May 2016
St. Mark’s News Volume 20/Issue 5
From the Rector I am writing this just a few days from the start of my three-month sabbatical. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for granting me this time for rest and perhaps even some occasional reflection. People keep asking me if I am excited about the next three months and I realize that I am more conflicted than excited. St. Mark’s is so very much a part of my daily life and schedule that it is going to be quite difficult to stay away! As I worked on my portion of this month’s Newsletter I realized how much I will miss our upcoming Parish events: the First Friday Book Group meetings, the annual chicken BBQ and picnic, the Festal Choral Evensong on Pentecost, Graduation Sunday, the Heifer Living Market, and the energy of Vacation Bible School. But even more than these events, I will miss each of you—my most beloved parishioners and staff members.
In this Issue
I am, however, immensely thankful knowing that the Parish is being left in good and faithful hands. The staff, the wardens, the vestry, our worship and ministry leaders, and each parishioner are most essential to the mission and ministry of St. Mark’s. I know that you will warmly welcome visitors and that you will serve the parish and one another. I am thankful that we now have an Assistant Rector, and that David+ will have liturgical help from Cecilia Smith+, Mike Davis+, and our seminarian Neal McGowan (when he returns from Egypt and England the end of June).
From the Rector .........................1 Vestry Highlights ........................2 Mark Your Calendars .................3 Parish Life ..................................4 Outreach ....................................6 Christian Formation ....................6 Caffeine Ministry ........................8 Adult Formation ..........................9 Parishioner Highlights ................9 Celebrations ............................. 11 ROTA ....................................... 12
I am thankful for your faithful stewardship that means I have been able to tell staff and vestry to fix what breaks in my absence (however the breakage started even before my absence: a HVAC unit in a classroom and the main office computer) . . . but it will be summer in Austin and we can most certainly count on another visit or two from our friends at Totally Cool!
So what are my plans? Sabbatical starts on Monday, April 25. The next day Philip and I will fly to Denver to be with our daughter Elisa for her 25th birthday. We will return on Saturday, April 30. On May 3 a dear friend of some 36 years, whom I have not seen for probably close to 10 years will spend a few days with us in Austin. On May 25 Philip and I will celebrate our 30th anniversary and then on May 28 we will fly to Venice. On June 1 we will drive from Venice to San Casciano in Val di Pesa for two weeks in Tuscany. It has been our custom when we have traveled to Italy in the past to have one “at home” day followed by an excursion/day trip. We will return to some of our favorite places: Siena, San Gimignano, Assisi, Volterra, Panzano in Chianti . . . And sometime in early July we will take an east coast trip to New York City, Connecticut, and Maine. We have more than enough projects to keep us busy at home. I have piles of books, some of which I hope to read. And we have a book of 60 hikes within 60 miles of Austin (thank you Kim Kiplin for the referral)—some of which we are going to tackle. So again, thank you and know that you are loved and will be missed. (EZT+)
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