Your Faith, Your Life
(Exploring all things Episcopal) Beginning on Thursday, February 22 at 5:30 pm we will have an opportunity to learn and ask questions about what it means to be an Episcopalian. This Lenten study will cover topics such as scripture, our creedal beliefs, church structure, history and sacraments—all with an eye toward how we live our faith in the world. The series is open to those who have been part of the church for a long time, as well as those new to the Episcopal Church who may want to be confirmed or received by Bishop Sean during his visitation on October 14. Our capacity to engage questions has always been a hallmark of the Episcopal tradition. So don’t be shy about bringing your questions to the table. Everyone will benefit! In 2017, the Soup. Kitchen served 6098 meals. Although the number is down slightly from the 6325 meals served the previous year, attendance actually remained constant with over 100 served each week. A new policy for 2017 in which the Soup Kitchen is closed on the Tuesday closest to a major holiday accounts for the slight decline.
The Food Cupboard twice-a-month food bag distribution continued to grow in 2017 with 1632 bags of food given out (211 more than the prior year). With the potential for acquiring more government food a real possibility, the Food Cupboard now requires recipients to fill out a simple declaration of need, mandated by Second Harvest. No proof of income is required. Forms are kept on file and will be updated annually. The Soup Kitchen and Food Cupboard have been blessed by God's abundance. Many have given of their time, talent and treasure to carry God's blessing into the Titusville area. With a budget of approximately $20,000, the ministry of feeding people is funded entirely by donations and grants. Each year we give thanks for God's bountiful blessings, pressed down and overflowing. Whether you’ve just started coming to St. James, or have been coming on and off for a while, you may have questions about things we do and why we do them. This section of the newsletter is designed to help you out with some of these questions.
What’s this coffee hour thing? Coffee hour is a time set aside after church where we get together just to have a bite and a cup of coffee and meet new people and get together with old friends. If you haven’t been to coffee hour before, come and see what’s up. We almost always have great tasting snacks and coffee or juice. It’s a time to chat or keep up with fellow parishioners. The kids have a great time too. Coffee hour is put on by volunteers that offer to bring the snacks and set up the table. The church furnishes plates, silverware, napkins, coffee and cups. If you are interested in hosting a coffee hour, all you have to do is sign up. There is a calendar for this on the open bar between the church hall and the kitchen. Pick a date and write you name in. Most hosts ask one or two friends to help them out so they don’t have to do as much. Anyone will help you with the coffee (it takes a couple of times to learn how to do that) and you can bring as much or as little as you would like. Sometimes we just have some cookies and cheese curls, and sometimes people make more of a lunch. But there is no right or wrong way to do this. It's just a fun time and you can catch up with what else is going on at church. If you would be interested in hosting a coffee hour, but would like a little help, just ask Lynn Gagnon, Barb Ives, Noni Stanford or Martha and we’ll be glad to get you started. Ash Wednesday falls on Valentines Day this year and the service will be held at 7 PM in the church. What a tremendous reminder of the love of God that undergirds all our relationships and makes forgiveness and reconciliation possible. Make plans to attend.
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