Our Mission and MinistryOur mission, our ministry, is to live into our baptismal covenant by loving and offering support to our parish community. We respond to the needs of parish members struggling with faith, health, or a challenging life situation by praying, listening, teaching, sharing the Eucharist, or sharing meals. We walk alongside our siblings in Christ, reminding each they are loved by God, welcomed in the church, and not forgotten in their troubles.
Members of this committee serving vulnerable people participate in safe church training. Episcopal Church of CT’s Safe Church Training is grounded in our call to seek and serve Christ in all persons and respect the dignity of every human being, to live out our Baptismal Covenant within our communities of faith and in the world beyond.
Vestry Liaison and Chair
Christine DiMeglio | (Christine, she/her)
Committee Members (on our communications email list)Nancy Alaire, Karen Beaudry, Janet Brown, Suzanne Carley, Dan Cox, Elizabeth Cox, Karen Davidson, Perry Downs, Jana Draper Linda Harrison, Denise Holl, Chris Kuell, Marion Liberati, Lyn Myers, Karen Montecalvo, Kathy Sabbagh, Elaine Sleath, Alvin Tuck, Joe Walkovich
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Safe Church Training
Members of this committee serving vulnerable people participate in safe church training. Episcopal Church of CT’s Safe Church Training is grounded in our call to seek and serve Christ in all persons and respect the dignity of every human being, to live out our Baptismal Covenant within our communities of faith and in the world beyond. |
Compassionate Communications(Note Card Ministry)
A new, recently launched ministry, the congregation pauses at quarterly intervals, to send personal, handwritten notecards to parish members who are home bound due to health, caregiving, and/or transportation issues, expressing our care and concern for them and their loved ones. Participants are invited during the service to participate by obtaining notecards and addresses during the coffee hour.
If you would like to be involved in growing this ministry, please reach out.
Contact Person: Beth Cox, Marion Liberati
Participants: the congregation of St. James’
A new, recently launched ministry, the congregation pauses at quarterly intervals, to send personal, handwritten notecards to parish members who are home bound due to health, caregiving, and/or transportation issues, expressing our care and concern for them and their loved ones. Participants are invited during the service to participate by obtaining notecards and addresses during the coffee hour.
If you would like to be involved in growing this ministry, please reach out.
Contact Person: Beth Cox, Marion Liberati
Participants: the congregation of St. James’
Flower Delivery
Each Sunday, a member of our flower delivery team collects the prepared flower arrangements and delivers them to our parishioners in the hospital, nursing homes or at home. If you are able to take a side trip on your way home from church to a parishioner in Danbury who is unable to be in person at church, please reach out.
Contact Person: Jana Draper
Participants: the congregation of St. James’
Each Sunday, a member of our flower delivery team collects the prepared flower arrangements and delivers them to our parishioners in the hospital, nursing homes or at home. If you are able to take a side trip on your way home from church to a parishioner in Danbury who is unable to be in person at church, please reach out.
Contact Person: Jana Draper
Participants: the congregation of St. James’
Healing Ministry
The Sacramental Rite of Healing is incorporated into our Sunday services on the third Sunday of each month, simultaneous with communion. After receiving communion, those desiring a private healing prayer approach a healing minister, who will be standing font side or pulpit side. The healing minister will anoint with oil and will inquire regarding the need. Prayers may be asked for yourself, a loved one, and for any specific concern. The healing minister my lay hands upon your shoulders or simply hold your hand. Lay healing ministers act as vessels for the wondrous healing power of God. Your prayers are held in confidence.
Contact: Joe Walkovich (8 am), Denise Holl or Elaine Sleath (10 am)
Participants: Suzanne Carley, Dan Cox, Christine DiMeglio, Perry Downs, Denise Holl, Joe Walkovich
The Sacramental Rite of Healing is incorporated into our Sunday services on the third Sunday of each month, simultaneous with communion. After receiving communion, those desiring a private healing prayer approach a healing minister, who will be standing font side or pulpit side. The healing minister will anoint with oil and will inquire regarding the need. Prayers may be asked for yourself, a loved one, and for any specific concern. The healing minister my lay hands upon your shoulders or simply hold your hand. Lay healing ministers act as vessels for the wondrous healing power of God. Your prayers are held in confidence.
Contact: Joe Walkovich (8 am), Denise Holl or Elaine Sleath (10 am)
Participants: Suzanne Carley, Dan Cox, Christine DiMeglio, Perry Downs, Denise Holl, Joe Walkovich
Lay Eucharistic Visitors/Friendly Visitors
During our time of transition, this ministry will operate as a friendly visit. When a rector is available, this ministry offers a time for communion, prayer, and fellowship to our homebound, nursing home, or hospitalized parishioners who cannot attend church. The visitor, who is a member of the congregation, arranges with the recipient for a mutually convenient time each month and delivers communion to the home to the recipient and family, friends, or caregivers present. Eucharistic visitors follow COVID safety protocols and wear masks unless invited to take them off. If you or a loved one are not able to attend church and wish to participate in the Sacrament of communion, reach out.
Contact Person: Karen Beaudry
Participants: Karen Beaudry, Janet Brown, Karen Davidson, Alvin Tuck
During our time of transition, this ministry will operate as a friendly visit. When a rector is available, this ministry offers a time for communion, prayer, and fellowship to our homebound, nursing home, or hospitalized parishioners who cannot attend church. The visitor, who is a member of the congregation, arranges with the recipient for a mutually convenient time each month and delivers communion to the home to the recipient and family, friends, or caregivers present. Eucharistic visitors follow COVID safety protocols and wear masks unless invited to take them off. If you or a loved one are not able to attend church and wish to participate in the Sacrament of communion, reach out.
Contact Person: Karen Beaudry
Participants: Karen Beaudry, Janet Brown, Karen Davidson, Alvin Tuck
Meals on Wings
In time of illness, injury, hospitalization, births, and deaths, or some other stressful time of our lives, we may need assistance with meals. The meals are prepared with love, following dietary requests, and delivered by the chef at a mutually arranged time.
Reach out for meal assistance for yourself or on behalf of a parish member.
Contact Person: Denise Holl
Participants: Many and various members of the St. James’ congregation. If you would like to participate, contact Denise.
In time of illness, injury, hospitalization, births, and deaths, or some other stressful time of our lives, we may need assistance with meals. The meals are prepared with love, following dietary requests, and delivered by the chef at a mutually arranged time.
Reach out for meal assistance for yourself or on behalf of a parish member.
Contact Person: Denise Holl
Participants: Many and various members of the St. James’ congregation. If you would like to participate, contact Denise.
Prayer Chain Ministry
The prayer chain ministry has operated quietly at St. James’ for 30 years. The group prays for individuals for one to three months upon request. When prayers are requested, a group email is sent out to each member of the chain with appropriate details and the amount of time the person will remain on the list. When making a request for prayer for someone else, please ask permission to be put on this prayer chain list. In addition to the prayer chain, parishioners may contact the church office and request to be added to the prayers of the people during Sunday services (203-748-3561)
Contact Person: Kathy Sabbagh
Participants: Beth Cox, Jana Draper, Nancy Halpin, Denise Holl, Yvonne Kiddoe, Kathy Mould, Elaine Sleath, Jeanne Todaro
The prayer chain ministry has operated quietly at St. James’ for 30 years. The group prays for individuals for one to three months upon request. When prayers are requested, a group email is sent out to each member of the chain with appropriate details and the amount of time the person will remain on the list. When making a request for prayer for someone else, please ask permission to be put on this prayer chain list. In addition to the prayer chain, parishioners may contact the church office and request to be added to the prayers of the people during Sunday services (203-748-3561)
Contact Person: Kathy Sabbagh
Participants: Beth Cox, Jana Draper, Nancy Halpin, Denise Holl, Yvonne Kiddoe, Kathy Mould, Elaine Sleath, Jeanne Todaro
Stephen Ministry
St. James’ is a Stephen Ministry Congregation. Grounded in Jesus’ command to love one another, Stephen Ministers offer lay pastoral care by providing in confidential, one-to-one relationships, love, and support to those going through a life crisis or challenge. As Christian friends, Stephen Ministers walk beside, listen, and share God’s love. Stephen Ministry can help meet the needs of individuals who are hospitalized, ill, bereaved, in a job crisis, disabled, homebound, lonely, or in a spiritual crisis. If you would like to be supported by a new perspective on your troubles, reach out.
Contact Person: Janet Brown, 203-798-1023
Participants (active): Karen Davidson, Elaine Sleath
Participants (trained, inactive, on-call): Ray Beaudry, Christine DiMeglio, Jana Draper, Linda Harrison, Ernie Harrington, Yvonne Kiddoe, Cathy Kreiger, Lyn Myers
St. James’ is a Stephen Ministry Congregation. Grounded in Jesus’ command to love one another, Stephen Ministers offer lay pastoral care by providing in confidential, one-to-one relationships, love, and support to those going through a life crisis or challenge. As Christian friends, Stephen Ministers walk beside, listen, and share God’s love. Stephen Ministry can help meet the needs of individuals who are hospitalized, ill, bereaved, in a job crisis, disabled, homebound, lonely, or in a spiritual crisis. If you would like to be supported by a new perspective on your troubles, reach out.
Contact Person: Janet Brown, 203-798-1023
Participants (active): Karen Davidson, Elaine Sleath
Participants (trained, inactive, on-call): Ray Beaudry, Christine DiMeglio, Jana Draper, Linda Harrison, Ernie Harrington, Yvonne Kiddoe, Cathy Kreiger, Lyn Myers