Rector’s Message

BISHOP WILL VISIT OUR PARISH TO CONFIRM AND RECEIVE MEMBERS OF THE PARISH.

On Sunday, November 23, 2008 our Parish will be visited by The Right Rev. Rodney R. Michael, retired Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Long Island at the 10:30 A.M. Service of Holy Eucharist.  (THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE SERVICE ON THIS SUNDAY).

Bishop Michael, in addition to the Celebrant and Preacher, will also confirm and receive Baptized members of the Parish who are 12 years and older.  Following the service Bishop Michael will meet with the Vestry to hear “what is Happening in our Parish.”

Why do we need Instruction Classes?

Many times these questions, asked during the Rite of Baptism, have been said for us because it was done when we were babies or infants, or we were baptized when we were adults and have simply forgotten what we promised.

Therefore we need to be reminded of what we promised and why these questions are so important to a person who says that he/she is a member of the Christian Church, in this case the Episcopal Church.

As a way to remind us of this promise, all persons desiring to be Confirmed or Received must attend the 3 instruction Classes.

Report from the Vestry – The Vestry reminds everyone that 2008 pledges should be kept up to date.  The 2008 budget was based upon your pledge.  Don’t let St. James down!  The 2009 pledge period is beginning soon.  The annual pledge breakfast will be Oct. 26^th.

Report from the Discernment Committee - The Discernment Committee was pleased to receive letters of interest from more than 10 rector candidates.   We have completed telephone interviews of six of the most promising candidates.  The next step is for members of the Committee to visit the candidates’ church to hear her or him preach.  Later we will meet personally with each candidate at St. James so that they might have an opportunity to tour our Church, Rectory and grounds. The final candidate will be recommended to the Vestry for their approval.  We hope that you continue to pray for St. James as we go through this very important period of transition.  As always, we will continue to keep you informed of all non-confidential matters

Church School is now meeting every Sunday from 9:15 to 10:15 in the Parish House!

BACK TO CHURCH SCHOOL – by Melinda Rahm

The Children and Youth Committee is proud to announce church school at St. James Church has begun a new year. We are blessed with talented and dedicated teachers such as Jackie Brathwaite, Elsie Butler, and Bencella Wisner and enthusiastic supporters like Elizabeth Smith, who is leading the youth in song.  Ms. Jackie will be teaching the older students using the Journey to Adulthood curriculum. The first two years focus on celebrating the individuality of each young person and their creative potential. Ms. Elsie and Ms. Bencella will be using Godly Play to explore core stories from the Bible. We appreciate the support of parents who have made a commitment for their children to regularly attend church school.

The Children and Youth Committee has exciting plans for this fall. We will celebrate Youth Sunday, on October 12^th during the 10:30 a.m. service. Mrs. Kotati Butler has offered to organize a field trip for the youth to visit an orchard.

We need the congregation’s support to make this a comeback year for our church school program. Look for sign-up sheets in the narthex for ways to get involved and volunteer your time and talents this year.

FLOWER GARDENS BRIGHTEN THE CHURCH YARD

Eight gardens started in March, 2008 with the growth of perennials (daffodils, crocus and tulips).  These were followed by the planting of more than 30 types of annuals during the spring and summer months.  Recently, August lilies followed various varieties of daylilies and some late-blooming Easter lilies.  Now, in September, we see that mums are coming to bloom.

This year St. James’ gardeners were Jacki, Darcy, Fred, Gerry, Fran & Jack.  A special thank you goes to Dave Sams for installing an outside waterline.

One garden was planted in memory of four members of St. James who died earlier in 2008 – Naomi Smith, Ida May Schultz, Emma Hummel and Emily Clark.  A Brotherhood of St. Andrew garden continued in memory of former leaders:  Bill Everetts and Harry Ripple.  A smaller garden is in memory of Jane Hemphill and Helen Voelcker.

All interested gardeners are welcome to join!

The Episcopal Church Women (ECW)

Welcome to Fall 2008!  Our first luncheon was on September 20, 2008 with a good attendance and excellent food. The October luncheon will be on October 18, 2008, with a menu of Chicken a la King over biscuits, peas & carrots with assorted cakes for dessert.  We will also have baked goods and used books for sale.

For November, our luncheon will be on 11/15/08 and features - Roast pork, sweet potatoes, string beans, apple sauce and rye bread.  This will also be our Christmas Crafts and Attic Treasure Sale.  We will be accepting your donations during November on Sundays and at other times.

No luncheon will be scheduled for December.

We look forward to seeing you and enjoying good meals and a time to talk and visit with others.

Altar Guild by Leona Davidson, Directress

The Altar Guild goes about its work before and after every service on Sundays and other special services.  Because we perform our work so inconspicuously, you might not know that Patsy Adams has been a long and faithful member. You could always count on her to be present when her turn at service came around, and she did her work with care, love, and a smile.  August was her last month to perform her duties because she decided to retire from the Altar Guild after many years, and she will be terribly missed by the other members.  She is indeed a good and faithful servant.  Leona Davidson Directress

Brotherhood of St. Andrew Pancake Breakfast Fundraisers

The Brotherhood of St. Andrew Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser held on Sunday May 4, 2008 was a success, netting $158 serving 49 meals.  The idea of having a ticket where you selected your meal items helped end confusion in preparing and delivering meals.  We wish to announce our two fall breakfast dates, times for both are noted below.

October 12, 2008

In conjunction with “Bring a Friend Sunday”

Being sponsored by the Growth Committee.

November 9, 2008

FIRST SERVING FOLLOWING THE 8:15 SERVICE (9:30 AM)

SECOND SERVING FOLLOWING THE 10:30 SERVICE (11:30 AM)

FIVE DOLLARS ($5) FOR ADULTS AND YOUTH

CHILDREN FOR FREE (SMALL MEAL)

This is the men’s effort to support the church’s operational needs.  Thank you for your participation.  To the loyal Brotherhood work crew, thanks for a job well done.

The Fellowship Committee had their second Church Picnic at the Ridley Creek State Park on Saturday, June 28^th.  A special thank you went to our grillers, Gerald Doyle and Dave Sams.

Elsie Butler did a terrific job of providing games for the youth, but since we didn’t have many youth in attendance, the big kids played the games.  We believe they had fun and probably were a little sore the next day.  The weather was beautiful, the fellowship was great and the food provided by everyone was delicious.

Children & Youth, Fellowship and Growth Committees sponsored a Heinz Wildlife Refuge Day for our youth and us oldsters on Sunday, June 8^th following the 10:30 service.  It was extremely hot, but in spite of the heat, I think everyone enjoyed our little hike.  We saw a small deer, a few birds, wild flowers and crossed a bridge over the marsh waters, where Mary Haidar, a volunteer at the refuge explained to us what plants were growing in the marsh waters and the birds that can be seen there in cooler temperatures.  Now that everyone knows where it is located, I am sure we will be making a return trip.  Mary suggested early morning in the fall of the year.

Fund Raiser

The Fellowship Committee decided to have another evening of music, dance, hors d’oeuvres, wine, punch, soda and desserts.  Our last Fundraiser was about two years ago and it was a huge success with many requests to have another.  As before, each family will be asked to sell four tickets.  There will be a silent auction and 50/50 chances sold.  The cost will be $25.00/pp.  Tickets will be available 1^st week in October.  The date is Saturday evening, November 1^st at 7 PM.

Church Service Schedules

New schedules for crucifer, chalice bearers, servers, lectors, intercessors & ushers are completed and will be distributed by Renee Horn.

Operation Christmas Child – The Power of a Simple Gift

Samaritan’s Purse is again asking us to participate with many churches by filling empty shoeboxes for boys and girls, ages 2 to 14 years old.

Each shoebox can be filled with school supplies (pens, pencils, paper, etc.), with toys (stuffed animals, dolls, balls, cars, etc.), hygiene items (toothbrush and paste, soap, comb, washcloths, etc.) and with other items (hard candy, t-shirts, socks, hair clips, toy jewelry, flashlights with extra batteries).  Include a personal note and a photo of yourself and family with your name and address if you care to – the child may write back.

If you can, wrap the box (and the lid separately) with a label of “boy” or “girl” with the appropriate age, and if you are able, include a small donation to cover the cost of shipping.

Last year, Samaritan’s Purse distributed more than 5 million shoeboxes to children in many countries around the world.  St. James donated 28 boxes in 2007.

Completed boxes can be placed in the Chapel.  Closing date is November 9.

Supermarket Certificate Program - $$$ for Church Projects!

The Supermarket Certificate Program originated 14 years ago (July 1994) by members of the Episcopal Church Women.  Some of ECW’s early leaders are no longer with us (Florence, Hazel, Edna, Edith and Helen), but these enthusiastic leaders showed us how easy it was to make money for St. James at absolutely no cost to the organization or the church members.

Here is how – whenever one purchases a certificate, for example, $25.00, one then buys food or merchandise for exactly $25.  The Acme, Giant and Pathmark stores give St. James a commission of 5% on our total sale of certificates.  St. James has received total commissions of more than $25,000 over the 14-year period.

These commissions were used for church needs:  new audio system in church $3,869, new chapel in church $4,750, new church signs $3,658, a snow thrower $500, computer for church office $1,943, ½ cost of a photocopier $2,446, new snow thrower $1,350, parish house gate $2,000, organ repairs $780, new computer and printer for the church office $940, and a new kitchen freezer $560.  All of these purchases cost the church and the parishioners nothing.

Supermarket certificates are available from Renee Horn (Pathmark), Pat Doyle (Giant) and Fred Davidson (Acme).

Cemetery – by Gerald Doyle

“Care and Maintenance of Our Back Forty”

Our meadow, our hallowed ground in our gated, walled and fenced cityscape now and then requires care and maintenance.  Spring, summer and fall tend to be our greatest care times.  Spring begins by addressing the remnants of Fall and Winter, removal of wind debris from our trees, dressing the church gardens and lawn care around church preparing for Easter tide.  Summer comes with a steady need for lawn care.  Artistic Landscaping provides our professional service.  Our garden club maintains the church flower gardens, a welcome ministry for our members with green thumbs (thank you).  Fall arrives with three months worth of leaf removal, requiring; a constant effort of raking, vacuuming, and bagging (thank you, Dave).  At the end of the year (November) Artistic completes the professional leaf removal.  Also as part of property/cemetery project program (volunteers welcome) we paint the metal fence, make repairs to the stone wall, clean the sidewalks, replace areas of broken sidewalk, add stone to the drives and parking areas and in winter we snow shovel/plow the drives and sidewalks.  So this meadow area at times feels like the back forty.

Lucia Fest

The Lucia Fest will be held on Sunday, December 14^th at 7:00 PM.  The committee is asking all the wonderful seamstresses (who’s handmade work we admire every Sunday) to help us make new costumes for our youth to participate in our annual Lucia Fest.  Please contact Patti Doyle at

484-463-8606 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Thank you.

November 1^st

Dave & June Sams will participate in the “Memory Walk” which is sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter. The purpose is to raise funds for research, support and education for those living with the disease, their families and caregivers.  They dedicate this walk in memory of Dr. Joseph Solomon who suffered with this disease.  Sponsors are encouraged to speak to either Dave or June.  There is a sponsor sign-up sheet in the narthex along with pamphlets.  For more information call team captain June Sams @ 484-472-3548.

St. James Communication

The committee members are Darcy Hamlin, Kathleen Thomas, Gerald Doyle and Renee Horn.  They are responsible for gathering information, writing, and producing the quarterly church newsletter.  All information concerning the next newsletter must be submitted to the committee by the first week in January.

St. James Received A Generous Contribution

Sarah P. Cobb a longtime member who currently lives at the Masonic Home in Elizabethtown made a generous contribution to St. James.

Parish Register

Transferred from St. James:  Nicolas Messer, Anna Everetts and David Hunter.