A Sabbatical Prayer

Guide us, Lord, as we all journey through the months ahead together. Help us to walk trustingly in faith with our parish family and to serve one another humbly. May we always be aware of your presence and direction in all we do. Amen.

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The above prayer was selected by the Sabbatical Team to ground us as a community. Thank you to member Joan Fader for composing it. Beginning this Sunday it will be included in our weekly worship, and we invite you to add it to your regular prayers as well.

Please look for our Sabbatical Newsletter, a new communication devoted to sharing news and information about our upcoming time of sabbatical and renewal. We will be sending these out regularly in the lead up to, and throughout, Kristin’s+ time away.  Previous newsletters are linked below.  Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter The Shell as well as upcoming sabbatical news in your inbox.

Issue 1, April 26, 2022
Issue 2, May 10, 2022
Issue 3, May 31, 2022
Issue 4, June 7, 2022
Issue 5, June 14, 2022
Issue 6, June 21, 2022
Issue 7, June 28, 2022
Issue 8, July 5, 2022
Issue 9, July 26, 2022
Issue 10, August 16, 2022
Issue 11, August 23, 2022
Issue 12, September 27, 2022

Launching the NEW Shell Newsletter

I am excited to share that we are in the final stages of planning for the launch of the NEW digital Shell Newsletter.  We stopped our monthly paper newsletter at the end of last year, and have been relying on our This Week at St. James’ Thursday news emails in the interim as we’ve dreamed…

Food for the Poor

This Sunday, August 13,  please welcome The Rev. Robert Deshaies as our visiting clergy while Kristin+ is away.  Rev. Deshaies will share his personal witness about Food For The Poor’s mission to care for the destitute as a means of living out the Gospel mandate to love one another as the provide direct relief to the poor throughout Latin America and the…

Confirmation Program Begins this Fall

Calling all youth and parents!  We will be beginning a Confirmation program in September for any High School youth who are interested in exploring their faith and discerning Confirmation in the Episcopal Church. We will meet once a month from October through March and have a weekend retreat in April.  For those who want to be confirmed we will join with others…

Welcome Our new Nursery Care Attendant

I am excited to share that we have found our new Nursery Care Attendant for Sunday mornings!  Please join me in welcoming Katelynn Marshall.  Katelynn comes to us with experience as a professional nanny and glowing recommendations.  Her first day with us was last Sunday and some of you had a chance to say hello then – but don’t be shy about…

Taking a Share in the Councils of the Church

This slightly odd phrase – to take your share in the councils of the Church – is actually a part of the ordination service for a priest.  It is an admonition to remember that community is not just the parishes we are called to serve with, but the wider body of Christ as well – and we are called to serve widely. …

Prayers and Thanksgivings

At the beginning of every Vestry meeting we open with prayer and our norms.  This month we began a new prayer practice, and it’s one I’d like to invite our whole parish family into.  Each month three Vestry members are volunteering to choose one of the prayers from the Prayers & Thanksgivings section at the back of the Book of Common Prayer. …

Go and Do Likewise

Greetings from high school camp week at Claggett!  As many of you know, church camp has a special place in my heart which is why I am so thankful the leadership at St. James’ supports my serving as chaplain for a week each summer. This year’s theme is Go and Do Likewise, and throughout the…

Prayers & Thanksgivings

Yet again as news unfolded of tragedy and violence this week, I was at a loss for words to pray with.  It is at times like these that I turn to scripture – and then to books of prayer and poetry.  I have a stash of favorites., but invariably one of the first places I look is the back of our Book…

Youth Summer Mission Trip Update

Thank you to everyone who supported our recent brunch and our dessert table at Quartermania!  Because of your generosity we have reached our fundraising goal of $1,000! Please pray for our youth and adults who to will participating in City Week from June 29 to July 4, as they work and learn in Baltimore:  Quinlan…