Youth Gathering, 2009

On July 22nd-26th, 4 of our high school youth from St. James joined 37,000 other ELCA youth and adults for the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. What a faith growing and expanding experience! Based on Philippians 2:1-8, this year's ELCA Youth Gathering was a servant school. At the center of the program was a deepening awareness of God’s call to servanthood and a deepening of basic Christian practices by which we live out our baptismal calling to servanthood in day to day life. Our youth went out in Jesus' name to serve the people of New Orleans and had an awesome time together! We look forward to hearing their stories of servanthood in Christ's name in the upcoming weeks and can't wait to see how they will go out as Christ's servants this year in Lexington, SC.

Reaching Out

The people at St. James have been busy this summer helping others who are less fortunate. During the month of July, we took a Saturday morning to pay for people at the local laundromats to have their clothes washed and dried. We also collected snacks, games, soap, and other needed items to ship to soldiers overseas. Then, this past Sunday, the kids at our church put together birthday kits with cake mixes, icing, and goodies for members of the community who come to receive food at our Harvest Hope Mobile Food Pantry once a month. What a great time we're having as we shine Christ's light into the world around us!

Set Hike!

Click here to catch a news clip of St. James' own flag football team having fun as they played against some students from Gilbert High School last weekend: http://www.wltx.com/video/default.aspx?maven_playerId=articleplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=playlist&maven_referralObject=1179965718

Boanerges

Congratulations to Boanerges, our softball team. (For all who are wondering, they have the same nickname as Jesus gave to Saint James the Greater. Check out Mark 3:17 if you'd like to know more.) Boanerges had a great time playing together this spring and is thankful to all of the fans, who cheered them on their way. They look forward to another great season next year. Are you interested in joining our softball team? You'll have a chance to sign up again next spring!

Food And Fellowship

Wondering what our OWLs are up to? They continue to meet on the third Thursday of every month for lunch and fellowship together. All are invited to join them.In the month of June, they came together for some delicious BBQ at Shealy's. Mmmmmmm.... Their next gathering is on Thursday, July 16th, at Vegetable Medley. Be there at noon for some great food and good times!

Come To The Waters

The SC Women of the ELCA had their annual convention this weekend at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Lexington, and some of our own ladies from St. James were there in attendance. This year, the theme was, "Come to The Waters," and these ladies celebrated the ways that Christ's living water flows in their lives and in the lives of others around them. Together, they engaged in a service project to collect bingo prizes for five different Lutheran homes in SC. They also attended various seminars that included subjects such as Prayer Journaling, Latino Ministries, and Spiritual Yoga. The ladies of WELCA at St. James invite all of the women at our church to join us as we gather together again this fall to do women's ministries in Christ's name.

All Aboard

We weren't kidding when we told you that our kids are having fun at Sunday School this summer. Come and check it out for yourselves! We promise that you won't be disappointed.