Hygiene Supply Drive

Help us care for our neighbors at Fulbright Elementary this August! Throughout the month, we're collecting hygiene items to help ensure students have access to everyday essentials that support their health, confidence, and success in the classroom. Bring your donations to the designated collection area anytime during August, and together we'll help meet a practical need in our community while sharing Christ's love in a tangible way.

Supply list

Serve at St. James

​Serving starts right here! There are always service opportunities right here at St. James, whether its in a worship service, helping in our Children's Ministry, or other special events. 

children's sunday school

We believe Sunday School is a vital part of a child's life, and we treat it accordingly. We are always looking for new Sunday School volunteers! Our Children's Sunday School meets from 9:30am-10:30am. You can sign up for one week, or more-there is no long term commitment necessary. 

Sign up here!  or contact Children's Director Melissa Stansbery for more information at [email protected].

Vacation bible school

Vacation Bible School has ended for 2026! Thank you to all of our incredible volunteers for an incredible week!

worship service opportunities

Sunday mornings are a busy time at St. James, and we are always in need of volunteers! Look below for the different areas you can be of service!

Usher: In all our worship services, ushers play an important role as they are often the first person our guests and members encounter as they enter the church.  Joining an usher team is a great entry point for new members to serve, as it provides a wonderful way to meet more people in the church. Contact Elaine Helffrich at [email protected] for more information.

Communion Server: Servers assist our pastors during the communion celebration on a rotational basis.  Stewards assist in setting & cleaning up communion following both the 8:30 and the 11:00 worship services. Contact Patty Tanner at [email protected] for more information.

Acolytes: St. James has a rich heritage of acolyte service for students in 5th grade through high school.  Our 8:30 and 11:00am Classic, and our 9:30am Modern services all provide opportunities for our acolytes to serve. Contact Lesley Cooper at [email protected] for more information.

2026 fiser-christie missions lectureship

November 7-8, 2026
St. James is pleased to welcome Dr. Sandra L. Richter as our 2026 Fiser-Christie Lectureship speaker for a special weekend exploring discipleship, Scripture, and our responsibility to care for God's creation.
Dr. Richter is a nationally recognized Old Testament scholar, author, and speaker whose work helps Christians better understand the world of the Old Testament and its significance for our lives today. She currently serves as the Robert H. Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. She earned her PhD in Hebrew Bible from Harvard University and her MA in Theological Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She also serves as a member of the NIV Committee for Biblical Translation.
Much of Dr. Richter's academic work focuses on Deuteronomy and the history, language, and archaeology of the biblical world. She is perhaps best known to a wider audience as the author of The Epic of Eden: A Christian Entry into the Old Testament and its popular Bible study curriculum, which helps readers understand the larger story of the Old Testament and find their own place within God's redemptive story.

Dr. Richter has also spent nearly two decades studying and speaking about the intersection of biblical theology and care for the environment. Her book, The Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says About the Environment and Why It Matters, explores what Scripture teaches about humanity's relationship with creation and the responsibility God's people have been given to care for it.
During the Fiser-Christie weekend, Dr. Richter will invite us to consider care for creation not simply as an environmental issue, but as a matter of Christian discipleship: How does Scripture describe our relationship with God's world? What does faithful stewardship look like? And how might following Jesus shape the way we understand and care for the earth?

About the Lectureship
Established in 2014 through generous gifts to St. James, the Fiser-Christie Lectureship brings respected scholars and thought leaders to our church for stimulating conversations that challenge us to think more deeply about our faith and our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ.
​
Through the lectureship, St. James seeks to engage important questions facing the church and world while equipping Christians to live out their faith with greater understanding, purpose, and conviction.

Serve Locally

We love our Little Rock family! At St. James, we are passionate about our local community, and we partner with multiple local nonprofits in Little Rock to help serve our neighbors. 

Project Transformation

For several years, St. James has partnered with Project Transformation Arkansas, a local chapter of a nationwide nonprofit. 

 Through the power of relationships and by leveraging a unique collaboration with local churches and community partners, Project Transformation equips young adults for leadership in the church and the world, helps amplifies God’s call with children and youth, and supports churches in being in ministry with their neighbors.

Beginning Wednesday, June 17, St. James will take volunteers each week to:
📖 Little Rock (10 spots)
📖 Pine Bluff (5 spots)
​
You can serve once, twice, or all summer long—whatever fits your schedule. Volunteers simply spend time reading with children and being read to by them. It’s meaningful, fun, and makes a lasting impact. 

Contact Jessica Durand at [email protected] for more information or to get signed up for a date.

canvas community + UNDER THE BRIDGE

Canvas Community is one of St. James' long running partnerships that operates in Downtown Little Rock, focusing on ministry to the homeless of the area. 

The first and second Mondays of each month, a St. James group called 'Under the Bridge' prepares and serves a meal at Canvas Community.

For information, contact Brad Sweeney. 

step encourager program

One Hour. One Student. A Lasting Impact.

Sometimes making a difference starts simply by showing up. Through the STEP Ministries Encourager Program, St. James volunteers are paired one-on-one with students from Fulbright Elementary to build meaningful, consistent relationships throughout the school year.
Encouragers meet weekly with students to work on reading and math skills, celebrate progress, build confidence, and—most importantly—be a trusted adult who reminds a child that they are seen, valued, and capable.
You don't need to be a teacher or tutor to become an Encourager. What matters most is a willingness to show up consistently, offer encouragement, and invest in the life of a child. A small commitment of time can make a difference that lasts far beyond the school year.

📅 Begins September 22
🕒 Tuesdays at 10:00 AM during the school year
📍 Fulbright Elementary
​
Interested in becoming an Encourager? Contact Brad Sweeney at [email protected] to sign up.

upward basketball

St. James hosts Upward Basketball each winter, and plays host to over 250 children and their families each week and weekend throughout the season! Upward is a HUGE ministry, and therefore takes a LOT of people to operate! There are several ways to help out: coaching, refereeing, or even just helping with concessions, scoreboards, or greeting! There's a job for everyone! 

The 2025-26 Upward season has concluded! Thank you to all our volunteers!

other partnerships

St. James maintains partnerships with many local nonprofits, and there are always more mission opportunities popping up! 

Habitat for Humanity
​Methodist Family Health
Salvation Army
​Ozark Mission Project
Camp Aldersgate
Foster Care of Pulaski County
Women and Children First
Our House
Upward Basketball
​Providence Park
​Immerse Arkansas

Serve Globally​

St. James takes seriously God's command to make disciples of all nations. Our annual Guatemala Mission Trip is the longest-running international Missions opportunity. 

Learn more!

GUATEMALA MEDICAL MISSION TRIP

Each year, St. James sends a mission team to Guatemala to partner with Impacto Ministry in sharing God’s love through hands-on service. From dental clinics and construction projects to community outreach, this trip offers a chance for all ages to make a tangible difference. Whether you’re building homes, helping provide care, or simply offering encouragement, you’ll experience the power of serving together across cultures.

2026 dates

September 25-October 4, 2026
Our 2026 Trip is FULL!