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.

Thanksgiving Food Baskets - We Need Your Help

St James' Parish and Friendship United Methodist Church will be distributing groceries for 70 Thanksgiving dinners to be given to needy families in our community on Saturday, November 18 from 7-11 AM. This is a great family service opportunity! Youth should plan to participate from 8:30-10:30 AM.

Donations of frozen turkeys (10-12 pounds) are needed as well as cash contributions to purchase the other food items for the Thanksgiving baskets. Frozen turkeys need to be placed in the St James' Parish freezers no later than Wednesday, November 15 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.

Cancelled: All Hallows' Eve Celebration

The All Hallows' Eve Celebration for this Friday, 10/27, has been cancelled. Stay tuned as we have many more youth events being announced soon!

Parish Leadership Workshops, November 1 and 4

Two Leadership Workshops have been scheduled in order to provide information to parishioners 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. The workshops will be held in the Parish Library on Wednesday, November 1 (7-9 PM) and again on Saturday, November 4 (10 AM to 12 PM). Interested persons need attend only one of these sessions.

Please give prayerful thought to a call to serve. For additional information, or to register for one of the workshops. please contact the Rev. William H. C. Ticknor at ticknor@stjameslothian.com or 410-867-2838.

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.

Adult Choir Rehearsals Resume

St. James' Parish offers two adult choirs – the Chancel Choir and the Celebration Choir – both are comprised of volunteer singers. No special musical ability or great singing voice is required to participate in the choirs! Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to come together for fun, fellowship, worship, discipleship and ministry - oh, and they sing, too!

The Chancel Choir sings at the 11 AM service and features traditional music. The Celebration Choir sings at the 9 AM service choosing more contemporary praise music. Fall Choir rehearsals will resume on Wednesday, September 6 at 7 PM (Celebration Choir) and Thursday, September 7 at 7:30 PM (Chancel Choir). For more information about choir activities, please contact Parish Music Director, Michael Ryan at mryansings@verizon.net.

Save the date: Bishop Knudsen visiting St. James' on September 17

On Sunday, September 17th we will have one service only at 10:00 AM in St. James' Church. The Rt. Rev. Chilton R. Knudsen, Assistant Bishop of our Diocese, will be with us. Our Parish will celebrate the 325th anniversary of the Act of Establishment and the 225th anniversary of our Seventh Rector’s, the Rev. Thomas John Claggett, D.D., consecration as the first Episcopal Bishop of Maryland and the first to be consecrated on American soil. Come and celebrate!

Blessing of backpacks (and briefcases and calendars)!

As the new school year approaches we invite all those who are preparing for the start of school to join us on September 3rd for a special blessing. Whether you are a student, teacher, administrator, or any of the many important roles that keep our schools running we invite you to bring your backpacks, briefcases, calendars, or lunchboxes to receive a blessing during our 10:00 AM service.

Episcopal Diocese Night at Camden Yards, August 4

Enjoy an evening of baseball, fellowship and old-fashioned fun at Camden Yards with friends, neighbors and church members on August 4th. Game starts at 7:05 p.m.! Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers. Tickets now on sale for our annual diocesan baseball outing. All are welcome! Invite other parishioners, newcomers, friends, relatives, neighbors and anyone else who would enjoy an afternoon of baseball. To reserve seats with the St. James' Parish group, please contact Marjie Mack at mmack3108@comcast.net.

Women's Bible Study, Starting July 29

The Women's Bible Study will begin to meet again starting July 29, at 8:30 AM in the Parish Library. Associate Rector Anne L. Nicholson will lead a discussion of Barbara Brown Taylor's book Learning to Walk in the Dark. Learning to Walk in the Dark provides a way to find spirituality in those times when we don't have all the answers. Through darkness we find courage, we understand the world in new ways, and we feel God's presence around us, guiding us through things seen and unseen. Often, it is while we are in the dark that we grow the most. We hope you can join us for our first meeting to discuss the introduction and first chapter of the book.

Library Committee Sponsored Trip - Panama Canal

The St. James' Parish Library Committee is sponsoring a Panama Canal Cruise, February 5-16, 2018. The 11 night trip includes: round trip flight Baltimore-Miami, all meals on board the Norwegian Jade, and much more. Ports of call include: Cartagena, Colombia; Colon, Panama; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Harvest Caye, Belize; Costa Maya, Mexico; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Deposit due by September 20. For further details, view the trip flier - goo.gl/2AaU38, or contact Lillie Barrett.

Article: Standing with Standing Rock taught Episcopalians about solidarity

episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2017/06/22/standing-with-standing-rock-taught-episcopalians-about-solidarity/

Spring Dinner Follow-up

Many thanks to all of the helping hands & support throughout the dinner planning and execution. There were 365 dinners served (143 carry-out). Overall profit cleared was $5479.25.

Library Committee Sponsored Trip - Christmas in New York City

The St. James' Parish Library Committee is sponsoring a trip to New York City, December 4-6. The trip includes 2 nights lodging, 2 breakfasts, the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular (featuring the Rockettes), a backstage tour of Radio City Music Hall, a guided tour of Lower Manhattan, motorcoach transportation, and much more. For further details, view the trip flier - goo.gl/4x0UxO, or contact Lillie Barrett.

2017 Reading Camp - We Need YOUR Help!

It is time to assemble our team for the 2017 year. Camp will be held July 31 - August 4 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. If you helped last year and are able and willing to help again, please let us know. If you didn’t help but wish to join the team, WELCOME! For more information, please contact Paula Davis at southcounty.md.readingcamp@gmail.com.

Summer 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 30 to register. The 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.

Sing with the Summer Choir!

Music is an important part of our worship experience, and we make every effort to provide it to our congregations during the summer months. Beginning on June 11th, just show up in church at 9 AM on any given Sunday and practice an anthem to sing for the Service at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited to participate - either on a regular or a one-time basis. This is a great time to try singing in the choir... and, it's fun! Music is selected depending on the group we have on each Sunday. Everyone is welcome to participate!

St. James' Parish Community Yard Sale, June 3

St. James' is hosting a community yard sale on June 3 from 8 AM - 1 PM. Rain or Shine! Spaces will be in the lower parking lot and rent for $25 (10 x 10 foot spot with a table). The deadline for renting a space is May 28th (or until they are all rented). All rental space fees will benefit the work of the St. James' Parish Community Outreach Fund.

St. James' Parish will also have a table, and your donations are welcome! Items should be in good and usable condition (please no clothes, shoes, or electronics) and can be dropped off in the Library. Books are welcome but limited to 10 per donation. Please box and mark the items "yard sale." Proceeds from the St. James' Parish table will benefit the Community Assistance Fund.

For additional information, to register and submit payment, or to volunteer, please contact Ashley at Artemis914@aol.com.

The Breakfast Club - How You Can Help

The Breakfast Club is in their 7th year of feeding local children meals during the summer. Last year we fed over 200 kids daily throughout the summer. This is a community event and all are welcome to help. St. James' has been involved in packing a day's worth of meals on Wednesday evenings during the summer. We also have donated funds to help support this ministry. In addition to packing, they need drivers to deliver the food to Patuxent and Lyon's Creek Mobile Parks. If you are interested in helping with either packing or delivering, please contact Nola Meyers at noreme@verizon.net.

The Great St. James' Parish Bake-Off

Open to All Age Groups, this fun baking competition needs you! Bring your home-made-from-scratch cookies, cakes, pies and bread items to St. James' Parish on Saturday June 10th. Items will be judged by area chefs based on originality, appearance, and taste, and then auctioned at the annual Parish Picnic on June 11. For more information, please contact Lesa Eser at lesaeser@gmail.com, or Lillie Barret at garylillie502@gmail.com.

Buildings and Grounds Committee Meeting on Wednesday, May 10

ALL HANDY HANDS AND GENEROUS HEARTS--There will be a meeting on Wednesday, May 10, at 7:00 PM, in the Library to reestablish the Buildings & Grounds Committee. Since we have not had a Junior Warden since October 2016, the Vestry is working to re-establish this Committee which is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of our buildings and grounds. Many hands make light work, so please come be a part of this important ministry. There is need for committee members (5-7), others who can be called on to help with specific projects or skills, and a committee chair. Additionally, we need a Junior Warden who can be a committee member or its Chair. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Newman, Treasurer, at newmankelly@comcast.net or Nancy Horkan, Senior Warden, at nhorkan@comcast.net.

Senior Recognition Sunday

On Sunday, May 21st, at the 9:00 AM service, we will be recognizing all graduating High School, Trade School, and College students. If you have a graduating senior, please email Bill+ at ticknor@stjameslothian.com, and state whether the graduate would like to receive a Book of Common Prayer or a Bible as a gift. Please provide to the office the name of the institution, from which the individual is graduating, and a brief paragraph about the individual to ticknor@stjameslothian.com, no later than May 20.

Spring Dinner - We Need YOUR Support!

St. James' Parish will hold the annual Spring Crab Cake and Country Ham Dinner and Festival on Saturday, May 20, 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. Many ingredients can potentially cause allergic reactions. 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.
• 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 Barret at garylillie502@gmail.com.

Easter Dinners Provided to 58 Families!

Thanks to the generous contribution of hams and other groceries, approximately 25 volunteers from St. James' Parish and Friendship United Methodist Church worked in partnership to organize and provide Easter food baskets to 58 local families in need on April 15th. And, thanks to the generous financial donation of approximately $2,000 from Friendship UMC and some additional money from St. James' parishioners, there were even extra groceries that we were able to donate to the SCAN Food Bank!

This Food Basket Ministry provides holiday dinners three times each year to families who need assistance - at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Thanks for your generous support that continues to make this important Outreach Committee project possible!

Calling all Handy-Hands

Whether you know something about gardening, household repairs, electrical work, plumbing, masonry, painting or just like to get your hands dirty helping on a project; we need You! We need you to join us Sunday, May 7th at 10 a.m. (in-between the two services) in the Parish Hall to discuss an approach to the maintenance and improvement of our buildings and grounds. Please reply to newmankelly@comcast.net and let us know you’ll be there. We plan to discuss how the work can be divided and shared to accomplish our buildings and grounds needs. If you have ideas to share but can’t make that meeting, please email newmankelly@comcast.net with your ideas. Thanks in advance. - Your Vestry

Lenten Program, The "Easter Experience" - Session 6, April 11

Join us at 6 PM in the Parish Hall for a fellowship and a pot luck supper before the lesson at 7:30. A free will offering will benefit our Community Assistance fund.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry Speaking at Goucher College on May 12

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will speak at The Big Tent Meeting on Friday evening, May 12, at Goucher College. This event, with music by Patrick Lundy and the Ministers of Music, is free and open to the public. Go to https://goo.gl/VnXB0m for more information, to register, and for a free ticket!

Crosses for Palm Sunday

Crosses for Palm Sunday will be made in the Parish Hall kitchen on Saturday, April 8 at 8:30 AM. Everyone is invited to help!

Lenten Program, The "Easter Experience" - Session 5, April 4

Join us at 6 PM in the Parish Hall for a fellowship and a pot luck supper before the lesson at 7:30. A free will offering will benefit our Community Assistance fund.

Lenten Program, The "Easter Experience" - Session 4, March 28

Join us at 6 PM in the Parish Hall for a fellowship and a pot luck supper before the lesson at 7:30. A free will offering will benefit our Community Assistance fund.

Paint Night for Prom Breakfast

Paint Night is being held at St. James' on Friday, March 24th at 7 p.m. to benefit Southern Senior High's Prom Breakfast. Our parish has 4 young people graduating from this class. Cost will be $35 and includes wine, sodas and appetizers. The event is being hosted by Jeanie LesCallett, with painting being done on glasses, vases or mugs. Class is limited to the first 30 people, so sign up quickly. For more information or to sign up, call Laura Miller at lmbirdwatcher@live.com.

Lenten Program, The "Easter Experience" - Session 3, March 21

Join us at 6 PM in the Parish Hall for a fellowship and a pot luck supper before the lesson at 7:30. A free will offering will benefit our Community Assistance fund.

Outreach Committee Needs Desserts for Concert

The St. James' Parish Outreach Committee will be serving refreshments during intermission at the South County Concert Assoc. tomorrow Monday, March 20th. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Southern High School. We are asking for donations of homemade cookies, cupcakes, brownies, dessert bars or sheet cake. You do not need to individually wrap your baked goods because they will be put on plates. For those attending the concert, your donation can be dropped off at the school cafeteria. If you are not attending, please leave your donation in St. James' Parish kitchen by 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 20th and label SCCA. There will be a sign in the kitchen as to where to leave the baked goods. In the past, this has been a very successful fundraiser. Please let us know if you are willing to donate baked goods. Contact: Lucy Arthur at donlucyarthur@verizon.net.

Manresa Stations of the Cross - Volunteers Needed!

Manresa, a former monastery now used as an assisted living center, is located on the beautiful banks of the Severn River near Annapolis, MD. The lovely grounds offer visitors the opportunity to experience the Stations of the Cross in an outdoor setting. St. James' Parish is responsible for maintaining the grounds around Station 5.

St. James' Parish volunteers are needed to coordinate a fun day in the sunshine cleaning up and planting around our station in preparation for the noon Good Friday Service. If you would like to volunteer to make this happen, please contact the Parish Office at 410-867-2838 as soon as possible. Thanks!

Easter Food Baskets - Please Help Feed the Needy

St. James' Parish and Friendship United Methodist Church, will continue our partnership to provide groceries for Easter dinners to approximately 80 local families in need. We hope you will generously donate your Time on Saturday, April 15, from 7 AM to 10:30 AM, Treasure (cash donations for groceries or a 10-12 pound ham (labeled) in the Parish Hall refrigerator by Wednesday, April 12th) and/or Talent (join us for a fun time loading grocery bags and sharing chocolate bunnies). This is an excellent family service opportunity.

For additional information, to volunteer to help, or to identify a family in need, please contact Cindy Carrier at bccarrier@comcast.net.

YAC Coordinates Prom Dress Drive

YAC (Young Adults in Church) is collecting gently used and cleaned prom-style, bridesmaid, and dresses recently worn to holiday parties as well as accessories and shoes for girls in and around our community. YAC believes this is a terrific opportunity to recycle party dresses and help local girls that might not otherwise be able to dress up for that special night! NEW THIS YEAR - We are also collecting suits and shoes for boys! Please drop off your donations in the Parish Hall. Cash donations are also needed to purchase additional dresses, shoes, and accessories.

The Dress Drive will be held on Saturday, April 1st, From 1-5 PM. For additional information, please contact Laura Miller at lmbirdwatcher@live.com.

Lenten Program, Session 1, March 7

Join us at 6 PM in the Parish Hall for a fellowship and a pot luck supper before the lesson at 7:30. A free will offering will benefit our Community Assistance fund.

Youth to Support The Stanton Center

On March 5, High School youth will shop for food that will be donated to The Stanton Center, Annapolis, MD. The youth will be visiting the Center from 4:30 - 6 PM to play games, read, and spend time with children from the community. They will also serve supper to the children. For more information, please contact Sharon McGlaughlin at sharon.mcglaughlin1692@gmail.com.

Pastoral Letter from Bishop Sutton - One Nation Under God

Are we truly "one nation under God" as it says on our money and in many courtrooms? Here is Bishop Sutton's pastoral letter to the diocese: https://goo.gl/bFAUZi.

Hand-painted Wooden Easter Eggs!

Once again, Barbara Howard's beautiful hand-painted wooden Easter Eggs will be for sale during the Coffee Hours beginning March 5th! 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.

Live Auction on Saturday, March 25 and We Can Use Your Help!

The Women of St. James’ Parish will be hosting a live auction on March 25th in our parish hall! Preview starts at 4 PM, with the auction at 5. We also plan to have food, beverages, and homemade desserts available for purchase. Cash or check only.

How can you help? 1) Attend the auction and bring your friends! 2) Help with set-up or clean-up! 3) Make and donate homemade desserts for us to sell! 4) Donate items to auction off!

Items that have sold well in the past include: quality household goods, antiques, fine jewelry, vacations, furniture, art, collectibles, homemade items. Pickup for donated items is available. For questions or donations, contact Lillie Barrett at garylillie502@gmail.com or Lesa Sipes-Eser at lesaeser@gmail.com.

St. James' Parish Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, February 28

Fellowship at 6 PM & Dinner 6:30 - 8 PM.
Cost: Donations support the Christian Formation Committee
Youth - Please arrive at 4:30 PM to help with setup!

2017 Reading Camp Volunteers Needed!

Last year we had the rewarding experience of running a camp designed to help underachieving students improve readings skills. It is time to assemble our team for the 2017 year. Camp will be held July 31st - August 4th 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.

If you helped last year and are able and willing to help again, please let us know. If you didn’t help but wish to join the team, WELCOME! For more information, please contact, Paula Davis at southcounty.md.readingcamp@gmail.com.

Youth Fellowship Annual Ice Skating Outing!

Join us for ice skating on Sunday, February 12th, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM! Parental supervision is required for children in Pre-K through 5th grade. 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!!

Souper Bowl Sunday, February 5

On Sunday, February 5, millions of Americans will tune in to the Super Bowl football game. There will be parties with abundant food, friendship and fellowship. At the same time, there will be other people worrying about staying warm, finding shelter and a warm meal. Please join young people around the country as they demonstrate God's love by loving their neighbors through the Souper Bowl of Caring.

St. James' Parish Youth will be standing at the doors after the service collecting donations in large soup bowls. They will later do a "Supermarket Sweep" to purchase groceries for the needy. Please support their efforts - Thank you!

@StJamesLothian - St. James' Parish updates now on Twitter

If you have a Twitter account, you can now get St. James' parish announcements by following us at @StJamesLothian.