New Visitors

St James is an open and affirming congregation of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. St. James welcomes all who come with a warm greeting and a bulletin for the service or a program for the activity. Ushers offer assistance to those who need more orientation to the services. Electronic hearing assistance is available in the areas designated. The church is handicapped accessible. The Eucharist is taken to those who for mobility reasons request communion in the pew. The Eucharist is celebrated at all Sunday and Thursday evening services. The times of services are posted on the parish sign, on the telephone answering message, in the bulletins and on the St. James website. Everyone is verbally invited and welcomed for fellowship and refreshments following each morning service.



Becoming God's People

Parish members worship together and attend to the mission of the Church by service to the greater community. Regular attendance at services is the usual practice for most members. When familiar faces aren't present we inquire, wondering if they are all right. When families return to the New London community for the summer, they are welcomed as the old friends they are. 

The same strong commitment to service to both congregation and community is demonstrated in the lives of St. James' members. A recent parish survey revealed that many parishioners participate in three to seven activities in support of mission life. Whether singing in the choir, serving in the Jumble Shoppe or Lord's Pantry, serving as readers, ushers, greeters or altar guild members, we find our calling and commit ourselves to God's work.

Worship Ministries

A range of activities in our worship time require participation and organization of our members.  Here is a list of the most common activities. All are invited to be involved in worship in one or more ways!

Readers - The lector assignments for Sunday worship include reading the lesson from the Old Testament, the psalm and the epistle and reading the Prayers of the People.

Altar Servers/Ministers of Communion lead the procession in and out of the altar area and assist the clergy in the duties of leading the parishioners in participation in prayer and the Eucharist including distributing the wine in disposable cups to recipients. One server is a part of every service.

Ushers make sure the bulletins are distributed at the doors to the church and the parish hall; unlock doors to the outside; welcome entrants and help answer any questions; count the attendance; bring up the offertory elements and take up the collection; manage the people coming up for communion; direct new members and visitors to the coffee hour in the parish hall; and clear the pews of any bulletins or prayer books left in the seats.

Worship Live Streaming and Recording takes place at the 10 AM sung service via Zoom and Youtube. A more comprehensive plan for cameras is in the works.

Health Minister - Healing prayer is offered to individuals monthly at Sunday Services. 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 anoint you, praying for your health, or praying with you for someone else's.

Altar Guild - It is the privilege of the members of the Altar Guild to prepare God’s home for those who wish to enter. From the solemnity of Lent and Good Friday to the exuberance of Christmas and Easter, our group supports one another in presenting the beloved public face of St James Church, cleaning, arranging, setting, changing, organizing and safeguarding the components of the altar area and the worship service.

The Choir is always looking to add new singers, whether you're a soprano, alto, tenor or base—it’s an important part of our worship. Rehearsals are on most Sundays, 11:45 - 12:45 PM.  For additional information about joining the choir, email Katherine Brighty at brightkat@snet.net.

Coffee Hour sign-up sheets are posted at the church entrances for volunteers to host coffee hours at either the 8 o'clock or 10 o'clock services.