The Announcements

Sunday, November 18, 2007

 

 

Today at St. James’

¨      Youth Sunday at 9:00 service! Youth will serve as ushers, musicians, preacher, readers, and Lay Eucharistic Ministers!  No Youth Group tonight.

¨      Adult Forum:  The Church and Politics (Acts 25) Should politics be left to politicians? What kind of relationship should the church have toward governing authorities?  How high a wall should there between church and state?  What should the role of Christians be in government?  Join Fr. John for a discussion of Acts’ response to these questions in this, the seventh and final session of the series.  Adult Forum runs from 10:10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Old School Building, at the corner of Wirt and North Streets.

¨      “Discovering St. James’”: Join Fr. John, Rev. Kate, and Pastor Mary for the second of this informal and lively three-part class designed to introduce you to the unique features of St. James’ and help you develop a greater appreciation for what goes on each Sunday in worship. The first part of the class (10:15-11:00 a.m.) will meet in the Sanctuary for an instructed Eucharist led by Pastor Mary; the second part (11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m.) will meet in the Old School Building at the corner of Wirt and North Streets.

¨      Sunday School:  3-Year-Olds — Rittenhouse Room R1; 4-Year-Olds — Janney House Room J2; Kindergarten — Janney House Room J1; 1st Grade — Rittenhouse Room R3; 2nd & 4th Grades — Parish Hall; 3rd Grade — Parish Library; 5th Grade & Middle School — Old School Building; Senior High — Catacombs

¨      Extended Healing Rail:  The Healing Team will offer an extended healing rail today immediately after the 11:15 a.m. service.  The laying on of hands and anointing with holy oil is offered to everyone during the administration of Communion.  Kneelers are located in front of the lectern (forward and to your left).  Please come for your own needs or as an intercessor for those you have on your heart or mind.

 

The Church Office will be closed in celebration of the Thanksgiving Holiday Wednesday, November 21, through Sunday, November 25, and will reopen on Monday, November 26.

 

20s/30s Group:  Join us on Tuesday, November 27, for an “anything but turkey” dinner! We’ll meet at 7:00 p.m. at Mary and Chris Davila’s house.  Please call Pastor Mary to RSVP or call to be added to our evite list. The cost of admission is a can(s) of food to be donated to Interfaith Relief.

 

Peace, Love, Joy and the Healing Power of Christ:  On Friday evening, November 30, through Saturday afternoon, December 1, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Bluemont is hosting a fall retreat with time for prayer, meditation, and healing.  Speakers are The Rev. Bill Burk, rector of The Church of the Creator in Mechanicsville; Br. Anthony Bernard Campos, OSB; and Br. John Ogle, OSF.  For more information, contact The Rev. Chris Cunningham at (703)861-6751.

 

It’s time to update our Church Directory! We have arranged to have Lifetouch take our family portraits for the directory on December 6, 7, 8, and 11 in the Parish Hall. Spaces are limited, so be sure and make your reservation soon to have your picture taken. (Pictures ordered by December 11 will be delivered in time for Christmas—they make great presents!) You may reserve your picture date and time by accessing the link through www.stjamesleesburg.org. There is also a sign-up table available in the Narthex after each service.  Additional dates will be available in January if needed but we encourage everyone to sign up in December so that they may have the pictures back in time for the holiday.

 

Save the date:  St. James’ will host the annual Alternative Gift Market on December 9 after each service in the Parish Hall. This is an opportunity to do two great things at once:  to purchase gifts for people on your Christmas list and to help the less fortunate.  You make donations to worthy organizations in the name of your gift recipient at the market and in exchange are given a token gift and honor card to explain the donation you made.  Consider alternative gifts for everyone on your list who really doesn’t need any other tangible gifts this Christmas.

 

Join the St. James Book Club as we discuss A Christmas Memory, the classic memoir of Truman Capote’s childhood in rural Alabama.  We will reminisce our own Christmases past through the poignant prose of Capote’s autobiographical story.  Check out a copy of the book in the Parish Library (located on the second floor of the Janney House) and join us at 7:00 p.m. in the Janney Parlor on December 14.  All are welcome!  Please bring a snack or beverage to share.  Contact Mary Pellicano through the Church Office at (703)777-1124 for more information.

 

St. James’ collected 130 Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes to be sent to needy children throughout the world.  Parishioners can deliver shoeboxes that missed the St. James’ collection directly to the Ashburn collection point between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. today.  This is the final day that the local collection point is open.

 

St. James’ Preschool currently has openings for children in their 2 1/2- and 3-year-old programs.  Contact the Preschool office at (703) 777-8439 for more information.

 

Did you know that you can get these announcements electronically each Friday? If you’d like to subscribe to our weekly “e-pistle,” containing an electronic link to the Announcements along with a brief inspirational or informational message from one of the clergy, give your email address to the Church Office at (703)777-1124 or info@stjamesleesburg.org.

 

Prayer Shawl Ministry:  Interested in knitting or crocheting a prayer shawl for someone in need of comfort or solace as well as celebration and joy? Contact Rev. Kate for patterns/directions at (703) 777-1124 or kate@stjamesleesburg.org.

 

Saturday Night Service Begins:  St. Gabriel’s Saturday Night service begins with two “pre-launch” services December 15 and January 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the St. James’ Nave.  Weekly services will begin February 2. Each week, you will experience God in a service of Holy Eucharist with a casual, upbeat, and multisensory style. Kids welcome; nursery provided.  In order to make this service a success, we are looking for 50 adults to commit to seeding the worship service for the prelaunch worship and for the first 6-8 weeks.  By “seeding” you commit to being regular in worship, and agree to respond to a short feedback form each week you attend, so that we can improve the worship experience before we advertise it to the community. Please contact Faye Wenger at the St. Gabriel’s church office at (703)779-3616 if you are interested, or fill out the interest card found in the Narthex.

 

St. James’ Youth Groups

 

Every Wednesday: Pizza with a Purpose: 6:30-8:00.  Come for pizza, fun, fellowship, and Bible Study. Senior High meets in the Catacombs and Middle School in the Parish Hall.

Sunday November 25:  No Youth Group. Have a happy Thanksgiving weekend!

Sunday, November 30:

¨      Middle School (6th-8th): 4:30-6:00 p.m. at St. James’

¨      Senior High (9th-12th): 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Shankles’ house. Youth can either go straight to the Shanklesor meet at St. James’ at 6:00 p.m. for a ride.

Sunday, December 9, 5:00-7:00 p.m.; meet at St. James’

Christmas Caroling and Hot Chocolate! Senior High and Middle School will tour the neighborhood, providing Christmas cheer to all who answer their doors! Kate and Fred Williams will host us for hot chocolate and cookies along the way…

Sunday, December 16:

¨      Middle School Youth Group Christmas Party… Dinner and a Movie at the Young’s house! 4:30-6:30!

¨      Senior High will go to the Holiday Coalition from 2:30-7:00 p.m.to serve as personal shoppers at their warehouse, which serves families who do not have the resources to buy Christmas gifts.

 

 

Last week’s attendance:

 

7:45            49

9:00          275

11:15        160

Total:        484

 

 

Vestry:  vestry@stjamesleesburg.org  Senior Warden Mary Frances Forcier (‘05-’07), Junior Warden Ken Getty (‘06-’08), Clerk Clayton Cameron (‘06-’08), Jon Aycock (‘07-’09), Jan Joseph (‘06-’08), Sandra Moody (’07-’09), Barbara Poell (‘07-’09), Ken Robinson (‘07-09), Tom Smith (‘05-’07), Chuck Womack (‘06-’08)

 

St. James’ Episcopal Church

14 Cornwall Street, NW

Leesburg, Virginia 20176-2801

703-777-1124

Website:  http://www.stjamesleesburg.org

 

General Information:  info@stjamesleesburg.org

Rector: The Rev. John Ohmer:   john@stjamesleesburg.org

Assistant to the Rector for Adult Ministries: 

The Rev. Kate Bryant:  kate@stjamesleesburg.org

Assistant to the Rector for Children & Youth Ministries:

The Rev. Mary Davila:  mary@stjamesleesburg.org

Priest Associate: The Rev. Donald Goodness: drglrg97@comcast.net

Registrar/Wedding Coordinator:  Kay Gregg: kay@stjamesleesburg.org

Financial Administrator: Sheri Nelson: sheri@stjamesleesburg.org

Parish Administrator: Janine Carmichael: janine@stjamesleesburg.org

Administrative Assistant: Courtney Patterson: courtney@stjamesleesburg.org

Newcomers Committee: Ruth Blakeslee: ruthart@earthlink.net