Dear St. James’ Parish Family,
As we turn the page on the calendar to October there is much to be thankful for, and much to look forward to in our community.
To begin the month, I am so excited for the Mt. Airy Fall Festival October 3 & 4 and to work our Basket Raffle table. I hope to see many of you there throughout the weekend! Additionally, starting this month I’m going to be sharing a new monthly resource for families. Parents and grandparents, be sure to grab a Family Take-Home packet from the nametag table near the Sunday School information. Adapted from a program called Faith-Full Families, these sheets offer a different theme each month with scripture verses to reflect on and prayers to use together. Additionally there are fun activities to enjoy together as a family.
October also means stewardship season, when we turn our hearts and minds toward planning for the next year of our life together. This year we are lifting up the image of deep roots, new shoots. You have faithfully travelled the road of transition over the last two years, and while calling a new Rector brings an end to that stage of transition, it marks the beginning of another as we enter ministry together. St. James’ is a place with deep roots, and it is a place where new shoots are growing in exciting ways. Next week you will be receiving in the mail your third quarter pledge statement. In that envelope you will also find stewardship materials. I ask that you read over them and pray about how you will pledge to support the ministry and mission of this parish in the coming year. We will have a pledge in-gathering on Sunday, November 1st when we will bring our offerings to the altar in thanksgiving for all we have been given and all that is come. And mark your calendars now for a Luck of the Pot on October 22nd. We will be gathering for a harvest dinner to share the fruits of our deep roots and new shoots!
Finally, October 25 is Social Media Sunday. This is a time to cross that invisible barrier that often exists between “Sunday” and the rest of our lives. Everyone is invited (and encouraged!) on this day (and every other!) to pull out your smartphone or tablet and check in on Facebook at church, take a selfie or usie and post it to Instagram, or tweet the sermon. We will be using the hashtag #StJamesMtAiry. And if you have no idea what you just read, fear not! We are going to host a tutoring session on October 18 from 9:30-10:15 where you can learn about using Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We will also be launching a Facebook Group for St. James’ that weekend – look for more on that in an upcoming Thursday News and in the bulletin.
It is the time of harvest – of gathering and giving thanks. Please join me in praying this prayer for the right use of God’s gifts (Book of Common Prayer, pg. 827):
Almighty God, whose loving hand has given us all that we possess:
Grant us grace that we may honor you with our substance, and, remembering the account which
we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In peace,
Kristen+