Thanksgiving Dinner Baskets

Thank you for your generous donations for the holiday dinner baskets! This year St. James' Parish and Friendship United Methodist are blessed to partner with Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry and Giant Foods to receive dinners complete with turkeys for the Thanksgiving holiday baskets. Please join us on Saturday November 23rd from 7:30 to 10:30 AM in the Parish Hall to help distribute meals to our less fortunate neighbors. This is a wonderful family service opportunity.

Parish Leadership Workshops

The 2020 Annual Parish Celebration will be held on Sunday, January 26. At that time, three members will be rotating off the Vestry and will be replaced with new parishioners. In addition to a Vestry Open House at the November 18 meeting, a Leadership Workshop has been scheduled in order to provide information to those 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 workshop will be held in the Parish Library on Wednesday, November 6, 7PM with an additional session scheduled in response to demand. 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. John Keydel at jkeydel@gmail.com or 410-867-2838.

All Saints Sunday Prayers for the Deceased

On All Saints Sunday (Nov 3), the services at both St Mark's and St James' will combine several liturgical elements important for that day and our common life as a community of faith. We will observe the culmination of the Stewardship Campaign with the Pledge ingathering; we will reaffirm our own Baptismal Covenants; and on that Sunday we will use Eucharistic Prayer D, which incorporates the Prayers of the People within the Eucharistic Prayer. One prominent feature of that service will be the traditional reading of the Necrology, or remembrance of friends, family members and those of our extended community who have died since the last All Saints Sunday. Please notify the church office of the full Christian Name of your friend or family member by October 28.

2019-20 Stewardship Campaign

This year's St. James' Stewardship theme is "Shining Our Light." Click on the link below to read this year's stewardship letter and see how this theme speaks to us as a faith community: 2019-20 Stewardship Cover Letter and Pledge Card. Please take some time and reflect on the letter and the blessings in our lives and Parish. You're invited to bring your pledge with you for a Parish ingathering during the services on November 3.

Blessing of the Animals, October 6

There will be a Blessing of the Animals service on Sunday, October 6 at 4:00 PM near the labyrinth at St. James' Church. Everyone and their pets (on a leash or in a carrier), are welcome to attend.

Fall Dinner - We Need YOUR Support!

St. James' Parish will hold the annual Fall Oyster and Country Ham Dinner and Festival on Saturday, October 19, from 1-5 PM. The menu will once again feature fried oysters, country and honey-baked ham, potatoes au gratin, homemade coleslaw, green beans, rolls and biscuits. The event will also feature a bake shoppe, garden shoppe, antique car show, attic treasure sales, and a book stall.

Sponsored by The Women of St. James' Parish, the dinner is one of the largest fundraisers for the Parish with the proceeds supporting the WSJP's generous financial pledge to the parish. Please donate your time and talents to support the event. Financial donations to help offset the cost of food for the dinners are appreciated and can be given to Lillie Barrett or Lesa Easer. We also need donations of baked goods, attic treasure items, plants, books and DVDs (see announcement in the newsletter for details).

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 garylillie502@gmail.com.

Messiah Sing-Along - Sponsors Needed!

Sponsors are now being sought for our 33rd Annual Messiah Sing-Along to be held 4 PM on Sunday, November 24. 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. Sponsors will be recognized in the printed program. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact St. James' Parish Music Director, Marie Harrison, at stjameslothianmusic@gmail.com.

Desserts for the South County Concert Assoc.

St. James' Parish Outreach Committee will be serving refreshments during intermission at the South County Concert Assoc. on Saturday, September 14th.  We are asking for homemade dessert donations which can be left in the St. James' Parish kitchen by 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 14 and labeled SCCA. For more information about this fundraiser please contact Lucy Arthur at donlucyarthur@verizon.net.

AED/CPR Class at St. James'

An AED/CPR class conducted by a certified instructor from AAMC will be offered on Wednesday, September 18 at 1:00 PM at St. James' Church. With emphasis on hands-on floor and tabletop learning, this $55.00 class gives you skills needed to save a life. Learn adult and child/infant CPR and more. For more information and to register, please call the parish office at 410-867-2838.

Search Committee Update: Survey Feedback Sunday, September 15

Thanks to everyone who took the time to fill out the St. James' Parish Survey! The members of the Search Committee have been analyzing the feedback received from you, the members of our parish. This data as well as other parish information will be used to develop a written Parish Profile – a comprehensive look at the life of our church, how we perceive our church home and our places in it, who we are as the Body of Christ, and who we believe God is calling us to be.

The committee is looking forward to sharing a summary of the survey results after the 10 AM service on Sunday, September 15. We look forward to seeing you there!

Come Sing With Us!

The St. James' Parish Choir is comprised of volunteer adult singers. No special musical ability or great singing voice is required to participate in the choir! Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to come together for fun, fellowship, worship, discipleship and ministry - oh, and we sing, too! The Choir enjoys singing both traditional and spirit-filled contemporary praise music that blesses them and lifts up the congregation! Beginning Wednesday, September 4, rehearsals will be held every Wednesdays at 7:30 PM, and on Sunday mornings at 9 AM in St. James' Church prior to the 10 AM service. For more information about Choir activities, please contact Parish Music Director, Marie Harrison, at stjameslothianmusic@gmail.com.

Sunday Church School Online Registration Now Open

Online registration for St. James' Sunday School for the 2019-20 school year is now open at stjameslothian.com/cf_registration.

Reading Camp South County Rocked!

Once again Reading Camp was held at, and supported by, St. James' Parish, as well as other individual and corporate donors! Despite the unexpected absence of Paula Davis (you were missed!), Nancy Horkan and the rest of the staff admirably rose to the occasion and put on a wonderful and meaningful camp for almost 40 children! Our kitchen crew was superb, always serving meals and snacks on time and being such cheerful role models! Whether you donated funds, food, or books, prayed for the campers and staff, volunteered your time as a book buddy, classroom teacher, teen helper, or contributed in some other way, you are appreciated! Please check out the photos of this amazing program on our FaceBook page: facebook.com/pg/ReadingCampSouthCounty/photos/.

St. James' Book Club's Upcoming Reads

St. James' Book Club upcoming reads:

September - "The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel" by Heather Morris
October - "The Tuscan Child" by Rhys Bowen
November - "What Alice Forgot" by Liane Moriarty
December - "Three From Gallilee" by Marjorie Holmes

We generally meet on the third Tuesday of the month. Please join us for lively discussions and great fellowship. Contact edlu.th@comcast.net for more information.

July Community Assistance

In July, our Community Assistance team was able to help four clients prevent evictions. We also provided funds for 100 gallons of fuel oil and referred another client to Community Action for their energy assistance program. We thank you for your continued support as we try to help our neighbors in need.