What to Expect
I’m New to St. James
First, thank you! We know visiting for the first time can be daunting and worship in the Episcopal Church can be unfamiliar to some. It takes some courage to attend that first time. Know we are grateful for your presence, whether you are passing through town on vacation, visiting family, or looking for a spiritual home. We trust God will draw near to you as you draw near to God.
Read below for some common Q&A’s on attending St. James
Where can I park?
Most of our parking is behind the church, accessible on North Grove Street. After parking, just walk to the front of the church and enter the double glass doors through the stone breezeway. Some people find parking on North Main Street or adjacent streets as well. On Sundays, additional parking is available next door at Bruce Drysdale Elementary School.
What can I expect in worship?
At St. James, there is something for everyone in a given month, depending on your preferences—including traditional, contemporary, and creative worship opportunities. We use the Book of Common Prayer for most services and sometimes it can be difficult to keep up despite the guides in the bulletin. That’s okay! Usually a neighbor in the pew is more than willing to help and you are free to go at your own pace in keeping track of the service.
Our Sunday morning service at 8:00 am is a spoken Rite I, which means it has no music and uses stately Elizabethan language most associated with the King James version of Scripture. Our 10:15 am service features our choir, organ music, acolytes, and uses contemporary language. Our Sunday evening service at 5:00 pm features Allelu! folk group every second weekend, twice-monthly contemplative candlelight Eucharists, and other special services, including twice-yearly Evensong services and other creative liturgical offerings. Each quarter, we even offer a family-friendly Waffles & PJs Church so you can bring the family straight from wake-up, messy hair and all, for breakfast and worship in the parish hall.
Are children welcome? I mean, actually welcome?
Our nursery is open for our smallest parishioners, ages 0-3 on Sunday mornings. You may sign in your child for the 10:15 service and during the Peace come to Nursery and sign out your child, and process with the Sunday school children after the Offertory for the Eucharist.
You’ll also notice a small children’s area, tucked away in the chapel on the left side of the church with soft toys, books, and a colorful rug and its own door. We know little ones sometimes make noise, and that’s okay! We know infants sometimes get hungry. When they do, please feel free to tend to their needs during worship as you feel comfortable. We also offer a children’s formation for ages 3 to 5th grade in the Atrium.
Can I receive Communion?
We offer Holy Communion at each service and all who come in faith are welcome to receive the consecrated Bread and Wine. If you do not want to receive the wine, simply cross your arms. You can also participate by receiving only a blessing from one of our priests.
How do I meet people?
First, please fill out our visitor card and drop it in the offering plate. We consider that the greatest offering you can give when you visit with us. Secondly, introduce yourself to the clergy as you leave. We want to get to know you. You will also be welcomed by our greeters and ushers, who can answer any question.
Second, come to Coffee Hour! Immediately after the 10:15 am service, join us for coffee and light refreshments. We want to get to know you. As you get to know us, our Newcomers group will be in touch with multiple ways to learn about St. James and plug into our many ministries and activities.
Third, join the Rev. Dn. Tim Jones on one of his weekly Stained Glass Window Tours, every Friday at 4 p.m.
If you have children or teenagers, reach out to the Rev. Gaelyn Evangreene about opportunities for those age groups. Our Men’s Fellowship Breakfast occurs on the second Tuesday of every month at Mills River Restaurant. We have women’s group and an active ministry for our members in or near retirement called Trek and Table.
Lastly, pick up our Parish Ministries directory or download it on our Web site for more information.
How do I join and get involved?
Click here to learn more about joining St. James.
Where are the bathrooms?
Conveniently, there is an all-gender/unisex bathroom in the Narthex (foyer) of the church. There are also bathrooms just off the Parish Hall.
Do you have a nursery?
Our nursery is open for our smallest parishioners, ages 0-3 on Sunday mornings! You may sign in your child for the 10:15 service and during the Peace come to Nursery and sign out your child, and process with the Sunday school children after the Offertory for the Eucharist.
Map of Church and Surrounding Roads
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