February 26, 2017

A HOLY MOMENT OF THE WEEK

Send yours to goodnews@saintjamesgi.net

choir practicing

The choir practicing on Sunday morning.

Join us This Saturday, February 25 at 7:30PM in the chapel as Minister of Music Robert Ragoonanan and guests perform music from the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, in the next installment of our Special Music Series!

The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper is an extravaganza of chocolate, sugar and friends scheduled for February 28th at 6:00 PM in Galloway Hall. Get in one last Hurrah before the start of Lent!

Fr. Phil is looking for 5 households willing to host a series of 3 Bible Studies in your home during the months of April, May, and June. Hosting consists of preparing a light dessert (e.g. brownies) and welcoming parishioners for 60-90 minutes on a day and time of your choosing.

Ash Wednesday is March 1st. Short services will be held in our chapel 6:15-6:45am, 10:15-11am & 7-7:40pm. Please make it a priority to attend services at Saint James or near your place of work to mark a holy beginning of Lent.

Lenten Potlucks begin on Wednesday, March 8th. The meal begins at 6:30PM in Galloway Hall. Come early at 6:15 for a meditative optional Evening Prayer service in the chapel. If you’re able stay afterwards for Fr. Phil’s program which begins at 7:15. Each evening will be finished by 8PM or earlier.

Private Confession is always available in the Episcopal Church. Lent is an especially good time to consider making a confession. Falling under the category of “All may, some should, none must” Confession is usually undertaken by a person who is entering a new phase of life or who is having a hard time feeling forgiven or who is feeling a particular desire to clean the slate. To schedule a private confession contact Fr. Phil at rector@saintjamesgi.net or 734-775-7140.

Lenten Communion Bread  Would you like to bake Communion Bread during Lent? Please contact Krista in the office if you can help.

First Communion Will Be Celebrated on Mother’s Day, May 14th at the 10am service for students in 2nd grade or above.  Preparation for students will begin Sunday, March 19  and meet each Sunday (except Easter) after the 10am service for 30 minutes in the River Room.  See Nancy Crysler to enroll your child(ren).

Sister Betty Continues Her Journey Through The Seasons with an uplifting spring mini-retreat of prayer, reflection and sharing.  This short, yet insightful program offers a look at the season of spring as one of transformation — seed to bud, darkness to light, lost to found, and surrender to resurrection.  All are welcome on Tuesday, March 21 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the Grosse Ile Sacred Heart Parish Center / 21599 Parke Lane / 734 676-1378 x203.  Refreshments will be served. A freewill offering will be collected.  Questions?  Call Kate Hartwell at 313 318-3275.

A Men’s Bible Study meets Tuesday evenings at Community Bible Church in Trenton. See Anthony Baker for more info: 908-338-4653 or abaker209@gmail.com

Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner, Saturday March 18th, 5:30-7pm.  Featuring Irish Music.  Donation $12 for adults, $8 for children 6-17, and free for 5 & under.

Dartball Update: Those of us who watched the games Monday night were treated to two teams in the nine team Monroe area church dartball league having a lot of fun playing a game that traces its origins back to the 1920’s. You are encouraged to visit wikipedia.org/wiki/Dartball and let David Hartwell know what it would it take for you to sign up to become a Saint James dartball player.  Phone or text 313 318-9009 or email dhartwell4@yahoo.com

The Middle School Youth Group meets twice a month after the 10am service for a relaxed conversation and snacks. We will cover Bible stories and share our testimonies. Upcoming gatherings: Feb 26 and March 12 (Parents can pick up at noon.) Any questions please see Natalia or Anthony or call @ 908-656-0915.

A Children’s Choir  (K-5) meets on Sundays after the 10am service. Talk to Jill Robinson (robinsonjill25@yahoo.com) or Bobby to find out more.

Group Studies of many kinds are offered through Saint James. On Sunday mornings we gather at 9:05am in the Fireplace Room for an open Bible Study. On Thursday mornings we meet at 10:30am in the library to discuss the writings of famous Saints. On Wednesday mornings we have a 10:15am service of Holy Communion in the chapel. Contact the office for more information.

Fr. Phil’s Open Office Hours: Drop in for up to half an hour with the rector on any Tuesday between 4:00-6:30 – no appointment necessary! Fr. Phil is also available for hour-long conversations on any day by appointment. Contact him by email: rector@saintjamesgi.net, cell: 734-775-7140 or at the office: 734-676-1727.

Features & Articles

Long-form stories about upcoming events, or events just passed are printed here. Submit a Feature or Article by sending to goodnews@saintjamesgi.net. Photos are always welcome.

Serve the Homeless

through Inter-Faith Council and ChristNet

Sign up on the Inter-Faith Council Bulletin Board in the hall

or call Sue Lowery (675-0417) or Jane Colwell (671-9446).

 Christnet, a warming shelter, comes to Grosse Ile twice a year as it rotates around the Downriver Community.  Approximately 30 homeless people will be served dinner, given a place to sleep, and provided breakfast in the morning. The Grosse Ile Presbyterian church will be housing our guests.  Every island church hosts the event for one night.  This time St. James’ is responsible for Monday night, March 20th.

Volunteers are needed on:

Sunday, March 19th around noon to help set up at Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church

 Monday, March 20th

  • From 5:30-10:30 p.m. to receive and assist guests, assist with dinner, cleanup and staff the warming center.
  • From 10:15 p.m. – 3:15 a.m. to staff the warming center, and prepare lunches for guests to be distributed after breakfast.
  • From 3a.m. – 8 a.m. to staff warming center, awaken guests, serve breakfast, distribute lunches, cleanup, wash towels.
  • Provide side dishes and dessert for dinner.

Sunday, March 26th at 6:30 a.m. to help tear down, pack up, clean or go to the Laundromat to wash bedding. The more who volunteer the quicker the work is done.

Thank you for your help!   Sue and Jane

 

Lent Madness 2017
The Saintly Smackdown!   www.lentmadness.org

Are you looking for something fun to focus on? Are you longing for inspiration and joy? For the eighth year running, people of faith are gearing up for Lent Madness, the “saintly smackdown” in which thirty-two saints do battle to win the coveted Golden Halo during the season of Lent.

Based loosely on the NCAA basketball tournament, Lent Madness allows participants to be inspired by the ways in which God has worked through the lives of saintly souls across generations and cultures with its unique blend of competition, learning, and humor. This year’s competition begins on “Ash Thursday,” March 2.

Here’s how to participate: on the weekdays of Lent, information is posted at www.lentmadness.org about two different saints. Each pairing remains open for 24 hours as participants read about and then vote to determine which saint moves on to the next round. Sixteen saints make it to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen; eight advance to the Round of the Elate Eight; four make it to the Faithful Four; two to the Championship; and the winner is awarded the coveted Golden Halo.

The first round consists of basic biographical information about each of the 32 saints. Things get a bit more interesting in the subsequent rounds as we offer quotes and quirks, explore legends, and even move into the area of saintly kitsch.

SERVING THIS WEEK

THESE ROLES ARE ALWAYS OPEN to new participants.

To join a team contact the office at goodnews@saintjamesgi.net

February 26  
Altar Guild Michael G, Marie J, Blanche H
8am 1st lesson reader Margaret Horvath
8am Eucharistic Minister Tom Coleman
10 am 1st lesson reader Anthony Baker
10am 2nd lesson & chalice Jim Holubka
10am prayers & chalice Walt Denson
Ushers Dave & Judy Christie, Zach & Merri Lewis
Greeters Dave & Judy Christie
10 am Crucifer Andrew Johnson
10am Acolytes Joy Boswell, Charlotte Glover
Prayer Team Herman Rugel & Linda Shannon

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. New “Episcopal Church Welcomes You” sign at E. River– $300
  2. New music books for the bell choir – $240

Thank you, thank you, and thank you!

 

🎵 🎶 🎶🎵  MUSIC NOTES  🎵🎶🎶 🎵

If you have been on the fence about joining bells or vocal choir, it’s a great time to start! We will be starting fresh with new rep and learning musicianship skills, so swing on by and make music with us! Please let me know if you plan to attend! The St. James Bell Choir rehearses Thursdays at 6:30PM, and the St. James Adult Choir rehearses Thursdays at 7:30PM. The children’s choir meets after the 10AM service. All are welcome! Please consider joining in the music at St. James, we have lots of excellent programming this year. If you have reservations about joining that I can smooth over, or even just want to chat and learn some more about music, I’m always happy to talk! I’m easily reached at music@saintjamesgi.net.

This morning’s musical point of interest: We welcome bassoonist David Husby, one of our soloists from the concert last night, as a guest with us this morning, as we perform Telemann during Communion and the Postlude.

Stay tuned for upcoming music events in the area:

March 25, 7:30PM: St. Paul based tenor Benjamin Wegner will join Minister of Music Robert Ragoonanan on the piano in an explosive recital featuring Benjamin Britten’s Holy Sonnets of John Donne and Gustav Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder, right here in Galloway Hall!

 

CELEBRATIONS & PRAYERS

We Celebrate Birthdays This Week

  Barb Church (2/26) Tina Wirtel (2/26) Zach Bohl (2/28)
  Betty Jones (2/28) Edward Larsen (2/29) Scott Biddle (3/3)
  Owen Henrickson (3/4) Finn Henrickson (3/4) Jill Robinson (3/5)

 Please Pray This Week For Healing         

  Lee Jerry Zavadil Maureen Kohn
  Jerry John Kurth Nancy Clark
  Pete Fernandes Jean Fernandes Andrew Brunell
  Rebecca Grossklaus Tamara Howes Laura Crawford
  Allison Bell Charles Michael Stoddart
  Joan Klose Jackson Bruce Beidler Annie Krueger
  Irene John Art John Rhonda Boitkus
  Carol David H Teddy Cleaver
  Misty Joe Radelet Amy Brockmiller
  Kevin Kaufman Gordon  

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, Brett Ready, Dr. Bettina Sauter, and Alexander Turin.

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.