St. James’ serves as an extension of Christ’s love and care to our parishioners and members of the community. Your spiritual, emotional and physical well-being is of paramount importance to us. If you are ill, anticipating surgery, bereaved or experiencing difficulties in your life, our clergy are always on call to respond and offer assistance, kept in strict confidence.

Pastoral Committee
The work of the Pastoral Committee focuses on pastoral care for all St. James’ members. To this end, the Committee works with Lay Eucharistic Ministers, Lay Prayer Visitors, and Stephen Ministers to search out and care for the members of the parish who are in need or are unable to attend church services regularly because of distress or illness. The Pastoral Committee also hosts the bi-annual Pastoral Eucharist and Luncheon and supports the Coler Hospital ministry, Project Contact, and the Pastoral Apartment team as well as various other ministries.

Career Assistance Ministry
The Career Assistance Ministry provides practical assistance to parishioners who are having difficulties with their careers, in a manner that complements the spiritual guidance provided by St. James’ other ministries. We have several “career coaches” who work with parishioners to develop and implement job search plans and to connect them with other resources, including programs outside St. James’. Networking groups meet twice a month on Sundays, often with professional guest speakers.
more on the Career Assistance Ministry

Healing Prayer Ministry
After Sunday worship services, commissioned Healing Prayer Lay Ministers and clergy offer the laying on of hands and prayers in the chapel. All are invited to receive these prayers for themselves or for someone they love. Parishioners are chosen for this ministry because of their faithful prayer life, their willingness to reach out to those in need, and their trustworthiness in keeping confidences. Initial instruction followed by monthly prayer and discussion groups provide ongoing spiritual growth and training for the Healing Prayer Ministers.


Health Ministry
Jesus’ ministry brought sick, isolated people into wholeness with their communities and reconciled them to God’s love. In this spirit, we have begun a new initiative, the St. James’ Health Ministries. The goals of this initiative are to highlight and connect the many things we already do here to foster health and wholeness among our congregation, and to support and foster lay people in health ministries they feel passionate about, such as health discussion groups, educational programs and advocacy projects. Fall offerings include a book group reading Good is the Flesh: Body, Soul & Christian Faith, ed. Jean Derston, a Lectio Divina group, Praying the Scriptures, and Ogan Donation Sunday.


Lay Visitors Ministry
Lay Visitors demonstrate that St. James’ is not only a building, but a living Body of Christ, seeking to draw all people to God beyond the walls of 865 Madison Avenue. The Lay Visitors Ministry is a lifeline for many parishioners who are homebound, hospitalized or in a nursing home, and who can no longer attend services. Lay Visitors form long-term relationships with the individuals they are assigned, visiting regularly and checking in by telephone, often becoming an important part of each other’s lives.
Lay Visitors meet as a group about five times a year for training on such topics as how to be a good listener, how to pray with another person and how to be a comforting presence if a person is no longer able to converse.

Coler Hospital Ministry

Christmas and Easter Pastoral Eucharist and Luncheons

Lay Eucharistic Ministry
The Lay Eucharistic Ministers represent the Church beyond its walls and are living reminders that the sick and infirm are integral parts of the community which is the body of Christ. In teams of two, Lay Eucharistic Ministers carry pre-consecrated Holy Communion to hospitalized parishioners and those who are permanently homebound due to age or infirmity. They also visit those who are temporarily incapacitated, either recovering from surgery, illness, or unable to attend church due to their own roles as caregivers, including mothers of new infants. Lay Eucharistic Ministers are trained by clergy and licensed by the diocese.

Pastoral Apartment
A small apartment is made available to patients referred from Memorial Hospital. A team of volunteers helps care for the apartment and its guests.

Project Contact
Keeps in touch with our older parishioners by phone, keeping caring relationships going and relaying information about pastoral needs to the clergy.

The Newcomer Ministry
Composed of the Welcome Committee and Greeters, this ministry is here to welcome and invite newcomers to the life at St. James’. Greeters serve a vital function as the first face of St. James’ to many of newcomers and visitors. The Welcome Committee meets monthly to plan for transitioning newcomers into the community at St. James’. We help new members get to know the people at the church so that they can make true spiritual connections and have a better understanding of the parish. The Newcomer Ministry’s work of hospitality goes far beyond a quick hello; it is our first step in extending the love of Christ and welcoming everyone into the mission and ministry at St. James’.

To learn more about serving in the pastoral ministries, contact the Rector.

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