Greening the Church, December 23

Please join us on Monday, December 23 at 10:00AM and help decorate St. James' Church for Christmas! We need everyone's help, and you'll have lots of fun! For additional information, please contact Lillie Barrett at garylillie502@gmail.com.

Parish Christmas Caroling, December 15

The St. James' Parish Chancel and Celebration Choirs invite you to join them for Christmas Caroling at Greenstreet Gardens on Sunday, December 15 at 1:00PM. For more information, please contact Parish Music Director, Marie Harrison at stjameslothianmusic@gmail.com.

2019 Holiday Food Baskets

A huge thanks to everyone who helped assemble and deliver groceries for 80 Thanksgiving dinners to needy families in our community! We'll be distributing another 80 Christmas dinners on Saturday, December 21 from 7-10:30AM, and we need your help, again! This is a great family service opportunity! Youth volunteers are always welcome and should plan to participate from 8:30-10:30AM. We also need donations of hams (10-15 pounds) and cash contributions to purchase the other food items for the Christmas baskets. Please place hams in the St. James' Parish freezers no later than Wednesday, December 18. For additional information, or to volunteer to help, please contact Cindy Carrier at bccarrier@comcast.net.

Lunch with Santa, December 14

Lunch with Santa will be on Saturday, December 14, from noon to 2:00 PM. There will be crafts, a visit with Santa, and lunch for children ages infant to 11 years old. Please contact Sharon McGlaughlin at sharon.mcglaughlin1692@gmail.com no later than December 1. She will need the name, age, gender, parent contact information including phone number. Parents are welcome and encouraged to participate!

Thanksgiving Day Service

A Thanksgiving Day Eucharist will take place in St. James' Church on November 28, at 10 AM. The offering received from the Thanksgiving Day envelopes will be presented to the Salvation Army at the Carol Sing on December 8 to be used to purchase toys and gifts for needy children. Please join us on Thanksgiving morning!

Salvation Army Stockings

Salvation Army Stockings are now available. Please take one or two to fill. The stockings are due back no later than Sunday, December 8. Please drop off your stocking (or grocery bag) in the Christmas Box in the foyer (between the parish hall and the education building). The stockings benefit local children in need. For more information contact Nola Meyers at noreme@verizon.net.

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.