DECEMBER 2009

RECTORʼS REFLECTIONS
A parishioner recently sent me a link to a book entitled
The Complete Idiotʼs Guide to the Last Days. I always get
mixed up on titles like that. Are they talking about a book
that is a complete guide or for complete idiots? The blurb
says that “if youʼre reading this book to find out what is
ahead for the world, youʼve come to the right place.” While
I have some curiosity about what is ahead for the world, I
would confess that I am much more interested in what is
going to happen to me and my Last Days. Maybe selfish,
but true for most of us, I think.
Christmas is coming, and as far as I can imagine, this
will be the last one where I will be the Celebrant of the
Eucharist for such a festival. A last thing. Iʼll soon be
packing up whatʼs left of my books and have some vague
plan of going back and reading lots of them again, but
good intentions can grow fuzzy when reality comes along.
Boxes of things I have kept since 1975 or before and now
wonder if Iʼll really need. A last thing. Waking up even
earlier on Sunday mornings to make sure things are in
place and church is ready for church all through the day
until the end of that last service and a long day. A last
thing.
When I stop to consider my last things at St. Jamesʼ
there are too many. Too many things I will now miss and
mostly people I will miss. It seems odd to miss people for
whom I was simply supposed to be an interim person.
Transient and temporary. Yet, the people of St. Jamesʼ
have hearts that are big enough to take in strangers and
make them feel at home before they know it. Those faces
at the Communion Rail. It is those faces I will miss the
most and not forget. Faces I look forward to seeing. Faces
of people who have not just showed up for church, but
seem intimately grateful to be there. Joyful even.
If I have done my sacred work correctly, then the
faces of St. Jamesʼ will be open and ready to take in the
next rector of this parish, and another stranger will become
a part of the fabric of this special place before they know it.
Together you all will step toward a future that will unfold in
ways you expect and ways that will surprise you. I hope
and pray the same for me. The future for all of us is in the
hands of God, and if we are willing to trust God with that
future, then we have nothing to fear, ever.
In the meantime, there is Christmas to anticipate and
plan for. There are daily ways of being the Body of Christ
wherever we go and whatever we do. There is this great
community of faith to attend to.
All of us are on some kind of journey in life, and if we
are fortunate, we never make that journey alone. If we are
fortunate, we have fellow pilgrims along for
encouragement and company. You all have been far more
than that for me. Surely, I am grateful to God for calling me
here to be with you. But, most of all, I am grateful to you all
for allowing me to be a part of your life for such a time that
I could also make it my own.
Bless you for that.
The Revʼd Jeffrey H. Walker+, Interim Rector

WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE NEW RECTOR

OF ST. JAMESʼ EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AUSTIN,
TEXAS
REV. REGINALD (REGGIE) PAYNE-WIENS
Rev. Reggie was born in Miami, Florida into a military
family that lived in Spain and settled in Valdosta, Georgia
when he was in the fourth grade. He graduated from
Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts
degree and received his Masters of Divinity from Virginia
Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. He has
served in parishes in Washington, DC, New Jersey, and
southern California. He also served as the Diocesan
Youth Coordinator for SE Florida, and has a deep affinity
for youth and young adults. He enjoys bowling, golf, art
and music. Rev. Reggie is married to Elena Payne-Wiens
and they have two daughters: Maya, who is eight, and
Talia, who is five. Father Reggie and his family are
excited about the opportunity to serve the community of St.
Jamesʼ and to share in its ministry. He believes that God
has created him to lead and serve St. Jamesʼ as we
respond to Godʼs call to be the voice that shouts to
everyone in Austin and beyond, ALL ARE WELCOME HERE!
Rev. Reginald Payne-Wiens will officially start at St.
Jamesʼ on January 1, 2010, but will join us for services on
Christmas Eve.

SAYING GOODBYE TO REV. JEFFREY WALKER!

Two years ago when the Rev. Jeffrey Walker came to
St. Jamesʼ to serve as our Interim Rector, he said he
would stay as long as we needed him, however long that
was. The Vestry said it might be about 15 to 18 months
until a permanent Rector was called to St. Jamesʼ and Fr.
Walker repeated that he would be with us. Rev. Walker is
the biggest person I have ever met, and when I say big I
do not mean in stature but I mean in character. He came
to St. Jamesʼ at a time when we just moved to our new
location, there was excitement and a sense of
accomplishment that we were in our new place, there was
also grief that we moved from our old home, and sadness
mixed with pride for the departure of our previous Rector,
not to mention our parish Administrator fell ill. There was,
just lots of change, many things were not familiar; we
wanted to hold on to things that we knew for comfort and
to make matters worse Rev. Jeffrey was not Greg. He
even had the gall to have his own style, always smiling,
joking and upbeat! He had a purpose and mission which
was to guide us, support us, help us adjust and welcome
the changing and growing community that we are today.
Thank you Rev. Walker for sharing your gifts with us!
Thank you Rev. Walker for bringing a smile to our faces
when we least expected to smile or when we thought we
were in too much pain to smile. Thank you for your
wisdom, your words, your blessings and your kindness.
We love you and will miss you!
Yours in Christ, Simone Talma Flowers, Senior Warden

The St. Jamesʼ Community will say our official

Goodbye to the Rev. Jeffrey Walker on Sunday,
December 20, 2009 at all services and have a Reception
immediately following the services. Please join us.

A BIG THANKS!!!
Thanks to everyone for holding on and doing what you do
to make things work behind the scenes at St. Jamesʼ. All
the resident priests, all the office staff, staff and ministries
Thank you!!
The St. Jamesʼ Vestry

A JOB WELL DONE!!

Thank you to the St. Jamesʼ Search Committee: Lora
Livingston, Chair; Bill Bradshaw; Keith Braithwaite; Bruce
Christman; Pamela Daniel; Rudy Green; Virginia Paget;
Judith Rhedin; and Steven Tomlinson.
When you see any of these individuals, please thank them
for their dedication and commitment to the St. James
Community and for staying the course until victory was won,
fully representing all aspects of the church with pride and
honor.
Thank you!
St. Jamesʼ Vestry
 CHRISTMAS EVE AND
CHRISTMAS SERVICES

We will have two services on Christmas Eve,

Thursday, December 24. Our 6 p.m. service is especially
geared toward families with children, but all are welcome.
The children take a very active role in the liturgy. They
look forward to presenting a pageant each year. At 10:30
p.m. we celebrate our traditional Christmas Eve Mass with
our annual Christmas concert beginning at 10 p.m. with
the Eucharist to follow. Christmas morning we will have a
festive service at 10 a.m. This is a great way to celebrate
the Navitity of Jesus.
After the 7:30 a.m. service on Wednesday morning,
we will be walking the Way of the Cradle. This is based on
the Way of the Cross, but is, instead a 14 station walk
based on the journey of Mary and Joseph toward
Bethlehem. The journey takes about 30 minutes.

BUENOS DIAS # 23: AN ADVENT INVITATION FOR ST.

JAMESʼ POSADA
FOR YOUR CALENDAR: Our congregation will host
the St. Jamesʼ re-enactment of the POSADA. The
December date will be announced later.
Josephʼs and Maryʼs pilgrimage for a posada (inn) for
the night is a pageant of prayer and search for lodging in
the cold night. In many Austin Hispanic congregations,
people celebrate advent with a series of posada
processions on each of nine nights preceding Nochebuena
(Christmas Eve). Each of these processions is a re-
enactment of Joseph and Mary knocking on the doors of
inns in Bethlehem, seeking a bed for the night. After
several rejections, they are admitted to the barn.
At St. Jamesʼ, we will have one evening to hold the
Posada with a candle-lit procession of chanting a litany,
then singing the doorway encounters, finally entering the
sanctuary for closing hymns and prayers. Youngsters play
the parts of Joseph and Mary, costumed for their roles
“para pedir posada” (for asking a place in the inn).
Everyone participates as a choir.
The Posada presentation itself takes about 30
minutes. After the close, we will have some other St.
Jamesʼ Christmas festivities along with dessert and
refreshments. The Posada celebration is a wonderful time
for St. Jamesʼ members from all our congregations to join
together to prepare for Jesusʼ birth.
Jack Robertson

KWANZAA
St. Jamesʼ continues its annual celebration of
Kwanzaa this year with a facilitated discussion of the
Kwanzaa celebrations in the Sunday Adult Christian
Formation series at 9 a.m. on December 27 and January
3. The discussions will reference key elements that
impact the lives of those who acknowledge the cultural
holiday and practice established/personalized customs.
Kwanzaa is celebrated over seven days, starting
December 26 and ending January 1. “The idea of
Kwanzaa was born in 1966. Created by an American
whose African roots inspired a focused pride on something
good and universal to share from his ancestral heritage,
this seven-day period is uniquely acknowledged among
holidays in our new world culture. On Sundayk, December
27, there will be a mid-day light Karamu (feast) following
the 10:15 a.m. service and a movie matinee, The Black
Candle.
Today, folks in our community embrace Kwanzaa as
a thriving toddler becoming aware of itself, its
surroundings, its importance, its future.
Kwanzaa is increasingly more than a word crafted for
the Swahili language for a select season. It is an inviting
opening that embraces diversity, a door with a pathway to
new and awakening wisdom about our world and its
wonders. Celebrating is a mind-body-spirit investment of
time and imagination that enhances creativity and
freshness in community cultural concepts and traditions.”
B.J. Taylor

SNAPSHOT
Fred and Kathy Miller have been active members of
St. Jamesʼ for five years, and like so many others who
have joined the congregation in more recent times, weʼve
welcomed them heartily. We may sit beside them in the
pews, be ushered into the sanctuary by them on Sundays,
or chat with them in Founderʼs Hall, but it takes a while to
learn peoplesʼ stories and how they came to be such an
integral part of the St. Jamesʼ family.
 The Miller stories are exceptionally interesting,
especially when told by Fred, who is a born storyteller. No
doubt that is what led him into making and producing films;
but it all started long before that.
Fredʼs father was the pastor of the First Baptist
Church of Navasota, Texas, a town of wealthy, white,
cotton growers. He was a successful pastor, and a social
activist as well, and he lost his church when he tried to
stop a lynching of a young black man. Jobless, the family
moved to San Antonio where the Rev. Miller had a much
smaller ministry, and Fred and his siblings grew up in the
cityʼs barrio—a good move, as it turned out, says Fred.
Fred graduated from Baylor University in 1966. He
remembers seeing a billboard in Waco about Martin Luther
King, Jr., a man he had not heard much about previously.
The billboard said, “This man is a communist.” Not too
long afterward, when Fred was enrolled in a Baptist
seminary in Louisville, he came to meet Dr. King in
person. He and two other seminarians learned that Dr.
King would be preaching nearby, and out of curiosity they
went to the church to hear him. They were shocked when
the usher welcomed them and led them, the only whites in
the packed church, to a front pew. Dr. Kingʼs words were
mesmerizing and the seminarians were further amazed to
have the usher come up after the service to take them in
to meet the Rev. Dr. King. King asked them if they would
be willing to go out into the white community and recruit as
many people as they could to join an upcoming Open
Housing March. They did; the march was a resounding
success, and, adds Fred, “our lives were changed
forever.”
Following this transformation in their lives, Fred and
his wife Kathy left seminary and moved to New York to
participate in the Metropolitan Urban Study Program
directed by Bill Webber of East Harlem Protestant Parish.
Along with their work in East Harlem and Bedford-
Stuyvesant, Fred attended classes at Union Seminary and
worked part time for a radio news program.
They left New York in 1969 when Fred was called to
be youth director at First Baptist Church of Austin, a
position he held for many years. It was there at a concert
with his youth group that Fred met the singing group,
Peter, Paul, and Mary. Fred went backstage and urged
them to let him make a film about them. They agreed and
The Song of Love was a major fund raising event for PBS
during the 70's.
Later in Austin, Fred assisted in the production of the
film For All Mankind, which documented the Apollo
missions from 1968-1989. Among other awards, it was
the Grand Jury Winner at the Sundance Film Festival and
was nominated for an Academy Award. During this time
he also began developing curriculum for the Texas
Education Agency and making films to teach career
education. In the ʻ90s, Fred collaborated with educators
and sociologists to design a program for IBM called The
Advancement of Women, which he took to IBM plants for
two-day workshops.
Fred has produced and directed numerous other
films, including one about Baylor University, and others for
school children on topics promoting social and emotional
fitness. Known now as the Trevor Romaine Show, the
films are seen on PBS. Presently Fred is nearing
production of a movie based on the novel When Angels
Sing, starring Kris Kristofferson and Martie Maguire of the
Dixie Chicks.
The Millersʼ first introduction to St. Jamesʼ was a
phone call from Bill Broyles, noted filmmaker and member
of the congregation at that time, asking for his support in
starting St. Jamesʼ School. Others also led him indirectly
to St. Jamesʼ, including the Rev. Will Spong, of whom Fred
says he “took every course he taught.”
“Kathy had wanted to be an Episcopalian ever since
we married,” Fred admits, “She wanted to be a part of a
church with a long history and an established liturgy.”
After attending several other local Baptist churches, the
couple decided they would attend St. Jamesʼ during
Advent. Fred says when he heard Sharon and Kent and
the choir, the music “went to his toes.” At communion, he
remembers, the choir sang the intensely personal “Just as
I Am” and he was not only moved, but captivated by St.
Jamesʼ. At a newcomers supper, they listened to
presentations by Fr. Greg and Ora Houston, and Fred was
impressed with the “clear identity” of St. Jamesʼ on “the
side of the marginal.” He adds, “there is never a question
on where we stand on social justice.”
Fred observes that St. Jamesʼ “has the most creative
people of any church Iʼve ever been in.” Itʼs clear that
Fred and Kathy Miller themselves contribute to the
creative life of St. Jamesʼ. Stay tuned to see what Fred
has arranged for this yearʼs celebration of Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day on January 16.
Karen Bordelon Hartwell

ST. JAMESʼ EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

In November, our three wonderful and talented

Montessori Guides set up a special night for our parents to
experience some of what their children experience in the
classroom every day. For thirty minutes, materials for
various ages, beginning at 2 ½ , were available in the
Green Classroom. The parents entered and walked
around before choosing a task to explore. They could
then read an explanation of the task – its purpose and the
sequence of steps to accomplish it. Parents were
encouraged to choose more than one piece of work.
Then, the parents and the Guides met in the Purple
Building and discussed the experience.
In the Purple Building, Ms. Diana encouraged the
parents to describe their experience in the classroom and
equated their experience with what the children
experience each day. Parents spoke about the colorful
materials, the order in the classroom and the variety of
activities. Ms. Diana talked about the steps involved in
each lesson. Did you know that washing a table takes
forty steps to complete? And, the children love to wash
the table!
 Ms. Melinda spoke about ways to bring the
Montessori order and presentation of lessons into the
home. She spoke about finding something that is
important to the home or to the child, like brushing teeth,
and how a parent could show her child how to do the task
in great detail. Ms. Melinda imparted great advice by
saying, “If you want a teenager to put the cap back on the
toothpaste tube, you need to teach that to a three year
old.”
Ms. Anna spoke to the parents about the classroom
arrangement. She talked about the prepared environment
and that it was important that each child have a sense of
ownership in the space. This sense of ownership and
child-sized furniture and equipment, help develop
independence. Ms. Anna discussed the educational
goals for three and four year olds.
As I sat listening to the Guides and the parents
speaking about this educational experience that we offer
here at St. Jamesʼ Episcopal School, I was proud of all the
work we do together. The parents were engaged and
wanted to know how to help their children and how to be a
more integral part of their lives. The Guides were sharing
their collective wisdom and experience with the parents in
order to benefit the children. This is serious work as we
train up children. And, it is our privilege and pleasure to
do this work each day.
Glennie Burgess, Head of School
 PHENOMENAL WOMAN
Advent Dinner and Discussion
Tuesday, December 8, 6:30-8:30 pm
Founders Hall, St. James

Advent is essentially a time of Holy Waiting within the

Christian year, anticipating the birth of Jesus. However,
the calm, pastoral journey to the manger is hard to capture
and hold amid the frenzied holiday schedules and
bombarding commercialism we usually experience. Our
season is more characterized by waiting in lines than
waiting for God!
Phenomenal Woman invites you to pause… with an
evening of food for body, mind and spirit.
The readings below are recommended, but not required.
Please join us!
FOOD FOR MIND: On December 8, we will explore
new ways to understand and experience waiting as an
active spiritual practice, one in which both humans and
God participate. People wait for God. God waits for
people. Our discussion will be guided by a taped lecture
by the late Father Henri Nouwen entitled “The Spirituality
of Waiting: Being Alert to Godʼs Presence in Our Lives.”
Father Nouwen is widely recognized as one of this
centuryʼs most profoundly gifted writers and teachers,
particularly in areas of spiritual development, relationship
with God, and compassionate community. In this
address, Father Nouwen focuses on the Gospel of Luke:
the first two chapters to discuss the active nature of
waiting for God; the last two chapters (the Passion) to
discuss how God waits for people.
A very limited number of audio copies are available
for borrowing from the church office. (Please return for
others to use.) A transcript of the essay can also be found
online at http://www.ciu.edu/resources/displaypdf.php?25
or contained in the book Finding My Way Home: Path-
ways to Life and the Spirit.
FOOD FOR BODY: Holiday potluck at the church!
Co-hosts Mary Coneway and Carolyn Caffrey will supply
main chicken and rice dish called “Snow on the Mountain”,
and tea; please bring side dishes, desserts, etc. Invite
friends! To help with planning, you are encouraged to
RSVP by December 1st if possible. RSVP to: Mary
Coneway at: mconeway@sbcglobal.net or phone 327-
0418.
FOOD FOR SPIRIT – aka GIFTS OF THE “WISE
WOMEN” (presented, ahem, before the babyʼs born): We
will also prepare an Advent gift to the congregation-- an
online Advent meditation collection. All women of St.
Jamesʼ are invited to send a favorite quotation, prayer,
poem, scripture, or brief original writing. (Please list author
and source where possible.) The collection will be made
available on the St. Jamesʼ website. Our theme is: How
We Wait for God -- How God Waits for Us. If possible,
please submit writings by December 1st to Carolyn Caffrey
at: ccaffrey2@yahoo.com (or call 203-3611 if you have
questions.)
 CHRISTIAN FORMATION
AT
ST. JAMESʼ EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Our mission is to serve God, by assisting in the

formation of Christians from birth through age 12, using
hands on, child centered programs, nestled in a diverse,
loving and Episcopalian community.

Nursery
8 a.m. Birth–Age 5
10:15 a.m. Birth–Age 3 ½
1 p.m. Birth – Age 5
6 p.m. Birth–Age 5
Snack provided
Available during all services and special events
Friendly childcare providders create a safe, inviting
and loving environment for infants and toddlers. We have
one room for infants and one room for toddlers. The
toddler side of the nursery is equipped with a pint sized
potty. Each room has age appropriate furniture and toys.
For added safety, parents sign their children in and out of
the nursery. Infants and toddlers play, sing, eat snacks,
listen to story books, and interact in a loving community
especially designed for them.

Childrenʼs Choir
Under the direction of Michelle Jordan, children
rehearse and sing during four services throughout the
church year: Aloha Sunday, Childrenʼs Sabbath,
Christmas Pageant; and End of the church school year.
Rehearsals are held four weeks prior to each service from
9 a.m.-10:15 a.m.

9 a.m.–10 a.m.
THE “SUNDAY PAPER” TIMES
(3 year olds – 5th Grade)
This is a centers approach to Christian Formation
available during Adult Forum and Choir Rehearsal. We
interact with the Sunday Paper, a weekly paper that
follows the lectionary written especially for children by
Gretchen Pritchard. It teaches the lessons, psalms and
Gospel to children using interesting cartoons. The
children participate in a variety of activities related to the
lessons or Gospel. The children have the choice to work in
centers that involve art, music, drama, and cooking. We
rehearse for the Childrenʼs Choir, periodically. A snack is
provided.

10 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Atrium I (Age 3, 3 1/2 – Age 4)
Atrium II (Kindergarten –1st Grade)
In the Level I Atrium, children three years of age --
Kindergarten come to know God in the form that is most
concrete for them. That is God as Jesus. Each child
comes to know and love Jesus as the little baby born on
Christmas morning; Jesus as The Good Shepherd; and
Jesus as the Light of the World. Catechists facilitate the
development of a loving relationship between each child
and The Good Shepherd.

In the Level II Atrium, First and second graders are

ready to explore a larger concept of God. They are ready
to delve more deeply into the idea of God as both the
redeemer and creator. The guiding parable for this Atrium
is The True Vine. Again the Catechists facilitate the
development of a loving relationship between each child
and God the Father and God the Son.

Please join us from:

10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. for snack on the playground or in the
Orange Building
10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Atrium Level I - Purple Winona Miles Building;
Atrium Level II--Left side of Orange Building
6 p.m. -7 p.m. Purple Winona Miles Building

10:00am-11:15am
GODLY PLAY
(3rd Grade – 5th Grade)
Godly Play is a method of Christian education and
spiritual direction for children age 2-12. (At St. Jamesʼ 3rd
grade- 5th grade) The goal of Godly Play is to teach
children the art of using religious language – parable,
sacred story, silence, and liturgical action – to help them
become more fully aware of Godʼs presence in their lives.
Godly Play is not a “rote” or “transfer” method of teaching
and learning. It is an experiential, “discovery” method
which engages the whole child – hands, heart, mind,
senses, and intuition. This is the best way for children
(perhaps all of us) to internalize and retain what we learn
The children have the opportunity to “enter” the story,
“wonder” about it, and then find and express meaning that
connects to their own lives. Instead of meditating
abstractly on Godʼs word, the children “meditate” in an
artistic and kinesthetic way. Thus, Godly Play helps
children know God – not just know about God or about the
Bible.
Excerpts from Center for the theology of Childhood –
Jerome Berryman
Please join us from:
10 a.m.–10:15 a.m. for snack on the playground or in the
Orange Building
10:15 a.m.–11:15 a.m. right side of Orange Building.
Mila Jackson, Director of Christian Formation
Milaj4@yahoo.com

SUNDAY MORNING ADULT PROGRAMS

Please check the Sunday Service bulletins for our
schedule. Thank you for your support, Susan Gezana

MONDAY NIGHT ADULT PROGRAMS

The Intercessory Prayer Group meets each Monday

night at 6 p.m. at the Church and is open to all who wish to
pray for others with a group of people. Please feel free to
come and join us at the Church.
The Seekers is a forum for St. Jamesʼ members that
have the desire to expand their hearts and minds and to
share their ideas and reflections about faith with each
other. We have guest speakers of DVDʼs on a variety of
spiritual topics followed by group discussions. We meet
on the third Monday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at
the Seminary of the Southwest. For more information on
The Seekers, contact Sharon Elmore at 928-0475 or
sharonelmore@austin.rr.com.

TUESDAY NIGHT ADULT PROGRAMS

Phenomenal Women in December–Please join us for
our meeting and holiday potluce from ^:30 to 8:30 p.m. on
Tuesday, December 8. Our co-hosts Carolyn Caffrey and
Mary Coneway will lead us as we contemplate the season
of waiting and meditate on the words of Henri Nouwen in
his essay “The Spirituality of Waiting.” More details about
the meeting are provided in a longer article that starts on
page 5.
For more information about the group in general, or
the to be added to the Phenomenal Women email list,
pleae, please contact Colleen Waller at 401-3985 or
phenomenal@stjamesaus.org.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT ADULT PROGRAMS

The Voltrons–the 20's and 30's group at St. James:
enthusiastic, educated, motivated and excited about you
joining us for weekly discussion! Our discussion topics
cover a range of perspectives, including theological,
political, socio-cultural, economical and practical. We
meet every Wednesday night from 8-10 p.m. at a
memberʼs home. Our meeting location varies by month.
Additional information can be viewed on our website:
www.voltrons.pbwiki.com. For more information please
contact Ryan Parks (791-6998) or
voltrons@stjamesaustin.org.

REMEMBER THE HOMELESS

A new program aimed at preventing homelessness is
now being administered by Caritas, the social service
agency at 611 Neches Street in downtown Austin. Federal
stimulus money is being used to offer various kinds of
assistance to people struggling with the economic
downturn that are in danger of becoming homeless.
Clients who meet income guidelines will receive financial
assistance for specific purposesS such as rental
assistance, rental and utility deposits and moving
costshich will prevent homelessness. One-on-ne case
management services to help clients plan and maintain
their housing stability will also be offered. To inquire about
eligibility and enroll call Caritas, 472-135. (Caritas has
many different programs with hundreds of clients, so be
prepared to call repeatedly in order to get through.
Ora Houston, Director, Congregational Involvement
 ALTERNATIVE GIFT:
CHRISTMAS CARD PROGRAM

Celebrate the holiday season with family and friends

by making a donation in their honor to Camp Allen. Simply
send Camp Allen a recipient list and a card will be
personalized and mailed to each person on hyour list. We
ask that you support Camp Allen with a minimum donation
of $10 per card. All proceeds will help send deserving
children to our summer camp program. To request an
order from, contact laurend@campallen.org
or call 936-825-7175.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR

DECEMBER 19TH
MOBILE LOAVES AND FISHES
The St. Jamesʼ Episcopal Church Mobile Loaves and
Fishes (MLF) food ministry team needs volunteers on
Saturday, December 19th at 9:30 a.m. at the food
preparation site located at 903 South Capital of Texas
Highway (360). Every third Saturday of the month from
9:30 to 10:30 a.m. St. Jamesʼ members make sandwiches
and load the mobile canteen with food, toiletries,
beverages and clothing. Those who are able then travel in
or along with the mobile canteen to deliver these items to
homeless brothers, sisters and families in Austin from
10:30 to 11:15 a.m. The morning activities end before
noon when those who are able return to MLF for clean-up.
Please contact Erik and Kathy Kwiecienski, St. James'
lead ministers of this community service, at
kathykski2005@yahoo.com or by phone to 512-431-1530
for more information or to let them know you'll be there to
help. Items such as gym shoes, socks, sweaters and other
outerwear in new or good condition are always
appreciated as well as miscellaneous toiletries.

Directions: The Mobile Loaves and Fishes building sits

back off the highway on the grounds of St. John Neuman
Church at 903 South Capital of Texas Highway (360). It's
on the east side of the highway between Lost Creek Blvd.
and Las Cimas Blvd (look for the historic marker sign). Las
Cimas Blvd is just south of Bee Caves. If you are traveling
north on the highway, turn right at the third entrance after
you pass Lost Creek Blvd. If you are traveling south, make
a U-turn at Lost Creek Blvd. to return north, and then turn
right into the third entrance.
Madeline Rae Gill

EAST AUSTIN WELLNESS INITIATIVE

Shots for Tots and Big Shots currently has
appointments available for H1N1 vaccine for people in the
following age groups:
• Pregnant women
• Household contacts and caregivers for children
younger than 6 months of age
• All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
• Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health
 conditions associated with higher risk of medical
complications from influenza.

Appointments may be made by calling 972-5520. All

H1N1 shots are available free of charge. For H1N1
vaccine, Shingles or for information about other
immunizations, You may contact: Coleen Christian
ATCHHSD, Immunization Program, 1000 Toyath Street
Austin, TX 78703

FOR YOUR GOOD HEALTH

Healthy Eating for the Holidays
And
Opportunities to get shape in 2010 wellness
Nutritious Meals Delivered
Healthy Loaf Breads (Pumpkin, Apple, Ginger, Blueberry)
Nutrition Counseling 2 sessions/4sessions
Fitness/Weight Loss
Sports Nutrition
Fitness/Boot Camp/Weight Management Program
4 or 8 week program
Personalized nutrition/diet program
Customized Exercise program
For more details, contact our nutritionist Asia McMullin by
email Asia at: austinnutrition4life@gmail.com
 E-GIVING
Credit cards\debit cards and automatic draft now available
on St. Jamesʼ website!!!
We have added the capability to our website for the
use of credit and debit cards and setting up automatic
drafts from your bank accounts to the church accounts.
When you go to our website, www. stjamesaustin.org, you
will see the “Egiving” link under the Members tab that is on
the home page. If you have not “signed in”, you will be
required to create a user name and password. After you
have “signed in” you will be taken to the eGiving Main
Menu, which lists many options.. From this list you can
select, “Go to my organizationʼs E-giving Transaction
page.” There you will be shown the various funds you can
donate to. There is one blank space to add in whatever
fund you would like it to go to, such as Jazz at St. Jamesʼ,
Trinity Center, Capital Campaign. This information, but
not your card number, etc. is provided to us on a weekly
basis and then we distribute it to the appropriate place and
record it in your contributions summary.
You are given the option to do a one-time donation or
set up a recurring one. For those interested in setting a
set amount and forgetting about it, this option is a good
one. Another way to do this is through your online
banking, most online banking services can do the same
thing; many people at St. Jamesʼ do this already.
While we are very happy to provide this convenience
to you we also strongly discourage using credit cards for
amounts you cannot pay off in that month. Credit is a
dangerous game in our society right now, please be
careful with it! If you have technical questions contact our
webmaster, Margaret Listberger. Please let her know any
problems you have.

CAMP GOOD NEWS

This camp is open to children aged 10-15 who have a
parent incarcerated within the State of Texas. It is through
the generosity of Episcopal congregations and individual
churchwomen and men that this camp is available. There
is no fee charged to the families of the children. Up to 30
boys and 30 girls can be accommodated at Camp Allen,
the Episcopal facility, located near Navasota, Texas
The camp is unashamedly a Christian camp. Prayer,
praise, worship and teaching are a part of every day.
They precede swimming, horseback riding, blobbing,
canoeing, games, ropes and arts and crafts. Clergy co-
direct the camp with the Coordinator of Restorative
Justice.
Why do we do this? We believe that every person on
earth needs to know Jesus Christ and have the chance to
accept him as Lord and Savior. We are called to do this.
We also know that children who have a parent
incarcerated are 6-8 times more likely to be incarcerated in
their lifetime than a child whose parents are not caught up
in the criminal justice system.
The children are chosen with the help of the
Chaplaincy of the Texas Department of Corrections, Angel
Tree and nomination by parents in prison, school
counselors and probation and parole officers. A child once
admitted to the camp may attend until they reach the
upper age limit. Those who have been exemplary may
apply to become a “cabin” counselor.
For information contact, Dr. Ed Davis, coordinator of
Restorative Justice, Camp Director, Box 388, Huntsville,
TX 77342, 936-291-3153.

ODDS & ENDS

Meeting with Bishop Doyle: Wednesday, December 2,
6:30 p.m.
JASJ Wrap Up, Saturday, December 6, 12 noon.
Advent Yoga and Meditation Series, December 6, 13
and 20.
Dinnerama, Saturday, December 19, 6:30 p.m. Bring the
family to enjoy dinner and a movie on our 42 inch TV set.
Vestry meeting, Sunday December 27, 12:15 p.m.
St. Jamesʼ Episcopal School Board Meeting,
Wednesday, December 23, 5:30 p.m.

ST. JAMESʼ MAILBAG

Dear St. Jamesʼ Family,
Thank you for your prayers, love and support for Mary
Sloan Edelen.
The service and reception were love tributes to a lady
who love the spiritual enrichment that she received from
your church community. We especially appreciate your
thoughtful attention to details and creating that warm and
welcoming environment for us. It was a perfect
celebration and we know she was there in spirit.
We appreciate your thoughtfulness,
Sincerely, Michael, Loretta Edelen & family

Dearest Church Family,

Your thoughtfulness makes a real difference. We cannot
express enough gratitude for the lovely service, flowers,
food, music and love we felt during this most difficult time.
We pray thanks for you.
Christine and Shelby Miller

Merci,
Whether you offered a warm embrace or words of
kindness; you sent flowers of offered your services during
the reception; you called or you prayed. The smallest acts
did not go unnoticed. You were there for us during a very
difficult time and your gestures will not soon be forgotten.
Thank you does not fully express my love, appreciation
and gratitude. Sometimes you never know the impact you
will have on someoneʼs life, or the impact someone will
have on yours.
Thank you for everything you have done for me and
my family as we laid my sister to rest. We will never forget
you or your kind words and gestures. May God continue
to add blessings to your days.
Gwen Chance
 Anglican Cycle of Prayer
Week of December 6–In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we
give thanks for the church in Western Mexico (Mexico).
We give thanks for all in our community and this week we
give thanks for Riley and Sandra Carruthers, Matthew,
Jacob; Janet Carlisle; Carlos and Kristin Castano, Sofia;
James Cayton; Gwen Chance; Michael and Roxanne
Chargois, Morgan, Julian.

Week of December 13–In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer,

we give thanks for the church in South Australia, Australia.
We give thanks for all in our community and this week we
give thanks for Francisco and Lucia Chavez; Ollin Chavez
and Huitzin Chavez; Molly Chesney, Lee Roy, Sarah Jane.
Samuel Lee; Bill Christian; Reginald and Col.een
Christian, Daphne; Joyce Christian and Rudolph Green,
Andrew.

Week of December 20–In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer

we give thanks for the church in Yangon (Myanmar) . We
give thanks for all in our community and this week we give
thanks for Tom Christianson and Donna Bennett; Bruce
and Barbara Christman, Josh; David Chun and Sarah
Stasney-Chun; Rusty Cloyes and Karen Maness; Lois
Coleman; Sharon Coleman.

Week of December 27–In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer

we give thanks for the church in Ysabel (Melanesia). We
give thanks for all in our community and this week we give
thanks for Mary Coneway; Myra Constable, Nicholas;
Janet Constantine; Carolyn Cook; Michael Cooper;
Stephen Cooper.
And please remember in your prayers this month, St.
James' School, Round Rock Medical Center, Huston-
Tillotson University, the Seminary of the Southwest. Pray
for all in our armed forces, for those who mourn, for the
unemployed and for our enemies.

PRAYER
“An Outline of the Faith, commonly called the Catechism”
found on pages 856-857 in the Book of Common Prayer
describes seven forms of prayer. Listed below are those
persons who have requested (or someone has requested
on their behalf) intercessory prayer.
Please pray for: Jamey Lacey and William July; Kate
Frost; Pam Beachley; Jeri Cloud; Cynthia Clarke; Mildred
Lawson; Warden and Sue Rimel; Mark Stratman; George
Brown; the soul of Mary Sue Bogucki; Linda Fields;
Monica; Noah Ali Gill; the soul of Patty Robinson; Enid and
Violet.
Wanda Hinton, James Sellers, Chioima Okoro, Joe
Snyder, Kevin Talma, Cathy Whatley.
Pray without ceasing for the Vestry and for the health,
strength and spiritual growth of the St. James' family.
Prayer time is 9 a.m. Pray wherever you may be.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

 FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN
If you have a troubled heart, listen to the angel's
song: " I bring you tidings of great joy!" Jesus did not
come to condemn you. If you want to define Christ
rightly, then pay heed to how the angel defines Him.
"A great joy!"
—Martin Luther

The Christmas story gives its triumphant answer:

"Be not afraid." —Karl Barth

Lady Santa Ana

Why does the Child cry?
About an orange He's lost
and cannot spy.
Tell Him not to cry
For I have two--
One for the Child
And one for you.
Translated from the Spanish by Langston Hughes

For the Son of man is come to save that which

was lost. —Matthew 18:11

It is good to be children sometimes, and never

better than at Christmas, when its mighty founder was
a child himself.
—Charles Dickens
 The only real blind person at Christmastime is he
who has not Christmas in his heart. —Helen Keller

It's Christmas Day. I did not get

The presents that I hoped for. Yet,
It is not nice to frown or fret.

To frown or fret would not be fair.

My Dad must never know I care
It's hard enough for him to bear.
—Gwendolyn Brooks

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! —II

Corinthians 9:15

The Christmas message is delivered--the message of

the light of the world which breaks through from
above, always from above. —Karl Barth

The greatest Christmas gift is wrapped inside the

human heart; it is the gift of love. —Marie T. Freeman

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO