One of the things I’ve already grown to deeply love about this parish is the churchyard. And when you stop to think about it, churchyards are a really weird thing. In ancient Roman and Jewish culture, and countless others around the world, the dead were buried outside the city walls because dead bodies were considered unclean. It was a matter of ritual purity and public health. But Christians, starting in the 4th and 5th centuries, began to bury their dead in and around their churches because of our belief that the dead will be raised in the resurrection (and where better to be raised than at church?). The churchyard here at St. James is a reminder that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1), and that when we worship each Sunday, we do so in the company of all those buried here and all those we love who now rest in God’s presence.

This Sunday, October 25, we’ll hear about some of the colorful and wonderful saints buried in our churchyard on graveyard tours starting at 5:30 p.m. But before that, please join us at 5 p.m. in the church for a family-friendly organ concert of spooky tunes played by our own music director, Victoria Shields.

Of course, there is a reason to the season, and the following Sunday, November 1, we will commemorate the Feast of All Saints. See further down in this email for how to add a loved one to our necrology (our list of those we remember by name), and for a funeral planning workshop I will be hosting following the 10:30 a.m. service. I promise you, it’ll be fun! — Fr. Daniel

Join us this Sunday for our annual Thrills and Chills organ concert at 5 p.m. and Historic Graveyard Tours at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome to get your spook on & learn about various personages in our graveyard in this really fun event for all ages. Don't forget your costume!

Thursday Choristers 5:00 pm (2nd-8th graders) and Adult Choir, 7:00 pm

Friday Morning Prayer Online, 9:00 am (at our Youtube Channel)

Saturday 11:30 am Funeral for Linda Petruccelli

Sunday Services 9:00 and 10:30 am

Children's Chapel at the 10:30 AM Service

Preacher: The Rev. Deacon Wendy Canas, Celebrant: The Rev. Astrid Storm

Halloween Festivities, 5:00 pm

In last Sunday's sermon, Mother Storm drilled down on Jesus' famous line "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." Is that really possible? Unfortunately, reality isn't quite as neat as that, and we often find that our "renderings to Caesar" come into conflict with our Christian beliefs. From the sermon:

I bring all this up here because, when we render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, I don’t think any of us want to think that that includes masked ICE agents seizing a mother just trying to go to her asylum hearing, only to be taken from her children and whisked off to a detention center in a state far away ... When we render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, I don’t think any of us want to think that that includes dropping bombs on innocent men, women, and children in Gaza--or anywhere.

Whatever regime is in power in whatever era this is preached, there are things happening in our names with our money that go right against our baptismal vows to love our neighbor as ourselves and to strive for the dignity of every human being. It’s not Caesar’s realm over here, and God’s over there. The world is way more complicated than that.

All Saints' Sunday is November 1, and it's our custom to print and read aloud the list of our deceased loved ones and those in our parish who have recently died. You can add names to the necrology until Wednesday, October 28, at the link below. 

Fr. Daniel will gently guide participants through practical conversations about funeral planning. This is intended for any adult of any age. We will discuss Episcopal theology of funerals and burial rites as well as work to plan details of our own funerals to include scripture readings and hymn choices.

“Intimate, immaculately fashioned” -The New York Times

Join us for an intimate evening of chamber music by the renowned Helicon Ensemble on Friday, November 6th at 7pm.  They will present their program “Children of Orpheus”. Their 2026-27 season also includes performances at The Baryshnikov Arts Center and The Frick Collection. A great opportunity to hear them at St James!

Click the button below for more information and tickets. Advance ticket purchase recommended!

Children's Chapel takes place weekly on Sundays at 10:35 am. More than a new name (and mascot! pictured above), this is a fresh way for our youngest members to worship together during the first part of our Sunday Holy Communion service. Kids will gather for a short, joyful liturgy filled with prayer, song, and stories from the Bible—then dive into hands-on formation activities that bring the day's lesson to life. Chapel is led by our High School interns, with support from our clergy. Victoria, our music director, will be teaching our Cherubs a new song each month to be shared at the 10:30 am. service! Children's Chapel takes place during the first half of the 10:30 am service. Everyone begins worship together, with the kids leaving after the opening Collect and returning for Communion.

Confirmation classes for kids 7th-12th grades take place Sunday evenings during the school year in this two-year program, culminating in confirmation by the bishop. All are welcome. Taught by the clergy of St. James. For the schedule and list of classes, click here. For questions, email Fr. Daniel at curate@stjamesscarsdale.org.

Spiritual Threads provides a space to reflect on our lives together. Bring whatever craft you're working on, or just come enjoy the conversation. Whether you knit, crochet, quilt, needlepoint, or just like being around people who do, we'll all explore our spirituality and develop new friendships.

The Fordham Pantry is a great way for the whole family to get involved in helping others in our area. Volunteers pack 300+ grocery bags for the food-insecure in the neighborhood of our partner parish, St. James Episcopal Church in Fordham. To be added to the email distribution list for this ministry (where you'll receive reminders and occasional updates), click the button below and we'll add you to our list.

All are welcome to join us as we make a trip into the city to feed those without adequate access to food. This is program in coordination with the Westchester-based "Midnight Run" organization. Youth and children are welcome and encouraged to participate with their families. 

Did you know we gather every Wednesday morning for a simple, 25-minute mid-week service? It's a great way to refresh or reset yourself spiritually. All welcome. Drop in as you can. Led by the clergy, and followed, for those who wish to join us, by an informal Bible Study. Absolutely no prior knowledge of the Bible needed.

Rural and Migrant Ministries Forum/Panel, Sunday November 15, 11:45 am

"O" Antiphons Advent Procession with Lessons & Carols, Sunday December 6th,  5pm

You can view this Sunday's bulletin at the link below. Names of all readers, servers, and acolytes are always listed on the last page of the bulletin. Readings are also there for readers to view in advance.