2019 - St. James on the Lake

2019 A Year In Review

Christmas Eve

Hanging of the Greens

Dru's Bridal Shower

Quiet Day

Fr. Jonathan Melton led a wonderful Quiet Morning at St. James 12/7/2019, focusing his 3 meditations on "Inviting Jesus In", utilizing the picture of Jesus knocking on the door, and the icon of Mary as the Burning Bush. Powerful images for silent reflection about the Advent theme coming of Jesus.

Confirmation, Reception, Reaffirmation Sunday

Bob Jenkins, Carol Mayo, Marian Flowers - Reaffirmation; James Mashburn - Confirmation; Cindy & Terry Puckett - Reception

Photo Op with the Bishop

Service

Kairos Beto 61

Brass Rubbing

Fr. Charlie Keen and friends hosted a brass rubbing at St. Thomas Episcopal Church In Ennis that the Daughters of the King chapter of St. James on the Lake in Kemp sponsored for some of the ladies of our parish. Fr. Randy is the chaplain of our DOK chapter so he was invited as well. Magnify the picture and look at their handiwork!

St. James Adopt A Family Golf Tournament

Hole Sponsor
Paul & Sunny Lasiter
Patsy Miller
Randy Pate
Cathy Richards
Bill & Linda Shehee
Ed & Willene Trotter
Contributor
Cedar Creek Country Club
Pinnacle Country Club
Tempest Golf Course
Terry & Susan Dahlman
Art & Marilyn Denmon
Deanna Drabb
Judy Green
Bari Hart
Bruce & Carol Mayo
Doug & Jan Miller
Bill & Jo Miniat
Steve & Dorinda Stedman
Glen & Claire Stout
Spencer Stuart, Jr.
Robbie Sutton
Ken & Vicki Vieux
Denise Waldrep

Registration

Our Players

Blessing of the Animals

Kairos Beto 60

Fr. Melton's 35th Anniversary to the Priesthood

Easter

Good Friday

Maundy Thursday

Palm Sunday

Mardi Gras

Holy Land Pilgrimage

Annual Meeting

The Annual Parish Meeting was held in the parish hall after worship during which the new pledges were counted. A summary of our 2018 ministries was presented, and two new vestry members, Kelley Boughton and Marian Flowers were elected to a 3-year term to replace DeLois Bomberger and Phil McGlothlin who rotated off. Art Denmon and Tina Wage were elected as Diocesan Convention Delegates and Linda Shehee and Kelley Boughton as alternates. The parish budget will be presented after the first quarter since our income amount was still in question. The only changes anticipated have to do with increases in diocesan assessment, insurance and
utility costs. This is our first full year of funding the expenses required for a full time priest and we ended in the black, which is very, very encouraging.

Thanks to Susan Huffman for baking this year’s Epiphany Cake filled with surprises. Winner of said Epiphany Cake Prizes included:
BEAN (Queen of the Party) - Rita Brezniak!
DIME (increased wealth) - Tina Wage!
CROSS (blessings of the Church) - Peggy Tyler!
BUTTON (increased theological wisdom ) - Susan Huffman!
THIMBLE (Increased industry) - Bari Hart! She gets to bake next year’s cake!

Consecration Sunday

Consecration Sunday, our 1st stewardship campaign, culminated on February 3. We had a guest stewardship preacher, Fr. Mark Wright of St. Nicholas in Flower Mound and also a delicious catered barbecue lunch. The stewardship emphasis was on giving as a spiritual discipline, as stewardship is in fact a vital aspect of our commitment to discipleship. The cost of maintaining a full time priest will continue to have an impact on budgetary increases, as will our diocesan assessment. But Fr. Randy and the vestry decided that rather than emphasize fundraising, it would be better to use this opportunity to teach about the spiritual aspects of giving in a response of thankfulness for the many blessings that we have received from our Lord.

Initial reports were that there was a 9% increase in giving. But as more cards are coming in, and we removed the giving amount of those who have moved, when all is said and done, it looks like our giving increase will land somewhere between 16-23%! We believe that represents a renewed spiritual dimension that is also connected to our giving. Well done y’all!