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.