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Count Me In! |
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![]() What difference can one person make?
Some, for sure. Never given? Here's how. And why. In 1810, a handful of parishioners from city churches below 14th Street founded a summer chapel up in the country at Hamilton Square (now 69th Street and Lexington Avenue). By the end of the century, the parish’s growth had necessitated three moves, arriving at last at our present location. St. James’ had become a vital year-round parish, reaching out to neighbors, supporting church organizations providing care for orphans, young children and the elderly, and mounting national and international missions. During the 1900s, burgeoning church school attendance, expanding choirs and growing guilds made an expanded facility necessary. In the midst of the Great Depression, St. James’ raised funds and built the Parish House. St. James’ Church School pioneered the use of a year-long curriculum. The Spring Festival raised monies for those in need. All were welcome as the parish eliminated pew rentals. The church’s committee system enabled parishioners to offer their gifts in ministry. St. James’ sponsored the first woman for ordination in the Diocese of New York. Outreach and mission expanded with lunch and dinner programs and the establishment of the Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter in response to the growing population of homeless New Yorkers. A partnership with churches helped create more than 400 single family homes in the blighted South Bronx. The parish befriended those from war-torn Northern Ireland and supported Desmond Mpilo Tutu in his fight against apartheid. The Church School and youth programs grew dramatically. A major renovation of the church and Parish House provided accessibility, many new classrooms and meeting spaces, and a columbarium. As our bicentennial year begins, we’re growing still. A new Schoenstein organ supports our worship, and parishioners now staff a shelter in addition to serving meals. We travel to prisons, to Haiti and to Malawi, and have expanded ministries to support our own parishioners through difficult life changes. St. James’ continues to discover vital ways to fulfill our mission to share the love of Jesus Christ with each other, our city and the world. All because our parishioners give their dreams, their skills and their resources to nurture the parish. St. James’ own story makes clear the gift of this parish when we come together to do God’s work. Our parishioners and our neighbors have learned that they can count on St. James’. Can we count you in? Read the Vestry's statement on stewardship Contact Katherine Paul, Stewardship/Membership Coordinator, for help on establishing your 2009 commitment to St. James’ Did you know? For more information on stewardship and planned giving at St. James', contact Katherine Paul. |
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St. James' Church 865 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10021 (212) 288-4100 fax (212) 650-0304 www.stjames.org |
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