Christmas Messiah Sing-Along - Watch on YouTube!

Thanks to Scott Hymes, Severn Media, who videotaped the 31st Annual Messiah Sing-Along held November 26, 2017, and posted it to YouTube. Those unable to attend, can enjoy viewing the event online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFwMOjJAze0.

Greening The Church, December 21

Please join us on Thursday, December 21 at 10 AM and help decorate St. James' Church for Christmas! We need everyone's help, and you’ll have lots of fun! For additional information, please contact Lillie Barrett at garylillie502@gmail.com.

Christmas Food Baskets, December 16

St. James' Parish will once again be partnering with Friendship United Methodist Church to distribute groceries for 75 Christmas dinners to be given to needy families in our community on Saturday, December 16th from 7-10:30 AM. This is a great family service opportunity! Donations of frozen turkeys (10-15 pounds) are needed as well as cash contributions to purchase the other food items for the Christmas food baskets. Frozen turkeys need to be placed in the St. James' Parish freezers no later than Wednesday, December 13th so we will know how many additional will need to be purchased. For additional information, or to volunteer to help, please contact Cindy Carrier at bccarrier@comcast.net.

Parish Christmas Caroling!

The St. James' Parish Chancel & Celebration Choirs invite you to join them for Christmas Caroling at Greenstreet Gardens on Sunday, December 10th at 1 PM. A pizza lunch for carolers will be served in the parish hall following the 11 AM service. For more information, please contact Parish Music Director, Michael Ryan at mryansings@verizon.net.

Lunch with Santa, December 9

Santa will be coming to St. James' Parish on Saturday, December 9th from 12 Noon to 2 PM! Parish children ages 1 – 11 years old, are invited to join us for lunch, games, crafts, and a visit from Santa and his helper who will hand out a surprise to the children attending. This activity is a chance to reach out to our community and those who are less fortunate. Please sign up on the Youth Bulletin Board. For additional information, please contact Sharon McGlaughlin at sharon.mcglaughlin1692@gmail.com.

Salvation Army Carol Sing, December 6

Please bring the children and join with the Salvation Army’s Brass Ensemble Wednesday, December 6th to help less fortunate families and enjoy singing Christmas carols. The Carol Sing at 7:30 p.m. in the church is preceded by fellowship at 6 p.m. and a potluck supper coordinated by The Women of St. James’ Parish at 6:30 p.m. in the parish hall. The carols are accompanied by the Brass Ensemble and Patricia Tyndall on the organ. Two of the highlights of the evening are the three holy kings chosen from the audience for the carol, "We Three Kings," and the solo by St. James' Parish Music Director Michael Ryan who is often persuaded to sing "Good King Wenceslas."

But the focus of the night is the youth group’s presentation of the toys and a gift of money to the officers of the Salvation Army. The money for the gifts comes from the Thanksgiving offering, the free-will offering at the Messiah Sing-Along and by the sponsors who cover all the expenses of both events. Please join us for fun, fellowship, and Christmas caroling to benefit the important work of the Salvation Army!

Wreaths Across America - Update

Due to some unforeseen logistical issues we are canceling the ceremony for Wreaths Across America on Dec 16 at noon. However, we will still be placing wreaths at that time. If you are able to come help place wreaths we would greatly appreciate it. Please email Ashley at Artemis914@aol.com if you are able to help so we can have an idea of how many people to expect. At this time we are also still short of our goal to place a wreath on every veteran’s grave at St. James' Parish. Please use the following link to donate: https://wreaths.fastport.com/donateLocation.html?page=42146&relate=42112. Donating through that page actually gets us 3 wreaths for every 2 donated. If you search for St James' Parish in locations make sure you scroll down and use the fundraising page to make the donation. All donations are tax deductible. If you wish to write a check, we have already passed the deadline to mail them in, so you MUST contact Ashley to make arrangements; please do not put checks in the deposit plate as we won’t get them in time. Any questions please contact Ashley.

A Night of Reflection and Refreshment for the Women of St. James'

Christmas Boxes for Seafarers

The Women of St. James' Parish are asking for your help to provide Christmas Boxes for distribution by the Baltimore International Seafarers' Center to the many seafarers who find themselves on ships for the holidays. Boxes will be available for pickup during the Fellowship Hour on Sundays in November. Please fill each box with some of the following types of items: toiletries (sealed) such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving cream, deodorant; a new warm scarf or hat; postcards of Baltimore or Annapolis; new socks; pens and notepads; and playing cards. The WSJP will provide a paperback New Testament for each box. You may also want to include a Christmas greeting from your family. Please wrap your box as a gift (but no bows as they fall off), and bring it to the parish office or St. Mark’s Chapel on or before December 3.

Episcopal Arundel Super Youth Group Cookie-Baking Marathon

Thanksgiving Day Eucharist

The Thanksgiving Day Eucharist will take place in St. James' Church on November 23, at 10 AM. The offering received from the Thanksgiving Day envelopes will be presented to the Salvation Army at the Carol Sing on December 6 to be used to purchase toys and gifts for needy children. Please join us on Thanksgiving morning!

2018 Wall Calendars Needed

2018 Wall Calendars are being collected for the Baltimore International Seafarers' Center. These calendars are given to seafarers who spend months at sea and appreciate the calendars to help mark the days and remember those special events that keep them connected with loved ones far away at home. If you have any calendars to spare, please place them in the back of the Church or Chapel. Thanks for your support!

Salvation Army Stockings

Salvation Army Stockings are now available. These stockings benefit local area children who are in need. This is a great opportunity to make a difference in a child's life - and we need YOUR help! You can pick up stockings from the box in the foyer between the Parish Hall and the Education Building. Please leave your filled stockings there along with any extra items (placed in a grocery bag). Last year, we were able to make a number of additional stockings from these extra items! Please do not include any fruit or candy and do not wrap the items (they will just have to be unwrapped before they can be given to the children). And, don't forget to label your stocking (or bag!) so we know for whom it is intended (boy, age 6-8 years; girl, age 10-12 years, etc.).

Please remember that stockings must be returned to the church no later than Sunday, December 3. They are taken to the Salvation Army shortly after that date. For additional information, please contact Nola Meyers at noreme@verizon.net.

Chili Making for Messiah Sing-Along - November 8

Ever wondered how those ten gallons of chili just magically appear at the annual Messiah Sing-Along each year? Join Trixie Ryan on November 8th at 9 AM in the St. James' Parish kitchen to find out and be a part of this great 31-year tradition!

Last year we had enough helpers and we finished in about two hours. In addition to chopping, cutting and mixing we also need volunteers to take home batches of chili to cook (crockpots) and freeze until the Sing Along on November 26 at 4 PM. This is a fun way to spend a few hours and support St. James' Parish! Contact Trixie at tryanhc@verizon.net to let her know how you can assist.

Wreaths Across America at St. James' Parish

This is the second year St. James' Parish will participate in the Wreaths Across America program which started at Arlington Cemetery and is now active in over 1,000 locations across the country. The organization's goal of covering Arlington National Cemetery was met in 2014 with the placement of 226,525 wreaths! However, the hope is that every veteran receives one, and for that we are accepting donations. Last year, we were able to get every veteran a wreath, and we are hoping we can continue that tradition!

St. James' Parish is in need of 115 wreaths to place on gravesites in the churchyard. Donation amounts are: $15 (1 wreath); $30 (2 wreaths); $75 (5 wreaths); or $150 (10 wreaths) and can be made by cash or check to Ashley Azzarello, who will record the sponsorship online with Wreaths Across America. Donating through our St. James' Parish fundraising effort allows us to receive additional wreaths. Any extra wreaths collected for St. James' Parish will be donated to the Crownsville Veterans Cemetery. All donations are tax deductible.

Please join us for a wreath ceremony on December 16th at noon sharp. The St. James' Parish ceremony will coincide with the laying of the wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, DC. Following the ceremony, we will need help placing the wreaths. We are also looking for active duty members of all branches of the military to help with the St. James' Parish ceremony (uniforms are requested). For additional information, or to volunteer to help, please contact Ashley at Artemis914@aol.com.