Happy New Church Year!

A CHILDREN’S SERMON is planned for this morning at the 10am service.

POINSETTIA & MUSIC DEDICATIONS are now being accepted. Dedicate the beautiful poinsettias or Christmas woodwind quartet in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving for a blessing. Use the forms found in the bulletin or on the resource table. Please turn in the form and your donation of any size to the office by Sunday, December 17.

THE ANGEL TREE IS BACK! We need all of you to help bless over 40 needy individuals! Please grab a tag off the tree in the main church narthex and help a child/family this Christmas season. Please wrap gifts and keep the original tag. Turn in by Dec. 10th. Any questions please see Natalia Baker

THE BOAR’S HEAD FESTIVAL IS THIS WEEK! Get tickets at boarsheadgi.com for performances on December 7, 8, 9, 10. The Grosse Ile Boar’s Head Festival is a 400-person community event with full orchestra, an original score, a choir of 40-50, and many moving moments. Fun and simple roles are still available! Sign up at https://bit.ly/bhvolunteer23.

YOUR REMASTERED DIRECTORY PHOTO is available from Google at https://tinyurl.com/sj23pics (a short link to Google Drive). Scroll to find your last name, then right click and choose “Download.” These are your professionally taken photos that we have remastered in Photoshop for brightness and clarity, making them suitable for enlargement, and framing.

UPDATE YOUR DIRECTORY PICTURE with your Christmas photo or any photo that you especially like. Just email your “highest quality” image to goodnews@saintjamesgi.net and please make sure there are no hats or sunglasses in the shot. You can get an updated directory any time by requesting one from the office.

THE SEAWAY CHORALE will perform their Christmas Concert, “That’s Christmas to Me”, on Dec. 17, here at St. James!  Concert starts at 5pm in the Main Church. Come get in the Christmas Spirit!!  Ask Colleen Herman (in the office) or Jennifer Engle for more information.

PLEASE TURN IN YOUR PLEDGE CARD for 2024. Online cards can be found at www.bit.ly/SJ-grateful or by scanning this code. Please be generous as we expand our ministries in 2024!

EXTRA HALLOWEEN CANDY can still be dropped off in the main office if you’re looking for an easy way to lighten the load. We’ll use it in our “chocolate ministry” basket for all to enjoy!

FOR SALE An Inogen portable oxygen machine, in gently used condition.  If interested, please contact Cindi Jett at 734-552-3187

ORDER HOLIDAY GIFT CARDS THROUGH ST. JAMES: If you order gift cards through the church, a portion of your order goes to support Saint James. You don’t pay extra; we just get a percentage! Here’s the process:
1) Find an ORDER FORM on the resource table and a stapled packet of available retailers.
2) On the Order Form list as many cards as you want.
3) Return the Order Form and a check made out to “St. James SCRIP” to Lynn Blanks or the main office. We will submit orders on Sunday, Dec 3 and Sunday, Dec 10.
4) Orders can be picked up on the following Sunday or from Colleen in the main office.
Gift Cards are easy gifts everyone loves! All your favorite stores are offered: entertainment, dining, gas and auto, electronics, office, health and beauty, home improvement, clothing, sporting goods.  Thank you for supporting Saint James~

LAST DAY FOR KRINGLES! Text or email David Hartwell at 313 318-9009 or dhartwell4@yahoo.com with your order no later than Sunday, December 3.  Pick up your freshly baked Kringle(s) at Saint James on December 20.  12 flavors to choose from, and only $12 each.

THE SAINT JAMES STEEPLECHASERS will be on the road once again—this time to First Baptist Church of Troy on Saturday, December 16 to attend a Christmas cantata that includes all 12 members of the Mieczkowski Family in the orchestra.  youtu.be/nYC0iWvKRDU  We will start this holiday adventure from the Saint James parking lot, and we plan to caravan, but we can meet those of you who live off-island at a convenient parking lot in Trenton or Woodhaven. Kate Hartwell 313 318-3275  David Hartwell 313 318-9009

FORWARD DAY BY DAY booklets can be found on the resource table across from the office. These little books contain daily meditations to help you set your mind on Christ and refocus your heart. The books are free to church members. Give it a try! (We order them automatically, so if you don’t take a book we’ll waste it, so please grab one.)

CHARLES DICKENS IS COMING to Saint James on Saturday, December 23, at 7:00 p.m. in our historic chapel. Come and see our own Mark McPherson transform in character into Charles Dickens in a short two-act performance sure to get you into the Christmas Spirit. There’s no cost of admission, free-will donations will benefit the Friday Fill-Up Backpack project. Supported by the Men’s Group and ECW.

THE CHRISTNET WARMING SHELTER is returning to Grosse Ile in early January. We feed the Downriver homeless and give them a warm place to sleep. Volunteers from the island churches provide dinners and nightly supervision. St. James will be providing the dinner and supervision on Monday. Once the date is determined there will be sign up sheets for food and supervision times in the hallway. Sue Lowery, Interfaith Council Rep, 734-771-2503.

BOOK GROUP MEETS THURSDAYS at 10:30 a.m. in the library across from the office. For December 7 we’ll read chapter 6 of “How the Irish Saved Civilization.” It’s an open drop-in study.

RECEIVE CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS BY EMAIL by adding yourself to the mailing list at http://eepurl.com/hfL-Az. Please also add us to your contact list: stjamessunrise@gmail.com

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION OR PHOTO by sending an email to goodnews@saintjamesgi.net or calling 734-676-1727.

MEMBER DIRECTORIES are available on demand. Reach out to us in the office if you would like one, either in print or as a digital copy.

YOUTUBE SERMONS can be found at YouTube.com/SaintJamesGi and on our website at www.saintjamesgi.net

“SAINT’S STORIES” SERVICES are held in the chapel on Wednesday mornings at 10:15am. An optional potluck lunch follows.

CHECK THE OFFICE CALENDAR when scheduling events at Saint James. Contact Colleen in the office at 734-676-1727 or
office@saintjamesgi.net.

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

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

SERMONS are posted online at SaintJamesGi.net

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

SECRETARY OFFICE HOURS:  Tue 9-2, Weds 9-3 and Thurs 9-4.

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