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Gracious and loving God, thank you for all your blessings. Teach us to be generous with our treasures. Support us as we build for future generations. Fill us with joy as our hearts grow in faith. Encourage us to use our talents to the fullest. Grant us wisdom as we seek to know your will. Help us actively share the love of Jesus Christ with each other, our city, and the world; through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Dear Frends,

During the last fifteen months, we have celebrated St. James' first 200 years of worship, ministry and witness. Festive Eucharists, book launches, guest preachers, concerts and pilgrimages — to name just some of these past months' blessings — all have made clear how much St. James' matters to us and to all those we serve. We now stand at an exciting threshold in our life as a parish as we enter our third century, poised to respond to God's call to embrace the unlimited future.

Much of what we need to answer that call is already in place:

• We are a vibrant, diverse and growing parish. Attendance is up 20% over a year ago, and although many parishioners live within walking distance, some come from other boroughs and from as far away as Westchester County.
  
• Parishioners of every age (birth to 100) and from all walks of life rejoice in the breadth and depth of our ministries and programs.
  
• Our lay leadership is vigorous, creative and dedicated with more than 500 parishioners active in more than 45 committees, guilds and hands-on ministries — parishioners here do everything from preparing the sanctuary for worship to laying bricks in Malawi.
• Parishioners' financial giving continues to grow even in this challenging economy.
  
• Our Church and Parish House are filled with the sounds of parishioners learning, serving, celebrating and worshipping together — making a joyful noise. Our new Bicentennial Organ is integral to that joyful noise, enriching our worship today and blessing future generations with the gift of music.

We must now look ahead and consider how to ensure that this vibrant and faith-filled parish continues for the next generations and new challenges and opportunities the future will bring. I invite you to engage in the happy task of reflecting upon the mission and ministries of St. James' that bless your life and the life of the world, and then to consider and pray about how you might join in generously and joyfully supporting St. James' through the For All the Saints campaign.

In Christ,
Brenda G. Husson, Rector

St. James' Church  865 Madison Avenue  New York,   NY  10021   (212) 288-4100   fax (212) 650-0304   www.stjames.org