During the season of Advent, St. James is asking a lot of us. There are many people in need all around us and Advent, as a time of preparation, is a great season to exercise our personal generosity. Consider how you will stretch into one or all of our Advent fundraisers or drives this year.

Pajama Drive

Once again, Natalie and her troop are collecting new children’s pajamas of all sizes for Feeding Tiny Tummies. Drop your donations off on Sunday or during office hours.

Greeting Card Fundraiser

Packages of greeting cards made from some of our priest’s artwork, as well as some of her original prints, will be offered to those who donate to our collective gift to Feeding Tiny Tummies this season.

Food Drive

We will be encouraging eveyrone to continue to bring extra food to church to offer each Sunday to refill the shelves at the Community Kitchen and Keene Food Pantry.

Soc et Tuum

Throughout Advent - St. James wants to make sure no one in Keene is sockless this winter. Bring good, warm, adult sized socks to add to our sock tree. More info is HERE

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The 4 Sundays of Advent: November 30, Dec 17,14,21

Sunday Worship at 9:30 followed by social hour. On the first Sunday of Advent, the liturgical ministers and lectors are meeting together to start the year on the same foot. This is a great opportunity for you to take one or both of these roles on as a new ministry - just join us.

The Longest Night, Monday, December 22

5:30pm - St. James is hosting the annual candlelight memorial service for those who died in the past year after experiencing homelessness. Sponsored by the Keene Homelessness Coalition with the help of Monadnock Interfaith Clergy. This year a candlelight procession from Hundred Nights to St. James will begin at 5pm. Come honor and remember those who can too easily be forgotten.

Blue Christmas, Thursday, December 18

7:30 pm - A candlelight service for those who are not feeling so jolly this year. More info is HERE

Keeping a Holy Advent at Home

There are a number of great resources from last year to check out to prepare for some spiritual practices for Advent at home. You can begin by reading this short but well written article on embarking on a Holy Advent. Then take a look HERE and HERE. A new resource from SSJE can be found HERE this year.

Looking ahead to Christmas

Christmas Eve, Dec 24

5 PM - A worship celebration with carols, the choir, the bell choir and brass!

Christmas Morning, Dec 25

10am - This is a small, quiet and simplified service for those who’d like to welcome Christmas morning in worship with others.

1st Sunday of Christmas - Dec 28

9:30 am - Continue the Christmas Reveling with a festive Christmas Lessons and Carols service

2nd Sunday of Christmas - January 4

Christmas Sweater Sunday with New Year Potluck Brunch

9:30 am - A second Sunday falls within the 12 days of Christmas this year! The celebration of Christmas continues during our Sunday morning Eucharist. Let’s plan on a New Year potluck brunch together following the service. Wear your Christmas sweater, tie, jewelry, hat - whatever you have - before it gets stored away for next year.