Vestry
Although our church building has been empty, there are still bills to be paid and new contracts to be made. Due to our current electric contract expiring in June, it was time to negotiate a new one. Thank you to Jane Barger who researched a new broker for our utilities. This new broker, CQI, was able to lock in our electrical rate for 18 months for a savings of $1,121 from our current rate/usage. Under the Maryland Clean Energy BIll, Maryland must get 50% of its electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar by 2030. CQI will be providing our electricity following that 50% sourcing.
St. James previously did not have a contract for our natural gas use, but with rates expecting to go up, the Vestry thought it prudent to engage in one. Again, thank you to Jane Barger for arranging this. Our new contract, also with CQI, is locked in for a 2 year period for a savings of $592 from our current rate/usage. Thank you for your continued prayers for the Vestry at this time.
Online Worship
GET READY FOR PENTECOST!
This Sunday as we celebrate Pentecost remember to wear RED! Also, click here for a Pentecost coloring sheet. Print it out hang it up where we can all see it when we gather on Zoom Sunday for church.
Join us on Pentecost for the Liturgy of the Word at 9:30 am followed by Zoom Coffee Hour,
or watch the service livestreamed on Facebook.
A printable bulletin is available here.
Click here to download a children’s worship bulletin.
We will “open the doors” beginning at 9:15 am for folks to greet each other and say good morning. Kristin+ will give instructions at 9:25 am and we will begin recording and livestreaming the service promptly at 9:30 am. Don’t worry if you’re late – you can still attend via Zoom if you “get to church” at 9:40!
Facebook Livestream
We plan to begin streaming to Facebook at 9:30 am. If you arrive at Facebook and you don’t see the video, please refresh your screen. There is a delay.
Virtual Compline services on Facebook are Monday through Friday at 8:30 pm. You do not need to have a Facebook account to “attend” – just click here to participate. While your at our Facebook page be sure to “follow” and turn on notifications so you will be alerted when we go live or post updated information. Compline order of service
Basket Raffle & Silent Auction
That time of year is approaching to begin preparations in the next couple of months for our church’s largest fundraiser! As with almost everything the past few months, our Basket Raffle & Silent Auction scheduled for September 26 at the Mt. Airy Oktoberfest will likely be affected in some way.
At present, your Basket Raffle committee is hoping to have enough information to make a decision in early July as to the fate of our event. We realize many of our parishioners, as well as, members of our community really look forward to bidding on our creations and silent auction items. Therefore, we would like to request that you hold onto those special items that could potentially be recycled for use in our creative baskets for just a little longer.
As you are busy doing your “Corona-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 1mhdslp@gmail.com.
When we are again able to use the church building, we will let you know scheduled donation dates and greatly appreciate your patience.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Marilyn Hancock at Ladyzip2004@yahoo.com or 301-788-0136. Meanwhile, please continue to Stay Safe as we Stay Church!
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Join us on our quest for the holy grail
…of cleaning products that is! As we prepare to re-open the Thrift Shop and create a plan for beginning to re-gather for worship we are in search of cans of Lysol, which is currently the rarest of cleaning projects. Please keep an eye out for it when you’re out shopping and if you can pick up a can please contact Rev. Kristin for reimbursement.
Would You Like to Lead Compline on Facebook?
After three months of leading us in Compline on Facebook every weeknight Jeannie Pellicer is stepping back to take break at the end of this month. I would personally like to thank Jeannie for her leadership and prayerful presence that has grounded so many of us during the upheaval we’ve experienced. We would like to continue to offer Compline using Facebook Live a few nights a week for June and July. If this is something you would be interested in doing please drop me an email or give me a call. ~Rev. Kristin
Virtual College for Congregational Development Workshops
Will you join a team from St. James’ to help equip our community to navigate the changes ahead of us? Please contact Rev. Kristin if you’re interested!
Come get a taste of what The College has to offer in four one hour sessions over Zoom. Each session will teach one of the core models or principals of Congregational Development with a specific eye toward how this particular model or tool is useful during this unprecedented time for the church. How can this crisis be part of the healthy development of our congregations? Come find out.
The workshops will be offered June 10 & 11 from Noon – 4:00 PM each day. Zoom presentations will be from Noon – 1:00 PM and 3:00 – 4:00 PM, with time in between to work on assignments and/or set up virtual meetings with your congregational team for reflection.
Lectionary Readings for Pentecost: Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:25-35, 37; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13; John 20:19-23
Next Week’s Commemorations:
Prayer Rotation Please join the Daughters of the King in praying for each parishioner in rotation during 2020 by taking this notice home and by posting it where it will remind you pray to on a daily basis for the needs and blessing of:
Trudy Williford
Don and Cheryl Windsor
Lanny and Aimee Winkler (Lexi, Whitney, Luke)
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special prayer requests.