Lent 2008
Interim Rector’s Message
Lent is coming very early this year…it begins on the 6
catch us unawares. Some of you may remember when Lent was taken
seriously. There was fasting, special days of prayer and meditation and
a degree of solemnity that we don’t see too much of any more.
Of course there are still some people who observe Lent in this way
today; however, I believe that most of us take a more casual approach
if, in fact, we observe it at all. But it is a loss opportunity for us if we
do not keep Lent as a time of devotion in preparation for the Triduum
and for Easter. So let’s look at a couple of ways we can observe this
very important season.
One option is to use our parish library to read one or more books:
“Care of the Soul” by Thomas Moore; “The Other Side of Silence”
by Morton Kelsey; “The Spiritual Life of Children” by Robert Coles;
“Merton: A Biography” by Monica Furlong; “Listening to Your Life”
by Fredrick Beuchner’ ; “Why Christianity Must Change or Die” by
John Spong; “Meeting Jesus for the First Time” by Marcus Borg; or
the novel, “Gilead” by Marilynne Robison.
Another way to prepare is to come to the mid-week Eucharist on Ash
Wednesday, most of the Thursdays of Lent and every day in Holy
Week. (See the calendar for days and times). There are also daily
readings in the Book of Common Prayer and in the Day By Day
devotional books in the parish hall.
Lent is easy to miss because there is no reminder of it outside of
church so it takes a level of intentionality that we might not be use to
practicing. But let me invite you to consider using the next forty or
fifty days to reflect on the life you have in God and ways in which you
might be willing to improve the quality of that life so that you might
live more fully and joyfully in the Lord.
JGM
th…so it mightMorning Prayer
Each Saturday the service of
Morning Prayer is offered at St.
James at 8:30 AM. Members of the
parish continue this tradition and
find it very rewarding. We welcome
parishioners who would be willing
to be part of this ministry. We
would love to be able to offer the
service on days of the week. It is
not difficult and a brief training is
available. We invite members of
the parish to attend this service
when offered. For further information
contact Ward McMasters, 215-
752-3281
The Discernment Committee
The Discernment Committee appreciates the support of the St. James
community and particularly the help and support of our Interim Rector
the Rev. John Martin. We particularly thank him for his help and insight
in the composition of this letter to the parish.
It has been a year now since Donna left St. James and he became the
interim rector. When this first happened, there arose the impression that
the parish would get a new rector by the end of 2007. Of course, that
depended on everything going at nearly top speed.
In fact, all has moved along with very good dispatch, but there were
many things that needed to be done. A period of adjustment after the
rector’s abrupt exit was necessary; the discernment committee had to be
reconstituted and new members added; certain maintenance issues
needed to be resolved; the capital campaign had to be carried out; and
the discernment committee needed to begin meeting and make changes
to the profile as well as get it approved by the diocese and into the hands
of the national church deployment office. A lot of people in the parish
have worked hard to get these things accomplished.
On top of all these efforts to move ‘the process’ along, we have moved
the offices, continued our regular schedule of worship, presented sixteen
people for confirmation and seven for reception, conducted a stewardship
drive, maintained our church school classes, and generally kept the
place running. And all this has been done primarily with the time and
work of the members of the parish with the three paid staff members
taking some leadership and supplying a great deal of support to the
volunteers.
It is important that all of us continue to be prayerful about the search for
a new rector. It is also important that we be prayerful about ourselves so
that when that person arrives the parish will be willing to welcome her or
him with open arms and trusting hearts.
Your discernment committee and vestry are working diligently and
faithfully to find the right person for this position. Until that person is
found and arrives, we have a lot of work to do to continue the worship
and ministry of this very blessed parish.
Thanks be to God.
Ward McMasters, Chair, 215-752-3281
Courtney Fitzpatrick 267-560-5035
Jessica Frisch 215-757-5751
Carol Hitchen 215-752-7837
Buzz Manning 215-945-4469
David Marrington 215-968-6018
Beth Moran 215-752-4578
Christine Parker 215-741-1279
Carol Siegfried 215-357-5470
David Supinski 215-752-3833
Mary Jane Supinski 215-752-3833
Seminarian Fund
A reminder that we are still collecting
money for our Seminarian
Fund. At this time the money is
being sent to Episcopal Divinity
School to help pay for the education
of Sean Slack. A seminary
education is very expensive, around
$40,000 a year plus other personal
costs...and while you are in seminary
you do not have a paying job.
If you want to contritbute to the
fund, please write a check to the St.
James Discretionary Fund and note
it for Seminarian Fund in the
memo line. You can mail the check
to the church or put it in the alms
basin.
Sunday School Sponsoring
Family Outing to Grounds For
Sculpture
On April 6th, we will be carpooling
to Hamilton, New Jersey to visit
the Grounds For Sculpture,
www.groundsforsculpture.org. It is
a beautiful, 35-acre sculpture park
and museum with a tranquil setting
and engaging sculpture. The
organization’s mission is to promote
an understanding of and
appreciation for contemporary
sculpture by organizing exhibitions,
publishing catalogues, and offering
a variety of educational programs
and special community events.
Indoor Exhibitions of emerging
and well-known artists are shown
throughout the year in two expansive,
glass-walled buildings that
were once exhibit halls for the
New Jersey State Fair. Over 240
contemporary sculptures, from
monumental to smaller scale, can
be found on the beautifully landscaped
grounds. Save the date and
watch for details in the next
Messenger.
Easter Pageant
During the Saturday evening Easter
Vigil, our Sunday School students
will act out a short bible story.
Everyone is invited to participate
in this fun parish production. We
are looking for writers, directors,
actors, actresses, readers, & musicians.
No experience is necessary.
Dress rehearsal will be held on
Saturday, March 22nd from 10 am
to 11:30 am. Contact Kathy Coon
if you are interested in being
involved.
Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross artwork
made by the Spring, 2007 Confirmation
Class will return for Lent.
The class that was confirmed in
November of 2007 is working on
additional artwork that will be
ready for Lent. We will now have a
picture for each Station of the
Cross hanging in our church this
year. Special thanks to Colleen
Quinlan for volunteering her time
to work with our young artists.
Stations of the Cross will take
place on the First Friday of Lent
on February 8th at 7pm. Self-led
Stations of the Cross prayer
booklets will be available on the
table at the church entrance during
Lent.
First Sundays @ St. James
The First Sunday Youth Services at
the 10:15 Eucharist have been very
successful thanks to all the children
who have volunteered to do
readings, ring the bells, design the
bulletin cover, greet visitors, take
up the collection, sing, play instruments,
and assist with coffee circle.
Special thanks to Mary (Liz
Fitzpatrick), Joseph (Nick Frisch),
the Three Kings (Zachary
O’Coonahern, Ricky Rudy, and
Alexa Murdock) and Dana
Lewandowski our narrator for
performing a live reenactment of
the arrival of the Wise Men. Check
out the photos from this skit and
our recent Christmas Pageant at
www.stjameslanghorne.org
If you sign up to be a greeter, sing,
play an instrument, or do a reading
on a First Sunday, please arrive by
10 am.
Calendar of Events:
• February 3rd, First Sunday Youth
Service & Pancake Breakfast
• February 6th Ash Wednesday
• February 8th, Stations of the
Cross led by Youth, 7pm
• March 2nd First Sunday Youth
Service
Worship Survey
Very soon we will pass out in
church a Worship Survey which we
would like for people of all ages to
fill out. The purpose of the survey
is to find out from you those
things that you like the most about
our way of worshipping and those
things you would like to see done
differently. You will also be asked
to list your favorite hymns. Your
input is important to the vestry, to
Jon and to me, so please take the
time to fill it out.
Also, we will be putting together a
Worship Committee which, during
my tenure, will meet every few
months after the 10:15 service.
The committee will help me think
about the ways we do things in our
liturgy. If you are interested in
being on the committee, please
speak to me.
John Martin
Upcoming Sunday School Activities
• March 8th, Family Work Saturday,
sign up for a job to spruce up our
buildings
• March 16th, Palm Sunday, Easter
Vigil Skit Rehearsal during Sunday
School
• March 22nd, Easter Vigil Skit
Rehearsal (10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.) in
education building; Vigil at 7:30
p.m.
• Easter Day - No Sunday School
• April 6th, First Sunday Youth
Service - Grounds for Sculpture
Field Trip
• May 4th, First Sunday Youth
Service; Annual Election - No
Sunday School
• May 18th, last day of Sunday
School - Parish Picnic
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Sunday
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rt. I
10:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rt. II
Sunday School
11:30 a.m. Fellowship Time
Monday
6:00- 7:00 a.m. A. A.
8:30- 1:30 p.m. Secretary in Office
Tuesday
8:40 a.m. Morning Prayer
8:30- 1:30 p.m. Secretary in Office
5:00- 7:00 p.m. Bucks County Council
on Alcoholism Classes
7:00- 9:00 p.m. A. A.
Weekly Calendar
Wednesday
6:00- 7:15 a.m. A. A.
8:30- 1:30 p.m. Secretary in Office
7:30 p.m. Weight Watchers
Thursday
8:40 a.m. Morning Prayer
8:30- 1:30 p.m. Secretary in Office
5:00- 7:00 p.m. Bucks County Council
on Alcoholism Classes
Friday
6:00- 7:15 a.m. A. A.
7:00- 9:00 p.m. A. A.
Saturday
6:00- 7:15 a.m. A. A.
8:40 a.m. Morning Prayer
5:00 p.m. Contemporary Worship
Scripture Readings
Year A – Revised Common Lectionary
February 6, 2008
Ash Wednesday
Psalm 51:1-17
Joel 2:1-2,12-17
2 Corinthians 5:20b––6:10
Matthew 6:1-6,16-21
February 10, 2008
First Sunday in Lent
Psalm 32
Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7
Romans 5:12-19
Matthew 4:1-11
February 17, 2008
Second Sunday in Lent
Psalm 121
Genesis 12:1-4a
Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
John 3:1-17
February 24, 2008
Third Sunday in Lent
Psalm 95
Exodus 17:1-7
Romans 5:1-11
John 4:5-42
March 2, 2008
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Psalm 23
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-41
March 9, 2008
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Psalm 130
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Romans 8:6-11
John 11:1-45
March 16, 2008
Sunday of the Passion/Palm
Sunday
Liturgy of the Palms
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Matthew 21:1-11
Liturgy of the Passion
Psalm 31:9-16
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Philippians 2:5-11
Matthew 26:14—27:66
It Doesn’t Hurt
Remember, when you order
material from Amazon.com
if you use the link on our website
that we get a financial return for
each order you place. This last year
we received about $100.
Also, if you make
GoodSearchyour primary search engine and
you register St. James as the charity
you wish to support, then we will
get one cent for each use. (Our
thanks to James Jarvie for signing
us up for this benefit.) These are
resources that many of us regularly
and with a couple of simple
adjustments we can still get the
service we need and benefit St.
James.
Parish Indoor Flea
Market
The Annual Indoor Flea Market
will be held on Saturday, March 15,
2008, from 7:00 a.m. to Noon.
Tables cost $10.00 if you bring
your own table and $15.00 if a
table is provided. Table reservation
forms and posters are available
in the church office and at all
services. Table reservations should
be can be sent or dropped off at
the office with a check. Don’t
delay. We have sold all the spaces in
a hurry the last few years.
We also need help setting up on
Friday night, March 14 from 7:00
to 9:00 p.m., and cleaning up after
the flea market on Saturday. We
also need people to help in the
kitchen during the f lea market.
Sign-up sheets are available at all
services or call the parish office at
215-757-3766 or Ward McMasters,
215-752-3281.
All proceeds are for Parish programs.
Easter Flower
Memorials Being
Received
The envelope is for
Easter Flower Memorials
to beautify our
church for Easter
Worship is included
with the Lenten
Offering folder, which
is being mailed separately.
There will also
be envelopes on the Parish Hall
table. Your request must be
received by Sunday, March 11, 2008
for names to be in the Easter
Leaflet. Place your envelope in the
offering basket or mail to the
church.
Lenten Opportunities
Personal Study And Prayer
• Daily Bible Readings and Prayer: use the suggested readings in the
Forward Day by Day on the tract rack. Use all three readings each day or
stay with one or two. Allow the readings to lead you into prayer for
yourself and others.
• Prayer for Others can also become part of our community prayer. Use
the “Prayer Requests” box and the attached prayer request form. Please
indicate whether or not you want this listed in the Sunday leaflet.
Community Service
• We continue collecting food and personal items to supply area Food
Cupboards.
• Help At The Red Cross Homeless Shelter by volunteering one or more
hours, once or weekly. Help is needed afternoons and early evenings for
children’s play roommostly pre-school) and also in driving clients to job
interviews and jobs. Call the Volunteer Director at the Shelter, 215-949-
1727.
Choose To Tutor An Adult Learner!
No teaching or foreign language experience needed. We’ll teach you the
techniques you need to become an effective volunteer tutor. Benefits for
you:
• Opportunity to share your knowledge and skills with someone else.
Gain a sense of satisfaction. Flexible scheduling. Ongoing support as you
work with your student. Choice of programs: Basic Literacy, English as a
Second Language or Personal Decision Making
Call Vita Education Services at 215-345-8322 or 215-968-3484 to volunteer.
For more information, visit www.viteaducation.org
A Message From The
Stewardship Committee
The commendable results of our
Fall Stewardship Program are as
follows:
Our St. James members made 75
pledges to the General Fund
totaling $126,277.92. This compares
favorably with the totals for
2007, which were: Pledges totaling
$133,238.00.
Payments of 2007 pledges, as of
December 31, 2007, totaled
$126,951.27
Thanks to each of you for your
generous support of the ministries
and programs of our parish..
The Stewardship Committee:
John Cerkvenik, Carol Corbi, Gus
Cosmas, Ward McMasters, Peter
Stevens
Lent
and Study
Outer Action, Showing Forth Christ
A time for . . . Inner Reflection, Prayer,WORSHIP:
themes. There are also additional opportunities during Lent:
Our regular schedule of Sunday and Weekday worship uses appropriate LentenAsh Wednesday,
Eucharist at 12:00 noon, and 7:30 p.m. (sung).
February 6, begins Lent with Penitential Order, Imposition of Ashes andWeekdays in Lent:
Saturday 8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer.
Thursdays: 7:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist.STUDY:
Children:
church after Communion.
Sundays at 11:00 a.m. Regular learning time: Children prepare for Easter - - leaving theAdults:
Thursdays in Lent, 7:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist, followed by Education for Ministry
Lower Bucks
Center For
Church And
Community
(LBCCC)
Invites You To A Live
And Silent Auction And
Community Dinner
Saturday, March 29, 2008 at
5:30 p.m. at Sesame Place,
Langhorne
Dinner catered by Carrabbas
Steak House and Outback
Steakhouse
Individual Registrations are
$25.00 per person, $35.00 at
the door, or you may reserve
a table for 8 for $200.00
For more information call
Pete Stevens at 215-702-9827
Sundays: 9:00 a.m. in the Parish Library