Senior High Ski Trip, February 17-20

Planning for our annual senior high ski trip is well underway. The lodge is booked, the dates are set, and the chaperones are ready. Now all we need are the teenagers! The dates of the ski trip are Friday, February 17th – Monday, February 20th. We will know the final cost once we know how many youth are interested! To be eligible for our annual ski trip you must:

• Be in 9th-12th grade and Be excited to grow deeper in your faith
• Be an active participant in worship, youth group, and Church School
• Be willing to participate in all activities both on the slopes and off

If you fit these requirements or are willing to work on them and would like to go on the ski trip please sign up outside of Amanda's office!

Goodness Gracious Bible Study, Mondays - 2/13 to 3/19

There will be a Bible Study lasting 6 weeks, Mondays, February 13 to March 19 (12-2 p.m.) at St. James'.

"Becoming a Woman God Can Use" - A study on Esther, by Judith Couchman

Registration will close Wednesday, February 1. If interested and you wish to register, please e-mail Nan Lewis - nanwlewis@gmail.com.

2012 Women's Weekend at the Claggett Center, January 20-22

Please join us as we come together to explore the passages in our lives and the joy of becoming the individuals God intends for us to be. We'll worship together; celebrate our faith in prayer, song and meditation; hear from the Rev. Anne Weatherholt and Becky Fisher, be inspired and refreshed through workshops and activities; renew friendships and make new friends! Click here for more information. You can also register online at https://www.claggettcenter.org/register.php.

St. James' Foyer Groups

Foyer Groups are a fun and easy way for parishioners to get together on a regular but informal basis for purely social reasons – to enjoy each other's company, to strengthen bonds of community, to meet new people. Foyer Groups provide a means to develop new friendships and deepen old ones and are a way to make our parish feel smaller and warmer. Click here for more information on how you can join a St. James' Parish Foyer Group.

2012 St. Mark’s Chapel and St. James’ Church Flower Charts

The St. Mark's Chapel and St. James' Church Flower Charts for 2012 are posted in the Chapel and the Church. If you are interested in giving flowers in memory of or in celebration of someone’s birthday, please sign your name next to the date that you would like to do this. The cost of the flowers at St. Mark's is $25 per Sunday. Someone will contact you when you sign up. Altar Guild members purchase, arrange, and place flowers on the altar. If you sign up for flowers at St. James' Church, Lillie Barrett will contact you in advance of your date. The cost of the flowers at St. James' Church is $50 per Sunday.

2012 Offering Envelopes

Offering Envelopes for 2012 are available on a table in the parish hall. If you do not find one for you, please speak to one of the clergy.

2011 Pictorial Directories

Pictorial Directories are available in the parish hall. Please consider making a donation to cover the cost of the printing. There is a box provided for your gift.

Lunch with Santa! December 10th

Santa will be coming to St. James’ Parish on Saturday, December 10th from 12 Noon to 2 p.m.! Children ages 3 years through the 5th grade are invited to join us for lunch, games, crafts, and a visit from Santa and his helper who will hand out goody bags to the children of our Parish and gifts for the children attending from the community. Please sign up outside of Amanda’s office and join us for lots of fun !

Salvation Army Sing-Along, December 7th

Get in the spirit of Christmas with a Sing-Along! A potluck dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the Sing-Along will begin at 7:30 p.m. in St. James' Church. During the Sing-Along, the toys purchased by our youth during their annual Toys-R-Us shopping trip will be presented to the Salvation Army. Everyone of every age is invited to attend!

Christmas Baskets, December 17th

Christmas is just around the corner and we need your help with preparing baskets for the needy. We will be providing food for 75 south county residents on Saturday morning, December 17. There are three ways in which your help is needed: 1) Donate a 10-20 pound turkey by Thursday, Dec. 13; 2) help us pack and distribute 75 meals between 7-11a.m. on Sat, Dec. 17; and/or 3) make a monetary donation that will help the Outreach Committee acquire all the "fixings" for a great Christmas feast. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Linda Rines (Linda.Rines@comcast.net) or Shay Hall (HallShay@aol.com). Thanks in advance for your generosity of time, talent and treasure!

Partners In Care - Volunteers Needed

Partners In Care, a local community non-profit organization, has been helping older adults remain independent in their own homes since 1993. The demand for services is increasing and additional volunteers are needed. Drivers are needed to transport members to doctors’ appointments and grocery stores, and help with errands. Handymen, office workers, computer technicians, and workers for the upscale-resale boutique are also needed. Just two hours per month can make a difference to a person in need. It often provides relief to caregivers, and can be a rewarding experience. Partners In Care is a unique service-exchange program where members volunteer their time and may receive services when needed. Call 410-544-4800 to obtain a volunteer application and make a reservation for the next volunteer orientation.

Salvation Army Stockings, Available November 6th

Salvation Army Stockings will once again be available during the Sunday services beginning on November 6th. St. James’ Parishioners will be filling 150 red mesh stockings - and we need YOUR help!

A list of suggested items for stuffing the stockings will also be available. Ideas include: small toys, hygiene items, or school supplies. Please 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 4th. For more information, please contact Nola or Nicole Meyers at noreme@verizon.net.

Thanks to your generosity, these stockings make a huge difference in the lives of many, many children. Thank you for supporting this important ministry!

Holiday Food Baskets

The Outreach Committee will coordinate distribution of Holiday meals on Saturday, November 19th from 8 - 11 a.m. and again on a Saturday in December. Please contact Linda Rines at Linda.Rines@comcast.net if you can help! Donations of frozen turkeys are needed as well as cash contributions to purchase the other food items for the baskets.

Thanks for supporting this St. James' Parish ministry and helping to provide holiday meals to those members of our community in need.

Christmas Pageant 2011

It's that time again to begin preparations for this year's Christmas pageant! The pageant will be held on Sunday, December 18th at the 9 a.m. service. If you are interested in sharing your time, gifts, and talents in making this year's Christmas pageant the event to remember, please e-mail Amanda at amanda@stjameslothian.com. All children are invited to sign up outside of Amanda's office. Rehearsals will begin this month!

Altar Guild Training, November 12th

The Altar Guild at St. James' Church needs your help! Members of the Altar Guild prepare and maintain the altar for the weekly services. We currently need volunteers for the months of March, June, September, October, and November.

Please join us on November 12th at 8:30 a.m. for a training/refresher session that will be held in St. James' Church. Please give this prayerful consideration. For more information, contact Paula Davis at pkay621@aol.com.