Note Reading Course

Anyone seriously interested in the annual Note Reading Course should contact St. James' Parish Music Director, Michael Ryan at mryansings@verizon.net by June 30th to register. Class begins in mid July and is held for 5 weeks, 2 evenings per week. All work is done in class and the workbook is available for $10.

Community Assistance Fund - April Activity

The Community Assistance Team assisted ten families in the amount of $2,855, mostly for eviction prevention and help with very high electric bills from our frigid winter. In addition, we used the South County Community Energy Assistance Group funds ($1,156) to help two additional families pay their portion of their electric bills so that the power could be turned back on. The support from St. James' Parish is tremendously important to the people who are trying to stay afloat, especially for those with medical problems that require electricity. The Community Assistance Team thanks you for all your support to our South County neighbors in need.

Reading Camp South County - Donations Needed

Reading Camp South County needs your donations. You can make a general donation or it can cover a specific need. Checks need to be made out to Southern Maryland Regional Council. You can put them in the plate, or hand them to clergy or to Marjie Mack. So far we need:

1. Bus costs for the two trips - $600
2. Visiting author, Janie Suss, $15 a book x 25(one per child) - $375
3. Visiting author, Fred Bowen, $6 a book x 25 - $150
4. Back packs and school supplies per child
5. Jug Bay trip $3 per child - $75
6. Food/snacks

On behalf of the children we will serve, we thank you! For more information about Reading Camp South County please email Paula Davis at southcounty.md.readingcamp@gmail.com.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry - Help Needed

For many years, prayer shawls made by the ladies of St. James' have comforted people in need in our Parish and in our community. The shawls are blessed by our clergy and are given to anyone who has an illness, a hardship, has lost a loved one or a pet, and has a celebration, a new baby, a new home or a wedding. They are given to people in need by the Community Assistance Team, distributed to nursing homes, assisted living communities, veterans' homes and hospitals. This very important ministry is in need of yarn (baby yarn or 6/6.5 mm) or gift cards from Michaels, Joanne's or any place that sells yarn. Donations can be left at the Parish Office. Thank you for your help.

Vacation Bible School, June 22nd-26th

Vacation Bible School will be hosted by Friendship United Methodist Church this year. VBS will be June 22nd-26th from 9 AM-noon, and is open to kids from age 3 through 5th grade. Many volunteers are needed to make this a successful event.

REGISTRATION and VOLUNTEERS: to register your child for VBS or to sign up as a volunteer and to see what help is needed go to www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/ez/fumcvbs.

Senior Recognition Sunday, May 31st

On Sunday, May 31st at the 9:00am service, we will be recognizing all graduating high school and college seniors.

If you have a graduating senior, please email Dawn+ at dawncampbell@stjameslothian.com and state whether they would like to receive a Book of Common Prayer or a Bible as a gift. Please also include in the email a short biographical statement about your graduating senior, accomplishments and future plans.