St. James Episcopal Church

“To Learn, to Love, to Live the Word of God”

Several years ago our vestry discussed at length our mission as the Episcopal Church in South Pasadena. Each church has its own unique personality, charisms and call to mission. What is ours, we asked? It was an engaging and thoughtful exercise to reconsider, after a century of ministry and presence in South Pasadena, the call of God on our lives as the people of St. James’. After extensive discussion, the Vestry decided that the following would be our mission statement: “To Learn, to Love, to Live the Word of God.”

Learning takes place in many ways. It may be our children sitting on the floor watching the waters of Baptism splash over the heads of those committing themselves, or being committed as children, to a life grounded in Christ and the support and love of a community. It could be that particular teaching that caught one’s attention in a sermon, a Sunday School class, adult education, book discussion, Bible study, youth group gathering or in our pre-school. It may have been Maundy Thursday when young people stood at the altar for the first time or the morning our Bishop anointed and laid hands on 17 parishioners invoking the Spirit to bring each into the fullness of their walk with Christ. We have been and will be a place of learning.