St. James has two worship services on Sundays, at 8 and 10 a.m. in the sanctuary, a contemporary worship service on Thursdays in our Hallam Chapel at 5 p.m., and a virtual Compline prayer service on Monday evenings at 8.
The 8 a.m. service on Sundays is a spoken in-person only service.
The 10 a.m. service is a sung in-person and virtual service with choir. It has Zoom and YouTube connections and is also recorded and posted to our YouTube channel.
The Zoom connections to the 10 a.m. service are:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89357969444?pwd=REdjU09FcmhkRzFPUUdIcjBGTjN5dz09
Meeting ID: 893 5796 9444
Passcode: 578386
By Phone: 1 929 205 6099
To call from out of the U.S.:https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcRK06nGWL
To see the 10 a.m. service on YouTube live or at any time, visit our YouTube channel here. Closed captioning is available on YouTube.
Compline (Zoom only) is offered on Monday evenings at 8 p.m. To join the Compline Prayer Service, click here.
Meeting ID: 858 5779 1597 Passcode: 021996 By phone: 1 312 626 6799
What To Expect When You Come to St. James
Whatever your religious background and however you have come to be here, welcome to St. James Episcopal Church!
The entire service, including hymns and prayers, is printed in the bulletin. The songs and prayers are taken from two books you will find in the pew: the red Book of Common Prayer (referred to as BCP in the bulletin) and the blue Hymnal. If you find it difficult to follow the service, please ask someone near you for assistance. After a few services, it will become easier. Standing, sitting, or kneeling for various parts of the service is a matter only of custom, and you should feel free to assume whatever posture is most helpful to you.
All are welcome to receive Holy Communion, also called Eucharist. For communion, please walk to the altar rail in front of the church, taking a small cup at the table for receiving wine. Stand or kneel as you can. The priest will place the bread in your outstretched hands; the chalice bearer will then pour wine into your cup. A gluten-free option is available. If you prefer a blessing instead of communion, please signal your desire by crossing your arms across your chest.
We are delighted that you are thinking about joining us for worship, and we and hope you stay after for coffee and fellowship.
New Visitors
St James is an open and affirming congregation of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. 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. It is celebrated at all Sunday and Thursday evening services.
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 reach out. We welcome summer residents and vacationers alike.
Commitment to both congregation and community is demonstrated in the lives of our members. Many parishioners participate in multiple activities: whether singing in the choir, helping 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
Here are some of the ways congregants contribute to services:
Readers (also called lectors): The assignments for Sunday worship include reading lessons from the Old Testament, psalms, the New Testament Epistle and the Prayers of the People.
Altar Servers/Ministers of Communion: assist the clergy in the duties of leading the parishioners in participation in prayer and the Eucharist, including distributing the wine.
Ushers: distribute bulletins at the doors to the church and the parish hall; unlock doors to the outside; welcome entrants; count attendance; take up the collection and manage the people coming up for communion, among other tasks.
Live Streaming and Recording: manage the camera and video recording at the 10 a.m. service via Zoom and Youtube.
Health Ministers: offer healing prayers to individuals monthly at both morning services on the third Sunday of the month. A health minister will lay on hands and anoint you, praying for your health, or praying with you for someone else's.
Altar Guild: prepares the altar by cleaning, arranging, setting, changing, organizing and safeguarding thecomponents of the altar area, including special presentations for Lent, Good Friday, Christmas and Easter.
Choir: new singers are always welcome, whether you're a soprano, alto, tenor or base. Rehearsals are on Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. Email Katherine Brighty at brightkat@snet.net for more information.
Bell Choir: a new ministry this year, the bell choir rehearses in the sanctuary after the 10 AM Sunday service from noon until 1 p.m. The bell choir plays four to five times a year, starting with Advent, then Christmas, Lent, Palm Sunday and Easter or Pentecost. No prior experience is needed, just interest, curiosity, and a willingness to learn. For more information email Music Director Jason Largent at largentj74@gmail.com.
Coffee Hour Hosts: prepare coffee and provide and serve other beverages and snacks for fellowship time after services. Sign-up sheets for volunteers are posted in the parish hall kitchen..
