Vestry
The year 2020 is one that we will all remember. Shrove Tuesday is one night that stands out in my memory as a night filled with music, good food and the joy of spending the night in the company of my fellow parishioners. Little did I know that in less than 3 weeks from that night, things would change drastically. As March unfolded and we became anchored to our homes, stress and confusion replaced the contentment I had been feeling. It seemed like information changed daily and I never knew what to expect. There was one thing I was able to count on though, and that was St. James’. Connecting to my church family through email, phone calls, prayers and Yes! even letters kept me sane. I wonder if St. James’ helped you feel grounded during this confusing time?
The Pandemic stopped many things, but it did not stop the work of the church. We have continued to donate to Mt. Airy Net, which has seen a rise in the needs of the community, we ran Vacation Bible School for over a dozen children in July and our Sunday School and Youth Group programs have jumped back to life. When I think of all these wonderful things that have happened in our parish, I am so proud that I belong to St. James’! And I am proud to be part of the Stewardship team this fall.
Our Stewardship campaign will begin on October 25 and end on November 22. During this month, we will take time to hear from others and their experiences at St.James’ and reflect on the gifts that we have been given. You will also receive a Stewardship packet with information on our church budget and expenses. Please prayerfully consider what you can pledge at this time. As Reverend Kristin+ tells us: “Stay Church. Stay Connected. Take Care of Each Other.”
Jeannie Pellicier
Senior Warden
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 Seventeenth 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.
A children’s 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: 820 8668 4148
Passcode: 242425
One tap mobile +13017158592,,82086684148#
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.
Join us in person or online on Sunday 10/4 for our annual pet blessing!
Weather permitting we will gather for our 8:30 am Eucharist and set aside time for a socially distanced blessing of pets in attendance.
Our 10:30 am online service will feature a video and prayer for pets who have died, and a virtual pet blessing – we can’t wait to see your pets on camera!
To have your pet be a part of the in memoriam slideshow please email a photo to office@stjamesmtairy.org no later than Tuesday 9/29.
It’s Autumn! The days are getting shorter and the evenings are a little cooler. Thanks to our staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make the changeover from Summer to Fall, our clothing racks have been stocked with fall and winter clothing for those chilly evenings. Pumpkins, fall flowers and wreaths, and even Halloween décor and costumes are lining our shelves. So why not Fall on in y’all and Leave with your favorite Treasure!
American Red Cross Blood Drive
Our semi-annual American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 from 1:30 to 7:30 pm.
To supplement the Red Cross staff our congregation usually provides several volunteers throughout the day to check in donors and hand out refreshments. Our volunteers are generally retired folks who are in the vulnerable population and have been directed to stay at home due to Covid-19.
We are asking if younger people would volunteer to staff this blood drive in place of the senior citizen regulars.
Again, this would mean sitting at a table to check in donors and direct them to a waiting area. After donation you would offer donors a bottled drink or packaged snack provided by the Red Cross. You would not be needed for the setting up or taking down of tables and chairs.
The Red Cross will be taking extra safety measures at this blood drive. Temperatures of all staff and donors will be taken before permitting people to be in the building. Gloves and masks will be provided to staff and donors. Hand sanitizer will be available. The 6 foot social distancing practice will be followed. After registration donors may wait in their cars and then be called on their cell phones to come back in the building when the Red Cross is ready to start their donation process.
Please contact Bryant Dulany at wbdulany@hotmail.com or 410-596-4227 if you can volunteer or would like to donate blood.
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
CARE PACKAGES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
Parents, if you haven’t already sent addresses for your college students please send them by October 11 to office@stjamesmtairy.org.
Parishioners, please donate items such as hot chocolate, razors, shower scrubbies, fruit snacks, pencils, cookies, pop tarts, instant coffees, tea, chips, goldfish, Pringle’s, microwave mac ‘n cheese, microwave popcorn, tissues, lotion and small bottles of hand sanitizer.
Collection containers will be outside the lower church door Sunday mornings at the 8:30 service, as well as, under the table in the Narthex at other times during the week. The CARE Packages will be blessed on Sunday, October 18th.
Thank you so much, in advance, from your Outreach Committee for your kind donations.
Fall Book Discussion Group
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.
BASKET RAFFLE NEWS!
Thank you so much to all who have donated items and gift cards for our upcoming 2020 Mini-Basket Raffle which is planned to begin on Sunday, November 1st, in the church sanctuary.
Next week the “Basket Brigade” will begin organizing the donations into categories to determine what we have and what may still be needed. If you have donations waiting to be brought to the church, please contact Marilyn at 301-788-0136 to arrange for a convenient drop-off time.
Your support of our annual fundraiser is greatly appreciated and we look forward to seeing half of your face at a distance in November!😷😉😃
Thursday Weekly Zoom Bible Study
Please join us October 1 for Bible study at 11:30 am.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 869 5327 5656
Passcode: 864720
One tap mobile +13017158592,,86953275656#
Lectionary Readings for the Sixteenth 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:
Patrick and Jennifer Kearns (Caleb)
Jason and Molly Kilmore (Connor, Reagan)
Kristin Krantz (Zachary, Jasper)
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special
prayer requests.