From the Rector
The 235th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland
Last Friday and Saturday St. James’ Delegate Carla Kaufman and I attended our Diocesan Convention. It’s always fun to see folks who serve far and wide across our diocese, to visit the booths of all the vendors and organizations, and to pray together with a few hundred other Episcopalians.
Our Convention Eucharist Preacher and Keynote Speaker this year was The Most Rev. Melissa Skelton. She is the Bishop of the Diocese of Westminster in Canada. Prior to her election as Bishop, she served as Rector at St. Paul’s, Seattle and was the founder of the College for Congregational Development. She told the story of how St. Paul’s transformed during her tenure as they did the hard work of redevelopment and worked toward vitality. I was able to speak with her briefly on Friday, and she is excited that we will be bringing The College to Maryland next year. Later in the afternoon the launch of The College in 2020 was announced and I was introduced as the Launch Director. It was a privilege to get to speak briefly about my hopes for how the work of The College will bring vitality to our Diocese and Province.
On Saturday Bishop Sutton offered his annual address. The Vision of the Diocese of Maryland is to build a community of love. Last year Bishop Sutton spoke about the meaning of love, and this year he focused on what it means to be a community – and offered four images of the kind of community we can choose to be. He invited us to aspire to be a community that (1) is mature in dealing with conflict (speaks truth in love, listens to one another, commits to changing attitudes and behaviors, and gives and receives forgiveness); (2) never gives up on getting better (is resilient, resourceful, and resolute); (3) rests as well as acts (sabbath is an antidote to anxiousness); and (4) commits itself to repairing brokenness (our Christian mission of reconciliation and reparation). He offered in closing how the seven practices in The Way of Love can help us become this kind of community.
Other Convention business included electing people to committees and commissions, and discussing, debating, and voting upon this year’s resolutions. A separate email with a full convention recap will be sent tomorrow. It will include a list of those elected, pdfs of all the resolutions, and a link to the Diocesan YouTube page where the Bishop’s Address, Sermon, and Keynote will be uploaded early next week. If you have further questions about Convention drop me a line!
Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+
Nursery School
Thank-you Shirley!
Shirley Thomas will retire from our Nursery school when this school year ends. Shirley has worked for Saint James for 31 years. 31 years! We are blessed to have had her – she’s a caring, loving, patient, and thoughtful teacher and she’s admired by those that work with her.
All of us – the nursery school staff, the nursery school board, and the vestry thank her for her years of service. She and her husband have been married for 50 years and have been residents of Mt. Airy for 40 of those years. Shirley has two adult children, Ron and Jennifer, and five grandchildren. We hope she has more time with her family and wish her the very best in her retirement, although we hope we’ll still see her sometimes as a substitute next year. Her last day will be Friday, May 31.
Quartermania
3 WEEKS UNTIL QUARTERMANIA!!!
Yes, it really is that close!! Mark your calendars now for our Spring/Summer Quartermania event at the church on FRIDAY, JUNE 7th; the doors will open at 6 pm with the games beginning at 7 pm. Delicious refreshments will also be available for purchase throughout the evening.
For those who may not know, Quartermania is a game that can be played by anyone from three to 93–a great family activity! Imagine a game that combines Bingo and an Auction using only quarters with lots of prizes to bid on! This will be a great night to begin your summer by gathering with your family and friends to win special items for yourself and your loved ones.
E-mail judysquartermanias@aol.com or call Judy @ 240-674-1961 to advance reserve a seat for $5 (a $3 discount!); admission fees will be collected at the door. Come join us to begin your summer with this fun and entertaining game!
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Office Schedule for the week of May 19.
Monday through Thursday, 10-4.
Lenten Mite Boxes
Is there a lonely Mite Box still hanging out at your house? Please return to church by this Sunday, May 19th, so it can be included in the coin counting next week. Sunday School leaders need a total amount for St. James’ gift to A is for Africa before the end of the month. Thanks so much!
Spring is here!—THINK St. James’ 13th Annual Basket Raffle & Silent Auction DONATIONS!!
Our big event will be held on both September 21st and 28th, but in the meantime, there is much to do to prepare and make this fundraiser a success.
As you begin your Spring cleaning, downsizing or even if you would like to “re-gift” holiday items you would like someone else to enjoy, please consider donating any items in good condition that may be suitable for men, women, or children of all ages. Some of our previous basket themes have been for babies, teens, teachers, pets, game/movie night, spa, jewelry, tea time, taco night, crab feast, sports memorabilia, fishing, golf, car wash/auto supplies, cooking, gardening, birding, crafts, tools, healthcare, exercise and inspirational. If you have questions about Basket items, please contact Joan Fader at 301-703-8787 or faderj1@juno.com.
Items for the Silent Auction would be those that would generate higher bids by themselves rather than as a part of a basket. Such items could include paintings, quilts, unopened perfume, fine jewelry or high-value gift certificates, and the like. If you have questions about the Silent Auction, please contact Mary Hutchins-Danna at 443-277-0505 or mhdslp@hotmail.com.
Marked BR containers will be in the narthex to receive your donations. Thank you, in advance, for your generosity!
New Beginnings
Three Youth from St. James’ attended the New Beginnings Diocesan middle school retreat last weekend. During the closing Eucharist every year, 8th graders are blessed since it’s their last time there (next year they can attend the Diocesan high school retreat Happening). Pictured with other 8th graders are Zach and Elliot, at the end of their third and final New Beginnings!
Join us for a FREE screening of Paris to Pittsburgh, a new film from National Geographic, produced by RadicalMedia in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies — narrated by Emmy® and Golden Globe® Awardwinning actress and activist Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”). This film is being offered through Interfaith Power and Light to draw faith communities together to inspire local community action to heal the climate for the benefit of all.
From coastal cities to America’s heartland, Americans are demanding and developing real solutions in the face of climate change. And as the weather grows more deadly and destructive, they aren’t waiting on Washington to act.
Learn about their incredible stories in Paris to Pittsburgh, and be inspired to create change in your own community!
We are excited to be hosting a screening of this incredible film
at St. James’ Episcopal Church, 1307 N. Main St., Mt. Airy, MD 21771
on Sunday, June 9, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
We hope to see you there!
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:
Andy and Annie Horrigan (Jack)
John and Audrey Hudson-Odoi (Vanessa, Eli, Ethan)
Ryan and Angie Ireland (Anna, Addy, Brayden)
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special prayer requests.
| This week’s Commemorations (A Great Cloud of Witnesses, 2019, Church Publishing Group)
May 19 Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, 988 |
| Lectionary readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 19, 2019 (Year C, RCL) Acts 11:1-18 Psalm 148 Revelation 21:1-6 John 13:31-35 |
