Pentecost Film Project 2.0
ANOTHER CHANCE to record a short video on your phone
We've had a great response to our first collection of Pentecost videos and the Holy Spirit is still pouring out upon the people of St James's!

We are offering you another 2 WEEKS to submit a 2-minute video for a second edition of our stories of lockdown. Please email your film to pcc@sjp.org.uk by Wed 10 June and we will upload as many as we can to our YouTube channel. (The videos won't be listed for public access and a link to view will be sent to everyone registered for church emails.)

We're inviting members of St James's to submit video contributions. Here, Carolyn Davies of Lime Twist Media shares her experience and shows you how to film using your phone.

SUNDAY 17TH MAY IS ROGATION SUNDAY
This is the Sunday when traditionally the bounds of the parish are beaten. Last year, a group walked the boundaries of the parish in person. This year, online, we have no boundaries! Join us at 11am on YouTube for the Parish Eucharist, which will include contemplative film for meditation and prayer by Sara Mark, and a reflection from the Eco Church group.

Please join for coffee on Zoom afterwards, with thanks to Michelle for hosting.

• This is the link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79376163627?pwd=MlJSNFhhbktMZHlzdjlURVp3Y3dMUT09
  Meeting ID: 793 7616 3627 | Password: 005683

For those without a computer or tablet it is possible to phone into the meeting:

• To dial in from the UK: +442034815240 or 79376163627#
• To find your local number: https://us04web.zoom.us/u/fdlgPOW1bB
• Other international numbers are here: https://us04web.zoom.us/u/fdlgPOW1bB

 
Ascension Day 6pm Thursday 21st May
Join us on Zoom for a service for Ascension Day focussing on the spiritual wisdom of the mystics. Please bring along anything you’d like to contribute; a poem, a prayer, a reading, or just come along!  The mystics such as Mother Julian of Norwich, the unknown author of the Cloud of Unknowing, Hildegard of Bingen, Richard Rolle, Margery Kempe, Meister Eckhart, Thomas Traherne, Thomas Merton speak of the oneness of God, the divine spark in all of us. Holistic spirituality, and a deep connection with the natural world feature strongly. A simple Eucharist service of prayer and contemplation with silence, music, Scripture, and the mystics. Everyone welcome. Please email pcc@sjp.org.uk for a zoom invitation.
 
Eco-contemplative liturgy on Zoom at 9.45am on Sunday 24 May
If you are in the fortunate position of having some outside space, please do Zoom from outside, or from a window /door with a view. Alternatively, you might like to collect a leaf, flower, twig or stone before the liturgy. Participants will be invited to speak about their garden or view or object or experience of the natural world during lockdown if they would like. There will be a service sheet available on the website in due course.

• Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87973469314?pwd=N0pOa0tDcWNpbDRpTmlXODhXb01nZz09
  Meeting ID: 879 7346 9314 / Password: 792368

The session will be open from 9.30 am. Zoom coffee will follow the liturgy.
 
Pentecost Sunday 31st May 2020
Pentecost Film Project: Get involved and make a short film!
The Pentecost story is told in the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2. Do read it if you can: it’s a great moment when the mystery of the Holy Spirit caused people to connect with each other and with God in a new way after the death and resurrection of Jesus. This was a moment when people heard each other in a new way, and the Spirit was somehow giving them a deeper understanding and empathy for each other, and a deeper mystical, empowering connection with God.

While we are separated physically from each other, the festival of Pentecost, with its focus on spiritual connection and empathy for each other, seems more relevant than ever. Do you have a short story or reflection you could send us? We’d like to ask you, if you’d like to, to make a short film, up to 2 minutes, on your phone, telling a story of your experience of lockdown. We would like to put them together and upload to our YouTube channel as part of our marking of Pentecost.
   
There are so many different experiences of this pandemic amongst our own congregation and community; some have been working throughout, in care homes, in the NHS, working from home. Some have been furloughed, others have been shielded or at home staying safe. Some of us have been ill, some bereaved. After these weeks of lockdown, some are finding this situation very hard; some are struggling with fragile mental or physical health. Some have found new meaning in the natural world or relief at a less hectic life. We are very fortunate to have a professional filmmaker in our congregation, Carolyn, who has made a short ‘how-to’ film to help all of us who will be trying this for the first time.  This ‘how-to’ film will be on our Youtube channel from Saturday 16th May.   Please email your film, by 6pm on Thursday 28th May, to pcc@sjp.org.uk and we will put as many as we can together to upload to our Youtube channel, telling the story of this Pentecost in our own way.
 
Online liturgies, prayers, opportunities to meet and support one another
The cluster groups help us keep in touch and support one another. It’s never too late to join in if you would like to connect with a smaller group of St James’s people. Different groups are operating differently; some are on WhatsApp, or Zoom, email, or phone.   Please email Joan at community@sjp.org.uk to join one.

Your clergy John, Daniel, Ivan and Lucy are here to help you too – please get in touch through the website.

New Assistant Churchwardens
The Churchwardens, Deborah and Trevor, write…
We are delighted to welcome Claire Wright and Ben Bloom as Assistant Churchwardens to help support the life of our congregation along with us.

• Claire says…It was such a relief to land safely at St James’s after several years of trying, not always very hard, to find an inclusive church that welcomed me.  Five years on, and I can’t imagine life without being part of the St James’s community.  Contributing in whatever way I can, to the church’s growth seems a natural next step.  I have worked as a nurse/midwife, community educator, and NHS manager, so have a broad range of skills which I believe I could put to good use on the community’s behalf.
• Ben says… I am interested in taking on this role so that I might be of service to the community that has scooped me up with kindness and love since joining a year ago. I am also hopeful that the role would give me the opportunity to learn a great deal, and gain an insight and understanding into the workings of a parish. Much of my professional work experience in the last few years has been dedicated to engagement within diverse communities, and in particular promoting participation in health campaigns and social activities. It is my hope that I could serve the SJP community by supporting and representing them, helping to nudge us all forward at a time of great uncertainty and growth, whilst also being attentive to the wider community on our doorstep who might not come in to worship.

Both Claire and Ben are already very much involved in building the SJP community in these strange times, and we really appreciate their willingness to take on these roles.

Regular services

• Midday Prayer is led every day on our YouTube channel
• Compline videos are available online or to join in person on Zoom any evening at 9pm, email adolfosansolini@gmail.com 
• Evening Eucharist on Zoom every Wednesday at 6pm. Email pcc@sjp.org.uk to join the list who receive details each week. This is an informal contemplative Eucharist with breakout groups for discussions and the telling of stories (if you wish)

And a new addition…. The 9am Reboot
One of the important roles for John, our new Associate Rector, is to help maximise the emotional and spiritual well-being of our congregation and he’s jumping straight in by hosting a 20-minute online relaxation session on Zoom at 9am every day for 20 days (excluding Sundays) starting on Tuesday 19th May. Each morning, John will lead you through some gentle stretches, breath-work and mindfulness exercises that will help calm your mind, reset your stress system and set a positive intention for the coming day. If you’re theologically-minded, you might call it ‘an inclusive fresh expression of participative embodied liturgy in virtual space during an pandemic’ but that’s a bit of a mouthful, so we’re just calling it The 9am Reboot!
 
You only need a very modest amount of physical agility and it’s suitable for people whenever they are on their spiritual journey. Try it once. See if you like it. Come back as much or as little as you want but you will get the deepest benefit if you can join every day. You don't need any special equipment. Ideally, you'll sit on the floor, maybe on a mat or a cushion. (You can sit in a chair but you won't have enough room to fully do all of the movements.) And wear loose comfortable clothing you can move around in.On Tuesday 19 May at 9am when you are ready to join the session please click on this link (please join a few minutes early if you need to check your audio/video):

• Join Zoom Meeting
  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89111773507?pwd=NElBdERzQzBYTjF0UTFpSi8wei9NUT09
  Meeting ID: 891 1177 3507 / Password: 757142 

(The link should stay the same for the whole 20 days. Unfortunately there is no audio-only option because John needs to be able to show you what to do – but he’s also getting in touch with all of our cluster groups to find out more about what you’re up to and whether he can help resource you in any way.)
 
If you have any queries at all about The 9am Reboot, just drop John an email at associate.rector@sjp.org.uk.
 
Call for suggestions, feedback and ideas
As we continue to develop our online support, connections, liturgy, events, we would like to hear from you what would be most helpful for you as we go along in these strange times.

Thank you so much to you, our volunteers and also to our skeleton staff who are, along with you, learning about what is helpful and what isn’t and how to do it!  Some ideas suggested so far are that we might run a series on the Psalms, as a continuation of our Gospel Conversation series, to discuss the amazing variety of lament, rejoicing, distress, anger and praise that is found there. And to write our own psalm in the process. We could run more discussion or theological conversation and reflection if that is something that would be helpful. Or run an online version of our Camino course, an introduction to the Christian faith for beginners and experienced alike. We are looking into a way to make prayer requests more widely shared too. We have been delighted to be joined by people from all over the world and value our visitors hugely.

All feedback is welcome so please do be in touch with your thoughts and ideas about what would help and support you and what you would like to see.
 
A resource to support mental health
Our refugee and asylum support worker, Jo Gowers, has put together some material to aid all of us in these times. Please find a guide to ‘Looking after your mental health during Covid 19’ here, with thanks to Jo. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MPv_1ab2pdkqG_LmHLGT7cHRoSTDZQ3JZRC2W3VNse4/edit?usp=sharing 
 
Our Caravan Counsellors are continuing to offer listening support 7 days a week
The Caravan Listening and Counselling drop in service normally operates in St James’s garden 7 days a week, in partnership with CCPE.  The Caravan coordinator, Ian, writes "The caravan phone counselling service is growing consistently. Some are being referred on by many NHS services and centres, and it is good to have capacity to help support the NHS and all the people who call for support. There is also the opportunity for people to move to zoom if they find a therapist they want to continue working with. We have also been doubling up some of the shifts as the service has grown."
 
Please let others know, or call yourself, if you need them.
 
And finally… in aid of Christian Aid (Christian Aid Week is 10-16 May)
The St James's Pub Quiz Thursday 21 May, 7.30pm-8.30pm
Email pastoralassistant@sjp.org.uk to receive details including the Zoom link
Come and join us for an evening of fun, thanks to the Circus Spirit group and our pastoral assistant Elijah Kinne. Everyone more than welcome with the opportunity to donate during the quiz if you wish!

Saturday 9 May 2020
Welcome to the weekly update during lock-down from St James’s Piccadilly
(Click Read More)

See here for the eNews from the Rector and Churchwardens. Main items:

• Latest position - St James's Emergency Appeal
• Invitation to join on 6pm Eucharist on Wednesday 22 April via Zoom. Email Graham Cooper on pcc@sjp.org.uk to be sent an invitation before the time. There will be a chance to connect and talk after the service too, depending on numbers.
• Our eco-contemplative liturgy this month will be on Zoom at 9.45am on Sunday 26 April. If you are in the fortunate position of having some outside space, please do Zoom from outside, or from a window or/door with a view. Alternatively, you might like to collect a leaf, flower, twig or stone before the liturgy. Participants will be invited to speak about their garden or view or object or experience of the natural world during lockdown if they would like. Please email ecochurch@sjp.org.uk to request an invitation to join.
• Midday prayers will continue each day during lockdown, from now on from a variety of locations, using Youtube and Zoom from Monday 20 April.
• Contact groups Many new contact groups, as well as existing groups such as the LGBTQ+ group, Circus Spirit, Camino Companions, are meeting online and keeping in touch by a huge variety of means.  If you are not yet part of a contact group and would like to keep in touch with a smaller number of St James’s people in this way, please email pastoralcoordinator@sjp.org.uk or community@sjp.org.uk.

Over 90% of our income disappeared overnight with the closure of the market in the courtyard, the closure of the church building, cessation of services and the stopping of the concerts and events programme. St James's has a dedicated and close-knit staff team.  We have had to furlough, cut hours, change contracts and limit work for all our staff, who are facing a very uncertain future, as are many of you, at the moment.  Read message from the Rector and Churchwardens here

Click 'read more' to see the St James's Newsletter of 7 April 2020

Death Cafés for St James’s Church Piccadilly
Come join us, over (virtual) coffee and cake, to chat about death.

Death Café is an international movement that offers safe places for people to explore their thoughts about death, and to discuss them with others. For the St James’s community, we will hold a series of facilitated, small group discussions using the online platform Zoom.

New dates

• Thursday, 9 April, 10am – 11am
  
• Tuesday, 14 April, 8pm – 9pm
  
• Wednesday, 15 April, 1pm – 2pm
  
• Friday, 17 April, 10am – 11am
   
  

Additional sessions will be scheduled in due course.  The facilitator, Lia Shimada, is Associate Chaplain of Whitelands College and a professional mediator. She runs the Death Café programme at Brompton Cemetery, where her infant son is buried. To register for a discussion, or if you are interested in participating at a later date, please email Lia at lia@liashimada.com. Please include the date and time of your preferred session.

Update 23/3/2020
Though closed to public worship, churches were able to remain open for private prayer. That has now changed. The London bishops issued this new instruction yesterday evening. All London Diocese church buildings are to be closed.

See also

• Latest news from St James's on the Covid-19 outbreak
• Our resources page - 'shut but not closed'

On the advice of the Archbishops we have suspended all public worship for the forseeable future. This means there won't be any Communion services or other services on Sundays or during the week. Prayers will still be said by the clergy and vergers each day in church, but no public services will be held. We shall shortly update this, with additional news about other events that take place at St James's.
Lucy Winkett Rector

• More here
  

NB Our Lent Contemplative Space programme is also suspended with immediate effect

The Covid 19 virus and St James’s Church
For public health reasons all events at St James's have been cancelled.  See more here

This is your opportunity to get involved in helping to shape the future of St James's
This year’s Annual Meeting of Parishioners and Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) will take place on Sunday 19 April commencing at 1.30pm. Follow Read More

Eco pilgrimage to Knepp Wildland Saturday 25 April
Knepp is a 3,500 acre estate just south of Horsham, West Sussex. Since 2001, the land – once intensively farmed - has been devoted to a pioneering rewilding project. Using grazing animals as the drivers of habitat creation, and with the restoration of dynamic, natural water courses, the project has seen extraordinary increases in wildlife. Extremely rare species like turtle doves, nightingales, peregrine falcons and purple emperor butterflies are now breeding here; and populations of more common species are rocketing. For further details see: www.knepp.co.uk/home

This is a self-guided visit, so there is no cost apart from train/bus fares. For more information, speak to any member of the Eco Church team or email ecochurch@sjp.org.uk

We have dates for the ordination of two former members of our community and our new Curate

• Susy Brouard will be ordained deacon at Christchurch Cathedral Oxford at 2pm on Saturday 4 July. She is to be assistant curate at Kidlington with Hampton Poyle. She would absolutely love it if some St James’s people could go to her ordination, no tickets required. Contact her on discosusy@btinternet.com 
• Georgina Elsey will be ordained deacon at St Paul’s Cathedral London (time TBC) on Saturday 4 July. She is to be assistant curate at St John’s Hyde Park and would similarly love it if some St James’s people could go to her ordination
• Mariama Ifode, our new curate, will be ordained deacon at St Paul’s Cathedral at the same service
  
  Please contact the Parish Secretary, David Hamilton-Peters, if you would like to attend: secretary@sjp.org.uk
  

The PCC invites you to join the discussion on
all things St James’s in a World Café format with a simple lunch, lively conversation, and prayerful consideration of our future.

What is an ‘inclusive church’? How can we be more ‘adventurous’? How can we prepare well for the redevelopment project? Do we have our priorities right as a church? What about Planned Giving?
Join the discussion and have your say . . .

• Sunday 1 March 1.00pm-2.30pm: Mission
• Sunday 5 April 1.00pm-2.30pm: Place
• Sunday 24 May 1.00pm-2.30pm: Money
  
• Sunday 21 June 1.00pm-2.30pm: Space

This is just one of hundreds of comments made as part of the PCC's survey of our community, friends and contacts. Thank you to everyone who responded.  See the report, here

We are saddened to hear of the death of Margarita, who has been associated with St James's over many years. She previously served as a member of the PCC and as Treasurer.  We send our condolences to her family. 
May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

The funeral took place at St James's on Saturday 15 February 2020

Introduction For 8 years, St James’s Church has developed and run the ‘Camino course’, a 12 week course meeting fortnightly on a Wednesday evening from Advent (December) to Ascension (May). Named after the Camino pilgrimage route in Spain, Camino (meaning ‘pathway’) is a chance for up to 25 people at a time to get to know each other, learn, discuss, pray, and explore their faith in an open and inclusive spirit.

Because of demand, it has not been possible for participants to repeat the course and the desire has been expressed for more opportunities to travel together through life’s adventures and challenges as a congregation and community.

Camino Companions We invite anyone who would like to, to develop with us a longer term companionship, travelling with Christ and walking with each other. Centred around silence and a simple celebration of the Eucharist, followed by a chance to talk, becoming a companion along the Way for each other will give us a chance to deepen existing friendships and make new ones. The word ‘companion’ means ‘one we break bread with’, giving expression to the prayer we say every Sunday ‘we are all one body because we all share in one bread’ (Click 'Read More')