News

Holy Week Services

Holy Week Worship: You are invited to join members of the United Church from across the Northeast Avalon for our Holy Week Worships.

Wesley United Church will hold a 7:30 p.m. worship on Holy Monday (April 14) and Holy Tuesday (April 15).

Cowan Heights United Church will host Holy Wednesday (April 16) and Maundy Thursday (April 17) worships at 7:30 p.m. The preacher on Maundy Thursday will be Rev. Miriam Bowlby.

Gower Street United Church will host a Good Friday Worship at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 18. Following the worship service at 2:00 p.m., Gower Street will also host a Good Friday Prayer Walk. Following the walk, there will be coffee and community time at Gower Street.

St. James United Church will host a Good Friday service at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 18 and will also host an Easter Vigil at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 19. Rev. Kathy Brett will be the guest preacher on Saturday.

St. James United Church Easter Service with Communion at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 20.

Centering Prayer: Online on Thursdays at 12:15PM

Centering Prayer: Thursdays online at 12:15. Please click the link below:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82667792442?pwd=AMc6XzwxdKVpDcpiGIbRQoUHnXbhw0.1

Meeting ID: 826 6779 2442
Passcode: 401894

CBC Radio Story on St. James United Church

Click Here for the CBC Radio Story

The Story begins at the 29 minute mark. (Please note, the program is in French)

Silent Vigils for Peace

Silent Vigils for Peace, Wednesday, December 11 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm:

Beginning on Wednesday, December 11, St. James will be hosting a monthly silent vigil for peace. Given the many conflicts in our world, especially as we enter the second year of the war between Israel and Hamas, we all need a place to just sit together in prayer.

This is to be a no-taking-sides event, and so we ask people not to bring signs, or wear clothes with slogans, or to engage in conversation about one issue or another. This is a place of silent solidarity with all the people who are suffering because of our addiction to aggression and violence, seen especially in the bloodshed and destruction in Gaza, in the ongoing captivity of hostages from Israel, in war and violence in other places in our world. Let’s come together and prayerfully hold the world in love and a desire for peace.

Alternative Worship Services

Alternative Worship Services:

In addition to our Sunday morning worship service, there are a number of other opportunities to gather for prayer and reflection at St. James United Church.

First and Third Sunday of the month at 7:30 pm: Inside-OUT

This time of reflection and discussion is unapologetically 2SLGBTQI+ focused, a space for people who identify as Queer to explore spirituality without having to censor themselves. This service is open to people of all faith traditions and none. It concludes with a time of socializing.

First Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm: Taizé Prayer

Based on the prayer tradition of the interchurch monastery in Taizé, France that is frequented by young people from all over the world, this reflective service uses chants, readings and periods of silence. The music is sung in many languages, repeating simple phrases from the Psalms and other Bible readings.

Second Saturday at 5:30 pm: Tapestry

Beginning with a potluck at 5:30 pm, this service celebrates the strands that make us who we are in terms of faith, experience, and identity. Based on a theme, the service makes use of popular music as its “hymnbook”. Participants are invited to bring a text or other media that represents the theme. Time is given for individual and shared reflection.

Fourth Sunday: Wild Light Spiritual Oasis (3 pm, locations vary – Generally the fourth Sunday of the month with some variation based on seasons and weather.)

This outdoor experience is not church outside but a time to seek connection with God in nature, often with a time of individual “wandering”, following an initial gathering as a group. Locations are chosen based on the time of year and participants are asked to dress for the weather.

God’s Love is for All – A Message from First Dawn Eastern Edge Regional Council

Dear Members of Regional Council,
With hate-motivated acts of violence on the raise and with Thursday’s hate-motived stabbing in a course on gender issues at the University of Waterloo, it reminds us that we need to be open and vocal that God’s love is for all.
With that in mind we would like to share this video that was released this week. We encourage you to share the video as widely as possible. Below is an introductory paragraph to the video along with the link.

How does God feel about Queer People? The 2SLGBTQ Clergy steering committee asked ministers from denominations all over Canada to find out. Here’s what they said: God loves Queer People. The idea that all Canadian churches are hostile to the queer community is simply false, as these ministers and Moderators of the major denominations make clear. So, what can you do? Contact your local politicians and let them know you do not condone hatred against queer people. Share it on social media and post this video to your church website. Let the world know that God is love, and God loves people of all sexualities and genders.

Video link

Prayer
We take a breath today God, wondering when the hate will turn to love, when fear will turn to acceptance. We remember the professor and the two students who were stabbed during their gender studies class at the University of Waterloo may you surround them with your healing love. We pray for those in the class who witnessed the violence. Help us to be advocates of peace and justice and to listen as people speak their truth.
Help us God to boldly share your love, acceptance, understanding and grace for all.
Amen

Leona Laundry
First Dawn Eastern Edge Regional Council

Church Office Hours

Effective on Monday, December 5th the office hours will be 8:30AM to 1:30PM Tuesday to Friday.

Due to this change, the deadline for announcements, dedications, and donations is now Wednesday at 9 AM.

Items received after this time will be included in the following weeks’ bulletin.

St. James United Church paints main entrance stairs in colours of Progressive Pride Flag

In a display of solidary with the 2SLGBTQ+ community, St. James United Church has painted the stairs to their main entrance the colour of the Progressive Pride Flag.

To learn more about Affirm United, please visit: affirmunited.ause.ca

Update on Mask Wearing

St. James United Church Council is pleased to advise that we will no longer require the wearing of masks within our premises.

We encourage those using our premises to consider masking on a personal level and will fully support their decision. We also remind everyone of the importance of Physical Distancing and hand sanitizing as a precautionary measure against many viruses.

Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation through all the changes and restrictions as a result of the pandemic.

Let us move forward together to embrace our new normal.

Welcome to our new Office Administrator!

We are pleased to welcome Stephanie Harnum as the new Office Administrator at St. James. Stephanie has a strong background in office administration and comes to us with much enthusiasm. We are sure she will be warmly welcomed in this position by the congregation and you are encouraged to visit the office to meet her in person.

Our Office hours are from 8:30 am – 1:30 pm, Tuesday to Friday.