Parish Leadership Workshop, November 4

The 2020 Annual Parish Celebration is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, January 31. At that time, the three members who will be rotating off the Vestry will be replaced with new parishioners. A Leadership Workshop will be held on Wednesday, November 4 at 7 PM (most likely via Zoom) 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. Please give prayerful thought to a call to serve. For additional information, or to register for the workshop, please contact the Rev. John Keydel at jkeydel@gmail.com.

Announcing The Reverend Joseph E. Lenow as our 33rd Rector

St. James' is pleased to announce that The Rev. Joseph E. Lenow, Phd. has been called to be our parish's 33^rd rector. Father Joe comes to us most recently from Nebraska, where he wore multiple hats as a professor of religion at Creighton University, Interim Priest Associate at St. Mark’s on the Campus Church at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Priest Associate at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Omaha. He is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and the University of Virginia. Father Joe’s ministry with us will begin January 1st, 2021!
Introducing Father Joe ()

2020 Fall Oyster and Country Ham Dinner & Festival - Cancelled

The 2020 Fall Oyster and Country Ham Dinner & Festival has been cancelled due to the challenges associated with providing adequate social distancing and other safety precautions required to protect volunteers and guests from the Coronavirus. We're hopeful that we will be able to hold the Spring Crab Cake and Country Ham Dinner & Festival as usual.

Blessing of the Animals, October 4

Our annual 'Blessing of the Animals' will be held on Sunday, October 4 (which is the Feast of St. Francis) at 4:00 PM on the labyrinth. There will be a very brief service of thanksgiving for all living things, and then each animal in attendance will receive his or her own blessing. All varieties of animals are welcome but must be kept under their owners' control. Pets and their owners must remain at safe social distance, and all humans must wear masks covering their nose and mouth. This event is weather dependent.

Search Committee Update - 33rd Rector Called!

The Vestry has unanimously approved a Resolution from the Search Committee electing the 33rd Rector of St. James' Parish, and the Rector-elect has verbally accepted! We will share more of the details with you after the written agreement is completed and signed over the next few weeks. In the meantime, please keep the Parish, the Rector-elect, and our Interim Rector, the Rev. John F. Keydel, who continues to serve all of us at St. James' Parish, in your prayers. Thank you! — Marjie Mack, Senior Warden

Fall Women's Bible Study

"What do you do when God's timing seems questionable, His lack of intervention hurtful, and His promises doubtful?" Lysa TerKeurst unveils her heart amid shattering circumstances and shows readers how to live assured when life doesn't turn out like they expected. Zoom in and join us for the Fall Women's Bible Study beginning Saturday, 5th at 8:30 AM (and every Saturday through October 10) to discuss Lysa's book, It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered . Link at : www.amazon.com/dp/0718039858/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_RQSrFb0JM26S6. For additional information and a Zoom invitation, please contact Brenda Boucher at totheskies@msn.com. Please join us! For our first meeting please read the introduction and Chapters 1-2. See you soon!

St. James’ Parish Book Club on Zoom

The St. James’ Parish Book Club will meet online using Zoom on August 18th (and the 3rd Tuesday of every month) to enjoy joyful fellowship and a contemporary book discussion. On August 18th, the books, To Kill a Mocking Bird and Go Set a Watchman, by Harper Lee will be discussed. New members are always welcome! For additional information, please contact Edlu Thom-Harper at edlu.th@comcast.net.

Diocesan Youth Online

Join our Diocesan Youth Missioner Kate Riley and youth from around our diocese for games, check-ins, and prayers on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Noon to 1 PM. Join the Online Youth Leadership Program for Bible study, current events, leadership, and games on Tuesdays at 3 PM. For more information, contact Kate Riley, kriley@episcopalmaryland.org.

Greetings to all of our Church School kids!

     We know that this is a challenging time for you all, and we want you to know that you are missed and that we will be back together soon! We ask you to pray each day, perhaps creating your own new prayer. Please remember to be kind! Do something to help your family, enjoy being with your family, and watch a movie or play a game with them. For the younger members of our community, ask Mom or Dad to print out coloring pages that will remind you of our faith. Click here for a great variety of resources!
     Ask your parents to attend Zoom Church service each Sunday and join them so we can see each other until we can gather again. Each and everyone of you are in our prayers daily. Remember that Jesus loves you... and we do, too!

Miss Julie, Miss Sarah, Miss Laura, Miss Sharon, Miss Denise, Miss Cheryl, Mr. Curtis, Jacquelin, and Kaitlin

Zoom In to Church on Sundays!

Each week, you will receive an email with the Sunday service bulletin and instructions for joining the 10 AM worship service through Zoom. But, we have to have your current email address in order to send the information to you! If you’re not currently receiving this information and would like to be included on these notifications (and others!), please email the parish administrator at janetbruce@stjameslothian.com. This is also a good time to update your Parish Family Information form. We’re looking forward to seeing you on Zoom each Sunday!

"Drive-Thru" Reading Camp South County

  

Reading Camp South County has begun on Tuesdays and this year it is a "drive-thru" camp! The camp began June 23 and will continue with sessions on June 30, July 21, and August 4 & 18. The students are assigned a time so they do not arrive all at once. When they arrive, they get out of the car and are given gloves. Then they go to the book tables where they self-select 4-6 books to keep. They proceed to the other tables: they received a shirt and a library log, a vocabulary game, an arts/crafts project, a Bare Book to write about the science project that also went home, a physical recreation item (playground ball the first week) and food. Each camp week they will receive something again for each category. We have 23 kids signed up this year!

3rd Annual Paper Shred & Food Drive

Financial Donations for Food Needed

     During these challenging economic times, more and more families are in need of food,, many due to the loss of jobs. The SCAN Food Pantry housed at St. James’ Parish never knows just how many grocery items they will receive from the Anne Arundel Food Bank, so they can always use financial donations to support the purchase of additional items when needed to fill the food bags. If you are able, you can make a donation via the SCAN website at https://scanfoodpantry.org/ or by going directly to the PayPal donation window.
     The South County Assistance Network (SCAN) was established in 1997 for the purpose of providing supplemental, nonperishable food to those in need in the area. Currently the SCAN food pantry is distributing over 1,750 packages of food to 350 families annually. The pantry is located in the lower level of the Education Building at St. James Episcopal Church in Lothian. Food is distributed on Thursdays and Saturdays from 9AM to 12PM, excluding holidays. Bags of mostly nonperishable food are handed out based on household size. Eligible families and individuals may receive food once every 30 days.
     Although the parish provides operating space to the pantry, SCAN is a separate entity, incorporated in the State of Maryland, with a 501(c)(3) federal nonprofit, tax-exempt status. SCAN is staffed and operated by volunteers. Food is provided by the Maryland Food Bank, the Anne Arundel County Food Bank, businesses and individuals like you! Thanks for your generous support!

Staying at Home? Let Us Help!

The high school youth in the J2A class provide a ministry of service to parishioners in need of a little help on a project at home. If you are unable to go out or are in need of a little “socially distanced” assistance during this time, please contact us! We would be happy to help you with basic yard work or projects. We’ll also be happy to do your grocery shopping and other errands so you won’t have go out! Just contact us, and we’ll work something out! For more information please contact Kaitlin Wilding at kaitlin6@comcast.net and/or Jacqueline Wilding at jacqsmack6@comcast.net. Thanks for allowing our Youth to be of service!

Outreach Committee - Children's Breakfast Club

Last year we bagged over 10,000 breakfasts, and the need continues to grow! This year, due to the restrictions on gatherings and social distancing requirements, we are having to rethink the logistics for packing and delivering the lunches - but there WILL be lunches for the children! More information will be shared soon! In the meantime, you can help by making a financial donation as you are able to help purchase food. For more information, please contact Nola Meyers at noreme@verizon.net.