One Week Until Jazz at St. James’!

The 32nd Annual Jazz at St. James’ · November 13–15 · Carmen Bradford with The John Mills Quartet

As a girl in Altadena, California, Carmen Bradford spent every Saturday morning doing chores while her mother played jazz on the radio: Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and his Orchestra. Music ran in the family. Her father is the cornetist Bobby Bradford, her mother the vocalist Melba Joyce, and her grandfather sang with Dizzy Gillespie’s big band.

Her career began right here in East Austin. As a student at Huston-Tillotson, she sang at a club down the street called Phases, and word spread about the new girl from California with the tremendous voice. Before long she was singing with a band led by John Mills, who opened door after door. “I never would have had those opportunities had it not been for John Mills,” she says. “He’s like a brother to me.”

Then came the night Count Basie played the Paramount Theatre. Carmen, part of the opening act, walked across the stage and told him, “I think you’d make a million dollars if you hire me.” He listened to her set that night, and afterward his answer came without hesitation: “I’m going to hire you!” She went on to become the featured vocalist of the Count Basie Orchestra and a Grammy Award winner, and today she mentors young singers as a professor of jazz voice.

This year, Carmen comes home to St. James’ as our headliner, reunited on stage with John Mills. “I hope that everybody leaves either crying or very inspired, very moved,” she says. Don’t miss it!

• Friday, November 13: Jazz Social Hour for ticket holders at 6 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and Carmen Bradford and The John Mills Quartet take the stage at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, November 14: Jazz Angels Reception at 5:30 p.m. in Founders Hall. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., the Huston-Tillotson Jazz Septet open at 7 p.m., and Carmen Bradford takes the stage at 8 p.m.
• Jazz Mass: Sunday, November 15, 10:30 a.m., our annual Feast of Holy Improvisation, with Carmen Bradford, the John Mills Quartet and the St. James’ Choir. All are welcome.

We give special thanks for the 25 households making a pledge for the first time (together, $72,080), and for the many longtime pledgers who held steady or stretched their giving this year. Every pledge, large or small, helps us plan for worship, music, outreach, and our ministries for all ages as St. James’ celebrates 85 years of ministry.

Haven’t pledged yet? It’s not too late. We are still hoping to hear from about 60 households who pledged last year. You can pledge online, drop your card in the offering plate on Sunday, or pick up a card in the narthex. If your circumstances have changed, please know that every gift counts, and that a pledge of any size helps us plan with confidence.

Questions? Contact the church office at office@stjamesaustin.org.

This Sunday at St. James'

WHAT'S HAPPENING ON SUNDAY?

Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

8 am Rite I Service (Sanctuary)

9:15 am Sunday Morning Forum (Founders and Online). 



10:10 am Gathering for Godly Play on the playground in front of the Orange Building.

10:15 am Nursery opens

10:30 am Rite Il Service (Sanctuary)

12 pm Coffee Hour (Founders)

12 pm Youth Group Lunch Bunch (Orange Bldg. A)

1 pm Santa Eucaristia



2:30 pm Day of the Dead Altar take down (Narthex)



2:30 pm Hora de Cafe (Founders)

5 pm The Late Service

7 pm The New Online Spanish-language Service (Community in Safety - Email gporter@stjamesaustin.org for the link.)

Tuesday, November 10, 7 pm: Mueller Tuesdays at the Overture

Join us in the Cork Room for Bible study on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. Contact Rob Corcoran at robcorc@gmail.com to add you to the email list and answer your questions.

Thursday November 12, 7 pm: Young Adults 20s and 30s: Faith & Finance: “Stewarding What God Has Given”

How does our faith shape the way we think about money? Join us for a practical conversation about generosity, stewardship, contentment, budgeting, and trusting God with our resources. Together, we’ll explore how our finances can become an expression of our faith and our values. Questions? Contact Rev. Addison at addison@stjamesaustin.org. 

Sunday, November 29 is the First Sunday of Advent!

Advent is a season of holy waiting, a time to slow down, light a candle against the dark, and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Join us as we begin the new church year together on Sunday, November 29, the First Sunday of Advent.

Advent Wreath Making · Sunday, November 29 · Noon hour · Founders Hall

After the 10:30 service, gather with friends of all ages to make an Advent wreath to take home. Supplies provided. Kids are especially welcome, and it’s a wonderful way to start a family tradition of lighting the candles together each week as Christmas draws near.

Make Advent a season of hope, peace, joy and love at St. James’. We hope to see you there!

Sunday, November 29, 2-4:30 pm: Serve at Trinity Center

We will gather to serve our neighbors at the Trinity Center at 2pm. Trinity Center is in the basement of St. David's Church downtown. We'll set up the chairs for the service and begin preparing the food. Neighbors will come in at 3pm and begin the service. After the service, we'll rearrange the chairs, add some tables, and start serving the food. We'll clean up after the meal and typically be done somewhere between 4 and 4:30. Parking: Street parking on 7th is free. If you park in St. David’s surface lot (8th & San Jacinto) or garage, it’s free for volunteers. Don’t scan the QR codes in the garage; scan the one posted in the Trinity Center kitchen when you arrive.Questions? Contact Will Clark at will.clark.jr@gmail.com.

St. James’ Turns 85!

For 85 years, St. James’ has been a place where all are welcome at the table. We have become an inclusive, multicultural community of faith, community of faith and service in East Austin. This December, as we journey through Advent together, we will spend a whole week, December 5–13, giving thanks for this community that has come this far by faith.

Founders’ Week Schedule

• Saturday, December 5 · 12–3 p.m. · Founders’ Day Party. Our community celebration kicks off the week with food, games, history and the St. James’ Got Talent showcase.
• Sunday, December 6 · 12–1 p.m. · Looking to the Future Together. An interim presentation on our Master Plan, sharing what we have heard from you and where we are headed.
• Monday, December 7 · 4 p.m. · A Service of Thanksgiving on our 85th anniversary. We gather on the Huston-Tillotson University campus, near Chalmers Avenue and 7th Street, at the site of the original St. James’ building, to give thanks for the roots and foundations of our community.
• Saturday, December 12 · 8 a.m. · Las Mañanitas at Casa Marianella. We celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe and 20 years of ministry together with Casa Marianella.
• Sunday, December 13 · Founders’ Day Commemoration. A day-long celebration as Bishop Greg Rickel, the second rector of St. James', joins us to preach and celebrate.

Founders’ Day Party · Saturday, December 5 · Noon–3 p.m.

Food, music, games, dancing and memories! Bring your family, invite a friend, and celebrate with us. This party is for every generation of St. James’, from longtime members to brand-new friends.

85 Years, One St. James’, So Many Talents!

Sing, dance, play an instrument, tell a story or make us laugh at the Founders’ Day celebration. All ages are welcome. Sign up in the narthex.

Help Us Throw a Party Worthy of St. James’!

We need volunteers now for decorating, hospitality, setup and more. To join the planning team, contact Lisa Braithwaite (lisacpeavy@gmail.com) or Stephanie Dodoo (stephaniedodoo@gmail.com).