Care and Prayer Ministries
Offerings of Prayer at St. James'
Prayers of the People and the Parish Prayer List
St. James’ has a strong commitment to the power of prayer. One way we have expressed that commitment is by including the Prayers of the People in every service, where we pray for the world, the church, our lives, for those who are sick, and for those who have died. During the Prayers you are invited to offer your own names out loud or to hold them silently in your heart.
We also offer a parish prayer list in which people are invited to put either their name or someone else’s name (with their permission) on our weekly prayer list, which is printed in the Sunday insert. You are invited to take this list home and use it in your daily, private prayers.
To place someone on the prayer list, please email their name to prayer@stjameshawaii.org. Names will remain on the prayer list for four weeks, and then you will need to have the name re-added if desired.
Prayer Team
The St. James' prayer team is available most Sundays at the 9:30am service. We are so blessed to be available to offer prayer during Communion in the bell tower to anyone who is feeling in need of it, for any reason. It is important for the parish to know that the prayer team is here to bear your burden with you, never to judge, and that no worry or concern is too small. This is a sacred and safe place and confidentiality is strictly observed. Our God is so loving, and so generous, and wants to show us this by deepening our relationship with Him. Prayer is one way to do that; it helps us get to know Him more fully. And of course, where two or three gather in His name, there He is with them.
Prayers of Thanksgiving
Sometime ago St. James’ began a tradition of inviting forward those who wish prayers of thanksgiving for something good that has happened in their life. It is a powerful moment in our liturgy as we lift one another up to God. At the appointed time in the service, the priest invites those forward who have something for which they wish to give thanks. The clergy offers a prayer of thanksgiving on behalf of the congregation.
It is quite moving and leads us into the Celebration of Great Thanksgiving where we give thanks for the greatest gift God has given to us and all of humanity, the gift of salvation and grace to sustain us on our spiritual journey by means of the Sacraments and community.