Worship

Service Schedule:

Sunday:
8:30 AM     Holy Eucharist Rite I
9:30 AM     Christian Education
10:30 AM   Holy Eucharist Rite II and Children’s Church

Wednesdays:
10:30 AM:  Bible study

Holy Week:
March 24 – Palm Sunday H.E. Rite I at 8:30 am  and HE Rite II at 10:30 am
March 27 – Stations of the Cross at 5:30 pm
March 28 – Maundy Thursday H.E. Rite II, foot washing, stripping the Altar 6:00 pm
March 29 – Liturgy of Good Friday 12:00 pm
March 30 – Easter Vigil followed by reception 7:30 pm
March 31 – Easter Day H.E. Rite II followed by Easter Egg hunt 10:30 am

Music at St. James

Music at St. James’ is an integral part of the worship experience and parish life.  Congregational, choral and organ music at the 10:30 Sunday service and seasonal feast days supports the appointed liturgical and lectionary themes and is based in the traditional Episcopal/Anglican liturgical and classical styles, using Hymnal 1982 and Wonder, Love and Praise.

Mrs. Joey Polk is organist and choirmaster at St. James’, serving in the part-time position since July of 2017. She plans the music for each service, rehearses and directs the Choir, and plays the organ for the weekly 10:30 Eucharist, as well as playing for most weddings and funerals.

The Choir, comprised of adult parishioners who volunteer their time and talent, provides choral music of various styles in addition to leading in the singing of hymns and service music each Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. service. Rehearsals are held weekly on Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m. and Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. with a streamlined summer schedule. Membership is open to adults and older teens. Anyone interested in singing should contact the organist-choirmaster, Mark Butler, for more information about joining the choir and the responsibilities and expectations of membership. Regular rehearsal attendance is expected for full participation.

Other musical expressions such as popular and folk-based musical styles are on occasion integrated into or take the place of the traditional musical style. Outdoor services may use bluegrass, blues, and jazz styles exclusively, often performed by St. James members and area musicians. In addition, instrumental musicians are used at times to supplement the traditional service and choral music.

 

Weddings

Christian marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God. In the Episcopal Church it is required that one, at least, of the parties must be a baptized Christian; that the ceremony be attested by at least two witnesses; and that the marriage conform to the laws of the State and the canons of this Church.

The St. James Parish Hall is available for wedding receptions. A wedding is a service of worship, and weddings at St. James are conducted in the manner set forth in The Book of Common Prayer. The use of the church for weddings is reserved for members of the parish. Members of other Episcopal congregations may request to have a wedding at St. James if there is good cause as to why it would be preferable to hold your wedding here rather than your local congregation. You are asked to contact the Rector to make your request and discuss your situation.

See the wedding guidelines for more details about the process of planning your wedding at St. James.

 

Baptism

Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble. Holy Baptism is appropriately administered within the Eucharist as the chief service on a Sunday or other feast.

Each candidate for Holy Baptism is to be sponsored by one or more baptized persons. Sponsors of adults and older children present their candidates and thereby signify their endorsement of the candidates and their intention to support them by prayer and example in their Christian life.

Sponsors of infants, commonly called godparents, present their candidates, make promises in their own names, and also take vows on behalf of their candidates. It is fitting that parents be included among the godparents of their own children. Parents and godparents are to be instructed in the meaning of Baptism, in their duties to help the new Christians grow in the knowledge and love of God, and in their responsibilities as members of Christ’s Church.

– From the Book of Common Prayer

Funerals

The burial rite of The Episcopal Church is an Easter liturgy. It is grounded in the resurrection and because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised. It is a joyful service of praise and thanksgiving based on our certainty that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

At the same time, we understand that grief is a very human and expected emotion at the time of death. As our Prayer Book counsels us, “The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn.”

Concerning the Service

  • The death of a member of the Church should be reported as soon as possible to, and arrangements for the funeral should be made in consultation with, the Rector.
  • Baptized Christians are properly buried from the church. The service should be held at a time when the congregation has an opportunity to be present.
  • The coffin (if there is a coffin) is to be closed before the service, and it remains closed thereafter.
  • It is appropriate that it be covered with a pall or other suitable covering.

Comfort from our Eucharistic Prayer
It is a right and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth through Jesus Christ our Lord; who rose victorious from the dead, and comforts us with the blessed hope of everlasting life. For to your faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not ended; and when our mortal body lies in death, there is prepared for us a dwelling place eternal in the heavens.

From Psalm 46:
God is our hope and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea.