Thank you for hosting Coffee Hour! It’s an important part of our ministry – a relaxed time for sharing news and stories with old and new friends, while enjoying a snack and a beverage.

If you have any questions, ideas, or concerns, please contact St. James’ Hospitality Coordinator, Barbara Gould, or call the church office at 978-388-0030 to leave a message.

How do I sign up? How did I get signed up?!
Following the lead from other parishes, we’ve drawn pairs of St. James names at random for the thirty or so Sundays when Coffee Hours are offered following the 10:00 a.m. service. Each pair is asked to collaborate on Hospitality for the Sunday noted (advance notice is given, so hosts may decline, or choose another time).

If you’d like to make sure that your name is added to the draw, just talk to Barbara Gould, or give the office a call at 978-388-0030 and leave a message. If you are unable, or don’t wish, to participate on the given week (or at all), please contact Barbara or the office.

Please ask for assistance, if you’d like – advice, instruction, and extra hands are always available, as are limited reimbursement funds, by request. We are so grateful for the wonderful hospitality given so generously by our parish family!

By working in pairs, hosting burdens are lessened, new friends are made, and great hospitality is shared!

Who provides what?
Coffee, tea, cocoa, cups, napkins, plates, cream, sugar and sugar substitutes, and stirrers are all paid for by donations received each week from parishioners – thank you for your generosity! (Please set out a basket to receive these monetary donations!) We invite parishioners to donate pocket change each Sunday, to finance these supplies; we’re grateful for all donations.

All these supplies are located in drawers and cupboards in the kitchen. Let Barbara know when something is running low (notepads and pens are to the left of the refrigerator), and she’ll go shopping.

You may choose to provide a light refreshment, such as coffeecake, bagels or doughnuts, cookies, cheese, or fruit, for instance. It’s nice, but not necessary, to have a little treat and juice for the children’s table, also. Please keep refreshments simple and affordable; it’s the company of one another that we most cherish! (Limited reimbursement is available by request to St. James’ treasurer, Val Gates.)

How do I make coffee?
Our “Sunday Sexton,” Charles Basler, will help to set up the coffee-making (thank you, Charles!).

Using the large Urn: Fill the base of the urn with water to marking “36.” Place the rod and basket into the urn (on top of the water) and fill the basket with a 1-pound bag of ground coffee (remove one scoop or measure’s-worth). Lock on the cover, plug in the cord, and turn the urn on. Allow about half an hour for the coffee to perk; serve using the pour spout on the bottom of the urn.

The electric teakettle and microwave oven are available for hot water and warming – find them on their respective counters! (Keep an eye on the water level indicator on the handle of the teakettle, observing maximum and minimum levels; the kettle shuts itself off when the water boils.)

Serving carafes, marked to distinguish decaf and regular coffee, and hot water, are found on the counter by the coffeemakers. Feel free to fill them up (for easy serving) and refill as needed.

(P.S. If a fuse should blow, the fuse box is in the Furnace Room, on the window wall behind the furnaces – flip switch #8 and/or #9 to restore power! )

What else do I do?
You may set the tables with tablecloths (found in a kitchen cupboard – to the bottom right of the sink) if you’d like. The serving table may be set with a cloth, and cream (from the refrigerator), sugar and “non” sugars, stirrers, cocoa packets (including sugar-free), and tea bags set out, along with ceramic or disposable cups and plates, and napkins (these items are all found in their respective drawers and cupboards).

A separate kids’ table is a great idea, with juice (poured in cups, or in boxes), napkins, and any special treats within easy reach.

You may use any serving plates, bowls, utensils, and whatever you find in the kitchen – please wash, dry, and put them away after Coffee Hour. Dishtowels are in the kitchen island drawers, as are trash bags. Tin foil and plastic wrap and bags are in the drawers to the right of the sink. The light switch for the kitchen is in the Parish Hall, on the wall to the left of the kitchen’s double doors. Feel free to open any drawers and cupboards to find what you need – our kitchen belongs to everyone at St. James.

What about cleanup?
For hot water, be sure that the hot water heater (to the left of the stove) is turned up – set it to #4, if it is not already on. Remember to turn it back down before leaving church.

Please wash, dry, and put away any utensils, plates, mugs, etc. that have been used. Washing can be done either by hand, or by using the dishwasher. (The dishwasher is highly recommended, because it will sterilize items – plus, it makes a tedious job more easy! It uses gel detergent; select the cycle that makes the most sense for each load.)

If you are able to stay through the time it takes the dishwasher to complete its job, please empty it, and return everything to their respective drawers and cupboards. It’s helpful to the next hosts to have everything put away, ready for their turn.

If tablecloths are dirty, you may choose to launder them at home (no special care is needed) and return them, or give them to a volunteer to do (there’s a square, white, labeled laundry basket in the kitchen – use this for transport). Cloth napkins, dishrags, and kitchen towels also need to be laundered each week. Sponges can be washed in the dishwasher.

Unplug the urn and/or coffee makers and tea kettle, toss the grounds, and rinse the urns, coffee makers, and carafes. (Ask around one more time for any last-minute coffee drinkers before pitching the coffee!)

Bag up the trash, and reline the trash cans with bags (located at the back of the left drawer on the kitchen island). Trash bags may be placed in the wheeled barrel (marked for Trash), which is on the deck outside the red side door. Please roll the barrel to the front of the church (Main Street), for pickup – trash is picked up on Main Street on Monday and Thursday mornings. It’s okay to bring it out the night before, as long as it’s contained.

Recycle any clean bottles, cans, plastic (#1 – #7) (not bags or wrap), and clean cardboard in the marked Recycling barrels. (See the note on the refrigerator for more information about recycling in Amesbury.) Recycling is picked up on Main Street, in front of the church, on Wednesday mornings.

Please ask for help – many hands will make these tasks much easier!
All done! THANK YOU to our volunteers, the jewels of St. James!