WE STARTED ACCEPTING RUMMAGE this week, and will be doing so through Sat, Sept 28. Anyone can help out – it’s so fun and rewarding! The drop-in pre-sort week starts Monday, the 23rd of September. Bring your own lunch, please. The main Work Week starts Monday, September 30 with lunches provided. If you have any questions, please contact Blanche Hutchison 313-657-1726

PLEASE CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSETS AND BASEMENT and bring your rummage to church. It will go to someone who needs it and the money will fund countless ministries at Saint James and around the world.

THE BLESSING BOX NEEDS FOOD! Our Blessing Box is being used on a daily basis and we can’t let the food run out. We have an abundance of canned vegetables, but are in need of peanut butter, jelly, tuna fish, toilet paper, and paper towels. Thank you to all of the daily volunteers who are the Blessing Box
Caregivers!  Your work is working!

MAYBE BRING THE SAME ITEM OF FOOD EVERY SUNDAY? It’s an idea for the Blessing Box. When you’re at Kroger add 1 of something healthy and delicious (or useful like toiletries). Then bring it on Sunday or even once a month. The more we have the more we can give and share! If you have kids in your hoursehold give them the job of bringing the can, box, or package to church and putting it in the basket.

GI PAY BRIDGE BOND PROPOSAL – An info meeting will be held on Weds, Oct 9 @ 6 PM in the Township Hall on Groh. Info is also on the Township website.

BELL CHOIR AND VOCAL CHOIR are welcoming newcomers. Do you like to sing? Do you enjoy making music? Show up on Thursday at 6:30 for handbells or 7:30 for singers. Reach out to Kevin Cishke on Sunday morning to find out more.

“I FOUND A QUILTED HEART” Have you ever wanted to do a completely anonymous act of kindness to
bring a stranger a bit of joy, comfort or love into their life?  “I Found A Quilted Heart” might be for you. Check out the website www.IFAQH.com for more info. Sewers, quilters, or people who can hand-sew make palm-sized quilted hearts to leave anonymously in public places for others to find. The IFAQH was started by 3 sisters 10 years ago who wanted a way to bring a bit of joy to total strangers.  They are also on Facebook under “I Found A Quilted Heart”.  I was introduced to IFAQH by Rev. Maryjane Peck (who is the interim minister at St. Thomas in Trenton) and I am so happy she pointed me in their direction!  IFAQH is going on worldwide bringing comfort, joy & love to those on God’s Earth!  Submitted by Sharon Metz

THE GROSSE ILE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE our annual fall fundraiser, The Monster Bash, a Halloween-themed adult costume party.  The “terrifying night of food, dancing, fun and auctions” will be held at the Grosse Ile Golf and Country Club on October 12, 2024, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.  Entertainment will be provided by the Killer Flamingos. Sponsorships and ticket information can be found on our website,  https://gieducationalfoundation.org/ Your attendance and  “monsterous” support at past fundraisers have allowed our nonprofit to provide opportunities to promote excellence and innovation in our mission, supporting both our Grosse Ile Township Schools and our Community, as a whole.  Since 1995, the GIEF has awarded over $1.8 million in grants. If you have any questions, please contact GIEF Treasurer, Andrea Stevenson at 734-775-3892

HAVE YOU HEARD OF VELCRO DARTS?   The Saint James Men’s Group is bringing a kinder, gentler version of “dartball” to Saint James this fall called “velcro dartball”. “Dartball” is a game that was first introduced in the 1920’s, and is played and scored just like baseball on a 4’ by 4’ board with the image of a baseball diamond on it.  Wood darts that are about 7” long, with 3 or 4 turkey feathers and a steel tip are thrown at the board, underhand, from 20’ away. It is a game played on a one or two sided 29” round dart board made of fabric with sticky “dart balls”.There could be games for the youth at Saint James as well as games for the adults.  Teams of youth, of 8 o’clockers, of 10 o’clockers, of women, of men — the sky’s the limit!  If there’s interest from other island churches, an InterFaith dartball league could even be started!  Go to the internet and take a look at “velcro dartball”, and then, if you want to RSVP yes to the Men’s Group invitation and sign up for Team Saint James, have “your people” let “our people” know! David Hartwell Saint James Men’s Group
313 318-9009 cell / text

OUR BACKPACK PROGRAM IS BACK!  We are so excited to announce that our backpack program with GI Public Schools has been approved for the 2024/2025 school year! Thank you for making this program so successful our first year. We will tentatively begin the program this week.  We again will provide a backpack filled with 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners plus snacks to students in need, identified by the schools, every Friday.  We would love contributions that are individual serving sizes. Examples: juice boxes, milk boxes, Mac & cheese, cereals, Chef Boyardee spaghetti, cheese and crackers, peanut butter and jelly, etc.  Please contact Mary Ann Danville if you have any questions. There is a drop-off box in the hallway by the office!

FREE COVID TESTS are available from the government once again. Every household can receive a free kit with 4 tests. Go do COVID.gov/tests and you will see instructions. Shipping is free too.

IF POLITICAL TEXTS are flooding your phone, a recent article I read says to reply STOP to the text, exactly that way: all caps and only the word STOP. I have tried it and it works! -Fr Phil

BOOK GROUP IS 1:30PM THURSDAYS – This week we discuss Chapter Chapter 3 of “The Bible Jesus Read” by Philip Yancy.

“LISETTE” BOOKS all about the life of our founder, Elizabeth Denison Forth, are available in the office for a donation of $15. These have not been available for decades, so don’t miss this chance to get a copy!

OUR CHURCH CALENDAR is just a click away at SaintJamesGi.net. Click on the prominent link on our home page to see all the things.

GET THE GOOD NEWS WEEKLY in your inbox by signing up at eepurl.com/hfL-Az. Add us to your Contacts: stjamessunrise@gmail.com

MEMBER DIRECTORIES are available in print or PDF.

A MIDWEEK SERVICE AND LUNCH POTLUCK is held in the chapel on Wednesday mornings at 10:15am. The potluck lunch follows.

WHEN SCHEDULING EVENTS, check the church calendar online at www.saintjamesgi.net . To be added to the calendar, you must schedule with Colleen in the office at 734-676-1727 or office@saintjamesgi.net.

SERMONS are posted at YouTube.com/SaintJamesGi and saintjamesgi.net

FR. PHIL’S OPEN OFFICE DROP-IN HOURS are Tuesdays from 4:30-6 p.m.

NEW MEMBERS, please fill out a new member form on the resource table so we can reach out to you with parish updates!

GLUTEN FREE WAFERS are always available at communion. Just ask!

SECRETARY OFFICE HOURS are Tue 9-2, Weds 9-3 & Thurs 9-4

CALL OR TEXT FR. PHIL at 734-775-7140.