St. James’ Community Yard Sale

We are hosting our first community yard sale September 26th, from 8 AM - 2 PM. We are looking for people interested in renting a space. All rental spaces fees will go to St. James' Community Assistance Team. Spaces are $25 for a 10x10 spot with 1 table. Space is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. The deadline for renting a space is September 20, 2015, or until we run out of spots. At this time we are not accepting donations to be sold, but are looking for individuals who want to rent a space. For more information please email Ashley at Artemis914@aol.com.

Fall Festival Planning & Preparation

Mark your calendars! The Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, October 10th from 1–5 PM. The Festival featuring the Country Ham and Oyster Dinner is one of the largest Parish fundraisers held during the year. We need everyone's time and donations. The profit from the Festival goes to the operation of the Parish. It also funds special events and receptions as well as contributing to several outreach ministries. The WSJP will be contacting volunteers but, in addition, there are sign-up sheets on the Women’s bulletin board in the Parish Hall. Please take a moment today to sign up. If you have additional questions, contact Kelly Richard at akellyrichard@aol.com.

Blessing of the Backpacks, September 20th

On Sunday, September 20 at the 9 AM service the backpacks of children, youth, and college students can be brought up to the altar at the end of the service for a blessing. Each backpack will receive a laminated tag showing that it has been blessed.

AARP Smart Driver Class

The AARP Smart Driver class for ages 50+ will be offered at St. James' Parish on Wednesday, September 2. You will learn defensive driving techniques, proven safety strategies, and review new traffic laws and rules of the road. There is NO driving test! Upon completion of the class, you may also receive a discount on your car insurance from your insurance company. The cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non AARP members, and is payable in cash or check made out to AARP at the time of registration. Registration begins at 9:30 with the class starting at 10:00. There will be a 1 hour break for lunch. Class will resume at 1:00 and will conclude at 3:00 o'clock. Registration prior to class is required. Please bring your AARP card, if applicable, and your driver’s license. Please call 410-867-2838 during normal business hours to register.

Community Assistance Fund - July Activity

In July, the St. James' Community Assistance Team was able to help seven families with their BG&E bills and lot rent in the amount of $1,800. We were only able to meet with people two Thursdays out of the month due to a shortage of funds. Your donation to the Community Assistance Fund means a lot to our neighbors in need. The people who received our assistance are always grateful. This month we got a special “Thank you” from one of our clients and a special angel figure from another.

Cleaning out the North Barn

Can you help? We want to clean out the North Barn like we did for the South Barn. We have chosen Saturday, August 15th and will meet at the North Barn at 8 AM. A large dumpster will be there waiting for us. All we have to do is pick stuff up and put it in the dumpster. Please bring gloves, a hat and recommend safety glasses too. If we can get 6 to 10 people it will go very quickly and easily be done by 11 AM. Thank you!

Altar Guild Members Needed

We desperately need help for September and October. Altar Guild sets up the silver, wine, and wafers for the service. We fill the candles. You would not need to clean linens. Each month we have two people assigned to the 10 AM service. Training is provided; you would not be on your own. For more information, or if you are interested, please speak to the clergy or to Paula Davis at PKay621@aol.com.

Save the date! Special coffee hour, July 26th

The coffee hour on Sunday, July 26, will be a special one. We will gather in the Parish Hall after the 10 AM service to offer our thanks to Dawn+ for her ministry among us and to celebrate her recent engagement and her pending move to the West Coast! Let us gather to thank God for his hand at work!

Summer Breakfast Club Ministry - June 25th to August 15th

The Summer Breakfast Club Ministry provides bagged breakfast meals to children in southern Anne Arundel County (Lothian and Tracy's elementary school areas). Often the only meals they get during their day are the free or reduced breakfasts and lunches provided at their school.

The Breakfast Club will run for 7 weeks, from July 1st thru the middle of August - Mondays through Fridays. Volunteers from St. James' Parish are needed to pack breakfasts every Wednesday at 6 PM for approximately 45 minutes each week. On Fridays, the Deale Library will be partnering with us to present a special library program. In addition, FoodLink Annapolis, will to provide funds for extra food to families for their weekend. Each Friday, following the Library program, we will hand out a large bag of food to each family to help carry them through the weekend.

For more information, or to sign up to help on one of the Wednesdays listed below, please contact Nola Meyers at noreme@verizon.net.

Dates for St. James' Parish Volunteers: July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29, August 5, August 12 (possibly)

Sing with the Summer Choir

Music is an important part of our worship experience and we make every effort to provide it to our congregations during the summer months. Beginning on June 7th, just show up in church at 9 AM on any given Sunday and prepare an anthem to sing for the Service at 10 AM. Everyone is invited to participate either on a regular or a one time basis. This is a great time to try singing in the choir... and, it's fun! Music is selected depending on the group we have on each Sunday. Everyone is welcome to participate. You can do this!

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 by June 30th to register. Class begins in mid July and is held for 5 weeks, 2 evenings per week. All work is done in class and the workbook is available for $10.

Community Assistance Fund - April Activity

The Community Assistance Team assisted ten families in the amount of $2,855, mostly for eviction prevention and help with very high electric bills from our frigid winter. In addition, we used the South County Community Energy Assistance Group funds ($1,156) to help two additional families pay their portion of their electric bills so that the power could be turned back on. The support from St. James' Parish is tremendously important to the people who are trying to stay afloat, especially for those with medical problems that require electricity. The Community Assistance Team thanks you for all your support to our South County neighbors in need.

Reading Camp South County - Donations Needed

Reading Camp South County needs your donations. You can make a general donation or it can cover a specific need. Checks need to be made out to Southern Maryland Regional Council. You can put them in the plate, or hand them to clergy or to Marjie Mack. So far we need:

1. Bus costs for the two trips - $600
2. Visiting author, Janie Suss, $15 a book x 25(one per child) - $375
3. Visiting author, Fred Bowen, $6 a book x 25 - $150
4. Back packs and school supplies per child
5. Jug Bay trip $3 per child - $75
6. Food/snacks

On behalf of the children we will serve, we thank you! For more information about Reading Camp South County please email Paula Davis at southcounty.md.readingcamp@gmail.com.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry - Help Needed

For many years, prayer shawls made by the ladies of St. James' have comforted people in need in our Parish and in our community. The shawls are blessed by our clergy and are given to anyone who has an illness, a hardship, has lost a loved one or a pet, and has a celebration, a new baby, a new home or a wedding. They are given to people in need by the Community Assistance Team, distributed to nursing homes, assisted living communities, veterans' homes and hospitals. This very important ministry is in need of yarn (baby yarn or 6/6.5 mm) or gift cards from Michaels, Joanne's or any place that sells yarn. Donations can be left at the Parish Office. Thank you for your help.

Vacation Bible School, June 22nd-26th

Vacation Bible School will be hosted by Friendship United Methodist Church this year. VBS will be June 22nd-26th from 9 AM-noon, and is open to kids from age 3 through 5th grade. Many volunteers are needed to make this a successful event.

REGISTRATION and VOLUNTEERS: to register your child for VBS or to sign up as a volunteer and to see what help is needed go to www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/ez/fumcvbs.