From the Rector -Sharing the Good News through Social Media
Who do you know that is looking for a place to make meaning in the midst of consumer overload this holiday season? Have you invited them to church? Does the thought of saying, “Hey, you should visit my church this Sunday” make you feel nervous? Whether that’s your comfort zone or not (and I’d invite you to it out either way!), there’s another way you can easily share the good news of God and the events of this community.
First, if you haven’t yet, please LIKE and FOLLOW the pages on Facebook for St. James’ Episcopal Church, St. James’ Nursery School, and St. James’ Thrift Shop (links below).
Then, SHARE posts you find interesting and that you think others you know will enjoying as well.
Finally, click to say you’re INTERESTED in or GOING to the events we post – and then SHARE those events and invite friends to them!
We have lots going on this month that is perfect for new people to join: Advent wreath making this Sunday at 9:30, our Advent Series after the 10:30 services on 12/3, 12/10, and 12/18 – and of course our Christmas Eve services.
So next time you’re online take a few minutes to be a social media evangelist!
Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+
Environmental Stewardship
Give us a reverence for the earth… that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others…. (paraphrased from Form IV of the Prayers of the People, BCP p388)
During this season of stewardship it is good to remember that we are called to be stewards of the natural world as well as our time, talent and treasure. One way to pay attention to our ecological footprint is to think about the management of solid waste in our community and follow the adage: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Refuse means, for example, to say “no thank you” when offered a shopping bag – especially for one or two items – at any store, not just the grocery store. Bring your own reusable bag when you shop.
Reduce means cutting back on the amount of trash we create: compost your fruit and vegetable scraps, do not buy products that have non-recyclable packaging, decrease the number of single-use items you buy.
Reuse means finding a new way to use trash so that we don’t have so much to throw out, limit your purchases of single-use items AND buy products that have been made from recycled items!
Recycle means using trash to remake new goods that can be sold again. Each jurisdiction has different approaches to recycling. The solid waste plans for the surrounding four counties can be found at the websites listed below:
https://frederickcountymd.gov Solid Waste Management Plan
http://ccgovernment.carr.org Solid Waste Operation & Ten Year Solid Waste Management Plan
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov Division of Solid Waste Service
https://www.howardcountymd.gov Bureau of Environmental Services, What Should I Do With?
Can you think of ways that St. James’ follows this adage?
- Our thrift shop is a prime example of reuse – by repurposing and/or reusing, unwanted items, we keep tons of material from going to the landfill. And by buying used clothes that are often barely used, we are decreasing the social and economic impact of a global fashion industry: see the websites below:
http://www.planetaid.org/blog/benefits-of-the-second-hand-clothing-industry
http://www.resilience.org Top 7 Reasons to Buy Used Goods
- Office paper is recycled and we have a large recycle bin near the kitchen and in the nursery school. Remember to use these bins for your recyclables.
- We have a very efficient dishwasher, making it economic and ecologic to use ceramic dishes for our coffee hours and meals together: decreasing our solid waste, decreasing our water use and setting an example of environmental stewardship
- Our Save the Bay certified rain garden – helps manage storm water runoff, provides habitat for pollinators and beautifies our property.
WHAT CAN YOU ADD TO THIS LIST?
Thrift Shop
Our Holiday Bazaar was awesome and a great success. By closing time, the final total was $1,373.15! Holy Cow! There were children, small and large and of all ages, shopping for their mom and dad, aunts and uncles, grandparents, siblings and family pets! Food was abundant for all. And the Christmas season started!
The success of the event is not possible without the blood, sweat and tears of many employees and volunteers! Especially….
- The setup team, Wendy and Sandy, hauling bin after bin of presents from the basement to the upper backroom to price.
- The Friday setup team, Alan, moving all the kitchenware to the bookroom and Sandy, Wendy, Bonnie, Heather, Deena setting up the tables and arranging the presents.
- The Saturday crew of Santa’s helpers and wrappers, Bonnie W. Donna, Karen, Joan, Margaret, Marilyn, Conner, Nancy and Carla.
- The Saturday bakers and cooks – you know who you are. Thanks for making us and the customers gain weight!
- The sorting room crew; Bill, Heather, Bonnie, Wendy, Andrew, Kayla, Sandy, Deb
- The Monday crew for putting the store back together again; Alan, Rebecca, Cheryl, Heather, Wendy, Deb and Sandy.
And most of all the children and their parents who came to shop! The smiles and excitement on their faces is the most important part.
Merry Christmas!
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Breakfast with St. Nick at St Andrew’s Church, Glenwood
Saturday, December 2 from 9 to 11:30 am at 2892 State Route 97, just south of Glenwood middle School. Free crafts and fun for the kids! $1.00 Christmas Shop for kids to buy and wrap gifts. $8 for those 10 and older. $6 for children under 10. Bring your camera to capture your visit with St. Nick. To reserve a table, email Hannah at hgrahamstandrews @gmail.com. Tickets are available at the door.
Advent Taizé Prayer Service
Be still and know that I am God Psalm 46:10
Come, experience God’s presence by joining the congregation of St. Michael Church in Poplar Springs for a contemplative prayer service on Wednesday, December 6. The Taizé service blends Scripture, silence and candlelight with beautiful, lyrical chant. Originating in an ecumenical monastic community in France, Taizé Prayer is deeply moving, and encourages participants to slow down and deepen their faith in the midst of their fast-paced lives. Taizé Prayer will be held in the large church from 7 to 8 pm. For further information, contact Allan Laino at alaino@smpschurch.org; 240-437-3665.
Prayer Rotation
Please join the Daughters of the King in praying for each parishioner in rotation during 2017 by taking this notice home and by posting it where it will remind you to pray on a daily basis for the needs and blessings of:
| George and Jaclyn Flanagan (Colin, Brady) Sam and Jennifer Grimes (Elliot, Thomas, Charlotte, Benjamin) Kenneth and Kathryn Grumbach |
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special prayer requests.
