This Sunday's Announcements

Silent Night from the choir loft, Christmas Eve service 2025.

This Sunday, January 11:
Budget Presentation with Q&A at 9 a.m.
We will be offering a detailed budget presentation with the opportunity for question and answer on Sunday, January 11 at 9 a.m. in the Whiteman Room. We hope you will join us. 

Epiphany Blessing of Chalk and of Homes:
Today we will bless chalk, and you are invited to take some to chalk your homes. It has been a tradition in various Catholic churches to bless chalk at Epiphanytide and use the chalk for the blessing of homes for the New Year.  Use the chalk to bless your home in this way:

Write above or alongside the door:  “20 + C + M + B + 26” - 20 and 26 represent the year, and C, M, and B represent both the phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat, the latin words meaning “May Christ Bless this Home” (as well as representing the traditional names of the magi who visited Jesus, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar), or for a simpler approach, you may simply write a cross, “+”.  

As you are writing, pray one or both of the following prayers:

Loving God, visit our home. May there be no evil here. May your holy angels dwell here.  And keep all who live here in peace. May you bless us evermore. Amen. 

Loving God, may all who come to our home this year rejoice to find the love of Christ here; and may we seek and serve, in everyone we meet, that same Jesus who is your incarnate Word, now and forever. Amen.

Coffee & Conversation at 11:30 a.m. & Seeking Volunteers
Join us for coffee and conversations in the Whiteman Room & Cloisters on the following Sundays: January 11; February 1; March 8; April 12; May 3; May 24 (Pentecost); June 7 (Bishop Visitation). We are also seeking volunteers to support this ministry. If you have expressed interest in helping in the past or would like to now, please let Allyson Michael know by sending her an email with your contact information at [email protected]. 

Last Call - Ministry Reports
Last call on ministry teams annual reports, submitted HERE. Questions? Please contact our Parish Administrator at [email protected]. 

Pledge Notice - Missions Offering:
This Sunday we invite those whose finances allow, to consider making a special donation to 
our parish's mission and outreach efforts.  For those who use pledge envelopes, please use 
the ‘Missions Offering’ envelope; otherwise please donate on our website or by check, noting 
‘Missions Offering’ in the memo line. Thank you for your faithful generosity.

This week, January 12-17:
    January 14 - Midweek Worship

• 6 a.m. Morning Prayer on YouTube
  
• 10 a.m. Eucharist - Reflecting on Richard Meux Benson, Priest and Vowed Religious, 1915 and Charles Gore, Bishop and Vowed Religious, 1932 (readings) in Chapel; then coffee hour. 
  

January 14 - Interfaith Council: Cultivating Connections
The Interfaith Council of Franklin County invites all to join them for the second "Cultivating Connections" program on Wednesday, January 14 at 6:00 PM here at SsJA in the Whiteman Room. The program will start with a potluck meal at 6:00 and then we will split into small groups to have facilitated discussions to build connections and community around our values and faith to each other. For more information, ask Julie Orvis at [email protected].

Next Sunday, January 18:
Children’s Chapel at 10 a.m.
We invite children to gather for singing, stories, and crafts during the first half of Sunday services: Jan 4, 18; Feb 1, 22; Mar 1, 15, 29; Apr 12, 26; May 3, 17.  If you have questions or interest in volunteering to help with Children's Chapel, please contact Cara Hins at [email protected].

Coming Soon
January 19 at 10 a.m. - Bending Toward Justice 2026
The Diocese of Western Massachusetts Social Justice Commission invites you to a festive Eucharist at Christ Church Cathedral to celebrate the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Please join us in-person or via livestream on Monday, January 19th at 10:00 a.m.  In an early video, Bishop Fisher challenged us to consider MLK Jr. Day as a "day on" rather than a "day off." Many choose to model faith in action to honor the man who was a prophet of God's  dream and suffered incarceration and for the Gospel.  In preparation for this day, we ask you to commit to action, service or advocacy during the week before or after January 19 - MLK Jr. Day. You can share your commitment via the online form below. Our commitments will be printed out and brought to the altar at the offertory - a tangible symbol of our collective "day on" and our rejection of all that is unjust in our time.  The form lists ten possibilities for action, service, or advocacy. You can check one or as many as you feel able to do. You can also add your own local idea, if you prefer. In-person or online, be empowered by the Eucharist to move beyond the cathedral walls as living stones.  Commitment Form.

January 25 at 8:30 a.m. Coffee & Conversation Prior to Annual Meeting
Join us for coffee and conversation in the Whiteman Room prior to the beginning of the Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 25 at 8:30 a.m. 

January 25 at 9 a.m. - Community Sunday & Annual Meeting
Our Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 25 at 9 a.m. in the Whiteman Room. We anticipate offering a hybrid meeting where folks will be able to attend in-person or join the meeting by Zoom (details coming soon). Coffee and light refreshments will be provided. We anticipate transitioning into our worship at approximately 10:30 a.m. 
Please note, we do not plan to print any hard copies of the report as it will be made available on our website.  If you do not have access to a computer and need a printed copy, please email the office. Please note the review of the budget will be briefer than in previous years, as we are providing a Budget Presentation with Q&A on January 11 at 9 a.m. in the Whiteman Room. 

January 29 at 8 a.m. - Morning Prayer with Native Saints
The Province 1 Indigenous Peoples Justice Network invites you to celebrate Native saints. Register to receive Zoom access for the online gathering on January 29th at 8 am EST. Morning Prayer honoring Liliʻuokalani of Hawai’i will be led by Allison Peaceful Deer Miller. As each memorial approaches, a new registration code will be made available through Province 1.

Notices
Whitney’s Pantry needs volunteers!  
Our essentials pantry ministry provides free products such as toilet paper, shampoo and toothpaste during the Second Helpings meal on the last Monday of each month.  Volunteers set up the tables, assist guests in selecting what they need, and then clear up afterward.  It is neither difficult nor time-consuming, and interacting with our guests is an enjoyable way to participate in the community-building ministry of Saints James and Andrew.  Peter Massa ([email protected] or (413) 519-7244) would be delighted to answer your questions or to include you in the schedule of volunteers!


NEW Contact Information for Rector
A new year brings new contact information. Rev. Heather is shifting from a personal email to [email protected] for church related communications. This shift will take a couple of months, and she’ll continue to check the other email in the meantime.  
(413) 773-3925 Office*  | (413) 399-6529 Home*
 *Urgent Pastoral Emergencies*: please contact the office to be in touch with our answering service and be connected to the appropriate person.  

Paper Bags Collected for Second Helpings
The Second Helpings feeding ministry will continue to collect paper shopping bags in the bin outside the church office. Since we do not need as many now that Sunday Sandwiches has ended, please do not feel you need to request paper bags if you would normally utilize reusable bags. However, if you regularly get paper bags, we are happy to reuse them.

---