We are so pleased to introduce to you, Paige Carpenter, our new Administrator for Music and the Arts at St. James! Paige has a background in English and publication and previously worked for the Arkansas Arts

Center. You may have seen her performing on stage in many pre-Covid productions but she is just as comfortable building sets in the workshop backstage. When Paige isn’t keeping the Music Department running smoothly, she and her husband, Tony, have a lovely house they are renovating and they enjoy backpacking and other wilderness adventures.

THECONNECTIONSt. James United Methodist Church September 2021

After 18 long months, St. James is offering on-campus classes and ministry once again! Wednesday Night Live will begin on September 22 for the entire family. All programs will be 6:00-7:30 PM.

Brother Ben’s Bible Study is on John Wesley and Grace. We will be reading through Wesley’s sermons and getting a better understanding of what it means to be a United Methodist and a Wesleyan. This class will be on campus, with a hybrid online option. Group will meet in the Worship Center.

Rev. Jessica Durand will lead a class called “Practice Makes Perfect(er), a study of Christian practices for spiritual development. We will be looking at inward, outward, and corporate practices - prayer, meditation, fasting, etc. This class will begin on September 29 and meet in room M212 of the church.

Childcare is provided each Wednesday Night in the Worship Center Playroom. Registration is required for childcare but not for classes. Register for childcare on the church website or by emailing Sarah Owens, Nursery Coordinator at sarah@stjameslr.org.

The St. James Music Department is pleased to introduce our new Director of Children‘s and Youth Music, Mrs. Cassie Bunting! Cassie has been a member of St. James for almost two years now and

comes to the Music Department with years of touring professionally, as well as experience in elementary, middle and high school education. She is a professional percussionist with training in voice and choir and has a passion for reaching kids with the love of Christ through the music we practice and offer. Cassie is married to Justin Bunting who is head of Percussion Studies at UA Little Rock, and they have a one year old daughter, Evelyn, who’s favorite thing right now is singing and dancing with the Sesame Street gang, especially Elmo!

We are thrilled to have Cassie join the St. James staff starting August 15th. Be on the lookout for information on the start up of children’s and youth music, right after Labor Day! Welcome, Cassie!

Music department welcomes new staff

CASSIE BUNTING

PAIGE CARPENTER

It’s Happening! It’s Really Happening!

In Memory of:• Carolyn Bracy by Darlene Dean, Jan & Vaughn McQuary,

Mary Lou Billingsley, Brian Hardin, Kenda Treadway, Dale & John Cook, Tracey Cline-Pew (Arkansas Association of Defense Counsel), and Ted, Marietta, Marylee, & Laurelyn Wills.

• Lew & Carolyn Bracy by Michael McWilliams.

• Alice Dale by Alice Ann Munson.

• Joyce Faulkner by Janelle Doyel.

• Mike Fuller by Carol Freebairn, Sandy & Bill Harrison, Jennifer & Randy Coleman, Dorothy Davis, Teresa & Bill Bodie, and Linda & Don Bacon.

• Marty Hammer by Gladys & Gene Satterfield, Linda & Don Bacon, and Nicci Tiner.

• Joyce Stovall by Jane & William Arthurs, and Cathryn & Robert Stovall.

In Honor of:• Debbie Wilson by Pat Racop.

To the Thompson Scholarship Fund:• In memory of Mary McGlauflin by Martha Lynn & Felix

Thompson.

• In honor of Virginia Tiemann by Martha Lynn & Felix Thompson.

To New Challenges Sunday School Class:• In memory of Cleve Jones by Marci Smith, Ardith & James

Otten, Kearney Dietz, Carol Ann & Larry McAdams, Beverly Milford, Claudia Beverly, Sandra Steed, Betty Breashears, Lolly & Ross Honea, Tisha & David Miller, Idalene & Bill Lyford, Mary & Robert Kerr, Judy & David Bash, Karen Huber, Noveta & Clovis Richardson, Pat Racop, Suzanne & Steve Moss, Donna & John Wyrick, Jackie & Tom Lorenzo, and Liz & Bruce Cochran.

To the Endowment Fund:• In memory of Cleve Jones by Linda Derden, and Jackie

Murphy.

• In memory of Mike Fuller by Lolly & Ross Honea.

To the Birthday Endowment Fund:• In honor of honor of Susie Branon by Ardith Helms.

• In honor of Sue Frank by Susie Branon.

To Fiser-Christie Endowment Fund:• In honor of Claudia Beverly, Luana Bracy, Marci Smith, and

Debbie Fiser by Dee & Don Riggin.

To Stone Soup:• In memory of Marty Hammer by Lori Llewellyn and Delores

Ehrlich.

This year’s stewardship campaign will be one of vision, looking back at the history of what God has done through St. James to lead us where we are today and of gazing into the future of how Jesus will be made known here. We will be focusing on how God has strengthened and formed our beloved Church, and looking to what God is calling us to as we come out of a global pandemic. Rev. Ben will be writing Sunday School/Small Group lessons to coincide with the series that are available for any class who would like to use them. Each Sunday we will be hearing from members of St. James whose lives have been changed by God, and who have given their time, energy, and resources to grow the church. This new series starts Sunday, October 3.

October Sermon Series:

Strength for Today, Hope for Tomorrow is the theme of the October sermon series. Join Kim Anderson as she leads an online discussion each Monday evening at 7:00 PM reflecting on the sermon and additional materials written by Rev. Crismon. This will be held by Zoom. To receive the link, either register online or contact Kim Anderson (kim@stjameslr.org)

Patsy & Jo Ed SmithBecky & Bob HowethHeather & Jerry Ladd

Robin MickelBrooks Mickel

ST. JAMES WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

Commemorative Gifts through September 8, 2021

Online Learning OpportunitiesThis fall St. James is offering two online small groups. Thursdays LIVE with Rev. Ben. Every Thursday Rev. Ben leads

a Bible Study from 12:00-12:30 on the St. James Facebook page. Have commitment at that time, you can watch or re-watch anytime on the Facebook page. Current study is the book of Exodus.

Every fall, St. James attempts to locate church members for whom we have lost contact. The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church provides guidance on how remove individuals for those that have no contact information or activity within the church. Individuals must be listed publicly for two consecutive years in an effort to locate and contact the individuals. After the second year, if no contact information is received, the Charge Conference may vote to remove them from membership.

We need your help in locating these individuals! If you have an email address, physical address, or phone number for any individual below, please send that information to Teresa Bodie (teresa@stjameslr.org).

Adams, AndyBrunell, Amanda Brunell, JohnBrunell, KimberlyClyburn, StacieCulp, Nathan

Daugherty, JimDaugherty, KarenDeacon, Adam Davis Deacon, DanDurkin, LeslieGagliardo, Anica

Harden, StaceyHarmon, MatthewJohnson, AngieJones, AnnaJones, DavidJones, Kay

Lawrence, Conner Matthew, JoeMatthews, Catherine Pittman, LauraScott, MikeVogler, Allie

Wilcox, Grady,Wilcox, JacobWilcox, JanetWilcox, JessicaWilcox, Kelly

Searching for the lost sheep

FIRST READING 2021

Auffert, SueAuffert, JackieBarron, HunterBarron, MattBartholomew, RosieBooe, BrandonBooe, MargieBryant II, JimBurton, HeatherBurton III, PaulByrne, Travis

Carland, ChrisCarleson, SteveCarleson, KyleeCarterh, CatherineChapman, DonnaCoburn, GaryDahlstrom, SherryDees, ChuckDees, CindyForeman, TyForeman, Jeanelle

Harrell, BobHarrison, BarryHarrison, SuzanneHastings, DavidHillis, AimeeImboden, BelindaJohnson, GailJones, GregJones, CammyKemp, CatherineLayton, Joan

Lee, SusanLenzen, KathyLowe, MarthaLuten, BetsyMann, ErinMartin, MatthewMartins, Joshua Martens, Michael Mason, RileyMay, GeneMay, Angelia

Miller, BillMorelock, KeithNeill, VirginiaPerry, LindaPierce, AnnShelton, DwayneTanner, KatyTuberville, JanWhisenhung, KempWhittier, Margie

SECOND READING 2021

PERIODICALS

9/17/21 Volume 45 - Issue 8 The Connection (USPS 015-584) is published monthly by

St. James United Methodist Church, 321 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, AR 72212-3199.

Editor: Debbie Kelly (501) 217-6700. Periodicals Postage is PAID at Little Rock, AR. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to The Connection,

321 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, AR 72212-3199.

Worship with Us....

321 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, AR 72212 • (501) 217-6700 • www.StJamesLR.org

Sundays• 8:30 Traditional (in-person only) • 9:30 Contemporary & 11:00 Traditional Service (in-person & livestream)

On the radio: 88.7FM available on the church campusOn our website: www.StJamesLR.org - click on “Media” dropdown to Livestream

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/stjameslr

IN REMEMBRANCE Jean Spicer Silvoso

(mother of Karen Silvoso)

David Milford (brother of Ralph Milford)

Grace Ann Boudreaux (daughter of Ann Boudreaux)

Roy Rogers (brother of Nancy Smith)

Carolyn Bracy (widow of Lew Bracy)

Marty Hammer

Mary McGlauflin

Rev. John Alston (father of Gayle Bohannon,

grandfather of Spencer Bohannon)

Randy Rankin (brother of Lana Parker)

Wade Jones Sr. (father of David Jones,

grandfather of Anna Jones)

Ann Gay Black (mother of Rhea Middleton, grandmother of Lindsey &

Lauren Middleton)

Alice Dale (mother of Charlotte Fiser)

Billie Ann Dishongh (sister-in-law of Sandra Karcher)

BIRTHS Daniel Ace Rand

(son of Brandee & Max Rand, grandson of Mary Ann & Tim Rand)

Finley Marc McElroy (son of Lauren & Dr. David McElroy,

brother of Graeme & Campbell McElroy, grandson of Debbie & Mike Frost)

Thomas Joseph Lawrence (son of Jennifer & Tyler Lawrence,

grandson of Janet & Joe McDowell)