02/09/24 News and updates from St. James Church

First Things First

Oyster Dinner on Shrove Tuesday: The Oyster Dinner crew calls on you! Volunteers - all those who want to participate in the full Oyster Dinner experience - are asked to come, take part, and make new friends on February 13. You can help with set up, serving, or clean up. The dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Guild Hall (but the line will begin forming much earlier than that). Tickets are $55 for our guests who attend the dinner.

The Beginning of Lent: On Ash Wednesday join us for the worship service which will include the choir, Holy Communion, and the Imposition of Ashes. It begins Wednesday, February 14 at 7:00 p.m.

Message of the Moment

The Family Loop

More than once in my ordained ministry I have reminded people that I am not a mind reader. The purpose of saying it is: I don’t know what is going on in your life unless you tell me - especially if you are sick or hospitalized. Even if you don’t actually need anything, or maybe you are afraid it’s too small to mention, I encourage you to communicate with me either directly or through the church office. It is always nice to know that someone cares about what is happening and is praying for you.

I am willing to do what I am asking you to do. Therefore I will share that lately I have been carrying an extra load. If anything has fallen through the cracks, I’ll depend on your mercy and forgiveness. Today I ask for your prayers. I understand to expect to feel spread thin in January as my reserves of energy are tapped coming off the heels of Christmas holidays and special worship services. Preparing for the Annual Meeting and the publication of the Annual Report takes a toll, demanding close attention to many details at once. It was also difficult as two beloved members of our congregation died. Having funeral services for them is hard emotionally.

This year there was more than January’s usual chaos. Many of you have noted that I’ve been talking about helping my parents down-size for a number of months. As luck would have it, the end of January was the time for moving out of the family homestead. All of the transactional details are complete, now they (and I) have the project of unpacking and getting settled in a new place. Last week I spent 5 days between our weekend worship services helping with the move. Among other things, it was a lot to tackle physically.

The unplanned events of life seem to assert themselves in busy times like this. Last week when I was in Oklahoma with my parents, my Dad’s sister died. She had been ill for some time. Even when you know the death of a loved one is near, it rarely comes at an expected moment. By the time you read this, I will have traveled back down to Oklahoma for her funeral and returned to Wichita.

Telling you this is part of keeping you in the loop, and I would appreciate your prayers. I also tell you of this to call your attention to the fact that in times like these our limited staff and dwindling pool of volunteers is most noticeable. The number one place I could use your help is in providing pastoral care. As you deliver love and care in this ministry, you find that there is a ministry for you when you care for people you know and like. However, the real ministry is when you share love and concern for strangers (people you don’t personally know – yet). You may find yourself caring for someone and discover that you may be the only one who cares for and about another individual. In moments like these, you do the work of God described by Jesus in the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. It will end up being a ministry to yourself, also.

It would be wonderful if together we re-established a pastoral care committee. There are all sorts of ways to deliver gospel love. You will find (with a group of others) ways to share love and compassion that are best suited to you and your gifts. Please send an email to motherdawn@stjameswichita.org to let me know of your interest in serving as part of such a group. If you could be a coordinator of our Lay Eucharistic Ministers (who take Communion to people where they are), you would be of great service to many.

I consider myself blessed to be known and loved by many people. Together let’s take our care and concern to individuals who might need it more than we do.

That said, if you were unable to attend the Annual Meeting and 4th Sunday lunch on January 28, you missed out on a great meal with lots of great people. While the soup is gone, you can still pick up a copy of the Annual Report or a 2024 parish directory at the front desk. Look for the Lent, Holy Week, and Easter issue of the Seasons newsletter in your mailbox soon!

I close this message today with gratitude and the love of Christ which passes all human understanding. May God be among you and remain with you always. Peace, Mother Dawn+

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 Fifth Weekend after the Epiphany;

Revised Common Lectionary, Year B

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

The Oyster Dinner is less than a week away!

Get your tickets for the 2024 Oyster Dinner! The dinner is on Tuesday, February 13 (Shrove Tuesday) at 5:30 pm. Tickets are $55 each, and can be purchased online on our website, or in-person at the church (cash or check only).

Please note: Those who register online will not get a physical ticket, but will be on a list at the check-in table.

The Olde English Tea is May 4th and since the first tea in 1921, our guests have delighted in our famous array of gleaming silver platters laden with homemade tea sweets and dainty sandwiches.

In the coming weeks we’ll publish recipes for some of our traditional tarts, cookies, bars, and mini cakes, as well as some easy shortcut recipes if you need inspiration.

We need your help. It’s not too soon to bake and freeze the hundreds of dozens of tea treats that will be needed to keep our tea table full, fresh, and fabulous!

*Tickets will be available to purchase soon!

Community Outreach

Undies Sundays

Our annual opportunity to provide new undergarments for all ages served by the Wichita Childrens home begins this weekend. They can use everything from diapers for babies to socks and undergarments needed for young adults transitioning out of their care and into their own housing.

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.

I ran across the following on Facebook and for the first time I saw a connection between Undies Sundays and Lent. See if you agree...

The Christian season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Consider this: LENT IS NOT THE DIVINE DIET PLAN! Lent has come to mean, for many, giving up something that brings you joy. Why would God, who loves you and wants you to enjoy life, find pleasure and blessing in you giving up chocolate, Dr. Pepper, brisket, or doughnuts? You're not taking up your cross by laying down sweets!

Rather than give up something that feeds your soul and brings you joy, why not give up something that is eating you from the inside out? How about giving up things like selfishness, greed or complacency.

What if, instead of giving up your morning latte from 7 Brew or Starbucks or whatever your favorite local small business coffee shop is, you donated that same amount in items for our Undies Sundays drive to benefit the Wichita Childrens Home.

Why would a God who created you out of love to enjoy the beauty and sweetness that life has to offer want you to suffer from not having brisket from our fine local barbecue restaurants? Have a blessed Lent! (and eat the dang chocolate for goodness sake)

Louise Brinegar, Undies Sundays chair

Tabs for Ronald McDonald House

Please notice in the entry area, there is a small cardboard house in which to collect aluminum pull tabs for Ronald McDonald house. They collect these and when they have a good amount, cash them in to help with their services for children and families. The aluminum cans can always go to the Humane Society. There are several cages around town for your bags of cans. Thank you! St James Outreach Committee

Children and Youth

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 February 11

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer:

Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan

In the World Council of Churches Cycle of Prayer:

Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland

In the Kansas Cycle of Prayer:

Pray for the Church of the Epiphany, Sedan

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

Those in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness or any other adversity:

Bud R.; Diana M.; Ed & Kim; Susan G.; Peggy S.; Jean E.; Kelby; Judy T.; Mary; Darwin P.; Sam & Beth; Vicky R.; Barbara S.; Jeri & Bill; Hazel S.; Allie N.; Kris S.; Marlene H.; Judy; Greta P.; Larry R.; Jodie & family; Simon family; Nancy C.; Drew H.; Elena S.; Bella P.; Racine; 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 U.; Bill & Carolyn R.; Marge R.; Marcia & Lowell; Jerry M.; Gus G.

Those who have recently died:

Martha Frankfurt Forster; Delmar Klocke; Pat Heeren; Julie 'JuRie' Cole; Helen Haskin Bousfield

Some who have died in Februarys past:

Constance Baker; Bobbie Bastian; Patricia Bayles; Frances Brinegar; Virginia Buck; Betty Burns; Edward Burns; Dolores Ann Carter; David Childs; Colleen Didier; Betty Jo Durrant; Frederick Harrison; Peggy Hartman; Frank Kastor; Geraldine Lynd; Billie Matzen; Ruth McGuyre; Ruth McQuyre; Sid Platt; Darb Ratner; Larry Reynolds; Jess Sanders; Krista Schnee; Elizabeth Taggart

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