03/01/24 News and updates from St. James Church

First Things First

Join us this Sunday, March 3, for Children's Sunday School and Children's Chapel starting at 9:30 am upstairs in the Kidz Zone. All kids in preschool- 5th grade are welcome. Questions? Contact Chelsea.

The Rev. Andrew O'Connor will preside at St. James this weekend.

We will meet this Sunday, March 3 after the 10:45 service to discuss plans for Olde English Tea. Anyone interested in helping with the Tea is welcome to attend.

Message of the Moment

Women's Retreat

A women’s retreat centered on the truth that we are made female in God’s image. This spiritual gathering is an opportunity for women of all ages, stages, and backgrounds to come together, connect, and embrace the inherent beauty and strength within us and as a community of women walking in faith with Christ Jesus.

Seeking our own spiritual transformation in our society today we will celebrate the feminine perspective, strength, and resilience that radiates through women of faith. During the retreat we will explore the examples and teachings of our foremothers found in Scripture and the early church. Guided by the feminine Divine energy in their witnesses that defied societal and religious rules and roles, we will engage soul nurturing prayer practices to give voice to the divine ’She’ welling up in our lives. This retreat is designed to support women moving forward in faith to live with courage, compassion and authentic faith.

The retreat begins Friday evening with check in at 4:00-4:30 and will end with a familiar Eucharist led by the Rev. Canon Lisa Senuta that uses feminine language to worship our triune God. Labyrinth, reading materials, icons, and journaling will all be provided to aid your time with God alone. A Spiritual Director will also be available. The Marillac property is a wonderful place to stay with extensive property for walking, spacious private rooms, and meals provided.

When: April 5-7, 2024

Where: Marillac Retreat Center in Leavenworth KS

Cost: $250.00, which includes overnight lodging on Friday and Saturday, meals, and snacks

Click here to register!

The retreat will be led by Chelsea Whipple, in partnership with The Rev. Canon Lisa Senuta.

The retreat encapsulates Chelsea’s doctoral project for Fuller Theological Seminary, where she is pursuing her Doctorate of Ministry degree.

Disclaimer: All participants will receive a pre-retreat questionnaire to understand how you feel your gender has influenced your relationship with the Divine and a post-retreat survey to evaluate the retreat. All answers are anonymous.

The Readings this Week

Click here to go to the Lectionary Page

Click here for a free PDF download of the Book of Common Prayer

The Lessons appointed for the Third Weekend in Lent;

Revised Common Lectionary, Year B

Exodus 20:1-17

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

John 2:13-22

Psalm 19

January, February, & March Schedules

Holy Week schedule is not included

5:30 Service Volunteer Schedule

8:30 Service Volunteer Schedule

10:45 Service Volunteer Schedule

Service Volunteers: If you are unable to serve on an assigned date, please request a replacement. Then, other servers can respond to the replacement request - the first person to accept will be given the assignment. You can also click Decline if no one responds to your request, so we know that the position needs to be filled.

Want to know if we need additional volunteers for a specific week? Click one of the service schedules below. If you see a +Add button on a particular serving role, that means someone has declined their assignment, and we still need a volunteer to fill in. You can click +Add to sign up for that spot.

Calendar

Parish News and Updates

Easter Eggs

It's time to fill Easter eggs for our kids. Grab a bag of empty Easter eggs from the basket by the front doors to fill up with your special goodies. Then drop off the filled Easter eggs back into the basket. Please drop off the Easter Eggs by Palm Sunday, March 24th. The Easter Egg Hunt for the kids will occur at 10 am on Easter day.

Palms and Lilies

Dedication sheets for Palms and Lilies are now available. You can write a check (indicating palms & lilies in the memo line) or pay online (select the flowers, greens, & lilies fund). If you pay online, include your dedication in the memo line, send the office an email with your dedication, or submit a dedication sheet to the office. Dedications are due by March 20 in order to be printed in the bulletin.

Holy Week & Easter Volunteers

There will be many additional volunteer needs for Holy Week and Easter. We will have a sign-up sheet ready next weekend. Please consider volunteering to help where you are able.

Creation Care

Were you wondering when to prune your plants? The link below can advise you: https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/pruning-tips-for-spring-pictures

The next meeting for the Olde English Tea is Sunday, March 3 after the 10:45 service. Anyone interested in helping with the Tea is welcome to attend.

Purchase your Olde English Tea Tickets here!

Community Outreach

Homelessness in Wichita

Have you been distressed by the sight of homeless people on Wichita’s downtown streets? Have you wondered why they are there? To learn about this problem in our city, please join our Outreach Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 5 at 4:00 p.m. We will hear former City Councilwoman Sharon Fearey speak about the history of our problem and ways to address the issue. The information you receive will help you understand Justice Together’s citywide effort to combat homelessness.

Undies Sundays

Help us collect a large quantity of diapers and underwear for the Wichita Children’s Home. While all sizes are acceptable, larger size diapers are a particular need. Just drop them in the basket by the red doors, and we will deliver them for you.

Right now they especially need children's underwear (not white) size 4 & 10, pull up 2T & 3T, and diapers size 4& 5.

We will collect items for four weeks (until March 16)and they will be delivered before Palm Sunday.

IRC Update

Please be in prayer for the refugee family as they navigate some of the challenging aspects of resettlement. Also, they will be adding an infant to their family at the beginning of April. We will be collecting diapers, wipes and new or gently used baby boy clothing. If you would like to donate any of these items, please let Suzanne Laycock or Jessica Moore know and we will deliver them to the family.

2024 K2K Community Mission Team

You are invited to join!

In Kenya, East Africa, June 6-19, 2024

Join the 2024 K2K Community Team and go to Kenya for an unforgettable experience. Now is the time to sign up for this once in a lifetime opportunity. The team will be departing KC for Kenya on Thursday, June 6, 2024, and home on Wednesday, June 19th. You will be making friends and sharing experiences with local Kenyans and organizations as we seek our goal of "community transforming community". Time will be spent at Agatha Amani House, a shelter for abused women, Karati Boarding School for challenged kids, a public elementary school, a Maasai Village, and church services at All Saints Anglican Church. Every day of the mission trip is filled with new experiences as we strengthen long-term as well as new relationships while helping our friends with projects addressing the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. And not all is work as we seize the opportunity to go on safari at one of the major national wildlife parks where we see many African animals such as lions, giraffes, rhinos, water buffalo, and many more species up close in their natural habitat.

Note: This trip is great for college age students. And also, high school age youth when accompanied by one or both parents.

Contact Joe Bob Lake for details.

Joe Bob & Nyakio Lake

Team Leaders - K2K Community Team

Children and Youth

This Sunday, March 3 is Children's Sunday School and Children's Chapel starting at 9:30 am upstairs in the Kidz Zone. All kids in preschool- 5th grade are welcome. Questions? Contact Chelsea.

Volunteers needed!

We need Nursery volunteers! We are looking for those that want to supervise and love on the kiddos in the Nursery at the 8:30 or 10:45 service. You decide how often you'd like to volunteer and when. Safe Church Training is required and provided by the church. Please let Chelsea know if you are interested, formation@stjameswichita.org or call the church office.

The Nursery is open each Sunday from 8:15 am - 12:00 pm and special events for newborns to five years of age.

Prayers

Parish Prayers for the Week of March 3

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer:

The Church of the Province of Uganda

In the World Council of Churches Cycle of Prayer:

Ireland; United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales

In the Kansas Cycle of Prayer:

Pray for Trinity, El Dorado

Our seminarian, Maddy Bishop

Those discerning a call to the priesthood:

Paul Leeker, Elizabeth Wenger

Those serving in the military:

Davis Jackson; Will Corkins; Maureen Tanner

In celebration of the birth of a third child, a daughter, to Ellen Jones and Torin Andersen.

In celebration of the birth of a first child, a son, to Kenzie and Mandy Stroh-Wolfe.

Those in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness or any other adversity: Gerry H.; Thelma; Tom H.; Jeri & Bill; Robin S.; Erin C.; Joan M.; Peg B.; Diana M.; Ed & Kim; Susan G.; Peggy S.; Jean E.; Kelby; Judy T.; Mary; Darwin P.; Sam & Beth; Barbara S.; Hazel S.; Allie N.; Kris S.; Judy; Greta P.; Larry R.; Jodie & family; Simon family; Nancy C.; Drew H.; Elena S.; Bella P.; Ann B.; Daimon; Anna; Dick & Judy; Liz; John O. & family; Peer M.; Brianna P.; Sylvester; Sharon & Jerry; Jan M.; Pat; Andy S.; Sue C.; Martha L.; Joseph B.; Joan J.; Jayne P.; Deb H.; Dal H.; Carole

Those who have recently died:

Amanda Alonso; Bud Roller; Martha Frankfurt Forster; Delmar Klocke; Pat Heeren; Julia ‘JuRie’ Cole

Some who have died in March in the past:

Marsha Bacon; John Bell; Jack Burns; Mary Deeter; Christopher Erickson; Jecca Evers; Douglas Fleming; Sally Goodland; Christine Hebert; Larry Heeren; Kay Hoffman; Steve Jordan; Jean Lehr (Showalter); Ida Miller; Larry Mitchell; Nancy Rollins; Art Woodman

For the sake of privacy, we do not list the last names of those who are on our prayer list because of trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or adversity. We do our best to include last name initials in the event that two parishioners with the same first name exist.

If your prayers have been answered, let us rejoice with you. Please contact the office to let us know we can remove your prayer request. If you have prayers you would like added to the prayer list, please contact the office at office@stjameswichita.org or 316-683-5686.

Loving, Liberating and Life-Giving

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Diocesan News

Women's Retreat

A women's retreat centered on the truth that we are made female in God's image. This spiritual gathering is an opportunity for women of all ages, stages, and backgrounds to come together, connect, and embrace the inherent beauty and strength within us and as a community of women walking in faith with Christ Jesus.

Led by Chelsea Whipple, in partnership with The Rev. Canon Lisa Senuta.

Living God’s Future Now: A 2024 Tocher Event

The Diocese of Kansas is pleased to welcome the Rev. Dr. Sam Wells for the 2024 Tocher Lecture on May 15-16 at St. Michael and All Angels, Mission.

The Lecture will truly be an event with the St. Martin’s Voices choral ensemble joining from Vicar Sam’s parish, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Earis.

Funded through the generosity of the Diocese of Kansas’ Tocher Fund for Clergy Education and the St. Michael and All Angels Foundation, this is a formation event for the clergy, musicians, and other lay leaders of parishes and institutions in the six Bishop Kemper School for Ministry partner dioceses: Kansas, Western Kansas, Nebraska, West Missouri, Missouri and Iowa.

Focusing on themes of evangelism, community and parish development and the Church’s role in God’s future, Sam Wells and his musicians will gather participants for seminars and worship. This will be an exciting formation endeavor for the BKSM dioceses outside the classes and programs offered directly by the School.

Click here for more information

Click here to register for Tocher Event