Things I love about Saint James…

October 7, 2025

Saint James is an intergenerational community. It includes people of all ages. So while I am unable to be with my extended family every week (parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren), I can be with members of their generation every week! This helps me remember their gifts and struggles. For most of us, an intergenerational community is something we get at church and nowhere else.

Saint James is a community that cares for its members and community. When you have the happiest news to share, your church family will rejoice with you. When you have the saddest news to share, your church family will pray for you, mourn with you, stand by you  and likely deliver a casserole to you! This care and concern is a church thing, rarely found elsewhere.

Saint James is a community that respects the fundamental equality and dignity of Women and Men. In the ELCA, both women and men can be pastors, bishops, and leaders. Sadly, this is not true of most Christian communities.

Saint James is a community that respects the dignity of your LGBTQ friends and family members. Sadly, this is not true of most Christian communities.

Saint James has an understanding of God that is big enough to be useful in a complex and modern world. We don’t, for example, believe the Bible is a science book about creation. As the saying goes, ‘We take scripture seriously, not literally.’

Saint James has the best staff of any church I know. That includes Linda Q., Rebecca A., Kristin R., Larry C., & Dave D. They are competent, caring and creative with big and generous spirits to match!

Saint James is a faithful and generous community. Our members regularly support programs to feed the hungry in our neighborhood and around the world! And on any given week, 50 or more people of all ages will be engaged in Bible Study leading up to weekend worship.

Saint James regularly offers a simple, elegant and traditional worship service led by gifted musicians and lectors. It’s not rock and roll, but you won’t find a more thoughtful service anywhere within 100 miles.

Saint James includes people like you. Our members are a diverse and interesting group of people with incredible gifts, spirits and life stories. To know the people of Saint James is to fall in love with God all over again!

Thank you for being who God created you to be; and for being Saint James.

Pastor Bill

©️2025 Pastor Bill Bernau. All rights reserved.