Dear Parishioners,

This weekend is what could be called our unofficial kick-off to the new year: the Blessing of the Animals. And we're happy (perhaps cautiously optimistic) to say, the weather's looking pretty good! Regardless of weather—indoors or out—these animals get blessed this weekend because it's the Feast of St. Francis (October 4), in whose memory we enact this wonderful ritual. 

Bring your furry, scaly, feather-y, even stuffie friends for their blessing. The service at both services will be (weather permitting) outside, and is considerably shortened for the comfort of our non-human friends.

And for those who've lost pets: following each service we'll have a short liturgy for you. Just stick around and gather with Mother Storm. Feel free to bring a picture of your pet, its ashes—anything that you'd like to have with you as we say this prayer of blessing for our animal friends who are no longer with us.

This being St. James, that's not the only thing happening this weekend. We have a Breakfast Run to NYC (details and sign-up below), our first Red Door Explorers gathering for 5th & 6th graders, and a Choir Retreat. Plus St. James is hosting, all day Saturday, the New York Haiti Project for its annual retreat. Inside and outside of our building, on our campus and off, we'll be doing God's work in the world all weekend long!

Your faithful clergy +

Thursday Choristers, 5:00 pm (2nd-8th graders) and Adult Choir, 7:00 pm

Friday Morning Prayer Online, 9:00 am (at our Youtube Channel)

Saturday Parents of Young Kids Gathering, POSTPONED

Saturday Choir Retreat, 10:00 am

Sunday Breakfast Run to Feed the Unhoused, 7:00 am

Sunday Services 9:00 and 10:30 am

No Children's Chapel -- Blessing of the Animals

Preacher/Homilist: The Rev. Astrid Storm; Celebrant: The Rev. Daniel Bentley

Red Door Explorers (5th & 6th grades), 5:30 pm

Bring Your Furry--and Scaly, and Feathery--Friends to Church! Our popular annual blessing of the animals is in commemoration of the feast of St. Francis. Bring your pets to either service -- 9 or 10:30 -- for their annual blessing from the clergy. All creatures welcome!

Pictured: the Clergy dogs :) See our Facebook page for this picture and, soon, the clergy cats!

All are welcome to join us as we make a trip into the city to feed the homeless. If you can't make it physically, you can also make a contribution to the cause at the link below. This is program in coordination with the Westchester-based "Midnight Run" organization. Youth and children are welcome and encouraged to participate with their families. To learn more or sign up to attend or send something, click the link below. We start gathering at the church at 6:30 am, and leave for the city around 7:45, back for the 10:30 service.

Please note this event is being rescheduled for a future date. Stay tuned!
St. James parents and Father Daniel will be hosting a gathering of families with younger kids (10 and under, give or take) at the St. James playground (behind the church on Rochambeau Rd). Come grab coffee, pastries and snacks and enjoy getting to know one another and Father Daniel. No need to RSVP--just come as you can!

Church School is now Children's Chapel, and takes place Sundays (with the exception of this Sunday) at 10:35 am. More than a new name (and mascot! pictured above), this is a fresh way for our youngest members to worship together during the first part of our Sunday Holy Communion service. Kids will gather for a short, joyful liturgy filled with prayer, song, and stories from the Bible—then dive into hands-on formation activities that bring the day's lesson to life.

Children's Chapel will be led by our High School interns, with support from our clergy. Victoria, our music director, will be teaching our Cherubs a new song each month to be shared at the 10:30 am. service!

Children's Chapel takes place during the first half of the 10:30 am service. Everyone begins worship together, with the kids leaving after the opening Collect and returning for Communion.

In last Sunday's sermon, Father Daniel reflected on the famous early Christian hymn quoted by Paul in his letter to the Philippians, a hymn in praise of God's self-emptying in the form of his Son, Jesus. From the sermon:

Emptying, or being empty, has all sorts of negative connotations. How’s your day going? I’m wiped, I’m empty, I’ve got nothing in the tank. Meanwhile being filled up is positive: My cup is filled! My heart is full! 

So maybe the call is not for us to be depleted but to spring clean. Get a dumpster like the one I’ve got sitting in this fancy new parking lot. And throw in it all the things that are holding us back from truly showing up for God and our neighbor. 

Because that kind of emptying, that spiritual Marie Kondoing, makes us a different kind of person. An “empty” person is then able to receive the gifts that God wants to give to them. Are we coming to this table already full, or hungry for the gifts of God? Can we make ourselves not just recipients of God’s grace, but empty vessels ready to have God’s grace poured into us. And from us, flowing out to others. 

Did you know we gather every Wednesday morning for a simple, 25-minute mid-week service? It's a great way to refresh or reset yourself spiritually. All welcome. Drop in as you can. Led by the clergy, and followed, for those who wish to join us, by an informal Bible Study. Absolutely no prior knowledge of the Bible needed.

The Fordham Pantry is a great way for the whole family to get involved in helping others in our area. Volunteers pack 300+ grocery bags for the food-insecure in the neighborhood of our partner parish, St. James Episcopal Church in Fordham. To be added to the email distribution list for this ministry (where you'll receive reminders and occasional updates), click the button below and we'll add you to our list.

Thursday October 8: Evensong with the Choir and Choristers of St. James, 6:30 pm

Sunday October 18: First Confirmation Class (7th Grade and up), 5:30 pm

Sunday October 25: Graveyard Tour, Kids' "Thrills and Chills" at the Organ, and Halloween Party, 5:00 pm

Sunday November 1: All Saints' Sunday at both services

You can view this Sunday's bulletin at the link below. Names of all readers, servers, and acolytes are always listed on the last page of the bulletin. Readings are also there for readers to view in advance.