St. James' Episcopal Church Wherever you are on your journey of faith, you are welcome at this table.
EXPANDING WELCOME
CONNECTING GENERATIONS
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS
2026 Fall Ministries Guide
St. James’ Episcopal Church sets tables of welcome where all can encounter Christ's love. We are an inclusive and affirming, multicultural, and multilingual community, grounded and rooted in African American heritage. Our Core Virtues - Virtues are the ways we reflect the character of God. Radical Hospitality Being Doers of the Word, not just Hearers (James 1:22) Rooted in the Courage of our Founders Covenant Relationship - Belonging to each other We are Each on a Spiritual Journey Together.
Worship Schedule Sundays 8:00 am Rite I Eucharist (In person) 10:30 am Rite II Eucharist (In person & Live-streamed) 1:00 pm Santa Eucaristía (In person & Live-streamed) 5:00 pm The Late Service (In person & Live-streamed). On First Sundays, this service is followed by dinner in Founders Hall. On the last Sunday of the month, we offer a eucharistic service in Spanish at Casa Marianella, followed by a convivio meal.
Wednesdays 8:00 am Morning Prayer and Bible Study (Zoom & in person on the 3rd Wednesday of the month) Fridays 8:00 am Rosary (Zoom)
Staff
The Rev. Eileen O’Brien Rector
The Rev. Addison McMillan The Rev. George Porter Asssociate Rector & Assistant Priest Campus Missioner
The Rev. Jim Harrington Missioner
The Rev. Robby Vickery Assisting Clergy
Aimee Estep Diana Espinosa Parish Administrator Office Assistant
Tanya Martinez Children’s Minister
Rick Gabrillo Music Minister
Martha Pulkingham Worship Leader
Francisco Chavez Worship Leader
Staff Musicians: Austin Kimble, Shawn Ellison Nursery Staff: Richelle Easley, Imane Houdaifa, Tiffani Hobbs McPherson
Meet our Seminarians For many years, St. James’ Episcopal Church has been a field education site for seminarians from the Seminary of the Southwest who are seeking to build skills for ministry in multicultural spaces and to learn about how the Church can live into God’s dream of Beloved Community. Last year, St. James’ also became certified as a ministry learning site for seminarians from Austin Seminary (formerly known as Austin Presbyterian Seminary). Barrett Hess, a seminarian at the Seminary of the Southwest, is entering his senior year in the Masters in Divinity program, with the intention of (God willing) being ordained a priest in the Diocese of Texas. His sending parish is in Houston -Trinity Midtown- but he and his wife Marcella are originally from Maine. They moved to Texas in 2021 to complete a M.A. in Philosophy at the University of Houston before Barrett discerned a call to ordained ministry. This summer, Barrett and Marcella welcomed baby Domenic into their family. Mariely Gutierrez is a seminarian at Seminary of the Southwest, entering her second year in the Master of Divinity program. Most of her ministry experience has taken place within the Episcopal Church, where she has served in lay leadership, children’s and family ministry, and faith formation. A native Spanish speaker, who is also bilingual, Mariely has served in multicultural contexts through ministerial leadership and community life. She is grateful for the opportunity to join St. James’ Episcopal Church this fall as part of her Field Education placement and looks forward to learning, worshiping, and serving alongside the parish community. Mariely has been married to the Rev. Janssen Gutierrez for 30 years. They have two adult married children, Maria Celeste, married to Anthony, and Janssen Gabriel, married to Angel, as well as two beloved “fur babies,” Tobi and Perci.
worship ministries FALL TRAININGS Refresher/new server training available year-round by appointment. Friday, August 28, 12 pm - 2 pm: Lunch and basics for ushers and greeters, acolytes and lay eucharistic ministers, and lectors and intercessors + Emergency Plan Info Session. October Altar Guild gathering, TBD. Saturday, November 21, 10am-12pm: Basics + Special Advent, Christmas, & Epiphany considerations + Emergency Plan Altar Guild The altar guild works behind the scenes to care for the altar, vestments, vessels, and altar linens of the parish. If you are looking for a behind-the-scenes ministry that is meaningful to the life of a community that delights in the beauty of worship, contact Lois Coleman (loisirenecoleman@yahoo.com). Acolytes & Lay Eucharistic Ministers Youth and adult acolytes and eucharistic ministers serve during our eucharistic services in partnership with clergy and ushers. Contact the church office (office@stjamesaustin.org) if you would like to join a team or brush up on your skills. Lectors & Intercessors At every service, lectors and intercessors proclaim God’s word to us through the readings and they assist us in speaking before God through the prayers of the people. Trainings are designed to offer interpretive insight into the readings and the prayers of the liturgical season ahead in order to deepen preparation. If you would like to be trained as a lector or intercessor, contact the church office (office@stjamesaustin.org), and we will get you connected. Functional fluency in Spanish is expected of lectors in Spanish. 3
Ushers & Greeters At each service of worship, ushers greet and orient those who come to worship. They are essential in welcoming people, orienting them so they know how to participate, and making sure they feel at home. If you would like to be trained as an usher or a greeter, contact the church office (office@stjamesaustin.org).
Music Ministries 10:30 Choir This fall, the 10:30 choir will be regathering under the leadership of our Music Minister Rick Gabrillo (rick@stjamesaustin.org). 1 pm Coro Our worship team for the 1 pm service works with Francisco Chavez (francisco.chavez.silva@gmail.com) to lead us on paths or rejoicing and return. 5 pm Choir This fall, the 5 pm choir will be gathering under the leadership of Martha Pulkingham (mpulkingham@gmail.com) and Pianist Shawn Ellison.
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Christian Formation Children's Ministries Nursery To help provide a time of focused worship for parents and a positive church experience for our youngest children, we offer childcare during services and certain scheduled events. The nursery is available for ages 0-3 on Sunday morning beginning at 10:15 for the 10:30 service. Our professional childcare workers have completed both a background check and Safeguarding God's Children training (child abuse awareness and prevention education). For more information about our nursery, please contact Diana Espinosa, office@stjamesaustin.org.
Godly Play Children (age 3 – 5th grade) are invited to join us for Godly Play in the Orange Building during the 10:30 am service. Godly Play is a Montessori-based program through which children become more fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives through parable, sacred story, silence, and liturgical action. For more information about Children's Ministries, contact Tanya Martinez, tanya@stjamesaustin.org.
Youth Ministries We seek to foster a nonjudgmental and compassionate environment where youth in grades 6-12 can grow their faith and relationships through the diverse community of St James’ and the larger Episcopal Church. We offer youth regular Sunday opportunities plus additional special events, for fun, fellowship, food, and formation. Friends and additional guests ages 12-18 are always welcome at youth ministry activities. Youth are also encouraged to take on leadership roles in worship services and other activities in the life of the church. Our youth are accompanied on the journey by a dedicated group of adults, who have completed both a background check and Safeguarding God's Children training, and who are committed to nurturing the social, emotional, and spiritual needs of young people. For more information about youth ministry or about becoming a youth sponsor, contact The Rev. Addison McMillan, addison@stjamesaustin.org.
East Austin Canterbury: Episcopal Campus Ministry at Huston-Tillotson & ACC East Austin Canterbury provides a spiritual home for students seeking God, justice, and beloved community through a tradition of neighborly love. Whether you are living on campus or off campus, if you are seeking community that values radical welcome, faithful curiosity, sacred rest, and joyful justice work, East Austin Canterbury can provide you with good companions for that journey. For more information, contact The Rev. Addison McMillan.
Christian Formation Adult Education
St. James' offers a variety of regular adult education opportunities: The Sunday Morning Forum, 9:15-10:10 am, Founders & Zoom Hybrid This fall, the Sunday Morning Forum will seek to reintroduce you to the Old Testament. Join Libby Ballard and other facilitators as we seek to hear the voices of the prophets anew. Sacred Journey, Monday Nights, 6:30-9 pm Sacred Journey is a four-year online program offered through St. James’ Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas, to provide an avenue for spiritual formation. We are a community grounded in study, practice, reflection, meditation and prayer—sharing our responses and questions within the privacy of a group of seekers. Mueller Tuesdays, 6:00-7:00 pm Join us for Bible Study in the Cork Room on the first floor of the Mueller Overture on second and fourth Tuesdays. This season, we will be studying Matthew’s Gospel with a few off-roading adventures. The Wednesday Morning Bible Study, 8-9 am This lectionary-based Bible study looks to the readings for the coming Sunday. This group generally meets on Zoom, with the exception of the third Wednesday of the month when the meeting is both in Founders (with breakfast!) and online. The Thursday Theological Reading Group (TREND), every other Thursday, 9:30-11:30 am, at Central Market on N. Lamar or in members’ homes.
Sacramental Preparation
St. James’ Young Adults
St. James' clergy offer periodic baptismal
This group for 20s & 30s continues to be focused
workshops to prepare parents, godparents, and
on the work of figuring out “adulting” together as
candidates for baptism. This fall, workshops
they navigate this spiritual journey. Look for our
will be offered on September 26 and October
twice monthly Thursday night gatherings, service
31.
days, and other fun events. For more information,
Youth and adults seeking baptism,
contact The Rev. Addison McMillan
confirmation, reception, or reaffirmation are
(addison@stjamesaustin.org).
required to participate in our EpiscoBasics
Discernment for Ministry
Sessions on Sept 26 & November 3 or to work out another form of preparation with St. James’ clergy.
St. James' seeks to nurture each baptized person in their call to be an instrument of God's love in the world. Some feel called to particular ministries (eg Deacon, Priest, lay chaplain). In concert with the diocesan Discovery Retreat, discernment conversations with clergy and discernment groups accompany people of all ages in listening to God's call. If you would like to start a conversation, contact Rev. Eileen O’Brien (rector@stjamesaustin.org).
pastoral care The ministry of caring for each other through change and transition as an expression of God’s love is at the heart of the church’s life together. The Community of Hope The Community of Hope are trained lay chaplains who offer pastoral visitation as a ministry to our church membership and beyond. The group convenes a monthly Circle of Care meeting, anchored in Benedictine spirituality, in order to support each other in pastoral work. If you are discerning a call to this ministry, contact The Rev. Eileen O'Brien at rector@stjamesaustin.org. Lay Eucharistic Visitors Lay Eucharistic Visitors help us to extend our table of welcome into the community. Family members may be trained to take communion from our common table to elder members of their household, but we are also seeking individuals who can take communion to homebound community members. If you would like to be trained to join the team contact office@stjamesaustin.org to learn more about the process. The Meal Ministry The St. James’ meal ministry provides support to individuals or families experiencing a moment of crisis or transition even as other sorts of pastoral care are provided. Contact office@stjamesaustin.org to be added to the email list or to notify the church of a need.
The Prayer List The entire St. James’ community is invited into the work of pastoral care through praying for each other through the Prayer List. This list includes members of the extended family of St. James’ who seek prayer for either short term or long term needs. You can add people to the prayer list by filling out a prayer card in your pew and putting it in the offering plate, calling the office (512-926-6339), or emailing prayerbox@stjamesaustin.org. Emergency Pastoral Care Line Your clergy and lay pastoral care givers at St. James’ want to be there for you and your loved ones in those critical moments. Be sure to reach out to the church office and let us know when you are having a surgery or if you or a loved one is in the hospital. Even if you call after hours, the emergency pastoral care line (512-6777984) will connect you.
caring for community
partners in ministry The Union of Black Episcopalians, Myra McDaniel Chapter The Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) was founded on a legacy of leadership in advancing the presence and voice of Episcopalians of African descent in the Church. The Myra McDaniel Chapter of UBE is named for the late Myra McDaniel, the first Texas Secretary of State of African descent and devoted member of St. James’ Episcopal Church. We are committed to our charge “to be a community of vigilance and action regarding matters of injustice, especially the effects of racism in the Church and society”. That commitment is reflected in Chapter business meetings held four times a year, providing robust educational programming on the history and celebration of the contributions of people of African descent to the Church and society. Recent meetings included: Commemorations of Absalom Jones, first priest of African descent in the Episcopal Church; Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall; priest, missionary and educator Alexander Crummell; presentations on the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s); reports on the experiences of UBE members who were part of pilgrimages to civil rights sites. In 2026, the Chapter was also honored to join Retired Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church The Rt. Rev. Michael Bruce Curry in dinner and conversation at St. James’. Our UBE’s work includes One Human Race (OHR), the Chapter’s racial reconciliation ministry. OHR holds workshops throughout the year with the goal of creating a safe, open and productive space for building awareness and fostering discussion. Workshop schedules can be found at: onehumanraceaustin.org An ongoing Chapter initiative is voter registration. UBE works to insure all those eligible to vote have a voice in elections, especially citizens who are underrepresented or marginalized. Our voter registration drives have partnered with member congregations and other voter engagement efforts to extend reach across Central Texas. Every September as part of UBE Sunday, the Chapter hosts a social hour at St. James’ following the 10:30 am service, celebrating the life and legacy of Alexander Crummell. This is an opportunity to join UBE and register to vote. We invite St. James’ to be part of this event, make sure you are registered to vote and sign-up to become members of the Myra McDaniel Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians; all Episcopalians are welcome to join!
Welcome Table, a 501(c)3 of St. James' Episcopal Church Welcome Table is a source of community for neighbors creating abundance together in East Austin. We honor each other by nourishing mind, body, and spirit. Welcome Table faithfully advances a cycle of giving and receiving that began in 1941 with the founding of St. James Episcopal Church. Today our signature programs, Freedom Schools and Neighbor2Neighbor, demonstrate a deep commitment to Dr. King’s inclusive vision of Beloved Community. Neighbor2Neighbor shares food, diapers, utility assistance, and caring community with our lowincome neighbors in East Austin, with a special focus on our senior neighbors. In the last two years alone, we have generated 8,000+ of volunteer hours and shared over 320,000 pounds of food and more than 150,000 diapers with our neighbors. CDF Freedom Schools® Austin is a year-round culturally responsive family support network that culminates in a free six-week literacy and STEAM education program for scholars ages 6-11. Since 2014, almost 400 scholars averaged a 9-month increase in reading level during the program. Scholars’ trajectory for success is fortified with family support, a team of collegeaged Servant Leader Interns, and professionals in the community who come together to support and celebrate their potential.
Child, Inc. Early Childhood Education Center St. James’ mission includes being a good neighbor in East Austin. As part of that goal, St. James’ partners with Child, Inc. to provide a full-time preschool on our campus. Child, Inc. provides low- income families with comprehensive early childhood education, including extensive child and family support services. For more information, go to childinc.org.
Trinity Center Sundays Get involved with serving the unhoused by joining the Trinity Center Sunday team. The Trinity Center team prepares and distributes meals on select Sunday afternoons (roughly every other month). Check the St. James' Calendar page for dates or get on Trinity Center email list by emailing office@stjamesaustin.org.
Make a difference at Norman-Sims Elementary! Reading Buddies volunteers are paired with an elementary-aged student at Norman-Sims Elementary School, with whom they read for 30 minutes each week, for the duration of the school year. Most of our volunteers work with two students for a total of an hour-a-week on campus. Throughout the school year, our teacher appreciation team supports and encourages the teaching and administrative staff. To sign up to help this fall, email office@stjamesaustin.org for the link.
serving east Austin
ministries of stewardship and governance The Vestry The Vestry of an Episcopal church is like the governing board of directors, which meets monthly to take decisions on financial, personnel, and infrastructural issues, but also to drive the implementation of the mission and vision of the congregation. Each year our parish seeks and elects four new Vestry members. Each Vestry member also serves on one of the subcommitees. Meetings of the Vestry are open, and Spanish-language interpretation is possible with notice to rector@stjamesaustin.org.
The Vestry Administration Subcommittee The Administration Subcommittee of the Vestry is made up of vestry members and non-vestry members. This committee is charged with oversight of the maintenance of buildings and grounds, and policies related to campus safety (eg implementation of the emergency plan, privacy guidelines, etc.)
The Master Plan Committee A church master plan committee acts as a strategic planning group that will translate our Strategic Vision into a concrete, phased development plan for our physical campus, including evaluating existing spaces and planning future renovations or construction. Working with McKinney York Architects, the Master Plan Committee will lead congregational engagement work in Fall 2026 to serve as the basis for this vision. Learn more in sessions across the day on September 6.
The Vestry Finance Subcommittee The Finance Subcommittee of the Vestry is made up of vestry members and non-vestry members. This committee is charged with development and oversight of the annual budget, regular communication with the parish about the finances of the church, financial policies, stewardship, and long-term financial planning for the health of the parish.
Personnel Committee The Personnel Committee is made up of vestry members and non-vestry members. This committee assists with personnel-related policies and procedures, advises the Finance Committee on pay scale questions, and advises the rector in personnel matters, while maintaining appropriately high standards of confidentiality.
The Land Committee The Land Committee is made up of vestry members and non-vestry members. This committee monitors development contiguous to our property and is charged with making suggestions to the Vestry about how to respond and adapt to our developing landscape.
Brushbusters The Brushbusters help to maintain and care for our grounds, contributing valuable volunteer hours and making our physical environment one that nurtures the spirit and sense of welcome.