Blue Christmas - An Invitation, December 22

     Christmas can be a painful time for some, especially in 2020. This may be the first Christmas without a beloved family member who has recently died; it may be a time of Covid or other personal or economic difficulty, or Christmas may simply be a time that has always been difficult.
     The constant refrain about the happiness of the season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many of what they may have lost or may have never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation - all these can make us feel very alone in the midst of the celebrating and spending. We need the space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern; we need to know that we are not alone.
     You are invited to join in this service of sharing prayer, scripture, and music that acknowledge that, even in these difficult times, God is present for those who mourn, for those who struggle - and that God’s Word comes to shine light into our darkness. Everyone, regardless of church background (or lack of it) is welcome.
     The Service is being offered via Zoom at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22nd. The Zoom Link will be sent out Monday, December 21st.

NEW PHOTO DIRECTORY!

We need your help so our new Rector can get to know us during a pandemic! We’re doing this ourselves (casual photos are fine) and we want to have it ready to help welcome Fr. Joe when he arrives on January 1, so we need these photos by December 13th. Photos received later will be added as time allows. Please submit a family (or individual) photo ASAP by doing one of the following:

• Email your photo (with all names) to StJamesDirectoryphoto@gmail.com.
• Mail your photo (with all names) to Directory Photos, c/o St. James’ Parish, 5757 Solomons Island Rd, Lothian MD 20711.
• Drop off your photo (with all names) to "DIRECTORY PHOTOS" tray on the right side of the Copier Room (Door 10) in the Parish Office Building.
• Come in person to the Parish Office Building from 9:00 to 11:00 AM on Thursday December 10, Friday December 11 or Saturday December 12, when Jim Cheston will take informal photos (no appointment needed).

Your submitted photo implies your consent for its use for church purposes only. Questions? call Jim Cheston at 443-822-1571. Thank you so much for helping to welcome Father Joe! -- Marjie Mack

Advent Book Study - Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas

Be Transformed this Advent Season! His parents gave him the name Jesus. But the prophets, the shepherds, the wise men, and the angels addressed him by other names. They called him Lord, Messiah, Savior, Emmanuel, Light of the World, and Word Made Flesh. In Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas, best-selling author Adam Hamilton examines the names of Christ used by the gospel writers, exploring the historical and personal significance of his birth. Please join us on Saturdays, (28 November through 19 December) from 0830-1030 to reflect upon the significance of the Christ-child for our lives. If you are interested in participating in this study please email Brenda Boucher at totheskies@msn.com to receive a Zoom invitation.

2020 Holiday Food Baskets, November 21

St. James' Parish will be distributing groceries for 75 Thanksgiving dinners to needy families in our community on Saturday, November 21 from 7-10:30 AM. This year, special safety measures and new logistics will be in place in order to ensure everyone's safety. For additional information, or to volunteer to help, please contact Cindy Carrier at bccarrier@comcast.net.

St. James' Parish Book Club

The St. James' Parish Book Club will meet online using Zoom on November 17th (and the 3rd Tuesday of every month) to enjoy fellowship and a contemporary book discussion. This month, they will discuss the book, Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family, by Robert Kolker. New members are always welcome! For additional information, please contact Edlu Thom-Harper at edlu.th@comcast.net.

Don't forget! Fall back Saturday night with end of daylight saving time

It's that time of year again! Daylight saving time ends as clocks "fall back" one hour. The official time change is at 2 AM Sunday, but for people that turn in earlier, go ahead and set your clocks back before going to bed. Your smartphone and computer should automatically adjust. However, you’ll need to manually change the clocks on your car radio, oven, alarm clock and the other standalone clocks around your home.

Parish Leadership Workshop, November 4

The 2020 Annual Parish Celebration is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, January 31. At that time, the three members who will be rotating off the Vestry will be replaced with new parishioners. A Leadership Workshop will be held on Wednesday, November 4 at 7 PM (most likely via Zoom) in order to provide information to those who might be interested in learning more about what it is like to serve in a leadership position on the Vestry, or as the parish representative to the Southern Maryland Regional Council or the Diocesan Convention. Please give prayerful thought to a call to serve. For additional information, or to register for the workshop, please contact the Rev. John Keydel at jkeydel@gmail.com.

Announcing The Reverend Joseph E. Lenow as our 33rd Rector

St. James' is pleased to announce that The Rev. Joseph E. Lenow, Phd. has been called to be our parish's 33^rd rector. Father Joe comes to us most recently from Nebraska, where he wore multiple hats as a professor of religion at Creighton University, Interim Priest Associate at St. Mark’s on the Campus Church at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Priest Associate at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Omaha. He is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and the University of Virginia. Father Joe’s ministry with us will begin January 1st, 2021!
Introducing Father Joe ()

2020 Fall Oyster and Country Ham Dinner & Festival - Cancelled

The 2020 Fall Oyster and Country Ham Dinner & Festival has been cancelled due to the challenges associated with providing adequate social distancing and other safety precautions required to protect volunteers and guests from the Coronavirus. We're hopeful that we will be able to hold the Spring Crab Cake and Country Ham Dinner & Festival as usual.

Blessing of the Animals, October 4

Our annual 'Blessing of the Animals' will be held on Sunday, October 4 (which is the Feast of St. Francis) at 4:00 PM on the labyrinth. There will be a very brief service of thanksgiving for all living things, and then each animal in attendance will receive his or her own blessing. All varieties of animals are welcome but must be kept under their owners' control. Pets and their owners must remain at safe social distance, and all humans must wear masks covering their nose and mouth. This event is weather dependent.

Search Committee Update - 33rd Rector Called!

The Vestry has unanimously approved a Resolution from the Search Committee electing the 33rd Rector of St. James' Parish, and the Rector-elect has verbally accepted! We will share more of the details with you after the written agreement is completed and signed over the next few weeks. In the meantime, please keep the Parish, the Rector-elect, and our Interim Rector, the Rev. John F. Keydel, who continues to serve all of us at St. James' Parish, in your prayers. Thank you! — Marjie Mack, Senior Warden

Fall Women's Bible Study

"What do you do when God's timing seems questionable, His lack of intervention hurtful, and His promises doubtful?" Lysa TerKeurst unveils her heart amid shattering circumstances and shows readers how to live assured when life doesn't turn out like they expected. Zoom in and join us for the Fall Women's Bible Study beginning Saturday, 5th at 8:30 AM (and every Saturday through October 10) to discuss Lysa's book, It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered . Link at : www.amazon.com/dp/0718039858/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_RQSrFb0JM26S6. For additional information and a Zoom invitation, please contact Brenda Boucher at totheskies@msn.com. Please join us! For our first meeting please read the introduction and Chapters 1-2. See you soon!

St. James’ Parish Book Club on Zoom

The St. James’ Parish Book Club will meet online using Zoom on August 18th (and the 3rd Tuesday of every month) to enjoy joyful fellowship and a contemporary book discussion. On August 18th, the books, To Kill a Mocking Bird and Go Set a Watchman, by Harper Lee will be discussed. New members are always welcome! For additional information, please contact Edlu Thom-Harper at edlu.th@comcast.net.

Diocesan Youth Online

Join our Diocesan Youth Missioner Kate Riley and youth from around our diocese for games, check-ins, and prayers on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Noon to 1 PM. Join the Online Youth Leadership Program for Bible study, current events, leadership, and games on Tuesdays at 3 PM. For more information, contact Kate Riley, kriley@episcopalmaryland.org.

Greetings to all of our Church School kids!

     We know that this is a challenging time for you all, and we want you to know that you are missed and that we will be back together soon! We ask you to pray each day, perhaps creating your own new prayer. Please remember to be kind! Do something to help your family, enjoy being with your family, and watch a movie or play a game with them. For the younger members of our community, ask Mom or Dad to print out coloring pages that will remind you of our faith. Click here for a great variety of resources!
     Ask your parents to attend Zoom Church service each Sunday and join them so we can see each other until we can gather again. Each and everyone of you are in our prayers daily. Remember that Jesus loves you... and we do, too!

Miss Julie, Miss Sarah, Miss Laura, Miss Sharon, Miss Denise, Miss Cheryl, Mr. Curtis, Jacquelin, and Kaitlin

Zoom In to Church on Sundays!

Each week, you will receive an email with the Sunday service bulletin and instructions for joining the 10 AM worship service through Zoom. But, we have to have your current email address in order to send the information to you! If you’re not currently receiving this information and would like to be included on these notifications (and others!), please email the parish administrator at janetbruce@stjameslothian.com. This is also a good time to update your Parish Family Information form. We’re looking forward to seeing you on Zoom each Sunday!

"Drive-Thru" Reading Camp South County

  

Reading Camp South County has begun on Tuesdays and this year it is a "drive-thru" camp! The camp began June 23 and will continue with sessions on June 30, July 21, and August 4 & 18. The students are assigned a time so they do not arrive all at once. When they arrive, they get out of the car and are given gloves. Then they go to the book tables where they self-select 4-6 books to keep. They proceed to the other tables: they received a shirt and a library log, a vocabulary game, an arts/crafts project, a Bare Book to write about the science project that also went home, a physical recreation item (playground ball the first week) and food. Each camp week they will receive something again for each category. We have 23 kids signed up this year!

3rd Annual Paper Shred & Food Drive

Financial Donations for Food Needed

     During these challenging economic times, more and more families are in need of food,, many due to the loss of jobs. The SCAN Food Pantry housed at St. James’ Parish never knows just how many grocery items they will receive from the Anne Arundel Food Bank, so they can always use financial donations to support the purchase of additional items when needed to fill the food bags. If you are able, you can make a donation via the SCAN website at https://scanfoodpantry.org/ or by going directly to the PayPal donation window.
     The South County Assistance Network (SCAN) was established in 1997 for the purpose of providing supplemental, nonperishable food to those in need in the area. Currently the SCAN food pantry is distributing over 1,750 packages of food to 350 families annually. The pantry is located in the lower level of the Education Building at St. James Episcopal Church in Lothian. Food is distributed on Thursdays and Saturdays from 9AM to 12PM, excluding holidays. Bags of mostly nonperishable food are handed out based on household size. Eligible families and individuals may receive food once every 30 days.
     Although the parish provides operating space to the pantry, SCAN is a separate entity, incorporated in the State of Maryland, with a 501(c)(3) federal nonprofit, tax-exempt status. SCAN is staffed and operated by volunteers. Food is provided by the Maryland Food Bank, the Anne Arundel County Food Bank, businesses and individuals like you! Thanks for your generous support!

Staying at Home? Let Us Help!

The high school youth in the J2A class provide a ministry of service to parishioners in need of a little help on a project at home. If you are unable to go out or are in need of a little “socially distanced” assistance during this time, please contact us! We would be happy to help you with basic yard work or projects. We’ll also be happy to do your grocery shopping and other errands so you won’t have go out! Just contact us, and we’ll work something out! For more information please contact Kaitlin Wilding at kaitlin6@comcast.net and/or Jacqueline Wilding at jacqsmack6@comcast.net. Thanks for allowing our Youth to be of service!

Outreach Committee - Children's Breakfast Club

Last year we bagged over 10,000 breakfasts, and the need continues to grow! This year, due to the restrictions on gatherings and social distancing requirements, we are having to rethink the logistics for packing and delivering the lunches - but there WILL be lunches for the children! More information will be shared soon! In the meantime, you can help by making a financial donation as you are able to help purchase food. For more information, please contact Nola Meyers at noreme@verizon.net.

Amazing Grays - Helping Hands From a Distance!

  

While we are all staying at home, the Amazing Grays Senior Lunch and Conversation Group has been serving as a “helping hands from a distance” resource for those seniors who are at home and need a little extra help or encouragement.

If you (or a senior you know) is in need of a little help during this time, or if you can help others by making phone calls, sending birthday or thinking of you cards, running errands, or providing some technical help for accessing worship services, please let us know! Other ideas are also in the works, and we can always use more!

To volunteer, please contact Michelle Doran+ at michellesdoran@gmail.com.

2020 Reading Camp - We Need YOUR Help!

     It is time to assemble our team for the 2020 Reading Camp! Camp will be held August 3-7, at St. James’'Parish. We need several kinds of volunteers. To run the instructional groups, we need teachers current or retired. We also need adults who were not teachers, and we need several teenagers.
     There is no expense to the students who attend camp. However, the camp costs about $8,000, which is about $200 per student. We exist only on donations! We appreciate donations of any amount to the general camp fund, and you can also sponsor a child for $200. Checks should be written to St. James' Parish with "Reading Camp donation" noted on the memo line, and you will receive a receipt for your donation.
     For more information, please contact, Paula Davis at southcounty.md.readingcamp@gmail.com.

Lenten Series - Sacraments of the Gospel and the Church, March 10

We devote the entire evening to the Sacrament of Baptism, looking at both the familiar parts of the service itself and some aspects that usually elude our attention. The schedule (approximately!) is to gather at 6 PM for some refreshments, followed by an array of soups at 6:30 PM, and the program to begin at approximately 7:15 PM, so that we can be done and cleaned up by 8:30.

Easter Eggs To Benefit Outreach Ministries

Once again, Barbara Howard's beautiful hand-painted wooden Easter Eggs will be for sale during the Coffee Hour beginning Sunday, March 1st! Proceeds from these beautiful eggs, which are offered for only $10 each, support the many important ministries of the St. James’ Parish Outreach Committee. Through your generous support, we hope to top last year's contribution! For additional information, please contact Barbara Howard at kbhoward@comcast.net.

Lenten Series - Sacraments of the Gospel and the Church, March 3

We begin the series with an overview of the history, theology and practice of Sacraments and sacramental living as such, reflecting a bit on the general and underlying aspects. This session will provide a bit of a framework that should be useful as we work through the rest of the series. The schedule (approximately!) is to gather at 6 PM for some refreshments, followed by an array of soups at 6:30 PM, and the program to begin at approximately 7:15 PM, so that we can be done and cleaned up by 8:30.

Youth Fellowship Annual Ice-Skating Outing!

Atrium and Middle School age youth are invited to join us for ice skating on Sunday, March 8th! Parental supervision is required for children in Pre-K through 5th grade, and a parent will need to accompany their child unless other arrangements have been made. Youth in 6th through 12th grade must complete a Youth Fellowship Registration Form and a signed permission slip (available in the office). For additional information, please contact Sharon McGlaughlin at sharon.mcglaughlin1692@gmail.com. Join us for lots of fun!!

Nursery Begins Sunday, March 1st!

Beginning on Sunday, March 1st, the St. James' Parish nursery will be available to care for newborns to three-year-olds during the 10 AM worship service! We are working hard to ensure a secure, nurturing environment where each child will see, hear, and feel the love of Jesus Christ and where parents can feel confident their child will receive the highest quality of care and ministry.

The nursery is located on the top floor of the Education Building (2nd door on the right). For additional information, or to volunteer to assist, please contact Nursery Coordinator Kelly Rosenberry at krosenberry@alanmaloufmd.com.

Women's Lenten Book Study

Michelle Verdon and Brenda Boucher will lead a Lenten book study focusing on Simon Peter. Over six weeks of Lent we will read Simon Peter: Flawed but Faithful Disciple by Adam Hamilton. We will meet from 8:30-10:00 a.m. starting February 29th through April 4th. We will read Chapter One: The Call of the Fisherman for the first meeting.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, February 25

On February 25th, St. James' Parish Shrove Tuesday PANCAKE SUPPER: Fellowship at 6:00 PM and Dinner 6:30 – 8:00 PM. Cost: Donations support the Christian Formation Committee. Hosted by the St. James' Youth. All youth and youth alumni are invited to help us make this year's Pancake Supper the best ever. We have an absolute blast preparing the decorations, food and being together to make this wonderful dinner available to our Parish! For more information, or to volunteer to help, contact Sharon McGlaughlin at sharon.mcglaughlin1692@gmail.com. Please join us!

Community Assistance January Report

The Community Assistance Team disbursed $4,404 in January to prevent evictions and restore electricity for twelve families. We appreciate the support and generosity of our Parishioners to help our neighbors in need.

Souper Bowl Sunday, 2/2

St. James' Parish Youth will be standing at the doors after each service to collect monetary donations in large soup bowls. The donations will be used to purchase diapers, formula and wipes for Joy Reigns Baby Pantry. Thank you in advance for your donations!

St. James' 2020 "Class Picture"

St. James' Parish Parishioner Group Photo will be taken during the St. James' Annual Celebration on January 26 at 11:15AM. All are welcome!

Inclement Weather - When do we cancel events?

It is the policy of St. James' Parish to ensure the safety of all during dangerous weather conditions. As has been our practice, we will continue to cancel events whenever the public school system (aacps.org) does so. In the event Sunday services must be canceled, you will receive a parish email. If you're not already on the email list, please contact Janet Bruce at janetbruce@stjameslothian.com to be added. Thanks, and have a safe winter!

Making Communion Wafers, January 15

Come join us as we make Communion Wafers on Wednesday, January 15 at 6:30PM in the Ticknor Hall Kitchen. All are welcome! Read about our Honey Wheat Communion Bread here: stjameslothian.com/bread.

Community Assistance December Report

In December, the Community Assistance Team disbursed $2,901.37 to nine families in need of our assistance for housing, electric bills and transportation. December is a difficult time for many of our clients and between the help the Community Assistance Team was able to provide, and the Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner the Outreach Committee organized, we were able to provide a little Holiday Cheer for many of them. Thank you again to our Parishioners for your support for these important ministries.