St James Episcopal Church

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When I read the creation stories in Genesis, I feel a sense of awe that I am unable to put into words. Words like majesty, wonder, power all come to mind. That awe is no less profound when I look out my office window - when I take time to really see all that surrounds me when I get caught up by the grace of God and am able to focus on the abundant blessings in my own life.
The thought of abundance takes me full circle back to Genesis and the creation stories. God created out of abundance. God did not create a world with just blue jays, or just catfish, or just daisies. God created the skies, oceans and meadows with an overwhelming abundance of fowl, fish and flora in a multitude of shapes, sizes and colors.
God is not only generous in and throughout creation, God is also generous in his relationship with all of humankindwith you and me. When we think or speak of God, we do so in terms of unconditional love, absolute forgiveness of sins, eternal life. All words that resonate with abundance.
The theology of abundance is the belief that God has given us all that we can possibly need to live a life that God desires for us a life lived abundantly. (John 10:10) In the theology of abundance we are called to recognize our own unique blessings from God and find ways to use these blessings to promote the welfare of all of Gods creation. When we know that God gives richly, we want to give richly to others as well.
In Matthew 25, we are told that whatsoever you do to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you do to me. It is clear that Christ calls us to a radical way of relating to the world through our time, talents and treasures. We are called to look beyond ourselves and become good stewards of Gods kingdom by being Christs hands and feet in the world.
In the weeks to come, through word, image and prayer we will look at the abundance that surrounds us here at St. James we will explore what it means to be Gods stewards in, and of, Gods kingdom. My hope is that we will come to more fully understand that stewardship is everything we do after we say I believe.

Please pray for Sandra, Don Akridge, Ada Byrd, James DePratter, Donald Dockery, the Douglass family, Cathy Flook, the Halks Family, Louise Hines, Barbara Kanaley, Robert Kenney, Olivia Loughran, John Lovett, Brad, Todd, Ada Orhm, Helen Quinney, Shellye Richards, Nellie Roberts, Mitzie Robinette, Rita Sobota, Asa & Bev Sprague, Molly Sullivan, Gracie White, David, Crissy, Harper & Drew, Charlie Wilkinson, Amiyah & Arielle, Sophie, Vickie & Dennis, Emily, Ruth Ann, Mary Abrahamson, Fr. Randall Sartin, Bishop Howard; Our homebound Mickey Messer, Alice Williams, Robert Cheetham, Vangie Wilkins, Paul Conway & Nick Nicholson; Members of the Armed Forces, especially Thomas Barnes, Jennifer Evans, Joshua Gavarette, Patrick McLaughlin, Michael Morrell, Wayne Nettles, Preston Ring, Caleb Sanders & the Lake City Army National Guard, Alpha Company & their families and Wounded Warriors: Eric, Gil, Don and Zach; Parishes: San Miguel, our companion parish in Cuba; Emmanuel, Welaka; Mediator, Micanopy; St. Francis of Assisi, Tallahssee; St. Francis in the Field, Palm Valley; St. Philip's, Jacksonville; St. Joseph's, Newberry; St. John's, Tallahasse; Church of the Nativity, Jacksonville
St. James Prayer Chain is a vital ministry of our Church. By calling one person, Barbara Howell, at 752-0124, you can ask a large number of people to pray for your concern. When there is a death in the church family or some other tragic event, the prayer chain may also be used to communicate with the parish family.
If you would like to be called to pray for the concerns of others, please call Barbara Howell to be added to the chain. Also if you are willing to call 4 or 5 people with a concern that has been placed on the prayer chain, let Barbara know that.
If you have an intercession that you would like printed in the bulletin, please call the church office, Monday or Wednesday between 9 am and 4 pm.

The United Thank Offering is a ministry of the Episcopal Church. Through the United Thank Offering, men, women, and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God. These prayers of thanksgiving start when we recognize and name our many daily blessings.

Those who participate in the United Thank Offering have discovered that thankfulness leads to generosity. A short prayer of thanksgiving leads to an offering in the United Thank Offering box.

All offerings are used to support grants for ministries at home and overseas as an outreach of the Episcopal Church. Prayers and offerings make it possible for the UTO mission to stretch in unexpected ways. Your parish forwards the local ingathering offering to its respective Diocesan Coordinator. The Diocesan Coordinator records your local offering and forwards it to the national UTO office in New York.

In New York, these monies are immediately put to work earning interest. They are kept in an interest-bearing account until granted. The interest from the account also is granted. By combining the offerings, it is possible to fund significant projects that make real difference in the work of the Episcopal Church in the Anglican Communion and a real difference in peoples lives.

Dear Lord,Open my eyes that I may see the beauty of theearth you have given us.Open my ears that I may hear the lessons that yousend my way.Open my mouth that I may sing praise to you.Open my heart that it may feel the needs of others.Open my hands that they may share my goodfortune with others. Amen.

The Outreach committee has put together a calendar of suggested items to fit the needs of those less fortunate than us. Each month they will suggest items for that month, but non perishable food is always appreciated.

Tooth brushes & paste, deodorant, shampoo, razors, body washNovemberUnwrapped toys and gifts for Children of all ages
DecemberSocks and Undies

1,000 Cans of Food With the rising number of hungry men, women and children in Columbia County and the requests for food made on the Christian Service Center, the Outreach Committee of St. James invites you to participate in a 1000 Can Food Drive.
The food drive runs from October 3rd through November 21. The hopes are that if each worshipper brings at least one can (or box) of food to his or her worship service each Sunday, for the next 8 weeks, we will reach our goal of 1,000 cans of food. The food will be donated to the Christian Service Center.