St. James' Episcopal Church Leesburg, VA

For those who would like to join in prayer, The Episcopal Church has launched a live prayer hotline in English and Spanish. It is staffed by Episcopal clergy and chaplains, in partnership with TryTank at Virginia Theological Seminary and General Theological Seminary.

The hotline will remain open from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. EST until November 5. The hotline can be reached at 202-998-3510.

As part of our ongoing ministry from Holding on to Hope, a live prayer hotline in English and Spanish is now open, staffed by Episcopal clergy and chaplains, in partnership with TryTank at Virginia Theological Seminary and General Theological Seminary.

The hotline will remain open from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. EST until November 5. The hotline can be reached at 202-998-3510.

After today's 10 a.m. service, join us for virtual coffee hour at 11:15 on Zoom! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81092314799?pwd=WjlNVk5XNG5rNU95MnV6UVZqSG90Zz09

ALL SAINTS DAY

THE HOLY EUCHARIST NOVEMBER 1, 2020 10:00 AM

St. James' Episcopal Church Leesburg, VA's cover photo

St. James' Episcopal Church Leesburg, VA

Be sure to set a reminder for today’s 10 AM All Saints online service.

THE HOLY EUCHARIST NOVEMBER 1, 2020 10:00 AM

[11/01/20]   THE HOLY EUCHARIST NOVEMBER 1, 2020 10:00 AM

We in the Diocese of Virginia join with Episcopalians across the nation and around the work of a Novena -- nine days of prayer from October 27 through November 4.

This Season of Prayer: For an Election has been organized by Forward Movement and The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations.

A novena is an ancient tradition of nine days of devotional prayers, often with a specific intention. In this time in our national life, we pray for discernment in voting and for the well-being of our nation.

As we move toward the election of leaders for the United States, may we all join in a season of prayer, committing to offer to God our fears and frustrations, our hopes and dreams.

We in the Diocese of Virginia join with Episcopalians across the nation and around the work of a Novena -- nine days of prayer from October 27 through November 4. This Season of Prayer: For an Election has been organized by Forward Movement and The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations.

A novena is an ancient tradition of nine days of devotional prayers, often with a specific intention. In this time in our national life, we pray for discernment in voting and for the well-being of our nation.

As we move toward the election of leaders for the United States, may we all join in a season of prayer, committing to offer to God our fears and frustrations, our hopes and dreams.

Forward Movement has also made available graphics to share on social media which can be downloaded in English and Spanish. https://www.forwardmovement.org/Pages/Item/15381/Season-of-Prayer.aspx

Printable materials are available in English and Spanish to download and use at home or with your congregation.

St. James' Episcopal Church Leesburg, VA's cover photo

THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING
AND CELEBRATION FOR THE MINISTRY OF STEPHAN AND KAREN KNOBLOCH

THE HOLY EUCHARIST
OCTOBER 25, 2020 10:00 AM

And now these voices sound like teenagers and young adults! (But they’re still sweet...) #tbt

The children's choir bringing us joy and happiness with their sweet voices!

THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY
AFTER PENTECOST
THE HOLY EUCHARIST
OCTOBER 18, 2020 10:00 AM

It was so great to meet via Zoom for the Annual Meeting, we're doing it again! Join us for a Virtual Coffee Hour and Parish Town Hall: Sunday, October 18, at 11:15 a.m.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88135683341?pwd=SE1hVXVBdVh6Z29oNUZHTWw5QWZCUT09
Meeting ID: 881 3568

We are thankful for everyone's participation in our Annual Meeting on October 11 and grateful for our new Vestry members: Chris Cuellar, Tom Horne, Mary Lou Leipheimer, and Rebecca Page. If you'd like to watch the recorded meeting, visit stjamesleesburg.org/annual-meeting.

THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY
AFTER PENTECOST
THE HOLY EUCHARIST
OCTOBER 11, 2020 10:00 AM

Many of you have asked, "what about Church School this year?" We are excited to share a new resource for families!

We expect to have Storymaker kits ready to distribute from the church parking lot on Friday, October 9, from 5 to 6 p.m.

Storymakers is a self-guided church school curriculum that we'll be using this year. It's a wonderful interactive program that invites children to respond to the stories of scripture through art, journaling, and drama.

Every family will receive one Storymakers ‘zine for each child in Kindergarten through 5th grade, plus a leader guide for parents.

We'll begin the year by exploring the story of Creation. To find out more, check out Storymakers’ website.

If you'd like to have a kit delivered instead, email [email protected] or call the church office at 703-777-1124, and we’ll be sure to get you one.

St. James' Episcopal Church Leesburg, VA

We are live now!

THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY
AFTER PENTECOST
THE HOLY EUCHARIST
OCTOBER 4, 2020
10:00 AM

THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY
AFTER PENTECOST
THE HOLY EUCHARIST
OCTOBER 4, 2020
10:00 AM

Spectacular day for the Blessing of the Animals! And 15 dogs thought so, too. Loved seeing everyone and giving thanks for our animal friends in the name of St. Francis of Assisi.

Looking back to last year's Blessing of the Animals and forward to this year's! Join us this Saturday, Oct. 3 at 11 a.m. in the church barking lot. Masks and social distancing required! #tbt

Sandy Garlick with her sheltie, Banner, and Kathleen Hughes with her Pekingese, Lute!

Details on October 4 Annual Meeting

We'll be gathering virtually for our Annual Meeting at 11 a.m. Sunday, October 4! What a treat it will be to see everyone's faces after a long few months. See details in today's email: https://conta.cc/3mXAVpf

myemail.constantcontact.com Join us for this important event! Update on Vestry Elections and Parish Meeting On Sunday, October 4 at 11 a.m., we'll be using Zoom to gather together as the people of St. James'. We will celebrate o

On the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, We Need These Messengers of Hope

Today is the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, or as it is much better known in some parts of the Anglican Communion, Michaelmas.

“In times of unusual danger, when the malice of the devil seems triumphant, St Michael will come to our aid.”

growchristians.org When angels appear to people in scripture the first thing they say is, “Do not be afraid!” And that’s what I need to hear today, on the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels.

THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST THE HOLY EUCHARIST

THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY
AFTER PENTECOST
THE HOLY EUCHARIST
SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 10:00 AM

The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia

Pray today for our clergy, in Leesburg, in the Diocese of Virginia, and throughout the world. "I am grateful for our leaders in the Church – all our leaders, lay and ordained. Today I am especially thinking of our ordained leaders – pastors, preachers, priests. Men and women called by God and the Church, raised up in local congregations, trained and coached in the larger church, deployed into hundreds of unique settings in Virginia. They serve in cities, suburbs, the country. "

Bishop Brooke-Davidson's Meditation for the 16th Week of Pentecost

Thanksgiving has come early this year.

Walking in the light of the first cool, crisp mornings of the fall, I find myself thankful – not just Gratitude-Journal-thankful for hot coffee, or work that I love, or even for health (though grateful I am) – but grateful for the front-line workers and first responders who are tending to the spiritual needs and feelings of anxiety or disappointment or fear or rage that flare up in unexpected hot spots in the uncontained fires of the multivalent mess that we can only call “2020.”

I am grateful for our leaders in the Church – all our leaders, lay and ordained. Today I am especially thinking of our ordained leaders – pastors, preachers, priests. Men and women called by God and the Church, raised up in local congregations, trained and coached in the larger church, deployed into hundreds of unique settings in Virginia. They serve in cities, suburbs, the country. They and their families have given themselves to Christ and his bride, the Church. They have vowed to serve as shepherds, prayer leaders, prophets, and teachers, and serve they do. They are on call 24/7 for the emergencies of whole communities, and even when things are quiet, they routinely work far more hours than their agreements provide. They are present in crisis and in celebration; they work in the hospital and the study and the chancel.

And now this. Now, the scramble from the beauty and dignity of Holy Week and Easter to the sudden need to convey all of that on Zoom or Facebook. Now, the need to reinvent pastoral care by remote. Now, the weekly uncertainty of regathering precautions and the weight of worry about balancing the deep desire for tangible sacramental life with the profound worry about the health – even the lives – of their flocks. Now, the plunge of the nation into superheated discourse on race and justice, and supercharged emotions over politics. Now, the crazy mix of the cohesion of loving congregations, the opportunity to experiment with new modalities, the need to plan for an unforeseeable future with unpredictable challenges and resources, and the stress of responding in love to the most stressed and anxious among us. Every wedding, every burial and memorial, every deferred confirmation, weighs upon them. This I know, because they will not complain, especially to their flock, but they will call to share their grief and sorrow on behalf of their people. Of course, clergy are not the only bearers of the burdens of this difficult season, but their burden is heavy.

To the clergy reading this: We bishops see you. We pray for you. We are here to listen to you and support you. If it is in our power to help, then we will do it.

And to the laity of the Church, the flock of Christ: We see and pray for you, too. We know that you share the stresses of educational and economic upheaval and a million other worries. And we ask your help in this: help us to uphold and sustain your parish clergy who now enter another stretch of demanding spiritual leadership. That’s not to say that problems or disagreements, if there are any, should be swept under the rug, but rather that the truth must be spoken in love, and the hearts of all should be guarded and protected. Let there be grace – the grace of time and space, the grace of appreciation and honor, the grace of companionship and laughter. Pastoring is one of those occupations with high rates of depression and burnout and worse, especially in times of societal trauma. The antidote is grace, and appreciation, and love. The antidote is remembering that we are not defined by the boundaries of doctrine or politics, but by our orientation toward the cross of Christ. The antidote is humming to ourselves: We have decided to follow Jesus; no turning back. . . The cross before us; the world behind us; no turning back.

Thanksgiving has come early this year. Your three bishops are grateful to your congregational leaders, and we tell them so, but it means much more when they hear it from you. We pray that they are going deaf from hearing it from you. May your love, your patience, and the grace of your support in these challenging times sustain them as they sustain you through the months to come.

And may God bless us all, every one.

Bishop Jennifer Brooke-Davidson

#TBT: Back to School gathering in the parish "back yard," September 2015

St. James' Episcopal Church Leesburg, VA

Join us!

THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY
AFTER PENTECOST
THE HOLY EUCHARIST
SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 10:00 AM

THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY
AFTER PENTECOST
THE HOLY EUCHARIST
SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 10:00 AM

St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Richmond, VA)

Blessings to St. James’ own Pete Nunnally, ordained yesterday in the Diocese of Virginia. Congratulations, Fr. Pete!

#TBT: As we prepare for another Vestry election, a look back with gratitude to the 2012 Vestry!

2012 Vestry

THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST THE HOLY EUCHARIST

THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY
AFTER PENTECOST THE HOLY EUCHARIST
SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
10:00 AM

Honoring the memory of this day.

In the days following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the nation discovered its resilience and celebrated the things that bind us together. As we face uncertain times today, we look back 19 years to remember the unspeakable, but also remember how our nation came together to mourn loss and honor bravery. Bishop Jane Holmes Dixon offered the following blessing at the September 14, 2001 National Day of Prayer and Remembrance, and the words hold true today:

Go forth now, into the world in peace;
Be of good courage;
Hold fast to that which is good,
Render to no one evil for evil;
Strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak;
Help the afflicted; honor everyone;
Love and serve the Lord.

[09/08/20]   Just wanted to remind parents and teachers: send your first day of school photos or short (30 sec) video to [email protected] for our Blessing of the Backpacks this Sunday.

Sunday, September 6: Join us for a 10:00 a.m. Watch Party here on Facebook!

The 179 congregations of the Diocese of Virginia will come together as one faith community for a diocesan-wide service led by your bishops.

This service in English and Spanish will be available here on the St. James' page. A PDF of the service bulletin in English and Spanish is available here: http://bit.ly/serviceBulletin

Beauty inside and out at St. James’...

#ThrowbackThursday celebrates our fabulous church school teachers from 2016! Church School will be back this year in our new "pandemic" form...stay tuned for more details!

Just a few of our Children and Youth Leaders, ready to welcome our students and their families when St. James' Church School begins on September 4!

THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY
AFTER PENTECOST
THE HOLY EUCHARIST
AUGUST 30, 2020
10:00 AM