Julie Murray

The clergy from Westside Churches United–St. James, Gloria Dei Lutheran, Pilgrim UCC, Westwood UMC, and Westwood First Presbyterian–are planning for a weekend conference July 19-21: The Imagination Conference: Spirituality, Community, and Justice. Dr. Adam Clark, who spoke at Pub Theology in January, is going to be the keynote speaker on Friday evening and Saturday morning. Some leaders from Urban Light Community Church in Muncie, Ind., which has a focus on inclusion of differently abled people will also do a keynote on Saturday.

The conference will be centered on balancing contemplative and active life. We’re planning workshops on a variety of topics plus tours of My Neighbors Place and Cincinnati Urban Promise on Saturday. The hope is for there to be a Jammin’ with the James concert at Town Hall that evening. There will probably be a clergy “pulpit swap” on Sunday morning, and the weekend will end with an extended Pub Theology at WSB, possibly with Beer & Hymns and conversation about the weekend.

We are looking for someone to take on the position of vestry clerk beginning in May. Jane Neely graciously stepped in last year when we were in need of a clerk (secretary) for the vestry but did not intend to keep the job forever.

Vestry meetings are generally the 3rd Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. with very occasional special meetings. The clerk can attend via Zoom. Meetings are recorded to aid in doing the minutes. Interested? Have questions? Contact Pastor Mary.

We need coffee hour volunteers for most Sundays this spring and summer. You can make it as simple or as elaborate as you wish. Volunteers handle setup and cleanup and provide the snacks and drinks.

The sign-up sheet is in the Community Hall near the kitchen door. On Sundays when no one signs up, everyone is welcome to gather afterwards, but there will not be any food or drinks.

We send care packages to our college students twice a year with an assortment of fun or useful items along with notes from parishioners. Parishioner Barb Taber has prepared the packages for awhile and is ready for someone else to take it on. Packages are sent in late March or early April. It doesn’t take much time, but it means a lot to our students. Barb will assist a new person this spring.

Choose from lilies ($11.75), assorted tulips ($10.90), pink azaleas ($16.75), blue hydrangeas ($16.75) and daffodils ($10.90). Please complete an order form (found in bulletin or contact the office) and return to the church office, along with your payment. You may email your form to admin@stjamescincy.org. Checks are payable to St. James (with Easter flowers in the memo line). You may also pay online. Deadline to order is March 14.

Need time for stillness and reflection this Lenten season? Natasha Burrowes, MATS, will guide us through meditation, reflection, and prayer to contemplate our connection with God and one another. We’ll have a simple meal at 6 p.m. Mary Bayer is coordinating the meal. The retreat will be from 7-8:30 p.m. A sign-up sheet and a place to offer to assist with the meal will be posted on the kitchen door.

The Women of St James are planning a Galentine* Event on Thursday, February 22, at 7:00 p.m. at Somm Wine Bar at 3105 Price Avenue. We will gather to support and reconnect with each other as well as to support other women. We will be gathering menstrual supplies for women who may have struggles to get these, specifically, pads, tampons, pantyliners, period underwear and menstrual cups. We will distribute these to My Neighbor’s Place and Cincinnati Urban Promise. You can bring your items to our Galentine Event or leave them in a box in the Narthex. 

*Galentine Events are typically female occasions of mutual empowerment . . . a reminder for women to support and uplift one another. Sign up or get more information by contacting Nancy Jacob  nancyjacob@icloud.com or Carla Wissel jcwissel@gmail.com

Shrove Tuesday pancake supper Feb. 13

Please click on this link to go to a short Google form survey on your preferences for our Ash Wednesday service and on what will assist you in your travels through Lent. Paper copies of the survey will also be available on Sunday.

We will be having a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper again on Tues., February 13! If you’re willing to help with preparations, cooking, or clean-up, contact Eugene Jacob at EugeneJacob@icloud.com.

The Rev. Canon Kristin Uffelman White will be consecrated as the 10^th Bishop of Southern Ohio on Saturday, February 17, at 11 a.m. at the Columbus Convention Center. Everyone is invited to come in person or to watch the livestream. It’s a service filled with lots of pomp and pageantry: lots of bishops, all the clergy processing, people from all over the Episcopal Church gathering with us to celebrate. It’s worth making the effort to be there. Learn more at https://diosohio.org/the-ordination-of-bishop-elect-kristin-uffelman-white/

A Case for Love, a feature-length documentary inspired by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s message of love, will premiere in theaters nationwide on Jan. 23. The film, which includes interviews with Curry and other public figures, as well as individual stories and more, was produced by Episcopalian-led Grace-Based Films. 

The film will be shown at the Cinemark Western Hills 14 at 4 and 4 p.m.