The Little Church Where You Belong

Founded in 1880, St. James of Jerusalem Episcopal Church – “The Little Church by the Sea” – is a lively, inclusive Anglo-Catholic parish in the heart of the historic district of Long Beach, New York. We are dedicated to the practice of catholic evangelism, celebrating the Liturgy and sharing the Sacraments. In our mission, we seek to be faithful to the exhortation of our patron, St. James the Just: “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.”

Thought for the week…

“A dead Christ I must do everything for; a living Christ does everything for me.”

― Andrew Murray

May Celebrations

Ava and Kaitlin Abramson (Baptism 5/5), Irma Smith (B 5/9), Helene Oliveira (B 5/18), Kayley Fleming Moore (B 5/23), Michael Canepa, Jr. (Baptism 5/23), Lois Craft (B 5/30), George Kemler (B 5/30), Moses Powell (B 5/30), Michael Harris (B 5/31)

B - Birthday          A – Anniversary          HB – Anniversary of Holy Baptism

Saints and Holy Days for May

St. Philip and St. James (5/1), Athanasius (5/2), Monnica of Hippo (5/4), Harriet Starr Cannon (5/7), Dame Julian of Norwich (5/8), Gregory of Nazianzus (5/9), Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (5/10),  Frances Perkins (5/13), The Martyrs of Sudan (5/16), William Hobart Hare (5/17), Dunstan (5/19), Alcuin (5/20), John Eliot (5/21), Nicolaus Copernicus and Johannes Kepler (5/23), Jackson Kemper (5/24). Bede the Venerable (5/25), Augustine of Canterbury (5/26), Bertha and Ethelbert (5/27), John Calvin (5/28), Joan of Arc (5/30), The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (5/31)

Dr. Denis Nicholson 1932-2013

Dr. Denis F. Nicholson

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Dr. Denis Nicholson passed from this life on March 20. Dr. Nicholson served as the organist and music director at St. James for three decades.

Survived by his wife Eleanor E. Loving father of Denis N., Peter A. and Ann E. Nicholson. Philip and Dori Nicholson, David and Belen Nicholson and John and Tracy Nicholson. Cherished grandfather of Karen, Julie Nicholson, Christina Trinidad, Joseph Gotay, Jason Gotay and Denis, David, Gregory and Catherine Nicholson and great grandfather of 5.

Visitation at Jordan Funeral Home
Saturday 2-4 & 7-9 pm

Visitation at St. Ignatius Martyr R.C. Church
Sunday 3-7 pm

Vigil for the Deceased, at St. Ignatius Martyr R.C. Church
Sunday 5 pm

Funeral Mass St. Ignatius Martyr R.C. Church
Monday 10:00 am

At a later date, his ashes will be interred  here at St James in the Garden of Gethsemane Columbarium.

Holy Week & Easter 2013

Wednesday, March 27, 7:30 pm 
Service of Tenebrae

Thursday, March 28, 7:30 pm
Maundy Thursday Liturgy & Altar of Repose

Friday, March 29, 7:30 pm
Good Friday Mass of the Presanctified

Saturday, March 30, 10 am
Holy Saturday Office

Saturday, March 30, 8 pm
Great Vigil of Easter

Sunday, March 31, 10 am
Easter Sunday

Parishioners Discover Wilderness Spirituality

Lenten Retreatants

On the weekend of March 1, nine of our parishioners shared time together on a special Lenten retreat at Little Portion Franciscan Friary in Mt. Sinai, NY. The retreat, facilitated by Br. Mark Gregory – a member of one of Fr. Chris’ former parishes –, focused on wilderness spirituality: finding God in and after desolation. Participants spent time in group conversation, private prayer, corporate worship and delicious simple meals with the Franciscan brothers.

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Chaplain Judith Mason

Lent 2013 – Schedule of Services

Ash Wednesday

February 13 at 7:30 am and 7:30 pm

Confessions will be heard in the hour after the morning service and in the hour before the evening service.

 

First Sunday of Lent

February 17, 8 & 10 am

The Way of the Cross

Friday, February 22 at 7:30 pm

Praying the Way of the Cross on the Ember Friday in Lent.

Lenten Retreat

Friday, March 1 to Sunday, March 3

Come with us on a special Lenten retreat for members of St. James, at Little Portion Friary, beginning on the night of Friday, March 1 and ending after Eucharist on Sunday, March 3. The fee is $185 and should be paid by Sunday, February 24. Little Portion is located in Mt. Sinai, near Port Jefferson. A sign up sheet is on the information table in the church or contact Fr. Chris directly.

Palm Sunday

Sunday, March 24 at 8 & 10 am

Sunday of the Passion, with the Procession of Palms at the 10 am service.

 

 

Mardi Gras Party 2013!

Mardi Gras

Tuesday, February 12
6:30-8 pm
in the Rectory (Fr. Chris’ house)

Come to the Rectory for a little taste of Mardi Gras on the last day before Lent! A fun evening with music, food (like Louisiana red beans and rice!) and two genuine King Cakes, flown in fresh from N’awlins. If you find the plastic baby doll in the King Cake, you get a prize! There won’t be a service, but bring along your palms from last year’s Palm Sunday. We’ll burn them in the fireplace to make ashes for the Ash Wednesday service the next day.

King Cakes

 

Blessing of Chalk 2013

It is traditional for the priest to bless chalk at the Sunday Mass nearest the Epiphany (January 6). Worshipers then use the chalk to mark a special inscription over their front doors, with candlelight and prayer.

The inscription this year is 20+C+M+B+13. The 20 & 13 signify the year (2013). The letters C, M & B stand for the Three Magi – Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar – and for Christus Mansionem Benedicat, Latin for “May Christ Bless this House.” The crosses (+++) represent the protection of the Precious Blood of Christ and the holiness of the Magi who adored the infant Jesus. The inscription is made above the front door, so that all who enter and depart this year may enjoy God’s blessing.

The Blessing of Chalk for Epiphanytide

Celebrant Our help is in the name of the Lord.
People Who made heaven and earth.
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.

Let us pray.

Bless +, O Lord God, this creature chalk, and let it be a help to your people. Grant that those who use it with faith in your most holy name, and with it inscribe on the doors of their homes the names of your saints, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, may through the aid of their intercession enjoy health in body and protection of soul; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epiphany Blessing at the Doorway

On Epiphany Day (January 6) or in the week following, go to the main entrance of your home. Light a candlle for the star that guided the Magi to the Christ Child. Use the blessed chalk to write 20+C+M+B+13 above the door, and other entrances if you like. Then say this prayer:

“Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only-begotten Son to the world by the guidance of a star. Bless this house and all who inhabit it. Fill us with the light of Christ, that our kindness to those who enter here be a reflection of your love towards all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Schedule of Christmas Services

Christmas Eve Solemn High Mass

Monday, December 24 at 7:30 pm

This beautiful and traditional nighttime service will be followed by a festive coffee hour upstairs. Please bring something to share!

Christmas Day Mass

Tuesday, December 25 at 9 am

Our more quiet Christmas morning service with music. Come welcome the Christ Child in all tranquility of heart.

First Sunday after Christmas Day

Sunday, December 30 at 8 & 10 am

Christmas is twelve whole days long. Come to church today and immerse yourself in the fullness of peace made possible through the Incarnation of the Word, Jesus Christ.

Feast of the Epiphany

Sunday, January 6 at 8 & 10 am

Today we celebrate the manifestation of Christ’s presence to the peoples of the world, represented by the Three Magi. This service ends with the Blessing of the Chalk, for the Epiphany marking of doorways at home.

Baptism of the Lord

Sunday, January 13 at 8 & 10 am

In this extraordinary service, the Church recalls Christ’s baptism in the Jordan and our baptismal incorporation into Him. At the 10 am service, we will also bless holy water using a special liturgy for the day.

Epiphany Home Blessings

February 3 – February 21
It is traditional for the parish priest to bless homes during Epiphanytide. If you would like Father Chris to bless your home, please contact him at frchris@stjameslongbeach.org.

Special Screening of Billy Crystal Movie

Billy Crystal and 20th Century Fox are giving Long Beach residents a wonderful early Christmas present: a special screening of Mr. Crystal’s new film “Parental Guidance” on Monday, December 10. Please see the attached invitation.

The film will be shown at the UA Lynbrook 6, 321 Merrick Road in Lynbrook. A shuttle service will be provided and Mr. Crystal will be there to greet us and introduce the fim.

Members of St. James have been specially invited to the 6:30 PM screening. If you want to attend, RSVP directly to parentalguidancersvp@fox.com. Four tickets per family.

Hope to see you there!

FULL INVITATION:

Billy Crystal would like to invite
you and your family  to join him at a special screening of


Monday, December 10th
6:30 PM

UA Lynbrook 6
321 Merrick Road
Lynbrook, NY

Please RSVP with your name and number of tickets (four tickets per family):
parentalguidancersvp@fox.com

This invitation is intended for Long Beach residents only please.

Shuttle buses will be provided to/from the theater from Long Beach.
Shuttle bus and event details available upon RSVP.

Old school grandfather Artie (Billy Crystal), who is accustomed to calling the shots, meets his match when he and his eager-to-please wife Diane (Bette Midler) agree to babysit their three grandkids when their type-A helicopter parents (Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott) go away for work.  But when 21st century problems collide with Artie and Diane’s old school methods of tough rules, lots of love and old-fashioned games, it’s learning to bend – and not holding your ground – that binds a family together.

This screening will be monitored for unauthorized recording. By attending, you agree not to bring cell phones, iPads, laptops, cameras, audio or video recording devices into the theatre and consent to a physical search of your belongings and person. Any attempted use of recording devices will result in your immediate removal from the theatre, forfeiture of the device, and may subject you to criminal and civil liability. Please allow additional time for heightened security. You can assist us by leaving all non-essential bags at home, in your office or in your vehicle. 20th Century Fox thanks you for your cooperation. Seating on a first come, first served basis. No one will be admitted after film begins.
THIS INVITATION IS NON-TRANSFERABLE
THIS FILM AS BEEN RATED PG

Thanksgiving Message

Dear St. James’ Family & Friends,

Thank you for your prayers and support for the ministry of St. James’ since Hurricane Sandy.

St. James’ has been immensely blessed in that none of our members suffered bodily harm during Hurricane Sandy. For this we are truly thankful. However, several families have been displaced from their homes and many have lost important belongings. And, of course, the emotional toll has been great. Remember today to pray for one another, for your parish family and the whole city of Long Beach.

When viewed against the backdrop of the city as a whole, the church’s property came through reasonably well. The basements of both the church and rectory were completely flooded, along with boilers, appliances, electrical panels, etc. But the church and living area of the rectory were completely undamaged, and somehow we didn’t lose a single shingle from the roof. This is a cause for thanksgiving. We are blessed indeed.

We continue to meet for 8 & 10 AM Eucharist as usual and we expect to have a reasonably normal Advent/Christmas. We will celebrate a Said Eucharist (Low Mass) at 10 AM until heat has been restored, which may be another week or two. In the meantime, bundle up and, most of all, bring warm hearts! I promise to keep my sermons short but fiery!

We will not have major fellowship events until the parish hall has been renovated. If we have heat in time, we will hold a less elaborate St. Nicholas Celebration on Saturday, December 8 at 5:30 PM with gifts for the children and light refreshments in the church.

I give thanks to God for you all and wish you a very happy Thanksgiving, rich in gratitude for the gifts of life, grace, love and plenty.

Grace and mercy,
Chris+

Oct. 27 – Not-so-scary Halloween Party!

October 26, 2012

We had an awesome Halloween Party! Here are some pictures! October 27 at 5 pm in the Parish Hall Come to St. James’ for some HALLOWEEN Fun, Food and Games! A party for kids, families and everyone, with ghoulish games, frightening food, creepy candy, goblin cakes (for gobblin’!) and pumpkins to decorate and take home! [...]

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Consecration Sunday on November 18!

October 26, 2012

You can place your reservation for the Celebration Luncheon here. Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with [...]

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Blessing of the Animals – October 7, 2012 – Feast of Saint Francis

September 21, 2012

St. Francis of Assisi, an Italian monk who died 783 years ago, may be the most celebrated Christian voice to affirm the moral worth of animals. According to stories, he often spoke of humans’ sacred relationship with other animals, and addressed those around him as “brother hare” or “my sisters, the birds.” (When he was [...]

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Father Robert Moran, Requiescat in Pace

September 7, 2012

It is with tremendous sadness that I must share the news that Fr. Bob Moran, a dear friend of St. James’ and Long Beach resident, passed away suddenly of a heart attack on Wednesday evening, August 29. His wife Dr. Ann McNeal was by his side. Fr. Bob had been assigned as Priest-in-Charge of St. [...]

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Movie Night: Soul Surfer – September 7

July 28, 2012

Family Movie Night Friday, September 7 7-9 pm Soul Surfer is the true story of young, teenage surfer girl who summons the strength to go back into the ocean after losing an arm in a shark attack. A story of faith and courage. In the parish hall. Refreshments provided.

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