July 14, 2006 Volume 30, No. 7
Inside this Issue:
Assistant to the Rector’s Message
The next Loaves
& Fishes deadline is Monday, August 7, at 9:00 a.m. Please
forward your submissions to Janine Carmichael at janine@ stjamesleesburg.org or
drop them off in the Church Office.
Dear friends of St. James’:
When
it comes to the Ten Commandments, most of us don’t need to be reminded not to
commit murder or adultery, or not to steal.
But
one of the Ten warrants repetition. Number Four, to be precise.
Sabbath,
Sabbath, Sabbath. Remember, remember, remember. God commands us to take one day
a week as a day of rest, but in our modern culture, God’s voice sounds more
like a plea than a commandment. We are a people begging and pleading for a
break, and God is a God begging and pleading for us to take one.
But
for some reason, we can’t do it. We can’t let go of work. The reasons are many,
but a friend of mine recently shed new light on the subject.
A
mutual friend was contemplating leaving her job, but she also felt very guilty
doing so. She was afraid of disappointing her clients, afraid that they wouldn’t
take well to the news, afraid that they would lose faith in the company if she
left.
And
so I listened as one friend counseled the other saying, “Look, you’re a great
person. But they’ll be fine without you. Really. They’ll hire another person
who will be great, they’ll forget about you before you know it.”
Ouch.
Not exactly what my friend wanted to hear. . . and yet, is there some grain of
truth in there?
Deep
down inside, each of us has a need to be needed, and work often meets that
need.
Is
the challenge of Sabbath-keeping that our work needs us, or that we need our
work?
Perhaps
the scariest thought is that our place of work would be just fine without us,
that they’d hardly even notice if we stayed an extra week at the beach.
And
so part of the Sabbath commandment is to take a break from not only work
itself, but from the feeling of fulfillment that a job well-done brings, a
feeling that we keep seeking no matter what the cost. No matter what price our
family, or our relationship with God, inevitably pays.
So,
this summer, as you’re packing up the car, contemplating taking the computer
along for the ride, resist. Remember. Remember. Remember.
You
are more than your work.
Work
will be fine without you.
And
you will be fine without your work.
Blessings,
Pastor
Mary
Assistant to the
Rector for Children and Youth Ministries
By Mary Frances Forcier, Senior Warden
Greetings,
friends! I hope that the summer is bringing the blessings of friends, family,
and relaxation. Several months ago, I wrote in this space of the Vestry’s
concern for both the temporal and the spiritual concerns of our Christian
community: “the plumbing and the poetry.” This summer, those concerns have
gotten our attention in dramatic fashion. Early in the summer, the Sanctuary
lost electrical power just in time for Sunday services. Last week, the air
conditioning in the Janney House quit, and on Tuesday night, with a church full
for an Evensong service commissioning our Solar Light for Africa team, the air
conditioning in the Sanctuary went out.
In addition, we are planning to repair our less-than-adequate sound
system in the Sanctuary, along with the Assistive Listening system for the
hearing-impaired.
I
share all this with you not to complain (nothing is more tiresome than a
homeowner droning on about repairs) but to let you know that we are working
hard to serve as good stewards of our historic property in downtown
Leesburg. As we plan for a capital
campaign to renovate and expand our facilities, we are reminded daily of how
much our buildings and grounds serve both our faith community and the larger
Leesburg community, and how much must be done to maintain and enhance our
Christian “home.” On behalf of the parish, we thank you for all that you do to
support St. James’.
To
celebrate our Christian community, I hope you will join our St. James Day
celebration on July 30. St. James the Greater is the patron saint of Spain,
where St. James Day (July 25) is a national holiday, celebrated with fireworks
and festivals. Pilgrims from all over the world gather at Compostela, where his
relics are said to be buried. In
England, St. James Day marks the start of country fair season, the beginning of
the apple harvest, and celebrates the oyster harvest!
Our
celebration will be a bit different….barbeque instead of oysters, fellowship
instead of fireworks…but we will join a long tradition of celebrating the
legacy of St. James, one of the
apostles nicknamed “the sons of thunder” and one of the first disciples to
follow Jesus. I look forward to seeing
you there!
Faithfully
yours,
Mary
Frances Forcier
Senior Warden
By Mary Davila, Assistant to the Rector for Children & Youth Ministries
“Kids with Purpose” is hopefully coming to St.
James' in the Fall! Since the last Loaves & Fishes, some folks have
volunteered to lead certain grades within this mission-oriented, weekday
program for children age 3 to 5th grade (formerly known as “M&M kids.”) We
are still searching for a program leader or leaders. The time commitment is
comparable to leading a Brownie or Cub Scout group, and the weekly lessons are
provided via a printed curriculum. This is a fantastic program that gets kids
not only thinking about outreach, but actually going into the community to do
hands-on projects. If you are reading this and something (or Someone) is
tugging upon you to explore this ministry, please contact Pastor Mary.
Blessings,
Pastor Mary
(703)777-1124 x104
mary@stjamesleesburg.org
"You are the best teacher
ever."
"Thank you so much for telling me
about God."
"Have a wonderful summer. I love
you!"
These are some of the words that children in Sunday school wrote to
their teachers as this year came to a close. Sunday school teachers make a huge
impression in the life of those they teach. Please consider signing up to teach
in 2006-7. You serve as part of a team, so you don't teach every Sunday, and we
provide all of the lesson plans. Contact Pastor Mary at (703)777-1124 x104 for
more information. For all new teachers and returning teachers who want to
attend, there will be an organizational meeting on Thursday, August 24, at 6:00
p.m.
Vacation Bible School: A special thank
you to
all of our VBS volunteers for making this year’s program a wonderful success. Darcey
Wilkes and Kim Albuerne served as directors and deserve much kudos
for a job well done!
Teen Mentors
for Senior Saints
Are
you a Senior Saint who could use a little help operating your computer or cell
phone? Would you like to be mentored by a teenager? Let’s face it: teenagers
know far more about electronics than most of us do. If you don’t know how to
get on-line, or how to save phone numbers in your cell phone, a team of
teenagers is ready and willing to help out the older members of our
congregation, and to build a friendship at the same time! (Teens: Contact
Pastor Mary if you want to be part of this group!)
Regular Youth Group activities will resume in September.
Middle School Mission Trip for rising 6th-9th
graders: Tuesday, August 29-Wednesday August 30 (note that this is a new
date! A number of our folks couldn’t come on the original date, August 23.) We
will leave on the afternoon of the 29th, and head to Good Shepherd Church in
Bluemont, VA, where we will spend the night. On Wednesday, we’ll paint, weed,
clean, and do other minor work on the property. This church is a mission
congregation whose Vicar is Chris Cunningham. Friends are welcome to attend.
Please contact Pastor Mary to sign up at (703)777-1124 x104.
Save the date for these Diocesan-wide gatherings:
¨
8th Grade weekend at Shrine Mont: September
29-October 1.
¨
6th and 7th Grade weekend at
Shrine Mont: November 10-12.
Contact Pastor Mary for more information about
these awesome events.
Our Patron, St. James the Greater
(an occasional insight into St. James’ history)
By Stacy Harrison
This
month we will celebrate St. James Day.
We will recognize our patron saint on July 30 although the actual day
dedicated to St. James the Greater is July 25.
The original St. James’ Episcopal Church, Leesburg, Virginia, was built
nearly 200 years ago, “just after the second war with England” at the site
where our cemetery remains on Church Street and consecrated by Bishop Meade in
September 1837 after the deed became clear.
It is unclear from the surviving records why the early patrons of St.
James’ Church chose this particular saint.
Recognizing the zeal with which our forebears sought to have an
Episcopal church within the town boundaries of Leesburg, perhaps they felt a
kindred spirit with the tenacity and strength of Spirit with the early Apostle.
Who
is St. James the Greater? This James
was not the brother of Jesus of the same name. St. James the Greater, so-called
likely because he was the older James, was the son of righteous parents. His father, Zebedee, was a prominent
fisherman living on the shores of Galilee.
His mother, Mary, with the surname of Salome, was the Salome found in
the Bible devoted to Jesus. Some say
she was the half sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus making James the first
cousin of Jesus. This James is also the
older brother of John, the beloved disciple.
James
was called to discipleship by Jesus at the Sea of Galilee where his occupation
was fishing. Along with his brother
John, James dropped his nets and followed Jesus. Although there aren’t a lot of stories about him, throughout the
Gospels, James is part of a prominent and chosen group. It appears he enjoyed a special relationship
with Jesus as one of three Apostles whom Jesus entrusted to be in His
presence. These three are always named
in the same order, Peter, James and John.
These three alone were with Jesus at the raising of Jairus’s daughter,
the Transfiguration, and at Gethsemane.
James’ name always occurs before that of his brother, John, implying
that he is the elder of the two.
As
with most of the twelve, James, along with John, received a special name from
Jesus. That name received was
Boanerges, or Sons of Thunder. The
Galilean men were known for being passionate, zealous and strong in their
words. This is likely the reason James
and John were given such a name. James’
vigor of mind, ardor of spirit, and energy of body were all at the disposal of
Jesus. So, being a “Son of Thunder”
would be highly desirable in getting the Word out, both during and after Jesus’
death.
James
was the first of the twelve to feel the hostility of Herod Agrippa, winning his
martyrdom in 44 A. D. Herod Agrippa
responded to the hatred of the new Christians by the Jews. The zealous temperament and leadership role
of accomplishing Jesus’ work in the Jewish Christian Community likely led Herod
Agrippa to choose James as his first victim.
There
are few mentions of James in the Acts of the Apostles. However, there is evidence that he traveled
to Spain preaching the Gospel and then returning to Judea. Tradition holds that his remains were
miraculously transported back to Compostela, Spain after his martyrdom where
they were later found. Further
tradition would have St. James miraculously fighting for the Spanish during the
re-conquering of Spain against the Moors for the Christians. Thus the name, Matamoros, or
Moor-Slayer. He is revered as the Sant
Iago, or more commonly, Santiago.
So,
why did our forebears choose St. James as our patron saint? As indicated at the beginning, perhaps it
was the tenacity and strength of spirit to spread the Good Word of Jesus, at
whatever cost.
Frequently Asked Questions About EfM
What
is EfM?
EfM
stands for “Education for Ministry”. It
is a four year study program through the University of the South, Sewanee that
provides it students with a foundational understanding of the Bible, Christian
church history and an overview of other major world religions.
Who
should participate in EfM?
Anyone
who wants to expand their knowledge of the Bible and Christianity or anyone
looking to deepen their faith will benefit from EfM. Most importantly, anyone who is trying to discern God’s calling
for their life should consider EfM.
Is
EfM only for people who think they may be called to ordained ministry (i.e. to
become clergy)?
Absolutely
not! Although some people do sense a
call to ordination as a result of their EfM studies, most do not. For most EfMers, the program is a tool to
identify what lay (i.e. non-ordained) ministries God is calling them to
pursue. We are all called to fulfill
God’s word in one way or another. For
some, it is through ordination. For
most, it is not. Your ministry could be
teaching Sunday school or planting a church or helping start a church-based
school. Or it might be to start a
program to coordinate help for the elderly or infirmed in your neighborhood or
to care for your young child or elderly parent. Whatever you’re being called to do, EfM can help you figure out
what it is.
When
does EfM meet?
EfM
groups meet once a week throughout the school year. The exact calendar, including day of the week and meeting time,
is set by each individual group according to what works best for its members.
How
is the study program structured?
EfMers
are provided with a textbook for each year of their studies. In addition, you will receive a textbook of
common lessons that you will refer to throughout the four years. Students have assigned readings they are
expected to have completed prior to meeting.
Year One is focused on the Old Testament and assignments will include
both Old Testament and textbook readings.
Year Two studies the New Testament and assignments will include both New
Testament and textbook readings. Years
Three and Four teach about Christian church history and other world religions,
respectively. Assignments these years
are limited to the textbook only. In addition,
the group will complete several Common Lessons and Theological Reflections
throughout the year. These assignments
generally require limited preparation prior to class. There are no written assignments or tests.
When does the next EfM class start?
New
and continuing classes will start in the fall.
Do I have to commit to all four years
when I first sign up?
No! Although EfM is a four year program, you
commit to the program one year at a time.
It is not uncommon for people to take more than four years, sometimes
even decades, to complete the program.
How much does EfM cost?
There
is a one-time (per year) fee of $340 paid to the University of the South,
Sewanee. A limited number of
scholarships are available through St. James’.
This fee covers the cost of course materials and administration. Students will also need to have a Bible they
can use throughout the four years. In
addition, many groups hold an annual one day retreat to kick off each year, and
there may be a small cost associated with this retreat. Finally, group members usually take turns
providing snack for their group.
How do I apply for an EfM scholarship?
Finances
should never be an obstacle to furthering your understanding of and service to
God. Therefore, St. James’ has been blessed
with donors willing to support those with financial restraints. If you need a partial or full scholarship,
please speak with the EfM Ministry Head Alecia Moroz or Fr. John. All conversations are confidential.
How do I sign up for EfM?
Informational
meetings will be held after the 9:00 a.m. service in Parish Hall on Sunday,
July 23, and after the 10:00 a.m. service on St. James Day, July 30. You can sign up at any one of these meetings
or by contacting EfM Ministry Head Alecia Moroz. Registration forms are also available in the
Church Office.
Help us build an all-new playground!
“Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in
the sandpile at Sunday School.”
Robert
Fulghum
It’s great to see so many families enjoying the fun and fellowship of
the St. James’ playground – on Sunday morning, after choir practice, or while
waiting for parents or older siblings who are meeting at the church.
And, thanks to generous donations from our Preschool families, we are well
on our way to raising the money needed to replace our aging playground
equipment.
Now, with your help, we have the opportunity to improve this space with
a new commercial-grade structure for all our church families to enjoy. We are
aiming for installation this summer.
Additional funding is needed to fully complete the playground and
refurbish the existing play surface. We would also like to be able to buy a new
bench, extra swings, a picnic table and sturdy trash cans.
We appreciate contributions of any size; whatever commitment you can
make will put us closer to our goal.
We’re excited to take this first step in fulfilling our parish vision
for new facilities for our growing church family to enjoy! Thank you for your support.
George Pellicano Mary
Frances Forcier
Board Chair Senior
Warden
St. James’ Preschool St.
James’ Episcopal Church
If you can help, please drop off or mail your check to the Church Office
at 14 Cornwall St. NW, Leesburg, VA 20176. Checks should be made payable to
“St. James’ Episcopal Church”; please write “Playground Fund” in the memo
field.
Name(s)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
I/We would like to make this gift in honor of
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Address
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Fellowship Events
Rain
or Shine, following the 10:00 a.m. service (Note: No 11:15 service on St.
James Day)
Side
Dish Pot Luck Lunch ~Please bring a side dish to share~ *BBQ, Drinks, and Ice
Cream Provided*
~Kids'
crafts~
Please
join us for fellowship and fun!
October: Road Rally/Scavenger Hunt/Picnic
Contact the Church Office at (703)777-1124 for more information.
Adult
Mission Trip July 16 - 22. The St James' hard work, heartwork crew will
support the Highland Education Project in Welch, WV, by assisting the Rev.
Hilda Kennedy in her mission to care for the underprivileged in that depressed
area. Initial coordination with the project indicates several construction
projects await our expertise. Interested
parishioners should contact the Church Office at (703)777-1124 for more
information.
Newcomers’
Coffee: Our next Newcomers' coffee will be on
Sunday, July 2, at 10:10 a.m. in the Janney Parlor. Come if you are new or even feel new and collect your St. James’
information/welcome packet. For more
information on the Newcomers’ Committee, contact the Church Office at
(703)777-1124.
Join
us for the next gathering of the 20s/30s Group! We’ll meet on Monday, August 7, the
first Monday of the month, for dinner at Sarah & Eric DiPier’s home. To RSVP, either reply via evite (give us
your email address and we’ll get you on the list), or call the Church Office at (703)777-1124. In September, we’ll begin planning for
activities in addition to our monthly dinners.
Keith
Turbeville Scholarship Fund—Parishioners wishing to make tax deductible donations
in support of our Postulant, Keith Turbeville, while attending The Episcopal
Seminary of the Southwest may do so by making checks payable to St. James’
Episcopal Church with a notation in the memo field “Keith Turbeville
Scholarship Fund.” The memo field
notation is important to comply with IRS requirements.
From the St. James’ Parish Register
Transfers
to St. James’
“May the Holy Spirit guide and
strengthen you, that in this, and in all things, you may do God’s will in the
service of the kingdom of his Christ. Amen.” Book of Common Prayer, page 420
Sundays
Alcoholics
Anonymous, 5:30 p.m., Rittenhouse Basement
Mondays
Women’s
Alcoholics Anonymous, 8:00 p.m.,
Rittenhouse Basement
Tuesdays
Al-Anon, 7:00 p.m., Rittenhouse Basement
Wednesdays
St. James’
Building Committee, 7:00 p.m., Parish Library
Corner Chorale, 7:00 p.m., Nave
St. James’
Adult Choir, 7:45 p.m., Music Room
Narcotics
Anonymous, 7:00 p.m., Rittenhouse Basement
Thursdays
St. Gabriel’s
Choir, 6:30 p.m., Nave
Alcoholics
Anonymous, 8:30 p.m., Rittenhouse Basement
coming UP at
St. James’
Sunday, July
16
EfM Information
Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Parish Hall
Monday, July
17
Pastoral Associates,
7:30 p.m., Janney Parlor
Finance
Committee, 7:00 p.m., Parish Library
Tuesday, July
18
Preschool
Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Library
Tuesday, July
25
Vestry Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Parish Library
Thursday, July
27
Red Cross
Blood Drive, 1:00 p.m., Parish Hall
Sunday, July
30
EfM
Information Meeting, 10:00 a.m., Parish
Hall
St. James Day
Services: 7:45 & 10:00 a.m.
Picnic: Noon,
St. James’ Parking Lot
Wednesday,
August 2
Compassionate
Friends, 7:30 p.m., Janney Parlor
Tuesday,
August 8
Vestry Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Parish Library
Honor
a loved one, give thanks for an anniversary or accomplishment, or commemorate a
loved one’s birthday or death by sponsoring flowers for the St. James’
Episcopal Church altar or other worship related expenses. If you would like to celebrate in this way,
please fill out this form and mail it to:
St. James’ Episcopal
Church
14 Cornwall Street NW
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
along with a
contribution of $50 payable to “St. James’ Church”
with “Altar
Flowers/Worship Expenses” in the memo line.
Your
name and telephone:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Please
specify your dedication:
“To the Glory of God and . . .
.
. . in celebration of
________________________________________________________________________
.
. . in honor of
________________________________________________________________________
.
. . in memory of
________________________________________________________________________
.
. . in thanksgiving of
________________________________________________________________________
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Please circle the date you would like to sponsor in 2006: |
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July 23, 30 |
August 6, 13, 20, 27 |
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September 3, 10, 17, 24 |
October 21, 8, 15, 22, 29 |
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November 5, 12, 19, 26 |
December 3, 10, 17 |
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We
are...St. James’ Episcopal Church,
a community of 1,057 baptized members.
We
belong...to the Diocese of Virginia,
a community of 89,000 baptized members and 400 clergy in 38 counties of
central, northern and northwestern Virginia, serving the world through 195
congregations, six schools, two diocesan retreat centers, and six diocesan
homes, and home to the largest Anglican seminary in the world—Virginia
Theological Seminary in Alexandria.
Which
belongs to...The Episcopal Church, USA,
a community of 2.5 million members in 113 dioceses in the Americas and
abroad. The Episcopal Church, USA was
organized in 1789.
Which
belongs to...the Anglican Communion,
a global community of 73 million Anglicans in 38 member provinces.
Sundays
7:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I
9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II
10:10 a.m. Christian Education
11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I or II
Wednesdays
12:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II
Childcare for infants and toddlers is available in the Nursery during the 9:00 & 11:15 services.
How to Contact Clergy & Staff via E-mail
Rector: The Rev. John Ohmer: john@stjamesleesburg.org
Assistant to the Rector
for Adult Ministries: (vacant)
Assistant to the Rector
for Children & Youth Ministries: The Rev. Mary Davila:
mary@stjamesleesburg.org
Priest Associate: The Rev. Donald Goodness: drglrg97@adelphia.net
Property Manager: Gary Gearhart: gary@stjamesleesburg.org
Registrar/Wedding
Coordinator: Kay Gregg: kay@stjamesleesburg.org
Financial Administrator: Sheri Nelson: sheri@stjamesleesburg.org
Parish Administrator: Janine Carmichael: janine@stjamesleesburg.org
Parish Secretary: Laura Heyer: laura@stjamesleesburg.org
14
Cornwall Street NW, Leesburg, Virginia 20176
Phone:
703-777-1124
Fax:
703-777-1129
e-mail: info@stjamesleesburg.org
http://www.stjamesleesburg.org
For pastoral emergencies, dial (703)777-1124 option 3 to alert the on-call clergy.
Acolytes: Dottie
Brannock
Ushers and Greeters:
Tom Smith
Lay Eucharistic Ministers:
Jeff Brannock
Children’s Chapel:
Laura Young (9:00)
Mary
Davila (11:15)
Altar
Guild: Margaret Akers
Outreach Committee: Susie
Harding
Adult Mission Trips: Ken Getty
Preschool: George Pellicano