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.

Reading Camp South County at St. James' Parish July 27-31!

The camp is a week-long, tuition-free summer program for children who need a "boost" to help them improve their reading skills and will include 15 hours of reading instruction alongside fun activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, and games. A nutritious breakfast, lunch and snacks will be served daily.

Paula Davis has agreed to coordinate the camp, but volunteers are needed! Current or retired teachers are invited to contact Paula for more information about how they can help to provide the reading instruction from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM each day. The program ends at 4 PM, so teachers (who are able) as well as other adult and youth volunteers will be needed to assist with the afternoon activities.

For more information about this exciting program, or to volunteer, please contact Bill Ticknor+, Paula Davis and Nancy Horkan at southcounty.md.readingcamp@gmail.com. Reading Camp South County is part of The Reading Camp Network.

Come Sing With Us!

Singing in the choirs offers the opportunity for very enjoyable fellowship, and the music contributes greatly to our Sunday Worship experience. If you have any calling to this important ministry, but have held back because you think "they already have so many," or "they probably don't need me," or "I'm not a good singer," please think again! We do need you!

For more information on how you can participate in one of the choirs, please contact Parish Music Director, Michael Ryan at mryansings@verizon.net, or speak with any of our choir members. We would love for you to join us!

Pie Baking Workshop, May 9th

One for You and One for Us! - Are you a person who is hesitant to make a pie crust and pie filling? Why not join us on Saturday, May 9th at 9 AM in the Parish Hall Kitchen for a Pie Baking Workshop. At this workshop, you will be making a pie to bring home and one to donate to the Spring Dinner. We will be making fruit pies. All you will need are the ingredients for the crust and the filling and the desire to bake a homemade pie. If you are interested, please contact Kelly Richard at akellyrichard@aol.com; she will give you a list of ingredients to bring. Persons with experience baking pies are welcome and encouraged to join us.

Project Prom Dress 2015

Saturday, April 11th from 9 AM - noon, the senior high youth will be giving dresses to girls in the community who may be in need. The senior high youth are collecting gently used and cleaned prom style dresses, as well as accessories and shoes. The senior high youth believe this is a terrific opportunity to recycle prom dresses and to minister to a need in the community.

Please drop off your donations in the Parish Hall. If you have no clothes to donate, we are accepting cash donations to help cover the cost of additional dresses, accessories, and shoes. Cash donations will also contribute to purchasing prom tickets to six high schools.

Sports and Drama Camp - Registration Open

Registration for South County Churches Partnership's Sports and Drama Camp (July 13th-17th) has begun! Sign up now! Spaces are limited! Registration for participants and volunteers can be done online here: eventbrite.com/event/15913039329/.

Clothing Mission

We are now accepting spring and summer clothing. Please drop off clean, gently used clothes in the clothing room downstairs in the education building. Big thanks to Leslie Clark, and Laura McGowan who are assisting with this ministry! If you would like to help, please contact Taylor Milbradt at tayfm@aol.com.

March Community Assistance Fund

The Community Assistance Team helped six families in the amount of $1,761 in the month of March. A special thank you for the contributions given to the Community Assistance Fund through the sale of the Hand Painted Easter Eggs, the offering from the Easter Messiah Sing-Along and from the Lenten Suppers!

Maundy Thursday Fellowship & Service

On Maundy Thursday, April 2nd, we will have fellowship beginning at 6 PM in the Parish Hall, followed by potluck supper and we will have the Holy Eucharist in St. James' Church at 7:30 PM. The Women of St. James’ Parish would like everyone to bring a potluck dish to share; a non-alcoholic punch, coffee, tea and dessert will be provided. A free-will offering will be designated for Community Assistance Fund.

A new class of Daughters of the King is now forming

Founded in 1885, the mission of The Order of the Daughters of the King is a lay order of women committed to serve as an extension of Christ's Kingdom through daily prayer, service, and evangelism. Women who are interested in learning more about the Order are invited to attend an informational meeting at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, Annapolis, on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at 7 PM in the temporary classroom building.

Potential members attend a 12-session discernment class during which they learn about the Order and reflect on their personal call to service. For more information about the upcoming discernment program, please contact Pam Roth at rothsbythebay@verizon.net. For more information about the Order, you may also contact St. James' Parish Daughters, Linda Rines at linda.rines@comcast.net or Pamela Blyth at pamblyth@aol.com.