Our Mission
Sharing ourselves and our faith with others...
St. James is a Christian community that welcomes all with respect for
the inherent dignity and value of every person.
We strive to enable spiritual growth through worship, education, outreach, and stewardship for
the purpose of restoring all people to unity with God and each other.
The Rector's Blog Thursday, April 2, 2020
Good Morning Friends,
Here we stand on the verge of Holy Week. Palm Sunday this Sunday, followed by the holy days of Holy Week with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the Great Vigil, and Easter Sunday morning. And I with you grieve the loss of what we were expecting this year. This is not how I envisioned spending my first Holy Week and Easter with you, but by no means has the holiness of this season diminished, it has just changed.
As I have been preaching, just because we cannot gather physically, it does not mean we cannot gather in prayer. And I think you all are seeing that, as we join in prayer with other communities across the world. And just because we can not gather in person, it does not mean we cannot gather digitally. Numerous small groups in the parish have started gathering via Zoom. And I want to now introduce a new experiment for our community, Digital Coffee Hour.
This Sunday at 10:30, St James will host a digital coffee hour via Zoom. Before hand you will need to download the Zoom application. Then, at 10:30 on Sunday morning you need to click here to join the Digital Coffee hour. Or dial 301/715-8592 and enter the Meeting ID: 931 110 899.
As I said this is an experiment, and I want us to try to figure out ways that we can gather, have fellowship, have formation, and worship together when and how we can. This Sunday, we will also be introducing a 'live bulletin'. This will be a document that you will receive on Sunday morning. When you open it, it will look similar to a church bulletin. But instead of hearing our beautiful choir and organ offer a prelude, there will be a link to a YouTube video of beautiful music. The hymns, with corresponding videos, will be there for you to sing along. And of course, a link to my sermon for that week. We will also be introducing a liturgy from the Armed Forces Prayerbook that has been adapted for our use in these days. But more on that later.
Our pastoral care committee has been calling everyone, praying with folk, and helping identify specific needs in our community. I can not express my gratitude for their ministry. Let them know how we can love on each other during these days.
I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday, I have missed you. Please do not hesitate in calling me if you have any needs.
Be prudent, be smart, wash your hands, and say your prayers.
In the Light of Christ,
Mac+
Good Morning Friends,
Here we stand on the verge of Holy Week. Palm Sunday this Sunday, followed by the holy days of Holy Week with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the Great Vigil, and Easter Sunday morning. And I with you grieve the loss of what we were expecting this year. This is not how I envisioned spending my first Holy Week and Easter with you, but by no means has the holiness of this season diminished, it has just changed.
As I have been preaching, just because we cannot gather physically, it does not mean we cannot gather in prayer. And I think you all are seeing that, as we join in prayer with other communities across the world. And just because we can not gather in person, it does not mean we cannot gather digitally. Numerous small groups in the parish have started gathering via Zoom. And I want to now introduce a new experiment for our community, Digital Coffee Hour.
This Sunday at 10:30, St James will host a digital coffee hour via Zoom. Before hand you will need to download the Zoom application. Then, at 10:30 on Sunday morning you need to click here to join the Digital Coffee hour. Or dial 301/715-8592 and enter the Meeting ID: 931 110 899.
As I said this is an experiment, and I want us to try to figure out ways that we can gather, have fellowship, have formation, and worship together when and how we can. This Sunday, we will also be introducing a 'live bulletin'. This will be a document that you will receive on Sunday morning. When you open it, it will look similar to a church bulletin. But instead of hearing our beautiful choir and organ offer a prelude, there will be a link to a YouTube video of beautiful music. The hymns, with corresponding videos, will be there for you to sing along. And of course, a link to my sermon for that week. We will also be introducing a liturgy from the Armed Forces Prayerbook that has been adapted for our use in these days. But more on that later.
Our pastoral care committee has been calling everyone, praying with folk, and helping identify specific needs in our community. I can not express my gratitude for their ministry. Let them know how we can love on each other during these days.
I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday, I have missed you. Please do not hesitate in calling me if you have any needs.
Be prudent, be smart, wash your hands, and say your prayers.
In the Light of Christ,
Mac+