The Messenger November 2025
St. James on the Lake Episcopal Church
Looking up – Reaching Out – Gathering In
10707 Co Rd 4022, Kemp, TX 75143
www.stjamesonthelake.org
Mother's Musings
If you are like me, when you hear “November” or see it on a calendar, you instantly think, cooler weather, “Thanksgiving, and possibly big college football games pointing toward bowl games and the playoffs. The roots of Thanksgiving go back to 1621, when the English colonists in Plymouth, MA, met with the Wampanoag leaders to celebrate the abundant harvest. The Wampanoag natives brought five deer and other foods to the multi-day festival. One member of the tribe had been to England, had learned English, and taught the colonists how to cultivate corn and fish. These cultures came together for a feast to give thanks for the harvest's abundance and to celebrate their alliance. Sadly, as these things sometimes go, the celebration and collaboration were short-lived.
Have you ever considered the difference between thanksgiving and gratitude? Thankfulness is a reaction to some event, such as winning a game, receiving a lovely gift, or being affirmed by those whom we love. Gratitude involves being thankful, but it is much more than that. Gratitude means being appreciative even when nothing particularly exciting has happened.
Since the day I began my ministry at St. James on the Lake, I have been grateful for the privilege of serving this amazing parish!! While there are no perfect parishes (how could there be —we are all broken and sinful people), some parishes are more Christ-centered and loving than others.
Over the thirteen months I have served at St. James, several people have shared that they were initially unhappy when they learned that a woman would be the next priest at St. James. I must say that if those people had not spoken to me, I would never have known how any of them felt, given their gracious behavior and greetings. I would never have suspected that anyone felt that way. I have only been treated with welcome, kindness, and generosity. I appreciated knowing how people felt and that they expressed their gratitude that I am serving at St. James.
I understand from vestry members that a pledge campaign has not been a regular practice at St. James. I must say that I am very thankful for the response to Pledge Sunday on September 26th. While not everyone has pledged, a significant number of people have, and for that I am grateful. If you were not present or were not prepared on September 26th to pledge to St. James for 2026, it is not too late. We have pledge cards and would be happy to receive your pledge.
Your expressions of gratitude blew me away on October 26th when you surprised me by celebrating Pastor Appreciation. For me, it was also a celebration of Congregation Appreciation!
I (and Fr. Tom) know that I am blessed to be the priest serving St. James on the Lake! THANK YOU for accepting me so graciously and being who you are!!! God is GOOD and I am filled with gratitude!!! When I sit down with family to celebrate Thanksgiving Day and recall all the reasons for which I am thankful and grateful, St. James is certainly high on that list!!
Mtr. Elizabeth
CONFIRMATION WITH BISHOP SUMNER
Please join us at 3:00pm on Sunday December 7th to witness several of our members being confirmed and wishing Bishop Sumner good luck as he enters retirement. What a joyous time at St James to participate in this event.
FEAST
Come celebrate FEAST at Paul and Sunny Lasiter’s house, Thursday, Dec. 11th from 5:00 – 7:00pm. We will be celebrating Christmas and having a Chinese Gift Exchange. If you wish to participate in the exchange, please bring a gift valued at no more than $20.00 dollars. Food has been taken care of. Please come and enjoy the festivities with us.
THE VESTRY
Have you ever wondered what role the Vestry plays in our church? The Vestry is the business arm of our church. It is the legal representative of the parish about all matters pertaining to its corporate property. It is responsible for governance of the congregation, financial oversight, and supporting the spiritual well-being of the church community. Vestry members work alongside clergy to lead the church and manage its resources effectively.
Our Vestry is composed of 6 church members who attend regularly and give regularly to the offering. The Vestry can be larger, but not smaller. Mother Elizabeth is the presiding officer and is a non-voting member with a total of 7. Anyone can visit a regular Vestry meeting.
The Senior Warden is appointed by the priest, and the Junior Warden is elected by the Vestry. The Senior Warden and the priest develop the agenda for each meeting. The Senior Warden leads the parish between rectors and is a support for the rector. The Junior Warden oversees the church property and grounds, letting the vestry know if problems arise. The budget and repairs are two things covered along with setting schedules and calendar items.
We also have a treasurer and clerk who may or may not be Vestry members. When the need arises, committees are formed with one Vestry member and interested members of the congregation.
The basic responsibilities of the Vestry are to help define and articulate the mission of the congregation; to support the church’s mission by word and deed, to select the rector, to ensure effective organization and planning and to manage resources and finances.
Members are elected at the annual meeting. Tenure is for three years, with two members rotating off each year. This gives a healthy mixture of experience and new insights.
It is a privilege to serve the church in this manner, as well to understand and participate in decisions to benefit our congregation. Currently, the members of our Vestry are: Terry Keller (Sr. Warden), Bonnie Dill (Jr. Warden), James Mashburn, Marian Flowers, Nora Hampton, and Linda Shehee. Paul Lassiter is Treasurer and Charles Arcoria is Clerk. In January, James and Bonnie will rotate off. We will need two new members. Once a person rotates off the Vestry, they can serve again after being off for a year. Please prayerfully consider serving on the Vestry when you are asked, as a variety of voices and perspectives are good for the parish. - Marian Flowers
SAVE THE DATE FOR HEALTHY CONGREGATIONS
St. James on the Lake is a wonderful parish! There is a program, called Healthy Congregations, that provides parishes information that can help them be the very best that they can be. St James is blessed to already be a very healthy parish, but every parish has areas where they could improve. This workshop will be on Friday, November 14th from 6:00 to 8:30 pm and continue Saturday, November 15th from 8:30 until 4:00pm in the parish hall. This workshop will provide some great information for our life in the parish as well as our personal lives. Please plan to join us for this event. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to Mtr. Elizabeth.
GLOBAL GOODBYE PICNIC ON THE GREEN FOR BISHOP SUMNER
There will be a Diocesan wide retirement send off for Bishop Sumner on November 22 at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. If you would like to attend and need a ride let Mother know. https://edod.org/resources/articles/global-goodbye-picnic-on-the-green/
SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER LIST
When adding names to the prayer list on Sunday mornings, please print and write legibly. Sometimes it’s hard to make out the names. Thanks!
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
If you find yourself in need of temporary equipment, the church keeps some medical equipment on hand for this purpose. Wheelchairs, walkers, potty chairs, etc.
Are available. Please contact Paul Lasiter or the senior warden to check these out.
THE SEASON OF ADVENT
The Season of Advent begins November 30. Advent is a time of preparation when we prepare our hearts to receive the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Toward that end, there are Advent meditation books entitled "Darkness Then Light" available for all who would like to use one.
Our Advent study, Because of Bethlehem by Max Lucado, will begin on Wednesday, December 3 and go from 10:30 until 11:45. This is also an excellent way to prepare your heart to receive the greatest gift that the world has ever been given. Advent is known as the time of "already and not yet" the theological concept that Christians are actively participating in the Kingdom of God but the Kingdom but we are still waiting its full manifestation when Christ returns in all His glory.
St. James on the Lake Episcopal Church
Looking up – Reaching Out – Gathering In
10707 Co Rd 4022, Kemp, TX 75143
www.stjamesonthelake.org
Mother's Musings
If you are like me, when you hear “November” or see it on a calendar, you instantly think, cooler weather, “Thanksgiving, and possibly big college football games pointing toward bowl games and the playoffs. The roots of Thanksgiving go back to 1621, when the English colonists in Plymouth, MA, met with the Wampanoag leaders to celebrate the abundant harvest. The Wampanoag natives brought five deer and other foods to the multi-day festival. One member of the tribe had been to England, had learned English, and taught the colonists how to cultivate corn and fish. These cultures came together for a feast to give thanks for the harvest's abundance and to celebrate their alliance. Sadly, as these things sometimes go, the celebration and collaboration were short-lived.
Have you ever considered the difference between thanksgiving and gratitude? Thankfulness is a reaction to some event, such as winning a game, receiving a lovely gift, or being affirmed by those whom we love. Gratitude involves being thankful, but it is much more than that. Gratitude means being appreciative even when nothing particularly exciting has happened.
Since the day I began my ministry at St. James on the Lake, I have been grateful for the privilege of serving this amazing parish!! While there are no perfect parishes (how could there be —we are all broken and sinful people), some parishes are more Christ-centered and loving than others.
Over the thirteen months I have served at St. James, several people have shared that they were initially unhappy when they learned that a woman would be the next priest at St. James. I must say that if those people had not spoken to me, I would never have known how any of them felt, given their gracious behavior and greetings. I would never have suspected that anyone felt that way. I have only been treated with welcome, kindness, and generosity. I appreciated knowing how people felt and that they expressed their gratitude that I am serving at St. James.
I understand from vestry members that a pledge campaign has not been a regular practice at St. James. I must say that I am very thankful for the response to Pledge Sunday on September 26th. While not everyone has pledged, a significant number of people have, and for that I am grateful. If you were not present or were not prepared on September 26th to pledge to St. James for 2026, it is not too late. We have pledge cards and would be happy to receive your pledge.
Your expressions of gratitude blew me away on October 26th when you surprised me by celebrating Pastor Appreciation. For me, it was also a celebration of Congregation Appreciation!
I (and Fr. Tom) know that I am blessed to be the priest serving St. James on the Lake! THANK YOU for accepting me so graciously and being who you are!!! God is GOOD and I am filled with gratitude!!! When I sit down with family to celebrate Thanksgiving Day and recall all the reasons for which I am thankful and grateful, St. James is certainly high on that list!!
Mtr. Elizabeth
CONFIRMATION WITH BISHOP SUMNER
Please join us at 3:00pm on Sunday December 7th to witness several of our members being confirmed and wishing Bishop Sumner good luck as he enters retirement. What a joyous time at St James to participate in this event.
FEAST
Come celebrate FEAST at Paul and Sunny Lasiter’s house, Thursday, Dec. 11th from 5:00 – 7:00pm. We will be celebrating Christmas and having a Chinese Gift Exchange. If you wish to participate in the exchange, please bring a gift valued at no more than $20.00 dollars. Food has been taken care of. Please come and enjoy the festivities with us.
THE VESTRY
Have you ever wondered what role the Vestry plays in our church? The Vestry is the business arm of our church. It is the legal representative of the parish about all matters pertaining to its corporate property. It is responsible for governance of the congregation, financial oversight, and supporting the spiritual well-being of the church community. Vestry members work alongside clergy to lead the church and manage its resources effectively.
Our Vestry is composed of 6 church members who attend regularly and give regularly to the offering. The Vestry can be larger, but not smaller. Mother Elizabeth is the presiding officer and is a non-voting member with a total of 7. Anyone can visit a regular Vestry meeting.
The Senior Warden is appointed by the priest, and the Junior Warden is elected by the Vestry. The Senior Warden and the priest develop the agenda for each meeting. The Senior Warden leads the parish between rectors and is a support for the rector. The Junior Warden oversees the church property and grounds, letting the vestry know if problems arise. The budget and repairs are two things covered along with setting schedules and calendar items.
We also have a treasurer and clerk who may or may not be Vestry members. When the need arises, committees are formed with one Vestry member and interested members of the congregation.
The basic responsibilities of the Vestry are to help define and articulate the mission of the congregation; to support the church’s mission by word and deed, to select the rector, to ensure effective organization and planning and to manage resources and finances.
Members are elected at the annual meeting. Tenure is for three years, with two members rotating off each year. This gives a healthy mixture of experience and new insights.
It is a privilege to serve the church in this manner, as well to understand and participate in decisions to benefit our congregation. Currently, the members of our Vestry are: Terry Keller (Sr. Warden), Bonnie Dill (Jr. Warden), James Mashburn, Marian Flowers, Nora Hampton, and Linda Shehee. Paul Lassiter is Treasurer and Charles Arcoria is Clerk. In January, James and Bonnie will rotate off. We will need two new members. Once a person rotates off the Vestry, they can serve again after being off for a year. Please prayerfully consider serving on the Vestry when you are asked, as a variety of voices and perspectives are good for the parish. - Marian Flowers
SAVE THE DATE FOR HEALTHY CONGREGATIONS
St. James on the Lake is a wonderful parish! There is a program, called Healthy Congregations, that provides parishes information that can help them be the very best that they can be. St James is blessed to already be a very healthy parish, but every parish has areas where they could improve. This workshop will be on Friday, November 14th from 6:00 to 8:30 pm and continue Saturday, November 15th from 8:30 until 4:00pm in the parish hall. This workshop will provide some great information for our life in the parish as well as our personal lives. Please plan to join us for this event. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to Mtr. Elizabeth.
GLOBAL GOODBYE PICNIC ON THE GREEN FOR BISHOP SUMNER
There will be a Diocesan wide retirement send off for Bishop Sumner on November 22 at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. If you would like to attend and need a ride let Mother know. https://edod.org/resources/articles/global-goodbye-picnic-on-the-green/
SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER LIST
When adding names to the prayer list on Sunday mornings, please print and write legibly. Sometimes it’s hard to make out the names. Thanks!
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
If you find yourself in need of temporary equipment, the church keeps some medical equipment on hand for this purpose. Wheelchairs, walkers, potty chairs, etc.
Are available. Please contact Paul Lasiter or the senior warden to check these out.
THE SEASON OF ADVENT
The Season of Advent begins November 30. Advent is a time of preparation when we prepare our hearts to receive the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Toward that end, there are Advent meditation books entitled "Darkness Then Light" available for all who would like to use one.
Our Advent study, Because of Bethlehem by Max Lucado, will begin on Wednesday, December 3 and go from 10:30 until 11:45. This is also an excellent way to prepare your heart to receive the greatest gift that the world has ever been given. Advent is known as the time of "already and not yet" the theological concept that Christians are actively participating in the Kingdom of God but the Kingdom but we are still waiting its full manifestation when Christ returns in all His glory.
