What the LORD requires of us is this:
To do justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with our God. (Micah 6.8)
Mission
Mission is just as important as worshipping God, because we are called by God not merely to be believing people, but also to be daring, caring and sharing. In fact, the word mission comes from a word which means ‘to send’.
We believe that a church that doesn’t serve its community isn’t fully or truly a church of God.
Here are a few of the things we at St James’s have been doing:
In November 2024 we held Mission Sunday, and from the responses in our own congregation, these are the things St James’s is now engaging with in mission:
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Founding the Friends of St James’s Churchyard as a community group to further develop the green space surrounding the church building as a place of welcome, beauty and serenity in our patch of busy and built-up North London.
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Having the church open more in the cold months as a Winter Warm Hub, to become a place of warmth, welcome and refuge, particularly for those struggling with heating costs
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Forming a group of Listening Ears, ready to be available when the church is open to all those who desire a person to speak to
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Launching an Alpha Course at St James’s for spiritual seekers and those curious about Christianity
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Starting up a Hygiene Bank to complement the foodbank and local food pantries in our neighbourhood, wishing to address a pressing local need
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Re-establishing a chapter of the Mothers’ Union, an organisation found throughout England and the Anglican Christian world as support to parents and families
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Convening a local history group to explore the heritage and legacy of St James’s Parish and its parish church, working towards having our house of prayer and worship welcome visitors for Heritage Open Days, organised by Heritage England
Continuing to love our neighbours here and now, since 1831
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Distributing free meals to needy local families during the school holidays (in partnership with a number of organisations, including the Felix Project, Enfield Futsal League, and the Arnold Clark Community Fund)
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Opening the church on Christmas Day for a soup kitchen and open house, for providing food, company and holiday cheer for the homeless, the elderly and those on their own. Publicity and transport having been supported in past years by the Old Enfield Charitable Trust.
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Being a founding member church of (and giving long-term financial support to) the Enfield Churches Debt Centre, in partnership with Christians Against Poverty, for those who seek to be liberated by the captivity of indebtedness.
We are committed to alleviate hardship and suffering, both near and far, and to this end:
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We as a church have committed a portion of our income every year to charitable giving; through suggestions from our congregation, plus in response to various appeals, the Parish of St James has given in recent years to the following charities and causes:
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Supporting local causes:
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With local primary schools in helping them provide books in a lending library
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The Chickenshed Theatre (working with young people in Enfield Borough)
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All People All Places, in its work with the Enfield Churches Winter Night Shelter
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Raising funds in the autumn at harvest time for the North Enfield Foodbank, and for other charities.
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- Charities working nationally:
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Organisations operating globally:
- Tearfund
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Church- and Christian-led disaster and relief appeals in Mozambique, Angola and Dominica
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Action Aid UK, in helping women and girls in poverty
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