What We Do
"Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17
We give glory to God in many ways. When we worship together there are many roles of leadership, from singing in the pews to helping serve at the altar. Following Sunday worship, we seek fellowship with our brothers and sisters both within our church doors and in our larger community.
Worship
"Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100:2-3
Our worship at St. James is generally Holy Eucharist Rite II, which starts with prayers, readings, and an affirmation of faith. After the Gospel reading, the priest shares a message that makes the scripture relevant to our daily lives. After thanking God for our gifts, we share bread and wine together at God’s table and go out into the world to serve in Christ’s name.
Our 8:00 am service lasts about 45 minutes and does not have music. Attendees are a close-knit but welcoming group who appreciate the more quiet and contemplative nature of the service.
The congregation joins the St. James Choir in offering music in worship to God at the 10:00 am service, which generally ends around 11:15. Our music at St. James emphasizes the traditional but draws from a range of sources. Our regular service music includes songs from the 1989 Hymnal, Life Every Voice and Sing II (an African-American Hymnal), and Taize meditations.
Visitors to both services are always welcome! We love it when people join us, for a time or for a lifetime, on our walk with God.
Our 8:00 am service lasts about 45 minutes and does not have music. Attendees are a close-knit but welcoming group who appreciate the more quiet and contemplative nature of the service.
The congregation joins the St. James Choir in offering music in worship to God at the 10:00 am service, which generally ends around 11:15. Our music at St. James emphasizes the traditional but draws from a range of sources. Our regular service music includes songs from the 1989 Hymnal, Life Every Voice and Sing II (an African-American Hymnal), and Taize meditations.
Visitors to both services are always welcome! We love it when people join us, for a time or for a lifetime, on our walk with God.
Outreach
“Open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world around us.” 1979 Book of Common Prayer
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A commitment to outreach is in our DNA at St. James. We have an active Outreach Committee that meets regularly to discuss the charitable needs of our faith family, our community, the Diocese, and the world.
Our primary focus is on serving the needs of those in Louisa County, and to that end we do things such as provide book bags and school supplies to the elementary and middle school, support local families with Thanksgiving Baskets, and adopt “Angel Families” at Christmas. We strongly support other agencies who are working in Louisa as well--SARA (sexual assault resource agency), SHE (shelter for help in an emergency), 4-H Camp, Louisa Resource Council, and ACE (Adult Community Education). |
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Community Life
"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Acts 2:42
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The Community Life Ministry organizes fellowship events that build friendship and community. We host a monthly Simply Supper fellowship meal, inviting parishioners to stop in after their day and share a meal with their brother and sisters at St. James. Over the years we’ve held Shrine Mont retreats, Super Bowl parties, picnics at Lake Anna, barbecues in the church yard, and a trip to a Richmond Squirrel’s minor league baseball game. Community Life events are family events and ALL members of the St. James family and their guests are welcome. |
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Episcopal Church Women (ECW)
“She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.” Proverbs 31:20
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The Episcopal Church Women [ECW] at St. James supports fellowship among women in our church and outreach to our larger community and Diocese. Many Episcopalians say that women are the backbone of the church, and the women of St. James are no exception!
The ECW at St. James is an active group of women who take part in a wide variety of activities. Here is a sampling: Members contribute to the welcoming atmosphere of St. James by hosting church receptions and women's events for the entire community, maintaining the churchyard, and decorating for Christmas. They participate in outreach by organizing nursing home parties, making prayer quilts, and organizing bake sales to raise funds to support the needs of St. James and our community. |
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All women of St. James are invited to attend the ECW meetings. Most meetings take place on Sundays, and specific times and dates can be found on the interactive calendar.
The Men of St. James
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Serena B. Miller
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The Men of Saint James is a ministry that fosters and encourages Christian Fellowship in our congregation and our community. The men’s group sponsors regular breakfasts featuring a guest speaker on topics of interest to our
community. The breakfasts are held at 8 a.m. on the 2nd Saturday of the month (March through June and September through December) in the Parish Hall at the church. Everyone is welcome, most particularly the women in our community! The men’s group also plays an active role is supporting our church and our larger community. They raise money throughout the year, culminating in their large White Elephant sale at the St. James Annual Fall Festival. The men’s group uses the funds they raise to support our church in numerous ways from books for the Lenten book study to new furniture for the youth room. The also make donations to several community service organizations. |
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The Men of St. James always welcome anyone who would like to serve with them, including many women! Please contact Chuck Grutzius or the church office to join them in their endeavors.
Pastoral Care
"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood." Acts 20:28
The care of our community falls in the hands of all believers. It starts with the prayers and presence of our priest and pastor. However, its support and growth continues with the help and work of countless others.
During the summer of 2019, the Compassionate Care Team was formed at St. James to enhance the pastoral care capacity of our church community, which has traditionally shown such care for both its own members and members of the community at large. Training through the Community of Hope International, an organization that uses Benedictine spirituality to create communities that serve others through compassionate listening, team members serve the St. James community and its surrounding neighbors in the following ways:
Casserole Ministry: Distributing casseroles to those in need of a quick and easy to fix homecooked meal. These meals are supplied through parishioner volunteers.
Chauffeur Ministry: Offering or arranging rides for people in need of an escort to doctor appointments, church, etc.
Correspondence Ministry: Sending cards to those in need of comfort, encouragement, or a bit of cheer, whatever the circumstances.
Lay Eucharistic Ministry: Taking communion to those who cannot come to church to receive it.
Visitation Ministry: Visiting those in need of a compassionate listening presence, whether due to illness, loss, or any other circumstance.
Prayer: Perhaps the most important aspect of the Compassionate Care Team’s ministry, members join the congregation in praying for parishioners, friends, family members, and members of the community who have been added to the St. James prayer list.
The Compassionate Care Team meets monthly, usually on Monday mornings in the Parish hall. If you are interested in participating in any of these ministries or know a person in need of any of the above ministries, including prayer requests, please contact the church office at 540-967-1665 or [email protected].
During the summer of 2019, the Compassionate Care Team was formed at St. James to enhance the pastoral care capacity of our church community, which has traditionally shown such care for both its own members and members of the community at large. Training through the Community of Hope International, an organization that uses Benedictine spirituality to create communities that serve others through compassionate listening, team members serve the St. James community and its surrounding neighbors in the following ways:
Casserole Ministry: Distributing casseroles to those in need of a quick and easy to fix homecooked meal. These meals are supplied through parishioner volunteers.
Chauffeur Ministry: Offering or arranging rides for people in need of an escort to doctor appointments, church, etc.
Correspondence Ministry: Sending cards to those in need of comfort, encouragement, or a bit of cheer, whatever the circumstances.
Lay Eucharistic Ministry: Taking communion to those who cannot come to church to receive it.
Visitation Ministry: Visiting those in need of a compassionate listening presence, whether due to illness, loss, or any other circumstance.
Prayer: Perhaps the most important aspect of the Compassionate Care Team’s ministry, members join the congregation in praying for parishioners, friends, family members, and members of the community who have been added to the St. James prayer list.
The Compassionate Care Team meets monthly, usually on Monday mornings in the Parish hall. If you are interested in participating in any of these ministries or know a person in need of any of the above ministries, including prayer requests, please contact the church office at 540-967-1665 or [email protected].