EfM Graduation Recognition, May 31

Two Education for Ministry (EfM) participants - Jeanie Zseltvay and Beverly Breitman - will receive their graduation certificates for completing the EfM program on May 31st. Please join us in saying the following prayer as we wish them well and honor their perseverance and commitment to serving God and ministering to his people.

A Prayer of Self-Dedication (BCP, P. 832)
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

There will be an EfM table today at the coffee hour. For more information on EfM, contact Linda Stewart (lstewart54@aol.com) or Marjie Mack (mmack3108@comcast.net).

West Virginia Mission Trip, July 12-18

Please consider joining fellow parishioners on a mission trip to Beards Fork, West Virginia, doing such tasks as the Southern Appalachian Labor School has for us to do - be it helping with new construction, renovation, and repair or helping with the 30-40 children that participate in the Energy Express program at the school. While we intend to spend a week – 2 days of travel and 5 days of labor – we would be delighted to have volunteers for even a few days. At a cost of $150 per person to cover lodging, we will stay in an old church building that provides adequate, though not elegant, accommodations. Food will be provided. Fellowship is a given. This is a wonderful opportunity to help others less fortunate than ourselves. Please give this prayerful consideration and should you find it in your heart to join us, please sign up on the sheet in the parish hall hallway. Should you have questions, please contact Susan Whitehead at swhitehead84@comcast.net.

Heavenly Trash Sale, May 30, 2009

We will be accepting all of your treasures on the Wednesday prior to the 30th of May. You can drop them off at the hall. We would love all of your treasures. We would love HELP if you can. If you need someone to pick up something, just call anyone on the Outreach Committee or Caroline Chisum. We will arrange to have a pickup. We hope to have a great day and make lots of money for the poor individuals in need in our area. All money will be donated. God bless you.

Attention Parents of Graduating High School and College Seniors

Do you have a child graduating from high school or college this spring? High school graduates will receive a personalized Book of Common Prayer from the parish. Please call Amanda to be sure that your child’s gift will be ordered in time.

Recognition of graduating seniors will take place on June 7 at the 9 a.m. service.

Parish-Wide Picnic! June 7th, 2009

Please join us June 7th at 12:30 for a parish-wide picnic. Enjoy food, fellowship, and games as we kick off the summer. Everyone is welcome. See you June 7th! Just so you know, here are a few of the activities that will be offered: kickball, egg toss, corn hole, bingo, shuffle board, wiffle ball, sack races, volleyball, and Bible trivia. LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!

Christmas at The Biltmore, November 16-19, 2009

Christmas at The Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina

• 3 Nights Lodging
  
• 3 Breakfasts, including Grove Park Inn Buffet
  
• 3 Dinners, including Deerpark Restaurant at Biltmore, Carolina Nights Dinner Show
  
• Biltmore House Candlelight Tour
  
• Daytime Visit to Biltmore Estate, Winery, and Riverbend Farm Village
  
• BiltmoreVillage: Grove Arcade
  
• Gingerbread Houses at The Grove Park Inn (based on availability)
  
• Tour Asheville: Folk Art Center
  
• Chimney Rock Park
  
• Harrah's Cherokee Casino
  
• Gift for All: Luggage Handling
  
• All Taxes and Gratuities
  
• Cost: $520.00 per person / double occupancy $250.00 is due at the time of reservation. Balance will be due six weeks before trip.

Contact: Lillie Barret for more information.

Vacation Bible School - June 22-26

The Christian Formation Committee is beginning preparations for Vacation Bible School (VBS) to be held June 22 – 26. BUT WE NEED MANY VOLUNTEERS. If you can help, please call Amanda. It is only through the help of volunteers that this VBS will be successful.

Adult Study Forum - Saint James: the Parish, the Saint(s), and the Writing(s)

Having (patiently) finished The Book of Job, the group seeks recruits for a new adventure tentatively titled "Saint James: the Parish, the Saint(s), and the Writing(s)." Starting with Old Herring Creeke Parish, renamed St. James' Parish (When? Why the name? Which James? - there were at least three!), and moving to both the Epistle of James and The Gospel of James (the latter not included in the Bible!) we hope to learn more about our Parish namesake and the notable early Christians who shared the name. The first meeting of the group is scheduled for the St. James' library at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 19th.

Redesigning stjameslothian.com

Do you have an opinion about the St. James' Parish web site? Is there some new feature or content organization that you would like to see? The communications committee is beginning a redesign of the St. James' Parish web site and we want to know what you think! We are putting together a group to provide input to the site design and review draft implementations. Time commitment will be minimal and no particular computer expertise is required. Please contact Rick Downs at stjameslothianweb@gmail.com for additional information.

6th – 12th Grade Camping Trip!!! June 26th – 29th

Please join us June 26th – 29th for our first ever youth Camping Trip! We will travel to Central Pennsylvania for the Creation Festival, which happens to be the largest Christian festival in the country! The festival includes music, speakers, and over a hundred thousand folks to worship with! We will camp at Lake Raystown where we will cook meals over an open fire, explore God’s creation, and swim! A signup sheet is outside of Amanda’s office!

Worship Schedule for Holy Week

Wednesday	10:00a.m.	Holy Eucharist&Healing Service&Bible Study
Thursday	7:30p.m.	Maundy Thursday Service – Eucharist and Stripping of the Altar – St. James’ Church
Friday	12 noon	Good Friday Liturgy – St. James’ Church
	7:30p.m.	Good Friday Liturgy – St. James’ Church
Saturday	7:30p.m.	Easter Vigil– St. James’ Church
Sunday	6:30a.m.	Sunrise Service – Amanda & John’s
	8:00a.m.	Holy Eucharist, St. Mark’s Chapel
	8:30a.m.	Cantata and Holy Eucharist, St. James’ Church
	9:15a.m.	Holy Eucharist, St. James’ Parish Hall
	10:00a.m.	Easter Egg Hunt, St. James’ Parish
	11:00a.m.	Holy Eucharist, St. James’ Church

Our 6th Lenten Soup and Bread Supper on Wednesday, April 8th

Our last Lenten soup and bread supper will be held this Thursday (Maundy Thursday) with supper at 6:30 p.m and our Eucharist at 7:30 p.m. in St. James’ Church.

Our 5th Lenten Soup and Bread Supper on Wednesday, April 1st

Our fifth Lenten soup and bread supper will be held this Wednesday with fellowship at 6 p.m. and supper at 6:30 p.m. Joe and Donna Kerner from the Bishop Claggett Center will guide us in a Lenten discussion entitled “Where are We Headed?” which will be exploring the paths we are taking and encouraging us to stop to evaluate where we are going. As Executive Director and Program Director of Claggett since 1997, Joe and Donna will also share the directions and growing ministries of our diocesan camp and conference center which is sometimes called, “The Garden of the Diocese.”

St. James' Parish Spring Dinner Invitation!

You are cordially invited to volunteer your time and talents or make a donation to the St. James' Parish Spring Dinner. We are looking forward to sharing a delicious meal, our historic church grounds, specialty shops and children's activities with our parish members and neighbors. This has always proven to be a wonderful day of fellowship, and is a large fundraiser for our Parish. Please let us know if you can volunteer for one of the many duties required to prepare during the week prior to the dinner, and especially the times you will be available to assist on the day of the dinner. As usual, we need many donations: home-baked pies to sell as desserts during the meal; home made treats for our baked goods table; and special crafts, plants and flowers, jewelry and white elephant items for our boutiques. If you have a favorite volunteer position, please send an email to Stjamesdinner@aol.com, and we will be sure your job is saved for you. Also, please indicate the specific times you will be able to assist in your response. We ask that everyone arrive 15 minutes prior to their shift for instructions and to join us in our opening prayer. All volunteers are invited to dress in a colonial period costume. You may find costume ideas at www.buycostumes.com, or by searching for colonial mop cap or apron. This does not have to be elaborate – a long skirt, apron and mop cap will work. Advance tickets are available for $18. The cost for the dinner at the door will be $20, children under 10 - $10. Under 2 are free. To purchase advance tickets just email Stjamesdinner@aol.com. Advance tickets are not available at the parish office. Please remember to encourage your family, friends and neighbors to join us for this wonderful event!

Our 4th Lenten Soup and Bread Supper on Wednesday, March 25th

Our fourth Lenten soup and bread supper will be held this Wednesday with fellowship at 6 p.m. and supper at 6:30 p.m. Our clergy will lead us in “Stations of the Cross.” Jesus stated, “If any want to be my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

The devotion of walking with the Stations of the Cross dates back to the earliest centuries of the church. Immediately following Jesus’ death and resurrection many people had the desire to walk the land where Jesus lived and to trace his path as he carried his cross from Pilate’s house to Golgotha and finally ending in the grave. However, as time passed people were unable to get to Jerusalem, therefore a devotion of walking the way of the Cross based on the scriptures was created. Fortunately for us, we too, can walk the path of Christ this Lenten season using prayer, images, and an open heart.