Saint James Episcopal Church

Thank you to team captain Bruce Nickles and the 27 Saint James Harriers who ran, walked and rode in a stroller for the 2021 YWCA of Lancaster's Race Against Racism! Here are a few of the photos sent in:

You will remember our Saint James volunteers working on this Lancaster Habitat for Humanity house a few different times over the last year! When we partner with other organizations and communities of faith we can accomplish infinitely more than we can ask for or imagine. Well done! Remember Denny and his daughters in your prayers as they prepare to move in.

German bearded iris (Iris germanica) in the foreground and a view of the apse on a perfect spring day. Iris have long been a symbol of the passion and resurrection of Christ. Photo: Stephanie Shaw

It's First Friday, so join us for Compline tonight at 9 PM online (saintjameslancaster.org/livestream) or in person at the corner of Duke and Orange. Let the ancient prayers wash over you as they are chanted by candlelight by Fr. David and two cantors. Tonight's service closes with the 12th century prayer seen here, the Regina Caeli: "Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia; for He whom thou was chosen to bear, alleluia; has risen as He said, alleluia; pray for us to God, alleluia."

Happy New Year! Join us for a beautiful archived New Year's Compline from 2019--sung and chanted by our Compline Choir under the direction of William Wright. It's available to view tonight or any time you like at the link below. Just a reminder that we won't host our usual nightly Zoom Compline this evening since it's First Friday. Nightly Zoom Compline returns tomorrow evening, Saturday, Jan. 2.

Contemplative moment before service. Thinking about scriptures for today and how they they point to "praising God with our entire being," and "the eternity of God." Feel free to list in the comments how we can pray for you today or who/what we can lift up in our prayers and thanksgivings. In the Spirit of Comfort,... Mtr Shayna +

The last day of our2020 Saint James Advent Calendarbrings us... FR. DAVID, THEO & CORDELIA This year we give thanks for the gift of a home. The Christmas readings tell us that the Holy Family struggled to find shelter in Bethlehem. As we end 2020 we are more aware than ever of the daily struggles of many families in this country to maintain a home. As a family we have been blessed by living in the rectory these past 12 years. We rejoice that part of the Countless Gifts of... Love Capital Campaign includes its renovation. A renewed rectory for our family is a sign of everyone at Saint James ministering together in the city of Lancaster. Merry Christmas! #countlessgifts #episcopalchurch #episcopal #adventcalendar #advent2020 #parishlife

Draw nearer to the manger and the mystery of the Nativity in Saint James' exquisite Festival of Lessons and Carols. This glorious service of scripture, virtual choir and soloists is set before the magnificent chancel creche and the magical illuminated scenes in our churchyard. Special thanks to our youth lectors Phil Norris, Theo Moyse-Peck and David Del Terzo; to our director of music Dr. William Wright and organist Michael Good; to regional theater star Seth G. Antes and GRAMMY award-winning clarinetist Doris Hall-Gulati. Available at any time at the link below.

Day 23 of our 2020 Saint James Advent Calendar brings us... LISA GROFF The saving grace for me during this pandemic has been having Compline every night that I can turn to to calm myself and feel God‘s presence before sleep. I have been blessed by Fr. David introducing this to me back in March when the storm of this pandemic made me very uncertain and fearful. Saint James has been a blessing with all the programs that have been available virtually. I feel very lucky to be i...n community with parishioners from afar but in reach every night. #countlessgifts #episcopalchurch #episcopal #adventcalendar #advent2020 #parishlife

Day 12 of our2020 Saint James Advent Calendarbrings us.... GINJR ROBINSON I am grateful for my faith, my family & friends and my health especially during the pandemic. I am more aware of the gifts we missed this year. Jack and I had a terribly quiet and tidy Thanksgiving missing a couch full of kids, grandkids, noise, sticky faces and hugs.... My faith sustains me. During this difficult time Saint James as kept me drawn to my faith by providing connections to church, Father David, Mother Shayna and our parishioners. I am grateful to begin many of my mornings with Zoom Contemplative Prayer and end each day with a peaceful Zoom Compline. How lucky I am to Zoom daily with so many fellow faithful friends, both new and old, at Saint James! #countlessgifts #episcopalchurch #episcopal #adventcalendar #advent2020 #parishlife

This Saturday! Come down and see all the magnificent decorations and lights at Saint James and learn something new through the eyes of Mary this Advent. Click below for more information on this free event.

Day 22 of our 2020 Saint James Advent Calendar brings us... RICH & LOUISE KONRATH During this Advent season, we feel blessed by connections with our Saint James community. The virtual Sunday services are uplifting and bring peace, and a walk through the festively decorated churchyard is always a delight. [Louise:] Personally, I am so grateful for the Saint James Mindful Yoga group which has been meeting on Zoom every week for these many months. Our yoga practice helps us stay... healthy in mind, body, and spirit. We are sustained in these times by the small pleasures that greet us each day. Life is a gift! #countlessgifts #episcopalchurch #episcopal #adventcalendar #advent2020 #parishlife #mindfulyoga

Seeking a place to call home for fellowship and worship? Curious about Saint James Episcopal Church and The Urban Well? Come and see.... Register for an Inquirer's Class. https://www.saintjameslancaster.org/about/inquiry-classes/.

Day 11 of ourSaint James 2020 Advent Calendarbrings us... FR. GLENN MILLER I've been asked to pick justone giftright now to reflect on, and so I happily choose the gift of my new position at Saint James. Throughout the last two decades of serving in institutional executive calls to ministry, it's always been important for me to also have a place to exercise my priesthood, which is so much at the core of who I am. That's included mostly interim assignments. Until now. Th...e Spirit has clearly been at work, bringing me first to Lancaster at St. John's in 2018, then into a beautiful friendship with Fr. David, and now to this extraordinary parish at the place I get to call my spiritual home. And it happened right in the midst of 2020 - the year we all think of as being about loss - this "wondrous thing" that God has done! I am very grateful for this new gift in my life. I'm grateful for what I can bring to Saint James' ministry, and I'm grateful too for the wonderful opportunities - born out of this year of adversity - for what I'm receiving - for the chance to be connected to Christ and to Christ's body the church in this time and place. #countlessgifts #episcopalchurch #episcopal #adventcalendar #advent2020 #parishlife

Louis Armstrong mass in just a few hours on livestream at the link below. View anytime after 5:00 PM EST! Featuring Todd Fulginiti Music, trumpet; Michael Vitale, bass; David E. Santana, drums; Reji Woods, vocals and Andy Roberts, piano.

Day 10 of ourSaint James 2020 Advent Calendarbrings us... DEBBIE & JERRY KEYS God has blessed our family with countless gifts of love. We are thankful for so much, but especially that our family is healthy and growing. We have gained a wonderful son-in-law, a precious grandson, and an amazing daughter-in-law. We give thanks for our anticipated second grandson in February 2021.... Ryan and Julianne grew up knowing the benefits of a strong church family! Saint James has been the bedrock of our family’s spiritual growth. The relationships we have developed with our incredible clergy, fellow volunteers, and Saint James friends have sustained us through 2020 and bring added joy to our home this Advent season. #countlessgifts #episcopal #episcopalchurch #adventcalendar #advent2020 #parishlife

Underground Railroad tour of downtown Lancaster for youth and families Nov. 7, 10 AM-1 PM, led by parishioner and historian Randy Harris. Registration required at saintjameslancaster.org/walk.

Mack The Knife, All Of Me, It’s Been A Long, Long Time & What A Wonderful World played by pro musicians (Reji Woods, vocals; Todd Fulginiti, trumpet; Andy Roberts, piano and Dave Santana, drums) blended with beautiful prayers and a rousing message. Join us anytime from 5:00 pm Sat. Oct. 24 at saintjameslancaster.org/livestream.

Join us for weekend worship led by Mother Shayna and Father David, prayers with the Walden family, music by virtual choir members and a special introduction to our capital campaign by chairs Kristy Clark, Andy Woolworth and Kit Slaugh.

First Friday Compline is back--in person or by livestream tomorrow at 9 PM! Hear Gregorian chant and the mystical oud played by flickering candlelight in our sanctuary as Fr. David and Mother Shayna say ancient prayers for protection and a peaceful rest. To join virtually click our Livestream page: saintjameslancaster.org/livestream If you are attending in person, pre-registration is helpful at https://rb.gy/0b5wpu

Livestream Compline...In case you missed it on Friday Sept. 25. https://livestream.com//51/events/9317496/videos/211477018

Join us for this weekend's worship service led by Fr. David as we say farewell to the Pasternak-Post family and give thanks for their ministry and presence among us. Alyssa preaches on how Moses and all of us are formed by living in community and her two daughters lead us in prayer. This weekend's musicians are organist Michael Good, cantor Bill Wright and vocalist Steph Jo Wise.

Welcome to St. James Episcopal Church and The Urban Well. Join us tonight for a time of prayer and contemplation. https://livestream.com/saintjameslancaster/events/9317496

Are you longing for a richer faith, and a stronger sense of hope and love during this pandemic stress and isolation? Father Matthew Wright of Woodstock NY will lead an online Zoom retreat for the Urban Well this Friday evening and Saturday to introduce many who are new to the contemplative tradition of Christianity as well as help deepen the practice of those who have a centering prayer practice. Join us for enriching sessions, prayer, and compline! Click below to register!