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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May 2016
Vestry Highlights The St. Mark’s Vestry met in the Bennett Wing classroom at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19, 2016. Elizabeth+ opened the meeting with a short biography of, and the Collect for, Alphege (Archbishop of Canterbury and Martyr in 1012). Elizabeth’s+ Report included:
Distribution of Sabbatical Notes, and discussion of her sabbatical plans and church coverage in her absence. Reports about the Meditation Trail Cleanup (good turnout of workers though in the future we need to recruit an after lunch crew as well as a morning crew); the Palm Sunday youth breakfast taco sale ($370.00 which the youth are going to spend on some fun summer day long activity TBD); a total Easter attendance of 550; 10 baptisms in the month of April (six on 4/3 and four on 4/24); and the Community First Build on 4/9 went well: perfect number of builders completing the build in record time and a nice turnout of parishioners to write words of love on the home’s exterior walls and messages in the resident-to-be’s Blessing Book. In the last two weeks we had to replace the HVAC unit in one of the classrooms for $3,925. Wilson plumbing is working on replacing a faucet in one of the classrooms (waiting on parts to arrive). The office computer died this afternoon (“Kernel Panic”) and it is at Apple being diagnosed for possibility of repair. The Vestry approved the purchase of a new Apple desktop for the office. If the other one can be repaired we will use it as the office backup (thankfully we had an old Mac Mini that we can use in the interim). We have a parishioner who can use his employee family/friends discount to lower the price. We are getting significantly fewer calls for the HEB food cards and have close to a 4-month surplus. The Capital Area Food Bank sent out a plea for financial help because a weekend fundraiser was cancelled due to rain, leaving them $100,000 short. We will not purchase HEB food cards for the next 4 months, and will instead redirect those funds ($1,540) to the Capital Area Food Bank.
David+ Reported that he is completing preparation for his comprehensives and will be graduating with his M.A.R. from the Seminary of the Southwest on Tuesday, May 24 (10:00 a.m. at St. Matthew’s)—also at which time Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will be receiving an honorary doctorate; he has been organizing the St. Mark’s Fun Run/Walk; and is inviting another Veterans’ group to the Memorial Day service he has planned for our Columbarium area. Diana Stangl reported that our summer Costa Rica mission trip has been cancelled because too few parishioners were able to go. She recently heard from the Costa Rica contact that rather than building housing for missionaries and meetings in Guacimo they hope to develop apartment/condo housing for refugee women and their children. So perhaps 2017 in Costa Rica! We will also look at various other options for fundraising such a trip that might make it more affordable for parishioner participation. Diana also gave the Finance Committee report: pledge payments were down a bit again for the month of March, but our overall contribution income is at 118.52%. In the month of March our income exceeded our expenses by $4,777. Elizabeth+ reported that of the $5,000 we budgeted for clergy supply during the sabbatical we will spend $2,000. We have also given a $500 mini-grant to the Women’s Storybook Project of Texas. Other reports included Education (Cathy is thankful for our dedicated and wonderful group of teachers and she is gearing up for VBS the week of June 13); Outreach (Clarence gave a report of summer Outreach Projects: El Buen Samaritano food collections; preparing and serving a meal at the Ronald McDonald House; Capital Area Food Bank food sorting; August blood drive and school supply collection); and Parish Life. Elizabeth+ also reported that during the next three months of her absence an architect with STG Design will be working with parishioner Tim Hendricks on possible Parish Hall/Kitchen/Bathroom renovations.
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May 2016 Mark Your Calendars! Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest Graduation: Tuesday, May 24, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church David Peters+ and our former seminarian Thom Temperli will both be graduating from SSW on May 24. Among recipients for an honorary doctorate will be the Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev. Michael Curry. The preacher is the Bishop of the Diocese of Chicago – the Rt. Rev. Jeffrey D. Lee.
Heifer Living Gift Market: Sunday, June 5, 11 a.m. What is Heifer Living Gift Market? Heifer International’s mission is to work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth. Our part in this is offering the Heifer Living Gift Market on Sunday, June 5, at 11:00 a.m. With booths set up representing how the living gifts are used in global communities, you can sample food, enjoy a petting zoo, and learn how Heifer helps empower families. We will also provide hotdogs and ice cream to help us celebrate the end of the academic church year and our part in Heifer’s work around the world. Watch for sign-up sheets to find out how you can help ‘pass on the gift’ to others during our celebration on the lawn. For more information about Heifer, please visit the website: www.Heifer.org.
Graduation Sunday and Beginning of Summer Schedule: Also June 5 Services will be at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sundays during the summer. Celebrate graduates at the 10 a.m. service on June 5.
Men’s Fishing Trip: June 19 – 21 Become part of the fishing tradition here at St. Mark’s! This trip is a valuable time for St. Mark’s men, young and seasoned, to bond over exaggerated story-telling, cold beverages, and experiencing God’s creation. After a long day on the boats, Captain’s Quarters Inn has a pool to lounge around and relive the day. There are also plenty of restaurant choices near the motel. We will be leaving right after the 10:00 a.m. summer service on June 19, and we will carpool to the coast. We return either late Monday evening or Tuesday afternoon, depending on your schedule. Since it is a chartered trip, the more people that come, the lower the price—so the more the merrier! Both deep-sea fishing and bay fishing are available, and included in either excursion is rod, reel, and guides. For more information, contact David+: dpeters@stmarksaustin.org.
2016 Scholarship Golf Tournament: June 25 Presented by the Men’s Group of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church to endow scholarships for high school graduates. When: Saturday, June 25, 8:00 a.m. Shotgun Start Where: Morris Williams Golf Course Format: Four Person Scramble – Enter your own team or we will match you up . Registration: Pay by May 25: $70/player! (After May 25: $75/player) Fee includes: Green fees, Cart, practice balls, New Scramble Format (handicap or avg. score required), Great Prizes, Refreshments and Door prizes, and Awards Luncheon How to Register: Complete the registration form, posted in the Parish Hall and under the Announcements column on our website: www.stmarksaustin.org, or contact: Andrew Poynot, 512-529-7309 or apoynot@yahoo.com, or Phil Aboussie at 512-970-0831. Hole Sponsorships are also available!
Update on Costa Rica Mission Trip Unfortunately we did not have enough people commit, so we will not be doing a mission trip to Costa Rica this summer. We are going to continue to explore ways to make the trip less expensive and hope to present some dates for people to consider for the summer of 2017. If you would like to be involved in the planning for a 2017 trip, please email Diana Stangl: dstangl@austin.rr.com.
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May 2016
Parish Life First Friday Book Group 11:00 a.m. in the Bennett Wing Classroom If asked to give a one-word summary of the book we read for April (Lila by Marilynne Robinson) it would be “grace.” And grace is what our book for May is about as well. Join us on May 6 for our discussion of Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. There will be no meeting of the book group in June, but if you want some summer reading and discussion join us on: July 1 Deep Down Dark by Hector Tobar August 5 The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce September 2 Redeployment by Phil Klay And if you have books that you have read and loved, or have wanted to read, send your suggestions our way!
Music Notes The St. Mark’s Choir invites you to attend a service of Festal Evensong for Pentecost on Sunday Evening, May 15 th, 5:00 p.m., with a reception following in the Parish Hall. As part of this service of song, scripture, and prayer, the choir will be singing several glorious pieces of music. O gracious light (Phos hilaron) by Russell Schulz-Widmar (b. 1944) Russell Schulz is an American composer, church musician, and a retired professor from the Seminary of the Southwest here in Austin. His ethereal composition captures the mystery of this ancient “lamp-lighting” hymn at the start of Evening Prayer. Evening Service in B-flat Major, Opus 10 by Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) Two canticles from Luke’s Gospel, the Magnificat (Song of Mary) and the Nunc dimittis (Song of Simeon), form the musical heart of Evening Prayer. They are always sung as a response to the readings from scripture. Stanford composed music of exceptional beauty for the Church, and his Opus 10 setting of the evening canticles is a masterpiece of the English cathedral repertoire. If ye love me by Philip Wilby (b. 1949) British composer Philip Wilby writes for various instruments in multiple genres. His great passion is composing music that expresses his strong Christian faith. The anthem If ye love me is a setting of John 14:15-16 in which Jesus promises the gift of the Holy Spirit to his followers. Every time I feel the Spirit by William Dawson (1899-1990) Dawson was an extremely influential American composer, conductor, and educator. He spent much of his career at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where his choirs achieved worldwide renown. He made numerous choral arrangements of African-American Spirituals. His settings are noteworthy for combining the authentic and improvisatory style of folk music with the intricate compositional techniques of Western art music. He helped to establish the Spiritual as a treasured and uniquely American art form. Stay with us by Egil Hovland (1924-2013) Hovland was an extremely prolific Norwegian composer whose work spans virtually every style of twentieth-century art music. He began his musical career as an organist, and continued to write sacred music throughout his life. Stay with us comes from a larger oratorio entitled Captive and Free. It was first translated into English for the use by the St. Olaf Choir, and has now become a beloved staple of American choral repertoire. Please plan to join us for this beautiful service on May 15th at 5:00 p.m.
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May 2016
ECW News Women's Potluck and Bunco will be held on May 23 at 6:30 p.m. Please bring a dish or drink to share and $3 for bunco. Thank you to everyone who supported the women's group fundraiser by ordering geraniums and/or food. This fundraiser generated a little over $500. A very big THANK YOU to everyone who helped make the quilt and pillow sham for Community First! Andrea Michael, Amalia De La Rosa, Beth Greenlee, Cindy Cabler, Dee Ann Thomasson, Judy Elkins, Maria Lubeck, and Susan Willis. The quilt and sham were blessed at the 11 a.m. service on April 10.
Mother’s Day: Shower Ministry Gift Cards. A Mother's Day gift option will be available in the Parish Hall following the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services on Sunday, May 1. Volunteers will be ready to assist you with Shower Ministry gift cards to give to your mother or anyone you want to recognize on this special day or to make a donation in memory of a loved one. Day trip to Boerne. The Women's Group enjoyed a day trip to Boerne on Saturday, April 16. The rain clouds held off for us, as we explored all the town had to offer. We are planning on more trips during the year, so if you missed this one, please plan on joining us later on this year.
May DOK News New Junior DOK Chapter. We are so proud that St. Mark's now has a Junior Daughters of the King Chapter for the first time. Thank you to Jonea Raney for being the Directress and getting this organized. Clara Bogart, Ellise Johnson, and Bonnie Brode were received to begin their training in a candlelight service during the 11 a.m. service on March 6th. New Member. Congratulations to our newest member, Sandy Sterzing, who having completed her 3-month training, was presented her cross in the service of admission on April 10th. How does the Prayer list work? You see the prayer list each week in the Sunday Order of Service, but what are all those names listed under DOK Prayer list and how did they get there? If you would like to have the Daughters pray for you, your loved ones or friends. Submit your request in one of the following ways:
You may call or e-mail the church office (stmarksaustin@gmail.com/512-444-1449), contact a clergy member (Elizabeth: ezturner@stmarksaustin.org; David: dpeters@stmarksaustin.org), or e-mail Liz Badger (lizbadger9@gmail.com), who is our Prayer List Coordinator. Look for any of our members who wear the cross of the order and let them know of your request, and we will be happy to get your request on the list.
How long does a name stay on? It is very helpful if you keep us updated on the situation and let us know when to REMOVE your request. Generally a person will be on our list for one month unless requested due to long-term illness, treatment, or you update us with new developments. If you are interested in becoming a Daughter, please contact Judy Elkins at judyelkins@me.com or sign up on Rally Day in late August. There are also flyers in the Parish Hall.
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May 2016
Outreach for May El Buen Food Pantry Collection for May: dried beans (preferably black or pinto in 1-2 lb bags). Ronald McDonald House Meal Preparation: June 12. For those of you who enjoy being in the kitchen, please consider helping to prepare a meal at the Ronald McDonald House at Dell Children's. St. Mark's would like to prepare a meal at the house on Sunday, June 12th. Prep starts at 4 p.m. for the 6 p.m. meal. Youth and adults welcome. Please see the Sign-up Sheet for in the Parish Hall. This will take some planning so we encourage you to sign up in advance. The Ronald McDonald House (RMDH) of Central Texas provides parents a home away from home when their child is hospitalized. RMCH believes that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of their child, especially not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal or where they will sleep. They believe that when a child is hospitalized the love and support of family is as powerful as the strongest medicine.
Christian Formation for Children, by Cathy Nelson, DRE As we come to the end of the Season of Easter and enter Pentecost, the lectionary tells of God’s presence and blessings given not just to God’s chosen people, but to foreigners also. In the Gospel readings, Jesus commissions his disciples to go into the world to share this story of God’s love and forgiveness made evident in Christ. He blesses them and promises to send the Holy Spirit to teach them everything they need to know and to remind them of all Jesus has taught them. On Pentecost, when the disciples have gathered in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit enters the room and each is touched by tongues “as of fire” and begins to speak about God’s deeds of power in different languages. Soon after, the apostles go out into the world to teach the Gospel. At this point in the cycle of the Church year, with its focus on spreading God’s word outside of the community, it is possible to wonder how to go about doing that in our age and time. Evangelism is not quite the same for us as it was for the apostles. However, in the present time, the digital world offers more ways to connect and engage with others around the globe. Could this be the vehicle of evangelism? But endless digital connections can be overwhelming for families trying to manage the inward and outward flow available to children and themselves, be it mercantile, social, educational or evangelistic. Sorting through this huge world of technology is daunting, so below are a few insights from those whose lifework focuses on these questions. Sherry Turkle, Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology at MI and founder and director of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self, is the author of many books dealing with these challenges. In an interview on the NPR show On Being, “Alive Enough? Reflecting on our Technology,” the host Krista Tippett, talks to Turkle about her work and her book, Alone Together. The book examines the dilemma of being “alone together” with many opportunities to interact digitally with others while in the company of those who are physically present with us. Turkle says, "Just because we grew up with the Internet, we think that the Internet is all grown up." We don't have a mature Internet. We're in the baby stages, and that's good because that means we can make it right. Near the end of her book, Turkle quotes Thoreau, writing about his two years of retreat: "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately … I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear …" "Thoreau's quest inspires us to ask of our life with technology:
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May 2016 Do we live deliberately?" asks Turkle. http://www.onbeing.org/program/alive-enough-reflectingour-technology/63 On her site Bread & Stories: Tending Family Faith in Cyberspace, Mary Lee Wile, an Episcopal Deacon, educator and blogger, reviews Alone Together, the book by Sherry Turkel. Wile’s takeaway from the book focuses on our interactions with those closest to us, especially our children. For most of us, the convenience and togetherness created by the Internet is life-giving in its own way: But sometimes we really do need to be fully present to one another, especially to the children. As their caretakers, we are called to be instruments of the love with which God gazes on them, to take immediate delight in their accomplishments as they create mud pies or build block cities, learn to crawl or dance or swim. To be there, simply to be wholly there. It’s all really just about hanging out with one another in real time. God’s constant call into community reminds us that we’re not meant to go it alone, not even alone together. http://familyfaithincyberspace.blogspot.com/search?q=alone+together http://familyfaithincyberspace.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2016-01-01T00:00:0008:00&updated-max=2017-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=1 In a very hopeful interview with Tiffany Shlain titled “Growing Up the Internet,” also on On Being, with Krista Tippett, some of the same questions are discussed. Shlain, founder of the Webby Awards, co-founder of the Academy of Digital Arts and Science, documentarian and author, agrees that the Internet is in its infancy, and like with a child whose biggest growth period of its brain is between birth and five years of age, we must nurture the Internet, through modeling and guiding its behavior, and infusing it with character strengths. Tippett says of Shlain, “Her perspective on our technology-enhanced lives is ultimately a purposeful and enriching one - the Internet is our global brain, towards which we can apply all the wisdom we are gaining about the brains in our heads and the character in our lives.” Shlain agrees, “It’s amazing. We seem to talk about technology as if it’s other than us when we’ve created it. It’s a reframing. It is an extension of our abilities. It’s an amplification of our desire to connect, of our desire to do more — so, it is us. And we are good, bad, and everything in between. So you can talk about technology as a force for bad, but you can also talk about it as a force for good. Or you could just talk about it as an extension of us. And if we’re mindful about the way we use technology, we can shape it. And it’s not something that’s overtaking us. I think a lot of people talk about, “Oh, I’m so overwhelmed with technology.” Well, you can turn it off, also, and that’s been a really profound thing for me.” Shlain tells a story about her family’s decision to begin the practice of ‘Technical Shabbat’ each week. When her father died seven years ago, they agreed to turn off technology for the 24 hours of the Jewish Shabbat. She says it gives them time to rebalance, be more reflective and see the overall picture better, as well as time to spend time together with family; and after Shabbat she is excited again to go to the internet. Learning that she has the ability to engage with the Internet in a way that is productive and life-giving, but under her control, was empowering. And then, she began to focus on ways to “prune” the bad and nurture the good. “…we’re at this point in human evolution and our civilization where you have this tool that’s creating a nervous system for the whole world, and we can shape it. And we can prune it. And we can strengthen things that are important, and weaken things that are not as important — or not good for society.” http://www.onbeing.org/program/tiffany-shlain-growing-up-the-internet/transcript/8554#main_content Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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May 2016
Christian Formation Schedule for May Godly Play Stories for May: Circle of the Holy Eucharist, Symbols of the Holy Eucharist, The Mystery of Pentecost and The Parable of Parables. Godly Play Two Stories for May: class for 1st and 2nd graders will hear The Exile and Return, The Prophets, The Mystery of Pentecost and The Parable of Parables. The 3rd, 4th and 5th grade class will explore the Gospel readings for the Season of Easter using the Lesson Plans that Work curriculum. In the last two Sundays of Easter we continue to hear what the story of Easter means. “We too are called to bring this message with our lives, and, if necessary, with words, to those who have not yet heard it.” And on Pentecost and the following Sundays, “We remain Easter people, now with the wind of the Holy Spirit in our sails. Our task for the months ahead in this season of Ordinary Time, which extends to the end of November, is to look at what Jesus so tenaciously taught his disciples and see what is in these teachings for us as we carry out the work we have been given to do. Jesus promised his disciples a helper, an Advocate, who would stand with them making the work possible. This same helper, the Holy Spirit, hovers over us still eager to quench the fire of fear and replace it with the powerful energy of love.” The Youth Class for 6th through 12th Grades will meet in the Bennett Wing with Ellise Johnson, Danielle Adkins and other adult leaders for breakfast and Bible study covering the story of David.
Summer Activities for St. Mark’s Children Below is summer camp information suitable for a variety of ages. St. Mark’s hosts a VBS session in June, our Day School offers sessions for children ages 2-5 in June & July, and Camp Allen has summer sessions for rising 3rd graders up through high school seniors. Vacation Bible School (VBS), Signs of Faith, will be held on June 13 through 17 for children potty-trained 3-year-olds through 5th grade. Application forms for attendees and staff are at our website: http://stmarksaustin.org/christian-formations/vacation-bibleschool/
Camp Allen camps and events for children ages 8 through 18 years. Check the board in the Parish Hall for applications, or go to Camp Allen’s website, http://www.campallen.org/summercamp/calendar, for on-line registration, registration forms, information, and the calendar for campers and counselors.
St. Mark’s Day School Summer Camps: June 6-July 29, for children 2-5 years-old. The theme is Camp Innovations, integrating S.T.E.M curriculum (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Applications are in the Parish Hall or contact the Day School: stmarksdayschoolaustin.org, or 512-444-9401.
Caffeine Ministry This schedule has only a team for cleaning up after the 11:00 service. Dear and faithful Beth Chenoweth makes the lemonade and sets out the cookies before the 7:30 service. We ask the assigned team to stay after coffee fellowship to wash coffee pots, put away leftover cookies, and clean counters. Thank you! EZT+ May – Diana Stangl 1 8 15
Lisa Martin and Michelle Lehrach Laurie and Jonathon Mayor Michael Meigs and Karen Milton
22 29
Steve Niemeyer and Bo Overstreet Ashley and Travis Phillips
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May 2016
Christian Formation for Adults Hocus Pocus, Rubrics, and Why We Read Out of A Big Book at Communion: An Introduction to Liturgical Theology New Adult Ed Offering in May by The Rev. Dr. David Peters “If you ask an Episcopalian to pray, they’ll always reach for a book.” The book we reach for is usually the Book of Common Prayer (1979), which contains the prayers of our Church. Many people in America have unwittingly prayed out of our Prayer Book at weddings they have attended. The vows used in North America are almost word for word out of the early Prayer Books of England. I know that’s how I first encountered the Prayer Book. Long before I darkened the door of an Episcopal Church, I was fishing around in an old church cabinet, full of holy dust and eight-legged creatures, when I found a copy of the 1928 Prayer Book. I saw it had been used for a wedding. The Wedding Office is a world treasure for many reasons. One such reason is that it was the first wedding service written by a married person, Thomas Cranmer. While Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury under Henry VIII, is credited with writing the first Prayer Book in England, it was hardly an original work. The Prayer Book he wrote was in conversation with a long line of liturgical texts that stretch back to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and 1 Corinthians, the four books that shape our service of Holy Communion. On the last three Sundays in May, we will be diving into this Liturgical Theological history in our Adult Ed hour in Grace Chapel. It is full of twists and turns, surprises and mysteries. Since this was the subject of my Comprehensive Exams at Seminary of the Southwest, I am brimming with useful information I want to share with you. Not only will we look at the history, we will also address why we read these prayers rather than freestyle them. I mean, can’t God read? Furthermore, why does the priest stand on the other side of the table? Is she or he trying to reenact Jesus’ last supper? This series of classes will enrich your Sunday Morning worship experience and I can assure you that you will never look at the Eucharist the same way again. Come along with me on this adventure in May as we journey a little closer to that upper room where our Lord Jesus Christ took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his friends.
Parishioner Highlights The Diana and Greg Stangl family have led most interesting lives—I do love the “how you met” stories. Enjoy Diana’s article which besides the “how they met” story contains fun travels, interesting pets and children to be proud of. And we do thank the Stangls for playing active roles in the life of St. Mark’s as well as the community. Beth Chenoweth
Diana and Greg Stangl Greg and I have lived in the Barton Hills neighborhood since 1992 and we love it! We take hikes in the greenbelt as often as we can and Greg took the kids there all the time when they were growing up. I also love to walk the Meditation Trail at St. Mark’s. I take our dogs there as much as possible.
Our son Michael (27) lives in Alpine, Texas, and is working on his Master’s degree in conservation biology at Sul Ross State University. He is researching the mountain lions in West Texas. Our daughter Carey (21) is a junior at Seattle University in Seattle, Washington. She is studying art history and non-profit leadership and hopes to find a job in museum education when she graduates.
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May 2016 I was born in Orlando, Florida, and moved with my family to Houston when I was 11. I went to SMU in Dallas for college and got my degree in Criminal Justice. I have 3 brothers and 1 sister. My oldest brother, Don Middlebrooks, was already in college when we moved to Texas and he has stayed in Florida his entire life. He is a Federal judge for the Southern District of Florida and lives in Jupiter, Florida. He was the judge assigned to hear the Gore vs. Bush case back in 2000. That was pretty crazy seeing my brother all over the news! My parents loved Florida and my dad bought a fish cabin on a lake in Orlando when I was in college with the idea that he and my mom would move there permanently when he retired. So I spent every summer during college working at Disney World and living at the lake. I learned incredible skills at Disney: I can drive a steam train and a team of Belgium draft horses, steer a war canoe full of 20 tourists, build a pretty good fire, and play either Chip or Dale, the chipmunks! After college I took a year off to travel the country. A girlfriend and I drove all over the eastern half of the country. We ran out of money in Chincoteague, Virginia and got jobs working on the fish docks. We spent 2 weeks there until we had enough money to continue on. We mostly slept in the car or looked up family connections that neither of us had ever met before. I returned to Chincoteague by myself before going home and worked on a clam boat for one trip so that I did not arrive back home completely broke. I am so amazed at the strength my mom showed by letting me take off like that! I decided to go to paralegal school and chose one in Philadelphia so that I could experience living in the Northeast. This was when the paralegal profession was just starting. I loved living in downtown Philly. When I finished the program I moved to Houston and got a job with a big downtown law firm. I met Greg when I had to fly to Austin for work. He was driving a cab then and I got into his cab at the airport. We had a long distance relationship for about a year and then I decided that the best way to get to Austin was to go back to school. So I applied to the MBA program at UT and got in. I worked for a law firm part time while attending UT and got to see the business side of law firms. After I got my MBA I worked for a couple of other law firms before being hired in 1989 as the Office Manager for the firm I am with now. There were just 10 lawyers in the firm when I started. My title is now Firm Administrator and we have 58 lawyers and 6 offices in Texas and New Mexico. I am responsible for the business side and personnel management for the firm.
I love horses and had some for a while. My first born was actually a half Arab named TSK Eliot. His mother was my first horse. I sold her after Michael was born because I knew I didn’t have time for both horses. I finally sold Eliot when Michael was around 12 because I just didn’t have time to ride. My sister has a horse farm in Bellville now and so I go visit her to get my horse fix now. Greg’s dad was in the Air Force and so he grew up all over the place. He was born at a US air base in Tripoli, Libya, and also lived in Germany before his dad was transferred back to the United States. He lived in Amarillo, Denver, and Oregon, and he graduated from high school in Wichita Falls. He moved to Austin in the late 70s and has been in Austin ever since. He owned his own cab for several years but stopped working when Carey was a year old in order to stay home with both kids. Carey had bacterial meningitis right before her first birthday and was in the hospital for a month. We decided we didn’t want her back in day care after that! We joined St. Mark’s in 1991. Both children were baptized at St. Mark’s and were very active in the church growing up. Father Tom Gray asked me to join the Altar Guild shortly after we officially joined—I didn’t think you could say no to a priest and so of course I joined the Altar Guild! I’ve loved serving on Altar Guild and so I am very glad that he asked me! I have also taught Sunday School, been a Children’s Chapel leader, served on the Finance Committee and served on the Vestry several times. I am currently the Senior Warden. Greg has helped out with facilities and occasionally with the garden guild. Greg and I both love to read and our house is full of books. We love music, although we don’t get out to see much live music any more. We also love the beach and try to get to one at least once a year. We have always had lots of 4-legged critters as well. The current crew consists of Leon, a black lab/border collie rescue; Kingsley, a beagle mix rescue; Menelaus, a huge fluffy orange tabby cat; Rascal, a calico cat who holds senior status in the household; Gizmo, an overweight black cat who is the dirtiest cat I have ever seen; and Oreo, a black and white cat who has multiple personalities. We have a couple of guinea pigs buried off the meditation trail behind St. Mark’s. (Father Bill gave us permission!) St. Mark’s has been such a big part of our lives that I can’t imagine life without St. Mark’s. Neither Greg nor I have other family in Austin and so the church played an important role for us while the kids were growing up as it has continued to do so today.
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May 2016
May Celebrations Birthdays Herschel Carrico Scott Forrest Will Jennings John Minne Kathy Genet Eleanor Goff Jana Kay Green Lisa Leach Nassos Papalexandrou Andrew Wood Scottie Aplin Kimberly Katner George DeMarines Sookie Knapp Nicolas Ruiz Michael Davis Joanne Foote Pattie Rose Matthew Awitan Savannah Dew Jean Severn Jewellyn Forrest
05/02 05/02 05/03 05/03 05/05 05/05 05/05 05/05 05/06 05/07 05/08 05/08 05/09 05/09 05/09 05/10 05/10 05/11 05/12 05/12 05/13 05/14
Carl Niemeyer Samuel Niemeyer Emma Vande Streek John Glover Will Johnson Stephen Niemeyer Meredith Shaw Isabella Shepard Erica Sondgeroth Leo Paterra Mark Reed Vincent Geraci Viviana Martinez Beatrice Reshetnikov Grace Borja Alexis Chun Michael Meigs Gary Todd Mary Tonsager Tracy Cain Patrick Chandler Quinlyn Chun
05/14 05/14 05/14 05/15 05/16 05/16 05/16 05/16 05/16 05/17 05/17 05/18 05/19 05/19 05/20 05/20 05/20 05/20 05/20 05/22 05/22 05/22
Katie Albers Matthew Frederick Mary Ann Huston Gavin Santos Jessie Cromack Emerson Dew Corina Joyce Dan Smith Will Smith Virginia Sullivan Becky Nolan Amy Papalexandrou Robert Romero Thomas Delamater Kristin Miller Glenn Peers Jay Brown Beatrice Dixon Alex Pugh Benjamin Martinez Chuck Ragland Greg Silver
05/23 05/23 05/23 05/23 05/24 05/24 05/25 05/25 05/25 05/25 05/26 05/26 05/26 05/27 05/27 05/27 05/29 05/29 05/29 05/31 05/31 05/31
Anniversaries Greta Gonzales & Kevin Brady Kathy & David Genet Robin Bridgewater & Lee Wagner Ann & Roger Seyler Jean & Gene Main Beth & Mike Brode Bradley & Barron Johnson Jennifer & Mark Santos Alicia & Aaron Barker Mary Carole & Britt Sitzes Mary-Alis & Brian Kelly Elizabeth & Philip Turner Heather & Mehron Azarmehr Emily & Mark Mazac Tara & Robert Pitt Susan Baxter-Harwell & Philip Harwell Jennifer & Glen Baumgart Sarah Stasney-Chun & David Chun Megan & Matthew Frederick
05/01 05/06 05/07 05/07 05/11 05/12 05/13 05/18 05/21 05/24 05/25 05/25 05/26 05/27 05/27 05/28 05/29 05/31 05/31
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May 2016
May ROTA
7:30
TIME
MINISTRY
May 1
May 8 YOUTH SUNDAY Choristers @ 11
LECTOR
Amelia Sondgeroth
LEM / ACOLYTE
May 15
May 22
May 29
Jill Collins
Margarita Moreno
Nancy Middlebrook
Amelia Sondgeroth
Wes Raney
Jonea Raney
Pattie Rose
Wes Raney
Pattie Rose
USHERS
Danielle Adkins Stephen White
Ed Shipsey Al McKinney
Beth Chenoweth Mary Smith
Judith & Jon Dullnig
Jonea Raney Jill Collins
LECTORS
Dodie Wells (1) Kevin Childs (2) Meredith Childs Gary Taylor Suzanne Lightsey Will Kelly Nora Kelly Luke Breen Kim B., Carol
Claudia Janes Abigail Goff Becky Janes Bill Kibler Claudia Janes Meredith Childs Henry Janes Hunter Rogers Carol
Brian Kelly (1) Mary-Alis Kelly (2) Mike Thomasson Carol Oppel Suzanne Lightsey Emmaline Baxter-Harwell Emma Kloninger Meredith Shaw Kim B., Carol
Nancy Kibler (1) Lynn Edgerton (2) Kim Buckner Gary Taylor Aidan Brady Clay Buckner Henry Janes Luke Breen Kim B.
USHERS
Mark Breen Henry Olivas Dodie Wells
Mike Brode Phil Aboussie Ross Ramsey
Ken Whalen Michael Brown Dee Ann Thomasson
John Edgerton Lynn Edgerton Kevin Cromack
GREETERS
Yvette Webb Pam Castles
Kevin Cromack Meredith Childs
Laura Merritt Ellie Reshetnikov
Michael Meigs Diana Stangl
LECTORS
Michael Meigs (1) Karen Milton (2) Michele Bonner Dru Cabler Sophie Lawrence Claire Cabler Xander Stockstill Morgan Dew Cindy
Michele Bonner (1) Christie Stockstill (2) Brenda White Rex White Matt Forrest Karen Milton Ben Forrest Sam Forrest Cindy Bo Overstreet Tom Delamater Bob Peterek Manuel de la Rosa Jim Nolan Ryan Marquess
Melissa Blanding (1) Chris Blanding (2)) Meredith Childs TBD Max Genet Michael Meigs Josef Genet Ryan Dempsey Cindy
Kay Brown (1) Phil Aboussie (2) Ann Seyler Dru Cabler Sophie Lawrence Claire Cabler Xander Stockstill Morgan Dew Jay, Cindy Frank Severn Jean Severn Jodi Doran Jay Doran Pam Johns David Johns Steve Niemeyer Barbara Dody Jonea Raney-TC Jill Collins Lynn Edgerton Henry Olivas Liz Davis
LEM
9:00 a.m
ACOLYTES
LEM
11:00 a.m
ACOLYTES
USHERS
GREETERS
Carolyn Wier James Wier Bo Overstreet Rick Tennant John De Marines
Henry Olivas Yvonne Chavez Darlene Goodnight Debbie Thornal Sandy Sterzing
Kevin Childs (1) Meredith Childs (2) Mike Thomasson Lynn Edgerton Ariston Awitan IV Karen Milton Matthew Awitan Hunter Rogers Mark Breen Mike Brode Ken Whalen John Edgerton Kevin Cromack Meredith Childs Rex White (1) Andrew Poynot (2) Jim Casparis Michele Bonner Bonnie Brode Evan Overstreet Emma Kloninger Meredith Shaw Carolyn Wier Jim Casparis Henry Olivas Frank Severn
Jay Doran
Shelly Botkin Ryan Marquess
Meredith Childs-TC Carolyn Wier Judy Elkins Sandy Sterzing
Diana Stangl-TC Jill Collins Pat Bullock Barbara Dody
Dee Ann Thomasson-TC Tina Stonebarger Karen Milton Susie Baxter-Harwell
Depositor
Bo Overstreet
Shelly Botkin
Al McKinney
Cecily Bennett
Diane Brewer
WED. 6 p.m.
May 4
May 11
May 18
May 25
June 1
Lector
Ann Seyler
Rex White
Pattie Rose
Jonea Raney
Michele Bonner
ALTAR GUILD
Jean & Frank Severn
Sat. 9:00 a.m.
Jay Doran Millie Casparis-TC Helen Anderson Darlene Goodnight Debbie Thornal
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May 2016
Vestry Diana Stangl, Sr. Warden Clarence Bonnen, Jr. Warden
Vestry members: Melissa Blanding, Michele Bonner, Mark Breen, Mike Brode, Jill Collins, John Cooper, Karen Dulaney Smith, Suzann Dvorken, Ryan Marquess, Laura Merritt, Karen Milton, Becky Poynot, and David Randle
Committees Acolytes: Jay Brown, Carol Oppel, Cindy Cabler, Kim Kiplin, and Kim Buckner Altar Guild: Millie Casparis Building Committee: Amelia Sondgeroth Christian Formation: Cathy Nelson Communications: Pattie Rose Daughters of the King: Pam Johns Women of St. Mark’s: Pat Bullock
Staff Rector The Rev. Elizabeth Zarelli Turner Assistant Rector The Rev. David W. Peters Director of Religious Education Cathy Nelson Organist/Director of Music Mark Reed Seminarian Neal McGowan
Facilities: Ray Smith Finance: John Edgerton Outreach: Laurie Mayor Deadline for the June/July 2016 St. Mark’s News is Friday, May 13, 2016. Please submit your article by email as an attachment to: office@stmarksaustin.org.
Parish Life: Brenda White Pastoral Care/Health Ministry: Jonea C.S. Raney Stewardship: Amelia Sondgeroth
Head of Day School Anne Wingler Parish Administrator Joanne Foote Newsletter Editor Becky Janes
Ushers: Henry Olivas
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church 2128 Barton Hills Drive Austin, TX 78704 512.444.1449 www.stmarksaustin.org office@stmarksaustin.org
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
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