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Backpack Blessing This Sunday!!
Join us this Sunday, Aug. 29th for the Backpack Blessing during the 10:30 am service. Teachers and students bring your backpacks and/or briefcases for a special blessing for a great school year! We will have a small gift bag for the students! See you there!
We Need Your Help!
We continue to witness the humanitarian crisis unfold in Afghanistan, one that has left upwards of 550,000 Afghans 
internally displaced in the country since the beginning of the year, in addition to 2.9 million Afghans already internally displaced at the end of 2020.
Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) is currently working in partnership with the U.S. government to assist Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders with resettlement and direct services through a network of 12 affiliates across the U.S.
For information and resources for our Afghan Allies,
One of the greatest challenges right now is providing housing for recently arrived Afghan SIV's.
With your generosity and support of EMM's program, we can ensure our Afghan allies receive the very basics they need to start a safe and productive life in the U.S.  Your financial donation will directly support providing basic services and assistance with housing to newly arrived Afghan SIV’s and assist EMM expanding its work in developing sponsorships for Afghan SIVs. Make a donation online here or donate by mail and send checks to:
DFMS-Protestant Episcopal Church US
P.O. Box 958983
St. Louis, MO 63195-8983
(Include Episcopal Migration Ministries and Afghan SIV’s in the memo line.)
There are many opportunities to be involved in this faithful work. We invite you to make a monetary donation, to volunteer or sponsor, to pray, and to learn more.
Spiritual Habits - 16
Why Christian Formation?
“Most people in America, when they are exposed to the Christian faith, are not being transformed. They take one step into the door, and the journey ends. They are not being allowed, encouraged, or equipped to love or to think like Christ. Yet in many ways, a focus on spiritual formation fits what a new generation is really seeking. Transformation is a process, a journey, not a one-time decision.” ― David Kinnaman, Unchristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity...and Why It Matters
I hope you are seeking spiritual formation that changes you - transformation - internally, completely, and for real. This is what keeps me inviting you to be part of Christian formation and not just a Sunday school event. It's a lifelong practice of becoming the Christ the world needs every day, and it will be so wonderful when it happens through you!
Invitation to Fellowship!
Here are a few of the upcoming events I want you to be aware of. Please note this and mark your calendars. Please be part of your church community and help us grow together with you. I am sure you have heard this many times before. Please know, we miss seeing you when you are not there.
  1. Early service at 8:30 am. Starting September 12th we will move our early service time to 8:30 to make room for Sundays schools between services. So, if you would like to come to church for a shorter and less crowded service, please join at 8:30 am.
  2. We will begin Sunday Schools for all ages on September 12th. Sunday schools for adults and children will be at 9:30 am. Adults class will be held in the Parish Hall. I hope you can join these classes.
  3. Sunday School for Children and Youth! Since our children and youth are back in school, I am sure parents are comfortable sending their children to Sunday school and youth events in church as well. So, please wear a mask when you come. I encourage all parents to encourage their children to attend regular Spiritual Formation classes and I wish you, please, do so yourself by being there.
Fr. Jos+
Weekly Summer Reflections
Youth and Children
It’s back to school again!
Nothing is more stressful than a first
day! The excitement, anticipation, and fear cause anxiety in all of us. What a thrill to have new classes, teachers and to see friends again or make new ones. There’s also fear of a class being too hard or friends and teachers not liking or accepting us. The night before is restless!
 
In times like these we can look to James 1:17-27. We learn that every gift is given by God; that we are to be quick to listen, slow to speak and to anger. To be doers of the word, and not merely hearers and look to the perfect law; the law of liberty, and persevere. To listen, not just act. We learn that it’s not enough to just say we are religious but to practice God’s pure religion which is caring for those who can’t care for themselves.
 
With all this in mind we can look to this school year as a gift that is exciting, challenging and, most important, an opportunity. Make this school year the best it can be by being a good listener who thinks about their words before they speak. Ask yourself, is what I’m about to say helpful? Is it kind? Is it relevant? If the answer is no, then just listen and learn. The time for action is when we can be helpful, kind and relevant. Applying this to our relationships and our work helps us to learn and grow in the gifts God has given us. This will help us to give the most important gift of all, love. 
Important Announcement!
EKC (K-5th) and EYC ( 6th-12th) will be back on Sunday, September 12th. EKC will meet at 9:30 am. EYC will meet directly after the 10:30am service. We will end EYC at 1:00pm. Snacks will be provided.
I would love to hear from you! Share pictures, video, thoughts or questions with on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/StJamesSpringfield