St. James's Episcopal Parish @ Porter Square, Cambridge

March 30th, 2008

THE SUNDAY NEWS

 

8:00 am  Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10:15 am Sunday School Family Service followed by classes for children from preschool through 12^th grade

10:30 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music

 

Readings for March 30th:  Acts: 2:14a, 22-32    I Peter: 1:3-9     Psalm: 16     John:20:19-31   Prayers

 

1^st Reading:Donna Thompson  2^nd Reading:Sarah Forrester  Prayers:Sylvia Weston

Lay Eucharistic Ministers: John Hixson, Cynthia Owen &

Marian King

Acolyte                              Steve Cox

Welcomer                                   Eric Maynard

Counters                                    Anne Shumway & John Gay

Flower Guild                              Laurie Rofinot

Altar Guild                                  Susan Harris

 

TONITE AT 8:00PM ST. JAMES, CAMBRIDGE FEATURED ON PBS

 

St. James, Cambridge is among the Cambridge energy success stories featured tonight Friday, March 28th at 8:00PM on the PBS program NOW, CHANNEL 2 WGBH. You can also watch on the internet anytime at www.pbs.org/now. We know the Good News of St. James! Earlier this year we honored St. James with the MIP&L "You Finally Did It!" award for their great work in environmental stewardship. From the award citation: "St. James was among the earliest of MIP&L members. The parish has been working hard to understand its environmental impact as a facility. As with many other congregations, St. James understands the cost of operating the building, including the capital costs of making major upgrades in equipment. St. James quickly made the "low-hanging fruit" upgrades. The parish has now made a major upgrade in heating equipment. They will continue to make other essential upgrades year to year. Doing the right thing is an every day, every year activity. St. James is doing the right thing! Thank you for your environmental

 

THE BELL

"Our wonderful newsletter "The Bell" will soon become the responsibility of another parishioner or two, as Aletha Cole is stepping down after several years' service come July.  Would you be interested in taking on or helping with this important aspect of parish life?  If so, please get in touch with David Hall or Donna Thompson. Thanks!

 

SOCIAL JUSTICE -  Opportunities to Make a Difference Now!

Tuesday, April 8, 7:00 - 9:30 pm.: Action Meeting with state Executive Secretary of

Elder Affairs. Ten or more parishioners needed to attend this meeting to effect immediate change in state policy.  Location: Temple Emanuel in Newton Center. Transportation: carpooling from St. James's.

Sunday, April 20, 12:30 : GBIO forum at St. James's with Fran Early, Organizer for

      GBIO and member of Trinity Church.

Thursday, May  27, 7:00 - 9:30 pm : Action meeting with Governor, the Mayor of

       Boston and other officials to agree on actions to address youth safety, health care

      and elder care.  Fifty parishioners needed to attend this meeting!

For more information or to sign up contact Tom Tufts at the Coffee Hour.

 

THANK YOU

Easter was so lovely as was our coffee hour. Thank you to so many who offered all those fabulous goodies and many traditional Easter foods. Many thanks also to Tom Beers, Ericka Crouse and Joev Dubach. The last two joined in setting up and arranging trays of delicious food stuffs in spite of it being their first St. James's Easter and while entertaining Ericka's Mom from Maryland. The tables were lovely, certainly complementing the beautiful sanctuary, thanks to our Altar Guild. It almost goes without saying that our choirs added so much to the service. Many thanks to the staff for all their hard work, seemingly done cheerfully. On we go to the remaining Sundays of this church year. We look forward to the new rector while preparing to say a sad goodbye to another wonderful interim, Susan. We have been blessed in so many ways.  Judy Beers

 

MISSION POSTING TO BURUNDI

Jodi Mikalachki will be returning to Africa as an Education / Community Development worker with the Mennonite Central Committee, an excellent peace-and-justice organization that works with under-served communities around the world. Jodi is going on a three-year posting to a

village school in Burundi (central Africa), where she will be supporting primary school teachers and developing curriculum in French, English, and music.  She goes for orientation in Pennsylvania from April 15-25, and will fly to Burundi at the end of April. Her last Sunday at St. James's will be April 27th. See Jodi's article in the April issue of The Bell for more information.

 

First Mission Trip Bake Sale! 

The Bake Sale to benefit our Mississippi Mission Trip will take place Sunday, April 6th.

 

Parish Retreat date set: Mark your calendars for this year's parish retreat, which will be held Friday - Sunday, May 30 - June 1, at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, NH.  Look for more information and registration materials in April - and plan to come for a fun and spiritually refreshing weekend.

Parish Directory 

I am in the process of finalizing the directory for publication. If you have had any recent changes please notify Sheila in the Parish Office as soon as possible.  Hoping to publish the directory sometime in April.  Email: office@stjames-cambridge.org or call 617-547-4070.

  EDUCATION

 

Interfaith Community Boston, Model Passover Seder *
Sunday, April 13, 2008, 2-5 p.m.

St. James's Parish House, 1991 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge 02140
Free for members, Non-members: $30 families, $20 couples/individuals

Reservations required: RSVP by April 6 by responding to interfaithcommunity.boston@gmailcom
A model seder will be held for children and families to learn about and celebrate the meaning and the rituals of this ancient tradition- dipping greens in salt water, recalling the ten plagues, inviting Elijah's return, and sharing matzah, the "bread of affliction." Following the commandment "You shall tell it to your children!" we will hear the founding story of Judaism - the story of the birth of a people and an evolved understanding of God. We look forward to a lively and enjoyable gathering of the Community for this event.
Note:  Interfaith Community Boston plans to hold family services and celebrations for major holidays. Using authentic liturgy, we aim to make the eternal meaning and ancient traditions of religious holidays accessible to all. Our services are written to help individuals remain connected to their traditions and share them with their families, while learning to understand other faiths. They are intimate, participatory services, researched, written and led by Interfaith Community members, with advice and participation from our religious advisors.  *This will be a non-dinner event. Please bring an appetizer/snack to share. Babysitting available.  Contact:  Kate Hornstein, Interfaith Community Boston, 30 Hubbard Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140, www.interfaithcommunity.org.

 

WHY NOT MAKE BIBLE STUDY PART OF YOUR LIFE?

"Sunday scriptures in context"  Study at home or join the Sunday morning discussion group. This small, informal group meets from 9:15 to 10:15 each Sunday morning in the "Upper Room" above the Parish Hall. The group is for people who want to discuss the Sunday Bible readings and to grow in faith and understanding by sharing their knowledge, insights and questions about the Bible. Visitors, newcomers, occasional and regular participants are all welcome. For more information contact The Rev Judy Gay.

 

OUTREACH

 

REMEMBER THE FEINSTEIN CHALLENGE GRANT

The Helping Hand Food Pantry will benefit from donations you make before the end of April. Mr. Feinstein is a philanthropist who will match a percentage of all funds raised by participating food pantries. You may mail or bring a donation to the church or place a donation in the collection box. Make all checks payable to Helping Hand Food Pantry. Thank you for your generosity.  Janet Hixson Hobbs

 

THE HELPING HAND FOOD PANTRY

The food pantry is in dire need of volunteers for the following days and hours; Tuesday evening 6-8PM, Thursday morning 11-1PM and Saturday's 10AM-Noon.  Please contact Nina if you are interested at 617-876-4381 or email her at foodpantry@stjames-cambridgeorg.

 

PARISH PRAYER LIST

 

Those who have asked for our prayers:  Joanne Renfrew, David Peters, Trish Morck, Patricia Lindo, Miriam Joseph, Ken Holmes, Sylvia Weston, Barbara Butler, Julie Holbrook O'Connor, Eric Sollee, Cindy Boyd & Family, Adam Sahlberg, Dewey Kim and family, Chris Wilson, Scott Walters, David & Andrew, Katherine, Jim & Julia DeBorst, Katherine & Matthew Krister, Cynthia Owen, Mateo Singer-Torres, Virginia Finochetti, Betty, Yvonne and Levi, Rosmond Elwin, Robert Wilson, Laura Hallihan, Arne Nystrom, Florence Thompson, The Galindo Family, Emilenne Jules, Bob Massie, Daysha Edewi, Dessima, Evelyn Parks, Roger Shumway, Seymour Papert and Suzanne Massie, Grace Dawe, Lisa McDonnell, Ruby.

 

And our troops who have died in Iraq from March 17th - March 23rd: Michael D. Elledge, Christopher C. Simpson, Gregory D. Unruh, Tyler J. Smith, II, Thomas C. Ray, David S. Stelmat, David B. Williams and Andy Habsieger,

 

And our elder or disabled parishioners: Ebert Agard, Helen Bushner, June Fifield, Mary Mosesian and Jack McMackin.

 

The Flowers on the High Altar:  are given by Thomas and Sengchan Tufts in loving memory of Margaret Tufts. 

 

The Flowers on the Chapel Altar: are given by The Hixson-Hobbs family in loving memory of Dorothy Brand, Joseph Hixson and Frances Hobbs.

 And don't forget...

To donate memorial flowers - in memory of loved ones or in thanksgiving for birthdays, anniversaries or other life transitions - please contact Laurie Rofinot, Flower Committee.

 

Please recycle Sunday bulletins and music!  Place them in the containers on the desk in the vestry room or in the containers in the back of the church.  Thank you!

 

Have something to add to the Sunday News?  Email Sheila at office@stjames-cambridge.org. by Thursday Noon.

Have an addition or correction to the prayer list?  Email Sheila by Friday Noon.

Parish office hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10AM-2PM

 

Readings on April 6th:   Acts 2:14a, 36-41  (Sylvia Weston)    Psalm: 116:1-4, 12-19   I Peter 1:17-23 (Susan Rice)     Luke: 24:13-35        Prayers   (Anne Shumway)