Tuesday, February 21
6:30-8 pm
in the Parish Hall

Come for a taste of Mardi Gras on the last day before the start of Lent! A fun evening for children, families and everyone, with games, food (like Jambalaya!) 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 to make ashes for the Ash Wednesday service the next day.

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.

On February 3, many Anglo-Catholic churches celebrate the feast day of St. Blaise, a 4th century Armenian bishop and martyr. Among the miracles attributed to him before his death was the healing of a boy who was choking. Since the 8th century, St. Blaise has been venerated as the patron of those who suffer from diseases of the throat. On St. Blaise’s Day, the church offers prayers for protection from these and other illnesses.

The prayers are offered in a special way. A priest takes two candles blessed on Candlemas (Feast of the Presentation, fitting them together in the form of a cross, and applies them under the chin of the person to be blessed and says:

“Through the intercession of blessed Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God free you from all afflictions of the throat, every defect or sin of speech and every other evil and malady: In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Here at St. James’, we offer this blessing at the end of the main service on the Sunday preceding the Feast of the Presentation. To enlarge the idea of afflictions of the throat, Father Chris has added the phrase “every defect and sin of speech” to the traditional blessing.

Ash Wednesday

February 22 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.

Votive Mass

Friday, February 24 at 7:30 pm

This Mass will be offered for the repose of the souls of those who have died in Christ.

First Sunday of Lent

February 26, 8 & 10 am

The Great Litany will be sung at the 10 am service.

The Way of the Cross

Friday, March 2 at 7:30 pm

Praying the Stations on the Ember Friday in Lent.

The Annunciation of Our Lord

Sunday, March 25 at 8 & 10 am

The principal Mass will be followed by the Stations of the Cross.

"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!

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 God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes.

Our congregation’s finance committee has selected the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program as a way to teach the biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving in our stewardship education emphasis this year.

New Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. New Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?”

During morning worship on Consecration Sunday, we are asking our attendees and members to make their financial commitments to our church’s outreach, benevolent, and educational ministries in this community and around the world.

Every attendee and member who completes an Estimate of Giving Card does so voluntarily as part of morning worship on Consecration Sunday. We urge people to attend who might feel strongly opposed to completing a card. Everything is done in such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card.

We will do no home solicitation to ask people to complete cards. During morning worship our guest leader will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, climaxed by members making their commitments as a confidential act of worship.

We will encourage participation in Consecration Sunday events through the Consecration Sunday team and governing board members. Since we will make no follow-up visits to ask people to complete their cards, we will make every effort to inform, inspire, and commit everyone to attend Consecration Sunday worship.

Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events.

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.

October 29 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! Movies include “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and halloween cartoon classics.

Kids: wear a costume and bring a friend!

Adults: bring small gifts for trick or treat prizes.