About Us

St. James is a community which warmly invites and welcomes others regardless of their faith background. Nationally, 60% of adult members of the Episcopal Church have their roots in some other Christian tradition before having found a home in the Episcopal Church! We welcome you to be amongst us any Sunday morning, and to participate as fully as you wish in our service, even to receive Holy Communion.

We do welcome you to any and all of our services or activities listed on this Web site and we encourage you to get in contact with us through our phone number, address, website, or to just stop by the office if we can assist you in any way.

St. James Church welcomes families. We have a comfortable space geared for children, outfitted with carpet and pillows,  allowing crawling and sprawling by children.  This is provided in the back of the church. We hope that this special space will allow children and parents to be comfortable while they worship. Parents and young children are encouraged to use this space during the worship service.

May God richly bless you in your spiritual journey, and may God bless us all with peace in our homes and abroad in 2008!

Parish Directory

St. James Episcopal Church

Vestry

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Coffee Hour Hosts

The Ministry of Hospitality is an important one. If you are interested in helping with Sunday coffee hours, please call the parish office.

The Feast of Jonathan Daniels - Martyr

Over the past few years, we’ve asked for, and received, special permission to honor the person and witness of Jonathan Daniels on the Sunday in August which is closest to August 14^th, the day when the rest of the church celebrates his memory and work. We do so because St. James Keene is Jonathan’s home parish and we want to make the celebration accessible to as many people as possible, thus not on a weekday.

U.T.O.

The United Thank Offering is a collection that has been taken for over a hundred years. It has grown from less than $100 to into the millions. The money collected in parishes such as St. James goes around this country and around the globe to build schools, hospitals, churches, and to support programs in them.

In years past, the United Thank Offering has been taken each year in the fall, occurring unfortunately at the same time St. James is conducting our pledge drive and talking about the Companions in Jubilee. In an effort to separate each of these important ministries, there will be a collection this year on Pentecost instead of in the fall. Not only does this make some practical sense, but it also allows us to celebrate and participate in the wider Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion of which we are a part. You will find the blue U.T.O. envelope at the back of the church.

Resource Room

What is the resource room? Well, it’s a little like a library, except we keep the church’s A-V equipment in there, and eventually you might even find a rocking chair and crib. Take a look. It’s in the Undercroft near the music room. There are books to read to children, stories for children to read to themselves, puzzles and games. Do you ever get tired of your children watching mindless cartoons? Try borrowing one of our videos. Do you want a spiritual lift? Chances are you’ll find a book or magazine which can help do just that. Remember, it’s air conditioned and it’s free (and to return what you borrow).

Altar Flowers

The chart listing donors for altar flowers for the year 2008 has been posted in the hallway outside the Sacristy. Would those parishioners who have indicated they wish to have flowers on the altar on a specific date each year, please check to see if their wishes have been shown correctly. All questions concerning the giving of flowers should be referred to Melissa Herman.  Please do not contact the parish secretary.

If you wish to give flowers for a specific Sunday for this year, please write your name on the appropriate line. There is no limit to the number of donors for any one Sunday, so don’t hesitate to enter yours even if there is already a name noted on that date.

A reminder is sent to all donors on or about the 15th of the preceding month, confirming the date, the occasion being commemorated and applicable names.  A consolidated list is provided to the office at the beginning of the month for inclusion in the weekly Order of Service. If there is a last minute request, please call Melissa Herman.

While there is no minimum contribution, the present cost of the flowers is $43.00. Funds collected in excess of the cost of the flowers provide the Altar Guild with the monies used to purchase linens, vestments, and repairs as required. If special flowers are desired, arrangements can be made for the donor to work directly with the florist in the ordering and paying for such flowers.

Reminder: there are no flowers during Lent and during Advent; there are greens only. For Easter and Christmas, special notices are inserted in the Order of Service and in our newsletter, The Prophet, so that the entire congregation may participate in the adornment of the Church.  - Melissa Herman

Links

Diocese of NH Web Site

Visit the Episcopal Church of The United States

Take a virtual tour of the Washington National Cathedral

Visit the website of Keene, NH

Trinity Wall Street

St. James Church School Information

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