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St. John’s Mission Statement
The mission of St. John’s Episcopal Church is to be a community of God’s people who heal brokenness, build bridges, and exemplify borderless kindness.
St. John’s Vision Statement
We are one. We are many. We are united. We are St. John’s Episcopal Church — a multicultural family that is building a welcoming home for all who desire to follow Christ.
St. John’s Core Values
- Worship: The diverse form of Worship at St. John’s aims to be an evangelistic outreach to persons who find comfort in traditional worship and music, as well as those seeking a non-traditional form of worship, whether it is a different style, music, or Spanish language prayer and praise.
- Diversity: Our desire to continue Christ’s ministry in our world and community is expressed in our welcoming celebration of its wide range of peoples and cultures.
- Fellowship: We hope to embody Christ’s ministry through sharing our lives in fellowship with others when we meet in this place.
- Children and Youth: We honor families by providing year round innovative programs for our children and youth that help them grow in relationship with Christ, find joy in fellowship, make relevant connections to our traditions, and approach the sacred with wonder.
St. John’s History
The Reverend Malcolm Riker founded St. John’s Episcopal Church on December 8, 1960. The first congregation was a “home church” which met in a residence in north Austin approximately two miles east of the present site. St. John’s was one of the four “Gospel” churches that Father Riker started. St. John’s was welcomed into the Diocese of Texas as an organized mission at the annual church council held in February 196. In 1963, a church building was erected at the present site at the corner of Braker Lane and Parkfield Drive. In 1981 the Reverend Seth Deleery became the first full time vicar of St. John’s. Previous vicars of St. John’s – the Reverends Riker, Cooper, Jackson, Perry and Redmond – had been shared with other area churches.
In 1987 a major structural addition to the original church building was completed under the leadership of the Reverend Murray Powell, who became vicar in 1984 and stayed at St. John’s until October of 1992. The Reverend Paul Taft became the 8th vicar of St. John’s in December 1992 and became St. John’s first rector when St. John’s became a parish at the annual church council held in Tyler in February 1995.
In February 1999, the Reverend Albert R. Rodriguez became the first priest St. John’s has chosen through a search committee. Under Father Al’s leadership, the congregation built a new worship space behind the original building. The new sanctuary was dedicated in September 2004 and the original church building was remodeled to become the present parish hall.
Following Father Al’s retirement from St. John’s in December 2013, the Reverend Dr. Matthew Thomas Seddon joined the church as Priest-in-Charge in August 2014, and accepted the Vestry’s call to become St. John’s permanent rector in November 2014.
Worship times
Volunteer opportunities
In addition to the various ministries listed separately, opportunities to assist with the mission and worship of St. John’s Episcopal Church include the following: * Acolytes – adults and youth who assist the celebrant during the worship service by carrying crosses, torches, and banners in procession; they also assist in the preparation of the Eucharist at the altar. * Altar Guild – persons responsible for the care of the linens, vestments, candles, utensils used in our worship services; they also prepare the Lord’s Table before and after worship services. * Choir and Musicians – parishioners who provide traditional and/or contemporary music and choral arrangements enhancing our liturgical services. * Eucharistic Ministers – a licensed position for those who assist at the altar during the Eucharist, lead some of the readings and prayers, and prayerfully serve the people during Communion. * Greeters and Ushers – welcome everyone to St. John’s, distribute worship materials, and help all who come to worship feel comfortable. * Hospitality – assist with coffee hour, potluck suppers, and other similar events. * Lectors and Lay Readers – adults and youth who read some parts of the service (typically designated Bible readings, Psalms, and Prayers). * Nursery – a comfortable, open place staffed by Safeguarding-certified adults and youth volunteers who play beside the children, share Bible stories, and lead age-appropriate crafts while their parents attend services or events. * Office Volunteers – parishioners who volunteer time in the parish office, answering the phone, sending welcome notes to visitors, making and collating copies, updating the data base, and other clerical duties “as assigned”.
Ministries
Adult Faith Formation
Adult Faith Formation is aimed at those adults who desire to keep developing their faith and knowledge about life’s “Big Questions”, the nature of God, and spirituality, as well as other topics of interest. These classes are offered at different times during the year. Bible study groups meet at various times during the week throughout the year.
Children’s Chapel
Children between the ages of 3yrs and 5th grade are invited to a special program which enriches their participation in worship.
Jesus Warriors (Youth Group)
Mission minded youth ages 6th-12th grades, who focus on spiritual growth and outreach
Daughters of the King
National religious order of Episcopal lay women who commit themselves to a Rule of Life based on prayer, service, and evangelism.
Episcopal Church Women
A venue for all Episcopal women to share fellowship, to reach out in peace to each other and the community, and to provide opportunities for spiritual growth.
Loops and Stitches
This ministry is a Charity Knitting and Crochet Circle which produces shawls, hats, blankets, etc. for fundraising sales benefiting St. John’s and for donation to various charitable organizations.
Outreach Committee
Parishioners who volunteer their time and talent to provide for people beyond our walls and outside our congregation.
Nursing Home Ministry (Buckner Villas and Oakcrest Manor)
Ministries which provide services to residents of the Buckner Villas and Oakcrest Manor nursing homes.
North Central Caregivers Drive a Senior
Volunteers who provide rides for senior citizens in the North Central Austin area who no longer can drive themselves.
St. John’s Community Center Food Bank
A local neighborhood center supported by St. John’s in providing a variety of social services to low and moderate-income families in need.
Pastoral Care
Parishioners who work in concert with the Rector to address day-to-day pastoral care needs of parishioners and others.
Columbarium & Memorial Garden
The Columbarium & Memorial Garden were established to provide repose for the ashes of loved ones, consistent with the long tradition of Christian burial on the grounds of the church building, keeping them close in memory and devotion.
Labyrinth
A spiritual place to walk or sit and pray, meditate, reflect on God and the beauty of the outdoors near our sanctuary.
Refugee Ministry
The St. John’s Refugee Ministry is a very new ministry at St. John’s that works with Refugee Services of Texas to welcome refugees, immigrants, and other displaced people and support them in integrating and thriving in their new communities in the Austin area. Thusfar, we have assisted two refugee families (from Burma and from Afghanistan) with furnishing apartments and establishing residences in Austin.
Twelve Step Programs
St. John’s hosts regular meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous and Overeaters Anonymous in our facilities.
Sacred Ground Race Dialogue Circles
Sacred Ground is dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race, racism, and whiteness while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity. The 10-part series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories.
Sacred Ground is a resource coming out of Becoming Beloved Community, The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. This series is especially designed to help white people talk with other white people, while being open to all racial/ethnic groups. Participants are invited to peel away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of the present day – all while grounded in our call to faith, hope and love.
11201 Parkfield Dr
Austin, TX 78758-4264
United States
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