Blog Posts

February 2017 Room at the Table

2/15/2017

Team 5 with new to the team as captains - captains Annette, Susan, and Alison hosted the Room at the Table meal Saturday, Feb. 11 for 51 guests and 30 take outs. The menu was chicken and rice, green beans, and bread. Susan and Annette cooked the chicken. We opened 11 cans of green beans from the pantry, seasoned with Italian salad dressing. A parishioner provided fantastic bread from the local Mexican bakers. Dessert was cobbler and ice cream.

We had a little bit of food leftover that was taken to Caldwell House.

Thanks to all the team and to all of you at St. James for your great support of the Room at the Table ministry.

CARE Quarterly Meeting Minutes, January 2017

2/6/2017

If the document does not appear, please Click Here.

An Archived Letter from Rev. Oertel

2/6/2017

The Archive Committee and St. James' parishioners make a great and continuous effort to archive the parish's rich history. Recently, Sherry found a letter from our first rector Rev. Johannes Oertel. She transcribed it for us to be able to share the contents with the church. The letter is below. If the document does not appear, please Click Here.

For more information on Rev. Oertel and his artwork, Click Here.

January 2016 Room at the Table

1/25/2017

Team 4 hosted the January Room at the Table on the 14th. The menu included chicken pie, pinto beans, and fruit cobblers with ice cream. Four team members prepared pies. We used a new crock pot recipe that is new to the team for our cobblers The pintos were fixed prior to the meal from our pantry supplies, seasoned with a little onion and bacon. Two parishioners joined us to meet with our guests to take prayer requests, and to accept prayers from them for themselves and our church.

To paraphrase that old Sinatra song "It was a very good evening".

-Team 4 Captains

January Clothes Closet Update

1/24/2017

It always amazes everyone who walks into the Room at the Table Clothes Closet just before the guests arrive, how very generous you have all been in providing for the needs of others. At the end of the meal when we are “closing shop” it always amazes us how little is left. Folks were very happy to receive warm, weather appropriate clothing and were vocal in their gratitude. Having a St James style cooked meal was icing on the cake.
Here is an update on our current needs:

MENS:
- We have no men’s shoes or boots. Sizes 12 and 13 have in particular been requested. Sneakers are always a hit.
- Men’s jeans waist size 30, 32, 34 and 36
- We need the following especially in LARGE and EXTRA LARGE: flannel shirts, hoodies, winter Jackets
WOMENS:
- Flats or sneakers.
- Jackets
- Jeans all sizes
CHILDRENS:
- Children’s jackets and infant wear
- Stuffed animals
MEN & WOMEN:
- Underwear, size medium and up

Thank you for all you do and on behalf of all those you helped!

-John and Christine

Eve of Epiphany Service 2017

1/9/2017

Last Thursday night we had an Eve of Epiphany Service. The Epiphany service celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men (Caspar, Balthasar, and Melchior) who came to honor Jesus after he was born. After a few volunteers valiantly portrayed the three kings, the front doors to the church were chalked with "20+C+M+B+17."

It was a cold evening with an impending Friday snowstorm, but many parishioners braved the weather to attend. We were thrilled to have members of First Presbyterian Church join us, including an excited young boy who volunteered to mark the front door.

After the service, we went downstairs for a dinner of chili, cornbread and salad. The dessert, an Epiphany cake, held 5 surprises that each represented a different blessing for the coming year: a jewel, a pig, a quarter, a rock and beans.

Thank you to everyone who attended and who cooked!

December 2016 Room at the Table

12/29/2016

Team Three served a delicious meal of Chicken, Dressing, and Green Bean casserole on Dec. 10, 2016. In addition, guests had peaches, cranberry sauce, baked beans and bread and butter. Desserts were a variety of cakes—some home made, some purchased, all yummy. There was sweet tea and water to drink. We made some coffee since it was cold out, but not many wanted coffee. One of our guests, Michael, asked the blessing for all of us.

The tables were decorated with magnolia leaves, pine cones, berries and colorful bows to make the Hogan Room look festive. Sixty-two guests were served, some came back for seconds, and about thirty take-out plates were made.

Thank you to all who helped!

Backpack Packing, November 8th, 2016

12/9/2016

Our wonderful Backpack volunteers met Thursday morning to prepare the packs that we distribute to children each month. St. James, along with 4 other area churches, sponsors Davenport Elementary School. This month, we packed for 60 students. Normally, each child gets one bag, but because Christmas break is coming up we made an extra pack per student for a total of 120.

The menu was cornflakes and oatmeal, canned chicken breast, canned fruit, canned vegetables, soup, dried beans, fruit drinks, prepared skillet meals, and a special treat for Christmas: ham.

Thank you to Hank and Gloria who work so hard to create a solid meal on a budget! And thank you to everyone who donates to and volunteers for this program. Davenport is right across the street from St. James, so Backpack is a wonderful way for us to directly help those in need, especially children.

November 2016 Room at the Table

11/21/2016

Ninety guests (90!) walked through the door for Room at the Table last Saturday, and Team 2 was ready with its meal of pinto beans with ham, collard greens, mac 'n cheese, slaw, and cornbread. We also served 40 takeouts!

The spirit of Thanksgiving filled the room. A parishioner made a “Thankful for…” banner where team members and guests posted their individual thanks. For the blessing, we joined hands and someone read out our post-its with a hearty, “Thanks be to God”. While serving on the line, someone remarked how she felt blessed witnessing how grateful our guests were for R@T and especially for St. James. In somewhat disbelief, one team member handed in $2 given by a guest at the clothes closet – “he insisted on giving something”, she said. And last, but not least, a guest gave our only young person there a huge sucker, asking if there were not more children that he could share his suckers with.
R@T members always come away more blessed – Team 2 felt especially blessed this past Saturday.

Parish Pumpkin Carving

10/27/2016

We had a great turn-out for our covered dish and pumpkin carving this past Sunday!

Lunch was casseroles, fruit, one of Betty's famous salads, hoagies, cookies and cupcakes.

The adults enjoyed carving the pumpkins as much as the children. Some went for a traditional look, while others got a bit more creative (see photos).

Thank you to everyone who participated!

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