TopSt. James Weekly eNotes
Friday, April 22, 2016
rectorFrom the Rector

Important Questions

Who are we? How have we changed? How are we changing? What are our strengths and weaknesses? Where should we be focusing our time, our treasure, our talent?

These are just a few of the important questions that your vestry will be considering during a major strategic visioning retreat at Kanuga over Pentecost weekend (May 13th - 15th). This strategic visioning process will be facilitated by The Rev. D'Rue Hazel, Canon for Congregational Development and Administration for the Diocese of Upper South Carolina. D'Rue will lead the vestry and myself through a process of examining what we do well as a parish and areas of improvement we need to focus on. One of the objects of this retreat is to formulate a concrete plan that will start us moving in the direction that the Holy Spirit reveals to us over the strategic visioning weekend.

Please take the time to thank all your vestry members for their willingness to give of their time to keep St. James growing in faith and service, as we also strive to grow St. James in numbers!

Please keep your vestry and your staff in prayer!

Stephen+
Table of Contents
 
Items of Interest

Please click on each item for more information. 
Coming Events: Save the Dates

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
musicFrom the Music Director and Organist

Hymn Stories

This Sunday, the Fifth Sunday of Easter, we will sing several Easter hymns, including "Come ye faithful, raise the strain," and "At the Lamb's high feast we sing." These are old favorites, with words dating from as early as the 8th century ("Come, ye faithful") and music drawn from the 18th century works of Bach ("At the Lamb's high feast") as well as the 19th century works of Arthur Sullivan ("Come, ye faithful").

While several of our most well-loved Easter hymn poetry is ancient, dating from the 5th through the 8th centuries, there are also many Easter hymns that were written more recently. In the Hymnal 1982 alone, newer hymns include "Look there! the Christ, our Brother, comes," "Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord," "Through the Red Sea brought at last," and "Now the green blade riseth." One of the most recently written hymn texts, and one we will sing Sunday, is "Christ is Alive," (#182) which was written by Brian A. Wren in Hockley, Essex, England, during April of 1968. Wren writes:

"It was written for Easter Sunday, two weeks after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I could not let Easter go by without speaking of this tragic event which was on all our minds. . . . The hymn tries to see God's love winning over tragedy and suffering in the world. . . . There is tension and tragedy in these words, not just Easter rejoicing."

Hymnary.org explains, "First published in the British supplement New Church Praise (1975), it was revised by Wren in 1978. 'Christ Is Alive' is a joyful celebration of Christ's resurrection (st. 1) and of his personal rule in a human world in which pain, war, and injustice abound (st. 2-4). Christ's transcendent and immanent reign is empowered by the Holy Spirit and will ultimately bring about a new creation (st. 5)."

Karen
TinaFrom the Youth Minister: A Word from Tina


This past Sunday, in lieu of our typical EYC, one of my spectacular, brave adult volunteers and I loaded 8 of our youth up into our vehicles and headed to Mars Hill, NC for an adventure. In just a few hours, these youth packaged about 1,680 pounds of food to go out to the families in the surrounding counties. Most of it went out Monday, the rest will go out within this week. I am so proud of the youth and their hard work.

One of the distinctive (and important) pieces of a trip to Bill and Sharon's Ministry-Hub/Home is spending time engaging in what our modern country songs would call "front porch sittin'". This went probably about exactly as you're imagining it: all of us gathered, sitting on porch furniture, munching on snacks and sipping water or coke, and sharing life with one another. It was on the front porch that the youth learned about Bill and Sharon's stories, it was on the front porch that Bill and Sharon and the group were able to find places of common ground. It was on the porch that we learned 37% of children in Madison country go to bed hungry each night, and the food we were preparing would be able to provide some almost immediate relief. It was on the front porch Bill and Sharon learned the youth's names.

And it was out of this time spent on the front porch that we understood our purpose in measuring out endless 1-pound bags of cornmeal or pinto beans. And when the moments came where one of the youth needed a little guidance from Bill or Sharon, they called the youth by name to give it to them.
Why is this significant? There are a couple of YouTube videos floating out in the interwebs that are theatric monologues capturing a modernized reflection of the Woman at the Well (John 4:1-30). In this scripture Jesus reveals himself to a woman through verbalizing things about her that no one else knew, communicating that he not only knew her, but he knew her deeply. He knew the stuff about her that she hoped no one would discover, much less have said aloud on a first meeting. Yet He chose to reveal himself to her in this way just the same. Because "To be known is to be loved, and to be loved it to be known." While others might have communicated knowing to her in a condemning way, Jesus communicated knowing to her in love.

When Bill and Sharon took the time to both learn our youth's names and then call them by name, they too communicated knowing; they too communicated love.  In a world where we are more likely to hear ourselves referred to in groups and generalities (hey you, hey guys, hey girls, hey kids, hey youth, hey Mr. So-and-So, hey ma'am, hey purple shirt), Bill and Sharon pointed us all back to the nature and character of Jesus. They serve to beckon us back to the simple act of taking the time to call one another by name. They embraced our young people as Jesus does-in grace, knowing, awareness, and love. 

Tina

schoolFrom the Day School

Spring Break is over and the realization of our impending field trip to the Peace Center looms ahead.  Much needs to be done to be ready for this field trip! Chaperones and drivers need to be enlisted and the children need to be prepared for this great adventure downtown! 
The day of our field trip to the Peace Center finally arrives and mixed emotions abound.  Some of our children are a little fearful, some are a little nervous and some are SUPER EXCITED! The Super Excited bunch actually makes the teachers and chaperones a little nervous! LOL!! We arrive at Gunther Theater, get seated and then the fun begins!  The production of the Runaway Bunny and Goodnight Moon are wonderful! It was so much fun to observe our little students watching these creative and colorful productions!  I can definitely say a good time was had by child and adult alike!  As our children file out of the aisles of the theater; big smiles, thumbs up and high fives are the responses to these wonderful programs. 

What a wonderful day! This was only "one day" in the life and times of St. James Day School! I am so thankful and blessed to be part of the St.James School! Thank you parents for allowing me to be a part of your child's learning experience! I looooove my JOB!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WHO CHAPERONED AND DROVE OUR STUDENTS TO THE PEACE CENTER!
YOU ARE ALL AWESOME!

I also wanted to remind parents that registration for Camp Fun is going on now!  Sign your child up for fun and adventure this summer! Camp Fun runs from June7th thru July 28th:  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9- 1pm. Sessions are $25.00 a day with a one time registration fee of $25.00.  Register online or pick up a form from a teacher. 
Sincerely,

**Daphne Felber - 4's Teacher**

prayersParish Prayer Lists
Remember In Your Prayers

Those who are sick, confined indoors, and others dear to us: Carole B., *Janis Bandelin, Muffin Barnes, Jack Barrett, *Lafa Black, *Nan Black, Bob Burns, David Carter, *Lena Clary, Marga Cothran, *Don & Dorothy Doria, Holland Echols, *Cynthia Faress, *Frances Funderburk, Hal Gober, Scotty Halkett, *Nancy Harlan, *Mary Ann Hemphill, Karen Henry, David Hickman, *Ilse Holliday, Kay Imholz, *John Jones, *Suzanne Keenan, Suzanne Kolb, Carol Larson, *Jeff Leonard, *Harriet Littlejohn, *Lee Marr, *Will McMasters, *Lilly Mueller, Rene� Purdue, *Nancy Pilgrim, Tara Posner, *Phil Pressly, *Chip Preusse, Richard Reid, *Jean Rhodes, Kurt Stevens, *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.

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

St. James Participants on the Mission and Vision trip to Ecuador and Peru.
 
Expectant parents: *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 Flowers on the Altar are given to the Glory of God by Linda and Kent Satterfield.

The Sanctuary Candle is given to the Glory of God. 
 
eventsComing Events
Recital
Voice Recital at St. James - May 3, 7:30 PM

You are invited to a voice recital at St. James on Tuesday, May 3 at 7:30 PM, given by Furman student Ashton Nicewonger, who has sung with the St. James adult choir as a Furman Scholarship Singer since her sophomore year. A voice student of Lisa Barksdale at Furman, Ashton also sings as a member of both Furman's Chamber Choir and the Furman Singers. She has been selected to study in Versailles, France in the fall, and is giving this special recital as a way to raise funds for her study at the Conservatoire de Versailles. Ashton will be accompanied on the piano by graduating Furman music major Grace Odell. Ashton's personality and joie d' vivre will make this a memorable event - come lend your support and enjoy Ashton's fund-raising concert in our lovely church!  Donations to support Ashton's studies will be accepted at the recital. 

ascension
Vigil of the Feast of the Ascension: Wed., May 4, 6:30 p.m.

Please join us for the Vigil of the Feast of the Ascension: In lieu of our regular Wednesday night Celtic Eucharist, we will celebrate the Vigil of the Feast of the Ascension (Rite II) at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4. This feast commemorates Christ's bodily ascension into heaven and initiates a period of waiting for the gift of the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Pentecost.
uto
United Thank Offering (UTO) Spring Ingathering: May 8


summer
Summer Service Schedule begins May 15, 2016

Services will begin at 7:45 and 10:00 a.m. beginning May 15. 
graduate
Graduate Recognition: Sunday, May 22, 10:00 a.m.

If you or someone in your family is graduating from high school or college this spring, please contact the office by Wednesday, May 18, and let us know their name and the degree being bestowed so they can be included in the bulletin.
PFW
Parish Fellowship Weekend: Friday through Sunday, May 27-29, 2016

Please join us for an unplugged, relaxed weekend of family fun at Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville NC. Activities include rocking chairs, swimming, fishing, canoeing, hiking, tennis, climbing wall, playgrounds, labyrinth and more. Cost includes two nights' lodging and six buffet-style meals. Commuters are welcome to come for the day on Saturday for $30 per person. 
gaihnGreenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (GAIHN): May 29-June 5

St. James will once again host families who are experiencing homelessness. We need help with set up and take down, meal preparation, laundry (bedding), activities and overnight hosts. Sign up sheets will be available soon. For more information, please contact John Kaup.

faith
St. James Day at Faith Memorial Chapel: Sunday, June 5, 11:00 a.m.

St. James Day at Faith Memorial Chapel: On Sunday, June 5, you are invited to Faith Memorial Chapel in Cedar Mountain NC for the service of Morning Prayer, Rite II, at 11:00 a.m.  Please join us!

Annual Parish Picnic: Sunday, June 5, 12:30 p.m.
Afterward, we will have our Annual Parish Picnic at Pleasant Ridge County Park, located just off Hwy 11, about halfway between St. James and Faith Memorial Chapel. We will meet at Shelter 1 between 12:30-1:00 p.m. for a covered-dish lunch. Please bring a dish to share which serves 8-10 people. 

Important note: Services at St. James will take place at the regular summer services times on June 5 at 7:45 and 10:00 a.m. 
itemsItems of Interest
readings
The Fourth Sunday of Easter
Year C
 
Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6, John 13:31-35, Psalm 148


bdaysApril Birthdays
 
1 Michael Atkins
1 Derek Ragan
2 Henry Warnock
3 Linda Satterfield
4 Bill Nicholls-Wozniczka
4 Elaine Peters
6 Lib Jones
6 Terry Sadowski
7 Harry Luthi
8 Gus Osborne
8 Mary Dunlap
9 Mary Lynne Hardaway
9 Nancy King
9 Erich Pearson
9 Kate Walsh
10 Pauline Kelley
11 Nancy Ehlers
12 Joanne Penick
13 John Hardaway
14 Al Engelmann
14 Jerry Cox
14 Antonio Mosquera
14 Grace Sammons
15 Ed Snape
15 Lavinia Plumblee
16 Donna Landes
16 Alex Henry
19 Scott Goepper
20 Tom Hovland
20 Karen Hipp
20 Blake Walker
20 Will Goepper
21 Marshall Feimster
22 Brian Lux
23 Ridge Jerina
24 Susan Preusse
25 Christi Jones McNeill
26 Harriet Littlejohn
29 Jane Luthi
29 Bonnie Gossett
29 Marie Armstrong
30 Anna Notation-Rhoades

 April Anniversaries
 
5 Keith & Dru Anne Filter
11 Rob & Julie Weber
13 David & Peggy Brenner
14 Terry & Elaine Peters
16 Clay & Elisabeth Allen
18 Ivan & Mary Dunlap
29 Andrew & Jennifer Walker
 
staff
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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