August 28, 2016

A HOLY MOMENT OF THE WEEK

Send yours to goodnews@saintjamesgi.net

basilica

Fr. Phil caught the sun shining through the ceiling of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Altar Guild Brunch Sunday, August 28, 11:30 am at the lovely gardens of The Bishop’s Cottage on Macomb Street.  Quiche or salad lunch is $15.00.  All Altar Guild members and anyone interested in learning more about the Altar Guild are invited to attend.  See Joan Hemsworth or Linda Kurth for more information.  August 21 is the deadline for reservations.

Help Share Bibles Parishioner Malcolm Williamson is a member of Gideons International. To support the Gideons’ work of distributing Bibles around the world, including in the USA on college campuses and elsewhere, you can send support to: The Gideons International, Detroit Downriver Camp, PO Box 191, Trenton Michigan, 48183.

Ladies, Be Our Guest at The ECW Kick Off Luncheon On Sept 18th at noon at Grosse Ile Golf and Country Club.  Sign up on the table outside the chapel or on the ECW bulletin board. (ECW = Episcopal Church Women)

Exploring Your Spiritual Journey is an intensive diocesan program that helps people reflect on their past, present and future in light of God’s calling. Classes meet twice a month from September to May. Saint James’ has designated funds to help with such costs. If you are interested, see Fr. Phil, Jennifer Drake (a previous student), or http://www.edomi.org/exploring-your-spiritual-journey/  

Help Take Minutes For Vestry  The Saint James’ vestry is in need of a recording secretary to help us record and distribute minutes for our meetings. Please contact Fr. Phil, office@saintjamesgi.net, or Senior Warden Marie Johnson if you can help.

This is The Last Week to Update Your Directory Information or Photo. Send to office@saintjamesgi.net or update your contact information using the link on our homepage: (www.saintjamesgi.net) Photos do not need to be “studio quality,” but please make sure all faces are large, visible, and without sunglasses.

Rummage Accepted After September 12  (Please hold the items you are setting aside until then.) The next sale is Sept. 30 and Oct 1.

If You Have a Warm Smile and enjoy making others feel welcome, the Greeters Ministry may be for you! Use your gifts to welcome both new and current members 15 minutes before the service, up through the first 5 minutes of the service. Email Lynn Blanks at lblanks@wideopenwest.com or speak to her at church.

From Your Treasurer: Interim financial statements for Jan. thru July were mailed last week.  Use yours to: 1) Measure the progress toward your 2016 goal; 2) Plan out your giving for the rest of 2016; and 3) Correct any errors, should there be any.

Packets Of Additional Crowley Envelopes as well as requests for a box of envelopes can be found on the table across from the office.

Mel Bonis Created The Beautiful Hallway Decorations for several seasons, and is starting to gather materials to make similar decorations for the fall.  Please pass on any extra coupons you have for Michaels, Hobby Lobby or JoAnns.  They can be placed in her mailbox in the hallway.

Help Feed the Hungry at the Spirit of Hope Soup Kitchen on Saturday, September 17.  We will do the whole day: cooking and serving.  There are two signups on the Outreach Bulletin Board.  Questions? Contact Amy Kohair at 734 693-0694.

A Weekly Eucharist focusing on a saint is held on Wed’s at 10:15am in the chapel.

Military Family? We will update the Military portion of our parish prayer list in September. Kindly contact the office to let us know who should be added or removed. (New names given to us will be added immediately!)

Boar’s Head 2015 DVDs will be available for purchase starting October 1. Pick them up at Grosse Ile Hardware for only $15. These professionally filmed memories of the entire production are sure to be a big Christmas hit.

A Variety of  Group Studies are Offered Through Saint James

Sunday mornings gather at 9:05am in the Fireplace Room for a Bible Study

Thursdays mornings meet at 10:30am in the library for discussion on short passages from luminaries like Ghandi, C. S. Lewis, and Elie Weisel.

Wednesday evenings the WOW (Women and the Word) group meets in members’ homes.  They are currently discussing the book “Old Testament Times” by R. K. Harrison.. Talk to Sue Hartley (734-675-9503) for more information.

Beginner’s Belly Dance runs on Wednesdays at 7pm in Galloway Hall. Open to all.

Fr. Phil’s Open Office Hours are every Tuesday from 4:30-6:30pm.

We Continue to Collect empty prescription bottles for the St. Frances Cabrini Free Clinic, diapers and coupons for “Bottoms Up,” food and supplies for the Sacred Heart Food Pantry, and toiletries for the homeless.  Collection baskets are in the hallway outside of the office.

 

Features & Articles

Vacation Bible School was a great success!

It’s official!!!  Some families in a poverty ridden country in the world will be receiving a sheep, llama, honey bees and a flock of chicks thanks to the generosity of our Vacation Bible School (VBS) kids this year.  The intent was to collect enough to purchase one sheep through Heifer International but the kids worked hard doing chores for money and some adults contributed as well. Every year VBS chooses a mission for which the children become acquainted and help to support.  It’s all a part of our teaching children to reach out to others.  What a nice visual to imagine some family enjoying the benefits of these animals.

VBS this year accommodated 60 kids enjoying a week of learning, singing, crafting, exploring Science, game playing and eating.  The theme, “Old Bible Times,“ took the children on a journey of discovery about life in the times of Abraham and Moses. Starting with creation, Father Phil gave the children an overview of God’s plan for us from creation to redemption.    Four tribes of Jacob were represented as the children were divided into groups housed in front yard tents complete with a village water well.  Thanks to all who helped make VBS 2016 a memorable event for our own St. James kids and others in the community.

 

An All-Parish Meeting is scheduled for 11:10am on Sunday, September 4, in the Chapel. The purpose of this meeting is to vote on a new license agreement for our neighbors to the north, to legally allow them to use their dock 50 feet out in the Detroit River, though it stretches across our property line.

Background: In 2015 the Saint James’ vestry developed a license agreement to allow our neighbors to the north to legally access the three things that were discovered to be across our property line:  1) An electrical pump; 2) 4.05 feet of seawall; and 3) 16.9 feet of dock.

In light of the proposed license, our neighbors offered to “unencroach” as much as possible, by 1) Moving the encroaching pump to their side of the property line, and 2) Giving up ownership of the encroaching seawall, while agreeing to maintain it.

A new license agreement has been drafted, given the above actions. It has been developed in consultation with the neighbors, our diocese and our own attorney.

The Proposed License Agreement: The proposed license agreement that will be voted on in September has been discussed and accepted unanimously by the vestry. It benefits the church by 1) Licensing much less property; 2) Reducing the licensed area to a small portion of the Detroit River; 3) Formalizing the removal of the pump; 4) Requiring the neighbors to maintain the 4.05 feet of seawall that is on our side of the property line; 5) Ensuring the encroachment does not change the church’s property line due to “averse possession;” and 6) Making the license last for 35 years so this issue does not have to be continually revisited.

Copies Available:  The full proposed license agreement can be found on the resource table across from the main office. Please take a copy of the agreement and look it over. If you have questions, you may address them to any member of the vestry, Fr. Phil, or Carl Colwell <carl@carlcolwell.com> who is both a vestryman and an attorney.

 

SERVING THIS WEEK

THESE ROLES ARE ALWAYS OPEN to new participants. To serve in one of these capacities send an email to that effect to office@saintjamesgi.net .

August 28  
Altar Guild Carole Vandenberg, Meren James
8am 1st lesson reader Mark McPherson
8am Eucharistic Minister Tom Coleman
10am 1st lesson reader MaryLou Cartwright
2nd lesson, prayers chalice Andrew Johnson
Ushers Dave & Judy Christie
Greeters Dave & Judy Christie

SAINT JAMES WISH LIST

Below are some things that St. James would love to have, but the budget does not allow them at this time. If one of these items speaks to your heart, please make a donation toward the purchase. All partial gifts will be gratefully accepted and put toward the total cost. Also, if you see or think of something that should be on this list, please let us know.

 

  1. KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR NEW ITEMS SOON!

 

Thank you, thank you, and thank you!

  

🎵 🎶 🎶🎵  MUSIC NOTES  🎵🎶🎶 🎵

Choir season is fast approaching! We are doing some very exciting music this year, including some great standards by composers Ralph Vaughan Williams and John Rutter, exciting new pieces by composers Jocelyn Hagen and Benjamin Wegner, and even a Bach Cantata in December, “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland” BWV 61, complete with soloists and orchestra! This is not a year you want to miss! Bell choir will also be doing some exciting work this year as well! Please let me know if you plan to attend! The first rehearsal for the St. James Bell Choir is Sept. 8th at 6:30PM, and the first rehearsal for the St. James Adult Choir is Sept. 8th at 7:30PM. All are welcome!

I would also like to open up signup for a youth choir, if there are enough people interested. There is a lot of potential for growth here at St. James and I am excited to see what we can build! The Elementary and Jr. High/High School Choirs will perform exciting and fun music that will grow their musical abilities and provide spiritual uplift during services, and will also, like the adult choirs, challenge us and help us to grow as both musicians and people! Please sign up!  The youth choir will rehearse Tuesdays at 7:30PM, starting on Sept. 6th.

Signup for any of these choirs and the bell choir will be posted outside the office door of the Minister of Music. You can also email me directly at music@saintjamesgi.net.

In other exciting news, this year St. James will be starting a recital series. Our first concert of the season, Violin, Voice, and Piano is Sept. 10th at 7:30PM! I will be joined by violinist and pianist Yi Chieh Anita Chiu, performing works by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Charles Ives, and Antonin Dvorak!

See you in rehearsal! –Bobby Ragoonanan

 

CELEBRATIONS & PRAYERS

We Celebrate Birthdays This Week

  Jim Galleher (8/29) Michael Bisaro (8/30) Emely Lange (8/30)
  Katherine Kaszubski (9/1) Kevin Miles (9/1) Emily Gall (9/2)
  Mali Sauter (9/3)    

 

We Celebrate Anniversaries This Week

  Emely & Bob Lange  (8/27) Pat & Dennis Bracey (8/21))
  Michael & John Glover (8/22) Adrienne Gorris & Eddie Gall (8/23)
  Lori & Ed Will (8/23) Emely & Bob Lange (8/23)

Please Pray This Week For Healing         

  Lee Jerry Zavadil Maureen Kohn
  Jerry John Kurth Marsha Childress
  Pete Fernandes Jean Fernandes Andrew Brunell
  Philip Metz, Sr. Denise deBeausset Judy Williams
  Allison Bell Charles Carol Tyler Gacioch
  Joan Klose Marge Stahlman Jackson Bruce Beidler
  Barbara Bishop Tamara Howes Thomas
  Charlie Rice Antoinette Woodward Liam – being adopted
  Pat Zavadil Wayne Laviolette Irene Will
  Annie Krueger Mary B Donna D
  Lisa Hayworth Brett Ready Mary F

Pray for those serving in The Church   For leaders of the worldwide church, for Philip our priest, members of our vestry, heads of our guilds & committees, and the staff and lay leaders of this congregation; for those engaged in mission work, for Jamie Treadwell in England, Todd and Patsy McGregor & family in Kenya, El Hogar in Honduras, and the Spirit of Hope Soup Kitchen in Detroit.

Pray for those serving in the military  Drew, Jimmy Adams, AJ Allen, Billie Ray Brewer, John Chambers, J.B. Faistenhammer, Cristopher Gernand, Devon Goyert, Steven Grzywa Jr., Matt Hertl, Keith Johnson, Laura Levillier,  Blake Liddle, Ken Matthews, Buckley Neal, PJ Ramsey, Brett Ready, Ronald Riling, Christopher Rodgers, Kristina Rodgers, Dr. Bettina Sauter, Jonathan Southerland, Travis Tam, Alexander Turin, and Jeff Speer.

To ensure our Lists are current petitions for healing are listed for 4 weeks per submission. Names may be re-submitted any number of times to office@saintjamesgi.net.