Vestry – Responding to the Opioid Crisis
The Maryland Diocesan Resolution 2018-2 – Offer Caring, Practical Response to the Opioid Crisis in Our Communities.
During one of our recent vestry meetings we were presented with The Maryland Diocesan Resolution 2018-2 to offer practical response to the opioid crisis in our community. As taken from the Resolution: “Resolved that every congregation in the Diocese of Maryland make Narcan available for use in the event of an overdose”. What struck me at our meeting was the vestry’s response as a group. A few were surprised that such a crisis was in our area and others shared stories about the rise of young people attending funerals or accounts of having attended a service for someone lost to overdose. Maybe as you read this you will be one of those thinking “I did not know there was an opioid crisis in our area” or maybe you have lost a loved one or know someone that has died due to overdose.
What should be the loving hands that take action in the face of this epidemic. On October 10, 2018 we invite adults 18 and over to attend overdose response training in Frederick at the Behavioral Health Services Substance Abuse Program. During this training individuals will receive instructions on how to respond to an overdose and receive Naloxone/Narcan to administer in the event of an overdose. For those not able to attend in person, on-line training is available. Look for flyers and sign-ups beginning in mid-September for those who want to attend the training. Below are hyperlinks to an article from the Episcopal library by Amy Sowder about the crisis and to statistics from the CDC.
https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html
Cheri
Senior Warden
Environmental
The Environmental Stewardship Committee strives to help St. James’ be caretakers of the environment and promote a sustainable lifestyle. Sustainability is defined by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) as an economic activity that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
One way to live a sustainable lifestyle is to pay attention to what one buys: how it is packaged, is it a one-time use item, is it made from recycled material, can it be recycled or reused, and do you really need it? Of course, the St. James’ Thrift Shop is an excellent example of reusing items and decreasing the amount of material that goes to the landfills. We also use ceramic cups for coffee hour and try to not use Styrofoam or other non-recyclable products. Can you think of other ways we could be examples in environmental stewardship? “For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord”! (BCP p384).
One website to explore is The Story of Stuff, https://storyofstuff.org.
For recycling information:
https://frederickcountymd.gov/3549/What-Can-I-Recycle
https://ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/recycling
https://www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Public-Works/Bureau-of-Environmental-Services/Recycling
https://montgomerycountymd.gov/sws/programs
And, please consider joining the Environmental Stewardship Committee to help the St. James’ parish live a sustainable lifestyle. See you on September 9th at the Ministry Fair.
2018 St. James’ Basket Raffle & Silent Auction
Will take place on Saturday, October 13 – mark your calendars! In the meantime, there is much to do to prepare and make this fundraiser a success. An online Volunteer Sign Up form is available at SignUp.com:
Our wonderful “Basket Brigade” has created 60 beautiful filled baskets to be raffled off at the Mt. Airy Fall Fest on October 13. Our baskets will be on display in the sanctuary through from Monday, September 24 through Friday, October 12. You can purchase advance raffle tickets following each church service. A selection of baskets will also be on display at the St. James’ Thrift Shop on September 29 from 11 am to 5 pm during the Mt. Airy Oktoberfest.
Thank you so much to those who have already donated items as well as their time and talents!!
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Office Hours Week of September 2
Monday-Tuesday 11-4, Friday 9-12
THIS SUNDAY – Worship in the Memorial Garden
There is a possibility of rain this weekend; so if we need to move our worship inside, that decision will be made Saturday morning.
Prayer Rotation
Please join the Daughters of the King in praying for each parishioner in rotation during 2018 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:
Sam and Jennifer Grimes (Elliot, Charlotte, Benjamin)
Kenneth and Kathryn Grumbach
Marilyn Hancock
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special prayer requests.
