First the bad news…! The industrial boiler in our four story parish house has given up the ghost. We have no heat except in a few small rooms, and thus all of our programming is subject to cancelation or changes in location for February.

The good news is a new boiler (two in fact) are on order and being manufactured by local Burnham Holdings on a rush basis.

More good news is that our intrepid Narcotics Anonymous groups are continuing to meet with winter coats on. Please check with program leaders about locations of planned activities and occasional postponements. Regretfully this Sunday we are postponing Forum hour with Sitawa and the Women’s Bible Study scheduled to meet in the library.

Regularly scheduled events in the Church will continue as usual and we will help other groups find the best and warmest space for them on a week by week basis as repairs get underway. 

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Our First Friday Compline service on February 2nd coincides with the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, also known as Candlemas. Our Compline Choir will present one of the most beauteous of 16^th-century motets, “When to the Temple Mary Went” by Johann Eccard (1553-1611). In observance of Black History Month, our prayers will be deepened by the African-American Spiritual, “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child,” in a lush arrangement by John Sinclair. Click here to view via livestream.

On Sunday, February 4th, during the 10:30 AM mass, we will be honoring Mrs. Carol Hartley and Br. David Rutledge for their exceptional leadership in our parish. Both individuals have played pivotal roles in our community, and as they transition from their current leadership positions, we want to express our deep gratitude for their dedication and service.

Join us for a transformative day with Erin Jean Warde Saturday, February 10th. Dive deeper into recovery and healing through prayer and rest. Explore common challenges, break down barriers to joy, and discover the power of meditation and prayer in your healing journey. Click here to learn more and register.

The Shrove Sunday pancake breakfast has been canceled due to the lack of heat in the parish house.

You'll still have the opportunity to celebrate Mardi Gras on Tuesday, February 13th at 7:00 PM.

Read below for more details.

Instead, join us at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary for a festive celebration of Shrove Tuesday—better known to the French as Mardi Gras. Take in the last evening before Lent begins with the funky sounds of New Orleans style brass band, Dutchy Funk. This jam session in the sanctuary will also provide an opportunity to learn a bit about this 40-day period of the liturgical cycle.

Afterwards, all will enjoy a New Orleans/Creole dessert reception with king's cake and beignets. You won’t want to miss this party!

Observe the beginning of the season of Lent—a season of introspection, fasting and prayer symbolic of the 40 days and nights Jesus spent in wilderness in prayer and fasting.

Group spiritual direction undertakes some of the same exercises as individual spiritual direction, but in a small, intimate setting with just a few other people. The group will meet for six Thursday evenings at 5:30 PM, February 15th through March 21st. Cost: $125, scholarships are available. Click here to learn more and register.

This year Prof. Randall Zachman and Fr. David Peck will explore Buddhist and Christian spirituality using classical spiritual texts like the Tao Te Ching from China and selections from an authoritative manual on spiritual formation from the Zen Buddhist tradition in Japan. The guiding question for the series will be, “How can the insights of Christianity, when compared to other faith traditions, help me to experience my own faith and be God’s mercy in the world?” The Mercy Seminar meets from 7:00 - 8:30 PM entirely on Zoom for six consecutive Thursday evenings. Click here for more information and registration.

The Upper Room Men's Group will meet in the chapel for their meeting on February 17th.

Click here to email Chuck Smith for more information.

Pádraig Ó Tuama led the community from 2014 - 2019. Ó Tuama is an experienced author, teacher, chaplain, pod-cast host, speaker, mediator, and poet-in residence.

If you are curious to learn how words, stories, encounters, and hospitality can make a difference for you and the world, join us. Click here to email Lorraine Rollo for the link.

Have Questions? Click here to email Mother Shayna for more info. Click here to let us know you'll be attending.

9^th Annual observance for The Feast of

On Saturday February 17, 2024, the Bishop Nathan Baxter Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians along with the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, Saint James Episcopal Church and community partners will host its 9^th Annual observance of the Feast of Fr. Absalom Jones with the theme, “Resurrection.”

The day features guest preacher The Rev. Ricardo Sheppard, Atonement Episcopal Church, Washington, DC; guest musicians Dr. Michael Clarke, Atonement Episcopal Church, Washington, DC and Dr. Donald Locklear, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ. The day includes a series of events that are free to the public, all are welcome. Click here to learn more about the event.

All are welcome to participate and volunteer your voice in the Absalom Jones Community Choir under the direction of Dr. Michael Clarke, PhD. The choir will be singing deep and exciting music from the African Diaspora tradition.

Singers are asked to check in at 12:45 PM for a 1:00 PM rehearsal lasting until 3:30 PM. At 4:40 PM, the choir will be in place for the prelude and service that begins at 5:00 PM. Interested singers, please click here to register.

Join us as we embark on a journey of reflection and growth in a study of the Book of Psalms. Beloved by many, the Psalms express the profound human experience with God in a range of emotions from grief and despair to joy and hope, and they offer us valuable insights into our own spiritual lives.

For our first session, we will be joined by Dr. Emerson Powery, Professor of Biblical Studies at Messiah University who will help us explore general themes and the history of the Book of Psalms. We warmly invite you to join us on this meaningful journey of self-discovery, spiritual growth, and connection with God as we rise from the ashes together and find inspiration in the timeless wisdom of the Psalms. Click here to let us know you'll be attending.

Saint James will host a benefit concert featuring music of many styles. The performers include: William Wright, pianist and conductor; Michael Jamanis, violinist; Franklin & Marshall College Chamber Singers; Music for Everyone Sound Factory Strings (Michael Jamanis, director); Lancaster Symphony Chorus and the Choir of Saint James Church.

Tenfold is a community service organization committed to ensuring equitable housing and financial security by providing a broad continuum of services to address our community’s ever-changing housing and financial wellness needs. Click here to visit their website.

Sacred Ground is a film and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith and is part of the Episcopal Church's long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice. We invite you to join Circle 3 in this insightful exploration of America's history of race and racism and how it might have contributed to and shaped our own preconceived ideas of economic class, and political and regional identity.

Sacred Ground Circle 3 starts on February 27 and meets in the chapel every other Tuesday evening through May 7th from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. Contact the facilitator Brenda Buescher to sign up or for questions. Signup deadline: February 23rd. For more information about Sacred Ground, click here.

The Lancaster County Food Hub is in need of temporary shelter attendants for the Winter Shelter program. They are seeking candidates with social work, trauma informed care, and/or de-escalation experience. The environment is emotionally challenging but the work rewarding. Click here to learn more about this position.

February 2, 9:00 PM: First Friday, Compline at the Urban Well

February 10, 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM: Spiritual Healing: Connecting to Joy and Purpose with Erin Jean Warde

February 10, 5:00 PM: Addiction and recovery mass with Erin Jean Warde

February 13, 5:00 - 7:30 PM: Fat Tuesday Celebration

February 14, 3:00 PM: Ash Wednesday service at Willow Valley

February 14, 7:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 7:30 PM: Ash Wednesday services in the sanctuary

February 14, 5:30 PM: Ash Wednesday with Godly Play

February 15, 5:30 PM: Group spiritual direction begins

February 15, 7:00 PM: Mercy Seminar, Term 1 begins

February 17, 8:30 AM - 10:30 PM: Upper Room Men's Group

February 17, 10:00 - 11:30 AM: Women's Gathering

February 17, 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Pathways: Exploring Membership at Saint James

February 17, 1 - 3:30 PM: Absalom Jones Day Community Choir Rehearsal

February 17, 5:00 PM: Feast Day of Absalom Jones Observance

February 21 - March 20: Lenten Bible Study with Mother Shayna

February 25, 3:00 PM: Hearts and Voices Tenfold: A Benefit Concert

February 27: 6:30 - 8:30 PM: Sacred Ground circle 3 begins