Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. -BCP p826

In the latest issue of The Good News, our diocesan newspaper, Karin Hamilton, the editor, shared some insights into parishes doing mission work. In that article, others learned about the recent mission trip the Seabury Deanery took to share the Gospel, along with some labor, and good fellowship, with new brothers and sisters in Christ halfway around the world in Puyo, Ecuador. That article energized others to ask for more information (and even one parish) to ask for more information about mission opportunities.

The Deanery is already far ahead of last year in planning another trip or two to Ecuador- there's plenty of work still needed in Puyo. The Deanery wants to improve our relationship with parishioners of La Ascension, the parish in Puyo, and continue our work on La Finca, a 22-acre parcel owned by the Diocese of Central Ecuador in Puyo. Information is just now becoming available-the next trip is planned for July 17th to 28th. There will be an informational meeting held at St. James on Sunday, February 24th at I p.m. in the Parlor, for anyone interested in learning more. Deposits must then be received by March 9th, if we're to take advantage of advance-purchase airline tickets. As we found out last year,
there's something for everyone to do-so join the Deanery this year!

Read more at www.ecuadormission.org .

The Financial Assistance mission helps those who need one-time help for items like prescriptions, large gas or water bill, transportation home, or a pair of work boots.  Funding comes from our operating budget, from donations given to Fr. Michael at weddings and funerals, and from your donations. Financial Assistance is available by appointment.

The Food Mission is the most visible part of our ministry, and the one that gets the greatest use.  Often we can help people with non-perishable staples so that they can use their own cash for other problems.  In the winter, people often have larger demands made on their cash for medical, heating, clothing and other bills.  The flexibility that these staples provide is not only healthful and sustaining, it also helps our guests retain a stronger sense of independence and self-reliance.  For food doners, it is a way you can supplement your pledge to the essential community work of St James so that The Lord's Pantry can be a self-sustaining ministry... a negligible burden on the budget.

Our monthly ingathering occurs every 2nd Sunday, but we can always use your generous donations. Please consider donating any of the following "staples" for the bags that we distribute:
1 lb boxes of cereal, pasta, or crackers;
1 lb jars of pasta sause, green vegetables, pork & beans, fruit;
1 lb jars of peanut butter or jelly;
canned meat of fish,
canned soup (no broth please)

The Lord's Pantry is open Weekdays, 9:30 AM-12 noon.  

On the first Saturday of every month, 1200-1245, St James hosts a community meal, open and free to all who desire.  St James, together with several other churches, offer these meals on Saturdays when the New London Community Meal Center is closed.  In this way, the homeless, the working poor, families and others can have a healthy meal every day of the week. Typically, we host 100-150 people.

This ministry of St James Parish is coordinated by Marcia Pierce.  We are blessed to have the services of professional chef, Kevin Southerland, who does a masterful job preparing these delicious meals.

Marcia puts a great meal together each month on a shoestring budget.  Several organizations donate resources to The Community Meal:
·  Stop and Shop and Big Y donate bread and desserts
·  The United Way Food Center donates food
·  The Baldwin Fund provides a grant
·  Second Harvest provides resources
· And of course, the communicants at St James help with pledges, time, and talent.

 We need your help!  If you want to serve in this ministry, see Marci or Deacon Ellen.

 Saturday meals served by area churches include:
·  1st Saturday: St. James Episcopal Church, 76 Federal St.
·  2nd Saturday: First Congregational Church, 66 Union St.
·  3rd Saturday: Second Congregational Church, 45 Broad St.
·  4th Saturday: Prepared by Niantic Community Church, Served at United Methodist Church, 130 Broad St.
·  5th Saturday: All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, 60 Huntington St.

Here are other food and hunger links:
Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center
Connecticut Food Bank
America's Second Harvest—The Nation's Food Bank Network
Learn About Hunger in America
Feeding Children Better
Word Document with Comprehensive List of Food Resources in New London Area

St James hosts an emergency shelter for the homeless during the cold season.  The New London Grassroots Homeless Coalition administers the shelter together with volunteers from the community and from St James.  Our guests at the shelter are a part of our family, and it is our ministry to be able to offer them emergency shelter from harsh elements when they need it, and a chance to gather in safety with others for common time.  We have beds for up to 45 guests from 7:00pm until 7:00am.  Although we do not offer meals at the shelter, there is coffee and often snacks are brought in by the volunteers.

Ours is a mixed gender shelter with segregated quarters for men and women.  Regrettably, the shelter cannot take in families with children.  Ours is a "wet" shelter, in the sense that we will not turn away a person who is drunk or on drugs, but we neither permit substance abuse in the shelter nor do we offer moderated alcohol consumption. 

The causes and conditions of homelessness are not trivial to understand and our responses to it cannot be simple.  Many are faced with daunting life problems with few or no resources.  A few freely choose to live an outdoor lifestyle.  It is not necessarily a problem that has to be "solved" for an individual, but many need our help to survive, especially during the cold season.  

Learn more about Homelessness in Southeast Connecticut:
Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness

On the Third Sunday of the month, St James has a Healing Service at both the 8:00 and 10:00 am Holy Eucharist services.  A health minister will lay on hands and annoint you, praying for your health, or praying with you for someone else's.

Additionally,  a registered nurse runs a blood pressure clinic monthly on the 4th Sunday after each service.

Look for announcements for both of these ministries in the weekly bulletin and calendar.

Sue Chojnacki is heading up our effort this year (assisted by Rose Kydd and Ginny Kelly).  We provide sets for the heads, hands and necks of needy New London school children.  Look for the boxes in the Narthex and Parish Hall.  If you don’t have time to shop, they can do your shopping for you, just give us money and indicate it’s for “hats & mittens.”

Our 2006 drive delivered about 150 sets to local schools, the Covenant Shelter, and to the Head Start program based at St James.  Many youngsters will be warm this winter thanks to your generosity!

St James Quilters create the beautiful quilts that are provided to each child living at Covenant Shelter.  Do you know how to quilt or want to learn?

Covenant Shelter of New London is a partner program of the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut.  It provides temporary housing, three meals a day, case management and other support services to homeless individuals and single-parent families. 42 Jay Street, P.O. Box 1653, New London, CT 06320 (860) 443-0537

Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 7:00 pm in the parlor.

Episcopal Relief and Development Fund … is one aspect of Episcopal Church outreach—both in the United States (i.e., post-Hurricane Katrina) and around the world (Jerusalem, the broader Middle East, even Darfur in Sudan).

Your gifts to ERD go directly to support these vital ministries, and are administered by Episcopal or Anglican Bishops who are living in the midst of those troubles. Donations can be made directly to ERD (P.O. Box 12043, Newark NJ 07101), or to St. James, and “memo” it ERD.