From the Rector
Survey Results & What’s Next
Thank you to everyone who filled out the August survey about worship and re-gathering. Fifty-three folks shared their thoughts and gave us lots of data to use for planning for the fall.
The big picture is that while there is a small group of folks who prefer to worship in person, the majority of people indicated their preference continuing worship online for various reasons. Of those who want to worship in person, more expressed comfort with being outdoors vs. indoors.
The Re-Gathering Team met last week and their recommendation is to continue our current schedule of 8:30 am outdoor in-person Eucharist and 10:30 am online worship for the next 6-8 weeks until the weather begins to turn toward the end of fall. We anticipate that at that time we will move the 8:30 am in-person Eucharist into the church following all diocesan guidelines and parameters, pending real-time conditions.
In the meantime, Richard and the choir are working on some ways to continue to bring music to our online worship service. And while we’re not having our traditional “Fall Kick-Off Sunday,” we are ramping up the program year with the start of Sunday School, Youth Group, and adult formation opportunities. Read on below for more information about all those offerings.
This community remains resilient and creative, and for that I give thanks to God!
Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+
With Appreciation for Katelynn Marshall
Since March, when we first suspended in-person worship, our amazing Sunday Child Care Attendant Katelynn 
Marshall has continued to care for our families. We changed her responsibility to one that supported our vision to stay connected, stay church, and take care of each other in a time of upheaval. Katelynn has faithfully reached out weekly to all of the families whose children used to come to the nursery, checking in with them and passing on prayer requests and other needs. It was a ministry similar to our Grace Groups during the initial months of the pandemic and we are so thankful for her care.
As we turn toward the fall, and without a clear picture of when we will be able to re-open the Sunday nursery, we came to an agreement to furlough Katelynn for the time being. She expressed gratitude that we continued to keep her on staff for these past six months and we all look forward to the day when she will hopefully return. In the meantime, she is settling into the new job she began in July as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor at MedMark Treatment Center in Timonium. Please join me in giving thanks for Katelynn and keep her in prayer in the time ahead.
Diocesan Convention Resolution Questions
I have received some questions about Resolution 2020-06 on Reparations. If you have questions please feel free to give me a call and I will share what I know. All are invited to attend the pre-convention hearing on the resolution tonight at 7:00 pm.
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 Fourteenth 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: 872 1158 7097
Passcode: 762558
One tap mobile +13017158592,,87211587097#
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.
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
Good news! We are getting ready for Sunday School to begin on September 20th.
Yes, it will be a different beginning during this continued timeout schedule but our teachers are looking forward to seeing everyone. Here is the current plan:
Pre-school through 5th Grade
Zoom at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays with Betsy Davis and Yvette Allen beginning with an opening prayer, lesson and activity. Join the fun and the opportunity to see your Sunday School friends.
Middle-High School Grades
Outdoors at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays in the Memorial Garden with Joan Fader and Natalie
DelRegno. In inclement weather, the group will meet in the sanctuary (always following safety guidelines with masks and distancing). Come and have the opportunity to share with one another and be together in person.
Looking forward to our new beginning
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Youth Group Kick-Off
Youth Group for 6th-12th graders will have our first meeting of the fall on Sunday, September 13th at 7:00 pm. The plan is to have a socially distanced, masked gathering outside, weather permitting (backup plan is Zoom). At that gathering we will go over the schedule for the year and take a vote on our theme. An email to all families with youth will go out soon. Email youth@stjamesmtairy.org if you have questions!
~Kara Rosenker, Annie Horrigan, Bobby Brown, Vic Pellicier, Rev. Kristin
Fall Book Discussion Group
Our fall book group pick is Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. This brand new book will be released on September 22. You can pre-order it now through your favorite vendor or reach out to your local library to see when it will be available. We will gather for discussion via Zoom on November 12 at 7:00 pm. Click HERE to sign up.
From the publisher:
Walk the path of love with one of the warmest, most beloved spiritual leaders of our time, and learn how to put faith into action.
As the descendant of slaves and the son of a civil rights activist, Bishop Michael Curry’s life illustrates massive changes in our times. Much of the world met Bishop Curry when he delivered his sermon on the redemptive power of love at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle. Here, he expands on his message of hope in an inspirational road map for living the way of love, illuminated with moving lessons from his own life. Through the prism of his faith, ancestry, and personal journey, Love Is the Way shows us how America came this far and, more important, how to go a whole lot further.
The way of love is essential for addressing the seemingly insurmountable challenges facing the world today: poverty, racism, selfishness, deep ideological divisions, competing claims to speak for God. This book will lead readers to discover the gifts they need in order to live the way of love: deep reservoirs of hope and resilience, simple wisdom, the discipline of nonviolence, and unshakable regard for human dignity.
The Wired Word – Connecting Scripture & Current Events to Our Lives
Parishioner Adrienne Smith is hoping to launch a new Bible study using the Wired Word curriculum. Adrienne participated in this program at her former parish and has volunteered to lead a group here if there is interest. Check out her description below, and SIGN UP HERE if you’d like to join the group. This Bible study will meet on Thursday nights on Zoom.
Between the election, the pandemic, hurricane season, and everything in between, we have all been tuning in to the news more often. Join us Thursday nights on Zoom for The Wired Word: a discussion of current events tied to scripture and related teachings. Topics, recommended background reading, and scriptural ties are provided via email a week before each live discussion, but “homework” is not necessary to participate in the broad themes of these meetings that invite all to provide perspective, share experience, and construct prayerful thought with one another.
Thursday Bible Study Will Continue Weekly
Please join us September 10 for Bible study at 11:30 am.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 881 1680 1642
Passcode: 671544
One tap mobile +13017158592,,88116801642#
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
A SPECIAL REQUEST FOR OUR “NEW” BASKET RAFFLE
As you may have heard by now, the Basket Raffle committee has decided to move forward with plans to have a Mini-Basket Raffle at the Church, hopefully, in mid to late November; therefore, we will be accepting donations of usable items throughout September.
Since our town’s local businesses have had a stressful year so far, we would like to make a SPECIAL REQUEST, of those who are able, to purchase GIFT CERTIFICATES locally to be used in our baskets which, not only will help with our Basket Raffle, but help support our community businesses, as well. Please hand deliver gift certificates to the Parish Administrator, Laura, during business hours or call Marilyn Hancock at 301-788-0136 for pickup; please do NOT mail them.
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 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. We would like to also request wine, tissue paper, ribbon, “clear” and double-sided tape.
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.
The “Basket Brigade” will begin our creations in October. We would like to invite anyone interested in joining us to learn and enjoy our creation process to please contact Marilyn at the above number. It will be an enjoyable social “socially distanced” time!
Thank you, in advance, for helping us in any way you are able with our much-needed fun fundraiser!!
Marilyn Hancock
Basket Raffle 2020 Chairperson
Scouting for Food
St. James will be a drop off location on 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.
Thursday Lunchtime Bible Study
Please join us September 10 for Bible study at 11:30 am.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 881 1680 1642
Passcode: 671544
One tap mobile +13017158592,,88116801642#
Lectionary Readings for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost:
Next Week’s Commemorations:
Prayer Rotation
Please join the Daughters of the King in praying for each parishioner in rotation during 2018 by taking this notice home and by posting it where it will remind you pray to on a daily basis for the needs and blessings of:
Sam and Jennifer Grimes (Elliot, Charlotte, Benjamin)
Kathryn Grumbach
Marilyn Hancock
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special
prayer requests.