WEEKLY BIBLE VERSE
Try me, O God, and know my heart. Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me, and lead me in the way of peace. (Psalm 139: 23, 24)
Happy is the man who finds wisdom. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. (Proverbs 3.13, 15)
Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12. 1-2)
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4.32)
VICAR'S MESSAGE
“This is my resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it; I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout for joy.”
Psalm 132:13-16
St. James Church can claim these words of the Psalmist for herself. Ever since it was consecrated in 1884, its presence as a parish church has stood the test of time. Being high Anglo Catholic in tradition, all who have found this place of worship for themselves and their families have never experienced the desire to move because of the warmth this church generates. Both clergy and laypersons over the years have played great roles to ensure it remains this way. As I pen these words, I can go back at least three generations to testify to this truth in our family. Being a young person who was offered to the diocese as a prospective ordinand from this very parish only males it extra special for me to come back as it’s Vicar with the passage of time. Even my wife, Deepa, shares her roots in this parish and this makes the parish and it’s concern very special to us. We’re comforted to be are surrounded by people who share the same love and zest for the church. We’d love to see this parish church grow and flourish providing its people succor for their lives in God. The challenges are in plentitude but I’m confident that as a parish we can be over comers standing on the promises on God. On the occasion of this Patronal Festival there couldn’t have been an opportune time to revive this platform to serve the church and the community around it. May every member be marked by devotion, sacrifice and jubilation as we remember our Patron, Saint James!
With Love,
Revd. James Gomez
Presbyter-in-Charge – St. James’ Church
CHURCH SERVICE & TIMINGS
NEWS & EVENTS
Saturday 03-AUG-2019 SJC Patronal Festival Pensioners’ Lunch – 11:30 AM in the St. James’ Church Meeting Room.
St. James' Church - The Women's Fellowship For Christian Service
The Women’s Fellowship for Christian Service (WFCS) is the Women’s Wing of the Church and its aims are as follows:
Witnessing for Christ
Prayer, Study and Stewardship of time, talent and possessions
Home – to uphold Christian standards of marriage and responsible parenthood; to help members make their homes centres for Christ-like living.
Service – to participate in the Church’s work of evangelism in its ministry of healing, pastoral and education ministry and in social service
Relationships – to recognize, maintain and create bonds of friendship
The members of the WFCS meet twice a month, i.e. on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays, at 06:00 PM in St. James’ Church to worship and plan various activities. A Mobile Prayer Cell is in place where a member receives a prayer request and circulates it to the other members who earnestly intercede in prayer and thank God for blessings received. Other activities of the WFCS are as follows:
Worship Programmes, i.e. Praise & Worship Sessions, Services like the Mid-Lenten Devotion, Fellowship of the Least Coin, World Day of Prayer, etc. are organised by the WFCS who also participate in Services & Seminars organised by the Diocese of Calcutta Church of North India Diocesan Women’s Fellowship of Christian Service (DWFS) such as Annunciation of Virgin Mary, etc.
Visits to Homes for the Aged as also the homes of the sick and housebound of the parish.
Mini Sales to raise funds for the work of the Parish and the WFCS.
Porch Sales every Sunday after the 07:15 AM and 08:30 AM Services to raise funds for the Twinning Programme and the Restoration & Renovation (Maintenance) work of the Church.
Special Lunch Programmes for Church Staff and less privileged Senior Citizens of the Church.
Christmas Tree for 250 children who live on the streets / in slums, 50 Sunday School children and less privileged Senior Citizens of the Parish and Church Staff.
Social Services to less privileged of the community who have financial difficulties to meet expenses towards education, accommodation (hostel) and medical, etc.
Participate in the Bible Society Sale & Rally and the Diocesan Education Mission (DEM) Fete every year where we hold stalls and the proceeds thereof are contributed to the organisers for their work of spreading the Gospel and education of children.
Participate in the Diocesan Festival where we also hold a stall and the proceeds thereof are utilized for the Christmas Tree mentioned above.
Feeding Programmes for the less fortunate particularly street children.