The Rector Who are we?
Like most churches, St James has a wide range of members. On any given Sunday you will find kids, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, single people and married couples. We include educators, contractors, engineers, nurses, schoolkids, artists, homemakers, doctoral students, retirees and administrators. We come from St James, Smithtown, Stony Brook, Nesconset, Hauppauge, Setauket, Commack, Centereach and further afield. Some of us have lived on Long island our whole lives; others (including the Rector) are newcomers to the area; some are cradle Episcopalians and others have joined us from other denominations.
What brings us together is our desire to worship God, and at the core of our life together is our Sunday morning worship, with its focus on preaching, music and the Eucharist. We enjoy one another's company, whether it's at a social event, a fundraiser, teaching Sunday School, caring for a parishioner in need, participating in committees, working in the Smithtown Food Pantry, in the gardens, or, of course, at coffee hour!
Rector
The Rev. Dr. Raewynne J. Whiteley
Vestry
Pat Westlake, Warden
Jeff Smith, Warden
Donna Wachter, Treasurer
Stephanie Coleman
Karen Douglass
Debbie LaMano
Chris Mauro
Karen Noack
Kurt Rettig
Jack Schultheis
Art Strassle
Art Strassle is a first year Vestry member. He & his wife,Joan, live in Nesconset. All four of their children & all eight grandkids live off Long Island. Art is an usher & a member of the Vestry Finance Committee. He'd be happy to listen to any parishioner questions or concerns & find out the answer if he doesn't know it.
Staff
Laurie Mannix, Parish Administrator and Clerk of the Vestry
Dara Linthwaite, Choir Director
Istvan Dioszegi, Organist