All About Us

Welcome to St. James' Episcopal Church

All About Us

St. James the Greater

Two of the twelve apostles were named James. St. James the Greater is the brother of the apostle St. John and son of Zebedee and Mary Salome. He is "the Greater" because he was called to the apostolate earlier than St. James the Less, the "Brother of Jesus" who led the Christians of Jerusalem until that city's destruction in 70 AD. A tradition in late antiquity held that the apostles divided up the world into territories to be evangelized, with Spain falling to St. James. In the ninth century a Galician monk announced that a star had led him to a field where he found the remains of the saint. This "field of the star" became the city of Compostela, one of the most important medieval pilgrimage destinations.

The scallop shell is a symbol of St. James, the Greater, our patron saint. There are two versions of the legend surrounding the use of this shell as symbolic of St. James. One legend claims that after James' death, his disciples shipped his body to the Iberian Peninsula to be buried in what is now Santiago. Off the coast of Spain a heavy storm hit the ship, and the body was lost to the ocean. After some time, however, the body washed ashore undamaged, covered in scallops.

The second legend recounts that after James' death his body was mysteriously transported by a ship with no crew back to the Iberian Peninsula to be buried in what is now Santiago. As James' ship approached land, a wedding was taking place on the shore. The young bridegroom was on horseback, and on seeing the ship approaching, his horse got spooked, and the horse and rider plunged into the sea. Through miraculous intervention, the horse and rider emerged from the water alive, covered in sea-shells.

Welcome
We are glad to have each worshiper among us and encourage you to be here on a regular basis. Thank you for your presence. Be sure to sign our guest register in the narthex. For families, the area opposite the choir (the transcept) has been furnished especially for those with infants and small children.

Communion
All baptized Christians who truly believe that Christ is present in the Sacrament of Holy Communion are welcome at the Lord's Table, and are invited to receive communion.

To recieve communion, come to the rail at the front of the church and kneel or stand. You may eat the bread when it is given to you and sip from the cup or you may hold the bread and dip it in the communion wine.

Foyer Groups

NEW FOYERS GROUPS
TO FORM IN THE FALL

Foyers Groups are a fun and easy way for members of our parish to meet for a meal on a regular and informal basis for purely social reasons - to get to know members with whom we might not otherwise interact, to strengthen the bonds of community, and to encourage our common interest in St. James. There is no agenda or plan other than to have casual fellowship and friendly meal. Groups are made up of singles, couples, young people , old people, longtime members and newcomers. We particularly wish to welcome new church members into Foyers Groups.

Does this sound interesting to you? Do you want to learn more about Foyers Groups? If so, continue to read your Sunday bulletin and the parish newsletter for more information and a special invitation to join one of the groups that will form in the fall.

Church History

St. James, A History

Church Leadership

The Vestry
The Vestry members along with the rector as their presiding officer, are leaders of the parish and trustees of the parish resources (ie finances, property and buildings). They are also spiritual leaders who are committed to building up the Body of Christ. The Vestry, an elected body, is made up of confirmed members of the church, (18 yoa or older) who exemplify members in good standing by their presence and financial commitment.

Vestry Meetings are open to all members of the Parish. You are invited to listen and have voice when a resolution is discussed. If you wish to address the Vestry with a concern or proposal, please contact either the Senior Ward, Sharon Richards by the Sunday preceding the meeting to be placed on the agenda.

Please note the vestry minutes are posted in the Parish Hall and a few copies are available in the back of the church.

Church Buildings & Grounds

Help Us Remember! There is a check list on the bulletin board in the kitchen. If you see items needed in the kitchen or bathrooms or in church, please check them off. Each month items noted on the list will be purchased. There is scrap paper beside the check list for any notes of other concerns you may have about our buildings and grounds.

Keeping our buildings clean and inviting is one of many ways to welcome people to St. James.

Saving Gracie

Our Amazing Gracie...Is HOME!!!!!
This is Gracie White, daughter of Jimmy & Sarah (Kelly) White. To stay updated on her progress or to get information on her condition, please click on her picture to be redirected to her website.

A fund has been started for Gracie...Please contact the church office or check back here later for additional information.