| A HOLY MOMENT OF THE WEEK
Send yours to goodnews@saintjamesgi.net
Fr. Phil and Libby serving up delicious Sloppy Joes during the work week for Greens Market. |
Flute Music to get you in the Christmas Spirit The Herman Flute choir will be performing some wonderful Christmas Music on December 15, 2018 at 5pm right here in the St. James Main Sanctuary! Please come support Colleen and her flute choir while they offer up some beautiful flute music for your enjoyment! A free will offering will be taken up and a portion will be donated back to St. James.
Last day to order Holiday Scrip gift cards is Sunday, December 16, at 1:00. See Lynn Blanks after church to place your final orders.
Men’s Ministry Coat Drive The Men’s Ministry Group is once again sponsoring a Winter Coat and Clothing Drive for the Spirit of Hope community. Men’s coats and jackets, sweaters, scarves, gloves and mittens are all needed and deeply appreciated. Bring your donations to Church on Sunday December 16 and 23. Women’s coats will also be accepted and you are always welcome to purchase something new if you don’t have anything used to donate. Thanks, as always for your continued support and generosity!
To Dedicate Christmas Poinsettias or Strings as a memorial gift or thank offering, please submit this morning’s bulletin insert to the office with your intentions clearly printed or contact the office at 734-676-1727 or office@saintjamesgi.net. The offering amount is your choice. All intentions will be printed in the bulletins throughout the Christmas Season. Our print deadline is noon Wednesday, December 19.
Carolers Wanted! The St. James Youth Group invites You to do some Caroling this Christmas season! The more the Merrier, so please bring your friends! We will sing Saturday the December 22nd to Church members on and off the island. The music will be provided and PIZZA!!!! Meeting at Church at 5 pm and should be done by 9 pm! Please see Natalia Baker for questions.
What Questions Have You Always Wondered About? Fr. Phil is preparing a January sermon that will be dedicated to answering your questions. Please submit your questions in print: You can hand them to Fr. Phil, slide them under his office door, or email them to questions@saintjamesgi.net. We need 6-8 good questions to make the sermon work.
Would You Consider Vestry? At our annual meeting in January we need to elect four persons to the governing board of Saint James, known as the “vestry.” Vestry persons serve for 3 years on a team of 12 persons, led by the Senior Warden and Rector. All parish decisions about money and property are decided entirely by the vestry. The vestry is also a goal-setting and vision-setting board that helps to guide the direction of the congregation’s ministries. Please speak to an existing vestry member (they have blue nametags) or to Fr. Phil to learn more.
The Church Office will be closed during Christmas week. Merry Christmas!
The Annual Meeting of the congregation is set for Sunday, January 27. If you are in charge of any ministry area in the congregation, please begin thinking about your annual report. Written copies of all reports are needed in the office by Wednesday, January 16.
Food in the Kitchen – Please do not leave food (especially sweets) on the kitchen counter. Take home any leftovers or store them wrapped in the refrigerator. All food in the refrigerator must be covered. Things like candy or commercially wrapped items are ok to leave on the counter.
Alpha Course Registration for two Winter Sessions is now open. ALPHA helps participants grow in their relationship with Christ through shared group experience and discussion around 11 different questions of the faith. Upcoming programs will be held on Saturday mornings or Thursday evenings, beginning in mid-February. A “Come and See” ALPHA preview night is being held on January 31st at 6:30 PM at Sacred heart. Attendees of that night’s session do not have a commitment to join the full class. http://www.grosseilealpha.com.
Coffee Hour Do you enjoy coming back for coffee? It is a great time to visit with people and to get involved at St. James. However, we do need volunteers to make the coffee, bring simple dessert, and clean up. Please consider taking a turn. You are always welcome to bring cookies or dessert that can be frozen for those Sundays when there are no volunteers. There is usually a sign up sheet on the table. See Joan Hemsworth for more information.
If you Make An Advent Wreath at home with four candles you can use the website below for a short family prayer. Feel free to modify it for your own use – www.thisischurch.com/prayer_worship/liturgy/adventwreath.htm
The Deadline for Pledge Cards is here Please help us plan next year’s budget by informing us about what you plan to give to support the church next year. This “pledge” is a big help (it is also required that we give the number of pledgers to the diocese – so please help us have a big number of pledges to report). For your convenience an online pledge card can be found at www.saintjamesgi.net/pledge while physical pledge cards can be found on the resource table across from the office along with pink envelopes. Completed cards can be placed in the offering plate, in the box behind the door in the main office, or in an envelope addressed to 25150 East River, Grosse Ile, MI 48138.
“The Greatest Early Christian Controversies” is the topic of the Thursday Book Group. After two weeks off for Thanksgiving and Greens Market the group will convene again on Thursday, December 6, in the library at 1:30. This series will not be a book but a video. At the start of the meeting we will watch a 25 minute video of the Duke Divinity School Professor of New Testament, Bart Ehrman Ph.D. With over 24 books to his name, including 4 New York Times bestsellers, Ehrman will speak on one controversy a week, after which the group will discuss our opinions and reactions. The first two “controversies” have to do with Bethlehem being the place of Jesus’ birth and whether it is possible that Mary could conceive as a virgin.
Do You Play Flute? Our interim minister of music, Jim Johnson, wants to know if anyone could help play flute for Christmas Eve or Advent services. Please contact him at 734-788-4364 as soon as possible.
The ECW’s 43rd Annual Spiritual Journey “Sharing Our Stories” with Rev. Mary Jane Peck Jan. 17-19, 2018, Columbiere Center, Clarkston ($205 for a single room) ($185 for a double room) Check the ECW FB page or the hallway bulletin board for more info.
Capital Campaign gifts can be given online at saintjamesgi.net/cc150 Thank you!
Open Bible Study A drop-in Bible Study runs every Sunday morning from 9:05-9:50AM in the Fireplace Room. The study requires no preparation, and you can come on whatever Sundays are convenient for you. Drop in any time!
Gluten-Free Wafers are always available at communion. Just ask.
Secretary Office Hours: Colleen is in the office Tues-Thurs 9-2, & Fri 9-noon.
Open Office Hours Fr. Phil is available for appointments throughout the week for meetings of any length, but on Tuesday evenings you never need an appointment. Drop in any Tuesday between 4:30-6:30 pm and say hello.
FEATURES AND ARTICLES
Send your write-ups about parish events to goodnews@saintjamesgi.net
CHRISTMAS SERVICES will be held on the days and times listed below.
The Blue Christmas service is for those who may be experiencing some grief this year. Friday, Dec 21, 7pm, Chapel.
The 4PM Pageant Service is open to all children and youth on that night – you can’t have too many shepherds, sheep, or angels. Please speak to Nancy Crysler asap to secure a speaking role. Monday, Dec 24, 4pm, Main Church.
The 11PM “Midnight Mass” has a 30-minute festival of music preceding it, beginning at 10:30pm. This will include many Christmas Carols to be sung by all. The worship service begins at 11pm. A STRING QUARTET will be part of this holy festival service. Monday, Dec 24, 11pm, Main Church.
The 10AM Christmas Day Service has been growing every year! Last year over 30 people attended. This morning service is held in the intimacy of the chapel in the brightness of Christmas morning. Tuesday, Dec 25, 10am, Chapel.
People are impressed when you are proud of your church and want to share it. Invite family and friends. They might surprise you and say yes!
SAINT JAMES WISH LIST
Listed 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 at goodnews@saintjamesgi.net!
Section Leaders for the Choir — $10,000
This unbudgeted item would be a gift to the choir and the congregation if there is interest in the congregation to support it. Section leaders support choral and congregational singing by bringing a strong trained voice to the soprano, alto, tenor, and bass sections of the choir. In partnership with our Minister of Music they help teach and train the choir members during rehearsals. They also sing on Sunday mornings, bring strong harmonies to the hymns, provide strong voice support to anthems, and add depth to our weekly experience of worship. Section leaders are often (though not always) college students who are dedicating themselves to voice training and instruction. As someone on vestry said, this could be thought of as a ministry to college students as well as to the rest of us. Gifts of any amount are being accepted toward the goal of $10,000, which would support four section leaders for one year.
CELEBRATIONS & PRAYERS
We Celebrate Birthdays This Week
| Steven DePaul (12/16) | Matthew Drake (12/16) | Hannah Thomas (12/16) | |
| Randi Mammo (12/17) | Yvette Johnson (12/20) | ||
We Celebrate Anniversaries This Week
|
Please Pray This Week For Healing
| Bruce Stahlman | Jerry Zavadil | John Brass | |
| Linda Kohn | Jean Fernandes | Jackson Beidler | |
| Robert Kohn | Michael Stoddart | Gregory Kohn | |
| Ron Kohn | Alex | Kate Kohn Parrott | |
| William Sabo | Shaun Stahlman | Michelle Mills | |
| John Marion | James Marion | Sally Byers | |
| Robert Scarborough | Debbie Larkin | Peggy Roy | |
| Yanet | John Huddlestone | Mary Phillips | |
| Jennifer Engle |
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 AJ Allen, Buckley Neal, JP Pandoff, Brett Ready, Dr. Bettina Sauter, Alexander Turin, and Alex Bearden.
**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
PARISH CONTACTS
To update information contact goodnews@saintjamesgi.net or 734-676-17
| STAFF | CHURCH OFFICE | office@saintjamesgi.net | 734-676-1727 | |||
| Rector | The Rev. Phil Dinwiddie | rector@saintjamesgi.net | ||||
| Minister of Music | Jim Johnson | jjcricket1958@yahoo.com | ||||
| Secretary
Sexton |
Colleen Herman
Harold Schwochow |
office@saintjamesgi.net
office@saintjamesgi.net |
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| VESTRY | Treasurer | Curt Crysler ‘19 | treasurer@saintjamesgi.net | |||
| Member-at-Large | Carl Colwell ‘19 | carl@carlcolwell.com | ||||
| Member-at-Large | Margaret Horvath ‘19 | mhorvath@comcast.net | ||||
| Recording Secretary | Lynda VanEngelen ‘19 | barrylyndahtg@wowway.com | ||||
| Member-at-Large | Mel Bonis ‘20 | melandron@wowway.com | ||||
| Building & Grounds Jr. Warden | Jeff Faistenhammer ‘20 | jfaisten@yahoo.com | ||||
| Secretary of the Vestry | Beth Primeau ‘20 | bethholliday323@gmail.com | ||||
| Member-at-Large | Barbara Valmassei ‘20 | btvalmassei@comcast.net | ||||
| Member-at-Large | Tom Benson ‘21 | thomas.b.benson@gmail.com | ||||
| Member-at-Large | Laurent Chappuis ‘21 | lbchappuis@icloud.com | ||||
| Member-at-Large | Kim Faistenhammer ‘21 | kfaisten@gmail.com | ||||
| Senior Warden | Blanche Hutchison ‘21 | bhutchison1@hotmail.com | ||||
| MINISTRIES | Acolytes | Tom & Erica Benson | (231) 690-9655 | |||
| Altar Guild | Linda Kurth
Michael Glover |
(734) 675-1506
(734) 676-1062 |
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| Bell Choir | Jim Johnson | Jjcricket1958@yahoo.com | ||||
| Chapel Tours | Kate Hartwell | (313) 318-3275 | ||||
| Children’s Ministries | Nancy Crysler | ncrysler@outlook.com | ||||
| Choir | Jim Johnson | Jjcricket1958@yahoo.com | ||||
| Church Rejuvenation | Sue Hartley
Judy Christie |
suecartwright1@comcast.net
(734) 323-8663 |
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| Counters | Curt Crysler | treasurer@saintjamesgi.net | ||||
| Eucharistic Ministers & Readers | Sue Weston | (734) 931-2232 | ||||
| Episcopal Church Women | Colleen Lough | colleenlough@gmail.com | ||||
| Finance Committee | Curt Crysler | treasurer@saintjamesgi.net | ||||
| Greeters | Lynn Blanks | lblanks@wideopenwest.com | ||||
| Helping Hands | Linda Kurth | (734) 675-1506 | ||||
| Interfaith Council/ Outreach | Sue Lowery
Jane Colwell |
(734) 675-0417
(734) 671-9446 |
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| Men’s Ministry Group | Jim Holubka | jholubka@sbcglobal.net | ||||
| Memorial Garden | Carole Vandenberg | (734) 671-6492 | ||||
| Office | Colleen Herman | office@saintjamesgi.net | ||||
| Pastoral Care Team | Marie Johnson | (734) 671-6502 | ||||
| Prayer Team | Herman Rugel | (734) 250-3375 | ||||
| Rainbow Bell Choir | Sue Johnson | (734) 783-1752 | ||||
| SCRIP & Kroger Rewards | Lynn & Paul Blanks | lblanks@wideopenwest.com | ||||
| Soup Kitchen | Amy & Frank Kohair | (734) 693-0694 | ||||
| Ushers | Carl Colwell | carlcolwell@hotmail.com | ||||
| Vestry | Marie Johnson | (734) 671-6502 | ||||
| Worship Committee | Fr. Phil | rector@saintjamesgi.net | ||||
| Youth Group – Sr. High | Fr. Phil | rector@saintjamesgi.net | ||||
SERVING THIS WEEK
THESE ROLES ARE ALWAYS OPEN to new participants.
To join a team contact the office at goodnews@saintjamesgi.net
| December 16, 2018 | |
| Altar Guild | Carol Nankervis, Laura Fornwalt, Marilou Arvin |
| 8am 1st lesson reader | Mike Callahan |
| 8am Eucharistic Minister | Kim Faistenhammer |
| 10 am 1st lesson reader | Pat Zavadil |
| 10am 2nd lesson & chalice | Jim Holubka |
| 10am prayers & chalice | Andrew Johnson |
| Ushers | Sue Anderson, Car Colwell, Robin Knudson, Chi Paik |
| Greeters | Robin Knudson, Sue Anderson |
| 10 am Acolytes | Caleb Johnson, Landon Johnson |
| 10 am Crucifer | Andrew Johnson |
| Prayer Team | Colleen Lough & Madeleine Jones |
| December 23, 2018 | |
| Altar Guild | L. Kurth, J. Dermody, B. Hutchison, L. Zook, M. Glover |
| 8am 1st lesson reader | Meren James |
| 8am Eucharistic Minister | Sue Weston |
| 10 am 1st lesson reader | Mike Bisaro |
| 10am 2nd lesson & chalice | Blanche Hutchison |
| 10am prayers & chalice | Jane Colwell |
| Ushers | David & Judy Christie, Jack Hartley, Chuck Kurth |
| Greeters | Chuck & Linda Kurth |
| 10 am Acolytes | Joi Boswell, Crystal Turner |
| 10 am Crucifer | Tommy Shumate |
| Prayer Team | Natalia & Anthony Baker |
| December 24 | Christmas Eve |
| Altar Guild | L. Kurth, J. Dermody, B. Hutchison, L. Zook, M. Glover |
| 4pm 1st lesson reader | |
| 4pm Eucharistic Minister | |
| 11pm 1st lesson reader | Lynn Blanks |
| 11pm 2nd lesson & chalice | Andrew Johnson |
| 11pm prayers & chalice | Warren Johnson |
| 4pm Ushers
11pm Ushers |
David & Judy Christie, Robin Knudson, Chuck Kurth
Paul & Lynn Blanks, Carl Colwell, Jack Hartley |
| 4pm Greeters
11pm Greeters |
Dave & Judy Christie
Lynn & Paul Blanks |
| 4pm Crucifer
11pm Crucifer |
Caleb Johnson, Landon Johnson |
| 14pm Acolytes
11pm Acolytes |
Mitch Lewis |