St. James is both a growing community and a heritage building. This film broadcast by United Church Television in 1977 illustrates a special day in the life of the church -- September 13th, 2006.

Part 2, part 3 and part 4 of this video can be seen on the United Church's Youtube stream.

Christian Education & Associated Programs

Christian Education

We have many events including Bible Study series (detailed examinations into different Biblical Stories, characters and current theology), Congregational Retreats (a full day of theological reflection and spiritual practices such as meditation, labyrinth walking and sacred movement) and Salons (open discussion on philosophical and religious topics).

Sunday School

In Sunday School we look at Biblical stories and see how they can be lived out in our contemporary world. We also involve the children in games and projects that promote peace and peacemaking skills. In addition to Sunday School we are developing a youth group which will meet to reflect on their world and experiences through watching films, listening to music and open discussion.

United Young Adults (UYA)

UYA is a group for people 18-35 that meets twice a month for discussion and activities like outings to restaurants or community events and discussions on various topics of spiritual interest to the participants. Occasional special activities also take place. For more information see Ryan, Jenny or Emily after church or email stjamesuya@gmail.com.

See their photo album and Facebook page.

Read Jenny Trite's script for the 2009 St James Christmas Pageant presented by the Young Adults.

Believe

BELIEVE is a group of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans-gendered Christians and their friends that welcomes everybody through our affirming church. Its motto is "BE your authentic self and LIVE in the light!" For more information, email believe@mail.com.

See its Facebook page for a schedule of community outings, discussions and celebrations.

Other programs

The St. James Thrift Shop and Food Depot

The thrift shop is open in the basement of the church every Friday from 10 am until 2 pm. Donations of non-perishable food, clean clothes, books and household items are accepted. Proceeds support the food depot. Food is distributed every second Friday. For more information, see Magnus or telephone the church office at (514) 483-2343.

Coffee Hour

This time of fellowship after the Sunday service is a wonderful opportunity to extend to visitors the St.James hospitality and to catch up with what has been happening in the lives of fellow parishioners. Lino Knights, who provides the delicious refreshments week by week, would appreciate additional helpers (before service time) to set up for coffee hour and to clean up afterwards.

If you know someone at St. James who has a significant date in their lives coming up, please tell Lino. Cake may be involved.

Seniors tea-time

An informal gathering of seniors for a time of tea and conversation on Thursdays from 11am to 2pm in the Richmond Room. For more information speak to Zina Traicheff.

Spirituality Discussion Group

An open invitation to anyone in the congregation to reflect with others on the spiritual in its many forms as it touches our life. For more information contact Liette Michaud or Lee Santiago.

The Open Door Program

St. James gets tens of thousands of visitors a year. Every day of the week except Mondays, the Open Door team of volunteers and (in the summer some paid students) coordinated by Rob Bull introduces visitors to the life and history of St. James, to the United Church of Canada, to Protestantism and to Christianity in a wide variety of languages. The team also assists at day-time concerts, poetry readings, weddings and other events. It is fascinating and rewarding work.

ST JAMES CARES

Our pastoral care team is an ongoing ministry of prayer and of presence. If you have health concerns, know someone who needs a home visit or is in hospital, are living through a major crisis or its aftermath or simply need someone to talk to, fill in one of the yellow cards found in the pews and place it in the offering plate or in the prayer box or stop by for a chat at the team table during coffee hour.

The Prayer Shawl Project

With prayer, love and the blessings of the congregation, the knitters at St. James create wonderful shawls for the Pastoral Care team. We keep one at the pulpit to be worn by the person doing the readings during worship. Shawls are presented to special people in the congregation. Others have been given to babies on the day of their baptism. And others go to shut-ins, the hospitalized and members of the congregation at special times of need. The project is led by Ann Martin and Valerie Shannon. Here is one being presented by Session to Lino Knights.

Partners in Mission

Members of St. James also participate in the work of our two independent partners in mission which share our building – The Montreal City Mission of the United Church of Canada and the St. James Drop-In Center.

UMIF, the French-language ministry of the national United Church of Canada is also based at St. James. They can be contacted at ldescroix@egliseunie.org

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Among the other groups using the church are Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Susan Mott's watercolour class, Encore Seniors (see D. Medley), Au choeur du centre-ville (email), Infinitheatre, the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir, Chamber Music Without Borders (email), and the Montreal Chamber Music Festival.