On Saturday, February 12, at 7.30 PM in the St. James Undercroft, kick up your heels and be whisked away to a dreamy evening of 'Ragtime' - this is an occasion you will not want to miss! Dances to be explained and taught by Donald Francis and the students of the 'L'Atelier de Danse' in Florence.

We promise you an evening of fun, dancing, music,  and good company. A delicious buffet dinner with wine and water and entertainment, the compelling beat of the music ... you will not be able to sit still !!!

Your enjoyment will be enhanced by the knowledge that you are helping to contribute to AILO's commitment to the FAWCO Development Grant 'Skills for Life,' which will help a chosen organization in the world to enable women to achieve an education or gain skills which will in turn give them economic freedom, something we all value. The other project we are supporting is the 'Wells for Clean Water' (Cambodia) FAWCO Target project, which aims to provide potable water to families whose access to safe water was destroyed during the Pol Pot years.

Tickets, are €25 each, and will be available from January 13. Reserve yours as soon as possible as there is a cutoff number. Your husbands, wives, partners, friends, and lovers are all welcome! To book individually, as a couple, or as a table, please contact Jocelyn jocelyn.f@tiscalinet.it  or Deirdre ddpirro@gmail.com.

St. James has lost a dear member of our family with the death of Warren De Vos on January 15. Warren was born on May 23, 1925 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was married to Gladys Vander May in 1951.  

Warren  attended Calvin College, the University of Michigan,  and the Newark College of Engineering, from which he graduated with a degree in engineering. As a B-24 navigator in the U.S. Army Air Force, he flew 28 missions over Germany, for which he received the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

After a 25-year career with Boeing in Seattle, WA, he worked 10 years as a consultant in Munich, Germany. At age 70 he and Gladys moved to Florence, Italy so that Warren could study painting, and he remained a working artist until the end of his life. While in Florence, Warren and Gladys were very active in the St. James community. Warren served as the head of the Finance Committee, Gladys volunteered at the Foodbank, and both sang in the choir.

Warren and Gladys moved to Greensboro, NC in 2008.  

Warren is survived by his beloved wife Gladys, brother R. Jack De Vos, children Bradley De Veaux, Claudia De Veaux, Laurette De Veaux Wharton, Wayne De Vos, Glen De Vos, Renée De Vos Reese, and 18 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 607 North Greene Street , Greensboro, NC, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 22.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethany Christian Services, 901 Eastern Avenue NE, P.O. Box 294, Grand Rapids, MI 49501.

Offer condolences at www.news-record.com/nr/obits/

To know Warren was to love him. Well done, good and faithful servant! 

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When:  March 25-27, 2011.  Friday 19:00 until Sunday 14:00

Where: to Rome, Italy and then on to Palazzola Center (website: www.palazzola.it ) One can travel to Fiumicino or Ciampino airports.

Cost: travel expenses and 120 euros for room and board.

How thirsty is your soul?  Where is your living God? If these questions resonate with you, come and drink; come and be. This retreat offers a peaceful space to rest in God's presence, and an invitation to journey with others on this sacred path. Our lives are so busy and God too often becomes a cry in crisis. The theme will be "Water". It is a mammoth topic and creativity is invited. We know how precious and life giving water is. We are also very much aware of the powerful and destructive force water can be. Come and present yourself to God in loving expectation and longing. God is waiting for you with open arms.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Clair+ at: crullmann2001@yahoo.com or +43 646720107 for a conversation.

The Rev. Clair F. Ullmann will be our leader this year.  Many of you know Clair+ through her activities in the Convocation.  Clair+ has been a spiritual director since 1989.  She studied spiritual direction at the Shalem Institute in Bethesda, Maryland and belongs to Spiritual Directors International as well as Spiritual Directors Europe. She is an experienced retreat leader.   Clair serves as an assisting priest at Church of the Ascension, Munich, Germany and as Vicar of the Chapel of the Holy Family in Mühlbach am Hochkönig, Austria. 

 Contact for registration forms and details:  The Rev. Clair and Rainer Ullmann,

Email: crullmann2001@yahoo.com  Tel: 0043 6467 20 107

St. James' Town House, in the heart of Florence, is the perfect place to stay with friends or family. We are centrally located near the train station, the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, and many other favorite places to visit. We accept reservations for a minimum of 1 week and a maximum of 3 months. Your stay with us is considered a donation to St. James Church. Contact us for availability and further information. Everyone is Welcome at St. James' Town House!

St. James' Town House is a three story apartment with its own entrance on via Bernardo Rucellai, next to the church rectory and part of the parish complex. It is a spacious 3-bedroom, 3-bath apartment, furnished with antiques, including a beautiful 1826 John Broadwood fortepiano, and overlooking the church and the rectory garden. It is fully equipped with linens for both bed and bath, along with kitchen supplies. There is satellite television that includes many English language programs, a washing machine, microwave oven, and iron. The bedrooms and living room are air conditioned. Off- street parking within the grounds of the church for one car.