Everyone in the Parish is invited to attend an end-of-the year picnic NEXT Sunday, June 1st beginning at noon until 3 pm. This event, co-sponsored by the Parish Life & Christian Formation Committees, will be held on the west lawn of the Parish Hall, or inside if it rains. All newcomers to the Parish are especially encouraged to attend as we welcome them, plus Amanda Finkenbinder and her fiancé, John Knouse. Amanda will be joining the staff as assistant rector on June 1.
The sponsoring committees will provide hamburgers, hotdogs, chips & drinks for the occasion. We would appreciate if attending families and individuals would donate salads, side dishes and desserts. Linda Stewart, chair of the Parish Life Committee, will post a list of what is needed and a sign-up sheet. Please email Linda (lstewart54@aol.com) or call (443-203-6774) her with your questions, or just to let her know if you are attending. For parents of children attending church school that day, be advised that we will keep the younger children for their fellowship meeting between 11 and noon; while the older middle school and high school students will be asked to help with set-up.
Eleven o’clock parishioners are advised to wear picnic clothes to church that day, as the croquet and potato sack races could get a little strenuous! Come out for some fun, to meet new people, to welcome our new assistant.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Christian Formation Strategic Plan Team - May 25, 2008
Update
A meeting will be held after the 11 AM service on May 25, 2008 for those interested in participating on the Christion Formation Strategic Planning Team. Location to be determined. If you are interested please contact Doug Ellmore, Sr. via phone or email. A team blog site has been setup at http://stjamesparishcpt.blogspot.com/.
Background
The Christian Formation Committee was asked in February to create a strategic plan for christian formation. In March, the Christian Formation Committee discussed issues and ideas for creating the strategic plan. In April we presented a framework to the Vestry.
We are now organizing a team of 8 to 12 members. The draft scope for the strategic planning team is as follows:
- Christian Education for "All Ages"
- Youth and Young Adult Pastoral Care
- Youth Groups
- Christian Youth Service Learning and Leadership
The tentative framework for the processes is as follows:
1. Solicit membership for the team, with an understanding of a commitment for 1-4 hours per week during peak periods from June to November.
2. Hold a formal Church Service to Commission the team and its members on June 1st.
3. Organize and hold 10 or more facilitated focus groups. With Parish membership during the summer, starting first with general topics and then later specific topics for more in depth discussions.
4. Formalize a draft outline of the strategic plan goals and objectives.
5. Gather input on the draft from a few final focus groups.
6. Finalize the plan.
7. Formally deliver the plan to the Parish. We are coming to the end of the school season, which means Parish membership will be taking vacations. Therefore, given the framework of the process, the season of activities before us, it only seemed reasonable to me for the team to have as a goal to work to deliver a high quality and completely communicated plan just before Thanksgiving 2008.
This timeline gives us time to solicit the broadest parish input, time to develop and formalize measurable goals and objectives, and time to define the required resources before the peak of the budget process.
To ensure sustained success, I've proposed that a Vestry member be appointed to continually monitor the execution over the lifespan of the plan.
While this may seem to be a lengthy process, I have also proposed that when and where there is early Parish consensus to implement ideas along the way, the team should introduce and help facilitate the implementation of such recommendations sooner than later, with an understanding that the full plan must capture the strategic view of all goals, objectives and activities within the scope of the team.
If you have a deep interest and time to help us with our mission, I pray you will consider joining our team. You may contact me, Doug Ellmore, Sr. by email at doug@ellmore.net.
Peace in Christ,
Doug Ellmore, Sr.
A meeting will be held after the 11 AM service on May 25, 2008 for those interested in participating on the Christion Formation Strategic Planning Team. Location to be determined. If you are interested please contact Doug Ellmore, Sr. via phone or email. A team blog site has been setup at http://stjamesparishcpt.blogspot.com/.
Background
The Christian Formation Committee was asked in February to create a strategic plan for christian formation. In March, the Christian Formation Committee discussed issues and ideas for creating the strategic plan. In April we presented a framework to the Vestry.
We are now organizing a team of 8 to 12 members. The draft scope for the strategic planning team is as follows:
- Christian Education for "All Ages"
- Youth and Young Adult Pastoral Care
- Youth Groups
- Christian Youth Service Learning and Leadership
The tentative framework for the processes is as follows:
1. Solicit membership for the team, with an understanding of a commitment for 1-4 hours per week during peak periods from June to November.
2. Hold a formal Church Service to Commission the team and its members on June 1st.
3. Organize and hold 10 or more facilitated focus groups. With Parish membership during the summer, starting first with general topics and then later specific topics for more in depth discussions.
4. Formalize a draft outline of the strategic plan goals and objectives.
5. Gather input on the draft from a few final focus groups.
6. Finalize the plan.
7. Formally deliver the plan to the Parish. We are coming to the end of the school season, which means Parish membership will be taking vacations. Therefore, given the framework of the process, the season of activities before us, it only seemed reasonable to me for the team to have as a goal to work to deliver a high quality and completely communicated plan just before Thanksgiving 2008.
This timeline gives us time to solicit the broadest parish input, time to develop and formalize measurable goals and objectives, and time to define the required resources before the peak of the budget process.
To ensure sustained success, I've proposed that a Vestry member be appointed to continually monitor the execution over the lifespan of the plan.
While this may seem to be a lengthy process, I have also proposed that when and where there is early Parish consensus to implement ideas along the way, the team should introduce and help facilitate the implementation of such recommendations sooner than later, with an understanding that the full plan must capture the strategic view of all goals, objectives and activities within the scope of the team.
If you have a deep interest and time to help us with our mission, I pray you will consider joining our team. You may contact me, Doug Ellmore, Sr. by email at doug@ellmore.net.
Peace in Christ,
Doug Ellmore, Sr.
Katie McGlaughlin Fund Raiser - May 18, 2008
A Bake Sale will be held May 18, 2008 to raise money for Katie McGlaughlin to attend E.Y.E. in San Antonio, Texas. It will be held during the Coffee Hour.
Assistant Rector’s House Walk Through - May 25, 2008
With the completion of the refurbishment of the Assistant Rector’s house, the Buildings and Grounds Committee will hold a walk-through on Sunday, May 25.
The house will be open after the 8:00 a.m. service at St. Mark’s and the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services at St. James’ for the members of the Parish to see the house and all that has been done to have it ready for the arrival of our new Assistant Rector, Amanda Finkenbinder.
Amanda will be moving into the Assistant Rector’s house on May 26th and will begin her duties with St. James’ on June 1st. At the time of the walk-through, we will have a basket available so anyone who wishes to make a contribution toward a Bed, Bath, and Beyond gift certificate for Amanda, may do so. There will also be a welcome card for everyone to sign.
The house will be open after the 8:00 a.m. service at St. Mark’s and the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services at St. James’ for the members of the Parish to see the house and all that has been done to have it ready for the arrival of our new Assistant Rector, Amanda Finkenbinder.
Amanda will be moving into the Assistant Rector’s house on May 26th and will begin her duties with St. James’ on June 1st. At the time of the walk-through, we will have a basket available so anyone who wishes to make a contribution toward a Bed, Bath, and Beyond gift certificate for Amanda, may do so. There will also be a welcome card for everyone to sign.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Blood Drive - May 14, 2008
SAA Lions Club Red Cross Blood Drive will be held THIS WEDNESDAY from 1 – 7 pm in Christ Episcopal Church, West River, Parish Hall. Please call 410-867-2274 to schedule your Life-Saving donation.
Parish Sponsors Needed for Cub Scout Pack 840 And Boy Scout Troop 840
St. James’ Parish sponsors Cub Scout Pack 840 and Boy Scout Troop 840. We need a member of our parish to be the Chartered Organization Representative. This person will serve as a liaison between the Scouts and our parish.
EfM: Education for Ministry
EfM: Education for Ministry Classes Every Christian receives the call to Christ’s ministry at baptism, EfM (Education for Ministry) provides the basics of a theological education in order to develop knowledge and confidence about the ministry we all share.
You will find that EfM deepens your faith and your understanding of our Christian heritage, provides you with a new confidence to be Christ’s minister, teaches you how to think theologically, and provides the support of a small group of friends throughout the process. EfM is for the laity of the church. It is a distance-learning program of the School of Theology of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Participants commit one year at a time to meet regularly in seminars led by a trained mentor to study the Bible, church history, and twentieth century theology.
Completion of the entire EfM program takes four years, and there is a cost for each year. Continuing education credits are also available. The seminars follow an academic year and will begin in September. We hope to conduct one seminar during the day and another in the evening or on the weekend.
We are seeking those interested in this kind of serious religious study – St. James’ members or others. For more information, please contact Linda Stewart (lstewart54@aol.com or 443-203-6774) or Marjie Mack (mmack3108@comcast.net or 410-956-4351). A general information session will be scheduled soon.
Feed A Family For Life
Do you have old athletic shoes just sitting in your closet? Would you like to help Ghanaian Mothers’ Hope provide training in sustainable agriculture and farming to the village of Akramaman in Ghana, West Africa? With every 600 pairs of adult “used but not abused” athletic shoes, Perpetual Prosperity Pumps, a nonprofit organization in Delaware, will provide agricultural training for one of our families in Akramaman village. This is the village where Ghanaian Mothers’ Hope has just built a pre-school and playground and broken ground for a new health clinic. Twelve thousand pairs of used shoes will train 20 families and also provide a mini-farm at our school. There is a box in the foyer between the two buildings to collect the shoes, or contact Marjie Mack at 410-956-4351 or mmack3108@comcast.net for pick up or more information.
Maryland Episcopal Cursillo Weekend #96 - November 6-9, 2008
Maryland Episcopal Cursillo Weekend #96 will take place November 6-9, 2008- Nancy Horkan is the Rector. Information brochures are available in the rack opposite the parish office and information may be found at http://www.cursillo.ang-md.org/.
Family Fellowship Night - May 16, 2008
The Family Fellowship Night will take place again on May 16 at Dunkirk Park including a potluck cookout. Meats will be provided. Call Laura Miller 410-798-1826 for more information or to let her know that you will be attending as they need to know to have enough food.
Women’s Monthly Breakfast - June 14, 2008
The Women’s Monthly Breakfast will meet again on June 14 at 8:30. Bring something to do (or not) and join us. Any contribution to breakfast is welcome, but not necessary. Store-bought is encouraged. Contact: Linda Stewart – 443-203-6774.
Brunch for the Parish - June 15, 2008
The Women of St. James’ Parish voted to host a brunch for the parish on June 15 after the 10:00 o’clock service.
Help Lighthouse Shelter - May 21, 2008
The Women of St. James’ Parish are preparing bag lunches for the Lighthouse Shelter on the third Wednesday of each month. They will be doing this again May 21. Please call Pat Rehling 410-867-4709 if you can help. The Women of St. James’ Parish cover the cost of these meals. Please sign up for desserts for the Lighthouse lunches on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board outside the Rector’s office. Pat Rehling
St. James’ Women’s Book Club - 3rd Tuesdays
The St. James’ Women’s Book Club is meeting on the 3rd Tuesday in each month at 8 p.m. at Brooke Steuart’s house (301-980-3920). Everyone is invited to come to the Book Club.
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