Saint Cecilia’s Episcopal Church
Round Top, Texas
Who We Are
About us
Saint Cecilia’s is a vibrant spiritual community gathering each Sunday at 8:45 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. at Haw Creek Chapel in Henkel Square, in the heart of Round Top, Texas. For those who cannot attend in person, a recorded service is posted online each week.
Round Top is a small town with a remarkable cultural presence. Located midway between Houston and Austin, it is home to one of the world’s largest antique festivals, a flourishing community of designers and artists, and the Round Top Festival Institute. Saint Cecilia’s is rooted in this landscape of creativity and beauty.
Named for Saint Cecilia, patron saint of musicians, our church honors the creative gifts of artists, writers, and musicians as expressions of divine generosity. We are an open and inclusive Episcopal community proclaiming God’s love to all people, without exception, and extending that care to the whole of creation.
As part of The Episcopal Church, we stand within a Christian tradition that brings together scripture, tradition, reason, and lived experience. This is sometimes described as a Celtic sensibility, one that recognizes beauty, imagination, and the natural world as meaningful pathways to God. We believe that creativity is not ornamental to faith but integral to it. If it is not about love, it is not about God.
Our Vision
Our vision is to nurture a community of growing, loving, and faithful people committed to God, to one another, and to serving the wider world.
We cherish both our in-person congregation in Round Top and our expanding virtual community that joins us from across the country and beyond.
Beyond weekly worship, we are committed to compassionate action. We support and collaborate with organizations such as Episcopal Relief & Development, The Howlelujah Foundation, The Amen Food Pantry, The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, The Gardenia Janssen Animal Shelter, and other local and global partners.
We are also developing a concert and literary series that celebrates artists, musicians, and writers, along with collaborative worship services that highlight the distinctive gifts of guest musicians. We are especially mindful of the rich and diverse musical traditions of Texas, honoring the ways faith and culture are carried in song.
Worship
Join us for worship at Saint Cecilia’s
8:45 AM & 10:45 AM Sunday
Both the 8:45 and 10:45 AM Sunday services are identical and joyful, with the same inspiring music and sermon. The structure of the service will be a familiar form of Holy Communion with a variety of music, some songs sung by the congregation, others shared by our outstanding musicians as we listen with our hearts. In each service there are four readings from scripture including an Old Testament, Psalm, New Testament Epistle and the Gospel reading for the day. We have a sermon, prayers, and an opportunity to be fed at the Lord’s table. Saint Cecilia’s is somewhat casual or “loose around the edges” as we welcome folks who come from many different religious traditions and no tradition at all. Our music is exceptional and diverse. Our sermons are inspiring, relevant, and like those of Jesus, incorporate real stories taken from the context of our daily lives (such as the family pet!) into the message.
All are welcome to receive Holy Communion.
After each service, we gather for coffee and refreshments outside under the majestic oaks of Henkel Square, offering a time to meet and connect. You can learn more about our community at our Information/Welcome table before and after each service.
Location
130 Henkel Circle
Round Top, TX 78954
Featured Events
SAINT FRANCIS FESTIVAL: ANIMAL BLESSING
Sunday, October 4th, is the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis in Italy. We will have only one service, at 10:00 a.m., outdoors under the trees with breakfast tacos, cinnamon rolls and a concert by Joey, Stephen and Anna. All dogs are welcome! If you'd like to help with our Saint Francis Festival, please contact Father Bill at kahunapadre@yahoo.com
NEW SONG BUILDING UPDATES
Join us on the following Sundays at 10:00 AM for important and exciting updates from our New Song building campaign:
October 11
November 8
December 6
SUNDAY SUPPERS RETURN!
Save the date for a wonderful evening of food and fellowship. More information to come!
October 11 @ 5:00 PM — Hosted by Stephen & Misty Smathers at Laughing Hen Silos
November 8 @ 5:00 PM — Hosted by Ed & Suzanne Ellis
December 6 @ 5:00 PM — Hosted by Robbie & Cathy Hutton
Guest Musician Giulia Milanta Joins us September 27th
Giulia Milanta will join us for both services and will offer a concert at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, September 27th. Singer-Songwriter Giulia (Julia) Milanta is a native-born Italian from Florence who now calls Austin, Texas home. A creative and prolific artist, she has released seven solo albums, touring nationally throughout the USA and internationally. An accomplished guitarist, Giulia also plays ukulele and sings in four languages. Don't miss her!
