The Church Library

What should be in a church library? Should the library consist only of a computer terminal with high speed internet access? Are there classic volumes that belong in any Christian library? What think ye? All of this is to an end...we want to start a library (or rather re-invent the one that is there). If you were starting a church library from scratch, what would you want to see there? Periodicals? Classics? Bible Study Materials? Fiction? Self-Help? What think ye? Please share your thoughts ....

The Very Rev. Mark J. Lawrence is Re-elected!

Today a special electing convention of our Diocese convened at St. James, James Island and re-elected The Very Rev. Mark J. Lawrence to be our Fourteenth Bishop.

Unofficial votes were: In the clergy order - 78 yes, 2-no, and 2-abstain; In the lay order: parish churches: 43 yes, 3-no, and 1-abstain; Of the mission churches: 7-yes, 0-no, and 1/2-abstain. Notes about votes: mission churches are accorded 1/2 vote each, and, in both the parish and mission church delegations, a divided vote counts as a no.

May the requests for consents be returned in the affirmative with reverent alacrity!

Prayer Requests

This coming Saturday our diocese will gather to re-elect The Rev. Mark J. Lawrence to be the Fourteenth Bishop of South Carolina. Pray that the consents will come in quickly and that the consecration will be able to go forward as soon as possible. Here is a picture of Mark and his wonderful wife, Allison, from last year.




...and below are some additional dates in which to be in prayer for our Church

* August 9-10, 2007 "Windsor Bishops" meet

* September 20-25, 2007 House of Bishops meet in New Orleans, Louisiana (Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, will meet with them for a time of discussion)

* September 25 - 28, 2007 Common Cause Council of Bishops meets

* September 30, 2007 Primates expect Episcopal Church response (Communique, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)

* July 16 - August 4, 2008 Lambeth Conference at University of Kent, Canterbury, England

VBS Report

What a fine time we had! Some thirty children and an almost equal number of adults had fun all week at "Make A Joyful Noise". The curriculum was homegrown and inspired much creativity. We learned a goodly number of traditional Sunday School songs (B.IB.L.E.; Rise and Shine, This is the Day, Jesus Loves Me and more), considered the sweep of salvation history (Creation, Covenant, Captivity, Christ, and the Church), enjoyed being together, and finished up with a great cookout. The team has already started planning for next year, so put July 14-18 on your calendar now. Here's a picture from the closing...

VBS !

Don't forget to bring your kid-type family members or neighbors to Vacation Bible School - July 9-13. Sponsored by St. James Santee Episcopal, New Wappetaw Presbyterian, and McClellanville Methodist Churches, it should be a terrific time! This year, it will be held at McClellanville Methodist. Registration on Monday morning the 9th. Be sure to join us for the debut performance of the Make a Joyful Noise Choir and a cookout at 5:30 pm on Friday evening of that week.

Happy Fourth of July

Back and so glad to be. Tomorrow is July 4th - Independence Day. In honor of the day, here is a nice quote from Ben Franklin

“ God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel” –Constitutional Convention of 1787 | original manuscript of this speech

Have a safe one!

Jennie

VBS 2009 - Camp E.D.G.E.- July 13-17

Vacation Bible School will be held July 13-17 and St. James will be hosting.

Very soon we will be posting sign up sheets for help in the following areas: Crafts, Games, Room set-ups, Snacks, Cookout, Decorations. Jobs small and large!

Our theme this year is CAMP E.D.G.E. St. James Santee will be transformed into an extreme adventure camp where children Experience and Discover God Everywhere! CAMP E.D.G.E. VBS is not your typical stroll through the woods. It's an action-packed, adrenaline-filled expedition that teaches kids their strength and power come from God .