Sports & Drama Camp Photo Album

You can view photos from the Sports & Drama Camp here: goo.gl/mhmFfX.

Anne Arundel Medical Center's Blood Mobile on August 10th

Please mark your calendar: The Anne Arundel Medical Center's Blood Mobile will be in our parking lot adjacent to St. James' Church on Sunday, August 10th from 9 AM until 1:30 PM; click here for the event flier. Summer is traditionally a very slow time for blood donations but a time of great demand for blood. To schedule an appointment, please simply call the Parish Office OR go to www.mysignup.com/stjames. They accommodate one or two people every ten minutes.

Children’s Breakfast Club - Volunteers Needed!

The Breakfast Club will be packing breakfasts again on Wednesday evenings at 6 PM throughout the summer. The ministry feeds approximately 100 school age children who might not otherwise have breakfast in the summer. If you are interested in helping or would like to learn more about it, contact Nola Myers at noreme@verizon.net. We are looking for volunteers to help pack. It takes about 30-45 minutes and we meet at Mt. Zion. The dates we need help are: July 23 & 30 and August 6 & 13.

AARP Smart Driver Class

The New, Improved, AARP Smart Driver Class will be offered at St. James' Parish on Wednesday, July 30, from 10 AM to 3 PM. This four hour class is designed for drivers 50+. This class reviews new driving practices, rules, and identifies NEW rules of the road. It offers proven strategies to help maintain safe driving practices. A certificate is issued at the end of the class. You may also qualify for a discount on your car insurance, depending on your insurance. The cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. Seating is limited and registration is required. Please call St. James' Parish at 410-867-2838 to register by Monday, July 28. There will be a one-hour lunch break. Please arrive few minutes early to complete the registration process.

Stepping into the Future, starting July 8th 6 PM to 7 PM

Anne Arundel County Community Action Agency's Annapolis Youth Services Bureau in partnership with St. James' Parish announce Stepping into the Future: a group for youth that explores emotional / anger management, communication, self-esteem, and decision making. Sessions are led by Andrew Mueller (AYSB). The group is open to youth age 11-18 (participants may be grouped by age level), and will meet Tuesdays 6 PM to 7 PM starting on July 8th. To register, contact either St. James' Parish at 410-867-2838 or Phyllis Collins (AYSB) at 410-626-1800.

Library Committee trip to Charleston and Savannah, September 29-October 2, 2014

The Library Committee is sponsoring a trip to Charleston, SC & Savannah, GA 4 days – 3 nights Lodging, Sept 29 to Oct 2 - $524.00 per person (double occupancy). Package includes: 3 nights lodging, 3 breakfast, Southern-style buffet lunch at Paula Deen's Lady & Sons, 2 full course dinners, guided tours of Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC, Charleston City Market, tour of Ft. Sumter, Magnolia Plantation Home & Nature Tram Tour, Charleston Harbor Cruise, River Street District, Souvenir gift, luggage handling, All taxes and meal gratuities and motor coach transportation. Cancellation insurance available upon request. For information and reservations contact: Lillie Barrett (301-855-7829).

June Community Assistance Fund

The St. James' Community Assistance Fund team met with nine families in June and helped them in the total amount of $2,617.01 along with an additional amount of $509.67 from the South County Churches Energy Assistance Group (SCCEAG). This assistance was given for eviction prevention, electric and propane bills and gift cards for food and gasoline. A very good piece of news came our way in June: All Hallows Episcopal Parish, although not part of the South County network, has indicated willingness to join with St. James' Parish in our Community Assistance efforts by helping to fund the program. The Community Assistance team appreciates and thanks you for your continued support for our neighbors in need.

Weird Animals VBS Photo Album

You can view photos from the Weird Animals VBS here: goo.gl/QHkQJz.

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. Class begins in mid July for 5 weeks, 2 evenings per week, all work is done in class, $10 for workbook.

Sing with the Summer Choir!

Summer Choir begins on June 22nd at the 10 AM service. Just show up in church at 9 AM for rehearsal, and you pass the audition! Everyone is invited to participate - either on a regular or a one-time basis. It's a great way to try out the choir and see if it's a good fit for you in the fall season... and, it's fun! Everyone is welcome to participate!

Visitation by Bishop Sutton & Confirmation, June 15th

Bishop Eugene Taylor Sutton, Bishop of Maryland, will visit St. James' Parish on June 15th at the 8 AM and 10 AM services. During the 10 AM Eucharist the Bishop will confirm the following: Carol Leeann Dinges, Cody James Dorsey, Bryan Arthur Howl, Martha Grace Claire Howl, Caroline Emily Miller, Kenneth Jon Ranson, and Bonnie Bunnell Taylor. Also, Joanne Claire Healey Howl will reaffirm her baptismal vows.

Community Assistance Fund

In May the St. James' Community Assistance Fund assisted eleven families in the amount of $2,336.52. The assistance was given for eviction prevention, electric, propane and an unusual one for emergency dental care to prevent someone from losing their job. Often medical issues put people on the edge into financial crisis and we saw several of these in the month of May. The Community Assistance team appreciates and thanks you for your support for our neighbors in need.

Donate a Tree in the New Cemetery

The Cemetery Committee plans to plant 15 Natchez White Crape Myrtles along the road of the new cemetery and 3 Southern Magnolias on the cemetery's southern border. Please consider donating a tree in memorium. Each 10-12 foot Crape Myrtle costs $525 and each 12-14 foot Magnolia costs $995. Your donation includes a Corian dedication plaque as well as planting and care for the tree.

For additional information or to donate a tree, please contact Jim Cheston at cemetery@stjameslothian.com.

Christian Formation - A Year in Review 2013-2014

Please take a moment and read Dawn's+ summary of a very full year of Christian Formation at St. James': stjameslothianyouth.blogspot.com/2014/06/christian-formation-year-in-review.html

Children’s Breakfast Club - Volunteers Needed!

Outreach is looking for volunteers to help local area children receive breakfast this summer. We are working with Mt. Zion and other area churches to help pack brown bag breakfasts for school aged children living in Lyon's Creek and Patuxent Mobile Park. We are asking for 1 hour of your time to help pack on Wednesday evenings. Ideally, 3 to 4 people would meet at a house on Mt. Zion's property (on Bayard Road near the circle off of Rt. 2) to assemble the pre-packaged food. The program serves approximately 100 children per day. If you can help on any of the eight Wednesdays listed below, please contact Nola Meyers at noreme@verizon.net or Shay Hall at 410-507-1165. For additional information, contact Nola or Shay, or check the Outreach bulletin board in the Parish Hall.

June 26,
July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30,
August 6, 13

Breakfast Club is also looking for new or gently used children's books to pass along to the children receiving the meals. Feel free to place a book or two in the paper bag located in the foyer between the parish hall and education building. We welcome all hands!