Announcements March 23, 2025
Parish event Calendar from 03/23/25 to 04/18/2025 is located following these announcements.
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The St. James Mission Statement:
St. James exists to Gather as God’s people.
Know the love of God in Christ.
Grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Give to the world what God has given to us.
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Please turn off your cell phone before worship begins.
Welcome, Everyone! Two restrooms are located in the front of the church, through the double doors to the left of the altar area. There is also a baby changing table that accommodates a child up to 50 pounds. “Buddy bags” for children are available behind the pews containing crayons, coloring paper and other materials to help keep little ones occupied during the service.
Altar Flowers No altar flowers are given today.
Giving Altar Flowers Altar flowers are given in memory of or in thanksgiving for a loved one or for a milestone event. Flowers cost $35. Please note “altar flowers” on your check. A sign-up sheet is on the table as you enter church and there are envelopes to complete and place payment inside which can be placed in the collection plates on Sundays. Altar flowers and prayer shawls are available to take to someone who may be ill, hospitalized – or who simply needs cheer.
S.O.M.E. to-go Meals Volunteers are needed this Wednesday, March 26th and on the last Weds of each month from 4:45 – 8:00 pm to set-up, serve and clean-up. Desserts are also needed. If you are able to help, please sign up on the sheet on the table behind the pews. Thank you!
Stuff Swap March 30th, 1 -3 pm. Do you have no longer needed/wanted items and/or could you use some free stuff?
Bring what you no longer need, and take what you could use. All items are FREE to anyone who wants them. Everything not taken will be donated to local non-profits. Please ask Denise Ciambrello to have a table set up for your use in the Parish Hall.
Cemetery-Churchyard Spring Clean-Up April 6th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm. If you are able and available, please come out to help clean up the grounds so that we look nice during Holy Week and on Easter. Please bring a rake and gloves. Redemption Church members will join us. Thank you!
40 Days of Lent Lent is traditionally considered 40 days long, even though the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter is actually 47 days. This is because Sundays are not considered part of Lent. From the very earliest days, the Church has declared that Sunday, the day of Christ's Resurrection, is always a feast day, and therefore fasting on Sundays has always been forbidden. Since there are five Sundays in Lent, we have to subtract them from the days of fasting.
2025 Lenten Meditations – A Commonplace Lent ER&D This packet contains Meditations and Reflections for each day of Lent from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday. Also available are prayer calendars for adults and kids. Please take a packet from the table behind the pews.
Mite Boxes During Lent we make available "mite boxes" in which you can collect change to aid Episcopal Relief and Development in its anti-malaria campaign in sub-Saharan Africa. If you would like to participate in this Lenten discipline,please take a mite box from the table as you enter the church. Please return the mite boxes to St. James by Easter Sunday when we will bless them at the altar before sending all donations to ER&D.
Choir Rehearsals for the Season of Lent and Easter will be immediately after church today and on each Sunday in March and April 6th and 13th. The choir is open to anyone who would like to join! If you're interested, please speak with Sonya.
Bible Study Our study, “Ten Women of the Bible: One by One They Changed the World” by Max Lucado will meet on March 31, April 14 & 28/2025, at 12:30 pm in the Parish House. Future dates will be listed here. Please bring your lunch.
Redemption Church of Bristol This congregation consists of 50 younger folks with children and has begun renting our Parish House for services and meetings. They plan to do all they can to help with our outreach here at St. James. They’ll be at the monthly S.O.M.E. dinners for needy neighbors and will also help with repairs to the buildings and in keeping the cemetery up. We welcome Redemption Church!
Food Donations Thank you everyone who has contributed to this ministry over the past 13 years for a total of 10,655 pounds including the 89 lbs donated on Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday! God bless everyone, and please continue to bring non-perishable items for those in need.
Mother’s Scent Cloths – New Ministry: knitted, crocheted or fabric squares, 5.5 x 4.5 or 3.5 x 3.5 are requested. These are placed in the mom’s bra and she leaves the cloth with her newborn in the NIC unit when she departs for the day. These provide familiar scent of mom for bonding with her baby!
Hats for Preemies & Prayer Shawls Thank you! We have collected over 300 hats for the Mad Hatters Ministry. Ginny Capriotti has distributed many of these caps to hospitals near and far with NIC units! Prayer shawls are also needed. Patterns for the caps and prayer shawls are on the table behind the pews.
Eucharistic Visitors Rose Capitano, Denise Ciambrello, Gene Porter, and Jo Twiss are available to provide home communion. Please contact the office, 215-788-2228; or [email protected] to ask for a home visit.
Prayer List The prayer list in the Sunday bulletin is for people with immediate needs and conditions. If you want someone to be on the Sunday list, please contact the office (215-788-2228); or ([email protected]). Names remain on this list for up to a month then, if still needed, they are moved to the Intercessory Prayer list. See below.
Intercessory Prayer Please speak with Pam Bergey regarding people on the list. Please pray for: Angelo, Craig G., Chris Cooper, Bette B., Carol K., Melissa, Roxanne, Kevin, Doug, Janel, Catherine, Paul G., Amanda R., Mark P., Patti P., Carrie C., Margaret P., Will, Vivian, Jocelyn, Nellie, Blair, Julie, Steve H., Amanda W., and their families.
Burial Lots Do you or someone you know need a burial lot? Why not choose our own peaceful churchyard? Our rates are extremely competitive. Please see Denise Ciambrello or call the office (215-788-2228).
Bingo’s Foundation is a non-profit, NO-KILL shelter all-volunteer cat adoption and rescue organization. Soda/Beer/pull tabs and all store receipts can be placed in a box on the table behind the pews. The tabs and receipts are collected for recycling to aid in the cost of their electric bill. For more info, contact Bingo’s Foundation at www.bingosfoundation.org: or mail:PO BOX 7130, Penndel, PA 19047, phone 215-781-0378.
Holiday House – Girls Friendly Society, Episcopal Church Diocese of Pennsylvania which has been a place for retreats for Girls Friendly for 100 years is struggling to survive. In jeopardy of having to be sold, the beautiful Inn in the heart of Cape May Court House, NJ has rooms to rent at very reasonable costs. There are brochures on the table behind the pews if you are interested.
With the blessing of the Diocese, wine is served at communion. Eucharistic doctrine affirms the simultaneous presence of Christ's body and blood in each of the Eucharistic elements. The doctrine of concomitance upholds the truth that the fullness of communion is available by receiving either the consecrated bread or wine. The Eucharistic ministers will sanitize their hands after each communicant. We are using high alcohol content wine. Per direction from our Diocese, intinction (dipping) of the bread into the wine is strongly discouraged. Anyone who doesn't feel safe drinking from the communal cup can leave the rail after receiving the bread.
St. James on Facebook and Wikipedia St. James has its own page on Facebook, the world's leading social network: http://www.facebook.com/stjamesbristol church. Also, St. James has its own entry on Widipedia, the Web's leading encyclopedia.
You're Invited The Diocese of Pennsylvania now has its own closed Facebook page just for the people and clergy of the diocese. Bishop Gutiérrez says that it "...will better allow us to share our great ideas, be in prayer for one another, nurture our mutual love for ministry, promote programs and activities in our parishes, and build deeper community with one another." To join, go on Facebook and search for Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. Click on "like."
ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH - EVENT CALENDAR -03/16/2025 - 04/12/2025
Location/Event Date Time
Church - Holy Eucharist - 3rd Lent 03/23/2025 9:00 - 10:00 am
Parish House: Redemption Church, Bristol 03/23/2025 9:00am - 12:00pm
Parish Hall Usage: Mon A.A. Meeting 03/24/2025 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Parish Hall Usage: Tues A.A. Meeting 03/25/2025 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Parish Hall: S.O.M.E. sit-down dinner 03/26/2025 6:00 - 7:00 pm
volunteers 4:45 - 8:00 pm
Parish Hall Rental: Zumba 03/26/2025 7:15 - 8:15 pm
Parish Hall Usage: Girl Scout Troop 295 03/27/2025 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Church - Morning Prayer - 4th Lent 03/30/2025 9:00 - 10:00 am
Parish House: Redemption Church, Bristol 03/30/2025 9:00am - 12:00pm
Parish Hall: Bible Study w/brown bag lunch 03/31/2025 12:30 - 3:00 pm
Parish Hall Usage: Mon A.A. Meeting 03/31/2025 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Parish Hall Usage: Tues A.A. Meeting 04/01/2025 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Parish House: Women of St. James Mtg 04/02/2025 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Parish Hall Rental: Zumba 04/02/2025 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Parish Hall Rental: L. Shipkowski 04/05/2025 2:00 - 6:00 pm
Church - Morning Prayer - 5th Lent 04/06/2025 9:00 - 10:00 am
Parish House: Redemption Church, Bristol 04/06/2025 9:00am - 12:00pm
Cemetery-Churchyard Spring Clean Up 04/06/2025 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Parish Hall Usage: Mon A.A. Meeting 04/07/2025 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Parish Hall Usage: Tues A.A. Meeting 04/08/2025 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Parish Hall Rental: Zumba 04/09/2025 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Parish Hall Usage: Girl Scout Troop 295 04/10/2025 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Parish Hall Rental: R. & M. Bowman 04/12/2025 2:00 - 6:00 pm
Church - Holy Eucharist - Palm Sunday 04/13/2025 9:00 - 10:00 am
Parish House: Redemption Church, Bristol 04/13/2025 9:00am - 12:00pm
Parish Hall: Bible Study w/brown bag lunch 04/14/2025 12:30 - 3:00 pm
Parish Hall Usage: Mon A.A. Meeting 04/14/2025 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Parish Hall Usage: Tues A.A. Meeting 04/15/2025 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Parish Hall Rental: Zumba 04/16/2025 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Parish Hall Usage: Girl Scout Troop 295 04/17/2025 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Church - Holy Eucharist - Maundy Thursday 04/17/2025 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Church - Holy Eucharist/Reserve - Good Friday 04/18/2025 7:00 - 8:00 pm