Letter from Father James Michael St. George
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I know it is not easy visiting a new church community for the first time. Sometimes you feel like you are visiting a country club rather than a church.
You are filled with questions including: do I belong here? Am I really welcome? Will the people be unfriendly or too friendly? Will I be conspicuous? Will it be easy to leave if I don’t enjoy it? Will they ask me for money? Will my kids enjoy it? How should I dress? Am I welcome if I don’t believe? What if they find out that I am more sinful than I am pure?
As a senior pastor of Saint Miriam, I want to make your visit an enjoyable experience that is stress-free and relaxing. We designed our worship to be exciting, visually stimulating, and "user-friendly" for people of all backgrounds including those who have never attended church or those who have been away. In fact, most of our people were not regular churchgoers prior to attending Saint Miriam. So, if you're new or have been away from church for a while, you are in the majority when you visit us! We went to great lengths to make this a community for you and by you.
We share space with Mishkan Shalom, (“Tabernacle of Peace”), in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mishkan is a vibrant Jewish community. I invite you to support them and visit their website at: www.mishkan.org! We believe that the symbiosis that exists between our two faith traditions is stimulating, alive, and brings many people to the realization that we all really do serve one God!
As you explore our web pages, I hope you listen for that still, small voice that’s whispering in your heart. (It’s God calling you!) As you listen, ask yourself, “Can Saint Miriam be the community I’ve been hoping for?” "Can she help my family begin to find God again?" If you think the answer is "yes!" then please let me know and send a secure e-mail to me personally at pastor@MySaintMiriam.org.
We listen with our heart!
We listen with the ear of our heart. Maybe Saint Miriam is just what you’re looking for. We’re certainly looking for you.
Our community cares about you, your life, and where God fits into it. That’s why we’ve designed a church from the ground up. We believe you are more important than a 17th century church tradition trying to hold onto a past that is no longer relevant in today’s world.
Perhaps you have never been to church, or are a member of another church and are finding that it’s not a good fit. Maybe you recently got out of prison or have had enough of life on the street. Maybe you were abused or hurt in your past. Whether or not you have ever cared about church before, something led you to us! Don't concern yourself with the past; what matters now is how Saint Miriam can be relevant to you today and how we can show you that God still cares for you in your brokenness.
We’re counting on you, your curiosity, and on the spiritual rumblings you feel in your soul. Most importantly, we are counting on the hope you have that someday you might find a church community that actually listens to you, cares about you, and helps you discover for yourself the love God has for you!
“We listen with the ear of our heart…” Maybe Saint Miriam is just what you’re looking for. We’re certainly looking for you.
- Father Jim
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The Reverend Father James Michael St. George, CoA, MS, MDiv, B.C.E.T.S.
Father Jim St. George founded the Community of Saint Miriam with a group of like-minded friends after looking at, and visiting many, faith communities where he found something crucial lacking: unconditional acceptance.
In fact, many churches often pretend they offer you what you seek, but then the tables get turned after you become a member. This was simply not the way Jesus would have wanted it. So, Father, and his group, began seeking a community that really did exemplify this unconditional form of love. And while they found bits here and there, they never found the whole church! So, they decided to create one for others who thought the same way.
Father Jim was born and raised in a traditional Roman Catholic family in native Erie, Pennsylvania. He began a journey to the priesthood and then left his desire behind and became a licensed funeral director and funeral supervisor after his graduation from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, and after having attended Gannon University. He then began to work for his family funeral home as a fourth-generation funeral director; following a merger, he was then employed by a larger funeral home concern.
After much contemplation, the loss of a dear friend, and a few life-challenging and changing events, Father Jim became reacquainted with his desire to priestly ministry, and entered the process within the Episcopal Church. There he met much resistance to his determination to welcome everyone to the Lord’s Table. He felt at home for a time, and then he began the process of becoming a priest. He was denied twice – in a process of well over 11 years - and each time proved that the reasons for denial were erroneous. But, he never gave up or in; all to no avail until he found where he was called to be, in The Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch – a place where people could be who they are and find a community of love and hope.
Father Jim graduated summa cum laude from Howard University School of Divinity where he earned his Master of Divinity Degree. Father always had a heart for the marginalized and decided to attend a predominantly African-American seminary in order to attempt to learn more about oppression. He also attended Virginia Theological Seminary for Anglican Studies, and spent time aboard as recipient of a full fellowship award to attend an intensive seminarians program at the Canterbury Cathedral International Study Center located on The Precincts of the Canterbury Cathedral in the United Kingdom, covering all aspects of theology and spirituality. Father also studied with the University of Notre Dame in Liturgy and Sacraments and Sophia Divinity School for Catholic Theology.
In addition to his prior funeral and business professional experience, Father Jim's career has allowed him to serve as a youth pastor, nursing home chaplain, and as a chaplain, covering primarily trauma and triage services. In addition to his pastorship at Saint Miriam, he also serves as a Trauma/Triage Chaplain at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, PA.
Prior to attending seminary, he was also certified as an eye enucleationist and has worked extensively with transplant patients, living donors, and their families.
Father Jim also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Religion with the University of Phoenix, teaching ethics, world religions, and philosophy. Father is a full member of the American Academy of Experts of Traumatic Stress, where he is Board Certified in Trauma Chaplaincy and as an Expert in Traumatic Stress. He also has been awarded the designation of Diplomate, in the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. He is also listed in The National Registry, The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and the National Center for Crisis Management and is a member of the Association of Professional Chaplains.
He enjoys weight training, aerobics, mountain biking, and crew. He currently lives in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.
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