Annual Meeting Father Rock passed along a reminder about estate planning. We have an excellent g uide to help with End of Life Planning Kit through the Episcopal Church Foundation. Please click HERE to learn more. It is a very thorough guide to help walk you through.
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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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Into the Wilderness
On March 26th at 5pm, we will be hosting a hike in the woods to explore the wilderness and find God in nature. We will meet at the pavilion at Poor Farm Park. Please let Miriam know you would like to come at msmithmt@gmail.com. Lent FB Live
Please join us on Friday at 5pm as we create together a Holy Week timeline. Also, we will get a sneak peek at how all of the beautiful resurrection gardens are growing.
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Melissa Roberts was kind to share this old Sunday School photo with us. Most of the children are still part of our congregation. The picture is from 2014. How sweet!
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COVID Vaccine Information for Hanover Residents
(Chickahominy Health District)
As the Chickahominy Health District (CHD) rolls out the COVID vaccines to community members, 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.
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A Prayer for Receiving the COVID Vaccine
By Rabbi Naomi Levy
I have been praying for this day and now it is here!
With great excitement, a touch of trepidation
and with deep gratitude
I give thanks for all the scientists who toiled day and night
so that I might receive this tiny vaccination.
That will protect me and all souls around this world.
With the pandemic still raging
I am blessed to do my part of defeat it.
Let this be the beginning of a new day,
a new time of hope, of joy, of freedom
And most of all, of health.
I thank you, God for blessing me with life
For sustaining my life
And for enabling me to reach this awe-filled moment.
Amen
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Wednesday
Join us for the Morning Prayer service 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. 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
Book Club is such an awesome experience! The conversation is rich and thoughtful. We meet on Thursday at 10:30am.
We will be reviewing Chapter A Word After & The Scandal of Grace. Please read the chapters before, if you can.
We are reading The Ragamuffin Gospel:Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out, by Brennan Manning. We hope you can join us!
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: J&Lc6A@r
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Sunday
We hope that you will join us at 10am for an in-person, outdoors for a Holy Eucharist:Rite II service for Palm Sunday. We will meet in the loop on Beverly in front of the steps. Please wear masks and remain socially distanced. We so look forward to being together!
We will also have an abbreviated 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: Applesauce (small cans, jars), Canned Fruit, Toothpaste, Shampoo
- Children's Clothing: Boy's small and medium underwear (sizes 6 - 10), Boy's and Girl's large socks (shoe sizes 4 - 6)
- Adult Clothing:In anticipation of opening back up for clothing in late March or April, they are now accepting good condition spring and summer clothing for men and women. Please, no winter clothing as they are still short staffed.
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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Tuesday, March 23, 2021
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12pm- Noonday Prayer (online)
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
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7:30am-Morning Prayer 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)
Thursday, March 25, 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, March 26, 2021
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12pm- Noonday Prayer (online)
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5pm- Facebook Live for kids
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Link to join in
Sunday, March 28, 2021
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9am- Children's Sunday School (online)
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Link to join
- 9am- Spiritual Eucharist Worship (online)
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Link to watch service
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Link for bulletin
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10am- Morning Prayer Worship (in person outdoors)
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Link to watch service
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Link for bulletin
Monday, March 29, 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 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, Michele, John & Johnny 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, Shelby Davies, Lyla Buchanan, Kathy Marshall, Kimette Cannady, Melanie Bruce, Bob Ellithorpe, Elaine Belyea, Pam Gillette, Melanie Fischer, Dennis Folsom, Tom & Fran Burke (Beth Renswick’s aunt & uncle), Ginny Miller (Carol Barnes’ sister), Maria & Jarrett, Doris Hassell, Carter and Lila (family of Betsy Snipes and Kristina Raney), The Paxton family (Pat Jordan’s son-in-law’s family), Jackie Banker (Alice Cobb’s friend), Jenny Bruce, Katherine Tinker and Erin Cobb (Alice Cobb’s daughter-in-law) 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 health care in Metropolitan Richmond: For emergency response personnel and all emergency room staff. For hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice programs; and for persons diagnosed with terminal illness.
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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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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March 23
Daniel Ellithorpe
Head Jones
March 24
Dick Shirey
James Cox
Ann Lawrence
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March 26
Margaret Rush
March 27
Betty Moore
March 29
Scott Wagner
Sara Waugh
Hayden Massey
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