Upcoming Events
Join Us to Carol Through the Neighborhood!
St James’ Choir and EYC invite you to join us at 6 pm Friday, December 20, on the labyrinth to rehearse a few carols, then set out in the neighborhood to spread Christmas joy!
If you would like to sing, please join us! Don’t live close by, but want to hear some caroling? Join us on the labyrinth at 6 pm!
CALLING SINGERS of ALL AGES for “PARISH FAMILY CHOIR”
Children, Youth, Parents and other interested adults are encouraged to join us for the “Parish Family Choir” to help lead the singing of hymns and carols at our 2:00 pm Christmas Eve Family Service. We will rehearse that day prior to the service at 1:15. Wear your Christmas best because we will NOT wear vestments. Children under 12 must be accompanied by a parent or designated adult.
Contact: Kathy Stephens at kstephens@stjjax.org.
Hymn Sing with David Harrison
Tuesday, January 14 at 7:00 pm in the church.
The Jackson Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) is hosting a Hymn Sing featuring David Harrison, Canon for Music at St. Michael's Cathedral in Boise, Idaho, here at St. James'. David is a graduate of Mississippi College and Indiana University, and is a magnificent hymn player and improviser. You can watch him in action on his Youtube site- David Harrison.
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
We’ve closed the distribution of prayer shawls until we can build up our inventory. To make a shawl, our knitting time includes 25 to 30 hours. If you would like to join us in knitting, we would love your presence. If you need a prayer shawl in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and during this time, please try to limit this to one shawl per person at a time.
Thank you, The Twisted Stitchers
GROWING TOGETHER IN GRACE AND LOVE
DID YOU KNOW?….. Did you know that every week, St. James’ hosts over 31 meetings/gatherings of some sort? book groups, Bible study, committee meetings, 12 step recovery programs, Scouts, dream group, and many many others!!! YOUR pledge to St. James’ helps keep all of this wonderful, necessary activity alive!
UPCOMING YOUTH ACTIVITIES
Mark your calendars!
December 18: Practice Christmas Carols with the choir
Friday, December 20: Parish wide caroling, sponsored by EYC and the St. James’ Choir, followed by our Christmas Party Lock-In!
NO EYC December 22, 29or January 5. We will resume January 12. Stay tuned for potential movie dates during the Christmas holidays!!
YOUTH SERVICE HOUR OPPORTUNITIES
St. James’ Children’s Garden; Monthly EYC Service Project; Gathering items for service kits; Gathering items for college student care packages. Contact Laura at lking@stjjax.org for more info.
HURRICANES HELENE AND MILTON RELIEF
St. James’ will be taking earmarked contributions from those who would like to contribute to Hurricanes Helene and Milton relief efforts. Episcopal Relief & Development remains in communication with the impacted partners and is walking alongside them as they move through the phases of this disaster. Designate donation checks by writing Hurricane Relief on the memo line. Thank you to all for your compassion and generosity.
2025 VESTRY ELECTIONS
Congratulations to our newly elected Wardens: Barber Boone, Senior Warden and Ouida Holland, Junior Warden; and our newly elected Vestry Class of 2027: William Box, Pam Helms, Matt Jeffries, Garrett McInnis, and Caroline White. In addition, Gretchen Kimble has agreed to serve the last two years of Ouida's Vestry term. We give thanks for all who stood for election, including Missy Russell Ellis, Ben Lewis, Wally Powell, and Mary Margaret Saulters. And we honor our retiring Vestry members – Lee Anne Bryan, Mary Rebecca Jeffries, Kathe Levanway, and Julie McLemore – for their years of faithful service.
TUESDAY NOON BIBLE STUDY
in the Guild Parlor
We will continue our study of the book of Revelation. Contact: Gates Elliott, gelliott@stjjax.org.
LOOKING TOWARD CHRISTMAS EVE… MARK YOUR CALENDAR
❖ Tuesday, Dec 24 ▪ Christmas Eve, 2 pm, 5 pm and 11 pm (Note: There will be incense at 5 pm & 11 pm)
❖ SUNDAY, Dec 29 ▪ First Sunday after Christmas, 10:00 am ONLY
HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS: The Church Office will be CLOSED Tuesday, Dec 24, at Noon, Wednesday, Dec 25, through Friday, Dec 27.
We will be OPEN Monday, Dec 30, 9am-4pm and Tuesday, Dec 31, until Noon.
The Office will be CLOSED Wednesday, Jan 1, and will be OPEN beginning Thursday, Jan 2, at 9:00 am
OFFERINGS BY CHILDREN & FAMILY MINISTRIES
ADVENT TABLE FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN
Family rituals give children a sense of identity, faith and belonging that will last their entire lives and ultimately be transferred to their own children. Stop by the Advent Resource table in Fowler Hall on December 1 to pick up your copy of Faithful Families for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany by Traci Smith. The ideas for family rituals are easy to incorporate into the lives you have and will lift up the joy and meaning of the upcoming seasons of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. Pick up your copy for $10 on December 1 or after that in the church office.
A CHRISTMAS TREE BLESSING
Before the tree is decorated, gather everyone and read the following blessing by Traci Smith. God who created the birds in the air, the fish in the sea, the stars in the sky, and the trees in the ground, bless this tree as we decorate it and make it a joyful symbol in our home. May its branches remind us of the shade and shelter you provide for us and for many creatures. May its trunk remind us of your strength. May its lights bring us peace. May we remember your gift to us this season, the gift of the baby Jesus. Amen. Traci recommends that after decorating the tree, the children set up a creche or manger scene below the tree. This short moment of prayer will bring a moment of grace and spirituality into your home.
SUNDAY MORNING NURSERY SERVES CHILDREN THROUGH THEIR KINDERGARTEN YEAR
Parents and grandparents, our church nursery is open for babies through children in their kindergarten year offering parents a quiet moment of adult prayer and church time and offering children an opportunity for community and play with church friends. After the liturgy of the word, the nursery staff and acolytes will bring PreK-3 children through kindergarten age children into the church to join their parents for the Eucharist. Parents are asked to stand to greet their children. Parents of babies, toddlers and twos are invited to step out of the service at the Peace to bring their younger nursery children into the church for Eucharist. And as always at St. James', children of all ages are welcome for the entire service. For more info about the nursery, contact Mary Nell Prichard, mnprichard@stjjax.org, or Kathryn Briscoe, kbriscoe@stjjax.org.
4TH, 5TH AND 6TH GRADE CHILDREN ARE INVITED TO SERVE AS ACOLYTES
Parents, if your child missed the recent acolyte training, it is not too late to sign up! Your child will learn about the parts of the Eucharist, how to walk with dignity and reverence, and about the joy of serving God and our church family through this ministry. Acolytes serve on a rotating basis. For more information about becoming an acolyte, contact Laura at lking@stjjax.org.
ADULT FORMATION
We have three Adult Formation Offerings:
Holy Conversations‖ Lectionary Class will continue to gather in the Parish Library.
Explorations‖ will gather with the Rev. Gates Elliott in Oak Ridge Hall.
Life with the Sacred Text, a small group reflection on various topics and their relevance as relates to Scripture and daily life, will gather in the Guild Parlor, just off Fowler Hall.
All adult offerings are open and inclusive of adults of any age or interest, no experience required. Grab coffee and donuts in Fowler Hall and join one of our Adult formation offerings SUNDAYS at 10:00am.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AT ST. JAMES’
Help reduce food waste by being mindful of what goes on plates and what goes in the trash.
Adults $10 and Children/Youth Eat Free - Love Offerings are always welcome to help offset food costs.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPER: 5-7pm,
December 18: Catfish Night!
December 25 & January 1 - No Parish Suppers will be served.
NEW SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS
You are likely to have noticed “push to open” buttons and other new hardware being installed on doors around our campus. These are part of a new “key fob” access control system which we will be turning on later this year. As part of preparations for using this new system we will be having conversations with leaders of all the St James’ ministries and community groups who use our facilities. This will help us ensure everyone’s needs are reflected in the system setup. The access control system is the first of three investments we are making to enhance physical security. The other two (being installed next year) are a new Closed-Circuit TV (CCTV) video monitoring system and improvements to lighting in the parking lot and behind Fowler Hall. These investments are being funded by a combination of generous parishioner donations and a grant from the US Department of Homeland Security. If you would like more information about these initiatives, please contact John Wheeler at johnkwheeler@icloud.com.
REGULAR WEEKDAY OFFERINGS
MONDAYS, 2pm – Twisted Stitchers, Guild Parlor
TUESDAYS, 7am - Holy Eucharist, Church
Noon - Bible Study, Guild Parlor
WEDNESDAYS, Noon - Trellis Book Group, Library
5:00 - 7:00 pm - Wednesday Night Suppers , Fowler Hall
THURSDAYS, 7am - Men's Bible Study, Guild Parlor
ST. JAMES’ SCHOOL REGISTRATION FOR 2024-2025
School information and registration application can be found on the St. James’ website: www.stjamesjackson.com, or you may contact Kathryn Briscoe -- kbriscoe@stjjax.org or the school office at 601-941-4296.
OFFERING ENVELOPES/BANK DRAFTS
If you would like offering envelopes or are interested in a bank draft for your 2024 pledge, contact Judy Johnson at the church office, 601-982-4880 or jjohnson@stjjax.org.
If you marked “offering envelopes” on your pledge card for 2024 they are in the Narthex with your name on them.
ST. JAMES’ CHOIR
We are always happy to welcome new singers into the St. James’ choir family!
Members of the St. James’ choir support the 8:40 and 11:05 worship services and other sung liturgies throughout the year, including Evensong and our annual service of Lessons and Carols. We rehearse on Wednesday from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. For information about membership in the choir, contact Jonathan Trotter (jtrotter@stjjax.org).
SEEKING BAPTISM?
If you or someone you know is seeking Baptism, contact one of our clergy or Kathy Stephens: kstephens@stjjax.org.
2025 BAPTISMAL DATES:
Sunday, January 12, First Sunday after the Epiphany; Saturday, April 19, Easter Vigil; Sunday, May 4, Bishop’s visit;
Sunday, June 8, Day of Pentecost; July (St. James’ Sunday, Date TBD); Sunday, November 2, All Saints Sunday
LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS ON SUNDAYS!
Be sure to watch with the whole family!
St. James' will livestream the 11:05 am services on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/stjjax.org.
The Service Leaflet is available on the website and on the Thursday email.
SEND US YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
If the church does not already have your email address, or if there have been any changes, please send it to Kathy Stephens at kstephens@stjjax.org.
FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR
If you are interested in giving flowers for a month either in thanksgiving or in loving memory of anyone, call Kathy Stephens at 601-982-4880 or email her at kstephens@stjjax.org.
The cost of this is $50 and the flowers are published in our 7:30 am service leaflets, in our Sunday announcements, and on our website for the month.
This is a perfect way to remember someone or to say thank you.
WATCH OUT FOR SCAMMERS!
Please be aware that scammers have gotten some of our work email addresses and are sending out emails that look like they come from St. James' staff. If you receive one of these please know that we would never reach out to you and ask you for money or for you to buy gift cards, etc. Usually you can tell from the extension on the email. All of St. James' staff have our first initial and last name followed by @stjjax.org. If you have any doubt at all please call our office at 601-982-4880.
MEMORIALS AT THE COLUMBARIA
Flowers and mementos left on the columbarium as memorials are a normal part of grieving and are allowed by the Church. Memorials may not be left at either of the inside columbaria. Only fresh flowers may be placed on the outside columbarium. St. James' will remove all flowers once they start to wilt. Mementos left on the outside columbarium will be removed daily. Due to the possibility of breakage and injury, glass of any sort is not allowed on the columbarium.