Angel Tree

The sad truth is that 85% of all boys who become juvenile offenders have a parent or sibling who is already in jail. It's a vicious cycle, that can only be broken through love. Angel Tree was created to help churches reach out to these innocent children at Christmas time. To let them know they are not forgotten. To remind them that their parent still loves them. And that God loves them most of all. Last year, St. James joined with 13,000 other churches, delivering 480,000 Christmas presents to children, on behalf of an imprisoned parent. Something that simple can lift these children's despair, soothe their pain, and convince them that there are good people in the world. We gathered everyone who was receiving a gift into our Community Hall for singing, a good lunch and a visit with the "real" St. Nicholas (Our Bishop, John David Schofield).  He handed out the gifts to each child in the name of their parents in prison.  It was a powerful and moving experience for everyone as we celebrated the lives of these children and of the Christ Child who came to all of us as God's greatest gift.

As much as Angel Tree does to touch the lives of prisoners' children, it can also be a life-changing experience for you. Here is a program that everyone in the family can get involved in, with the power to teach young and old unforgettable lessons about the real meaning of Christmas.

Audio Tape Ministry

Every 8:00 and 10:30 Sunday service, holiday service and Adult Forum discussion is professionally recorded and dubbed onto compact discs (cd's). This sound reinforcement is available for just $2 per cd. Select any service going back several years, including the FM 97.3 rebroadcasts for the hearing impaired.

Food Pantry Ministry

Remembering that Jesus took a few pieces of bread and fish, and fed thousands, our Food Pantry attempts to pull off the same thing. But for us, the canned goods and pasta bags and peanut butter jars don't miraculously appear out of thin air. Your donations are requested on an ongoing basis, and can be deposited inside the grateful tub at the cathedral entrance.

The Food Pantry is opened on Wednesdays from 4:00 - 6:00 pm. Visitors are given enough food to feed a family of five, when they present a driver's license and social security card. Folks from outside the area are also given food, then we help find a pantry closer to their homes. It's through feeding someone's belly that we are given the chance to help feed their soul.

Helping Hands

Life goes on, even if you're home recovering from illness. We try to lend a hand at such times, by bringing a warm meal, or giving someone a ride to a doctor appointment. We can run a few errands, or even watch a child for a few hours. Come join us, as we put our christianity to practical purpose — helping others.

Poverello House

Drive down Ventura Street, deep into Fresno's downtown. Turn south on F Street, go to the end of the block and park in the fenced off parking lot on the left. You're at Poverello House, the gathering point for some of our city's needy people . For Christians, this is where the rubber meets the road.

We take turns with other Fresno churches, to provide a Sunday worship service for the men, women, and even children, who attend the Poverello House. On the fourth Sunday of each month, from 10:30 to 11:30, we are there, passing out song sheets, greeting folks, singing the old-time gospel music: Amazing Grace, Just as I Am, In the Garden. Our little group also prays with them for their special requests, then one of us gives a short message as the Spirit directs us.

This is a great opportunity to share God's love, with some people whom He especially loves.