Outreach
Outreach is a central and defining activity of our church. Members of the parish support a variety of outreach programs with enthusiasm. All outreach activities are funded by proceeds from two major fundraising events, payments from the Outreach Endowment, and miscellaneous donations.
The most serious commitment to outreach is our Levi’s Table Program. In 2000, a group of parishioners took on the challenge of forming a special relationship with the residents of the Lake-Cook Health Care Center. This long-term healthcare and rehabilitation center is located 3 miles from the church. The activities of the ministry include a bi-monthly worship service, monthly birthday parties, trips to the Botanic Gardens, and holiday parties. We commit a percentage of our chaplain’s time to this ministry and he provides ongoing pastoral care. In December 2010, the presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori visited Chicago. At a reception held in her honor our Deacon Ron Valentine presented a DVD of the Lake Cook Ministry to all present.
Once a month our parish is responsible for serving a nutritious meal at A Just Harvest Community Kitchen in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. The youth of St. James are involved by preparing meatloaves to supplement the food donations of parishioners.
Since 2006, St. James the Less has engaged in outreach ministry with the Night Ministry, an ecumenical service organization in the City of Chicago. Volunteers from the church prepare and distribute sandwiches and other cooked food to 500 to 600 needy persons in conjunction with the Night Ministry health outreach bus. In 2010, parishioners joined three Night Ministry outings to the Humboldt Park and Pilsen areas of Chicago.
Each year our Church School raises funds for Heifer International. For over half a century, Heifer International has provided livestock and training to more than four million families. This organization helps hungry people feed themselves, earn income, and care for the environment. Other outreach efforts at St. James the Less include: donations of canned goods and the like to the Northfield Food Pantry; and collecting soap, cosmetics, towels and linens, magazines, and books to deliver to Deborah’s Place, an organization that provides life skills instruction for women who are recovering addicts. Members volunteer to work at Habitat for Humanity in Lake County and bring a sizeable donation from outreach with them when they do. At Christmas time many of our parishioners provide Christmas gift baskets to individuals and families through the Cathedral Shelter of Chicago.
Each year the Diocese asks the parishes to support the annual project designed to honor the Millenium Development Goals endorsed by the National Episcopal Church. In years past we funded uniforms for Sudanese school children and mosquito-netting for African families at risk of contracting malaria.
Fellowship and Outreach
St. James the Less enthusiastically welcomes visitors to our parish while strengthening the feeling of belonging amongst its members. Every Sunday greeters welcome all who enter the church. Visitors are offered a brochure about our parish and encouraged to stay for coffee hour. Many of our newer members have agreed that the warm welcome they received on their first visit is exactly what encouraged them to return on future Sundays. Coffee hour is hosted by parishioners after both the 8:00 am and 10:00 am services.
An example of how fellowship and outreach flourish together in our parish is the annual fall LobsterFest. What started as a simple fundraiser selling fresh lobsters for home consumption has become a major social event and a great opportunity for socializing among members and their friends. Our annual Wine Tasting has had similar success in past years as an evening of fellowship for members and their guests. We also enjoy the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper that has become a yearly tradition for many of our parishioners.
There are many small groups at St. James the Less for people with specific interests or talents. The Knitters meet every Tuesday to make mittens, hats, scarves and other clothing for Lake Cook Health Care Center and the Seamen’s Church Institute. The Quilters meet to make quilts for children in Africa. There is a monthly Book Club that meets and a newer group is called Fourth Friday Films for Females that meets to see a movie, snack and chat.
Fellowship at St. James the Less is strongly influenced by a shared need to serve others as well as ourselves.
Capital Campaign
The parish of St. James the Less has a history of strong financial support for capital improvements and measures designed to improve the functioning of the church and its appeal to new members. The most recent capital campaign, initiated in 2008, funded a suite of improvement projects, the centerpiece of which was a significant expansion of the parking lot that increased the number of parking spaces for worshippers and added landscaping and storage to the campus. We also funded the building of the Chapel of St. James the Less in the Cathedral complex in the Diocese of Tulear, Madagascar. The final projects associated with this capital campaign will conclude in 2011 with the installation of new windows in the basement, new sound systems in the sanctuary and the parish hall, re-design of the exterior church sign and improvement of air conditioning to the choir loft and various church offices.
The most serious commitment to outreach is our Levi’s Table Program. In 2000, a group of parishioners took on the challenge of forming a special relationship with the residents of the Lake-Cook Health Care Center. This long-term healthcare and rehabilitation center is located 3 miles from the church. The activities of the ministry include a bi-monthly worship service, monthly birthday parties, trips to the Botanic Gardens, and holiday parties. We commit a percentage of our chaplain’s time to this ministry and he provides ongoing pastoral care. In December 2010, the presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori visited Chicago. At a reception held in her honor our Deacon Ron Valentine presented a DVD of the Lake Cook Ministry to all present.
Once a month our parish is responsible for serving a nutritious meal at A Just Harvest Community Kitchen in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. The youth of St. James are involved by preparing meatloaves to supplement the food donations of parishioners.
Since 2006, St. James the Less has engaged in outreach ministry with the Night Ministry, an ecumenical service organization in the City of Chicago. Volunteers from the church prepare and distribute sandwiches and other cooked food to 500 to 600 needy persons in conjunction with the Night Ministry health outreach bus. In 2010, parishioners joined three Night Ministry outings to the Humboldt Park and Pilsen areas of Chicago.
Each year our Church School raises funds for Heifer International. For over half a century, Heifer International has provided livestock and training to more than four million families. This organization helps hungry people feed themselves, earn income, and care for the environment. Other outreach efforts at St. James the Less include: donations of canned goods and the like to the Northfield Food Pantry; and collecting soap, cosmetics, towels and linens, magazines, and books to deliver to Deborah’s Place, an organization that provides life skills instruction for women who are recovering addicts. Members volunteer to work at Habitat for Humanity in Lake County and bring a sizeable donation from outreach with them when they do. At Christmas time many of our parishioners provide Christmas gift baskets to individuals and families through the Cathedral Shelter of Chicago.
Each year the Diocese asks the parishes to support the annual project designed to honor the Millenium Development Goals endorsed by the National Episcopal Church. In years past we funded uniforms for Sudanese school children and mosquito-netting for African families at risk of contracting malaria.
Fellowship and Outreach
St. James the Less enthusiastically welcomes visitors to our parish while strengthening the feeling of belonging amongst its members. Every Sunday greeters welcome all who enter the church. Visitors are offered a brochure about our parish and encouraged to stay for coffee hour. Many of our newer members have agreed that the warm welcome they received on their first visit is exactly what encouraged them to return on future Sundays. Coffee hour is hosted by parishioners after both the 8:00 am and 10:00 am services.
An example of how fellowship and outreach flourish together in our parish is the annual fall LobsterFest. What started as a simple fundraiser selling fresh lobsters for home consumption has become a major social event and a great opportunity for socializing among members and their friends. Our annual Wine Tasting has had similar success in past years as an evening of fellowship for members and their guests. We also enjoy the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper that has become a yearly tradition for many of our parishioners.
There are many small groups at St. James the Less for people with specific interests or talents. The Knitters meet every Tuesday to make mittens, hats, scarves and other clothing for Lake Cook Health Care Center and the Seamen’s Church Institute. The Quilters meet to make quilts for children in Africa. There is a monthly Book Club that meets and a newer group is called Fourth Friday Films for Females that meets to see a movie, snack and chat.
Fellowship at St. James the Less is strongly influenced by a shared need to serve others as well as ourselves.
Capital Campaign
The parish of St. James the Less has a history of strong financial support for capital improvements and measures designed to improve the functioning of the church and its appeal to new members. The most recent capital campaign, initiated in 2008, funded a suite of improvement projects, the centerpiece of which was a significant expansion of the parking lot that increased the number of parking spaces for worshippers and added landscaping and storage to the campus. We also funded the building of the Chapel of St. James the Less in the Cathedral complex in the Diocese of Tulear, Madagascar. The final projects associated with this capital campaign will conclude in 2011 with the installation of new windows in the basement, new sound systems in the sanctuary and the parish hall, re-design of the exterior church sign and improvement of air conditioning to the choir loft and various church offices.
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