The Backpack Ministry at St. James provides healthy snacks on the weekend throughout the school year for needy children at Glenpool Elementary in first through third grade. The identified children are those who are at risk of going without food on the weekends. This program began at St. James in January 2008 and currently serves 44 children. Tonya Thomas, staff member at Glenpool Schools helps us facilitate this program with the children. The children are very excited when they receive the food every week! Our committee is looking forward to another wonderful school year helping these children!

The Mission Committee would like you to check out the new Mission Opportunities Board just outside the sanctuary doors! Mission is something we as Christians are all called to, as Christ commands us to love and care for one another. The great thing is that mission can take many shapes and forms! We are called at different times to give of our time, and our talents as well as our treasure. In short no matter your age or circumstance God has a mission for you!

St. James volunteers work the 4th weekend of every month. We are responsible for a Friday pick up of food from Reasors Grocery in Jenks, and for staffing the food bank on Saturday from 10am-12pm. Groceries are given out to clients as well as access to any fresh items that have been donated from Reasors. Other works includes stocking of shelves, sorting cans and cleaning out equipment.

In early June, 14 people from the St. James family made a long distance trek to Chicago to participate in a Mission opportunity called DOOR (Discovering Opportunity for Outreach and Reflection). For 5 days they joined together in small groups to go out and meet new mission challenges around Chicago. Every team member was filled by this experience, humbled by those they met and worked with, and overjoyed to find that a difference can be made. As the DOOR name implies, there is the discovery that opportunities to do the same or similar missions exists here in the Tulsa metroplex.

St. James is involved in a food pantry - The Jenks Community Food Bank - every 4th Saturday of the month. One of the missions in Chicago was working at a food pantry. There are opportunities to sort and box food for delivery to the Jenks Community Food Bank. One of the missions in Chicago involved boxing up food for delivery to children and elderly in need. St. James is involved in ministry to the elderly at Grace Living Center. One of the mission in Chicago involved going to a retirement living center and helping staff and visiting with the residents.

St James has supported the Day Center for the Homeless by delivering clothing and sorting clothing as well as providing meals for the day to those in residence. One of the missions in Chicago was sorting clothing at a thrift shop, and another working with displaced families. Going away to do mission is a great experience for all, it takes you out of your comfort zone and allows you to dedicate all your time during those days without the distractions of your everyday life. But the Mission committee would ask you to consider becoming involved in local leadership. We found that several of the leaders at DOOR grew up in the neighborhood being served, and came to love serving their hometown.

If we take the time, and use our ears to hear the need, eyes to see the need, and energy to minister to the need, mission can indeed be a trip to our hometown, and what a glorious ride! You are encouraged to check out the new Mission Opportunities bulletin board in the Narthex to see what missions we are involved with, and find out how we can all lend a helping hand to those who are in need. Small mercies can become the miracle of hope, to someone in a desparate situation. In the process of serving others, we are all blessed beyond measure by those we meet and help.

Every month we make a payment on our church's mortgage which reduces our debt. You might also be surprised to know that our payment also helps other Presbyterian churches expand their ministry - and when churches build, lives are changed!

We chose to finance our Phase III building project (Dancer Hall) through the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program. Not only did we get a very competitive rate, but a portion of the interest we pay every month is used to make loans to sister congregations. According to the Investment and Loan Program, over 60% of the interest paid on all General Assembly loans in 2007 will be reinvested in future loans and grants to local congregations.

Paying interest on a loan is inevitable, but it's nice to know some of that interest provides seed money that expands Christ's mission beyond our own doors.

Earning interest is nice too! Members and friends of St. James can also invest a portion of their savings and investments with the Presbyterian Investment & Loan Program. They earn a competitive return on their investment and the safisfaction of knowing their funds are helping churches build and expand. If you would like to know more about becoming a supporting investor call Ben Blake at (800) 903-7457, ext. 5865.