The Sunday School Spring 2026 schedule is as follows:

February 15, 10:15 AM (Guest teacher: Father Sean)

March 1, 10:15 AM

March 15, 10:15 AM (Pageant rehearsal)

March 22, 10:15 AM (Pageant rehearsal)

March 29, 10:15 AM (Pageant rehearsal)

Saturday, April 4, 7:00 PM (Easter Vigil Pageant)

April 19, 10:15 AM

May 3, 10:15 AM (followed by the Annual Meeting)

May 17, 10:15 AM (last class before summer)

There will be three “kid friendly” services in the summer, dates TBD.

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James Gang: The next “James gang” gathering is for lunch on Tuesday, February 10 at 12:00 PM. We’ll be at Jake’s Eatery, 49 Cambridge Lane, Newtown, PA 18940. This gathering is “Dutch,” meaning that we all pay for our own meal. Join us for fun, fellowship, & good food!

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For those who are interested in financial oversight: Saint James is committed to transparency and rigorous oversight of our finances. To keep you informed about our financial health, our Vestry will report to the congregation on our 2025 financial statements on Sunday, February 15, 2026 from 11:30 am until 12:30 pm. The gathering will take place in the great hall of the Education Building. Refreshments will be served; this will take the place of our usual coffee hour. The congregation will also hear a brief update from the Capital Campaign committee. In respect for everyone’s time, Vestry is committed to keeping this meeting to one hour or less.

As a non-profit organization, our business meetings are open to the public. Here is the schedule for the next round of business meetings:  

Finance and Property –

Monday, February 23, 6:30 pm, hybrid (in the library or online via Zoom)

Monday, March 16, 6:30 pm (in the library or online via Zoom)

April meeting is TBD

Vestry –

Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 6:30 pm, hybrid (in the library or online via Zoom)

Wednesday, March 18, 6:30 pm (in the library or online via Zoom)

April meeting is TBD

May 3, 11:30 AM – The Annual Meeting (in person in the Education Building)

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Bible Study will be meeting on Thursdays during Lent. We will have 11:00 AM prayer services, followed by the study in the library from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM. The dates are as follows: February 26, March 5, 12, 19, and 26.   

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Sign-up Genius is our online platform for volunteering. Contact Edith in the church office with any questions.

Epiphany (January 8 through February 15, 2026):

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F48ACAF2DA2FD0-60763989-epiphany#

Lent (February 18 through March 22, 2026):

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F48ACAF2DA2FD0-61167031-lent#

Holy Week (March 28 through April 4, 2026):

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F48ACAF2DA2FD0-61640336-holy#

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Ash Wednesday is February 18 – We burn old palms and use the remains on Ash Wednesday. Between now and February 8, bring your dried-out palms to church. We will offer three services on February 18: 7:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 7:00 PM. All three will offer ashes and Holy Communion; the noon service will have music.

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Donut Day – As has been our practice the past few years, St. James hosts a feast before our Lenten fasting begins. Thus, on the Sunday which precedes Ash Wednesday (February 15), we will have our Fasnacht Day celebration in the Education Building after the 10:15 AM service. There will be games for the kids and lots of donuts for everyone.

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A man is locked in a room with no way to get out. The room contains the following items: a piano, a saw, a table, and a baseball bat. How could he get out? Answer later.

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Pancake Breakfast – We are hosting a pancake breakfast on Sunday, March 8 from 8:30 am until 12:00 pm. This will be a fundraiser for the local ERA food pantry. This event is open to the public. Help us to spread the word about the chance to eat delicious food for an important cause. Bring your family; bring your neighbors; bring people that you don’t even like (as long as they like pancakes).

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Holy Cross 2026 – St. James will make its annual retreat to the Holy Cross Monastery in upstate New York. This year, our trip will run from Tuesday, April 21 through Thursday, April 23. Guests have the option of carpooling in the church lot Tuesday morning, and we return by Thursday afternoon. To make your reservation, please make your check payable to St. James Church and write “Holy Cross 2026” in the memo. The rates are as follows: single room occupancy: $330 (includes two nights plus speaker fee); double room occupancy $460 (two nights plus speaker fee). Contact Edith in the church office with questions.  

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Parish Prayer list

HEALING: Anthony Serfass, C.J. Platt, Channary LaBar, Darryl, Hannah, Keith, Lori & John, Michael and Jill Cordel, Joy, Michelle Stawicki, Nisreen M., Pat and John W., Robin Rudy, Sandy K, Spenser Mullen, Tom S., Zachary

SPECIAL PRAYERS: Babe Sidman, Christopher, Doris Laino, Ginny Manning, Jason, Joan Eiker, Ryan, Terri Lotierzo, Tim McCarthy

THE NEWLY BAPTIZED: Eddie Speller

EXPECTING NEW BIRTH: Stephanie & Megan, Nick & Julianna Frisch

THANKSGIVING FOR NEW BIRTH: Corrine Mizia

FAITHFUL DEPARTED: Sheila Mielcarek

ALTAR FLOWERS: For the weekends of January 31 and February 7, the flowers donated by Donald and Dariel Kirk bloom in loving memory of Armand and Laura LeComte.

For the weekend of February 14, the flowers donated by Gail and Richard Johnson bloom in loving memory of Richard and Marian Fiedler, Elmer and Gladys Johnson, and Gary Fiedler.

We do not place flowers in the chancel during Lent. However, we will be collecting monies for our Easter flowers.

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Last week, Babe Sidman, our oldest-living parishioner, turned 104 – as in, one-hundred four years old. When Father Sean asked her how she enjoyed her special day, Babe replied, “I don’t do birthdays anymore.” She may not have realized that there was a silver birthday balloon tied to the back of her wheelchair. Happy belated birthday, Babe, and may God bless you!!

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The man has at least three ways to leave the room:

  • Take a key from the piano and unlock the door.
  • Take the bat and get three strikes. Then he’d be out.
  • Take the saw and cut the table in two. Then by putting the two halves together, he could have a “hole,” through which he could get out.

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