Our Weekly News & Updates
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Advent blessings, friends!
We had some big changes this last Sunday, reintroducing wine during Eucharist for those who choose to take it, and I was back in the pulpit to preach. Both seemed welcome additions. If you have any questions, please let us know.
This Sunday we will be resuming our in-person Contemplative Service on Sunday evening at 5 p.m. It will be markedly different from what we have done in the past during my tenure. More quiet. More reflective. More prayerful. I hope you will join us and check out the changes. We will not be doing this online as it is designed in a more experiential way. We will share the elements in written form so you can do them on your own at home if you wish.
We are in the process of preparing our budget for the coming year. It would help us so much if you plan to pledge that we have your pledge card in, as we build our budget from our pledged income. For those who have pledged, thank you for your faithfulness moving ahead.
Blessings as we move into liturgical Year C. May we prepare the way of the Lord in all our homes and hearts!
Rock+
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Tuesday, November 30, 2021
- 10am- Rule of Life Small Group
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
- 7:30am-Eucharist Rite II
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Link to watch service
- 8pm-Youth Parent's Small Group
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Link to join Zoom Call
Thursday, December 2, 2021
- 6pm- Handbell Choir
- 7pm-Parish Choir
Sunday, December 5, 2021
- 8am- Eucharist: Rite I (no music)
- 8:45am- Adult Sunday school (Brydon Hall)
- 9am- Children's Sunday school (virtual)
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Link to join
- 10am- Eucharist: Rite II (music)
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Link for bulletin
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Link to watch
- 5pm- Contemplative Service
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Link for bulletin
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Link to watch
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6pm- Journey to Adulthood
Monday, December 6, 2021
- 10:30am-Grief Group
- 5:30pm-Centering Prayer Group
- 7pm- Dream Group
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Please join us this Sunday for our first IN PERSON Contemplative Service at 5pm. We are looking forward to a reflective time that will deepen your faith. We will have music and quiet reflections. We hope you will join us!
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The Altar Guild provides beautiful poinsettias during Christmas in honor of loved ones. If you would like to order one in memory or honor of your beloveds, please email Kasey or call to let her know. Please be sure to include your name and the name(s) of your honoree(s). The cost is $25. The deadline for orders is December 19th.
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ADDICTION RESOURCES ALWAYS AVAILABLE
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As excitement and anticipation of the coming holidays build for many, others may be struggling with their addiction or the addiction of another. Our town of Ashland, the Center of the Universe, is home to a warm community of people recovering from addiction, including Alcoholics Anonymous, aarichmond.org or 355-1212; Narcotics Anonymous, rvana.org; and Al Anon and Al-a-teen, vaalanon.org. More information is available online, or feel free to reach out to the Church office at (804) 798-6336. There is no reason to struggle alone.
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The Bishop's Appeal makes grants possible for things possible like providing equipment to congregations so they could stream services through the pandemic. It also feeds those who are hungry, provides meals to children through backpack programs, and fresh food through community gardens and farmer's markets- making a difference in lives of those most in need throughout our communities in the Diocese of Virginia.
Thanks to a challenge grant, donating online is more important than ever. The Jessie Ball duPont Fund has generously offered to match online gifts up to $25,000 in November and December. Please help us, if you are able, by donating online HERE. It will double the difference in the life of a person struggling right now. (Rules: Donations must be made online by individuals, not organizations. The match is capped at $500 per transaction, but you can make as many transactions as you like.) Thank you for your incredible generosity!
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ADVENT CHILDREN'S UPDATES
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CHILDREN'S CHURCH
During the season of Advent we will have Children's Church during the Sunday 10am service. Children are welcome to begin the service together and then they will go to Brydon Hall for a special craft and games and will return to the service at Communion. This will be distanced and masked to provide the safest experience for our families. We hope you will join us in person for this!
ADVENTURES IN ADVENT
Our theme this year is "Advent is Adventures" during Advent. Our family Advent bags are available for pick up this Sunday. They include a weekly newsletter with activities and service opportunities, crafts and and an Advent countdown. Please contact Miriam if you are unable to pick them up. We can leave them in office for you to pick up at your convenience.
SUNDAY SCHOOL VIRTUAL
Sunday school will be held virtual on December 5th at 9am.
We need one volunteer to help. We have it every Sunday morning at 9am from the comfort of your own home. Come learn and listen as our wonderful children share how God works in their lives. Please email Miriam if you are interested.
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Have you ever wanted to develop daily practices that would enrich your life? Come learn how to make that happen. Father Rock will be leading a small group in person on Tuesdays at 10am in Brydon Hall for 3 weeks, November 30th- December 14th. We would love to have you! If you aren't able to make it- that's okay too. We will be recording it so that you can be part of this online, if that is your preference.
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The memorial service for Karl Meyer will be December 11th at 2 pm at Saint James the Less. A reception will be immediately following the service from 3:30 to 5:30 pm in the Glen Dining Room, Main Floor, Madison Building, Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center, 1000 Virginia Center Parkway, Glen Allen, VA. We hope you will be able to join us as we celebrate his beautiful life.
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We are hoping to start a group of folks who are willing to help with our landscaping. We will have our first meeting on Tuesday, December 7th at 1:30pm. We will meet in the back yard where picnic tables are. Please come join us if you are interested in learning more or would like to help. This will be a brainstorming and planning session. We hope to see you there!
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Would you like to be on Vestry or know someone you think would do great at it? We would love to hear from you if so! Email Father Rock with any suggestions or questions you might have about the positions.
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We had a wonderful seminar a few weeks ago on preparing for the end of life. Since then, we've had many people reach out to get the resources from the class. We wanted to share those with you as well if you were interested.
Here is the End of Life planning kit that will walk you through all the steps of preparation. (We have copies of this in the folder on the wall in the hallway)
Stephanie Higgins passed along many good links. One that she suggested as a good place to delve into is What is Special to You?
The Episcopal Diocese dedicated website for planned giving is here. You can sign up for the free e-newsletter, check out information about ways to give, learn more about wills, and research other giving vehicles all from the privacy of your own home!
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If you or your family would like to sponsor the flowers in the Sunday service, you can email Kasey to reserve your date. There are no flowers in the Advent season, but as we look forward to the 2022 calendar you can make sure you remember holidays and birthdays with the gorgeous flowers the Altar Guild does. The cost is $35 and the money goes to support purchasing the flowers and all the things that the Altar Guild provides for this awesome community.
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Are you hoping to add some Saint James the Less "swag" to your collection? Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? We have a online website, through The Supply Room, that allows us to order items with the SJTL logo on it. There are all kinds of shirts, jackets, and bags that you can get with Saint James the Less on it. Click HERE to see the many different options.
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NOVEMBER VESTRY MEETING OVERVIEW
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We are hoping to send a brief bullet point list of the items covered in that month's vestry meeting in case you would like more information or have questions. We want to make sure all are "in the know." The vestry met in November and discussed:
- Christmas services and moving back to the High Altar with receiving wafers and resuming our wine in individual cups via “The Common Cup”.
- Resuming Adventurers, meeting in peoples homes.
- Chenery update with several new members: Karen Fritter, Bob Chamlee and Townes Rison.
- Discussed The Diocesan Convention and the Resolutions.
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OUTREACH
"We rise by lifting others." -Robert Ingersoll
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Serving and Giving Opportunities this holiday season
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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: Pork & beans, beef stew (smaller cans), shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste
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Adult Clothing: Women's bras (C and larger cup, 38 and larger band), men & women's sweatpants and sweatshirts, men's athletic shoes & work boots (size 10 and larger), men's jeans, boxers, and undershirts (size M or L)
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Children's Clothing: Girl's winter coats (sizes 8 & 10), boy/girl fall and winter clothes (seizes 10 and larger)
ACES is open on both Mondays and Wednesday from 8:30-1130am. 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
Peter Paul is in need of these supplies on behalf of their students. The collection boxes are in our hallway.
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School Supplies: glue, scissors, folders, erasers and pencil pouches
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Laundry supplies: Travel size detergent or 4 pods, rolls of quarters
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Hygiene items: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, chapstick, Vaseline, pads, tampons, face wipes and wash clothes
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Meals-to-go: pop-top food- soup, beans, canned meat, tuna packets, water (reusable bottle), crackers, chips, fruit cups
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Winter weather items: hand warmers, fleece blanket, hat, gloves, thick socks
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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, 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 Miller, Erin Yagla, Meredith Moon, Madge Carter, Meghann Batten, Mark Longaker, Michael Fox, Bill Blakemore, Chambers Cromwell, Dennis Folsom, Carter and Lila, Shirley Dols, Jack, Pam Bowers, Lin Varner, Connie Geisenderfer, Paul Robb, Jonathan Smith, Debra Bernard, Beth Arrott, Rev. Dr. Susannah Metz, the Rev. Victor King, Smith family, Alex Gillette, Pam Gillette, Sally Budd, Sarah Chamblee & family, Loisanne Rockwell, Katherine Anderson, Wiley Hughes, Jimmy Smith, Jeff Lawrence, May and family, Debbie Hill, Brian, Llelwyn Schofield, Schuyler, Harry Hassell, Melanie Fischer, Tom Bateman, Court Warfield, 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 the families of Metropolitan Richmond: For families going through divorce; and for all in the midst of life transitions; for peace, reconciliation, and forgiveness among family members, whatever the distance, and however old the hurt or grievance.
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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Advent 1- November 28, 2021
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November 30
Jack Marshall
December 1
Alex Meade
December 2
Carol Martin
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December 3
Chris Parks
December 6
Jane Howard
Norman Kubala
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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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