From the Rector
Bishop’s Visitation & Confirmation
We are excited to welcome the Assisting Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, The Rt. Rev. Robert Ihloff, to St. James’ on Sunday, February 13th for our diocesan visitation. Bishop Ihloff will preach and preside at worship and spend time afterward sharing about news from around the diocese and answering questions.
Because the bishop’s visitation was scheduled last summer it allowed us to plan for having Confirmations here at St. James’ when he visits. More often we join with other churches for big Confirmation services at the Cathedral, which is lovely, but there is also something special about it happening in our own congregation. Since last fall we’ve had five youth and one adult meeting regularly to explore their faith and prepare to be Confirmed.
If you’re unfamiliar with Confirmation in the Episcopal Church, it is the sacramental rite in which candidates express a mature commitment to Christ and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop. More simply put, it is a chance for those who were baptized as infants or young children to choose to confirm the promises made for them in baptism, or for those who were baptized as adults to continue deepening their baptismal promises and confirm their commitment to a faith journey.
I am thankful for all of our candidates, and for Annie Horrigan who co-led our youth Confirmation program with me. Please keep Ellie Albertson, Sean Dawson, Elliot Grimes, Charlotte Grimes, Zachary Krantz, and Connor Nanavaty in prayer as they anticipate this sacramental rite.
We will share more details about Bishop’s Ihloff’s visit in the coming weeks, but I hope you will plan to join us for worship and in celebration on February 13th!
Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+
Sunday Worship Information
Join us on Sunday, January 23, 2022,
for Holy Eucharist at 10:30 am.
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.
CLICK HERE to download the Sunday bulletin.
Due to the recent change in our worship schedule, there will be no in-door Sunday School classes (3rd through 12th grades) on January 16th, 23rd and 30th. We will evaluate the situation at the end of the month and keep you informed. Looking forward to getting back together again in February.
Nursery School
Happy New Year from The Nursery School!
The school ended last year with a great series of days before Christmas break. We celebrated with school-wide Grinch Days where the children and staff dressed up in their finest Christmas and very green outfits. Then came time for the wonderful Christmas ZOOM performances for each class where songs were sung and a generous helping of Christmas cheer was spread throughout the school. As the new year began the bookmobile continued to delight the children and Pajama days not only kept the kids cozy but the children brought in bed and bathtime donations to be collected for Mt. Airy Net a local charity that helps those who need it in the community. In just a few weeks the school will be treated to a Puppet Show – The Frog Prince, presented by the Carroll County Public Library. The year has started of with a bang!
Registration has begun for the 2022/2023 school year. Registration information, tuition rates and class offerings can be found on the website www.stjamesnurseryschool.com. Please give us a call in the office 301-829-0014 for registration materials/information. Alumni families and St. James’ Episcopal Church members can register on January 24th, 2022. St. James’ Nursery School will begin registering new families for the next school year on Wednesday, February 2, 2022.
Vestry
Candidates for the Vestry Class of 2022-2025
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. We are happy to present to you pictures and brief bios for each candidate. Please mark your calendar now for our Annual Meeting to be held on Sunday, January 30th at 9:30 a.m. on Zoom.
Jim Bullington
Jim was born in Takoma Park, Maryland, moved to Twin Brook, and then to Aspen Hill with his family. Jim graduated from Robert E. Peary High School and went on to get an AA degree from Montgomery College. Jim worked at McIntire Hardware in Rockville, Maryland until he was 21 when he started in the construction industry. Jim went into business for himself in 1983 as a Home Improvement Contractor and has built and renovated many homes in Mt. Airy and surrounding areas. He has three daughters and eight grandchildren and married his current wife Patty in 2006. He started coming to St. James’ in 2009. Jim has served as an Usher since 2010 and joined the Outreach Committee as well. Jim was selected for the Vestry in 2012 and became Jr. Warden because it was a natural fit, as he has the needed experience and no one else wanted the job. But that was ok. The funny part was when George Winters asked him to join the Vestry, George said the Vestry had a special job for him and Jr. Warden was his destiny. When Portia retired, Jim supported the effort to pick an interim Rector and was there when the Vestry selected Kristin Krantz as the new Rector for St. James’. Jim left the Vestry in 2018 but continues to contribute by helping with many tasks for the Church community.
Annie Horrigan
I have lived in Mt. Airy for 7 years with my husband, Andy and two children
(Jack – 4, Nora – 10 months). My husband and I met in graduate school at the University of Georgia and moved back to Maryland shortly after graduation. What attracted us to St. James’ was its sense of community and love of family. We immediately felt at home here after our first visit. I have been active in the youth group for the last couple of years and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to work with them on their faith journey. Also, this past year I have worked with Kristin in leading the Confirmation candidates classes which I have enjoyed a great deal. Professionally, I have been employed at Morgan Stanley in Baltimore for the past 8 years where I am the Director of New Accounts Operations. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and I love to be in the kitchen trying out new recipes. In the coming months I am going to be transitioning to a new chapter in my life, and having the opportunity to stay at home with my children, and I cannot wait. I am looking forward to the opportunity to serve on the Vestry, and helping others to feel as welcome as my family.
Gabby Markham
My name is Gabrielle Markham but everyone just calls me Gabby. I am 35 years old and I have an amazing daughter named Abby . I love to crochet and draw and listen to Abby play music. I work at an at home daycare; it’s a job I find it very rewarding . On Easter in 2019 we attended services at St. James’ and never left. I am so proud to be apart of this spiritual community.
Cheri McClanahan
Cheri grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland where she started attending a local Episcopal church, Church of the Ascension in 1991 and volunteered with the Sunday School program. She moved to Mount Airy in 1997 and attended Grace New Market where she served on the vestry and one term as church auditor. She started attending St. James’ church in 2003. She has served on the vestry with St. James’, on the Rector search committee, and one year as Senior Warden.
Cheri is a recent graduate from FCC with an Associates, Honors in Business Administration degree and works full time for a National Engineering firm in Ashburn, Virginia as an Administrative Manager.
Cheri and Tim have two children Bryce (22) and Trevor (20) and a furry four-legged daughter Flower (3). In her spare time, she enjoys reading and spending time at her getaway in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Announcements
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!
ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING AND YOU’LL GET A CHANCE TO WIN A CUSTOMIZEED MEMORIAL BRICK LIVE ON ZOOM!
Lectionary Readings for this Sunday:
Next Week’s Commemorations:
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:
Patrick and Jennifer Kearns (Caleb)
Jason and Molly Kilmore (Connor, Reagan)
Kristin Krantz (Zachary, Jasper)
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special prayer requests.
