From the Rector
New Diocesan COVID Guidelines
The diocese has released new Green Omicron Phase guidelines to gather the next steps of our regathering. You can click here to read full details.
The big thing that everyone is wondering about is when will masks become optional. Under the new parameters we can begin optional masking if we have a community vaccinate rate of 80% or higher and daily case rate numbers are below 7 for two weeks. I am again monitoring our case rate (we are 8.99 as of 3/2) so we are ready to begin making changes as soon as it is allowable.
Because changes will not only include masks being optional*, we will also be looking at resuming coffee hour and other fellowship opportunities, and returning to regular distribution of communion (wafers only to begin, but the common cup is on the horizon) to name a few.
You’ll notice the * I put after the last mention of masks being optional. This is because while many are ready to drop masks with the hope of never picking them up again, we also have members whose preference will be to continue masking. There are also still those among us who are immunocompromised or are too young to be vaccinated. And, we need to weigh different risk factors such as singing, which naturally expels more air particles. All of that being said, our space works in our favor. We have high ceilings, doors and windows we can open for better ventilation, a modern HVAC system, and a new AirDoctor HEPA air purifier in the sanctuary.
All of this will be taken into account as we make decisions in the coming weeks about how we’ll remove COVID mitigation measures – and we’d love to hear your thoughts. Please drop me an email, give me a call, or reach out to our Senior Warden Dave Rak. Your feedback will help us shape how we build our new normal in the coming month.
How We Live Our Baptism
Several people asked for a copy of last Sunday’s sermon where I compiled a list of all the ways scripture pointed us toward how to live our baptism during the season after the Epiphany. And of course this was one of the few times where I didn’t prepare a full manuscript and instead preached from an outline! The good news is that I can reproduce the actual list (below), and if you really want an encore of the whole sermon you can go to our YouTube page and click on the video for 2/27/22 and fast forward to the sermon. I hope seeing this exploration of one theme throughout an entire liturgical season was helpful, and that it has invited you to reflect on how you live your baptism.
- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 points us to the centrality of prayer in our lives
- 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 shows us that baptism concerns itself with the common good
- 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a reminds us that we belong to each other
- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 we are called to love in authentic ways
- Luke 6:17-26 – the Bishop preached this Sunday, but we can look at the blessings and woes as an overall roadmap to baptismal life
- Luke 6:27-38 entreats us to love expecting nothing in return
- Luke 9:28-43a reminds us that baptism is not a one-time event, it’s the ongoing transformation of our lives so that we can be transfigured into the good news we believe
Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+
Formation
Good news! Beginning March 6th all Sunday School classes, Bible Stories for Preschoolers through High School, will resume meeting indoors at 9:30 a.m. in the lower level. We are looking forward to seeing the smiling faces of all the students and being together again. Please note: We will follow guidelines with the wearing of masks, distancing and sanitizing.
March 6th is also the First Sunday in Lent. Again this season, our Sunday School students will receive mite boxes to save coins for our A is for Africa Lenten outreach. Please help your children to think of creative ways to earn coins that will benefit the school children at Matim Primary School in Tanzania. The coin boxes will be collected at the end of Lent. (Sunday School teacher Yvette Allen met many of the children during her trip to Tanzania and had a wonderful experience visiting and helping).
Upcoming:
~ On Palm Sunday students will participate in Passport to Jerusalem during class time.
~ There will be no classes on Easter Day.
~ Watch for information on an Easter egg hunt.
We give thanks to Cheri McClanahan and Peter Sabonis for filling in as subs when needed. Please let us know if you would also be willing to help out in this wonderful ministry. The children and youth are a joy to us all.
Sunday School Teaching Team
Yvette Allen – Preschool Bible Stories
Betsy Davis – Kindergarten – 2nd Grades
Natalie DelRegno – 3rd – 5th Grades
Joan Fader – Middle-High School Grades
Journeying Through Lent ~ Labyrinth Walking & Compline
The image of Lent as a journey is an ancient one, and yet it still holds power for us down through the centuries. This year for our Lenten formation series, you are invited to journey through Lent with the practice of walking the labyrinth and praying Compline.
We have been lucky enough to secure the use of a large canvas labyrinth which we will spread out in our sanctuary. We’ll gather weekly to pray through walking the winding path of the labyrinth before closing the evening with Compline.
For those who are unable to join us in person, you can stop by church to pick up a cardstock finger labyrinth and prayer books for home use. You can also check out the Labyrinth To Go app for iPhones. It is $2.99, but it’s a nice little app that has several different types of labyrinths you can trace with your finger on your phone, or set to watch a dot tracing while listening to background music.
If you’ve never walked a labyrinth, or used it for prayer and reflection, that’s okay! We will begin each gathering with a brief orientation. Whether you come every week or only once I hope this practice of journeying grounds your Lenten journey this year.
Thursdays at 7:00 pm, March 10, 17, 24, 31 & April 7
Scouts
On March 13th we are doing our first Scouting for Food door-to-door collection of food donations for the Mt. Airy Net. We are canvasing the areas highlighted in red while another troop will be covering the areas highlighted in orange (if you do not live in these neighborhoods or wish to bring your food donation directly to the church, please support our food drive by bringing non-expired canned and/or dry goods to the 8:30am or 10:30am service at St. James’ on that day).
Vestry
New Vestry Officers & Liaisons
At our retreat last weekend the following vestry members were elected as officers and liaisons:
- Dave Rak – Senior Warden
- Jim Bullington – Junior Warden
- Natalie DelRegno – Treasurer
- Deb Schaeffer – Registrar
- Vic Pellicier – Clerk
- Matt Kastel & Gabby Markham – Thrift Shop Board Liaisons
- Cheri McClanahan – Nursery School Board Liaison
- Annie Horrigan – Outreach Liaison
Sunday Worship Information
Join us on March 6th for the First Sunday in Lent for Holy Eucharist at 8:30 am or 10:30 am, or watch the 10:30 am service livestreamed on Facebook.
A printable bulletin is available here.
Lectionary Readings for this Sunday:
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.
Announcements
Next Week’s Commemorations:
Prayer Rotation
Please join the Daughters of the King in praying for each parishioner in rotation during 2022 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:
Margaret Neff
Dave Oland
Tom and Julie Patterson (Conor, Jason, Caleb, Kaitlyn)
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special prayer requests.
