Labyrinth Update - We can begin!!!

Although our grant request was denied earlier this summer, we are grateful for enough memorial contributions to make a start, hopefully soon! We will begin with our 30’ labyrinth. We have donations of 2 benches, and a few plantings. We would like to be able to add a sidewalk to, and around, the labyrinth and more landscaping. So if you have been waiting to make your contribution, now’s the time!! Make your donation payable to St. James, with “Labyrinth Fund” in the memo line. Thanks for your support!!

Young Adult Ministries = 20/30/early 40’s, October 13

Please join us October 13th at 7:00 pm for bible study in the Parish Hall. We will be studying Rob Bell’s DVD series “Everything is Spiritual.” The Young Adult group will meet the second Tuesday of each month for bible study, so mark your calendars today!

Youth Fellowship, October 11

Attention all 6th-12th graders: On Sunday October 11th we will have youth group. Join us for a game of Bigger and Better beginning at 12:30. Haven’t heard of Bigger and Better? All the more reason to come on out! See you then!

Input Solicited for Horizons Gathering

Do you have any thoughts on what the Diocese of Maryland should be doing to serve God? A group of people from the diocese will be gathering on October 3, 2009, and February 27, 2010, to pray, reflect, and discern the goals and vision for the Diocese of Maryland. This challenge was presented to the diocese at the convention last May by Bishop Eugene Taylor Sutton. The following questions will be addressed at the Horizons Gathering:

• What is God calling us to do as the Diocese of Maryland?
  
• What might God's vision for our future look like?
  
• What passions and gifts could you, your congregation, or ministry bring to this vision?

Horizons Gathering Reflection materials are available on the diocesan website for anyone to read: www.ang-md.org/press/2009-06-08-horizons-announcement.php#resources. There may be smaller regional gatherings between these two sessions as well for more opportunities for participation. The plan is to present a report at diocesan convention in May 2010.

Your input is welcome! If you would like to share it, please address it to Marjie Mack - mmack3108@comcast.net and/or Bill Ticknor+ - ticknor@stjameslothian.com.

Children’s Fellowship, October 4

Our first Children’s Fellowship for the beginning school year is fast approaching. All youth from the littlest to age 12 are invited to attend a great outdoor experience in God’s Creation!! We will be taking a hike at Battle Creek Cypress Swamp, located in Prince Frederick, MD. We will leave St. James’ at approximately 11:30 a.m. and will be eating lunch at the park. We will take a short hike and play nature bingo, hug a few trees along the way and maybe see some snakes (in tanks of course)!! Please bring a bag lunch. Snacks and drinks will be provided. For more information, please contact Sted or Jen Wolf - jsparwolf29@yahoo.com.

CPR Certification and AED Training

The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Committee is pleased to announce the purchase of 3 ZOLL AED Plus Automated External Defibrillators. The members of St. James’ Parish have generously given contributions for two of the devices. The third AED and funds for training essential staff were graciously donated with Memorial Funds and will be honored with a mounted plaque. They will be installed at St. Mark’s Chapel, St. James’ Church and the St. James’ Parish Hall.

The Zoll AED is highly recommended for its ease of use, innovative electrodes and voice prompting to help the inexperienced user. While we pray we never have to use it, it is a device that everyone should have an opportunity to be given in the St. James’ Parish Hall starting Monday morning, October 5. Mary Houlihan, a certified CPR and AED instructor, has graciously offered her services at a greatly discounted rate of $35.00 per person. She limited her class size to 12 people at a time. Each class will take approximately 2-3 hours with hands-on training using Rescue Annie and the AED. We will extend the number of nights the course is offered as the classes are filled. The sign-up sheets are posted in the Parish Hall. Please call Woody or Nancy Wooddell at 410-867-1570 with any questions.

The Blessing of the Animals, October 4 at 2 pm

The Blessing of Animals will take place on Sunday, October 4, at 2 pm at 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 Fall Festival Oysters and Country Ham Dinner is approaching very quickly!

The Women of St. James' Parish depend on the dinners as our most important fundraisers. The dinners would not be so successful without the wonderful support we experience from our parishioners. We need help in the kitchen beginning on Wednesday, September 30th , and Friday is a big day for setting up. We also need quality white elephants, many crafts, perennials for the plant sale (please mark what they are and color, if possible), baked goods for the Bake Shop, home canned goods for the Country Store, and jewelry for the Jewel Box. Another need that is new this year is for someone to donate gallons of water which we will use to make the iced tea. Please contact Wendy Crawford, the dinner chair, or Peggy Horn to volunteer. The women thank you for your help.

Fall Bulb Sale

The Fall Bulb Sale sponsored by the Women of St. James' Parish is in full swing. Brochures are available and will be distributed after the services on Sunday. Orders will be accepted through October 4th, the day after the Fall Festival Oysters and Country Ham Dinner. A manilla envelope is attached to the Women of St. James’ Parish bulletin board next to the church office for your orders. Checks only, no cash, please. Orders will be available for pick up the following Sunday, October 11th. October is the perfect month for planting these bulbs which will provide wonderful color and enjoyment next spring! The Women thank you for your support and know you will enjoy these bulbs for many years.

Ministries Fair, September 20

Please get ready for our second annual Ministries Fair on September 20. This Vestry sponsored event in the Parish Hall between 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. will be your opportunity to tell others about your favorite St. James' Parish ministry or learn about the many varied activities that are part of our parish life. See the article in the “Shell” or the Ministries List on www.stjameslothian.com or contact Linda Rines - Linda.Rines@comcast.net.

Safeway Club Card Enrollment

Help to support the Christian Education programs at St. James’ every time you grocery shop! Safeway Stores’ eScrip program will donate up to 3% of all purchases to a designated school or religious organization. This program is free to you, and easy to use: once your are registered, present your Safeway Club Card or enter your phone number on the keypad at checkout when you grocery shop, and a percentage of your purchases will go to support Christian Education programming at St. James’.

To designate St. James’ as your Safeway Club Card recipient:

• Go to www.escrip.com
• Click on Sign Up—It’s Free!
• Enter your Safeway club card information
• Enter group ID number 1036858

If you have designated another organization in the past, and would like to change your Safeway Club Card recipient to St. James’ Episcopal Church:

• Go to www.escrip.com
• Click on Sign Up—It’s Free!
• Click on my eScrip
• Enter your club card number and password
• Enter group ID number 1036858
• If you have forgotten your password, or never created one, you can submit the change of designation via the email box provided.

If you have any questions about the program or the registration process, please contact Tricia Hurlbutt <psh21035@yahoo.com>.

Adult Forum: 'Exploring the Spiritual Life' beginning September 13

The Adult Forum will begin a new season of study and reflection September 13, entitled 'Exploring the Spiritual Life.' The group will meet from 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. on Sundays in the Library. Fellow parishioner, Canon John Huntington, will lead the discussion and provide study materials. We will use three small books for background reading, all by spiritual masters of the last century: Evelyn Underhill ("The Spiritual Life" - preview at Google Books), Johannes Metz ("Poverty of Spirit" - preview at Google Books), and Abraham Heschel ("I Asked for Wonder"). Discussions will follow the interests of group members, and should lead us into very interesting places! We will enter into lively conversation with Scripture and Christian saints and mystics on topics of particular interest to the group members. Come, join us!

Fried Chicken Dinner, August 9

A Southern Maryland Fried Chicken Dinner created by Westin Hotel Executive Chef James Barrett, will be served Sunday, Aug. 9, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the St. James' Episcopal Church air-conditioned parish hall, 5757 Solomons Island Road, Lothian, just north of Route 258.

The $13 donation for the dinners, served there or carried out, include one-half of a fried chicken, potato salad and three-bean salad, a dinner roll, drink and dessert. For more information, contact Lillie, dinner chair, Women of St. James' Parish at 301-855-7829 or the Parish office at 410-867-2838.

EfM Registration

It is registration time for the Education for Ministry (EfM) program, and we hope you will consider joining us this fall. Our group meets on Sundays from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. downstairs in the Education Building. We have prayers, dinner, group discussion and reflection. It is an opportunity to dig deeper into the Christian faith, study the Bible, Church history and theological ideas, and reflect on connecting our faith with our life experiences. EfM offers an opportunity to discover how to discern and respond to our call to Christian service, whatever that may be for each individual, and it gives us a small group to support us on our journey. We register one year at a time, and the group meets from September through May. There is a fee for the program, and some scholarship help is available. The deadline for registration is August 9, and the first class will be September 6. Contact one of the group mentors for questions or more information: Linda Stewart (lstewart54@aol.com) or Marjie Mack (mmack3108@comcast.net).

Special Coffee Hour for Pat and Carl Rehling, August 9

A Special Coffee Hour, in thanksgiving for the lives and ministries of Pat and Carl Rehling, will be held on Sunday, August 9, following the 10 a.m. service. Pat and Carl have served God in many ways, particularly in our parish in recent years. They will be moving to Texas during that week. Please come out and wish them well in this transition, which will be difficult for all of us.