In the midst of the excitement of the ongoing Capital Campaign and the wonderful projects and opportunities included, it can be easy to let slip from our immediate consciousness the necessity for ongoing stewardship. We are called to give back to God of his own bounty in the form of our time, treasure and talents. As we embark on summer vacations, time away from school and beating the summer heat, let us remain vigilant and mindful of our duty to see that the day-to-day needs of our parish church and school continue to be met as we proclaim the Good News of Christ, Him crucified and raised until the day of His coming.

The second theme in our Capital Campaign is Advancement. In addition to serving as good stewards of the bounty with which God has already blessed us, we are also challenged with expanding and growing those blessings for the future. The two property acquisitions of the former Family Counseling Agency and the Singer Street property at Mt. Olivet included in the current campaign will provide for both immediate needs while also allowing our church and school the room we need to grow for the future. I hope you will continue to join the rest of our parish family in prayerful reflection as you make your commitment to joining this worthwhile effort.

The first of the two themes in our ongoing “Enhance and Advance” Capital Campaign is that of Enhancement. We are truly blessed with an outstanding historic facility here at St. James. With all of the charm and character that accompanies the privilege of enjoying a storied church building comes the responsibility not only for its upkeep, but also being stewards of its improvement. We have the opportunity, through this campaign, to restore the luster of the beautiful hardwood floors in our church, to ensure that all members and visitors alike have access to modern restroom facilities, to make our campus footprint more recognizable and even more aesthetically pleasing, and to ensure that our wonderful century-old church bell continues to ring out the mission of hope of this parish church for generations to come.

Part of our calling as Christians and members of Christ’s church is to be good stewards of God’s bounty. One of the greatest blessings included in that bounty that we enjoy at St. James in particular, is the magnificent historic church where we are privileged to worship. As a parish, we are tasked with not only maintaining that which we have, but also facing, head on, the challenges of our future. We find ourselves at a critical crossroads in the storied life of our parish. It is the ardent hope and prayer of your Vestry that you will reflect on the challenge before us, meditate with God on the tasks at hand and commit to joining, to the best of your means, in the Capital Campaign efforts to Enhance and Advance the continued mission of hope here at St. James.