Outreach Ministries

Generosity is Contagious at St. James!
Like the ripening harvest, God's love is given in abundance. Thank you for sharing God's love through your generous gifts around the world and here at home.

Our Mission
To share God’s Grace and nurture growth of the spirit through local and global outreach, supporting programs and initiatives that will improve the quality of life for those in need.

The Outreach Ministries Team works to share the Word of God beyond our Church and into the community locally, nationally and globally. 

Programs and Initiatives

Monthly Mission Offering
The congregation supports numerous and varied programs and organizations through our First Sunday Monthly Mission Offering.  In 2010 we raised over $3,000 that was distributed to a different charity or program each month.  Each dollar received is used to improve the lives of those in need from within our community as well as nationally and internationally.

Global Missions
The St. James Community sent forth six members as missionaries to Honduras in 2010.  Four members joined the February 2010 trip to Chachaqualla where they worked to build outdoor ovens that burn wood efficiently and draw smoke to a chimney and out of homes.  One of our members led a mission trip in August.  His group worked on carpentry projects that will help to make a small Episcopal Parish self-supporting.  In addition to a specific construction project each mission trip runs a Vacation Bible School for children of the area.  See the blog on the St. James website for a day-to-day description of impressions and experiences in Honduras

In addition to sending out missionaries, we have provided ongoing scholarship support for the children of Chachaqualla. For information about 2011 Mission Trips to Honduras go to  http://www.standrewri.org/newsletter/honduras2011.pdf

Lou’s Closet (clothing collection)
Lou’s Closet is filled to the brim with clothing month after month. We have collected items for men, women, children and infants as well as bed linins, towels and shoes.  Every item received is delivered to an organization that gives the clothing directly to people in need at no charge.  We have delivered clothing to Tap-In, Dorcas House, Camp Street Ministries, George Hunt Center, Amos House and Mobile Loaves & Fishes this year. 

Soup Kitchen
St. James participations in the Park Place Soup Kitchen in Pawtucket. We partner with ten other faith communities to keep the Soup Kitchen going.  We are responsible for serving the meal every 6-8 weeks.  Over thirty-five members of the congregation have cooked and served nutritious meals throughout the year to as many as 80 hungry individuals and families.  Many of our youth work at the soup kitchen over the course of the year. 

Mobile Loaves & Fishes
In 2010 St. James joined a partnership with four churches in Barrington committing to feed and care for the homeless and needy in and around our community with a nutritious meal, clothing distribution and a thoughtful conversation.   Monthly “runs” are scheduled through the year..  We hope to expand our involvement as we move forward.  Each run requires the preparation of 100 nutritious meals.  A hot and cold sandwich is offered as well as fresh fruit, chips, dessert, milk or juice and a hot drink.  Lou’s Closet provides seasonal clothing.  All of this is loaded into the Mobile Loaves & Fishes catering truck manned by St. James volunteers.  The response of those at St. James who want to be a part of this ministry is overwhelming.  Whole families have signed up to work in food preparation and/or to join a run on the catering truck.

Lutheran World Relief Fair Trade Bazaar
In November 2010 the Outreach Ministries Team held several Fair Trade Bazaars.  Beautiful handcrafted items from all over the world were obtained from Lutheran World Relief.  Our fair provided a market for artisans from third world countries.

Knitting Ladies
Every Tuesday morning the Community Room is abuzz with the sound of clicking needles and friendly chatter.  Our Knitting Ladies work faithfully throughout the year creating beautiful hats, booties and afghans for newborn babies at Woman & Infant’s Hospital.  This year they also knitted over twenty beautiful baby dolls for the children on Honduras. The children were thrilled!  Thanks you all for this wonderful ministry.

Collation Meals
One of the benefits of being a Christian is our willingness and desire to help and serve others.  Families show immense appreciation after a church provided collation. Volunteer staffing and food preparation for collations is the responsibility of each member of the church.  Everyone will be called upon occasionally and asked to cook, bake, help with set up, serving and/or clean up. 

Beyond Our Walls (B.O.W)
The Great Day of Service, sponsored by the interfaith organization Beyond Our Walls, takes place on Columbus Day each year.  The day will provides an opportunity for people to come together to work side-by-side, assisting agencies and organizations in need of community service through a work project.

Acts 20:35 35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'