St. James Weekly eNotes
Friday, February 19, 2016
From the Rector: St. James Financial Update

Dear People of St. James,

We have closed out our 2015 financial year and on behalf of the Vestry and the Finance Committee, I would like to give you an update on St. James' Financial position. I am happy to report that St. James is in the strongest financial position it has been in in at least five years.

When I came to St. James in September of 2013, St. James' finances were moving toward negative and unsustainable territory. The 2013 financial year was an anomaly due to 8 months without a rector, but the 2014 budget year reflected a projected deficit due to a number of factors, including the size of the staff. At one point in 2014, our cash on hand for operations (when all the restricted funds were subtracted from our deposits) was less than $1,000.00. With the departure of Mother Roxanne and Rob Coulston in 2014, we were able to reconfigure our budget in 2014 and end the year with a modest surplus.

In 2014, I reinstated the Finance Committee which was previously disbanded by a former Rector. I invited financially knowledgeable and experienced members of the parish to serve on the Finance Committee and charged them with the hard work of going through the budget in detail, engaging in making the hard choices that needed to be made to move St. James into positive financial territory. In addition, our Stewardship Commission had a vision to grow the income side of the budget to continue to do the kind of work that St. James is called to do in the community and in the world. Our Stewardship Commission moved creatively and intentionally to bring this vision to fruition

By careful attention to detail, a reappraisal of our budgetary priorities, cost-saving measures, and an increase in new and existing pledges, the Finance Committee and the Vestry approved a balanced budget for 2015. With the close of the 2015 budget year, I am happy to report that we ended the year with a surplus of $54,686.00, total in the bank accounts of $471,954.00, and cash-on-hand for operations at the close of 2015 (minus restricted funds) of $104,197.18. 

2015 Year-End Financial Summary
 
Budgeted
Actual
 
Difference
Income
$556,450.00
$587,114.00
 
$30,664.00
Expense
$546,860.00
$532,428.00
 
($24,022.00)
Difference
$9,590.00
$54,686.00
 
$54,686.00

In 2015, the Finance Committee and the Vestry decided to make provision for future unforeseen circumstances by instituting a new "Strategic Reserve Fund" and renewing funding of our Capital Improvements Fund. At the end of fiscal year 2015, there is currently $18,975.50 in the Strategic Reserve Fund and $16,119.48 in the Capital Improvements Fund. Neither of these funds is included in our cash-on-hand for operations.
 
As we go forward, the Finance Committee, Vestry and I feel it is important to keep the parish up-to-date on our finances on a regular basis. Therefore, once we have closed out each month, the E-note will include a financial summary for that month for the parish to review. The same financial summary will be posted on the bulletin board outside the office, where the Vestry Minutes are posted. I am posting the first of these reports below, showing you a snapshot of where we finished January.
 
2016 Financial Summary as of January 31, 2016
 Monthly Budgeted *Monthly Actual **Monthly DifferenceYTD BudgetedYTD ActualYTD Difference
Income$55,850.00$75,146.56$19,296.56$55,850.00$75,146.56$19,296.56
Expense $50,073.00$44,580.31($5,492.69)$50,073.00$44,580.31($5,492.69)
Difference$5,777.00$30,566.25$24,789.25$5,777.00$30,566.25$24,789.25
* Pledge income is weighted monthly based on historical trends.
** Includes 2016 prepaid pledges

And now, for my appeal. We have made such incredible progress in stabilizing St. James' finances and moving the parish into a better financial position to increase our opportunities for ministry that I don't want to go backwards. The 2016 draft budget currently includes a projected deficit of $15,000.00, partially because not all the pledge cards we sent out have been returned. If you have not yet pledged your financial support to St. James, I encourage you to complete a pledge. You can do so online by clicking here: Make a PledgeYour financial support is critical to continuing on this trajectory of more funding for outreach at home and throughout the world. Our goal was $20,000.00 for DIRECT community outreach in the 2016 fiscal year, an increase of $12,800 over fiscal 2015. We have also increased our financial commitment to internal outreach to our Seniors, children and youth. Your support makes this happen, and we need your support.

Thank you to all who have pledged and those who support St. James financially. With your support, we can do great things!

Stephen+
topTable of Contents
  • From the Music Director and Organist
  • From the Youth Minister
  • From the Day School
  • Adopt-a-Highway pickup on Piney Mountain Road - Saturday, Feb. 20, 8:00a.m.
  • Youth News 
  • The Gathering: Senior Adult Ministry - Tuesday, March 1, 11:00 a.m.
  • St. Joseph's Day Spaghetti Dinner - Saturday, March 19
  • Holy Week and Easter services schedule

Announcements

  • Christian Education for all ages
  • Stephen Mitchell Porch Columbarium Survey
  • 2016 Easter Flower Memorials 
  • Church League Basketball for Youth (CLBBY) 
  • Faith Seeking Understanding
  • United Ministries Bag of Beans Challenge

  • Sunday Readings and Servants in Worship
  • Birthdays
  • Anniversaries
  • Staff list

Calendar Notes: See what is happening at St. James anytime on our website.

 

Emergency Info: In the event of a pastoral care emergency outside of regular office hours, you may contact the clergy at 864-907-6565 and leave a message regarding the nature of the emergency.

articlesArticles
Karen
From the Music Director and Organist: 

Hymn Story for Lent
 
The hymn, "Eternal Lord of Love, Behold Your Church" was written by Thomas H. Cain in response to a call for a new Lenten hymn for the Hymnal 1982. At the time, Dr. Cain (1931-2003) was serving on the Worship and Doctrine Committee of the Diocese of Niagara, while new liturgical texts were being prepared for the Anglican Church of Canada. He was part of the discussions about the historic function of Lent as reflected in the Ash Wednesday exhortation (invitation to the observance of a holy Lent), found in the Book of Common Prayer beginning on page 264. Enumerated in this invitation are the Lenten practices and goals of preparing for Holy Week and Easter, preparing for and renewing the vows of Holy Baptism, and the reconciliation of Christians by the repentance and forgiveness of sins. The opening of the hymn refers to us, the Church, "walking once more the pilgrim way of Lent." The next line, "led by your cloud by day, by night your fire," alludes to the Israelites in the wilderness, drawing a comparison between their search and ours. The hymn next says that we also walk the same road Jesus walked, "daily dying to the way of self, and daily living to your [Jesus'] way of love." The poem then turns this idea towards the idea that we are baptized into Jesus's death, saying further, "If dead in you, so in you we arise," ending the hymn with the Easter we will find at the end of our Lenten journey, and beyond that, at the end of our earthly journey.

In her book, Awake My Soul: Meditating on Hymns for Year B, Nancy Roth describes this hymn and its ideas of our journey in terms of discoveries she made on a pilgrimage to Chartres Cathedral. Unprepared for what turned out to be a very long hike, by the end of her journey she had learned three things that she applies here to our Lenten journey. "First, it is a mistake to carry too heavy a load...It is best to travel light." Second, "pilgrimage takes practice," and third, when she thought she couldn't take another step, "the chant of the students or the spires of Chartres kept me going." In applying these lessons to our Lenten journey, Roth asks "What can you shed this Lent?" In terms of the practice of pilgrimage, she asks us to consider that "our route of prayer, worship, and service is an itinerary that lasts all year long." In considering what it is that keeps us going, she asks us to "discover the things that strengthen our intent. What helps you to walk the pilgrim way toward God...these may not be 'churchy' things, but may be as various as spending time outdoors...including exercise in your daily schedule, or taking time to listen to music." 

In closing, Nancy Roth points out that hymn #149 reminds us we are not walking alone. Its first line, "Eternal Lord of love, behold your church, walking once more the pilgrim way of Lent" tells us that "We are walking with companions, those who walk beside us and those who walked before us. With them, we walk the road trodden by our Lord, in his companionship as well, toward our destination: the presence of God's glory." 

Dr. Karen A. Eshelman
From the Youth Minister:



This upcoming Sunday, we will start off looking at verbal/extemporaneous prayer. I can't tell you the number of times I've either been a participant in or leader of a small group teaching time and THAT question was asked: Can someone in the group please open or close us in prayer? Simple enough, right? And yet the room would fall so silent you could hear the crickets from two cities over.

Part of what we have to address with verbal prayer is a deep insecurity about doing it incorrectly and a fear of condemnation is we slip up in front of our peers. As Christians, we have the gift of a gracious and loving God that knows our words before we say them and understands our hearts better than we do. Thus, we are to show grace and encouragement to one another as we play and experiemenrt with this practice. The other piece that we have to look at is that sometimes we just don't know where to start and where to end, or how to say everything we need to say in between in a way that makes sense. One of the gifts that the Book of Common Prayer gives is some simple guidelines and structures that can help guide our phrasing, specifically through the Collects.

I am looking forward to begininng this journey with the youth over this Lent. I would encourage you all to journey along with us as well. Perhaps take time this week to look over the Collects of the Day, and think about these questions for yourself:  What do you see as similarities in the Collects? Differences? What structural pieces do you notice to be consistent throughout them? And, if you had to write out your own Collect for Today, what would it say?


Peace,

Tina Boyd
Youth Minister
St. James Episcopal Church
O: 864-244-6358
M: 770-361-8469
[email protected]

From the Day School: 

As I picked up my 6 year old son from school this week, he threw his backpack into the car, and nonchalantly said that God talked to him today during Center Time.  I asked him if he would share what God said to him.  He explained that God whispered, "I love you, Atticus."  I dug a little deeper and asked him how he knew it was God's voice and he replied, "I looked around and didn't see anyone next to me, so I knew it had to be Him."  So here I was, in the school car line, being motioned to drive forward by the patrols, and it was all I could do to hold back the tears.   That was pretty much the extent of our chat, Atticus quickly moved on to something else about the playground. But throughout the remainder of the day I couldn't stop thinking about it.  It really made me reflect on the love that our Father has for His children...all the children of the world...red and yellow, black and white... 6 years old or 60 years old. 
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
I John 3:1 

As a wife, mom, teacher and friend, it's easy to become so distracted with the busyness of life that we miss His still, small voice that whispers "I love you...I've got this...Trust Me...Let go".  I'll admit, when worry and exhaustion creep up on me, I find myself treading water and reaching for a lifeline instead of just resting in the shelter of the Most High, knowing that He is my refuge and strength.  One of the unexpected rewards of spending your days with small children is the way that they can encourage your faith... reminding us that even though society tells us to "grow up", what that simply means with regards to our faith is that we must grow to be more like a child - trusting in the simple goodness and complete knowledge of a Father that has our best interest at heart.  When my St. James kids leave the classroom I look back on the day with its usual ups and downs, its moments of gratefulness and joy and sometimes sheer relief, there is an overwhelming awareness that today has been a good day... for it's been filled with life!  My hope for our students is that they would not only grow to love school and learning, but that they would find it a place where they can hear the voice of God whisper, "I love you", whatever that may look or sound like, but that they would recognize it and respond.
 
Vanessa Simmons
Teacher - 2 year old class
 
We would love to have the children of St. James join us in the Day School. Registration is now open to church members for the 2016-17 school year. Church members receive a 10% discount. For more information about St. James Day School including registration and pricing, please visit our website or contact the school's director, Beth Renninger. 
eventsComing Events
Adopt-a-Highway Pick Up: This Saturday, Feb. 20, at 8:00 a.m.

St. James picks up trash along Piney Mountain Road four times each year. Our first opportunity is this Saturday. We meet in front of the Parish Life Center at 8:00 a.m. on the pickup days to divide into groups. We provide orange vests and trash bags. Many hands make light work--join us!

Please mark your calendar with these pickup dates for 2016:
  • Feb 20, 2016 
  • May 21, 2016
  • Aug 20, 2016
  • Nov 19, 2016
Contact Cam Walters with any questions.
Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) Events

Sunday, February 21. 5:00-7:00, St. James Parish Life Center & Youth Room.
Join us as we start our Lenten series looking at Prayer! This week we will look at verbal and communal prayer through the structure and lens of the Collects of the Book of Common Prayer.
The Gathering: A New Senior Adult Ministry for ages 60 and better!

The focus of this ministry is on fellowship, spiritual growth, service and fun.  The Gathering will be held the first Tuesday of each month from 11:00 - 12:30 pm in the Parish Life Center with a program and light lunch.  Our first gathering will be Tuesday, March 1, 2016, featuring Deb Richardson-Moore with the Triune Mercy Center.  The last day to register is Tuesday, February 23. Contact Gail Burch at [email protected] or 864-363-3387.
Save the Date!
St. Joseph's Day Spaghetti Dinner: Saturday, March 19
Holy Week at St. James

Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday - March 20
7:45 am      Liturgy of the Palms & Holy Eucharist, Rite I
9:00 am      Liturgy of the Palms & Holy Eucharist, Rite II
11:00 am    Liturgy of the Palms & Holy Eucharist, Rite II *

Holy Wednesday - March 23
7:00 pm     Tenebrae (With Chant Choir)

Maundy Thursday - March 24
6:00 pm     Agape Fellowship Meal & Foot washing (Parish Life Center)
7:30 pm     Holy Eucharist, Rite II & Stripping of the Altar *
9:00 pm     Vigil at the Altar of Repose (all night in the Library)

Good Friday - March 25
12:00 pm   Mass of the Pre-Sanctified
6:30 pm     Stations of the Cross

Holy Saturday - March 26
8:00 pm     The Great Vigil of Easter (With Choir) *

Easter Day - March 27
7:45 am    Holy Eucharist, Rite I
8:45 am    Flowering of the Cross
9:00 am    Holy Eucharist, Rite II
10:15 am   Children's Easter Egg Hunt (Front Lawn)
11:00 am   Holy Eucharist, Rite II *
*Incense will be used.           

announcementsAnnouncements
Christian Education: Sundays from 10:10-10:50 a.m.
  • Adult Christian Education:  This week we will look at excerpts from John Donne's Devotions: written in December 1623 as Donne recovered from a serious illness. Having come close to death, he described the illness he had suffered from and his thoughts throughout his recovery. He raises questions of mortality and the afterlife.
    Our Lenten series is led by Furman English professor Margaret Oakes. Please join us this Sunday at 10:10 in the foyer.
  • Youth Christian Education in the Youth Room. This semester we are walking through the book of James in an inductive study called Hear and Do. 
  • Children age 3 through grade 5 meet together first in the large classroom on the lower level and then divide by ages. 
  • Nursery is available for younger children on the lower level.
We are currently in a season of searching for new people to partner with us in our Children's Christian Education Program here at St. James. If this is something that you might be interested in learning more about, please contact Tina Boyd, at [email protected]. Thanks so much!" 
2016 Easter Memorial Flowers 

You are invited to honor or remember a loved one this Easter and help decorate the church with Easter Memorial Flowers. Orders need to be received by March 16. The suggested donation is $25.00 per plant but we welcome a donation in any amount.

Order Easter Flowers Here!

Stephen Mitchell Porch Survey

As most of you know, St. James is in the planning stages of improving the front entrance of the church. As part of this plan, work will be done in the St. James Memorial Garden which could include a columbarium. A columbarium is a structure with a series of closed, secure niches where ashes are interred above ground. 

We will not include a columbarium as part of the plans without an interest and a commitment from approximately 25 members. We anticipate the cost of the columbarium niches to be approximately $1,500.00 each. We are not asking for the commitment at this time, but would like to gauge the parish's interest.

Please let us know your thoughts and opinion by clicking below. 
Church League Basketball for Youth (CLBBY)

Last weekend four of our five St. James teams advanced to the 2nd Round in the CLBBY Basketball Tournament.  However, all four were eliminated in the 2nd Round. This Saturday, Feb. 20, St. James will host the final set of games for this season. Thanks to all the players, coaches, families, and support staff who made the season such a success!
Faith Seeking Understanding 

New Daytime Class: Tuesdays, 1:00-2:15 p.m.
In this class, Fr. Stephen leads the class on a journey through world history, scripture, church history, theology, liturgy, architecture and music as we broaden our knowledge and deepen our understanding of the Christian faith. This is a class for seekers and seasoned believers where all questions are welcomed in an atmosphere of intellectual curiosity, faithful inquiry, and mutual respect. This class is not limited to St. James members or Episcopalians only: this class welcomes all who want to deepen their knowledge of the Christian faith. 
 
The Ongoing Class continues on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m.

Both classes meet in the main church foyer.
Bag O' Beans Challenge

United Ministries has asked St. James to collect 300 bags (16 ounces) of dried beans each month. Please help the less fortunate in our community by adding this to your grocery list.
prayersParish Prayer Lists
Remember In Your Prayers

Those who are sick, confined indoors, and others dear to us: *Janis Bandelin, *Lafa Black, *Nan Black, Luceil Boushy, Bob Burns, *Lena Clary, Marga Cothran, *Wilma Dingley *Dorothy Doria, Constance Downing, Holland Echols, Jim Endicott, *Cynthia Faress, John and Sheena Freeman, *Frances Funderburk, Hal Gober, Scotty Halkett, *Nancy Harlan, Kimberly Harris, *Mary Ann Hemphill, Karen Henry, *Ilse Holliday, Kay Imholz, Randolph Johnson, *John Jones, *Lib Jones, *Suzanne Keenan, *Jeff Leonard, *Harriet Littlejohn, *Harry Luthi, *Lee Marr, *Will McMasters, *Lilly Mueller, *Nancy Pilgrim, Tara Posner, *Phil Pressly, *Chip Preusse, *Jean Rhodes, Sophia Rogers, Rick Rusch, *John Stepp, *Nick & Lani Strange, *Colleen Taylor, *Jody Thompson, Maria Tobon, *Gail Tomkins, Loretta Tuten, *Bill & Elaine Wells.

* denotes member of the St. James community

Prayer list updates: In order to keep our prayer list current, each name will stay on the printed list for four weeks and then be removed. If you wish to have a name added or returned to the list, please contact the office.

Resquiescat in pace: We commend to the prayers of the people Mary Ann Stepp, wife of John Stepp. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace, and may light perpetual shine upon them.

Missionaries in Ecuador: the Vivanco family: Roberto, Cameron, Graham & Liam.

Expectant parents: Jean-Louis & Kate Spear Delayen, *George & Abby Dickert, *Caleb & Lauren Stephens, Roberto & Cameron Vivanco.

Service men & women:  Chad Arness, Steven & Jessica Bellue, Chris Goepper, Landon Hayes, *Patrick Holliday, Lee Kemp, David Mathews, Pamela Peigler, *Clarke Sumerel, Jeff Wright.

The Sanctuary Candle is given to the Glory of God and in honor of Ellery McNeill's Sweet Sixteen, February 14 by her mother and sister.

itemsItems of Interest
The Second Sunday in Lent
Year C
 
Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35; Psalm 27


February Birthdays
 
1 John Walsh
1 P. J. Mauro
2 John Mussetto
3 Beth Turner
5 Cam Walters
6 Marie Hovland
6 Susan Englert
7 Philip Elliott
7 Chloe Mueller
8 Sarah Hurley
8 Chloe Thompson
8 Riley Mauro
10 Amanda Decker
10 Rebecca Wagner
11 Diane Genova
11 Becky Goepper
12 Anna Walters
12 Elizabeth Walters
12 Sara Walters
14 Mallie Marshall
14 Rick Wolfe
14 Drew Walker
14 Ellery McNeill
15 Patrick Tingom
16 Marian Strobel
17 Jim Gilreath
17 Brooks Knobel
17 Matt Ferebee
17 Will Jennings
18 Marian Blackwell
18 Lynn Gilreath
18 Carolyn Henry
18 Mark Decker
18 Jared Alewine
18 R. J. Jerina
18 Marlee Filter
19 Kurt Schneider
19 Riley Teague
21 Ilse Holliday
22 John Kaup
22 George Lipscomb
23 Alex McLean
23 Chris Turgeon
24 Kaye Greene
24 Kathy Walsh
24 Emilia Mosquera
26 David Harlan
27 Jodye Pfister
27 Julie Clark
27 Virginia Britt
28 Mike Bressler
 
February Anniversaries

7 Jay & Lesley Baker
8 David & Nancy Harlan
8 John & Kathy Walsh
10 Harry & Jane Luthi
11 James & Lynn Gilreath
13 Gill & Carol Walker
16 Tom & Suzanne Keenan
17 Barney & Dianne Posey
26 George & Susanne Lafaye


St. James Episcopal Church Staff

The Rev. Stephen J. Rhoades, Rector, [email protected]
Ms. Tina Boyd, Youth Minister, [email protected]
Dr. Karen A. Eshelman, Music Director and Organist, [email protected]
Mrs. Dena Veazey, Parish Administrator, [email protected]
Ms. Carol Clark, Office Assistant, [email protected]
Mrs. Beth Renninger, Day School Director, [email protected]
St. James Episcopal Church
301 Piney Mountain Road ~ Greenville, SC 29609-3035
864.244.6358
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