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.

Amazing Grays - Helping Hands From a Distance!

  

While we are all staying at home, the Amazing Grays Senior Lunch and Conversation Group has been serving as a “helping hands from a distance” resource for those seniors who are at home and need a little extra help or encouragement.

If you (or a senior you know) is in need of a little help during this time, or if you can help others by making phone calls, sending birthday or thinking of you cards, running errands, or providing some technical help for accessing worship services, please let us know! Other ideas are also in the works, and we can always use more!

To volunteer, please contact Michelle Doran+ at michellesdoran@gmail.com.

2020 Reading Camp - We Need YOUR Help!

     It is time to assemble our team for the 2020 Reading Camp! Camp will be held August 3-7, at St. James’'Parish. We need several kinds of volunteers. To run the instructional groups, we need teachers current or retired. We also need adults who were not teachers, and we need several teenagers.
     There is no expense to the students who attend camp. However, the camp costs about $8,000, which is about $200 per student. We exist only on donations! We appreciate donations of any amount to the general camp fund, and you can also sponsor a child for $200. Checks should be written to St. James' Parish with "Reading Camp donation" noted on the memo line, and you will receive a receipt for your donation.
     For more information, please contact, Paula Davis at southcounty.md.readingcamp@gmail.com.

Lenten Series - Sacraments of the Gospel and the Church, March 10

We devote the entire evening to the Sacrament of Baptism, looking at both the familiar parts of the service itself and some aspects that usually elude our attention. The schedule (approximately!) is to gather at 6 PM for some refreshments, followed by an array of soups at 6:30 PM, and the program to begin at approximately 7:15 PM, so that we can be done and cleaned up by 8:30.

Easter Eggs To Benefit Outreach Ministries

Once again, Barbara Howard's beautiful hand-painted wooden Easter Eggs will be for sale during the Coffee Hour beginning Sunday, March 1st! Proceeds from these beautiful eggs, which are offered for only $10 each, support the many important ministries of the St. James’ Parish Outreach Committee. Through your generous support, we hope to top last year's contribution! For additional information, please contact Barbara Howard at kbhoward@comcast.net.

Lenten Series - Sacraments of the Gospel and the Church, March 3

We begin the series with an overview of the history, theology and practice of Sacraments and sacramental living as such, reflecting a bit on the general and underlying aspects. This session will provide a bit of a framework that should be useful as we work through the rest of the series. The schedule (approximately!) is to gather at 6 PM for some refreshments, followed by an array of soups at 6:30 PM, and the program to begin at approximately 7:15 PM, so that we can be done and cleaned up by 8:30.

Youth Fellowship Annual Ice-Skating Outing!

Atrium and Middle School age youth are invited to join us for ice skating on Sunday, March 8th! Parental supervision is required for children in Pre-K through 5th grade, and a parent will need to accompany their child unless other arrangements have been made. Youth in 6th through 12th grade must complete a Youth Fellowship Registration Form and a signed permission slip (available in the office). For additional information, please contact Sharon McGlaughlin at sharon.mcglaughlin1692@gmail.com. Join us for lots of fun!!