From the Rector

  • The Shell Newsletter – March 18, 2021

    The Shell Newsletter – March 18, 2021

    From the Rector We need your ALLELUIA! this Easter The old adage “you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone” certainly rings true for me these days – not seeing everyone’s dear faces regularly over the past year has been one of the things I’ve missed most. As we circle around to our…

  • The Shell Newsletter – March 4, 2021

    The Shell Newsletter – March 4, 2021

    From the Rector Resuming the Indoor 8:30 am Service on Sundays I am pleased to share that due to improving COVID metrics the Diocese is lifting the suspension of indoor worship. We will resume our 8:30 am service of Holy Eucharist beginning on Sunday, March 14. We will also continuing gathering at 10:30 am…

  • The Shell Newsletter – February 11, 2021

    The Shell Newsletter – February 11, 2021

      From the Rector Update on the Beyond Shelter Campaign Check out this amazing update from The Rev. Kathleen Smith-Jones on the Beyond Shelter Campaign about which she shared with us during online worship last month. The churches in the Frederick Region have given so generously that the original goal has been surpassed and…

  • The Shell Newsletter – February 4, 2021

    The Shell Newsletter – February 4, 2021

      DOV Intern Dear People of St. James’, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. As you read this, I am probably sitting at my desk, wrestling with the Scripture for Sunday’s sermon, on the final Sunday of my internship at St. James’.  It occurs to me…

  • The Shell Newsletter – 1/21/2021

    The Shell Newsletter – 1/21/2021

    From the Rector Financial Help for Parishioners The members of our community who gave a generous donation to the Rector’s Discretionary Fund with the hope of helping parishioners with winter heating assistance have extended these funds to help parishioners in whatever way needed during these tough times. Please reach out to me for more…

  • The Shell Newsletter – January 14, 2021

    The Shell Newsletter – January 14, 2021

    From the Rector When we feel overwhelmed The events in Washington, DC last week are still reverberating through our nation and in our lives. Those of us with children have had to have hard conversations about what happened and have needed to offer assurances of safety. All of us have likely felt anxiety mixed…

  • The Shell Newsletter – January 7, 2021

    The Shell Newsletter – January 7, 2021

    From the Rector Notice of Annual Meeting The 2021 St. James’ Episcopal Church Annual Meeting will be Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 9:00 am on Zoom, followed by online worship at 10:30 am. The Annual Meeting is one of the most important things we do as a community. It is a time for us…

  • The Shell Newsletter – December 17, 2020

    The Shell Newsletter – December 17, 2020

    From the Rector Giving Thanks for What Has Been & Looking Ahead to What is to Come As the year draws close, I am filled with gratitude. By any measure 2020 has been an unprecedented year. (And if I never hear the word unprecedented again, I’ll be happy!) Little did we know a year…

  • The Shell Newsletter – December 10, 2020

    The Shell Newsletter – December 10, 2020

    From the Rector Christmas Eve & At Home Holy Communion We hope you will join us for our streaming Christmas Eve Candlelight & Carols Holy Eucharist at 5:00 pm on December 24. It won’t be what we’re used to, but we’re hoping to make it special by filming it in our beautifully decorated sanctuary,…

  • The Shell Newsletter – December 3, 2020

    The Shell Newsletter – December 3, 2020

    From the Rector Advent Series:  A Thrill of Hope Our Advent series begin this Sunday! Join us on Zoom for videos and discussion of the Christmas story as told in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew, illustrated by the beautiful artwork of John August Swanson, with commentary from members of the faculty at the…