This Sunday we will celebrate Scouts with participation and blessing of our very own BSA Troop 829. Please check out the Annual Report to read about all the amazing accomplishments and activities of our boys and girls. After worship you will have a final chance to partake in this year’s popcorn sale.
The Trail’s End Popcorn Sale is Troop 829’s main fundraiser for the year. It allows Scouts to raise money for Scouting by selling a nationally recognized product. Our goal for 2021 is for each Scout to sell $1000 in popcorn. This year, all donated popcorn will be taken to the Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company on February 6th, immediately after our Scout Sunday service and final popcorn sale.
Troop 829 shares a significant portion of the fundraising profits with our Scouts. Up to 70% of every dollar goes to Scouting. Money in the “Scout Accounts” may be used for things that benefit the Scout such as: annual dues, buying uniforms, paying for high adventure trips & summer camp and other items as approved by Troop Committee. The remaining goes to the Troops funds for camping equipment, camping/park fees, youth training programs, pioneering gear, and more.
From the Rector
Living Our Baptism
As you likely know by now, I am weaving the theme of what it meant to live our baptism through all of my sermons from The Epiphany until the start of Lent. Each week we’ve gleaned something from our assigned scripture readings that points us toward what it means to follow in the way of Christ and live into the promises we made when we were baptized.
Well today in our calendar of saints we celebrate The Dorchester Chaplains, four men who exemplified what it looks like to seek and serve Christ in all persons and respect the dignity of every human being. Here is an account of the actions that led to them to be included in our Great Cloud of Witnesses, those people recognized as living lives that were distinguished and exemplary because of their self-sacrifice, witness, virtue, or accomplishments. Here is their story:
On January 23, 1943 , the USAT Dorchester, a converted cruise ship, set sail with a troop convoy from New York City for Greenland with 902 persons on board. Among them were four U.S. Army chaplains, Lt. George L. Fox (Methodist), Lt. Alexander D. Goode (Jewish), Lt. Clark V. Poling (Dutch Reformed), and Lt. John P. Washington (Roman Catholic).
George Fox had served as a medical corps assistant in World War I, where he was decorated for heroism. Alexander Goode joined the National Guard while he was studying for the rabbinate. Clark Poling’s father told him that chaplains had a high mortality rate. He prayed for strength, courage, and understanding, then joined the Army Chaplains Corps. John Washington was a gang leader in Newark, New Jersey, when he was called to the priesthood.
On February 3, one day from their destination, a German U-boat fired torpedoes, striking the boiler room of the Dorchester. Even though everyone was sleeping with their life jackets, many of the soldiers left them behind as they clambered topside to seek escape and safety. Unfortunately, only two of the fourteen lifeboats were successfully lowered into the water, making it necessary for most men to dive into the nineteen degree water.
The four chaplains moved among the men, assisting, calming, and passing out life jackets from the ship’s store to those forced to jump into the freezing ocean. Having given up their own life vests to save the lives of the soldiers, the chaplains remained on the aft deck, arms linked in prayer until the ship sank, claiming their lives. Two hundred thirty men were rescued from the icy waters by other ships in the convoy. Many survived because of the selflessness and heroism of the four chaplains. The memory of the self-sacrifice of these chaplains is maintained today within the United States military chaplains corps.
Lifting them up as examples of sacrificial love and service to others, let us pray:
Holy God, you inspired the Dorchester chaplains to be models of steadfast sacrificial love in a tragic and terrifying time: Help us to follow their example, that their courageous ministry may inspire chaplains and all who serve, to recognize your presence in the midst of peril; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+
Sunday Worship Information
Join us on the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany for Holy Eucharist at 10:30 am, or watch the service livestreamed on Facebook.
A printable bulletin is available here.
Lectionary Readings for this Sunday:
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.
Formation
Sunday School classes for 3rd – 5th grades with Natalie DelRegno and middle-high grades with Joan Fader, will resume on February 20th indoors at 9:30 a.m. (Masks required and guidelines followed). Please support our Sunday School youth who will be confirmed during the Bishop’s visitation on February 13th during worship at 10:30 a.m.
Note
: K – 2nd grade with Betsy Davis and Yvette Allen will continue on Zoom through the end of February.Journeying Through Lent ~ Labyrinth Walking & Compline
The image of Lent as a journey is an ancient one, and yet it still holds power for us down through the centuries. This year for our Lenten formation series, you are invited to journey through Lent with the practice of walking the labyrinth and praying Compline.
We have been lucky enough to secure the use of a large canvas labyrinth which we will spread out in our sanctuary. We’ll gather weekly to pray through walking the winding path of the labyrinth before closing the evening with Compline.
For those who are unable to join us in person, we will distribute finger labyrinths and prayer books for home use.
If you’ve never walked a labyrinth, or used it for prayer and reflection, that’s okay! We will begin each gathering with a brief orientation. Whether you come every week or only once I hope this practice of journeying grounds your Lenten journey this year.
Diocesan Youth
Choir/Music
It is so lovely to be singing as a choir again at our 10:30a and online services, despite some of the unusual scheduling that January has brought upon us. We hope you’re enjoying the choral anthems each Sunday—we certainly enjoy getting together to prepare and perform them for you each week!
Again, I want to formally invite each and every one of you to join the choir! One of the biggest challenges we’ve seen amidst Covid is a drop in numbers of regularly active choir members. We could really use your help to sustain our music ministry. If you’re interested in being a part of the choir at St. James’ (no experience necessary), join us on Wednesdays at 7:15p and on Sundays at 9:45a, and please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Take care,
Richard Drehoff Jr.
music@stjamesmtairy.org
Announcements
2022 Parish Directory
The 2022 Parish Directory will be available for distribution on Monday, January 31. Printed copies will be in the narthex. If you prefer an electronic version drop an email to office@stjamesmtairy.org.
Next Week’s Commemorations:
| 6 | The Martyrs of Japan, 1597 |
| 7 | Cornelius the Centurion |
| 11 | Frances Jane (Fanny) Van Alstyne Crosby, Hymnwriter, 1915 |
| 12 | Charles Freer Andrews, Priest and “Friend of the Poor” in India, 1940 |
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:
Gabby Markham (Abby)
Phillip Massay and Jie Yang (Ethan)
James and Simone Mauro (Cameron, Michael)
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special prayer requests.
