Update
Remembering Forgotten Blessings
During COVID-19 quarantine, I have missed being “physically present” on Sundays with my brothers and sisters in my parish family. I was raised in an Anglo-Catholic “High Church” tradition that was highly structured with many rules and regulations about how, when, and where the People should come together for the weekly Celebration of the Holy…
Read MoreIn Praise of St. James School (Or Five Reasons Why I Love St. James School
Over 50 years ago, the Rev. Sam D’Amico, starting out small with a few children, founded St. James School. Today, with over 360 students on a state-of-the-art campus right next door to our church, St. James has blossomed into one of the most highly-respected elementary institutions in Los Angeles. What a joy to partner with…
Read MoreNews from the Senior Warden
Dear all, I am writing to update you on the activities and discussions and decisions of your Vestry over recent months. First, though, I want to extend warm greetings to every one of you, and to say that I hope you are and will continue to be well and happy, even in the midst of…
Read More#StayingConnected
One of the most important ways we build and nurture community is by staying connected. At St. James we are learning more and more about one another and about ourselves as we journey through these times together. Each week many of our groups connect virtually, we have our virtual coffee hour to catch up with…
Read MoreA Changing Landscape
Blessings, dear people of St. James! I hope this finds you and your loved ones safe and well. You know, it’s the strangest thing. Every morning, I wake up blissfully unaware of the pandemic. Does this happen to you, too, this nightly forgetting? And then the, “Oh. I remember now.” We’ve been through a lot…
Read MoreAdding Prayer as a Discipline
With many of us having some extra time on our hands these days, we wanted to recommend a spiritual discipline that has the power to transform and enrich your relationship with our Risen Lord, and one we hope that you will continue as the world slowly reopens. We are referring to Morning and Evening Prayer.…
Read MoreWe Are The Church
While missing our much adored St. James Church building and the joy of seeing one another in person, the life and spirit of our church continues to burn brightly amidst the current ‘holy distancing.’ Through myriad zoom meetings, lessons, social gatherings and worship services, we continue to connect. Our soup kitchen, food pantry and showers…
Read MoreThe Conversation is Still Happening
Although we may miss gathering together at St. James on our beloved corner in the city for a service, hugging our friends at coffee hour, and even meeting one another for a conversation or sharing a meal, the idea of community is still happening. The 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙨.Just these past weeks, we have seen each other…
Read MoreSafe Choices
I remember saying these words to my children, then young, as they headed out the door: “Make safe choices!” They always laughed. Hmm, should that have worried me? Now I feel the urge to say the same to you. “Make safe choices!” I want you to stay home, stay safe, and when you do venture…
Read MoreChanges This Weekend
Dear Friends, I am thinking of you in this strange and worrisome time. Within the last twenty-four hours, we have learned new information regarding the spread of COVID-19 within our country, and particularly within our diocese. Earlier today, both the governor and the mayor urged community leaders to limit large gatherings of people when possible, and on a…
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