Messiah Sing-Along - Sponsors Needed!

Sponsors are now being sought for our 31st Annual Messiah Sing-Along to be held 4 PM on Sunday, November 26. Our sponsors make it possible for all donations collected at the Sing-Along and the December Salvation Army Carol Sing to be added to our parish-wide Thanksgiving Offering, all of which is donated to the Salvation Army in support of their ministries in the community.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, there is no cost to St. James' Parish for these events which include a reception held after the Sing-Along and the Carol Sing pot-luck supper. Sponsors will be recognized in the printed program. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact St. James' Parish Music Director, Michael Ryan at mryansings@verizon.net.

Blessing of the Animals, October 1

There will be a Blessing of the Animals service on Sunday, October 1 at 4 PM in the field opposite St. James' Church. Everyone and their pets are welcome to attend! Please remember that all pets should be either on a leash or in a carrier. The custom of honoring and blessing animals originated in the Catholic Church to help remember and honor Saint Francis of Assisi on his feast day of October 4.

All Hallows' Eve Celebration and Trunk or Treat, October 27 from 6-8PM.

Children of all ages, young and old (hint: adults, too!), are invited to dress up and enjoy fellowship and community in St. James' Parish Hall. Preschoolers through 5th graders will enjoy dinner from 6-7 PM followed by fun and games beginning at 7 PM. All parishioners are invited to bring their cars to the parking lot for the annual All Hallows' Eve Trunk or Treat. Decorate your trunks with your favorite All Hallows' Eve decorations and pass out treats to our young people who will visit each car starting at 7 PM.

Trunk or Treat is a great way to have a neighborhood Halloween experience. We encourage the entire St. James' Parish community to participate in this fun event. Costumes are encouraged! Volunteers are needed. For more information or to sign up, please contact Sharon McGlaughlin at sharon.mcglaughlin1692@gmail.com or the Parish Office at 410-867-2838.

We Need YOUR Support! Fall Dinner, October 14

St. James' Parish will hold the annual Fall Oyster and Country Ham Dinner and Festival on Saturday, October 14, from 1-5 PM. This is a wonderful day of fellowship for everyone at St. James’ Parish and the community, and we need your support! Please donate your time, your talents to support the event. Financial donations to help offset the cost of food for the dinners are appreciated and can be given to Peggy Tucker. We also need donations of baked goods, attic treasure items, plants, books and DVDs.

◙ Baked Goods Donations Please be sure to make a note of the ingredients that you use in your baking. We want to avoid any problems which may be caused by ingredients such as nuts, milk products, eggs or wheat.
◙ Attic Treasures Gather up all those unwanted, gently used items that you have been meaning to get rid of in the attic and the basement. Attic Treasures is the perfect place for these items to find new homes.
◙ Plants Please bring your newly divided house plants and perennials to the Parish Hall any time the week before the dinner. Please leave them outside by the North Portico.
◙ Book Stall Please consider donating your gently used books and DVDs. Just leave your donations in the designated box located in the Parish Library.

For more information, to volunteer to help, or to make a financial donation, please contact Lesa Eser at lesaeser@gmail.com or Lillie Barrett at 301-855-7829.

Crossroads Celebration!

St. James' will be working with several area churches for the 3rd annual Crossroad Celebration. The event will take place on Saturday, September 23 from 11 AM to 4 PM, is free for all, and will include lots of activities, music, food, animals, old cars, and big equipment.

Each church has a game for children. In addition, St. James' Parish volunteers will be stationed at the Prayer Tent where we give prayer shawls to those who would like one. We need volunteers to help with the game by taking a shift of from 11 AM - 1:30 PM or from 1:30 PM – 4 PM. If we get several people, then the shifts will be shorter. Please contact Nola Meyers at noreme@verizon.net if you would like to volunteer for the game or help at the prayer tent.

Quiet Day at St. James' Parish - Reflections on the Holy Land

Quiet days are an opportunity to reflect on God's presence in the world around us, in Scripture, in worship, and within us. On Saturday, September 30 from 9-11 AM in the Parish Hall, our seminarian, Lisa Bornt, will be offering reflections on her time in the Holy Land this past January and how that experience has enriched her walk with Jesus. For more information, or to let us know you’ll be attending, please email Lisa at lbornt2@gmail.com. Please join us!

Welcome to the new Church School Year of 2017-18!

On September 10, we will kick off Sunday Church School at St. James' Parish following the 9 AM service. You can register your youth online at stjameslothian.com/#/cf_registration. Once you submit the form, you will receive a confirmation email. Teachers will also be available at tables in the Parish Hall to meet and greet students and parents after which students will go to their classrooms.