ST. JAMES FOOD PANTRY needs for February: Please continue to support the Food Pantry. Specific needs are: canned chicken, canned fruit, spaghetti, cereal, peanut butter, grape jelly, canned tuna, beef stew, canned spaghetti sauce.

BREAD MINISTRY: The Bread Ministry table is located in the hall, behind Carson Hall, across from the nursery. Bread is available to take home, and all donations offset the cost of the ministry.

PARKING LOT EXPANSION: Our Trustees are at work on making our upper field (between the shed and New Hope Road) available for Sunday morning parking. If you are able, and willing, we invite you to park in this area, so that we may make more spaces available for those who need paved parking, and for our newcomers!

“OUR MENU HAS CHANGED”:  We are trying a new layout for the attendance sheets in the pew pads. Please note, at the top, visitors have space to sign their names and provide contact information. Members should sign their names at the bottom. Please circle the time of worship service you are attending.

BACKPACK BUDDIE PROGRAM: Be a food angel! Provide a weekend meal for a Fox Road Elementary child who might otherwise not have regular, nutritious meals when school is not in session. This is a weekly commitment from now through the first week in June.  Buy the items, place them in a tied grocery bag and bring the bag to the church by Tuesday at noon each week. Detailed information and the sign-up sheet are available on the Mission Bulletin Board. Call or email Mickey Strong for more information. 

WHAT IS THE BASKET OF BUBBLES MISSION?  St. James UMC has “Basket of Bubbles” which collects travel size shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotion, etc. to give to Urban Ministries for The Healing Place Shelter and the Helen Wright Center. These items are also given out, if requested, to those receiving food from our Food Pantry. When you travel, please bring your unopened hotel toiletries back to the collection baskets in the office lobby and the back of the sanctuary. We also accept regular size toiletries. St. James UMC is also a sponsor to Fox Road Elementary and they also are in need of toothpaste, floss, and toothbrushes for children. If you have any questions about this ministry please contact Linda Spain 876-5796 or linda@stjamesraleigh.org.

ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP/PANCAKE SUPPER: Our Ash Wednesday worship service, held on the first day of Lent as a call to discipleship and repentance, will take place this Wednesday at 7:00 pm. During the service, we will participate in the imposition of ashes, reminding us that we came from dust and to dust we shall return. We will share in a pancake and sausage supper before worship at 5:30 pm. This meal will be provided by the music department. Donations will be accepted.

CHURCHWIDE LUNCHEON: Please join us for a churchwide covered dish luncheon immediately following the 11:00 worship service on February 26, 2012. Bring your favorite dish and enjoy the fellowship of visitors, new members and all our St. James Church family in Carson Hall. We will have tables set up in the office to place your dish. Carson Hall will be set up for the luncheon following the Common Thread worship service.

GREETER TRAINING: There will be Greeter Training for all three worship services on Sunday, 2/26 at 7 pm in Carson Hall. Anyone interested in being a greeter is welcome to attend. If you are already a greeter and cannot come, please advise Peggy Biggers at biggers11@aol.com or 872-1800.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: We will hold VBS June 24-28 this summer, from 5:30 to 8:15 each evening! This year, VBS travels to Babylon, and our children ages 3-having completed the fifth grade are going to love every moment of the week! We are in the process now of recruiting storytellers, recreation leaders, and tribe leaders. Please see Deanna Cheatham for more information and to volunteer!

Three MealTrains have begun, one for Nancy White during her surgery recovery, one for Barbara Toler during her back injury recovery, and one for William Robertson during his surgery recovery. We will take meals to their homes twice a week from Feb 16 to Mar 8. Please use the following internet links to access MealTrain online and the calendar where you can sign up:
Barbara Toler is http://www.mealtrain.com/?id=mau124d47tvt
Nancy White is http://www.mealtrain.com/?id=mrjbtnhoppit
William Robertson is http://www.mealtrain.com/?id=mp7ce4aj0het
If you do not use the internet and want to help, please contact Helen McGee.