Blue Christmas - An Invitation, December 22

     Christmas can be a painful time for some, especially in 2020. This may be the first Christmas without a beloved family member who has recently died; it may be a time of Covid or other personal or economic difficulty, or Christmas may simply be a time that has always been difficult.
     The constant refrain about the happiness of the season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many of what they may have lost or may have never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation - all these can make us feel very alone in the midst of the celebrating and spending. We need the space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern; we need to know that we are not alone.
     You are invited to join in this service of sharing prayer, scripture, and music that acknowledge that, even in these difficult times, God is present for those who mourn, for those who struggle - and that God’s Word comes to shine light into our darkness. Everyone, regardless of church background (or lack of it) is welcome.
     The Service is being offered via Zoom at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22nd. The Zoom Link will be sent out Monday, December 21st.

NEW PHOTO DIRECTORY!

We need your help so our new Rector can get to know us during a pandemic! We’re doing this ourselves (casual photos are fine) and we want to have it ready to help welcome Fr. Joe when he arrives on January 1, so we need these photos by December 13th. Photos received later will be added as time allows. Please submit a family (or individual) photo ASAP by doing one of the following:

• Email your photo (with all names) to StJamesDirectoryphoto@gmail.com.
• Mail your photo (with all names) to Directory Photos, c/o St. James’ Parish, 5757 Solomons Island Rd, Lothian MD 20711.
• Drop off your photo (with all names) to "DIRECTORY PHOTOS" tray on the right side of the Copier Room (Door 10) in the Parish Office Building.
• Come in person to the Parish Office Building from 9:00 to 11:00 AM on Thursday December 10, Friday December 11 or Saturday December 12, when Jim Cheston will take informal photos (no appointment needed).

Your submitted photo implies your consent for its use for church purposes only. Questions? call Jim Cheston at 443-822-1571. Thank you so much for helping to welcome Father Joe! -- Marjie Mack

Advent Book Study - Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas

Be Transformed this Advent Season! His parents gave him the name Jesus. But the prophets, the shepherds, the wise men, and the angels addressed him by other names. They called him Lord, Messiah, Savior, Emmanuel, Light of the World, and Word Made Flesh. In Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas, best-selling author Adam Hamilton examines the names of Christ used by the gospel writers, exploring the historical and personal significance of his birth. Please join us on Saturdays, (28 November through 19 December) from 0830-1030 to reflect upon the significance of the Christ-child for our lives. If you are interested in participating in this study please email Brenda Boucher at totheskies@msn.com to receive a Zoom invitation.

2020 Holiday Food Baskets, November 21

St. James' Parish will be distributing groceries for 75 Thanksgiving dinners to needy families in our community on Saturday, November 21 from 7-10:30 AM. This year, special safety measures and new logistics will be in place in order to ensure everyone's safety. For additional information, or to volunteer to help, please contact Cindy Carrier at bccarrier@comcast.net.

St. James' Parish Book Club

The St. James' Parish Book Club will meet online using Zoom on November 17th (and the 3rd Tuesday of every month) to enjoy fellowship and a contemporary book discussion. This month, they will discuss the book, Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family, by Robert Kolker. New members are always welcome! For additional information, please contact Edlu Thom-Harper at edlu.th@comcast.net.

Don't forget! Fall back Saturday night with end of daylight saving time

It's that time of year again! Daylight saving time ends as clocks "fall back" one hour. The official time change is at 2 AM Sunday, but for people that turn in earlier, go ahead and set your clocks back before going to bed. Your smartphone and computer should automatically adjust. However, you’ll need to manually change the clocks on your car radio, oven, alarm clock and the other standalone clocks around your home.

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