The eTower 
An eNewsletter from St. James Episcopal Church     

The Fourth Sunday of Easter

Year B 

Psalm 23
1 John 3:16-24
John 10:11-18 

Our Nursery is open during all worship services for
 infants to 4 years.

Adult Forum
 9:40 AM Sundays in the Guild Hall

April 26:

How do we respond to obvious evil in the world?  War and terrorism
 -  Phil Speary

May 3:

How do we respond to obvious evil in our world?  Murder and other crimes
-  Rob Compton

May 10:

Breakfast Sunday

May 17:

How do we respond to obvious evil in the world?  Witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
-  Phil Speary
This Week at St. James 

 

MONDAY, April 20
7:00 PM        Explorers
7:00 PM        Graduate EfM

TUESDAY, April 21
WEDNESDAY, April 22
12:15 PM      Holy Eucharist in the chapel
5:00 PM       WW Dinner
5:15 PM        Yoga
5:30 PM       Cancer Support
5:30 PM       Choristers
6:30 PM       Bible Study
7:00 PM       Choir
7:30 PM       Youth Group
7:30 PM       Brotherhood of St. Andrew

THURSDAY,  April 23

10:00 AM      Bible Study
4:30 PM        Endowment
6:30 PM        EfM
7:00 PM        Amedisys Hospice Remembrance service

SATURDAY, April 25
5:30 PM       Holy Eucharist
6:30 PM       Family Game Night/OPUS
 
SUNDAY, April 26 - Youth Sunday
8:30 AM      Holy Eucharist
9:40 AM      Christian Education for all ages
10:45 AM     Holy Eucharist
noon            OET meeting


View the complete calendar
Board Game Fun, 6:00 to 9:00 PM, Saturday, April 25, in the Guild Hall

 

Membership/Parish Life Committee will host a Board Game Evening, beginning at 6 PM Saturday, April 25. OP  US has been invited too!  There will be games on hand, but if you have one you especially like, bring it along!  Please bring a snack to share.

PARISH NEWS  

Amedisys Hospice invites you to a
Candlelight Evening of Remembrance
7:00 PM Thursday, April 23, 2015 at St. James Episcopal Church
   
Calling all Olde English Tea helpers and friends

 

We will have our last (!) planning meeting before the OET.  The April 26-May 1 preparation days are almost here.  Please come and we will finalize any last minute arrangements on Sunday, April 26 after the 10:45 service in the Lounge. Contact N. Rillema at 634-6945 or [email protected].

Lauren Winner reading 5:00 PM Sunday, April 26, Eighth Day Books 

 

Lauren Winner, past Tocher lecturer , will be in Wichita reading from her new book, Wearing God: Clothing, Laughter, Fire, and Other Overlooked Ways of Meeting God, which explores overlooked biblical images of God, at Eighth Day Books on April 26. All are invited. Lauren Winner is Vicar of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Louisburg, NC and Assistant Professor of Christian Spirituality, Duke Divinity School. 

Publishers Weekly review. 

Take a Stand in Easter

 

The Church's Season of Celebration has arrived. In church, during worship, we will once again proclaim "Alleluia." We will stand during The Prayers of the People and, for fifty days, omit our corporate prayer of confession.

We do these outward and visible signs to signify inward and spiritual graces which cannot be seen with the human eye. Participants in the Easter celebration, we accept and fully revel in Christ's victory over death and sin. One way we show this is by foregoing the usual necessity of confessing our sins. We stand and exclaim our praise to the Lord who has told us that we will be raised, and with Christ we will stand before the judgment seat of God with confidence. Doing these things in boldness is a reflection of the spiritual condition of our faith in a yet unseen truth.

Bear in mind that your posture and behavior in worship must always be in accord with your own piety. If you would like to proclaim your belief in your own salvation through the resurrection of Christ by standing throughout the Eucharistic Prayer (even when you would normally kneel), you are invited to do so. You also are invited to stand at the altar rail to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion. When you choose to do this, it symbolizes your belief that through Christ's resurrection you have been delivered from evil and made worthy to stand before Him.

Dillons Community Rewards and St. James

 

Dillons ended the Neighborhood Rewards program which tracked Gift Cards to donate to non-profit organizations. Before that St. James used the EPIC coupons. They have now created a  Community Rewards program and utilizes your Dillons Plus (shopper) card. The Dillons Plus card is the same card you use to get Fuel Points and take advantage of advertized specials. Our church benefits from all purchases made with the Dillons Plus cards associated with St. James. To sign up follow the instructions below.

 

What you need to enroll:

  • A Dillons Plus card.
  • A valid email address, which can remain anonymous
  • A personalized account at the Dillons website, which again can be anonymous

How to enroll in the Community Rewards Program:

  1. Go to www.dillons.com/communityrewards
  2. Sign in OR Create an account (see below on creating an online account)
  3. Click on "Enroll Now"
  4. Enter the 5-digit NPO 48787, and search
  5. Select your Organization and click on "Enroll"

Create an online account following these instructions:

  1. Go to www.dillons.com/communityrewards0
  2. Click on "Register" at the top of the page
  3. Enter your email address, password, zip code (select preferred store) and check the box if you desire to receive email from Dillons
  4. Click on "Create Account" at the bottom of the page
  5. You will receive an email confirmation to your inbox; to activate your account click on the link in the body of the email and enter your sign in information to confirm

outreachOUTREACH 

Blood Drive 9:15 AM to 12:15 PM, Sunday, May 10

 

The America Red Cross Bloodmobile will be in the St. James parking lot on Sunday, May 10. To schedule an appointment, go to redcrossblood.org and use the sponsor code St. James Wichita.

Habitat for Humanity

 

The Outreach Committee would like to form a group of 8-10 parishioners who are 16 years of age or older for a St. James team of volunteers to help with the finishing stages (clean-up, painting, caulking, etc) of a Habitat House for 1 session (8 am-2pm) on one of the Saturdays in May. Several members participated last year and had a great time. If you are interested to find out the details or want to sign up, please contact Hew Goodpasture - 316/214-5400(cell) or [email protected]. We would like to know the level of interest in the next month, because group participation slots on Saturdays fill up quickly. 

Needed for Inter-Faith Ministry

 

Gently worn men's work or walking shoes for Inter-Faith Ministries and the homeless. No dress shoes or women's shoes are needed at this time. The shoes can be put in or by the Deacons' Basket. 

YouthYOUTH 

MEGA Camp

 

In 2004, I, Tristan Holmberg, attended the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas' summer camp for the first time. It was the summer after my first year of middle school. I remember forming a friendship with someone that still today is one of my dearest friends and is a strong presence of the Light of Christ in my life. I remember all of the wonderful goofiness of camp. I also remember experiencing the beautiful calmness of the wide open spaces of Camp Wood YMCA. I returned the next summer, and the next, and the next, and so on. I went to camp every year of my middle and high school years. It was truly life changing. 

 

Summer camp is part of the Diocese of Kansas's youth ministry program. Summer camp is a week of fun, faith, and fellowship. We have lots of time outdoors playing, exploring, and having a blast. We have an awesome team of people who plan fun programs that explore our faith. We have an awesome team of Episcopalians from all over the diocese that volunteers to serve as counselors, nurses, camp directors, chaplains, and many more roles. We also have the YMCA staff to assist us with games and outdoor activities. In the Mega Camp format, all three age groups (high school, junior high, and elementary) are at Camp Wood at the same time in three separate camps that are also one camp.

 

I would highly recommend that you consider sending your kids to camp this year, and encourage your children to invite their friends. Ask around, many people have many fond memories of Episcopal summer camp at Camp Wood!

 

When: Sunday, May 31, 2 pm to Saturday, June 6, 11 am, 2015

 

Where: Camp Wood YMCA, Elmdale, KS

 

Who: Students in grades 3-12 for 2014-15 school year (you must have finished third grade to attend); Camp is NOT restricted to Episcopalians or regular churchgoers. All are welcome, so feel free to invite friends and family.

 

Cost: $420 ($450 after May 8) The Diocese of Kansas offers partial scholarships. 

 

Please contact one of the youth ministers if you need further scholarship assistance.

Middle School and High School

 

Middle School and High School Youth Sunday School meets in the youth room in the basement. The group is studying the travels of Jesus according to the Gospel of Mark.

Wednesday Night Youth Group

 

Please let all youth interested in fun and fellowship know about the Wednesday night youth group meetings - open to any and all in the 6th grade and above.

KANSAS2KENYA k2k

Kansas2Kenya

 

Kansas2Kenya which is the ministry of the Diocese of Kansas with the Anglican Church of Kenya and several other organizations, is sending three teams to Kenya this summer. Three college students from St James - Garrison Holmberg, Dalton Nelson and Tristan Holmberg - are going with the College team! Kansas2Kenya happens through the effort of everyone in the Diocese of Kansas, including the wonderful support of St. James. Please consider supporting this ministry! It takes about $3.500 to send a team member. We are closer to our $10,500 goal and are all so thankful for the parish support. See the donation bulletin board for an easy way to donate! Click here for more. 

Ribbons for Kansas2Kenya

 

To support St. James parish members traveling to Kenya this summer, consider making a donation of any amount, and then take a ribbon in the colors of the Kenyan flag (red, green, and black) to wear. The Outreach Committee has placed a basket of these flag ribbons and a donation dish on the entry table.

oet
86th Annual Olde English Tea

Tea tickets are available for purchase at the front desk.

The Olde English Tea at St. James prides itself on the Bake Sale

 

Please bring your wonderful cookies, and cakes and pies, and brownies and fudge and toffee and peanut brittle and coffee cakes and bread and jellies and jams and tarts and whatever we've left out. If you can, please price your delectables and dress then up as prettily as possible. Bring it now labeled Olde English Tea and we will find a place in the freezer for your goodies. If you can, please price your baked goods. Or bring on Friday, May 1, during the day on up until 8:00 p.m.  If you have questions please ask Susan Picotte 440-6999 [email protected] or Angee Carroll 761-1784 [email protected].

The Olde English Tea seeks donations

 

The OET needs your home and hand made arts and crafts.  Please donate some of your knitting, crafts, crocheting, sewing, quilting, jewelry, stuffed toys, pillows, doll clothes, woodworking, and anything you make!  Things you have that you are willing to donate that someone else made would also be wonderful.  Call me if you wonder if what you have is okay and I'll say "Yes!"  Beth Criss, 682-3748 -  [email protected]
Door Prizes for the Olde English Tea

 

We are seeking donations of new or gently used items to be used as door prizes at the Tea. Please leave your items at the desk in the entryway along with your name and address (so we may thank you). Call Kathleen Cox - 721-4080 if you have questions. 
We need your gently used Cookbooks for the Olde English Tea!

 

You know you've been planning to sort through those shelves, now is the time to do it!  Please leave your donated Cookbooks on the stage in the Guild Hall. The money raised for these wonderful books goes to The Episcopal Church Periodical Club, which is used to help churches who need Bibles and Prayer Books, or Sunday School supplies. The money is also given to seminarians to help them pay for text books. If you have questions ask  N. Rillema 634-6945 [email protected].

Donate your barely worn, beautiful hats to the Olde English Tea 

 

You know.  The ones you couldn't resist in the shop and were going to wear but just haven't.  We will sell the lonely, lovely things to women who just can't resist.  For more information please call Sue Cowdery 685-2458 [email protected] or Marj Williams 634-6540 [email protected]     

Kitchen crew

 

Please sign up to help in the kitchen on the day of the Tea. There is a signup sheet on the small table just inside the Red Doors.

ESS

 EPISCOPAL SOCIAL SERVICES NEWS

The Outreach Committee asks for help with Episcopal Social Services' On-going Needs

 

ESS now provides lunches to 150-200 needy people Monday - Friday, besides offering essential services to many clients daily. To help ESS maintain their food pantry and cosmetic pantry, the Outreach Committee is asking St. James parishioners to bring some of the following items to church. Just place them in the Deacon's Basket, and they will be delivered to ESS for you.

 

 

 

Items Needed Regularly by ESS

 

Cream of mushroom soup

Cream of chicken soup

Diced tomatoes

Canned spaghetti or chili Foil    

Vienna sausages

Canned vegetables 

Pancake mix  

Syrup       

Cereal      

Granola bars

Sugar packets

Onions

Vanilla wafers

Spices

Vegetable oil

Chapstick

Feminine Hygiene products

Bleach

Foil

Toothpaste

Toothbrushs

Deodorant

Floss

Hand Lotion

DIOCESAN NEWS

Ancient Worship, Open Minds,
Come Inside, Make a Difference

The Episcopal Church welcomes all people regardless of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or age.