May, 2014 NEWSLETTER St. James Episcopal Church

Amesbury

IN THIS ISSUE

Sr. Warden Message

Reflections from Rev.

Dee

Vestry Meeting

Craft Night

Family Camp 2014

Christian Education

YLA Fundraiser

Women of Faith

Our Neighbors' Table

Jonquils in St. James Garden

A Message from your Senior Warden, Joan Miller.

Dear Friends, On Palm Sunday Rev. Dee blessed

the Parish Profile lovingly and prayerfully created by the parish Search Committee under the

leadership of co-chairs Cindy Janik and Jenn Sanborn. This is a primary document for clergy candidates

considering a rector position at St. James. If you haven't yet seen the Profile, I invite you to take a look at it on our website: www.stjamesamesbury.org. This Profile helps us celebrate what a wonderful place St. James really is. It is a great time to highlight what an outstanding Search Committee we have been blessed with. This is the people's document - we, the people of St. James. The Search Committee did an amazing job compiling our responses to the

Appreciative Inquiry to reflect who we truly are and who we want to be going forward. Now, I have sad news and glad news to share with you. First, the sad - Rev. Dee will be leaving us on June 22nd. There are no words for what she has meant to me personally, but most of all for what she has meant to all of the people of St. James during this time of transition. We want to express our gratitude to her for hanging with us while we have been wandering in the wilderness for the past year!

Before Rev. Dee's official departure, we will celebrate her presence with us and our best wishes for her as she transitions into "real" retirement with her husband, Jim, on their boat Fintry! More info to come soon!

At this time, I am pleased to let you know that The Rev. Christen Frothingham has agreed to be with us during the summer months of July and August. We

are grateful to Rev. Christen for "filling in," and it is comforting for us to welcome someone we already know. The glad news is truly exciting news in fact! We will have a new rector as we begin anew in the fall!

THANKS BE TO GOD!

Joan

Saying Good-bye - The Gospels of Easter

Friends,

I have been looking ahead toward the Gospels

we will be sharing between Easter and Trinity

Sunday. For me that means: "between Easter

and God be with you."

I consider Jesus, who, before his Easter

Passion, talked also about his leaving.

He was clear that he would be going.

He used the time well, to teach his friends, and

he loved them as well as he could while he

walked among them. Scripture says, "He loved

them to the end."

And he prayed for them - deep and hard.

I hope we have done some of that. I know that

you have been clear and faithful friends for me

and I have learned much from you and I

certainly know that we have prayed.

We have also walked together. There have

been picnics in the sun, walks in the rain, and,

God knows, plenty of shared snow. We have

married, baptized and buried. We have endured

crucifixion and we have celebrated resurrection.

We have even gone bowling.

But now we look to the end-game. I'm

searching through the stories of the Easter

season for what remains and for what we can

learn. These stories are a gift and a grace. I am

sure they will shed light on the blessings that

endure when loving and committed

relationships change. They will help us

understand how we live into that which endures

- often a wisdom that is deeper and love that is

clearer and a purpose that is strong and

courageous.

So let us join together for these wonderful

Easter gospel Sundays. We begin on the road

to Emmaus where we will break bread

together. It is a good way to begin to end. Let

us see what more we can discover before our

summer paths part.

Alleluia,

Rev. Dee

May Vestry Meeting

Your Vestry will meet on

Tuesday, May 13th at 7pm in the Nickerson Library.

All are invited to attend any of our meetings, where we reflect and take

action upon the many important aspects of

Parish life.

May Crafting at St. James

Please join us for Craft Night on

Monday, May 12th and Tuesday, May 27th

starting at 6:30pm.

These gatherings are "come as you are" events

- no talent necessary, no need to bring

supplies, drop in when you can and leave when

you need to. Bring your dinner and eat with

us! We chat, laugh and work together on a

variety of craft items which will be sold at the

annual Church Fair. If you have a craft, bring it

if you wish. Everyone is invited, so bring a

friend (or two) with you if you can.

Questions? Comments? Can't make it that

night, but want to make sure you don't miss

out on future Craft Night? Please contact Fair

Committee Co-Chairs Dawn Schmidt (Dawn

Schmidt) and Liz Iacobucci (Liz Iacobucci).

Please also fill out our "Doodle poll" about what

days/times you can join us for future Craft

Nights.

Click here for the "Doodle Poll

Family Camp - 2014 Registrations are now being accepted at the

Barbara C. Harris Camp for the Diocesan Family

Camp, June 26-29, 2014.

This year's theme, Jump in, the Water is

Fine: An Invitation to the Baptismal Life,

will help us learn ways to live out our faith in

our families.

Camp fills up quickly so be sure to register

quickly. If families share a cabin, there is a

price reduction!

Click here: FAMILY CAMP 2014, to register

on-line or to obtain more information.

Christian Education

In the spirit of "Season of Service Celebration,"

the youth put together ten "Teen" Easter

baskets to support ONT. Thank you all for your

generous donations towards making this

project possible.

To continue the "Season of Service Celebration"

our youth will be collecting "change" to buy

animals for Heifer International. By supporting

this program we are helping end hunger and

poverty. A labeled jar will be located in the

parish hall and in the classrooms.

Easter Vigil at Trinity Church in Haverhill with

the LMVC was a big hit! Over twenty-five adults

and children from St. James attended. Kim

Potts and her students performed the skit to

"Noah's Ark."

The YLA students would like to thank everyone

for all your support! Feel free to ask them

about their projects, fundraising and upcoming

mission trip.

Bottle & Can Drive

Fundraiser for the St. James Youth Leadership Academy

Participants

Help out the St. James Youth Leadership Academy participants raise funds for their mission trip to El

Salvador by donating your REDEEMABLE bottles and cans.

To donate, simply drop them off at the collection box in the Parish Hall or give them to Dan Bennett, Jilleen

Collins or Mariana Sanborn. We are funding this fundraiser until June, so please bring in your

returnable bottles and cans every week!

What to donate Five cent redeemable cans Five cent redeemable bottles

(no crushed cans please)

What not to donate Non-redeemable bottles

Non-redeemable cans Water bottles.

Thank You For Your Support!

The Women of Faith will resume in the Fall of 2014. Joan Augusta will lead the group

and is considering a new format. Possibility of reading the book: Paul - A

Man of Grace and Grit, by Charles R.

Swindoll. Meetings may be held on Wednesday evenings. More details to

follow. If you have any questions, please

contact the office at 978-388-0030.

May Food Donations

During the month of May, ONT asked for donations of cereal, canned fruit, peanut butter and baked beans!

Also, personal items such as deodorant, mouthwash, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc., are always in need.

To check out ONT's website - click here.

Let us give thanks for God's many

blessings to us.

QUICK LINKS

St. James Website!

Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts

Send us an E-mail

Blessings and Peace to All! The Rev. Deborah

Woodward