E-NOTES FOR MAY 2, 2008
GROUNDS CLEAN-UP DAY - May 3, 8:30 a.m. until noon. Join us for a morning of miscellaneous clean-up around the church grounds, including flower beds, behind the Parish Life Center, pruning, etc. Bring your yard tools such as rakes, brooms, weed-trimmers, loppers, etc. and come help us beautify the church grounds! For more information, contact Luke Mitchell (luke.mitchell@jacobs.com, 244-2565) or Cam Walters (cam@acitelecom.com, 233-5185).
THE COMMISSIONING OF LAY CHAPLAINS, May 3, 2008 ~ 2:00 p.m. - The Community of Hope of The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina invites you to attend this commissioning service at Markley Chapel, Christ Church, 10 N. Church Street, Greenville. Community of Hope trains those who are called to lay pastoral ministry to develop their spiritual gifts, to become grounded in the Benedictine Way, to be supported in Christian Community, and to provide Christ's Ministry of Presence to others. Deacon Lee Quinn serves on the staff of Community of Hope. Catherine Caudle, Joe Long, Anne Shelley and Pam Snape from St. James have completed the extensive training and will be commissioned at this service.
FRIENDS OF GRAVATT - On May 3 all are invited to join with other Friends of Gravatt for a day of fellowship, work, laughter, and fun. Friends of Gravatt will gather to help get the Bishop Gravatt Center ready for camp and to make improvements to the conference center and ropes courses. No matter your skill level, there will be a job for you-building, cleaning, planting, painting, cutting, chopping, cooking and more. Lunch will be served to all volunteers. Please RSVP (803.648.1817; bishopgravatt@wildblue.net) and please let us know if you have tools or equipment you are able to bring. The day will start at 9:30 a.m. and finish around 4. If you can't stay the whole time, that's okay. Just come! Friday night accommodations may also be available if needed.
CBS's 60 Minutes zooms in on Partners in Health - Mark your calendars, call your friends and relatives, program your TiVos and VCRs. This Sunday, May 4 at 7 pm, Partners In Health will be featured on CBS's 60 Minutes. The broadcast will highlight interviews and action footage filmed during a week in Haiti and several visits to Boston. It will also present an opportunity for friends of PIH and supporters of health and social justice to get the word out. http://www.pih.org/inforesources/news/60_Minutes_over_PIH.html
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FROM THE (INTERIM) RECTOR...
The Bishop is coming on June 22. He will be here for both Sunday services that day. At 10 a.m. he will administer the sacrament of confirmation and preside at Holy Baptism. The Bishop is our connection with the whole church-not just this parish or this diocese or even the whole Episcopal Church, but with the Christian church around the world and throughout the centuries.
Just as the apostles were sent by Jesus to proclaim his message about the kingdom of God, and later, to proclaim his death and resurrection, so bishops are still the primary missionaries of the faith. While they usually delegate pastoral care to their priests and deacons, the administration of confirmation reminds us that they connect us to all the other Christians in every place and every time.
Our religion is not a private affair. Much of our spiritual journey is very personal. Bonhoeffer wrote in prison about the need to be able to practice our faith without books or symbols or signs or even without friends. But we are never alone. By baptism we belong to the household of faith. That is a family of believers joined across distance and time. It is this community which has preserved the holy scriptures for us. The Bible is, in fact, the history of God and God's people.
While we each read the Bible for ourselves, the church preserves and passes on not just the story, but also the ways in which each generation has experienced it, struggled with it, added to it, made it a rule of life for a new day.
The Bishop also functions as the pastor to pastors, and since bishops ordain clergy and license special lay ministries, they enable the future ministry of the church as well as caring for the people who now care for the people of the church.
Tom +
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SERVANTS IN WORSHIP FOR Sunday, May 4
***RECTOR'S AIDE AND USHER SUBSTITUTES are needed on Sunday for 7:45 usher and 11:00 rector's aide/usher. Please contact Fr. Jonathan (jonathan@stjamesgreenville.org) or just arrive early if you can help out.
> Altar Guild: Lynn Vines (Flowers & Captain), Betsy Mahon, Anne Blakely, Karen Hipp, Jean Eison.
> 7:45 - Rector's Aide/Usher: Butch Scott; Greeter: Karen Hipp; Usher: NOT FILLED; Lector: Debbie Spear; Eucharistic Ministers: Carmie Cook, Al Hipp.`
> 9:00 - Rector's Aide/Usher: George Lafaye; Greeter: Elaine Paine; Ushers: Tracy Henry, Geoffrey Hardaway; Lectors: Cam Walters (L), Jim Ghrist (P); Eucharistic Ministers: Louise Fore, Stacy Nalley; Acolytes: Andrew Miller (C), Brace Plumblee (T), Mary Frances Zeager (T).
> Coffee Hour: Elisabeth Allen.
> 11:00 - Rector's Aide/Usher: NOT FILLED; Greeters: Karen Parr, Dottie Turner; Ushers: Al Engelmann, John Holliday; Lectors: Carrie Harrell (L1), Tim Wilkerson (L2), Denise Wilkerson (P); Eucharistic Ministers: Doug Cummins, Jack Pinckney; Acolytes: Victoria Allen (C), LaClaire Atkins (T), Kevin Tompkins (T).
> Nursery: 8:45AM - Becky Walters, Amy Wood (infants), Carolyn Henry (toddlers), Reb & Luke Mitchell (3-4 yr olds); 10:00AM - Alice Littlejohn, John Kaup; 10:45AM - Cindy Hayes (infants), Nancy Ehlers, Carrie Russell (toddlers), George Lipscomb, Kathy Walsh (3-4 yr olds).
> Nursery Contact for May is Nancy Ehlers (268-5101).
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, AND SERVICE:
Sunday, May 4 - The Seventh Sunday of Easter: The Sunday after Ascension Day
> 7:45 AM HOLY EUCHARIST - Rite I
> 9 & 11 AM HOLY EUCHARIST - Rite II, nursery provided; Children's Church for K-5 through grade 3
> 10:10 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES for all ages, Confirmation class, room 229
> 3:30 PM JUNIOR EYC - Chillaxin' then Acolyte training
> 6:00 PM SENIOR EYC - Hoops and Hotdogs with Palmetto Boys
Monday, May 5
> 7:00 PM ST. LYDIA'S CHAPTER meets in the Parish Life Center for covered dish dinner. Please remember to bring canned goods for United Ministries.
Tuesday, May 6
> 9:10 AM DAY SCHOOL CHAPEL
> 10:30 AM STAFF MEETING
> 12:00 PM ECW BOARD
Wednesday, May 7
> 4:00 PM YOUTH CHOIRS rehearsals, choir room
> 6:15 PM RECTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE
> 6:30 PM HOLY EUCHARIST
> 7:15 PM BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASS
> 7:30 PM ADULT CHOIR rehearsal, choir room
Thursday, May 8
> 10:45 AM BIBLE STUDY, library
> 12:05 PM HOLY EUCHARIST
Friday, May 9
> 11:30 AM CENTERING PRAYER, a time for Lectio Divina and quiet prayer. Contact: Karen Eshelman (244-6358, ext. 204)
Saturday, May 10
> 10 AM - 4 PM PENTECOST QUIET DAY at St. James (no charge) - Contact Janet Atkins (895-3434, owlwoman@charter.net).
> 11:00 AM BAPTISM RUNTHROUGH
> 1:00 PM ST. JOSEPH'S GOLF TOURNAMENT. Contact Ken Littlejohn (alkenlj@charter.net, 467-9580).
Sunday, May 11 - The Day of Pentecost, Baptism / Graduate Recognition / Mother's Day
> 7:45 AM HOLY EUCHARIST - Rite I
> 9 & 11 AM HOLY EUCHARIST AND BAPTISM - Rite II, nursery provided; Children's Church for K-5 through grade 3
> 10:10 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES for all ages (No confirmation class on May 11; final class will meet on May 18.)
> 10:10 AM OPEN FORUM WITH THE RECTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE in the Parish Life Center Commons Room - You are invited to meet the members of the Rector Search Committee. They will talk about their work and answer your questions about the search process. Results of the recent Parish Survey will also be available at that time. Everyone is invited to attend.
> 3:30 PM JUNIOR EYC
> 5:00 PM SENIOR EYC - Mother's Day dinner
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ST. JAMES EVENTS COMING IN MAY & JUNE
May 3 Grounds Clean-up Day
May 10 Pentecost Quiet Day
May 10 St. Joseph's Golf Tournament
May 11 Pentecost / Baptisms / Graduate Recognition / Mother's Day
May 16 Parking lot resurfacing
May 24 Adopt-a-Highway pickup
May 28 Day School Graduation
June 7 Annual Attic Sale
June 15-19 Vacation Bible School
June 22 Bishop Henderson's Visitation, Baptisms & Confirmation
June 23-27 Roller Skating Camp
*** SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE (JUNE 1 - JULY 31)
Sundays - 7:45, 10:00 AM (Nursery & Children's Church at 10:00)
Wednesdays - 6:30 PM
Thursdays - 12:05 PM
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A Word from the Rector Search Committee.
The Rector Search Committee has made great progress in moving forward in the process of finding a new Rector and we greatly appreciate the support of the St. James parish in our efforts so far. Generally, this process takes a fair amount of time, but we have already accomplished a major step in completing the Parish Survey. The survey is a critical first step in searching for a new Rector since it allows us to take a snapshot of where we are now as a parish and, just as importantly, where we are going as a parish. Thank you very much for taking time to give us your feedback on this survey.
We are sending the results of the survey to the Diocesan Deployment Officer, Canon to The Ordinary Michael Bullock, along with our Parish Profile, which should be completed in the next couple of weeks. From here the committee fills out a Church Deployment Office Parish Search Request, which lets potential candidates know about our church. Once this Search Request and the Parish Profile are approved, we can begin to gather names of Rector candidates and start to see who we want to consider to be our next Rector.
Once the committee has narrowed down our top candidates, we will go and see these potential Rectors "in action" at their respective current locations and ultimately bring our finalists here to St. James for interviews. Once we have determined who we want to recommend for our new Rector, we will forward the candidate(s) to the Vestry, who will vote on who to extend a call to be our new Rector.
The important thing to remember as we go forward in this exciting process is that we are all in this together and that God has set us on a path toward our new Rector. If you have any questions regarding the process, please feel free to contact me or anyone on the committee. I will also post a copy of the overall process in the hall at church along with the contact names and numbers of the committee members for everyone's benefit. I want to thank the committee members for their hard work so far on this exciting journey.
Please continue to keep the committee in your prayers, as well as our next Rector, wherever that person may be.
Take care and have a fantastic day. Brooks Knobel, Chair
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Did you know... that St. James has grown by more than 35% in nine years? In 1999, our average Sunday attendance (the best gauge of size and vitality of a congregation) was 194. In 2007, it was 262. In 2003, our average Sunday attendance was 224, giving us an increase of 17% during a period when many parishes in the Episcopal Church have seen no growth or declining attendance.
But numbers are only a small part of the story. Behind those numbers are real people--men, women, and children who have joined St. James or are attending here because they experience the presence of Christ in our community. Chances are, there are people sitting around you today whose names you don't know but whom you've seen before. When you greet one another at the passing of the peace, introduce yourselves, and after the service, get to know them a little better. And make sure that you introduce them (or yourselves, if you're new) to clergy.
On April 6, we welcomed new members who have joined St. James since October. In May and June we will baptize a number of babies, welcoming them and, in some cases, their families to our parish. Soon, we will begin to post photographs of new members in the narthex, so that we can all become better acquainted with one another.
Fr. Jonathan
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FORWARD DAY-BY-DAY devotional booklets for May, June & July are available in the hallway. Cost of regular size is $1; large print, $1.25.
BE A MEMBER OR A FRIEND! - The Missions and Outreach Committee warmly invites and very much needs additional members. Monthly meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at 7 PM in the church library. If you are unable to attend meetings but are interested in missions and outreach, you are urged to become a Friend of the Missions Committee. "Friends" receive minutes from meetings along with a monthly list of specific tasks requiring limited commitments of time. Marvelously, volunteers almost always come forward. To add your name to the Committee or the list of Friends, contact Albert Blackwell (233-3148, ablackwell@charter.net).
HEALING THE EARTH: A PENTECOST QUIET DAY - May 10 - Come spend some quiet time in preparation for the Feast of Pentecost, the day when the Holy Spirit came to believers in tongues of flame. The church will be open from 10:00 until 4:00. Bring a brown-bag lunch; we'll have time for fellowship around 12:30. There is no charge for this day. Come spend some quiet time at St. James. Read a good book or sit outside and contemplate nature. Our flexible schedule will begin with Morning Prayer at 10:00 and end with an Order of Worship for Evening at 4:00. Spiritual direction will be available for anyone who wants to spend time in one-on-one conversation or in working a dream. For more information, contact Janet Atkins (895-3434, owlwoman@charter.net).
ST. JOSEPH'S SOCIETY GOLF TOURNAMENT - Saturday, May 10 - The tournament is a shotgun start at 1:00 p.m. at Pebble Creek golf course. Cost is $60 per player, or $300 gets company sponsorship plus a team of four in the tourney - captain's choice format. Cost includes range balls, mulligans, tee busters and a cookout afterward at St. James. Prizes given for closest to the pin, long drive, and team winner. For more information contact Ken Littlejohn (467-9580, alkenlj@charter.net).
GRADUATE RECOGNITION, May 11, 2008 - If you or someone in your family is graduating from high school or college this spring, please contact the church office (244-6358, admin@stjamesgreenville.org) by Tuesday, May 6, with the name of the graduate and the degree being bestowed so that we may list them in the bulletin.
SEMINARY GRADUATION - Edwin Beckham will be awarded a Master of Divinity degree from The Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest on Tuesday, May 13. Commencement will take place at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Austin TX. Beckham served on the vestry at St. James from 1998 through 2000 and was Junior Warden in 2000; he was ordained to the diaconate this past December.
ST. JAMES MISSION BOOKSTORE - Recently the bookstore has not been open regular hours because of family and health issues facing the Gallaghers. If you need something from the store, please contact Stephanie Knobel (242-1031, sknobel@ymcagreenville.org) or Nancy King (834-5922, naking@greenville.k12.sc.us).
PARKING LOT - The parking lot around St. James will be sealed and striped, weather permitting, at noon on Friday, May 16. The company doing the work has asked that no one drive on the surface for 24 hours after it is sealed; it will be ready by church time on Sunday morning. Please note: the driving pattern will be reversed on the lot in front of the Parish Life Center.
ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY PICKUP, May 24, 8:00 a.m. - Volunteers are needed to help pick up trash along Piney Mountain Road. Orange vests and bags are provided. Contact Cam Walters (233-5185, cam@acitelecom.com) or just show up!
MEMORIAL GARDEN UPDATE - When the Memorial Garden was created, two bronze plaques were purchased for the names of all of those who are interred there. One plaque is located in the nave of the church, the other in the garden itself. For many years, names of the departed were added to both plaques. That practice ended some years ago because of increasing cost. Now the plaque in the garden itself is full, and in the coming weeks the plaque that now hangs in the nave will be moved to the garden and the duplicate nameplates removed. If there is interest, a more modest plaque (perhaps of walnut with brass nameplates) will be placed somewhere in the church. If you have any questions about this, please contact Fr. Tom, Fr. Jonathan, or one of the wardens.
ST. JAMES ANNUAL ATTIC SALE, June 7, 2008 - Save the Date ~ Save the Stuff! The annual Attic Sale is the big fund raiser for the Episcopal Church Women. Much help is needed to make it a success, both workers and donations. For all those things you have been thinking of getting rid of, now is the time! Storage is available now. Fliers to advertise the sale will be in the hallway; please take several to post in your neighborhood or place of business. In addition to being the big fund raiser, this is also a time of fellowship and community service. Be a part of it! For more information, contact the LeDonnes (294-8933, ledonnen@charter.net) or the Dillons (297-9770, bnd9770@charter.net).
ECW BAKE SALE, Saturday, June 7 - Please sign up to donate baked goods for the sale. Please label main ingredients (nuts, chocolate, etc) and bring to the Parish Life Center on Friday, June 6. Thank you!
LET'S GO OUT TO THE BALLGAME - St. James has reserved 50 tickets for the Greenville Drive baseball game on Saturday, June 14. Cost is $7. If you would like to go, please contact Ken Littlejohn (467-9580, alkenlj@charter.net) or see him after the service.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL- June 15-19, 5:30-8:00 p.m. The theme for this year's school is "Rainforest Adventure." We will offer classes for children age 3 through the 5th grade. Helpers are needed in a variety of areas: story leaders, nursery workers, craft leader and helpers. Please see the sign up sheets on the table in the hallway. For more information, please contact Christi McNeill (cmcneill7163@charter.net).
EPISCOPAL VISITATION, Sunday, June 22, 2008 - Bishop Dorsey Henderson will visit St. James on Sunday, June 22. Confirmation will take place at the 10:00 service. Following that service, everyone is invited to attend a reception for Bishop Henderson and the new confirmands. Plan now to come and celebrate this joyous occasion.
FREEZER MINISTRY - Everyone is invited to participate in this ministry by bringing casseroles, etc. to fill the St. James freezer for our homebound members and others in need. Especially helpful are small and medium portions. Please label all ingredients for those who have food allergies. Anyone who knows of a need may make a visit and deliver food. We do ask that you keep a record of each item of food which is brought or delivered; a notebook for this purpose is kept in the kitchen. For more information, contact Marcy Freeman (834-4828).
DID YOU KNOW?
> that every $1 bill placed in the offering plate at St. James goes directly to the reduction of the principal of our building debt. We call them Sunday Dollars
> that you can honor someone you love by providing flowers for the altar? Several dates are still available in July & August. Cost is $50. Sign up on the calendar in the hallway or contact Barbara Cartwright (292-3782, rbcbbc@cs.com). She will help you with the wording for the bulletin.
> that another way to honor your loved ones is by giving a candle for the sanctuary lamp? Several dates are still available. Cost is $10. Sign up on the calendar in the hallway or contact Barbara Hackett (271-1347). She will help you with the wording for the bulletin.
ST. JAMES BLOGS! Check it out: http://blog.stjamesgreenville.org/
DEADLINE FOR NOTICES & ENOTES - The deadline for submitting articles for the weekly eNotes and printed announcement sheet is noon on the Wednesday prior to publication. Please send announcements by e-mail to dena@stjamesgreenville.org.
FOR DIOCESAN NEWS, subscribe online (http://www.edusc.org/Crosswalk/Subscribe.shtml) to e~DUSC, our biweekly electronic newsletter.
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