There are many ways to love God, yourself and your neighbor in the St. James community. Here are some of them:
Ministries that serve our community
Grief Sharing Group
We have all experienced the loss of a loved one at some time in our life. It can be a devastating and very difficult time from which to recover. Grieving is a journey that often takes longer than one would anticipate. Here at St. James Episcopal Church, we have a grief support group that provides a warm, nurturing environment for those who experience loss. People who attend have proven to be tremendous support for each other. The group is self-administered, including sharing education materials and other tools we have found helpful to aid one another through this critical time. If you are experiencing grief or loss in your life, we invite you to join us—you will receive the benefit of friendship, support and love. We currently meet every Wednesday at 11 am. in the study at St. James Episcopal Church. However, if this time is inconvenient, consideration will be given to starting another group at a different time either in person or virtually. You can contact Rick McVoy .
Meals at Hundred Nights
People at St. James prepare a weekend meal for the residents of Hundred Nights Shelter every few weeks. And during the cold months, some of our members team up with members of Keene’s Ahavas Achim Synagogue, and go to Hundred Nights at 6am on a weekday morning to cook breakfast for those who live there and others coming in from the cold. If you’re interested in helping with dinners (year round), contact Lou-Anne Beauregard. If you’re interested in being a part of the breakfast crew during the colder seasons, contact Elsa Worth
Sewful Stitchers
A group of industrious sewers get together regularly to plan new sewing projects to help the wider community. They’ve made placemats for Meals on Wheels recipients, quilts for patients at the hospital on comfort care, special pillows for patients who’ve had mastectomies and a beautiful quilt each year to raise money for the Pride in Motion Camp (see the pride festival, below). They also organize an annual Sew-A-Thon that brings together those who know how to sew and many who do not to mass produce helpful sewn items for a group in need. If you love to sew and would like to connect with these enthusiastic sewers, contact Deb Ganley
St. James Prayer Shawl Knitters
Our knitters get together twice a month for knitting (or crocheting, or any handwork, really) and socializing. They create dozens of prayer shawls that are given to people who could use some comfort. They also make hats and mittens for those who need them locally. The prayer shawl knitters host a day long Knitting Retreat each year for anyone in the area that would like to spend the day knitting with other friendly knitters. If you’d like to find out more about this group, contact Diane Metell
Keene Pride Festival
St. James has had a table at the Keene Pride Festival since its founding. We provide a friendly, welcoming presence and some good cookies. We also raffle off a hand made quilt made by our Sewful Stitchers and colorful shawls and scarves made by our Prayer Shawl Group to raise funds for the Pride in Motion Camp at Keene State each summer for gender questioning middle schoolers. If you’d like to find a way to take part in our booth at the Pride Festival, contact Kathy Frick
Annual Cereal Fest
Each spring, we pull a uhaul up on our front lawn and collect boxes of cereal from our whole community to fill the shelves at “Feeding Tiny Tummies” in Keene, where cereal is their most popular and needed food. We put out lawn games and cereal snacks and hope people will enjoy stopping by to make a cereal donation. We also conduct a fundraiser in the fall for the good work of Tiny Tummies. If you’d like to get involved, contact Kathy Frick.
Soc Et Tuum
This annual sock drive at Christmas time yields hundreds of pairs of new, warm socks for those who need them. We donate socks to Monadnock Family Services, who distribute to those who need them. If you’d like to donate socks this winter, drop them off at our office during office hours in December (Tues-Fri 10-2) or at a Sunday service.
Ministries of Service in our Church
Liturgical Ministries
Our weekly worship is very lively at St. James and there are many ways to be a part of it. Shepherds greet people as they enter and direct people forward for communion. Liturgical ministers carry the cross, read the prayers, lead the psalm and assist at the communion table. Lectors read the weekly lessons from the lectern. The healing ministry team provides personal healing prayers for people at the service. The Eucharistic Visiting Team takes bread and wine out from the altar to someone who is homebound and cannot make it to church. The videographers use the church’s iPhone to stream the service to our facebook page each week. Our musicians in either the choir or the bell choir are really great and always welcome new members. Instrumentalists are also welcome to offer their musical gifts. The Altar Guild sets and clears the table before and after the service, and tends to our special vessels and cloths. The hospitality team makes coffee and makes sure there are snacks for our coffee and conversation time following the service. All these volunteers make our Sunday morning special and we welcome your participation to keep things lively. If you have questions or are interested in any of these ministries, contact Patrick in our office, who will direct you to the right person to connect with.
Church Leadership Ministries
Although they’re quiet in the background, The Property Team, the Finance Team and the Vestry all keep St. James moving forward in faith. Talk to Elsa if you have questions or interest in church leadership at St. James.
