PARISH GROUPS
Bible Study
Bible studies, book studies and instructional evenings to help members and seekers to grow in Christian knowledge and faith are offered in series of four to six weeks during Advent and Lent, and at other times, monthly. Please check our weekly bulletins for the latest offerings, or contact the parish office.
Men's fellowship
As a unique opportunity for men to gather, discuss issues from a Christian point of view and pray together, we invite men to a monthly meeting at 7 pm on the last Tuesday of each month. We use the lower level meeting room adjacent to the Good Shepherd Hall. All conversations are confidential.
Parish Council
At each annual Vestry meeting (held in February or March), a Vestry committee called the Parish Council is established. The membership consists of the Rector, the Wardens, Lay Members of Synod, and other members selected by the congregation. At the first meeting, a Chair and Secretary are elected. The duties of Parish Council are outlined in the Diocesan Regulations. Some of these duties include assisting Rector in Christian education, and helping Wardens prepare an annual budget for the vestry meeting. Parish Council meets once per month (September to June, except February), usually on the third Tuesday at 7 pm. If you would like to learn more about the Parish Council at St. James, please contact the Parish Priest.
Parish Guild
Everyone who attends St. James is a member of the Parish Guild. The group offers hospitality to parishioners and community members through a variety of activities and events. Some of the events are Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner, Vestry lunch, Fish Fry, Muffin Mania, funeral luncheons, Spring New-to-You Sale, and Christmas Bazaar. Whether you are able to attend meetings or not, there are lots of ways you can help. While our ministry of hospitality raises funds for the parish, the members of the Parish Guild also enjoy great fellowship at each event. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month from September to June (except February) at 1:30 pm in the Anna Wilson Room. For more information, please contact the parish office.
Pastoral Care Team
Pastoral Care is the ministry of listening. The Pastoral Care Team brings the memory of what they have learned through their emotional experiences into their practice of empathic listening in pastoral care. This requires listening to each person’s feelings and offering creative responses. The team practices this skill among themselves each month when they meet; always trying to make responses more accurate, more appropriate and helpful to those we visit. The team meets on the first Thursday morning of each month (September to June) at 10 am. For more information, please contact the Parish Priest.
Sunday Morning Breakfast
On the third Sunday of every month from September to May, the breakfast cooks prepare and serve a delicious hot breakfast in the Good Shepherd Hall. Breakfast is served between the two Sunday morning services, usually from about 9 to 9:30 am. If you would like to help with the breakfast, please contact the parish office.
Wool Gatherers
A group of congregation members meet to share their interest in creating with yarn. Items are knitted and crocheted for the annual bazaar, and prayer shawls are made for those who may be challenged by life's circumstances. We have contributed knitted and crocheted items to Children's Aid and Lanark County Interval House. The group meets at 1:30 pm on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, except during the summer. Whether you want to knit for the bazaar or just for yourself, we'd be glad to have you join us. For those knitting for the bazaar, we are happy to provide you with patterns, yarn, needles and expertise if needed. For more information, please contact the parish office.
Worship Planning Group
A group of members from the parish family meet about four times a year to look ahead in faith and creatively plan worship services to be offered in the upcoming season. We also look back to assess the pattern and content of worship services in the previous season so that we can better serve people's worship needs, and be faithful and intentional in our worship planning for those seasons when they next come around. If you would like to learn more about the Worship Planning Group, please contact the Parish Priest.