November 10, 2006 Volume 30, No. 11
Inside this Issue:
Celebrating Years of Discipleship at St. James’
The next Loaves
& Fishes deadline is Monday, December 11, 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’:
Last
month, I shared with you the first of a three-part article, “three biblical
characteristics to let you know that it is God calling you to do something.”
The
first characteristic, which I described last month, was, “There will be giants
in the land. Measure them against God, not against yourself or other human
beings.’
The
second characteristic – the second way to know that it is God calling you to do
something – is “People will
complain.”
Again,
a bit of context: You’ll recall that in last month’s article that the people Israel
have been delivered from Egypt.
God
has raised up Moses as a spokesperson.
God
has sent Moses to confront the monarch/dictator Pharaoh to deliver a message:
“let my people go.”
Over
and over, Pharaoh has refused.
And
so God has sent plague after plague. While temporarily yielding to God’s
demonstrations of power, Pharaoh changes his mind. Finally God – stopping at
nothing to liberate the people he loves –kills the first born of all Egyptians,
sparing the enslaved people Israel. Pharaoh finally lets the people go.
So
God leads the people out of Egypt. They’re in a hurry, because they know that
Pharaoh will change his mind yet again and send his army to chase down God’s
people to slaughter or re-enslave them. They get as far as the Red Sea before
they are trapped, their backs to the wall of the sea, the army bearing down on
them.
Now
we know, from familiarity with the story, that God will part the sea! The
Israelites will walk through on dry land! And when Pharaoh’s army gives chase,
the seas will close in on them and they will be drowned! What a great story!
But
you know what happens before that? The people complain: As Pharaoh
approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching
after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD.
They
said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought
us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?
Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It
would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the
desert!"
Moses
answers the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the
deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will
never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus
14:10. See also 16:2; 17:2)
People
say that you cannot make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. When you are
called to do a work of God, chances are that work will not be universally
popular. It will stretch you, and others around you. It will challenge you, and
others around you.
Don’t
draw the wrong conclusion: This is not to say that every controversial plan is
of God. Some plans are stupid and deserve to be challenged; they should be shot
down. (As the old saw goes, “every prophet is a pain in the butt, but not every
pain in the butt is a prophet.”)
But
every prophet – every prophetic move, every move made for God – will likely
stir up some controversy. When an individual Christian or a particular parish
is following and serving God, he or she, or the parish, is moving into new
territory. When this happens, it is natural that people complain.
Why
is that?
Moving
into new territory – mentally or literally, individually or as a parish – is frightening.
When
we break old, unhealthy habits that once enslaved us, there’s a part of us that
prefers “the devil we know to the devil we don’t know.”
There’s
a promised land ahead.
We
need to trust, in the midst of change, that God is leading us to a better,
freer place, a place flowing with milk and honey, a land of joyful abundance.
The
promise is sure, the inheritance ours.
But
on the way to that promised land, there is the inevitable desert of complaints.
Don’t be afraid or thrown off course by the complaints.
Have
the faith and courage of Moses to respond,
“Do
not be afraid; stand firm. You will see the deliverance the Lord will bring
you!”
Faithfully
yours,
Fr. John
From Senior Warden Mary Frances Forcier
It has been a
pleasure over the past several weeks to see so many of you in person at our
series of Annual Giving receptions. It
was especially rewarding to have the chance to talk with you about your own
journeys as well as your hopes for St. James’.
Paths to St.
James’ are quite varied. From “cradle”
members who have known this church for 50 years…to those who are raising young
families…to those who have relocated in retirement to this beautiful and
vibrant area -- the Holy Spirit unites us in this faith community, and for that
gift we are most grateful.
Over the past
few months, this column frequently has focused on the “program” side of our
vision. The Vestry has come to realize
that in order to implement those programs, we will need a renewed focus on what
we have termed the “infrastructure” that makes it possible for us to do the
work God has given us to do.
Those areas
include:
Property (including
routine maintenance and repair)
With
the resignation of our property manager this summer, we are revisiting how best
to meet our maintenance and facilities needs.
Because of our downtown location and our reputation for outreach and
education, an increasing number of community organizations are using our
facilities for valuable programs that serve a wide variety of needs.
Under
the leadership of Rev. Kate, a task force -- composed of Junior Warden Chuck
Womack, property Committee Head John Rowe, Parish Administrator Janine
Carmichael, and parishioners Rob Chapman, Jim Quinn,
and Karen Knobloch -- has been assessing our needs and developing a plan
for addressing them. We look forward to
sharing the results of their work soon.
Communications
We
have a multitude of programs and activities here at St. James’ – not to mention
a rapidly growing congregation! And the
staff (thanks to Janine!) and ministry heads do a terrific job of sharing
information about them. But we have
been operating without an overarching strategy of how best to share the good
news of St. James’. Rev. Kate and I
have put our heads and our communications backgrounds together to address this
issue, and we are happy to announce the development of a Communications
Ministry that will help us tell our story more effectively – both within our
congregation and within Leesburg and Loudoun County. Stay tuned for more info.
Information Technology
Thanks
to treasurer and computer expert Jeff Brannock and website guru Bill
Schneider, the parish staff has been able to manage our tremendous growth
over the past several years with a minimum of investment in new computer and
information management systems. With Pastor Mary’s leadership, we will be
assessing our current needs in this area and making recommendations for how we
might best help our office staff do their work effectively and efficiently (and
with a minimum of worry about system crashes!).
The Vestry’s
work for 2007 is clear, and we look forward to sharing our progress with you!
Many thanks for making it all possible.
In faith,
Mary Frances Forcier
Senior Warden
For
the past 4 years, Laura Young has been the ministry head of Children’s
Chapel. Under her leadership, the program has grown by leaps and bounds. Laura
has recruited and trained chapel leaders, managed the rota, directed the
Christmas pageant, and been a tireless supporter of children’s ministries at
St. James’. She is not one to accept thanks or praise, but she has truly done
an incredible job. Children’s Chapel must bid her farewell, as she has
discerned a call to work with Rev. Kate and others on the Adult Christian
Formation Committee. We know that she will put her gifts to great use within
that ministry, and we will miss her very much!
As
we say goodbye to Laura, we welcome two new leaders in Bridget Penberthy
and Julie Garey. Julie will handle the administrative side of Chapel,
and Bridget will recruit and train new leaders. Both will guide us into the
future as Children’s Chapel continues to grow and flourish. We welcome and
thank Bridget and Julie for their time, energy, and commitment to Chapel!
Instructed Eucharist for Elementary School Children
Saturday,
December 9, at 10:00 a.m. Pastor Mary will walk children through the service of
Eucharist at an age-appropriate level. This gathering is geared for all
children—those who have been receiving Communion, and those who have not. We
will talk about what Eucharist is, why we say the words we do, and what
Eucharist means for our everyday lives. Families are welcome to attend!
Christmas Pageant
Michelle
Garman is
the new director of the St. James’ Christmas pageant. Michelle sings in the
11:15 choir and has a great deal of experience in singing and acting. She is
also a member of the 20s/30s group. You’ll be hearing a lot from her in the
month of December! Thank you to Michelle for being willing to direct this most
beloved pageant!
We’d
love for any and all children to be part of the pageant! Roles in the pageant
are open to children of all ages, and we are currently casting for narrators,
Mary and Joseph, angels, shepherds, animals, etc. Many of the roles are
assigned based on the age of the children, while speaking parts are filled on a
try-out basis (if necessary.) If we have more children sign up than available
speaking parts, we will conduct try-outs on Wednesday, November 29.
Rehearsals
will take place on December 3, 10, 17, and 23 for our two pageants at 3:30 and
5:30 on Christmas Eve. The 3:30 group will rehearse from 1:00-2:00 on those
dates, and the 5:30 group rehearses from 2:00-3:00.
If
you are interested in being in the pageant, please contact the Church Office at (703)777-1124 by November 24.
Lynn will be handling sign-up, Michelle Garman will direct, and Pastor Mary is
available to answer any questions!
Pizza with a Purpose
PwP
is kinda Bible study, kinda “this is
what’s happening at school,” kinda “this is the kind of music I like,” and
somehow, we tie it all in! Pastors Mary and Jeunée lead the program:
Wednesdays: Middle School: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Senior
High: 7:30-9:00 p.m.
In
the Catacombs at St. James’
No
need to sign up, just show up!
Please make sure you’re on the Youth Group email list!!!! We
communicate via email—not through postcards anymore!! Also check out our
website for a calendar and information about upcoming events.
Sunday, November 19: Meet at Ida
Lee for fun and games while the adults are celebrating at the Victory Dinner
from 5:00-7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 26: No Youth Group
due to Thanksgiving.
Sunday, December 3: Middle School 4:30-6:00; Senior
High 6:00-7:30
December is outreach month in Youth Group! Stay tuned for details!
Saturday & Sunday, January 6-7: Senior High Ski Trip. The Douglas family has
graciously offered their home in Bryce, near Shrine Mont. Even if you don’t
ski, come with us just to hang out!
Scholarships are available for ALL youth events. Please contact Pastor Mary for more
information.
Katrina Relief Team Returns – Weary and Happy
By
Ann Reimers
The
participants of the mission trip to New Orleans have returned with scratches,
bruises, an extensive education on the damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina,
and much respect for those who are continuing the work to heal the city —
physically and emotionally. Thirty-six
people representing St. James’ traveled to New Orleans on November 3 to work
for four days with the Episcopal Office of Disaster Response at the Diocese of
Louisiana. The team consisted four 16
years olds, a 62 year old, four teachers, a businessman and everyone in
between.
I
think I can safely say that no one understood the extent of the damage until we
drove around the city. Ken Getty put it well: “The city outside of the French
Quarter and the tourist areas remains devastated. New Orleans is a Catch 22 - half the population has not returned
so recovery is at a snail’s pace, businesses are not spending money to re-open
because there’s no one to shop and the cycle continues.” The population that has returned is facing
life in crowded FEMA trailers, rats, cockroaches and mold the likes of which we
have never seen, and significantly higher everyday living expenses. But what
made the biggest impression on me was that the effected neighborhoods just went
on and on, block after block, mile after mile of uninhabitable homes. The extent of the problem is completely
overwhelming.
You
have to start somewhere, though, so an average of 29 parishioners did house
gutting work each day. This involved
taking a house from its current shape down to bare studs and exterior walls
only. Sometimes the current shape of
the house was that it was still completely filled with the contents of the
house, which had been flooded and then not touched in 14 months. Almost all of the houses we worked on had
water sit in them to within a foot of the ceiling for several weeks. This work was incredibly dirty, terribly
exhausting, and surprisingly satisfying. (Knocking a wall down with a sledgehammer
is actually pretty fun!)
On
average, seven parishioners worked with a mobile relief team, preparing and
distributing goods and much needed empathy for those in the Lower 9th
Ward (the poorest region that flooded).
“When everyone you know has lost their house and all their possessions,
you don’t get much sympathy when you complain about losing your house and all
your possessions,” explained Katie Mears, one of the heads of the program.
Charlene
Price lead this team and commented, “Each day, we provided food, water,
cleaning supplies and pastoral care. These people have nothing: no stores, no drug stores, no food stores…”
The
people in the 9th ward have lived all of their lives there, generation after
generation. They are still in shock over the loss of their homes. Most are just
now returning to try to rebuild. Electricity and water has just been
restored. We spoke to a number of
people who come everyday for supplies and we listened to their stories. They
were heart wrenching. We offered them prayer and hope that someone cared and
came to help them. Please pray each day
for these people that they may return home again.”
Indeed,
please pray for those who have lost their homes, those who have suffered health
problems, those who are separated from their families, and those who are trying
to help the awful situation in New Orleans.
We will. And I know that St.
James’ will also be back hitting drywall with crowbars soon.
My Trip to
New Orleans
By
Ashley Cameron (16-year-old participant of the Katrina mission trip)
When I first heard of the opportunity to go on this trip, I was really excited
because it was a mission trip that I could go on. With my July being filled to capacity with activities, I was
unable to attend the youth mission trip this past summer or this coming summer. My first thought was “Yes, I will be able to
go on a mission trip.” Then came the
realization that it was New Orleans, LA, we were going to, and we were helping
Katrina victims. It was a good
realization though, I thought, because these people need our help since nobody
else seems to be helping them. Besides
it’s been more than a year and there is still no electricity in some places, so
help in any way was desperately needed.
I knew it was going to be hard work, mentally and physically, but I was
ready for the challenge. I was ready to
give something back to a community. So my mom, dad, and I signed up, and we
were off to New Orleans, LA.
Saturday, we got to the meeting with our leader. She started telling us how it really is:
many people are old with depression or post-traumatic stress, or were sick before
the storm. Also, she talked about the
communities. People in the neighborhoods were all family, literally, so when
the storm hit they could not leave and go to another family member’s house
because their family member lived down the street and also had to
evacuate. Some neighborhoods might not have been wiped out completely,
the structures are still there, but the spirit of the people has dispersed and
who knows if that will return. There
are some who are rallying neighbors and families to come back, saying that they
can return to construct what use to be. It can be done little by little.
So we split into two teams and off we went to help little by
little. Our first house was in a neighborhood that had houses that were
being reconstructed, that had life again. The contents had already been
sorted through and removed. We just had to gut it. First the trim,
then the paneling, the plaster and dry wall. Bang, rip, scrape is all you
heard. Everyone was focused on the task at hand. After an hour the
sweat starts dripping down your body, the mask gets a little itchier around the
edges, and your goggles are so fogged up you can barely see what you are
doing. Hard work is continued through those things until finally somebody
calls a water break, which is needed. After the water is guzzled down,
it’s back to bang, scrape, bang. Every time you pull down another slat,
pick up another loaded shovel, or dump the wheelbarrow, it gets a little
heavier and harder to do. After six hours of work, the trash pile is now
three times the size it was in the beginning and the house looks salvageable.
I feel good about the work I completed, now knowing this man's house can be
rebuilt and he can rejoin the rest of his neighbors in his home in New
Orleans. All the sore muscles I felt the next morning were worth
it. It was the same for every house.
Some houses were worse than the others and you thought "Why are we
here? This house is gone. Just tear it down." But that is not what
we are supposed to do because in some cases at the end of the day, you'll find
that the house can be saved. It may have been bad on the outside but down in
the core it is good. And then there are those houses that were bad before
the storm even hit, but the storm is the opportunity for us to come in and
empty the contents so the homeowner can see how bad it is. It is their
opportunity to get the new house that they needed before the storm.
In perspective, Team One only helped three houses; three families
compared to the hundreds of square miles of houses throughout New Orleans that
need help. As our leader said, "You cannot look at the big picture
because you will feel sad and think you have not accomplished anything.
You must look at the one thing you have done and see how that
helps." In my personal opinion, the whole situation in New Orleans
and St. Bernard's Parish right now is sad. Driving through neighborhoods
that are deserted mile after mile is devastating. Seeing how you have
helped one person is hopeful. You give hope to that one person, and you
receive hope that these neighborhoods can be revived. It can be done
little by little.
Thank
you to the following volunteers for the Hurricane Katrina Mission Trip to New
Orleans:
Jon Aycock
Clayton, Maureen
& Ashley Cameron
Chris Cunningham
Sander Fredman
Ken Getty
Joy Griffith
Sharon Hammett
Chris Joseph
Marty, Val &
Bailey Kelliher
Terri Minchew
Page &
Richard Moffet
Gayle
Mountcastle
Susan &
Bethany Myers
Wayne &
Rachel Newell
Mike, Elaine
& Pete Nunnally
Mary &
Graham Ohmer
Charlene Price
Paul, Ann &
Kelly Reimers
Jane Roth
Tom Smith
Kim Stribling
Diana Vincent
B.J. Webb &
Bob Twigg
By
Stacy Harrison
In
normal circumstances, the phrase, “That’s how we’ve always done it!” is not
such a good phrase. It implies that the
person saying it is closed minded to change.
Perhaps we’re not normal.
Reconsider the phrase from a different point of view: as all about change. Perhaps it is visionary at its core and
seeks to improve the condition of the common man. Parishioners of St. James’ have maintained an open mind and
answered the call to serve our country for that very reason: To set free and to improve the common man.
When
Loudoun County was created, Francis Lightfoote Lee became the first Justice,
making him responsible for enlisting people for the Kings Army to fight against
the French and Indians in the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven
Years War. In compliance with their
duty, many living within the confines of Loudoun County marched off to
war. These many included most of the
Cameron Parish Vestry, with the exception of Leven Powell, already an elderly
man at that time.
This
sense of service continued into the Revolutionary War, with the entire vestry,
again with the exception of Leven Powell, leaving to serve in George
Washington’s army. In addition to the
vestry, many of the parishioners and The Rev. David Griffith himself left to
serve the patriotic cause of the new American Nation. Churchwarden Thomson Mason discontinued the call of the vestry to
meetings following the June 10, 1776 meeting.
The vestry did not meet again until April 1779. Hugh Douglas and Ludwell Lee, both veterans
of this war are buried in the old cemetery.
When
the second war with England began, several parishioners, led by Armistead
Thomson Mason, answered the call to serve the country in the recent time of
need. Many within the parish flocked to
protect the fragile nation from destruction.
When the Capitol and the White House were burned, the Constitution and
other important state papers were brought to Rokeby, just outside
Leesburg. President Madison stayed at
Belmont Plantation as the guest of Ludwell Lee. Captain Samuel Dawson, a veteran of the War of 1812 is buried in
the old cemetery.
War
struck again in 1846 in the form of the Mexican-American war. Once, again, the parishioners of St. James’
flocked to the call to service. Several
were returned only to be buried in the St. James’ cemetery. This time, though, the service was in the
call to our Manifest Destiny of expansion rather than protecting our young
nation from an invading force. Captain
Stevens Thomson Mason answered the call his family had heard for several
generations. Unfortunately, he was
killed at the battle of Cerro Gordo and was later interred in the old cemetery.
The
Civil War hit the entire area hard in 1860 to 1865. Many of the young men being taught in the Sunday School of St.
James’ marched off to the Confederate Army.
But, those left behind were asked to serve as well. The church on Church Street served as a
sanctuary for all denominations while the Rev. Williams married anyone who came
to him and asked. The women of the
parish served as well by nursing fallen men after the Battle of Balls Bluff as
well as those who passed by on the road from one battle to the next. As a community, St. James’ parishioners
helped all of the neighbors who experienced loss through comfort and prayer.
Again,
the community experienced the agony of war in 1898 with the Spanish-American
War. The ladies of the church gathered
to make bandages and to offer support to their neighbors who sent their sons to
Cuba to fight.
In
1914, World War I, also known as the Great War, began in Europe. In 1917 several Loudoun County men,
including several parishioners of St. James’, voluntarily enlisted to serve in
the war. Included in the enlisted was
the St. James’ rector, the Rev. Goodwin.
The women left behind did not sit idly by waiting for their men to
return. In addition to the usual
practice of creating bandages, the ladies of the Kings Daughters of the St.
James’ circle were instrumental in bringing a chapter of the American Red Cross
to Leesburg. Following World War I,
many of the men returned altered in their view of the world. It was up to the women to repair the spirits
of these men. This was done through
community involvement, prayer circles, and locally organized picnics.
The
United States entered World War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Once again, the parishioners of St. James’
sent their sons to serve both in the Pacific as well as in Europe. Many did not return. Those who did, were heroes for all they had
done to preserve democracy.
Over
the following sixty years, St. James’ continued, and continues still, to answer
the call to serve the nation in various conflicts. Many of these conflicts have been politically unpopular. However, it remains that all who have
answered this call are well respected and admired for their sacrifice in their
efforts to preserve democracy. Current
St. James’ parishioners who have answered the call include Jack Cook, Jack
Davison, Page Moffett, John Tello and Paul White, plus
a score of others.
Each
of these wars changed the landscape of the United States. From gaining independence from an oppressive
mother country to adding acreage to our landmass, from changing the make up of
our philosophical country to the changing way the world views our nation, St.
James’ Church has been involved every step of the way.
All
of these great examples of the larger service to our nation and represent our
hard earned freedom. Many others have
served throughout the history of St. James’.
Being a mere 35 miles from Washington, D. C. has made it a desirable
location to live and worship. As well,
many also served and still serve in our local town and county governments,
attempting to make our everyday lives a little bit better.
So,
the next time someone says “That’s how we’ve always done it!” stop yourself
before you automatically dismiss the statement and consider, perhaps, that it’s
not such a bad thing after all. For in
the words from Casting Crowns Set Me Free: “You are Free!”
At
the All-Parish Ministry Fair year before last several people expressed an
interest in assisting with the parish history. Unhappily the historian was not
well prepared to record their names, misplaced the list and failed to follow
through at the time, and must now apologize for his error. We are now becoming
better organized and have a clearer notion of our direction, and invite any of
those volunteers who are still interested to come forward again.
Celebrating Years of Discipleship at St. James’
While
the past few years have seen a host of new faces and families at St. James’,
there are a number of parishioners who continue to inspire us through their
faithful witness and active engagement in all sorts of ministries, serving as
real models of discipleship within our Christian community.
Starting
with this issue of Loaves & Fishes, we salute those individuals in
our parish who during each month celebrate more than 20 years of membership at
St. James’. Here are the parishioners
with November anniversaries:
Parishioner’s Name Years of Membership
Sandy Fletcher 50 years
Ellen Jane
Flynn 50 years
Jane Davison 33 years
Andrew Mayo 29 years
Jeb Tiffany 26 years
Jane Gable 25 years
Mike Nunnally 24 years
Darren
Cunningham 23 years
Kate Kunz 23 years
Lucy Roberts 23 years
Mollie Vaaler 21 years
Rich Vaaler 21 years
Sarah Vaaler 21 years
This
group includes individuals who were baptized as infants here and have grown up
in the church, as well as others who transferred from other parishes. It’s a remarkable group--when you see any of
these parishioners, be sure to congratulate them!
Avoid the After
Thanksgiving Shopping Madness! Spend your time at home with family and
watch the games. Then mark your calendar for the St. James Alternative
Gift Fair on Sunday, December 10 after all services. This year's fair
will feature:
¨ Animal sponsorship for needy families
throughout the world through Heifer Project International –
organize your office to buy a heifer for the boss
¨ Solar electrification of homes, schools
and hospitals in Africa through Solar Light for Africa – organize
your office to electrify a school in your boss/ company’s name
¨ Medical care for the needy our county
through the Loudoun Community Free Clinic – our neighbor down the
street
¨ Teacher gifts through the Loudoun
Literacy Council
¨ Demolition equipment for teams working in
New Orleans through our New Orleans Mission Team with honor gifts featuring the
artwork of our own Elaine Nunnally
Gifts are available
in every price range. So, make your
list, check it twice and join us on December 10 for a festive shopping
experience.
St. James’ will
sponsor a winter warming tree benefiting the homeless in Loudoun County again
this year. The tree will be set up in
the Parish Hall beginning the Sunday after Thanksgiving and will run through
Sunday, December 17, after the 11:15 service.
Please help us decorate our tree with new mittens, stocking caps and
scarves for men, women and children. Homemade warming items are appreciated as well. Feel free to safety pin a note of warmth to
the recipient of your gift as well.
The Holiday
Coalition is dedicated to making the holidays brighter for those in need and is
celebrating its eleventh year in Loudoun County. At Thanksgiving, each family receives a food basket with all the
traditional Thanksgiving fixings and a gift card for a ham or turkey. At Christmas, families get to choose new
toys and clothing for their children and will receive a food box for their
holiday feast. Items are collected from
individuals, churches, businesses and civic organizations and are distributed
to those in need in a “shopping” atmosphere to preserve the dignity of the people
served.
The “Neighbors
Helping Neighbors” program depends on volunteers to make the Holiday Store
happen each year. Volunteers receive
and sort donations, stock shelves, and assist with filling shopping lists. Each year hundreds of part time volunteers
work to make sure that children and adults in our community have a brighter
holiday. The volunteers are students,
business people, scouts, senior citizens, and friends... all who work side by
side to ensure that dreams and wishes are fulfilled. The visions in their heads aren’t of sugarplums, but of, Barbies,
Superman, Thomas the Train, Elmo & Ernie, new outfits, holiday food
fixing’s and more! From empty tables to
tables overflowing with gifts, the volunteers keep busy. For many volunteers
working at the Holiday Store has become part of their own holiday
tradition. It’s exciting to see the
volume of gifts coming in, being sorted and set up in a department store
atmosphere. Taking a client on a shopping trip through the store can really
warm the heart. The dignity of those shopping is evident. Helping needy families provides a rich
experience not only to those that receive, but also to those that give.
St. James is
participating in the Holiday Coalition in several ways this year:
¨ Thanksgiving Food Boxes — We collected food to include in holiday
food boxes. We are also providing
volunteers during the Thanksgiving distribution which takes place November
12-16.
¨ Toy Drive — St. James’ will sponsor a new toy and
clothing drive benefiting the Holiday Coalition. Collections will take place in the narthex beginning the Sunday
after Thanksgiving and run through the Alternative Gift Market on Sunday,
December 10. New toys and outfits for
children of every age from infant through teen are needed. Donations should not be wrapped as they will
be utilized for the Holiday Store where parents will shop for items on their
children’s wish lists. Volunteers are
needed to deliver the items collected to the Holiday Coalition between noon and
4:00 p.m. on December 10. Families with
children under the age of 14 may participate in delivering donations. Contact the Church Office at (703)777-1124
to volunteer to deliver our St. James’ gifts.
¨
Volunteer
at the Holiday Store —
St. James’ has committed to provide volunteers at the Holiday Store on
Saturday, December 16 from 9:00 a.m. to noon and Tuesday, December 19 from 6:00
p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Teens age 14 and up
are welcome to volunteer as well.
Contact the Church Office at (703)777-1124 to join one of our volunteer
teams. Kimberly can also assist teams
who would like to volunteer at another time as volunteer slots for collection
exist December 6-12 and for distribution December 14-19.
The St. James’
Annual Giving Campaign Committee invites you to the Victory
Celebration Potluck Dinner Sunday, November 19 5:00-7:30 p.m. Ida Lee Recreational
Center 60 Ida Lee Drive NW, Leesburg, Virginia 20176. Join us for an evening of celebration and
thanksgiving marking the end of the 2007 Stewardship Campaign. Bring a favorite
dish to share. Bob Brown Puppets will perform the show a “World On A String”
for children ages 4 through 5th Grade, and the Ida Lee Nursery will be open for
children under 4. Youth Group activities will take place for those in 6th
through 12th Grades. Seating in the Social Hall and space in the Nursery is
limited. Individuals wishing to assist with set-up, clean-up, or child care are
asked to contact the Church Office at (703)777-1124. Reservations
are required. RSVP to the Church Office at
(703)777-1124.
Mark
your calendars! Annual Meeting with Vestry Elections Sunday, January
7, 2007 10:00 a.m. in the Church.
From the St.
James’ Parish Register
Baptisms
Sustain
them, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give
them inquiring and discerning hearts, the courage to will and to persevere, a
spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your
works. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer, page 308
Daniel
Walsh Haskett, son of
Douglas & Julie Haskett
Nathan
James McCann, son of
Erik & Michelle McCann
Alexander
James Jones, son of
Jeffrey & Michelle Jones
Madison
Jane Streets, daughter
of Marc & Jennifer Streets
Jackson
Henry Thurlow, son of
Todd & Cynthia Thurlow
Marriages
Send
therefore your blessing upon these your servants, that they may so love, honor,
and cherish each other in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true
godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and peace. Amen. Book
of Common Prayer, page 431
Katie
Ann Campbell & Christopher Alexander Milligan
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
Brainerd
Hunt Whitbeck III
Douglas,
Julie, Jonathon, Joshua & Matthew Haskett
Andrew
& Charleen Price
David
& Kristine Sauer
Amy
Sue Bell
Funerals
Rest
eternal grant to them,
O Lord: And let light perpetual shine upon them. Book of Common Prayer, page 486
Marjorie
MacDonnell Frey
New
to St. James’? Our next Newcomers' coffee will be on
Sunday, December 3, 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.
The Fellowship
Committee invites you to Slow Down--Celebrate the Beginning of Advent on Sunday, December 3, in the Parish Hall following each
service. Please join us for a light
breakfast and fellowship.
Junior
Saints' Bingo: Sunday,
December 3, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., in the Parish Hall for any and
all 2nd - 5th graders. Come join
the fun! We'll play Round Robin Bingo,
win prizes, enjoy great snacks! For
more information and to RSVP, contact the
Church Office at (703)777-1124.
20s/30s Christmas Party! Chris & Stephanie Lloyd will host the
Christmas gathering at their house on Saturday, December 9. Please stay
tuned for an evite, and if you’re not on the list, please contact Pastor Mary!
Hear! Hear!!
We are completing the
installation of a new “induction loop” Assistive Listening System (ALS) for
hearing-impaired parishioners. Receivers for the system are available in the
Narthex. However, if your hearing aid contains a “T (telephone) coil” you can
receive the signal without a separate receiver. Feedback
from ALS users will help us fine-tune the system to best support your needs.
Please contact the Church Office and let us know if we are meeting your needs.
Opportunity for college students! St. Mary's Church in Arlington has invited our college age young
adults to be part of a trip to Gulfport, MS, from December 17-20. They are
taking a group to work on post-Katrina construction during the pre-Christmas
break and have students from UVA, Virginia Tech, and Sewanee signed up. If you
are interested in being part of this trip, contact Pastor Mary.
Talking About… Affluenza!
Affluenza--an epidemic of stress, overwork, waste,
and indebtedness caused by the dogged pursuit of the American dream. In the pain it causes, in its contagious and
invidious nature, in its transmission through interpersonal and social contact,
affleunza shares features with conventional medical diseases.
The Christmas
season is almost here, and affluenza outbreaks are common during this
time of year. But the spread of affluenza
can be stopped if you come to either or both of two sessions in Rev. Kate’s
three-part series, held in the Parish Hall.
Wednesday,
November 15, 7:00 p.m.
“What
Guidance Does the Bible Offer us in Dealing with Affluenza?”
Discover how
Jesus’ teachings and the writings of the New Testament on God’s abundance
inform the Christian response to affluenza. Kids with a Purpose will participate in this session.
Wednesday,
November 29, 7:00 p.m.
“What Steps
Can We Take to Cure Ourselves of Affluenza?”
The Christmas
shopping season will be in full swing at this point. But there are specific things you and your session, you’ll learn what
they are.