Fall Ministries Guide 2023

St. James' Episcopal Church

Wherever you are on your journey of faith, you are welcome at this table.

2023 Fall Ministries Guide

Our Mission

St. James’ sets tables of welcome where all can encounter Christ's love.

We are an inclusive, multicultural, and affirming community, grounded and rooted in our African American heritage.

Worship Schedule

Sundays

8:00 am Rite I Eucharist (In person)

10:30 am Rite II Eucharist (In person & Live-streamed)

1:00 pm Misa en español (In person & Live-streamed)

5:00 pm The Late Service (In person & Livestreamed) - On First Sundays, we will do Dinner Church in Founders Hall.

Mondays

5:30 pm Intercessory Prayer

Wednesdays

8:00 am Morning Prayer and Bible Study (Zoom & in person on the 3rd Wednesday of the month)

Fridays 7:00 am Rosary (Zoom)

worship ministries

Liturgy Committee

The Liturgy Committee establishes our yearly liturgical calendar with its various special commemorations, thinks through how each liturgical season shapes our practices of worship, and develops ways to better welcome and include people of various ages and backgrounds in our liturgies If you are interested in serving on the Liturgy Committee, contact The Rev Eileen O’Brien (rector@stjamesaustin org)

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 Pam Daniel (pdaniel70@gmail.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.

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, 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 Music Minister HouFei Yang (houfei@stjamesaustin org) and Pianist Sharon Coleman

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.

Newcomers Groups and Gatherings

Each fall and spring, we form Discovery Classes, small groups for those who are new to St. James' or who want to discover more about the Episcopal and Anglican tradition, while getting to know other newcomers.

Quarterly Newcomer Gatherings invite long time members to gather with those who are new to St. James' to get to know each other.

Connections Groups

Connections groups are small groups that offer opportunity for deeper knowing of each other and sharing on the spiritual journey. Groups bring people together from diverse backgrounds who might not otherwise get to know each other by just sitting in the pews together.

Hospitality Guild

The hospitality guild plans receptions for Sundays, memorial services, and other special events, graciously gathering people around tables for life together.

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.

Jazz at St. James': November 10-12

Jazz at St. James' is a yearly festival weekend of holy improvisation, featuring jazz concerts and our yearly Jazz Mass. The JASJ team works to contract and host musicians, to run a communications plan that gets the good word out beyond our community, and to host the weekend in a way that welcomes many to discover the voice of jazz

Fall Seasonal Celebrations

August

13 Back-to-School Sunday

20 Godly Play & Youth Group Kick-off

September 3 Day of the Worker

10

17

October 1

7

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

Monday Intercessory Prayer Group

This group commits to praying the St. James' prayer list every Monday at 5:30 pm whether they are praying from their homes or together in the sanctuary. Check the church calendar for the downloadable liturgy and the location.

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.

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, contact the church office (office@stjamesaustin.org) to learn more about the process.

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 (512-6777991) will connect you.

caring for community

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 other 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 are all vaccinated for Covid-19, and 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, youth sponsors, 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 on youth ministry, or on becoming a youth sponsor, contact The Rev. Eileen O'Brien, rector@stjamesaustin.org.

Christian Formation

Adult Education

St James' offers a variety of regular adult education opportunities: The Sunday Morning Forum, 9:15-10:10 am, hybrid Through September, we will continue with the Becoming Modern series, which provides an introduction to church history that traces some of the major movements that have shaped our modern Episcopal Church, while paying attention to developments related to colonialism and non-dominant cultures. In October-November, we will read and discuss Miguel Escobar's The Unjust Steward: Wealth, Poverty and the Church Today

Mueller Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 pm

Join us for Bible Study and treats at a rotating location in Mueller on Tuesday nights. This fall, we will be doing a study of Simon Peter, the disciple who represents us all.

The Wednesday Morning Bible Study, 8-9:30 am, online This lectionary-based Bible study looks to the readings for the coming Sunday

Education for Ministry, Monday and Wednesday Night Groups

This year ' s groups are already fully registered, but Education for Ministry is a 4-year program, meeting weekly during the program year to study Christian scripture, history, tradition, and theology and to develop practices of connecting these things to our lives today.

The Thursday Theological Reading Group (TREND), every other Thursday, 9:30-11:30 am, at Central Market on N. Lamar.

Sacramental Preparation

St. James' clergy offer periodic baptismal workshops to prepare parents, godparents, and candidates for baptism

Adults seeking baptism, confirmation, reception, or reaffirmation are required to participate in the fall or spring Journey Group. Journey Groups are small groups which orient newcomers to St James' and seekers to the basics of Christian faith and practice in the Episcopal Church

Discernment for Ministry

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 committees accompany people of all ages in listening to God's call

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.

TrinityCenterSundays

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.

MakeadifferenceatNorman-SimsElementary!

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. This year Norman-Sims is also in need of volunteers to help keep the library open

To sign up to help this fall, email office@stjamesaustin.org for the link.

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

The Vestry Mission and Ministry Subcommittee

The Mission and Ministry Subcommittee of the Vestry is made up of vestry members and non-vestry members This committee is charged with maintaining a strong and clear sense of our mission as a parish, ensuring that our ministries are aligned with that mission, and attending to the health of our varied ministries

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, COVID-related policies, etc )

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, 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.

Stewardship Committee

The Stewardship Committee takes the lead each year in our annual October pledge campaign to secure the needed operating funds to make the mission of St James' possible Planning starts in August and the last phone calls are made in January

partners in ministry

The Union of Black Episcopalians, Myra McDaniel Chapter

The Myra McDaniel Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians has its origins in the St James' congregation, but it now reaches out to gather Episcopalians from all over the greater Austin area to its mission, which is: To unite the diverse cultures, concerns and gifts of Black Episcopalians by providing preparation and encouragement for living the Baptismal Covenant and fully participating in the mission and governance of The Episcopal Church

Our local chapter of the UBE is particularly engaged in actions that nurture multicultural democracy, such as voter registration, voting rights advocacy, and voter education, as well as creating open spaces for people of many backgrounds to learn and share about race and to practice anti-racism.

To get involved with voting efforts, contact Chaz Nailor at chaznailor@gmail.com. To learn more about the One Human Race program, go to onehumanraceaustin.org. One Human Race is essential formation for being a part of the St James' community

Child, Inc.

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 lowincome families with comprehensive early childhood education, including extensive child and family support services For more information, go to childinc org

Center for Health Empowerment (CHE)

St. James' is a clinic site for CHE.

CHE Center for Health Empowerment offers educational services and FDA approved medical treatments at little to no out-of-pocket cost The CHE wellness clinic provides PrEP and PEP medications, STI screenings, prevention, treatment and continuing care. We work with community partners to help eligible participants find community resources for transportation, housing, mental health and substance abuse Our navigators provide personalized, caring support at all stages of care. For more information, go to checlinic.org.

We hope that you will make the mission of St. James' your own!

How will you set a table of welcome for others who are seeking nourishment?

Where will you seek refreshment for your own spirit and to know and be known by those unlike you?

Where will you find clarity about your call?

If you aren't quite ready to jump in, set up an appointment with Rev. Eileen, rector@stjamesaustin.org, to think and pray about some options, to hear more about community needs and hopes, and to ponder where your gifts might be a God-send.

WHEREVER YOU ARE ON YOUR JOURNEY OF FAITH, YOU ARE WELCOME

AT THIS TABLE.