The Pilgrim
"News for the Journey"

December 17, 2009

Reflections from your Rector

Dear Family and Friends at St. James',

I write this both to express my gratitude for the wonderful service and fellowship luncheon on Sunday, December 13 as well as to share some recent personal news that I view as reason for concern, but not for alarm. 

First, I want to thank everyone for the wonderful celebration I experienced this past Sunday as we marked the tenth year anniversary of my ministry at St. James'. The celebratory service, filled with so much joy and energy, was very special. Thank you for the outpouring of love I received and also for your thoughtful gifts. The winter cloak (which I plan to dedicate by wearing it for the first time at Christmas Eve services) will keep me warm and permit me to greet folks as they come and go from St. James' in cold weather. The combination Prayer Book/Bible will be a wonderful resource for personal study as well as for use during pastoral care visits. I was honored by the kind words you read from Bishop Chane's letter, which reflect well upon all of us as a congregation. But most of all, thank you for the privilege of serving as your rector for the past ten years and for supporting my ministry at St James'. Our time together has been an incredible journey for me. Reflecting on this journey, including the wonderful and glorious moments as well as occasions of sadness and loss, again reminds me that change is a natural part of living and of our life together. Yet even amidst the changes, we have seen the movement of the Holy Spirit among us and experienced the ever-present grace of our Lord. Thus, it is with much rejoicing that I offer thanks to God. 

On a separate, and less joyful note, I would like to apprise you all of a recent development in my personal life. A few weeks ago I was diagnosed with a second breast cancer. I say "second" because, as many of you know, I underwent a lumpectomy for breast cancer four years ago. The previous cancer was in the right breast. This is a second cancer, in the left breast; it is not something that has migrated from the right breast – in fact, the right breast is presently free of any cancer. There are many kinds of breast cancer; the kind I seem to get is found in only 15-20% of all breast cancers and can emerge spontaneously. The good news is that this particular kind of cancer is slow to spread outside the breast (metastasize), particularly if dealt with early on. Fortunately, I am a candidate for a second lumpectomy and will undergo outpatient surgery on Wednesday, December 16. By the time you read this article, I will be home recovering. I fully expect to be back at church for services on Sunday, December 20, as well as teaching the Adult Forum that Sunday. I will need to guard my energy levels for a few weeks as I recover, so I may not be in the office quite as frequently as normal, particularly during Christmas week. But I plan to be at all Christmas Eve services, helping with the Children's Christmas Pageant Service at 5:00 pm and preaching at the 7:30 pm and 10:30 pm festival services. As before, I will need to undergo six weeks of radiation therapy, beginning sometime in January. 

St. James' has a wonderful staff, wardens, and vestry; and Elton is available for any emergency calls during the next few weeks. I am not concerned about the state of our parish. Nor am I particularly concerned about the outcome of this surgical procedure. I do, however, ask for your prayers for a quick and complete recovery. They will be deeply appreciated. 

All this demonstrates that, as we all know, life is full of changes and ambiguity. I have experienced these changes in our life together over the past ten years and once again in my personal life. The season of Advent, with its focus on waiting and expectation, can help us to recognize this inherent ambiguity in life as we transition from a past that is no longer and forever gone into the unpredictable future. But this is also the promise of Advent and of Christmas: the one for whom we ultimately long and wait is both present and yet coming, no matter what we might be experiencing. So even in the midst of change and ambiguity we can still say, "Thanks be to God." 

Cindy B. 

My Coffee Cup's Too Small! 

If you've thought this, let this anonymous kitchen elf help you feel less frustrated about the ceramic cups presently in use on Sunday mornings. 

1.   St. James' owns them - no expense 

2.   We have a very good sexton who knows how to run the dishwasher - no non-biodegradable trash generated 

3.   The kitchen has adequate, easily usable storage space 

"Too small" - refill it. "Makes my tea too strong" - take the tea bag out sooner. "I spill it more easily than I did with the bigger Styrofoam cups" - put less in it and see #1; you'll also get some exercise going back for your refill! 

The aforementioned "elf" hopes this makes it easier to go along with these cups - at least for now.

Where is Your Pledge Form for 2010? 

We hope it is not still on your desk! Your Stewardship Commission is making every effort to follow up on every member. If we haven't heard from you and you need a new pledge form please call the office or go to http://www.stjamespotomac.org. If you have returned it, thank you!

Cider Makers Needed 

For several years we have offered hot apple cider as a refreshment following the 7:30 pm and 10:30 pm Christmas Eve Festival services. This has provided a delightful treat that both warms the hearts of those present as well as creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere in the church for our many visitors. We've had an offer to serve after the 10:30 pm service.  We need someone to buy the cider and help get it set up as well as to serve after the 7:30 pm service. Can you help? If so, please contact the office at 301-762-8040 or send an email to office@stjamespotomac.org. 

Sunday School Scoop 

Planning for Children's Christmas Pageant 

The wonderful season of Advent is upon us and in light of that the students, teacher and families are preparing for the Christmas Eve pageant. The younger students are focusing on the story of Jesus' birth and are using an Advent calendar to count down the days until Christmas. Other students are learning about the various animals that surrounded the manger, the shepherds who came to see the baby Jesus and the angels who appeared on that starry night. The middle school students are studying the speaking parts in preparation for the pageant. All of the aforementioned parts are in place, but we are in need of many volunteers to make our pageant run smoothly. Please check your News and Notes for a recently posted volunteer list. Let Janice or Debbie know how you would like to help. Thanks so much for your continued support. The practice on December 20 from 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm will include a pizza lunch. On Christmas Eve the practice for the angels, Gabriel, shepherds, narrators, Mary and Joseph will begin at 2:00 pm. The animals will need to arrive at 3:00. The pageant will start at 5:00. These practices are extremely important so please make an effort to attend both practices. 

For the Christmas Eve pageant, the nursery will be available during the 5:00 service. On December 27, there will be nursery coverage for the 10:30 service and a movie for the 4/5 year-olds. There will be no Sunday School classes for the first grade through middle school on December 27. Sunday School classes will resume its regular schedule on January 3. 

Our "Teacher Thank You" gathering in November was great fun and was a wonderful way to pay tribute to our fabulous staff. The cards and flowers were heartfelt and the teachers were touched by your kindness.  

God bless,

Debbie and Janice 

Samaritan Ministry Wish List 

Samaritan Ministry needs the following items for program participants. You can drop your donations off at church in the food basket or deliver them to 1516 Hamilton St., NW, DC 20011 , 1345 U St , SE DC 20020 or 2207 Columbia Pike, Arlington 22204. For more information visit www.samaritanministy.org or contact Joyce Graf or Dianne Lewis.      

• $25 gift cards to Target, shoe stores, restaurants

• Day planners for program participants      

• Reading glasses, all powers from +1.00 to +4.00     

• White, button front dress shirts for men and women, all sizes 

• Dress socks for men and women 

• Black or Khaki Chino pants for men 

• Deodorant – regular sized stick deodorant

• Lotion – regular sized bottles 

• Small folding umbrellas   

• Brief cases or portfolios for carrying papers

• New men's and women's underwear 

Food items  (please check expiration dates before donating):

• $10-$25 gift cards to local grocery stores for participants to purchase fresh vegetables, bread and perishable food items like milk, eggs, etc.

• Soft pack or canned ready-to-eat tuna or salmon

• Peanut butter and squeeze bottles of jelly 

• Large boxes and individual-sized breakfast cereals 

• Boxes of quick-cooking oatmeal or instant oatmeal packets 

• 1 lb bags or boxes of pasta and rice

• Jars or cans of prepared spaghetti sauce 

Other canned food items are not needed at this time due to the generosity of many during the holidays.  

Need Pledge Information? 

If you have a question about the status of your 2009 pledge to St. James', email the treasurer, Parke L. Brown at treasurer@stjamespotomac.org and he will be happy to provide that information. Or you can call the church office and ask that Parke contact you. 

Come Home to St. James' this Holiday Season 

In this season of Advent our theme is "expectation." We look forward in a special way to greet family members and parishioners who will be home for Christmas. We should also be preparing for those who generally attend only Christmas and holiday services. There should always be a warm welcome to the visitors and newcomers we will see here during this season. 

So we invite you to make an Advent commitment to invite someone you know to come to a Christmas service with you this year! You might be surprised by the response. There are statistics to show that a large majority of those who do not attend church regularly would start coming back if they were asked--especially if the invitation came at Christmastime. 

Undoubtedly you know someone who no longer attends church or does so infrequently. There may be those you have "missed" here in recent months. To reach out with a welcome at Christmastime may well be a holiday gift that keeps on giving!  

Year-end Giving Reminder 

We want to remind everyone that any contributions to St. James' for which you wish a 2009 tax credit must be either received by the parish office or postmarked no later than December 31. Under law, any contributions received after that date must be credited to the 2010 tax year, regardless of the date on the check. 

Stock Contributions 

If you are thinking about making a contribution to St. James' using stock gifts either for the 2009 pledges or prepaying 2010 pledges, (or just making a gift!) please contact the treasurer by e-mail at treasurer@stjamespotomac.org or by calling the church office (301-762-8040) and leaving a message for the treasurer to return your call. Stock gifts should be made as soon as possible before the end of December so no glitches will prevent the gift from being completed before the end of the year. 

Come Celebrate the Feast of Epiphany 

Saturday, January 9, 2009. 5:00 pm 

The Feast of the Epiphany is a festival, celebrating the gift of our Savior Jesus Christ, the light of the world. We invite you and your family to attend a unique evening of worship and inter-generational fellowship at St. James' on Saturday, January 9, beginning at 5:00 pm in the church. Following the service, a spaghetti dinner will be offered by the youth group as a fundraiser for their summer mission trip to a workcamp in Buffalo . The dinner will feature King's Cake with prizes for the lucky winners. We encourage you to invite your friends and neighbors as well. 

This service is especially designed for all ages: it begins in darkness, features a children's sermon and special music, and concludes with the lighting of hundreds of candles. We carry these lights out of the church as a reminder that we are called to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all the world. The Wise Men traveled many miles by camel but, for us, this is where the journey starts!

Next Book Club Discussion – January 3, 2010 

Come and join us in the parish hall meeting room on Sunday evening, January 3, 2010 at 7:15 pm (following the 6:00 pm service) for an evening of fellowship and discussion. As we will still be celebrating the Christmas season, the book under discussion will be The Christmas Train. New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci brings us a uniquely entertaining holiday tale in which disillusioned journalist Tom Langdon must get from Washington DC to L.A. in time for Christmas. Forced to take the train across the country because of a slight "misunderstanding" at airport security, he begins a journey of self-discovery and rude awakenings, mysterious goings-on and thrilling adventures, screwball escapades and holiday magic.  

We'll order in pizza for dinner and ask for contributions to help cover the cost. Salad, dessert and drinks will be provided. Please RSVP to let us know you are coming so we can arrange for adequate food. Call the office at 301-762-8040 or email the rector at rector@stjamespotomac.org. 

Coming selections include:

January 31, 2010     People of the Book                                                            Geraldine Brooks

February 28, 2010   The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society     Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

March 28, 2010        Arranged (movie)

April 25, 2010           Without a Map                                                                   Meredith Hall  

Praise from the Bishop

Those who attended the celebration of Cindy's ministry had the opportunity to hear excerpts from a letter from Bishop Chane. Here's a link to the letter!

"Nativity on the Square" 

On Sunday, December 20, at both the 8:00 am and 10:30 am services, the St. James' Players will perform a one act play called "Nativity on the Square". The play was winner of the best one act play in 1995 by Christians in Theatre Arts. The figures of a public crèche scene come to life on Christmas Eve and attempt to discover who they are and why they are there. A drunken bag lady explains the Nativity to them in a manner that is both comical and deeply moving.   Be warned, the play will probably start within the first five minutes of the service so don't be late.  

Newton Lewis

Music Director