Sunday, December 16, 2007

TODAY AT ST. JAMES’

• CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS SERVICES: This year, we are changing our Christmas services a bit, beginning with a children’s play based on Tomie dePaola’s classic, The Friendly Beasts, at today’s the 9:00 service. In lieu of a pageant on Christmas Eve, we will have a service of Carols and Eucharist at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. services on Christmas Eve will also feature a children’s choir and a children’s homily.

• ADULT FORUM: “What the Bible Does Tell You about Christmas, but Christmas Pageants Don’t” — the second in a new two-part series. Adult Forum runs from 10:10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Old School Building
• SUNDAY SCHOOL: 3-Year-Olds meet in Rittenhouse Room R1; 4-Year-Olds meet in Janney House Room J2; Kindergarten meets in Janney House Room J1; 1st Grade meets in Rittenhouse Room R3; 2nd & 4th Grades meet in Parish Hall; 3rd Grade meets in Parish Library; 5th Grade & Middle School meet in the Old School Building; Senior High meets in the 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. All are welcome.
• ST. JAMES’ YOUTH GROUPS: Middle School Youth Group Christmas Party: Dinner and a movie at the Young’s house from 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.

Start out the New Year with a new family portrait for the CHURCH DIRECTORY! We have arranged to have Lifetouch take our family portraits on January 2, 3, 4, and 5, 2008, in the Parish Hall. You may reserve your picture date and time by accessing the link on our home page www.stjamesleesburg.org. Contact Lollie Shankle through the Church Office at (703)777-1124 for more information.

WINTER WARMING TREE: St. James’ is sponsoring a winter Warming Tree benefiting The Good Shepherd Alliance and the homeless in Loudoun County. Please help us decorate the Christmas tree in the Parish Hall through TODAY with new mittens, hats and scarves for men, women and children of all ages. Homemade warming items are appreciated as well.

The ST. JAMES’ CHILDREN’S CHOIR is in the midst of Christmas preparations. If your child is interested in joining us for the holiday season, feel free to come to our rehearsal on December 19. The children rehearse from 5:30 – 6:15 p.m. in the Nave. The Children’s Choir will be singing at the 3:30 p.m. Christmas Eve service this year.

STORYTIME for 4- to 8-year-olds: Kids, hear your favorite Christmas stories! Parents, enjoy an extra hour for holiday preparations! Children aged 4 through 8 years old are invited to the Janney Parlor for stories, hot chocolate and popcorn Friday, December 21, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Contact Mary Pellicano through the Church Office at (703)777-1124 for more information.

SATURDAY NIGHT SERVICE BEGINS: St. Gabriel’s Saturday Night service continues with a “pre-launch” service on January 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the St. James’ Nave. Weekly services will begin February 2. Please contact Faye Wenger through the St. Gabriel's church office at (703) 779-3616 for more information.

ST. JAMES’ STAINED GLASS WINDOW CARDS: Looking for a beautiful Christmas card to send to family and friends this holiday season? Then the beautiful card created by parishioner Karen Minichino featuring a photograph of one of St. James’ stained glass windows is for you. A package of ten cards costs $15, and proceeds go towards stained glass restoration. Come to the Church office to make your purchases.

FIRST NIGHT LEESBURG: St. James’ Sanctuary and Parish Hall are two of the many performance sites for First Night in downtown Leesburg. First Night is an annual family-oriented, alcohol-free New Year’s celebration organized by the Bluemont Concert Series. If you are interested in volunteering on December 31 for a one-hour shift between 6:00 p.m. and 11:45 p.m., or for more information, contact Dottie Brannock through the Church Office at (703)777-1124.

BURNING OF THE GREENS: “Twelfth Night,” or Epiphany, is the night of our annual Burning of the Greens — bring your Christmas Tree and other greens on Sunday, January 6, at 5:00 p.m., to the Hatch Farm for a gigantic bonfire celebrating the Light of Christ coming into the world. Please bring cookies to share.

PARISH MEETING & VESTRY ELECTIONS: Our Annual Meeting with Vestry members election will be held on Sunday, January 6, at 10:00 a.m. in the Nave. In addition to electing leaders who will serve the parish for the next three years, we’ll be celebrating accomplishments of the past year, and unveiling exciting plans for 2008 and beyond.

SERVICE OF HOLY EUCHARIST AND FELLOWSHIP TO SUPPORT PASTORAL CARE MINISTRIES ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 12: Members of the Healing, Intercessory Prayer, and Pastoral Associates ministries do so much to care for the St. James’ community. To nourish them in word and sacrament beyond the Sunday worship experience, and to give them additional sustenance for the work God has given them to do, we will hold a special Saturday Eucharist on Saturday, January 12, at 1:00 p.m. preceded by a period of fellowship beginning at 11:45 a.m. All are welcome. Please contact Rev. Kate if you expect to attend so we can plan accordingly.

PIZZA WITH A PURPOSE: Every Wednesday from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Come for pizza, fun, fellowship, and Bible Study. Senior High meets in the Catacombs and Middle School in the Parish Hall.

MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP will head to the mountains of West Virginia for its annual ski trip on February 1-3. Cost is $140, and we will stay at the home of Ken & Bonnie Getty (and rent one additional condo). Please contact Pastor Mary to sign up.

SENIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP will take New York City by storm! February 15-17 (President’s Day weekend), we will participate in Nightwatch, a program at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. We will tour the cathedral, hear a midnight organ concert, and go to a Broadway play. If you are interested in joining us, contact Pastor Mary by Tuesday, December 11.

ST. JAMES’ PRESCHOOL CURRENTLY HAS OPENINGS for children in the 3-year-old program. Contact the Preschool office at (703) 777-8439 for more information.

Interested in getting a new CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER GROUP going? Traditionally called contemplative prayer, centering prayer is a method of prayer which prepares us to receive the gift of God’s presence by consenting to God’s presence and action within, furthers the development of contemplative prayer by quieting our faculties to cooperate with the gift of God’s presence, and emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God. Contact Henry Stribling through the Church Office at (703)777-1124 for more information.

NOW HIRING: The Nursery is now hiring dependable adults to work in the nursery during the 9:00 and 11:15 Sunday services. Schedule can be flexible and pay is terrific. Contact Dawn Stejbach through the Church Office at (703)777-1124.

Last week’s attendance:

Altar Guild: Jane Davison, Joy Griffith, Karen Hetzel, Julie Johnson, Lucille Muse, Lisa Rogers, Kathleen White, Darcey Wilkes

7:45 Service: Acolyte: Dottie Brannock Lectors & Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Jack Cook, Alex Lunsford Ushers: Joy Griffith, John Tello Fellowship Hosts: Bill & Sheila Brooks

9:00 Service: Children’s Choir Director: Dr. Pat Avery Corner Chorale Director: Dr. Stephan Knobloch Acolytes: Riley McGovern, Elisabeth Schott, Emily Douglas, Mary Douglas Lectors & Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Elaine Nunnally, Jeff Brannock, Lisa Chapman, Alecia Moroz, Randy Minchew Healing Team: DuBose Fleming, Kirk Hawn, Chris Hatch Ushers: Fred & Kate Williams, Stephen Grubbs, Kirk Junker, Clara Fredman Fellowship Host: Jared & Kalie Stokes

11:15 Service: Minister of Music: Dr. Steven Cooksey Acolytes: Andrew Cangelosi, Phil Cangelosi, Jacob Swartz Lectors & Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Norma Womack, Chuck Womack, Lloyd Hill, Liz Dotur, Ron Kunz Healing Team: Veronica Jones, Henry Stribling, Karen Jackson, Linda Lowe Ushers: Ken Werner, Jim Johnson Fellowship Hosts: Kim & Louis Albuerne

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)

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