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A Friendly Reminder: This weekend is Diocesan Convention Weekend. Please remember our delegates: Julie Gillogly and Astry Rivera in your thoughts as prayers. The clergy delegates are Deacon Suzy and Fr. Jos+. At the convention, we will also celebrate the ministries of our former Bishop, Martin Field, and his wife, Donna, and Fr. Steve Rottgers and his wife, Mary.
Spiritual Habits - 26 - Kindness!!
I inserted that image up here. Because there is nothing more to be said other than be a miracle. We can and we all should. When we are kind, the Kingdom of God will be among us. What Jesus said to his followers, the Kingdom of God, is at hand and it is within reach and in each of us.
Fr. Jos
RECTOR
This Week's Heart Awards Goes To!
There are two great people I would like to thank God for today. They are the gardeners of the week. Minuen Odom & Dotti Kaiser
I walk to the church every morning. I go through the prayer garden and every single time I am amazed at how beautiful that garden looks and how well kept. As you all know, if not for Minuen, we wouldn't be having a clean, lovely, and quiet garden. Sometime back I got a chance to sit with her in the garden, and listen to each other and laugh a little bit. It was a blessed time for me. I can not thank her enough, not just for the garden she keeps, but a lot more. She is a fantastic teacher, a great listener, a good friend, and leader, and makes the best punch in the world! Attend the Lanning and Odom's New Year's Eve party and you will know I am right about their goodies. Yes, she is the gardener of our soul this week. I am blessed to know Minuen, and be blessed by her pure goodness. We do love you, Minuen. You are joy.
Not all of us are always ready, and willing to do whatever we can whenever we can. I know someone who does and that is Dorothy (Dotti). Ever since I came to St. James Dotti amazed me. Her love for people who are less fortunate in this world, people with mental disabilities, people who are on the margins and her willingness to do what she can for all these people, simply amazing. She writes articles, sends letters to the editor if she thinks something needs attention, she works with the homeless and volunteers to care for them. Then of course we enjoy her wonderful cookies, snacks at church, she reads and had been a communion minister for a long time. The list goes on and on. It is this self-less love for fellow human beings who are not as fortunate as we are, that she worries and cares about. And if that's not the gardener of the soul, who would be? We love you Dotti. You are an inspiration.
Who are the gardeners of our souls next week? Any guesses or suggestions? Send to fatherjos@gmail.com
What you don't want to miss!
Fr. Rod Pierce: Fr. Rod and Angela Pierce are two of our newest people at St. James. By now several of you had an opportunity to get to know him. Please join us for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with Fr. Rod on November 7th. I am sure you will enjoy both of these great people and blessings in our church.
Fr. Jos
Kirkin' of the Tartans
"Blessing of the Tartans"
A unique Scottish service with Bagpipes
Social Distancing and Masks will be done
during the Service
Will be Live-Streamed at: www.sj.church 
Haggis, Snacks, Dances by Kilties following the Service
Saturday evening, November 13, 2021, at 6:30 pm
St. James Episcopal Church
2645 E. Southern Hills Blvd, Springfield, MO
Scottish-Irish attire not required, but welcomed!
Youth Lock-In
Saturday, November 20th EYC is having a Lock-In for grades 7th-12th starting at 6pm and ending November 21st after church at 11:30 am. (Staying for the church service is not required to attend the lock-in. Pick-up no later that 10:15am.)
Bring your sleeping bag, pillow, toothbrush and a change of cloths for church the next morning. Games, Movie, Pizza and More!! Don't miss it and invite your friends! (Permission forms must be signed by a parent and turned in at the time of drop-off.)
Outreach News
kid with new shoes
Outreach News:
This Sunday afternoon, 33 students from Fields Elementary School will receive new tennis shoes and socks through our "Stepping Out in Love" Outreach campaign. Each year St. James supplies the students in need at Fields the opportunity to come to Shoe Carnival and be fitted with shoes for the winter. The smiles on the kids' faces and the gratitude of the parents will make this event a joyful experience for all. If you haven't contributed $$$ yet, it is not too late to share your blessings with these families!
Save the Dates!
It is not too soon to plan to attend St. James' Advent 2021 series. Mark Wednesday evenings in December (1st, 8th,15th & 22nd) on your calendar now! Minuen Odom will lead a study on The Beatitudes. A simple soup supper will be served at 5:30 pm and "Blessed are They" will follow at 6 pm. Please plan to join us!
Youth and Children
EKC and EYC: This week Ms. Kimby is out of town with Fr. Jos. EKC will go to the nursery and EYC will attend church at 10:30 am.
Please pick-up a lesson plan with your bulletin and read over the lesson for this week, enjoy the videos, music and craft. See you next week.
We would love to hear from you! Share pictures, video, thoughts or questions with on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/StJamesSpringfield
Trunk or Treat!
Thank you to everyone who game out and volunteered during Trunk or Treat! Our hard work payed off as we had approximately two hundred people come through St. James! The children and youth had a great time and we shared all the left over Halloween candy with those served at Crosslines and the Veterans Coming Home Center. Everyone loves treats!!
Friendsgiving / Thanksgiving at St. James - November 25th @1 pm
A couple of years ago, that, of course, was prior to the pandemic, we came together for a friendsgiving celebration at St. James on Thanksgiving Day. It is the celebration of Thanksgiving for those who are alone and don't have families to go to. Bob and Kathleen Jackson provided smoked turkey and ham, and every person who came in brought in a side dish of some sort or pies. If you are alone or would like to be with someone on Thanksgiving day, join us. Bring a dish to share and celebrate Thanksgiving with us. November 25th at 1 pm.