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St. James Episcopal Church
Clayton, Georgia
Visit our website
Our mission is to preach the Gospel, worship God,
renew our hearts and minds, and serve others.
St. James Messenger
Deacon's Desk October 2021
Christ is inside our church on Sunday mornings. Both
elements of the Eucharist are present also, yet somehow
not. Due to safety protocols, the sharing of the Eucharist
was changed.
I missed helping Pastor Doris serve both the body and
blood of Jesus, given for us.
October 10, found us worshipping at the base of a beautiful mountain, in a
vineyard started by two humble servants, John and Martha. We are so lucky to
have the gift of Tiger Mt. Vineyards close by for special worship times. What a
glorious day, in every way! Christ was absolutely present that Sunday
morning. I felt it in my heart during Communion; the bread and wine finally
shared, together. (Pastor Doris did too!) We are so blessed.
Jesus spoke about money and the love of God a lot during his ministry on
Earth. Everything we see is a gift from God, entrusted to our stewardship. How
we manage these gifts is showing we are Jesus’s disciples. God is at work all
around us. God never gives up on us. I’m going to try even harder to put my
“stuff” aside and be a better steward. I know there’s no grace in a forced gift,
especially right now that I’m writing about stewardship and the giving of time,
talents and money. When I’m asked to give do I give with grace? Can I tighten
my belt and give a bit more? Can I sacrifice to give? Can I give in secret when
no one is watching, with no thanks in return?
Shel Silverstein wrote a children’s book called The Giving Tree. This is a story
about a tree giving the boy all that she had throughout his life - branches to
hang from during play, apples to sell for $$, branches to build a home, her
trunk for a boat, and finally, just a stump so the “boy”, now an old man, can
sit and rest. What a great story about the beauty of giving and connecting with
each other. The tree gives unconditionally to the boy who takes all she has to
offer! This connection of giving and taking is so strong. Here’s my point. There
is such intensity in the connection between the boy and the tree. Connections
shape who we are and what we become. This story is not so much about
giving. It’s more about how love and tragedy, good and bad, giving and taking
are inter-twined. Our giving to others, our giving to a cause, our pledge to our
church takes us away from how much we give ourselves.
Please pray about what you can give with grace. I know I will.
Photos by Paulette Williams
As Deacon Susi mentioned we had a glorious time worshipping together at
Tiger Mountain Vineyards, hosted by Martha Ezzard.
Click here to view more photos.
Last summer, I ran out of gas at a gas
station. The car stopped moving a few yards
from the pump. To my great relief, another
customer came over and offered to push my
car to the pump.
Before this kind, young person drove away, I
shouted “Wait!” and hurried toward him.
He shook his head from side to side. “I don’t
want anything for helping you,” he declared.
“Not even homemade chocolate chip
cookies?” I countered.
He laughed, took the bag of cookies, and
thanked me.
When we share the gift of being human beings together, especially in difficult moments, we slip into an awareness of abundance. We feel full. We know goodness given and received. Travels continue. Cookies and laughter are enjoyed. Every good gift comes from God, and in sharing our gifts we become even more gifted, whether or not we are recognized or rewarded for sharing. Sometimes we step up to help from a desire for recognition. We offer our gifts, like James and John in today’s Gospel text, out of loyalty to Jesus and a desire to be useful. Our egos may be attached in healthy, or unhealthy, ways. Sometimes we share a gift without expectations. We give without needing recognition. We push a car for a stranger and get a tired priest, her daughter and two dogs back on the road to Vacationland. Making an annual financial commitment to a congregation is like offering to push a stranger’s car to a gas pump. It gets ministry moving. We seek no recognition, yet are rewarded in surprising ways. We offer our gifts because doing so creates the type of world we want to inhabit — a world where strangers collaborate and laugh together during a frustrating and embarrassing experience, sharing every good gift along the way. The Rev’d. Dina Van Klaveren is Rector of St. Andrew’s in Glenwood, Maryland and a member of the TENS Board of Directors. Search Process for Next Rector Will Begin Wednesday Night, September 20 with Zoom meeting with the Canon to the Ordinary, Canon Alicia+ describing the process to the vestry. – Pastor Doris+ For those of you unable to be at church on Sunday, know that Senior Warden, Alan White, did a great job of telling the parish about the soon to begin search process for your next rector. Alan reminded everyone why this search is necessary: When I came here as your Priest-in-Charge, the mutual agreement made between the vestry and myself was to a three-year Letter of Agreement, which began September 1, 2001 and ends in the third quarter of 2022. Alan went on to announce that Canon Alicia Schuster Weltner, Canon to the Ordinary(Bishop)and the Canon who oversees the transition process in our diocese, will have a zoom meeting with the Vestry and the Preist In Charge on Wednesday, September 20. Canon Alicia+ will explain about the search process and the various ways a search can be conducted. Information about the formation and selection of search committee members will also be discussed. Alan also encouraged us to consider the Search Process and the selection and hiring of a new rector as we make our pledge for 2022 since there will be expenses connected with the search and the call of new rector. Some of these considerations are the funding of our search consultant, the cost of the parish survey, the interviewing of candidates and site visits, moving a new clergy person (and family?) to Clayton, possible added costs for pension and insurance depending on the age and status of the chosen priest. These are expenses we have not had to incur over the last years since Pastor Doris came to us already retired no with costs for pension or medical insurance. She also elected to stay in Clarkesville, so we had no moving expenses to absorb. Now, a little bit about why I re-retiring at in the fall of 2022… First, let me say if I were a few years younger, I would not want to leave parish ministry at this point. I could see continuing to be here into the future had you wanted me to stay. However, as it is, I will be 76 in 2022 and that is 11 years past usual retirement time. After I retired from the Cathedral in 2014, I was "unemployed" less than a year
before beginning interim work in Clarkesville to finish up an interim position since their first
interim got a new position before the parish had completed its search so I became
the interim interim.
Then in 2015 (September) after Archer died, I started back to work as an interim in
Dahlonega and have been working ever since. This unexpected course of life, while
precipitated by a sad event, has been anything but sad. I have been richly fed, renewed
and refurbished by the people, parishes and towns in which I have been privileged to
serve and by whom I have been served and blessed.
I have learned so much in these last years. I am constantly reminded of how very
unfinished and lacking in understanding I would have been without the learning and
experiences of these last years with you and other wonderful seekers.
However, I do not have the physical endurance and time to do much else except the
ministry to which I am called. Additionally, because once I leave a parish, I leave it and my
new friends behind, (as I will do here, also). It’s time to make some
new permanent relationships and renew some friendships which have been sorely
neglected for way too long. That doesn't even take into account my small but beloved
family which I often don't see for long periods of time. (What can I say? I work weekends!)
I also want to do some volunteer work including CASA and mentoring in the schools. Then
there is the totally practical point that my house is a disaster. Truly. Totally. Remorsefully.
Pathetically neglected. I have cobwebs that will soon qualify for Medicare. No gardens. No
flowers. No trees cut down or pruned up. A garage stuffed to the rooftop with Archer's files
which now can be recycled or distributed to libraries so I can have some storage for things
that can't be given away without a hurting conscience.
My nature would be to push ahead and keep on working. But that would not be a wise
decision. Still, in truth, I have a really sad place in my heart right now because I am doing
this right thing. I am reminding myself to look ahead and envision doing things mentioned
above. I will.
But for now and for these next months, my focus is right here in Clayton doing what I
dearly love doing and doing ministry with you. I hope you will consider joining with me and
to use these next months to boldly move forward with our mission and ministry in Rabun
County as we stretch toward the future by being actively engaged in the
present. Ultreya! ( a Spanish word meaning ONWARD )
Fellowship
Nibble and Chat
Will you help with refreshments after the 10:30
service? We have the following dates open in
November: 7, 21 and 28. Set-up is in front of the
Nave doors. Cookies and water is all we need. Your
help is invaluable. If you would like to help with
this social time, please click here or call the
church office, 706-782-6179.
Christian Formation
Wednesday Morning Bible Study
Come join great folks who like to visit and talk about next Sunday's readings.
This group meets each Wednesday at 11:00am, in the parish hall. Everyone is
invited and encouraged to attend. It's a great place to be!!
ADVENT STUDY
“WHAT DO WE MEAN BY RIGHTEOUSNESS?”
A Four Part Advent Study Based on
The Common Lectionary
led by The Reverend Dan Wilson
All are welcome. Please invite friends from the community
to join us.
LESSON ONE: “Longing for Righteousness in a World That is Not Ready for
It.”
LESSON TWO: “When Righteousness Must Separate Itself from the World.”
LESSON THREE: “Righteousness Begins with Repentance, Whatever That
Means.”
LESSON FOUR: “When Righteousness Arrives, the Poor and Marginalized are
Vindicated.”
Participants are invited to sign up for either a weekend class or weekday class
by contacting the church office HERE. Dates and Times are as follows:
Sundays 3 PM – Nov. 21, Nov. 28, Dec. 5, Dec. 12
Tuesdays 10 AM – Nov. 23, Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14
Forward Day by Day
Forward Day by Day is a booklet of daily inspirational meditations reflecting on
a specific Bible passage, chosen from the daily lectionary readings as listed in
the Revised Common Lectionary or the Daily Office from the Episcopal
Church's Book of Common Prayer.
The meditations are rich in substance and offer a wide range of witness and
experiences. Each month's meditation is written by a different author.
Forward "Day by Day", daily devotions for disciples, are available to you at no
charge. This issue covers August, September, and October. Copies are
available in the church Narthex and the parish hall.
Celebration of Life
Memorial Service for Leroy Young
Saturday, October 23rd at 3 pm
at St. James
This Saturday at 3 pm, beginning in the Nave at St. James, we will have a
memorial service of Word, prayer and remembrance before going out to the
Memorial Garden to inter the ashes of Leroy Young. Leroy died on April
26th of 2020. Leroy’s widow, Tatum Young, his son, Dr. C Alex Young and
wife, Linda Schenk, invite members and friends to join them for this service.
After the service, all are invited to join the family at Piedmont University in
Demorest, GA, at 5 pm for a reception which is in honor Leroy Young’s life and
work. A collection of Leroy’s most prized works will be on display to inspect
and enjoy.
The following is an excerpt from a letter describing the event and remembering
Leroy: “Leroy challenged students to look beyond the initial, to delve into the
unknown and uncomfortable places where ideas sparked and work began to
flow. When you hit a block, he’d offer advice, and when you found something
good, he was there to cheer you on. If you were somewhere in between, he’d
sometimes say, ‘whatever works.’ He taught that life could be both gritty and
beautiful, and it was our job as artist to express the facets of the human
condition.” - Laurel Sprague 05
The event is from 5 pm – 7pm at the Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art on
the Piedmont Campus.
Memorial Service for
The Reverend Steve Hall
Monday, November 1--11:00 am
(40th anniversary of his ordination)
St. James Episcopal Church
Fr. Steve served St. James as Rector prior to his retirement in 2017. His
widow, Roxanne, requested that we have his service here, the last parish he
served in our diocese. The Rev. Scott Kidd, rector, Resurrection Episcopal
Church in Sautee, the parish Fr. Steve and Roxie attended after St. James, will
be the celebrant and preacher for the service. Reception follows the service.
All are encouraged to attend.
Outreach
Brown Bag Sunday this
Sunday: October 24th
A wicker container is located outside the Nave doors for
your donations which we take to the RABUN Sharing and
Caring food pantry. Please bring your non-perishable
food items for the pantry to church Sunday. Since we
are heading toward Thanksgiving, we might think of
items that would enhance our neighbors’ Thanksgiving meals such as dressing
mix, canned sweet potatoes or white potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans
and/or peas, biscuit mix, canned fruits, brownie mix, cookie mix, pie filling,
corn bread mix, rice, sugar, flour, etc. And for lunches for the students who’ll
be out of school during the holidays: peanut butter, crackers, cans of
spaghetti o’s (or such) healthy cereal and juices, as well as various fruit
snacks.
Donations for Paws for Life
In honor of St. Francis of Assisi, we will be collecting
the following items for Paws for Life, our local shelter, during
the month of October:
Cat & dog food Ziploc bags
KMR Puppy & Kitten Milk Humane feral cat traps
Replacer Postage (Forever) stamps
Pill Pockets Disinfectant wipes
Puppy Training Pads Batteries
Dog/puppy & cat/kitten toys Bleach
Food dispensing toys HE Laundry Soap
Kongs, Wobblers, Tug-A-Jugs Dawn dish soap
Blankets/towels Lint rollers
Wood pellets (for kitty litter) Paper towels
Grooming supplies Toilet paper
Heating pads Swiffer dusters
Leashes Trash bags & Contractor Bags
Harnesses Wet/dry vacuum (small
Collars canisters, heavy duty)
Pet beds Zip ties
Pet bowls
Help Wanted--Part Time
With Bonnie's retirement at the end of the year, we
have begun the search for a new Parish
Administrator. If you know of anyone who may be
interested, please pass this information to them.
St. James Episcopal Church in Clayton is looking for
a part-time (19 hours/week) parish administrator.
Candidate should have strong communication and
people skills, proficient in MS office products, familiar with data base
management and social media platforms, organized and detail oriented. Ability
to handle confidential information a must. Send resume to St James Episcopal
Church, PO Box 69, Clayton, GA 30525; or email here.
Looking Ahead
November 7th: The Sunday after All Saints Day and Ingathering
Sunday: we will celebrate this festival day in our parish with stirring hymns,
lovely flowers, challenging scripture, prayerful remembrance of those who
have died since November 1st 2020 and offer our personal prayers for those
we love but see no more. It is also the Ingathering Sunday for our 2022
pledges. Pledge cards will be presented and blessed during the service. Plan to
stay a few minutes after the 10:30 service and “Nibble and Chat” outside or in
the Parish Hall (depending on the weather) as we remember some of the
saints in our lives, blessings we have received, and get to know some of our
new members who weren’t here last year. Invite a friend. Call a parishioner
you haven’t seen in a while and invite them or bring them to church with
you. Be A Saint yourself!!!
November 12th and 13 th: Annual Council of the Diocese of Atlanta will
once more be online due to continued concerns over Covid. Pastor Doris, Mary
Lu Gunn, Dustin Emhart, and Alan White are our delegates. Since Council is
online, any of you who would like to watch some or all of the proceedings are
invited to do so. We can send you the link information if you let Bonnie know
of your interest.
December: Giving Tree will go up early in the narthex in December. The tree
invites us to provide Christmas gifts for the residents of Misty Mountain
Personal Care Home. Some of these residents have little or no family so our
gifts mean a great deal. Karen Pietrowicz is our liaison with the residents and
has organized this event for the past two years. We thank Karen for organizing
for this third year. (Any of you want to knit or crochet a hat, cap, shawl, or lap
blanket for some of the residents, get started now! These would be beloved
items to share with the residents.)
Altar Flowers
You are invited to designate the altar flowers for a
special occasion in honor of, or in memory of
someone special. The cost is $40 per week. Simply
send an email to the office here, and let us know
the Sunday for which you would like to designate
flowers and how you would like your designation
listed in the bulletin. Send your check to the office
prior to the Sunday you reserved. You may also
make payment through the GIVE link on the
website.
Note: During Advent, November 28-December 19, donations for greenery are requested
and can be given to honor or remembrance of someone.
Helpful Links
Parish Directory
(password needed)
Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
Bishop Wright's podcasts
and devotional page
Episcopal News Service's
full COVID-19 coverage
Give Now
Celebrations
October Birthdays October Anniversaries
20, John Templeton 23, Jennifer and Scott Moore
20, Rebecca Brandon
29, Nancy Fichter
30, Bill Bomar
30, Cyrus Manoogian
31, Kathy Booker
Click the icon to like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram.
Timeline for the Weekly Messenger:
Articles received by Monday evening will be in the next Messenger. The file is sent for
proof- reading on Tuesday afternoon, changes are made on Wednesday morning before it is
sent out. Please contact the church office if you have any questions.
St. James Episcopal Church | 706-782-6179 | 260 Warwoman Rd. Clayton, GA
30525 | www.stjamesclayton.org | email: click here
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