Outreach Ministries

St. James’ Outreach Ministries flow out of our common worship life together. As a parish community, we are committed to the pursuit of justice and peace for the sake of our community and the larger city of Baton Rouge. To that end, St. James is also pleased to partner with local organizations to support individuals experiencing various needs. The Outreach Committee consists of a chair, At-Large, and Ex Officio members, as well as representatives from the Vestry and Associate Vestry.

Community Connections Sunday 
Last Sunday of the Month
Bishops Hall, 8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m.
The St. James Outreach Committee facilitates Community Connections Sunday monthly for our downtown neighbors in need. Guests are invited for a time of fellowship, a warm meal, and pantry staples provided by the Greater BR Food Bank. Other local support services, such as EBR Library, Healthcare Navigator, basic health screenings, and vaccine access, are also available. Volunteers can expect to assist in welcoming and serving guests; sign-ups will be distributed in advance. Contact: Larry Mitchum
The following are Community Connections Sunday events for the fall:

  • August 25
  • September 29
  • October 27
  • November 24

St. James Christmas Feast
Sunday, December 15 | 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. | Bishops Hall
The Annual St. James Christmas Feast takes place each year in December and serves up a delicious holiday meal to guests. Basic health and cold-weather items are usually distributed, as well. Akin to Community Connections Sunday, the St. James Food Pantry and other support organizations are on hand. The Feast takes place in Bishops Hall, and volunteers assist in greeting and dining with guests, serving food and drinks, and distributing groceries. Contact: Emily Kelly

 

We Care Bags
We Care bags are simple snack bags made available to our neighbors who are hungry. St. James has an established partnership with the EBR Library System to offer bags to younger library patrons in need. Approximately 100 bags are delivered per week to the Main Library (7711 Goodwood Blvd.) and then distributed through the library courier system to branches where basic food would be most helpful. Volunteers assist in filling and delivering bags. Regular opportunities for volunteers to pack (i.e., We Care Wednesdays) and deliver bags are publicized to the parish community. Contact: Cahterine Altazan

St. James Serves 
In addition to the above regular ministries, St. James’ Outreach Committee is pleased to continue regular single-day service opportunities throughout the 2024-25 program year. In the past, most of these opportunities have fallen on Sundays (called “Serve Sunday”). However, for multiple reasons, the scope of these projects has broadened. While semi-regular occasions to serve will be available on Sundays, the Outreach Committee has flagged November 2, 2024, as a fall day of service. Details for an MLK Day of Service on January 20, 2025, will also be forthcoming. Previous single-day service opportunities have included: an activities day at a group home (Volunteers of America); lunch pack (St. Vincent de Paul); trash pickup and beautification (TULIPA and Keep LA Beautiful); and filling We Care bags.

Seasons of Giving
For the 2024-2025 program year, St. James Outreach is pleased to continue the Seasons of Giving collections in partnership with organizations that support our local community. These three collections will occur throughout the year and are easy ways for the larger St. James community to participate in important work. A collection in July is dedicated to area schools. The November collection continues St. James’ long-standing Angel Tree drive, providing holiday gifts for individuals and families. A spring collection will run to support a local organization to be determined.

Community Partnerships
St. James Outreach is pleased to partner with area organizations working to acknowledge and celebrate the God-given dignity of every human being. Partnerships are realized through semi-regular financial assistance, the publication of community events, and stand-alone workdays. Current partners include Front Yard Bikes, Line4Line, and Rebuilding Together Baton Rouge, among others.

Ministries Directory