The Procession of Palms about to enter the church, singing "All glory, laud and honor"
News
Nicky Fader teams up with the Easter Bunny to make a special delivery to the Diocese!
The parish made 94 Easter baskets for Episcopal Community Services this year! Wow!
The baskets will be given to underprivileged children and seniors throughout Long Island. Thank you to everyone who donated supplies, made baskets and took charge of delivery.
St. James Parish Family 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
At this important yearly meeting, communicants of St. James in good standing – convening as the parish corporation – gathered to conduct essential business and elect new members to the vestry. Among the most important topics of discussion were planned capital improvements to the parish facilities, including a new heating/cooling system and renovations to the parish hall, kitchen and bathrooms. Ms. Karin Bailey and Dr. Donna Gaines were also elected to the vestry.
A pancake brunch followed in the parish hall, and worshipers had the opportunity to receive the Blessing of Throats in anticipation of the Feast of St. Blaise.
"O, who loves Nicholas the saintly?"
On Dec. 3, 2011, we enjoyed our annual and much anticipated St. Nicholas’ Family Day Celebration! This was a special service for children and families to both learn about and celebrate St. Nicholas. Fr. Chris shared a homily with the children about St. Nicholas, who generously helped those in need, the hungry, and the homeless – often without revealing his identity.
The service concluded with the hymn, “O, who loves Nicholas the Saintly”, and then a surprise visit from St. Nicholas himself! Wearing his traditional and authentic Christmas outfit, St. Nick met with the children and distributed Christmas presents to all the good girls and boys. (Luckily, all were good and received gifts). We then enjoyed a lavish festive supper in the undercroft with a mouth-watering buffet of home-made dishes and desserts.
Many thanks to all who helped decorate and prepare and serve the delicious food for this celebration.
You can find photos of the celebration here.
Molly & Seamus Hennessy meet St. Nicholas
Margie and Don Fraser receive plaque in their honor
On November 13, 2011 the parish honored Don and Margie Fraser for their 40+ years of devoted service to St. James.
Donald and Margie were married here by Fr. Marlin Bowman in 1973 and raised their two sons – David and Daniel – in the parish. They have in countless ways supported St. James with steadfast love. Without their faith for its future, the doors of this church would not be open today.
By unanimous vote of the vestry and with the clergy concurring, they have been given the title “elders of the parish,” in perpetuity.
We thank God for Don and Margie and bless them in the on-going ministry at St. James!
Saturday, November 19, 2-3:30 pm
Have you or a loved one fought unsuccessfully to stop smoking? Quitting doesn’t have to be a struggle!
Join Valerie Horvath and learn a way to stop smoking for good. In the parish hall.
Offered in concert with the Magnolia Institute of Healing and Wellness
Our 2011 Not-So-Scary Halloween Party brought 50+ kids and adults to St. James’ for food, fun and games.
You can find the photo gallery by clicking here.
Special thanks to: Nicky Fader, Amy Kuna, Helene “Nana” Oliviera, Helene and Stephen Oppedisano, and Moses Powell and Jason Blumenthal.
Our Gesthemane Garden and Columbarium has been featured in Long Beach Patch. Have a look at “A Peek inside a ‘Hidden Treasure of Long Beach’”!
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 especially tired or achey, he also called his body “Brother Donkey”!)
In honor of his feast day which takes place this week, we join with churches around the world in offering a Blessing of the Animals at 4 pm on October 2. Bring your dogs, cats, hamsters, ferrets, parrots, parakeets, canaries, lizards, chameleons, garden snakes and other friendly pets to this special service of blessing.
Sunday, October 2, 4 pm in the Gesthamene Garden. In case of rain, the service will be held in the church.
Miraculously – and we mean that! – St. James’ weathered Hurricane Irene without any flooding or damage to the church or rectory. The extent of property damage was the loss of a small shade tree in the garden. Deo gratias!
