All-School Chapel is held each Tuesday morning for the entire student body and faculty.

PREPARING TO WORSHIP

BIG CHAPEL is conducted in the school's gym. The service follows the Order of Morning Prayer and is led by the rector or curate of St. James Episcopal Church.

After our opening hymn, all students sing the Venite (Psalm 95)

O come let us sing unto the Lord,
Let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,
and show ourselves glad in him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are all the corners of the earth,
and the strength of the hills is his also.

The sea is his and he made it;
and his hands prepared the dry lands.
O come let us worship and fall down,
and kneel before the LORD our maker.
For He is the Lord Our God;

And we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;

Let the whole earth stand in awe of him.
For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth;
and with righteousness to judge the world, and the peoples with his truth.

Following a reading from the Old Testament, (usually read by a 6th grade student) the children sing Psalm 127, the Nisi Dominus.

Unless the Lord builds the house, their labor is in vain who build it.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, in vain the watchmen keeps his vigil.

It is in vain that you rise so early and go to bed so late;
vain, too, to eat the bread of toil, for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Children are a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is a gift.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them!
He shall not be put to shame when he contends with his enemies in the gate.

This psalm is the school motto and the cornerstone for our founding in 1948.

Following a reading from the Gospel and the recitation of the Apostles' Creed, students sing The Lord's Prayer

The chaplain then gives the 'HOMILY' in which he talks about the lessons for each week and helps us apply the readings to our own lives today.

After the prayer, it's BIRTHDAY TIME! Any student who is having a birthday - or will have one before the following Thursday - is recognized. All present say a special prayer for the birthday celebrants:

Watch over your children, O Lord, as their days increase;
Bless and guide them wherever they may be.
Strengthen them when they stand;
Comfort them when discouraged or sorrowful;
Raise them up if they fall;
and in their hearts may thy peace which passes understanding
abide all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Following the homily,students, teachers, or guests may present a musical offering. Many times a particular class will prepare a song, a student will play a solo on the piano, violin, or another musical instrument, someone will read an original poem, or even faculty members will prepare a special musical offering.

Everyone says together our school prayer before our closing hymn:

Almighty God, fountain of all wisdom;
Enlighten by your Holy Spirit those who teach and those who learn.
Bless this school, St. James,
that it may be a center for learning and worship,
and that all who enter this place
may receive the light of the Gospel,
through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever. Amen.

The worship service is concluded when the Altar candles have been extinguished.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America is followed by singing the National Anthem.

Ms. Russell, Headmistress, concludes with announcements - and on special occasions, presents the much coveted SPARTAN AWARD to an outstanding student.

Following announcements, students are dismissed and return to their classes. They leave the chapel service with a renewed spirit. . .