As we prepare to enter a new season together, we are filled with gratitude for each of you and the vibrant life we share at St. James’s. This fall marks not only the beginning of our 2025-2026 program year, but also a time of renewal and joyful anticipation. The arrival of our new rector, The Rev. Beth Franklin, at the end of September brings fresh energy and hope for all that lies ahead.

This year, we invite you to experience anew the gifts of community, worship, and service that make our parish such a special place. The clergy, staff, and vestry leadership have been busy making plans for the program year, and we are excited about how we are going to gather Together as One Body to worship, learn, grow, and give of ourselves this year. Our collective journey—gathering in prayer, learning across generations, lending hands to service, and celebrating together—shapes who we are and deepens our faith. Each moment we spend in fellowship and ministry is a testament to the love that binds us.

As we embark on this new journey as One Body, Together, remember that our shared ministry to carry out God’s mission in the world around us calls for renewed engagement and commitment. Together we can continue to proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ to a fractured and divided world. Together we can continue to offer the embrace of welcome and community to people of all ages and stages of life. Together we can continue to serve as a beacon of hope to our neighbors through outreach and mission.

But to do this, we must, Together, give of ourselves—our hearts, our time, and our treasure—to faithfully live into the fullness of who God is calling us to be as the Body of Christ at St. James’s. With a spirit of gratitude and expectation, we encourage you to prayerfully consider taking a step forward on the Pathway to Generosity by considering a weekly, monthly, or yearly gift to St. James’s. Your generosity (especially to start a new or increase an existing gift) sustains our campus and expands our mission, from supporting meaningful worship and educational programs, to caring for our neighbors and nurturing the next generation. Every gift is an act of faith and generosity that allows us to flourish as one body in Christ. Your giving translates into our mission.

As you reflect on the coming year, know that your presence and participation matter. We look forward to sharing this journey with you and seeing how, through our gifts and our witness, we will grow together in love and service.