The Shell Newsletter – August 6, 2020

From the Rector – Supporting St. James’ Thrift Shop

Today I have two asks for you – prayer and action.

First, please keep our Thrift Shop Manager Sandy Baker in prayer as she faces some serious health issues (not COVID related).  Please also keep our dedicated staff (Becki, Sergio, Jeanne, and Ed), and the volunteers who have been able to return to help out in the Shop, in prayer.  They do an amazing job of serving our Mt. Airy community through this important ministry of our church.

Second, if you are able to help out, we need more volunteer help at the shop while Sandy is out – especially on Monday mornings.  Since June when we re-opened, we have been following strict health and safety guidelines.  Feedback from staff and customers has been positive.  Volunteering at the Shop is fun and interesting – sorting new arrivals and sprucing up the shop while socializing (and social distancing).  It also helps keep the Shop running, something essential for our financial wellbeing during this uncertain time.

For more information about volunteering please contact Thrift Shop Board Chair Chris Henyon or myself.

Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+


Sunday Worship Information

 

 

 

 

IN PERSON WORSHIP

We will gather at 8:30 am outside for Holy Eucharist in the Memorial Garden and field.  All attendees must abide by the provisions of the Covenant for Regathering, including:

  • wearing a mask
  • maintaining physical distancing from those not in your household
  • only attending when non-symptomatic for COVID-19 or any other transmittable disease
  • abstaining from attending if doing so would put you at greater risk because of your own health status

To attend outside worship please plan to bring your own chairs or blanket.  You will be asked to spread out in the field facing the building, keeping at least 8 feet between households – so consider hats or an umbrella for shade.  While this will be a service with Holy Communion (wafers only), you are free to choose if you feel comfortable receiving the sacrament.

If outside worship needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather a decision will be made by 4:00 pm the day before when possible, and if it needs to be cancelled, an email will be sent out.  In the case of unanticipated bad weather, including rain which would inhibit our ability to use sound amplification, an update will be posted to our Facebook page by 7:30 am the morning of.  You can check our Facebook page for updates.

ONLINE WORSHIP

Join us on The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost for the Liturgy of the Word at 10:30 am followed by Zoom Coffee Hour, or watch the service livestreamed on Facebook.

A printable bulletin is available here.

We will “open the doors” beginning at 10:15 am for folks to greet each other and say good morning.  Kristin+ will give instructions at 10:25 am and we will begin recording and livestreaming the service promptly at 10:30 am.  Don’t worry if you’re late – you can still attend via Zoom if you “get to church” at 10:40!

 Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 836 8654 7954
Password: 500174

One tap mobile
+13017158592,83686547954# US

Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US

Facebook Livestream
We plan to begin streaming to Facebook at 10:30 am.  If you arrive at Facebook and you don’t see the video, please refresh your screen.  There is a delay.


Formation

 

 

 

Thursday Lunchtime Bible Study

Please join us August 13 for Bible study at 11:30 am.  

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 840 3149 8193
Passcode: 081194
One tap mobile +13017158592,,84031498193# US

Church Publishing is here to support you

As congregations, families, and individuals seek to live faithfully in these uncertain times, Church Publishing Incorporated is working to support you. Check out this selection of free resources for devotional use.

Book of Common Prayer

For those who are at home and do not have a copy, we have made an easy-to-navigate PDF version of the Book of Common Prayer available in English and Spanish. We would like to thank our friends at Forward Movement for creating an easy-to-navigate PDF of the English Edition.

Resources for Adults, Youth, and Children

Praying Our Days: A Guide and Companion*
Includes devotions to mark the rhythm of the day and the Christian year; self-examination and preparation for reconciliation and the Eucharist; intercessory prayers; praying with the saints; and more. Each section opens with a brief introduction by Bishop Griswold, guiding the reader in the effective use of the material.

Love Feast: Together at the Table*
Martha Johnson Bourlakas grapples with life—life as a person of faith, life as a wife and mother, life as a clergy spouse, life as the parent of a developmentally disabled young adult, life as one unable to maintain pretense.

Roger Hutchison describes Love Feast as “. . . an intricate tapestry of words, stories, colors, and memories that will linger in your heart and soul long after you put the book down.”

Cross Words: A Devotional for Youth*
Cross Words, written by Duana Cisney, is a devotional for youth to help them walk through the daily blessings and challenges of life, offering opportunities to consider how their faith might be strengthened through those experiences. Each week offers a brief reflection followed by a question to ponder, Scripture, prayer, or quote to use as a “daily touchstone” in the coming days, set in a format with open space for their own writing and drawing.

Summer Activity Pack for Children and Families: Volume 2*
In this second volume of our Summer Activity Pack, families can dig into the theme of Eco-Justice from Christina Clark’s Arts Camp as a celebration of God’s creation and how we care for it. Fun and practical suggestions for arts, crafts, and activities from Lisa Brown’s The Best VBS Workbook Ever! can be used with the Eco-Justice theme or provide inspiration for hours of family creativity. Both authors offer tips for adapting their ideas to use at home.

*Available until August 31, 2020

Sunday School

We need to hear from you!

This year Sunday School, along with everything else, is going to look different – which is why we need to hear from you!

Things are continuing to change and evolve.  We now know that schools will begin virtually, but we don’t yet have a date set for returning to indoor worship.  And so as we begin to plan for Sunday School, we want to know:  what do you and your kids need?  How can we best support you and continue to teach your children about God’s love?

Please join us either Sunday 8/9 at Noon or Thursday 8/13 at 7:00 pm for a brief Zoom conversation to share your ideas, concerns, and hopes.

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Kristin+ Vacation
Kristin+ will be away from august 17 through August 24.  If you have a pastoral emergency please contact Jeannie Pellicer, Senior Warden.

Congregational Survey on In-Person & Online Worship
You should have received an email recently asking you to participate in an updated regathering survey.  We would love to hear from you again!   Please complete the survey by Sunday, August 9th.  Doing so will help us continue to stay connected, stay church, and take care of each other.

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN THE SURVEY

Scouting for Food
St. James will be a drop off location on 8/22 and 9/19 from 9am-3pm for Scouting for Food.  We are looking for Food donations which will benefit Mount Airy Net.  The parking lot will be setup as a drive through/drop off site and Troop 829 will be running it.

BASKET RAFFLE DONATIONS NEEDED!
As you may have heard by now, we will NOT be having our traditional Basket Raffle this year, BUT the Raffle Committee is hoping to be able to have a small version of it before the holidays IF we are able to gather inside the church by then.

Therefore, if you have any items that can be used in creating baskets or for a Silent Auction that you would like to donate, please call Marilyn Hancock at 301-788-0136 or e-mail her at Ladyzip2004@yahoo.com to schedule a time to meet at the church lower level door. Without your wonderful donations, we will not be able to move forward!

Please consider donating any items in good condition that may be suitable for men, women, or children of all ages.  Some of our previous basket themes have been for babies, teens, teachers, pets, game/movie night, spa, jewelry, tea time, taco night, crab feast, sports memorabilia, fishing, golf, car wash/auto supplies, cooking, gardening, birding, crafts, tools, healthcare, exercise and inspirational.

Items for the Silent Auction would be those that would generate higher bids by themselves rather than as a part of a basket.  Such items could include paintings, quilts, unopened perfume, fine jewelry or high-value gift certificates, and the like.

Once again, thank you for helping to support our church’s fundraising during this difficult time.  God bless you and yours~

Marilyn Hancock
Basket Raffle 2020 Chairperson

Annual Thrift Shop Supply Drive

Please help restock the Thrift Shop’s supplies.  Batteries for donated toys, masking tape, paper products and more are needed.   Donations will be accepted beginning August 1 at 8:30 worship in the Memorial Garden or during regular church office hours.  Check out the list at our Amazon registry.

You can purchase directly off the registry or shop local.  We are not particular about brands.  No one is actually getting married……we’re just really clever at finding convenient ways for you to help!

Lectionary Readings for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost:

Next Week’s Commemorations:

9 Herman of Alaska, Missionary to the Aleut, 1837
10 Laurence, Deacon, and Martyr at Rome, 258
11 Clare, Abbess at Assisi, 1253
12 Florence Nightingale, Nurse, Social Reformer, 1910
13 Jeremy Taylor, Bishop of Down, Connor, and Dromore, 1667
14 Jonathan Myrick Daniels, Seminarian and Martyr, 1965
15 Saint Mary the Virgin, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Prayer Rotation Please join the Daughters of the King in praying for each parishioner in rotation during 2020 by taking this notice home and by posting it where it will remind you pray to on a daily basis for the needs and blessing of:

John and Betsy Davis
Cory and Natalie DelRegno (Tyler, Kyle)
Leslie Dickinson and Peter Sabonis (Jacob)

A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting  you this week for special prayer requests.