About Us

We are a Welcoming Worshiping Community

We gather as a Christian community to praise our loving God, and to witness to others that God is alive in the world and active in our personal daily lives. We believe that worshiping as a faith community is a sacred responsibility for all Christians.

The Word of God (the Holy Scriptures) nurtures and guides us along our way, and the Holy Spirit sustains and strengthens us on our earthly pilgrimage.

Our prayers for others, for ourselves and for the world remind us that we are called to faithfully serve God as followers of Christ. As followers we are called to respect the dignity of every human being and to seek justice and peace among all people.

Our hearts and doors are always open to newcomers, visitors and passersby. In an atmosphere of spiritual growth, we are building a community of deepening faith, accepting one another, as Jesus accepts each one of us. If you have no spiritual home, we invite you to be part of our Community of Faith.

We are a Sacramental Church

We believe that God is present and at work in His creation, and through the sacraments of His Church, God sustains and empowers His people every step of the way to share in His own work and ministry to the world.

We believe that we are called to worship God not as spectators but as active participants. The 1979 Book of Common Prayer guides our worship service on Sunday mornings, supports us with daily prayers and enhances all major events in our lives. All who share in the joy of the Resurrection, children and adults, are invited to be honored guests at Our Lord's Table.

We are a Ministering Church

We believe that all of the baptized are called to represent Christ and His Church; to bear witness to Him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given to them, to carry on Christ's work in the world - the ministry of reconciliation.

Rector- Rev. Eletha Buote-Greig

The Rev. Eletha Buote-Greig has been rector of St. James’ since December, 2004. She was educated in the Providence public school and a graduate of the University of Rhode Island. In 1982 she felt called to the priesthood and entered the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She was ordained priest in 1986.

Eletha Buote-Greig direct phone: 401-258-1651
Email: elethabg@cox.net

Director of Family Ministries- The Rev. Deacon Pat Zifcak

The Rev. Patricia Zifcak is an ordained vocational deacon in the Episcopal Church. Following many years of discernment, an M.Div. from Andover Newton Theological School and completion of the Diaconate Formation Program sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, Rev. Zifcak was ordained to the Vocational Diaconate in June, 2002. Rev. Zifcak has taught at The Park School in Brookline for twenty-eight years, primarily physical education for nursery through ninth grade. She is Secondary School Counselor for families whose children are preparing to leave The Park School and an advisor to sixth graders. She is part of the ministerial staff of the Outdoor Church in Cambridge. At St. James Pat is responsible for Family Ministries.

Organist & Choir Director- Shirley E.G. Ayers

Director of Music Ministries is a new title at St. James Church and also for Shirley Ayers, but she and St. James Church have a lifelong association for she has been a member here since birth. After graduating from Woonsocket High School, Shirley attended Barrington College where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree, magna cum laude in music education with a minor in voice. She then spent 20 years teaching elementary music in Woonsocket and 13 years teaching third grade, collecting additional credits in many subject areas and taking additional organ lessons. Meanwhile she became the church organist in 1973 and the organist/ director in 1986. In December of 2005 she accepted her present position. Email: ShirleyAyers@cox.net

Executive Secretary- Diane M. Cardin

Diane Cardin has been our parish administrator for twenty-five years. Her administrative skills, faithfulness and gentle nature have brought friendship and comfort to many parishioners throughout those years, and have given much support to our clergy (rectors and interims) who have served St. James.

Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Email: dianec1@cox.net

VESTRY

The vestry is composed of the rector and a group of elected parishioners who administer the temporal affairs and share in the spiritual affairs of the parish. Vestry meetings are held in the ECW room in the parish hall at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday each month. Every meeting is open to all members.

Our Current Vestry

Senior Warden- Robert Bennett
Junior Warden- Robert Larder, Esq .
Clerk- Georgia Brown
Treasurer-Joyce Meleleu
Marge Cummings – (term ends 2009)
Richard Gariepy - (term ends 2009)
Nancy Hudson - (term ends 2009)
Andrea Lee - (term ends 2010)
Nancy Paradee - (term ends 2011)
Ernie Potter - (term ends 2009)
Diana Silvia - (term ends 2009)
Sandra Slack – (term ends 2009)
JoAnn Sugden – (term ends 2010)