News

Raise your glass for a cause on Wednesday, November 12 when we meet from 5-10 p.m. at West Side Brewing to raise funds for our friends at My Neighbor’s Place and Cincinnati Urban Promise. From 5-9 p.m. the Cincinnati Urban Promise Bus will be at the brewery collecting nonperishable food and hygiene items.

Are you a military veteran? The Sunday of Veterans Day weekend, November 9. We recognize St. James’ veterans past and present in a slideshow with musical accompaniment. If we do not already have your picture, please send one to admin@stjamescincy.org no later than Wed., November 5, for our recognition at the end of our November 9 service. Please also remind us of anyone whom we have accidentally omitted in years past.

The St. James Lunch Bunch will gather Friday, November 7 at 11:30 a.m. at Cheddars Scratch Kitchen, 3633 Springdale Rd in Colerain. All members and friends are welcome to get together for a meal and lively conversation.

Meetings are at favorite restaurants suggested by group members and there’s no need to plan ahead—just phone or text Emily Adams by 10:00 on the morning of the lunch if you’d like to attend. 

St. James’ annual parish picnic will be held Sunday, August 24. This year we’ll be staying at St. James. We’ll worship on the front lawn at 10 a.m. and then have a picnic afterwards. Brats, hot dogs and burgers will be provided. Water and lemonade will also be provided, but feel free to bring your own beverage if you prefer. Please bring a salad, side dish or dessert to share. Want to help? Sign-up sheets are posted in the Community Hall or you may contact Linda Scherer.

Westwood PRIDE, which was cancelled in June, has been rescheduled for Friday, August 29 at Westwood Town Hall. St. James has committed to being present for this community celebration honoring love, diversity and inclusion! We need volunteers to set up our booth at 4 p.m., staff it from 5-9:30 p.m., and help with tear down at 9:30 p.m. There is a sign up on the sheet on the kitchen door.

We need people to serve in several specific ways. Current volunteers will be happy to show you the ropes! If you’re interested, contact the church office.

Coffee Hour Host for August 17 – We have one space open this month. The schedule for the last few months of the year is also available.

Kitchen Organizer(s) – 1 or 2 people willing to clean out the refrigerator, put items away and wash dish towels. Only needs to be done every 3-4 weeks.

N or M Coordinator – We’re looking for someone to take over coordinating monthly N or M dinners, which involves recruiting hosts who will choose a restaurant, making a group reservation and handling RSVPs. 

Ushers – Come 20 minutes early and assist in greeting people coming to worship and doing other essential tasks during the service.

Acolyte/Chalice Bearer – Be an integral part of our worship service by assisting the Presider.

Altar Guild – If you’re a detail-oriented person and like working behind the scenes, this may be the ministry for you. Most of the work is done on Sunday mornings, mainly after the service.

My Neighbor’s Place Donations 

We are continuing to collect packages of cookies and crackers, including peanut butter crackers, for My Neighbor’s Place through July. MNP would also appreciate donations of bilingual or Spanish children’s books. Donations of clothing and household goods may be dropped off at the Westwood United Methodist Church between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Westfed Food Pantry 

We’re supporting Westfed by collecting spaghetti and spaghetti sauce (no glass jars). Drop off your donation in the box marked Westfed in the narthex. With the high cost of groceries, many food pantries, including Westfed, are running short of food and other items. 

St. James is collecting new school supplies for students served by Cincinnati Urban Promise (CUP). The following items are needed, including, but not limited to: book bags, including preschool-sized bags; composition books, wide and school ruled; pencils; erasers; glue sticks; pocket folders; binders; Crayola 8-pack big markers; and 24-pack Crayola crayons. Please bring supplies to St. James no later than Sunday, July 20. If you would like to make a cash contribution, Linda Scherer will either shop for you or send the funds directly to CUP. Any questions contact Linda. CUP is located in Westwood. Learn more about CUP and their fantastic ministry: https://www.cincinnatiurbanpromise.org/.

The Council on Aging will hold a free Tai Chi for Arthritis and Balance class at St. James every Tuesday and Thursday July 8 through August 28. Class is from 11 am – 12 pm in the Community Hall. Anyone over 60 and caregivers are welcome. You can still register through the class on July 15 at www.help4seniors.org/workshops or calling 513-345-8637.