Opportunities for Service and Growth

We take to heart the fact that Christ “came not to be served but to serve” and we believe that each of us, acting out of love, is called to minister to the needs of others. Click on the links below to learn more about the following opportunities. For details please contact the church office at stjames@rev.net.

St. James has something for everyone!

    Acolytes and Crucifers

    Youth and young men and women of St. James can express their dedication to God and participate in the liturgy as acolytes, crucifers, and servers at the altar. Crucifers bear the cross, acolytes light and extinguish the chancel candles and carry the torches, and altar servers assist the priest during church services.

    Altar Guild

    Members of the Altar Guild take charge of dressing the altar for all church services. Guild members seek to express their reverence for the altar by making it as beautiful as possible. They arrange the altar flowers, prepare the Eucharistic wine and wafers, polish the brass and silver, and wash and iron the linens. Following the service, they send the altar flowers to those who are sick and hospitalized.

    Christian Caregivers

    The Christian Caregivers group provides visits to those who are hospitalized and homebound. Their visits help maintain a sick parishioner’s connection to the church and its member’s loving concern for them. Lay Eucharistic visitors bring the Eucharist to the sick. If you or someone you know would like a visit, please contact the Christian Caregivers Group through the Rector at stjames@rev.net.

    Choir

    The St. James Choir is open to any adult or youth who wishes to join. The choir meets at 5:15 PM on Wednesday once a month. For information on joining, contact Andrew Cochran, Choir Director and Organist, at stjames@rev.net.

    Daughters of the King

    Click here for information on the Shepherdesses of the King chapter of St. James.

    Education and Nursery

    Religious education classes for young members ages three-years-old through high school meet at 11:15 AM during coffee hour.

    Nursery service is available for crib babies and toddlers during the 10 AM Sunday services and special services. New volunteers are always welcome!

    > More information on Christian Education

    Lay Readers

    Lay reading and serving the chalice are two liturgical activities which involve members of the congregation in the liturgy in special ways. Lay readers have the responsibility of reading the Old Testament and Epistle scripture lessons, and leading the prayers and psalms in the service. Chalicists help the Priest at the altar during the services of Holy Eucharist by administering the consecrated wine to members of the congregation. The Rector coordinates these participants.

    Little Church Social Club

    The Little Church Social Club (LCSC) is a longstanding and innovative outreach program for adults in the community who are challenged by mental health illness. Beginning in 1982, our parish volunteers began meeting with LCSC members for socializing, games, programs, music, and fellowship. One of our strongest projects, it is supported by a number of members, but always welcomes new volunteers. The LCSC meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of most months at 6:30 p.m.

    Newsletter

    The parish newsletter, The St. James Connection, is mailed to all members each month, containing news items about members, special programs and events, vestry notes, a message from the rector, and church schedules. A lively “Mailing Crew” is an important part of the production process and welcomes new volunteers.

    > Read The St. James Connection

    Outreach

    Williamson Road Ministerial Emergency Relief Fund: St. James partners with neighborhood churches in the Williamson Road area to provide emergency financial assistance and referral services to individuals and families in financial distress. Each of the participating churches is asked to make a financial commitment to this outreach program.

    Benevolence Sunday Offerings: Offerings are received for many worthwhile causes, local and global. Weekly gifts from Saints of James support such places as our local elementary school, Round Hill, as well as RAM House, the West End Center, Boys Home of Virginia, and many more local organizations. These offerings also support such worthwhile groups as the United Thank Offering (addressing the Episcopal Church’s Millennium Development Goals to alleviate human suffering), Feeding Southwest Virginia, and the Pastoral Counseling Center of the Roanoke Valley.

    South Sudanese Christian Fellowship: St. James has opened its doors to the South Sudanese community in Roanoke. South Sudanese Christians in the Roanoke valley enjoy a Sunday evening prayer service.

    Ushers & Coffee Hour

    The ushers at St. James welcome you as you enter the church, hand out bulletins, help newcomers find seats, and gather and present the offerings.

    Every Sunday after the 10:00 a.m. service, the adults gather in the parish hall to enjoy coffee, light refreshments, and great fellowship. Many members of St. James join together as teams and take turns hosting coffee hour. It is a time of conversation, fellowship, and relaxation while the children are in Sunday School.

    Other Ways to Serve Our Neighbors and Our Church

    Little Free Pantry

    little-free-pantryDonations to our pantry of non-perishable foods, personal care items, and paper goods are welcomed; you can come at your convenience and stock the pantry. Any extra food will go in the shopping cart in the Narthex. Our pantry is meant to help people supplement their groceries for a day or two; it is not intended to be their shopping market for the week. So add a few items to the pantry and the rest to the St. James grocery cart. 

     

     

    Little Free Library

    little-libraryBorrow a book, or donate gently used books to our free library!

    School Supplies for Round Hill Elementary

    backpack-school-supplies

    Our friends at our local school, Round Hill Elementary, are in need of our support through supplies. Donations of small bottles of water are requested along with school supplies of pencils, lined notebook paper, glue sticks, crayons etc. If you wish to donate to help our neighborhood school, items can be dropped off in the kitchen of St. James. Each of the Churches in the Williamson Road Congregations in Action Churches (6 of us) are asked to donate 200 bottles a week.

    Grow and Learn

    My Way of Love: A Spiritual Growth Journey

    The national Episcopal Church is offering, My Way of Love, a personal guide for the spiritual journey, providing coaching to help individuals grow along the seven practices for Jesus-centered life: turn, learn, pray, worship, bless, go, and rest. It begins with a brief online survey which assesses where you are in your spiritual life. We call it the Spiritual Life Inventory. You are invited to grow spiritually during this Pandemic time, through individual development, or in a small group. If you wish to be part of a small group at St. James, contact the Rector. For more information about My Way of Love and to participate, Click Here.

    Our Building is More Than a Church

    Did you know that St. James opens its doors to our neighbors in many ways, including:

    Welcoming Recovery Groups:  St. James opens our Parish Hall for weekly meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous with meetings gathering 5 days a week.  We have supported those with Substance Use Disorder for over 35 years by providing space for meetings and hospitality in a very warm partnership of space sharing.  Our Parish Hall was an especially important place of solace and support during the early Covid19 pandemic when social distancing was practiced, along with Covid19 protocols.