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11815 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, Maryland 20854 |
church office: 301-762-8040 web: http://stjamespotomac.org email: office@stjamespotomac.org fax: 301-762-4076 |
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News and Notes News and Notes is sent out from the church office weekly (usually on Thursdays) in the form of an email to the whole parish. The contents of the email are also posted here. If you would like to receive parish-wide emails directly, you may add your email address to our mailing list by using our online email sign-up form (select "Email Sign-Up" in the menu to the left). Note: Phone numbers and email addresses of parishioners are not listed on the website. Call the church office if you do not have a church directory.
In This Issue:
The calendar of parish events is attached.
A THOUGHT TO PONDER FROM OUR RECTOR
We usually begin each vestry meeting at St. James’ with a short, spiritual reflection given by one of our vestry leaders. But this past Tuesday we did something a little different. Following up on our celebration of Pentecost this past Sunday, I asked each person present to spend a moment in thoughtful silence and then to share briefly an experience each had had of the Holy Spirit. At first almost every parish leader stared down at the table, but then one person began and from there we simply moved around the circle. The diversity of experiences shared was fascinating. Some shared very specific moments when they felt the Spirit at work; some shared spiritual insights that had been uttered by their children (in some cases, very young children) but was exactly what they needed to hear at the moment; some commented that they couldn't remember any specific occasion but often felt “nudges” that were impossible to ignore and needed to be followed; others shared their experience of comfort or consolation during difficult times. And yes, there were those who shared events that could not be explained away easily by coincidence. Each person’s sharing reflected the presence, power, and activity of the Holy Spirit at work in the lives of the faithful. It took a while to hear from each of the 17 parish leaders gathered, but it was certainly worth the time. And it reminded me once again that the Holy Spirit is often quite subtle in its work among us – if we don’t open our eyes to see and our ears to listen we might just miss the very activity of the Holy Spirit for which we pray. Thus I challenge each of us once again to consider: “When have you experienced the presence or activity of the Holy Spirit in your life – in you or in the community?” It’s a question worth pondering and then sharing with someone else.
9:15 a.m. Contemporary Issues and
Christianity Discussion, Parish Hall Library Sunday School This Week, May 26 No Children's Worship Experience
for 1st - 3rd graders THIS Sunday, May 26 Book Club Meets This Sunday, May
26, 6:45 pm, Parish Hall Meeting Room
Workcamp Meeting, Next Sunday,
June 2, (Time and Place TBA) Tuesday, June 4 Seniors Luncheon
and Meeting
Youth Group Auction and Carnival,
June 9
IN THE COMMUNITY Faith Community Help with Global
Warming
DO YOU NEED A ST. JAMES' NAMETAG? Let the office know if you need one, and we'll get it made. |