From the Rector
Advent Series: A Thrill of Hope
Our Advent series begin this Sunday! Join us on Zoom for videos and discussion of the Christmas story as told in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew, illustrated by the beautiful artwork of John August Swanson, with commentary from members of the faculty at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Each of the 3 sessions will include reflection on 2 different scripture passages and accompanying artwork:
12/6 – Luke 1:26-38 (A Visit) and Luke 2:1-7 (The Nativity)
12/13 – Luke 2:8-20 (The Shepherds) and Matthew 2:1-12 (The Epiphany)
12/20 – Luke 2:1-40 (Presentation in the Temple) and Matthew 2:13-15 (Flight into Egypt)
Weekly from Noon-1:00 pm. You don’t have to attend all sessions, drop in on the dates you’re available. I hope to see you Sunday!
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 840 0945 7236
Passcode: 507341
Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+
Winter Heating Help
A reminder that we have a winter utilities fund available for members of St. James’. Please reach out to Rev. Kristin for more information if we can help you in the coming months.
Sunday Worship Information
The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland has suspended all indoor worship due to increasing COVID-19 numbers until at least January 1, 2021. We will continue our online service via Zoom and Facebook at 10:30 am.
ONLINE WORSHIP
Join us on the Second Sunday of Advent for the Liturgy of the Word at 10:30 am followed by Zoom Coffee Hour, or watch the service livestreamed on Facebook.
We will “open the doors” beginning at 10:15 am for folks to greet each other and say good morning. Kristin+ will give instructions at 10:25 am and we will begin recording and livestreaming the service promptly at 10:30 am. Don’t worry if you’re late – you can still attend via Zoom if you “get to church” at 10:40!
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 820 8668 4148
Passcode: 242425
One tap mobile +13017158592,,82086684148#
Facebook Livestream
We plan to begin streaming to Facebook at 10:30 am. If you arrive at Facebook and you don’t see the video, please refresh your screen. There is a delay.
Sunday School classes will be held this coming Sunday, December 6 (Zoom for preschool-5th and indoors for middle-high school).
Formation
Our……. “Journey to Bethlehem”
Since we are unable to have our yearly indoor Christmas pageant due to COVID guidelines, we are hoping you will participate in our new outdoor Journey to Bethlehem: a drive-thru Christmas pageant! All parish members are invited to take part in this adventure (Sunday School students, family members, individuals).
The pageant will be held on Sunday, December 20th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the front entrance of St. James’. Participants will be assigned to various stations around the circle of the church entrance. The stations will include travelers to Bethlehem, shepherds in the fields, families at the inn, Mary and Joseph, angels, animals and The Three Kings. There will be no speaking parts but hand held signs will be provided as well as costumes (or you may wish to be creative and design your own costumes!).
We are working hard to make this first-time experience a meaningful adventure for those who participate and for the visitors who drive through the circle to follow our Journey to Bethlehem. Can we count on you to volunteer as a family or individual?
Please contact
Yvette Allen yvallen1952@gmail.com
or Joan Fader faderj1@juno.com
St. Nicholas Zoom Story Time THIS SATURDAY!
To celebrate the Feast Day of St. Nicholas Bishop of Myra (December 6), you’re invited to a Zoom story time on the eve of his special day. Gather on Zoom at 7:00 pm this Saturday 12/5 to learn about who St. Nicholas was and to read a few storybooks about his life.
If you were able to pick up an Advent-Christmas-Epiphany Take Home Kits be sure to pull out the materials to help celebrate St. Nicholas, including a coloring sheet, prayer card, instructions for making an origami bishop’s miter, and chocolate coins. Why chocolate coins? One of the best loved St. Nicholas traditions is to leave your shoes out on the eve of his feast day to be filled with chocolate coins and an orange.
All ages are invited – we hope to see everyone there!
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 865 9626 3716
Passcode: 034917
Winter Book Discussion Group
Join us for our Winter 2021 book group to discuss the book Born A Crime by Trevor Noah. Grab a copy and plan to meet on Zoom on Thursday, February 25th at 7:00 pm. Here’s an overview from the publisher:
Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents’ indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away. Finally liberated by the end of South Africa’s tyrannical white rule, Trevor and his mother set forth on a grand adventure, living openly and freely and embracing the opportunities won by a centuries-long struggle.
Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother—his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.
The stories collected here are by turns hilarious, dramatic, and deeply affecting. Whether subsisting on caterpillars for dinner during hard times, being thrown from a moving car during an attempted kidnapping, or just trying to survive the life-and-death pitfalls of dating in high school, Trevor illuminates his curious world with an incisive wit and unflinching honesty. His stories weave together to form a moving and searingly funny portrait of a boy making his way through a damaged world in a dangerous time, armed only with a keen sense of humor and a mother’s unconventional, unconditional love.
~Dave & Kathy Rak, Book Discussion Group Leaders
Flower Guild
Each year during the month of December we collect memorials and thanksgivings with donations to help in the purchase of flowers and music. Even though we will not be together in person a beautiful service with flowers and special music is being prepared which you will be able to view on Christmas Eve.
Since this all has to be done in advance, the poinsettia plants are already in the building and ready for you to purchase for your celebrations at home. The plants are large and lush containing approximately 15 flowers per pot and will be sold for $28 each. We have 10 red and 10 pink poinsettias available. Arrangements can be made for delivery to 21771 or you can pick up at church at various times. You will be asked to indicate your preference during the sign up process linked below.
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Lectionary Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent:
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 blessings of:
Chris and Kara Rosenker (Vivienne, Gwenyth)
Nicholas and Rebecca Sach (Alexander, Juliana, Sophia)
Aline Sautter
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special prayer requests.