Steeple NotesSteeple NotesSteeple NotesSteeple Notes Newsletter for the family and friendsNewsletter for the family and friendsNewsletter for the family and friendsNewsletter for the family and friends

of St. James’ Episcopal Churchof St. James’ Episcopal Churchof St. James’ Episcopal Churchof St. James’ Episcopal Church The Rev. Robin Martin, Interim RectorThe Rev. Robin Martin, Interim RectorThe Rev. Robin Martin, Interim RectorThe Rev. Robin Martin, Interim Rector

The Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel 3rd , Bishop Provisional The Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel 3rd , Bishop Provisional The Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel 3rd , Bishop Provisional The Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel 3rd , Bishop Provisional

July and August 2015July and August 2015July and August 2015July and August 2015 The earth is the LORD'S and all that is in it, The earth is the LORD'S and all that is in it, The earth is the LORD'S and all that is in it, The earth is the LORD'S and all that is in it,

the world and all who dwell therein.the world and all who dwell therein.the world and all who dwell therein.the world and all who dwell therein.

Psalm 24:1 Psalm 24:1 Psalm 24:1 Psalm 24:1

When Will We Have a New Rector?

I wish I could tell you; no one would be happier to see our new Rector

walk through the door tomorrow than the Rector’s Warden!

But our continued vacancy does not exist because the Discernment

Committee and the Vestry haven’t been working hard. Late in May, the

Discernment Committee recommended that the Vestry engage the Rev.

Robert Tate as discernment consultant, and the Vestry immediately

voted to do so. Father Tate has an extensive background helping par-

ishes find clergy and has already met with the committee to outline

steps that need to be taken immediately.

The Vestry and members of the search committee also met with Bishop

Daniel Thursday May 28. It was an excellent meeting (and the first

time the bishop has been here since we completed the new entrance,

chapel and parking lot), and we covered a wide range of topics, al-

though the search for a new rector was the focus.

Bishop Daniel made the point that our search is taking place precisely

when the clergy population is dropping and when a number of local

parishes are also seeking new Rectors. He made a number of sugges-

tions, including improvement of the compensation package (which the

Vestry has already approved), and promised increased diocesan support

for our efforts.

On a personal note, I announce with regret that Cathy Renzulli has

stepped down from the Discernment Committee. Cathy has given her

heart and soul to this committee for nearly two years, and she deserves

our deepest gratitude. Laura Harting is now serving as temporary chair.

Please keep the work and the members of the Discernment Committee

(Continued on page 4)

Summer Sunday Service

Schedule 7:45am

Holy Eucharist, Rite I

9:300am Holy Eucharist, Rite II

Traditional

Nursery Care during the 9:30am service

Fellowship and Coffee Hour in Bartholomew Hall

following the 9:30am service

July and August Altar Flowers

in loving memory of July 5

Vivian Edmonds Jean & George Bitner

July 12 Carl & Claire Frank

George & Elizabeth Schoonover

August 2 Aldo Jones

Deacon Jo Demby Herb Demby, Sr.

August 9 Estelle Howell Wertz

August 16 Jack Montgomery

August 23 Ann w. Edge

August 30 Sheila James

LADIES CRAFT NIGHT

Our next craft night will be July

8th at 7pm in Bartholomew Hall

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE

www.stjameschurch.ws Check out the links to the Sunday Ministries Schedule,

monthly calendar, Steeple Notes, Robin’s sermons,

weekly readings, weekly email, our Facebook page, and

so much more.

THRIFT SHOP NEWS Thankfully we have finally received our long awaited

door for the entrance to the shop. It now has the ability

to close on its own so that there is a tight fit which will

certainly contribute to a lower heating bill come fall and

winter. The door also has a window which is an extra

bonus because our stairs are now somewhat naturally

lighted.

We are immersed into summer after a slow start with

the cooler weather. Our shelves and racks are filled with

lightweight clothes in an array of rainbow colors. This

year we have had an abundance of donations so that we

started our bag sales earlier and will have more frequent

ones. We are still advertising on radio WCHE Ron’s

Swap Shop between 10 and 12 noon and Ron also

places the ad on the station’s website. Our last bag sale

encouraged Ron to stop in and see our establishment

and he made some purchases. It was a pleasure to meet

someone I only had talked to on the phone for so many

years.

We also have a new bag sale sign to hang up on the

street location. Thanks to Judy and Sam Benne for tak-

ing the time to paint our sign a vibrant yellow which is

very visible from the street when driving by the church.

Hopefully it will encourage more visitors to our shop.

Also thanks to Luann for printing up business cards

with our pertinent information.

With all the yard sales occurring this summer we will

receive quite a few leftovers. Please be advised that we

only have room for summer seasonal items.

Thanks for your support

Anna Filoromo

Articles/schedules/announcements for the

SEPTEMBER STEEPLE NOTES

are due to the parish office by August 10th

CHURCH DIRECTORY UPDATE The Instant Church Directory have made a few changes

to the online directory. You can log in two ways now

from your computer. There is also an app for your

smart phone

Log in at

https://members.instantchurchdirectory.com/

• To create your own password through the member

login

• Open an active directory that is up to date

• You will not be able to print a copy of the directory

logging in this way

OR

Download a PDF version of the directory by going

to: http://

directory.instantchurchdirectory.com/73863009/

booklet.pdf

• If you have downloaded this PDF in the past, you

should still have a password that is just for this ver-

sion of the directory or email the parish office for

the password if you do not have it. You can not cre-

ate your own password for this login method

• A PDF file will open

up. Save this file to

your desktop or some-

where on your com-

puter. You will need

to upload the PDF

periodically to get

updates

• You can print a copy

of the directory from

this file

You will not be able to

make any changes to the

directory. If your family

information changes, have

a new family photo or you

find an error please email

the parish office.

The program now allows

me to email you a link

requesting a new or up-

dated family photo. So

be on the look out for

my email with the sub-

ject “We’re missing your

photo”

3

Free is Good • Free first order of checks*

• No annual fee VISA® Debit Card

• Quickly and conveniently pay bills online 24/7

• Make one-time payments /schedule regular automated

payments Call 484-691-DNB1 or visit dnbfirst.com.

DNBFIRST BANKING SINCE 1860 Member FDIC

HUDSON L. VOLTZ, ESQUIRE JOY L. VALANIA, ESQUIRE JANET J. SATTERTHWAITE, ESQUIRE HEIDI T. NOVINO, PARALEGAL

HUDSON L. VOLTZ, P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW

Small Business ~ Family Law ~ Estate Planning & Probate ~ Real Estate Law THE LAIRD PROFESSIONAL BUILDING 610-518-9500 110 HOPEWELL ROAD, SUITE 200 Fax 610-518-5316 DOWNINGTOWN, PA 19335-1047 E-mail: voltzlaw@comcast.net

Mr. Voltz is a member; serving the St. James’ Community for Real Estate, Family, Business and Estate matters for the past 20 years

July and August BirthdaysJuly and August BirthdaysJuly and August BirthdaysJuly and August Birthdays

July

Colleen Ellis July 1

William Lubwama July 1

Susan Edmonds July 3

Allen Weisser July 6

Mike Wrigley July 6

Tom Hudecheck July 7

JoAnn Mattia July 8

Sarah Gemmell July 9

Jill Lewis July 9

Kristian Uggla July 9

Stephen Giffi July 10

Faith Kolb July 10

Donald Vivian July 12

Jean Frank July 14

Rose Ann Belluso July 15

Kerri Ann Lewis July 15

Claudia Butler July 16

Barbara Monaghan July 16

Debbie Adams July 18

Mike Hernandez July 19

Catherine Schweiger July 20

Meredith Kosits July 22

Scott Roberts July 22

Tripp Tyner July 22

Cate Tyner July 23

Ed Miller July 25

Robert Clegg July 26

Christa Tyner July 26

Gayle Musselman July 27

Terri Silvester July 27

Rebecca Barger July 28

Lee Edmonds July 30

Marita Grashof July 30

Peter Glidden July 31

Jaclyn McCabe July 31

August Lori Petrie August 2

Rosemary Van Metre August 2

Steve Sharamatew August 5

Isabel Pitalue August 6

Michael Renzulli August 7

Jack Edmonds August 8

Al Wertz August 8

James Cerullo August 9

Dewey Hodson August 12

Drew Mea August 12

Nicholas Samuelson August 13

Kate Carango August 14

John McCann August 14

Diane Pitalue August 15

Sydney Schweiger August 16

Dot Sweet August 16

Bob Carpenter August 18

Liam Worthington-Fritz August 19

Ruth Phillips August 23

Sami Uggla August 26

Sally Long August 27

Billy Barger August 28

Donald McCue August 28

Pat Jones August 30

Shirley Tompkin August 30

It is important to notify the Rector or the parish administrator (610-269-1774) when you or a family member is in the hospital. Due to privacy laws, hospitals are no longer able to give the church infor-mation. Please let us know when you are in the hospital. Private messages may be left for the Rec-tor at 610-873-1065. After hours pastoral emergencies: 610-306-7059. Do you need help with meals? Our Ministry of Meals can help. Contact the Rector, parish administrator or Mandy Watson at 610-518-0399.

Parish Administrator/Bookkeeper

Luann McIlvaine sjcparishoffice@verizon.net

Christian Education Coordinator

Beth Sharamatew sjcsundayschool2@verizon.net

Parish Office ~ 610-269-1774

409 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown, PA 19335 Monday - Thursday: 9am to 1pm, Closed Fridays

Thrift Shop ~ 610-873-7812

Monday - Thursday: 10:00am – 3:00pm 1st & 3rd Saturdays each month: 9am - 1pm

St. James Preschool ~ 610-269-0525 www.stjamespreschool.com

Vestry Members - Term 2016 Bob Yuninger Tim Gemmell Bruce Shipley Matt Wagner

Vestry Members - Term 2017 Laura Harting Peggy Leister

Dick McConnell Ron Meacham

Vestry Members - Term 2018 Judy Benne

Rob Deitcher Jack Edmonds JoAnn Mattia

WANTED:

Church members to lay a lasting foundation of faith in the life of young Christians here at St. James’ Church. Would you consider taking on this rewarding ministry by teaching Sunday

School in September? Our online curriculum makes it simple! It provides

each lesson plus crafts and activities. Please contact Beth for more info:

sjcsundayschool@verizon.net

On May 31 we celebrated the conclusion of Sunday School by

recognizing the students that attended throughout the year and by

thanking our volunteer teachers that gave their time each week to

plan and teach God’s lessons to the children of St. James’. Please

join me in thanking Kate Hargrove and Christine Deitcher, who

both taught our youngest class; Rosa Butler, Dawn and Bill Kirk

taught the 3rd and 4th graders; Rebecca Barger and Brooke Giffi

taught the 5th and 6th graders and Adam D’Andrea and Robin lead

the youth group. Special thanks to the parents (and great-grandmother) that donated snacks to

our hungry kids each week! - Beth Sharamatew

and Vestry in your prayers, and please believe, as I do, that the choice of a new Rector is as much God’s

call as our own.

Thank you,

Dick McConnell Rector’s Warden

Prayer for Discernment Heavenly Father, we give thanks for our parish family, and ask your guidance as we go forward in the calling of a

new Rector for St. James’ Church. Unite us in common purpose; make us instruments of your will; and bless our

diversity as we use our individual gifts to reach our goal. Send the Holy Spirit to be with us, and hold our hands

as we walk in your light to do what you would have us do. Bless the Discernment Committee and our entire con-

gregation, as we go forth in Jesus’ name. Amen.

…from Trinity Church, Parkersburg, West Virginia, via St. David’s Church, Wayne, Pennsylvania

(Continued from page 1)