From the Rector
In light of the continuing surge of Covid cases in our area, and after prayerful reflection, we have made the decision to move to only one in-person service at 10:30 am on Sundays for the rest of January. Services will continue to be livestreamed to Facebook, and as indicated in the special email that went out on Tuesday, at-home communion is available for pick up at the church office during regular business hours Monday-Thursday.
CLICK HERE to download the Sunday bulletin.
On Sunday, January 30th we will have a special schedule due to our Annual Meeting. The 2022 Annual Meeting will be at 9:30 am on Zoom, followed by online worship at 10:30 am. NOTE: For this Sunday only, worship will be on Zoom and livestreamed to Facebook. There will be no in-person service that day.
Our hope is to return to our regular worship schedule in February, but we will wait until later in the month to make that decision based on current Covid metrics.
A reminder, our precautions for indoor worship include:
- mandatory mask use – masks should be well fitted and cover both mouth and nose
- increased ventilation through open doors and windows – dress warmly
- socially distanced seating – extra chairs have been added to allow people to spread out
Please, do not come to church if you feel sick or have any respiratory symptoms (runny/stuffed-up nose, cough, sore throat). Seek medical attention, and worship with us instead on Facebook.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – times are rough but I am thankful for serving and worship alongside all of you. Your commitment to safety and willingness to adjust as conditions change is what has enabled us to stay connected, stay church, and take care of each other throughout this pandemic. I give thanks to God for each and every one of you.
Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+
Formation
Sunday School
The Preschool (Bible Stories) and K-2nd grade classes will return to Zoom for the next few weeks. The Zoom link will follow in an email to those who are registered. At this time, the 3rd-5th grade class and Middle-High class will remain in person until further notice.
If you have questions, please contact Betsy Davis at jbeezd@aol.com.
Announcements
Thanks so much to the Altar Guild and Flower Guild for their special efforts during the Christmas season. Ashley Conlon was able to procure a beautiful assortment of poinsettias, greens, and trees as pictured above. She tells us the poinsettias are ready for new homes. If you would like to adopt you can pick one up at Sunday worship or during regular office hours (Mon. – Thurs., 10-4).
Notice of Annual Meeting
The 2022 St. James’ Episcopal Church Annual Meeting will be Sunday, January 30, 2022 at 9:30 am on Zoom, followed by online worship at 10:30 am. NOTE: For this Sunday only worship will be on Zoom and livestreamed to Facebook.
The Annual Meeting is one of the most important things we do as a community. It is a time for us to come together to:
· review all that we’ve accomplished in the previous year
· elect leaders to Vestry and our Diocesan Convention Delegate and Alternate
· pass our annual budget
· look forward to the opportunities and challenges in the year ahead
Please plan to attend!
Vestry Candidates
This year we have 4 members of the Vestry whose terms are expiring: Ty Conlon, Bill Ellis, Andrew Gobien, and Steve Stowell. We thank them for their years of leadership and service to the congregation, and we look forward to recognizing them at the Annual Meeting.
The Vestry Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the following candidates who will stand for election at the 2022 Annual Meeting: Jim Bullington, Annie Horrigan, Gabby Markham, and Cheri McClanahan.
Lectionary Readings for this Sunday:
Next Week’s Commemorations:
| 9 | Julia Chester Emery, Missionary, 1922 |
| 10 | William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1645 |
| 12 | Aelred, Abbot of Rievaulx, 1167 |
| 13 | Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, 367 |
Prayer Rotation
Please join the Daughters of the King in praying for each parishioner in rotation during 2021 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:
Ernie and Sharon Hansen
Mike and Chris Henyon (McKenna, Brennan, Kaley)
Andy and Annie Horrigan (Jack, Nora)
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special prayer requests.
GENERAL CONVENTION NEWS
Volunteers Needed July 5-14
Volunteers recruited from the Diocese of Maryland and neighboring dioceses, who welcome guests and support the logistical work of the General Convention, have an opportunity to learn about the structure and governance of The Episcopal Church. In addition to experiencing the gathering of The Episcopal Church, volunteers who contribute their time have the chance to meet people from around The Episcopal Church and connect with others in the diocese whom they would not have otherwise met. There are two steps to become a General Convention Volunteer:
Step One — Complete this online form to share your contact information (name, congregation, email address, and phone number) with the Diocese of Maryland. If you do not have an email address, you may contact Caroline Bomgardner at 410-467-1399 ext. 1379 to indicate your desire to volunteer.
Step Two — Those who complete the online form will receive an email in February 2022 providing information about signing up to volunteer for specific days, times, and areas of interest. A link and log-in information to a scheduling application will be included. Once complete, you will receive a confirmation email from the system with your selections.
