Vision and Mission

Purpose Statement, Why We Exist:

St. Julian of Norwich exists to be a community where God's salvation in Christ can be experienced and known.

Vision Statement, What We are Striving to Become and Accomplish:

Growing in Relationship, Loving all Well, Seeking Intimacy with Christ

Mission Statement, What We Do:

St. Julian of Norwich is an Episcopal community whose mission is to offer worship, spiritual formation, fellowship, and service to all in Christ’s name.

Core Values, Identifying Qualities Deeply Held by the Community:

• Sacramental Worship--St. Julian’s offers beautiful worship deeply rooted in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition that is, at the same time, ancient and future looking.


• Openness to the Spirit--We encourage openness to the Holy Spirit to guide us as we grow in our relationships with God and one another.


• Service to Others--We receive, accept, share and return God’s love and blessings to all who are entrusted to our care both within and without our community.


• Mutual Respect and Trust--We are a community that demonstrates trust and respect for one another by a willingness to share honestly, listen, be vulnerable and negotiate difference with love and grace.


• Hospitality--All who God entrusts to our care feel welcomed and valued because we value difference and diversity as an opportunity to learn more about God and ourselves.


• Multi-generational Community--We value and seek to serve in our ministry ALL people, adults, youth and children, by offering both age appropriate worship and programs and opportunities to learn and grow as a community of the whole.

A Vision of Life at St. Julian’s in 2015, Imagined by our Community:

Community

In the year 2015, St. Julian of Norwich Episcopal Church is known as a dynamic, spiritual community in which people of all ages from children to seniors are deeply engaged in the life of the community. Don’t be surprised to see children running happily across the church grounds or seniors involved in outreach efforts or people hanging out in the bookstore. In addition, the Church is a gathering place for the larger Northwest community in which it dwells, and is recognized as having contributed to a sense of identity for that area. Some say St. Julian’s is a “light on the hill.”

Worship

The heart of St. Julian’s life together is its worship. Steeped in the rich tradition of the Episcopal liturgy, worship at St. Julian’s embraces that tradition while it also incorporates the best of creative new approaches. Members enjoy a meaningful experience of worship that brings alive Biblical and theological dimensions of faith as it deepens their experience of God. Every aspect of worship from music to sacraments to the worship space is marked by a beauty that refreshes and inspires.

Spiritual Nurturing

Grounded in worship and prayer, and sustained through education and faith sharing, those of all ages at St. Julian’s find that they are supported in deepening their relationship with God in Christ. The community has a deeply held belief that God’s transforming and healing grace is available to all and that God draws us into greater and greater intimacy. There are many ways in which spirituality is nurtured at St. Julian’s, including Bible study, prayer groups, and conversation.

Children and Youth

At St. Julian’s, children and youth are an evident, vital, and valued member of the community and offerings for these young people are not an afterthought. In educational activities, worship, and community events, young people are actively present, enjoying themselves as they enrich our community. In fact, the church’s way with children and youth attracts many families to the church.

Leadership

At St. Julian’s, leadership is shared between clergy and members of the community. The model of leadership that the community exemplifies is the servant leadership modeled by Christ as he washed the feet of his followers. Leaders at St. Julian’s are good listeners who involve others in carrying out the work of the church in ways that align with its values and fulfill its vision. Leadership is not the privilege of a few, but an invitation to all. Opportunities at St. Julian’s are plentiful.

Life Together

For those who are part of St. Julian’s, life together is not one hour on Sunday but a way of being that is grounded in a vision of living out Christ’s love, reconciliation, and healing on a day to day basis with each other and with all. Some call it a Rule of Life. There are no strangers at St. Julian’s where it is easy to find a meaningful connection. St. Julian’s is a place where the important moments of life—baptism, weddings, anniversaries, and funerals—are shared and celebrated. It is said about the St. Julian’s community, “these people laugh a lot and really like each other.” We are there for one another and for all who need our support whether that need is compassionate listening or a meal.

Our Space

Set in the Texas Hill Country, in far northwest Austin, St. Julian of Norwich is an inviting, beautiful space that reflects the openness and warmth of the community it serves. With areas for quiet reflection as well as lively gatherings of friends, the space is flexible to accommodate the needs of the wide range of groups it serves.

The Spirit of Lady Julian

St. Julian’s and those who make up our community reflect the spirit of its namesake, Julian of Norwich. Steeped in an understanding of Julian’s writing and the spirit that inspired that writing, those in this community seek a more intimate relationship with God, to bear the marks of Christ in their compassionate loving attitude, and joyful, accepting relationship with each other.