This page is maintained by a volunteer who is learning “on the job.” Thank you for your patience.
St. James the Fisherman Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 1668
Kodiak, AK 99615
(907) 486-5276
stjames@gci.net
We are at 421 Thorsheim Street. There is parking directly on Thorsheim Street (stairs only) or in the upper lot around the next corner (choice of stairs or a ramp).
Regular Sunday services are at 10:00 a.m. Please take special care for the vulnerable among us. Observe social distancing with anybody not known to be immunized who is not in your immediate household; wear a mask if you or any member of your household is ill; and wash or sanitize your hands regularly. If you are a member of a vulnerable group, check the blog entries at the bottom of this page for a list of online services offered by other congregations of The Episcopal Church.
If you haven’t been to an “old school” worship service before, we’re a little different. During worship, the daily noise of the world falls away; traditional hymns, plenty of Bible reading and prayer, a printed liturgy that also quotes extensively from the Bible, thoughtful homilies, and a sanctuary full of natural light combine to allow our minds to let go of the busyness of life and enter peaceful contemplation. Bring your troubles to God and ask Him for a renewed and strengthened spirit.
We remember; we give thanks; we repent; we rejoice in forgiveness and hope.
We are now in the season of Lent, the time when we retell the story of Jesus’ journey toward his death on behalf of all humankind. Because we are making a journey that many have made before us, we have turned back to Holy Eucharist, Rite I in our prayer book. This version of the service uses the old language–thou art instead of you are–and points us even further back, to the days when Jesus first walked among us.
It’s a long-standing tradition in Kodiak for the “Three Saints,” the three local congregations named after saints, to share this Lenten journey. St. Mary’s Catholic Church hosted this year’s Shrove Tuesday fellowship meal. In the coming weeks, we will be meeting on Wednesday evenings for fellowship meals and worship that explores the themes of Lent. The location may be at St. Mary’s, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, or here at St. James; check the “Coming Events” page below for details.
Lent is also a time of personal, solitary exploration. The United Thank Offering, a ministry of The Episcopal Church, has published a little calendar with suggestions for daily thanksgiving for the small blessings of life. Check out the printable calendar and other resources for Lent at www.unitedthankoffering.com. And don’t forget to pick up your free copy of Forward Day By Day, a quarterly magazine of Bible readings, meditations, and prayers, from the basket in the hallway at St. James.
As we move into Holy Week, there are opportunities for fellowship and service almost every day. On the Saturday before Good Friday, we gather to make palm crosses; that Sunday we wave them for Jesus’ triumphal procession into Jerusalem. The mood deepens as we approach Good Friday. On that Wednesday there is a Service of Tenebrae, which acknowledges the thickening shadows around Jesus during his last days on Earth. On Thursday we recreate Jesus’ act of profound humility in washing the disciples’ feet like a servant at the door of his master’s house. Friday takes us through the Stations of the Cross. Saturday morning features a simple prayer service. On that morning, the disciples, worn out from grief, must have looked at the gathering day and thought, “Now what?” We remember this but also look forward in expectation, because we know what comes next.
When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain,
Thy touch can call us back to life again.
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again like wheat that springeth green!
We strive to be welcoming to all. We celebrate Holy Eucharist (Communion) frequently; all are welcome at the Lord’s table. If you need a gluten-free wafer, let one of the people wearing vestments know before the service begins. If you would like to receive a blessing, but not the Eucharist, simply fold your hands over your chest instead of holding them out. We use smokeless oil candles and do not use incense, for the sake of persons with respiratory issues. If you will need any accommodations not already listed here, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Children of all ages are welcome in the sanctuary. If you need to take your baby somewhere quieter, we have a padded bench in the narthex and a rocking chair in the parish hall; feel free to enter and leave the service as needed. For toddlers and preschoolers, there is a busy basket of quiet toys on the organ in the back of the sanctuary, as well as a box of bigger toys in the parish hall.
If you are in urgent need of assistance, please call Rev. Elsa DeHart at (907) 539-1749 or Rev. Barbara Zimmerman at (907) 539-6593.
For More Information: Send an email to the above address if you would like to receive our Weekly Missive. Or see the blog archives on this site for Coming Events, How to Serve, and other useful posts. Disregard the dates of the posts; each one is edited with up-to-date information. I posted a direct link to our Coming Events post just below this paragraph (I hope!). (I’ll figure this stuff out eventually!)
Coming Events (Updated: 2/19/2024)
To Hear, to Ponder, to Act (Updated: 11/14/23)
The Episcopal Church: Loving, Liberating and Life-giving (Updated 7/16/22)