November 2017
St. Mark’s News Volume 21/Issue 10
The End is nigh . . . or is it just the beginning? By Brian Prall, Seminarian As I reflect back on a process that began officially in 2011 (this is not counting the previous years of personal discernment), I wonder sometimes, if I knew then what I know now about the journey to the priesthood, would I still embark? Could I even? Running through a mental, emotional, and spiritual gauntlet for that many years only to be told during various stages along the way that there may be nothing for me at the end takes its toll. The knee jerk reaction is to say, aw heck no! What was so bad about working in a library? But as look all the way back to 2007, when God really started whispering to my wayward 23-year-old self, devoid of plan or passion, and compare that to my now 33-year-old self, I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I have been stretched, molded, broken down, built back up, and strengthened in ways I could not have even fathomed at the start, and I would not trade that for anything. The process gives credence to teleology, a fancy seminary word that basically means you have a goal, or telos, for which God created you, and come hell or high water (so long as you have ears to hear) God will drag you to that telos whether you thought it was a good idea or not. Just look at how well Moses argued his point for why he was the wrong fellow. As a senior seminarian with a few weeks plus a spring semester left, I now turn my attention to where God is pointing next. It is my hope, and not out of the realm of possibility, that my diocese (Chicago) will ordain me to the transitional diaconate in December, a status in which canonically I will remain for six months until ordination to the priesthood. In January I will be taking the GOEs, which if you’re a Harry Potter fan, is best described as the OWLS for the priesthood. These have no bearing on my status as a student at the seminary, but if I tank any of the five areas they test me on, my bishop may have a question or two.
In this Issue From Brian Prall ......................... 1 Rector Search ............................ 2 Outreach .................................... 3 From the Day School ................. 3 Outreach .................................... 4 From David Peters ..................... 4 Christian Formation.................... 5 Parish Life .................................. 7 Caffeine Ministry ........................ 8 Parishioner Highlights ................ 9 From Michele Bonner............... 10 Celebrations............................. 11 ROTA ....................................... 12
After graduation it is likely I will return to the Diocese of Chicago, which is really a misnomer as it is the northern half of Illinois. I am a bit of a rare specimen in that I would prefer to serve in small town, rural, blue collar parishes. Most priests sprint for the suburbs or Chicago proper. Why? There is money there. It is true, these rural parishes cannot afford a full-time priest, so the diocese would hopefully split me between two neighboring parishes. In my mind, they are the forgotten. Told time and again by the latest and greatest trend setters in the church that they are not viable, nor are they relevant. Well those folks are my roots, and they deserve youthful, energetic, fully trained clergy as much as any other church. That’s my starry-eyed rookie’s perspective anyway.
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November 2017 Of course wherever we end up, there will need to be the opportunity for my wife to continue to live out her vocation as a music teacher. She is probably the first person, after my mom, a nurse, I have ever met who has so clearly lived into what God has called them to be. What was that word again, telos? Once I am gainfully employed again, we can also return to the family planning conversation because, you know, one precocious little girl is hardly enough. That is all a little later down the road, though. For now, I am content to just enjoy the ride of senior year, learn absolutely as much as I can, and love my seminary family as deeply as I can in the time we have left together.
Rector Search Update Dear St. Mark’s Family, We want to thank each and every one of you who participated in the survey. As usual the St. Mark’s Family showed up. The turnout for the interpretation of the survey was encouraging. Yes, Robin Strain, the Holy Cow! Consultant, challenged us. We hope it has given us something to think about moving forward. Your Parish Profile Committee (Laurie Mayor, Rex White, and Nancy Bachschmid) is working hard. Between the time of this writing and the beginning of November, the parish profile committee will be editing a draft for approval by the vestry. Your responses to the survey will inform that part of the profile that expresses St. Mark’s mission and values. Once approved by the Diocese of Texas, it will be published to the Diocese of Texas’ Transition website and a link to this profile will be placed on St. Mark’s website. This will allow prospective candidates to see if they are interested in St. Mark’s. Aside from approving the parish profile, the vestry will have two tasks between now and the end of November. Within the next two weeks, the vestry will create the parish profile page that expresses what we want in a rector. Your responses on the survey will help guide the Vestry in this effort. When a rough draft of the parish profile is under review, the Vestry will begin to consider candidates for the search committee. Five parishioners will be chosen. Two search committee members will be added by the Vestry for a total of seven search committee members. The goal is to have that committee begin its work in late November, early December. We encourage you to help your vestry form a search committee by suggesting qualified candidates. The link to the search committee nomination form on the St. Mark’s website is here: https://stmarksaustin.org/rector-search/. On that form, you will find important qualifications that make for good search committee candidate. Please familiarize yourself with these qualifications before nominating anyone. If you have questions about anything related to the search process, please feel free to contact either of us or anyone on your Vestry. Clarence Bonnen & Melissa Blanding Wardens
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Outreach Kudos Thank you to Resa Dunn and Jay Doran for dropping off the AIDS Services of Austin and El Buen donations in October! Thank you to our group of volunteers who helped with community food distribution in Kyle, in conjunction with the Central Texas Food Bank! Volunteers, pictured left to right, are: Adam Stockstill, Xander Stockstill, Becky Poynot, Marjie Lawrence, Christie & Arlo Stockstill, Pattie Rose, Joanne Foote, Mike Davis, and Matthew Awitan.
Upcoming Opportunities El Buen Samaritano’s Hands for Hope Thanksgiving Outreach on November 5th and 12th. A $20 donation provides a family with a frozen turkey, pie, and all the trimmings for a Thanksgiving meal! Look for our very own turkey on November 12th!
Volunteers needed for Distribution Day on Saturday, November 18: stay tuned for how you can sign up for this event! Participants need to be at least 12 years old. If you are interested, sign up in the Parish Hall. You will be contacted with steps to register online.
Look for the Angel Tree on Sunday, November 26th! It will be in the Parish Hall on the Sunday following Thanksgiving. Pick a tag ornament from the tree to purchase a gift for the outreach organization.
On the Playground . . . Day School News Did you know? The Day School, founded in 1963 with 19 children in kindergarten and pre-kindergarten classes, now serves more than 100 twothrough five-year-olds. There are 20 faculty and staff members. As the school has expanded to meet the needs of the community, we have added after-school enrichment classes ranging from gardening to dramatic play to piano. Teachers remain the heart of the school, nurturing our students and teaching them to love learning. The seven lead teachers have over 80 years’ collective experience at the Day School; several joined the school when their children were students here. Students will display their art at the Fall Art Show in the Parish Hall on Thursday, Nov. 9th and Friday, Nov. 10th. Parishioners are welcome to attend the show from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., marvel at their works, and meet the Day School’s new art teacher, Victoria Houtman.
Don’t forget to Fall Back! Daylight Savings Time Ends on Sunday Nov. 5 at 2 a.m. Page 3
November 2017
100 Miles with God and the Devil By David W. Peters On Sunday morning, October 8th, while the 11:00 o’clock service attenders were receiving the Sacrament in both kinds, I finished my first 100-mile trail race, the Arkansas Traveller 100, in the Ouchita National Forest near Little Rock, Arkansas. I started at 6 a.m. Saturday morning and didn’t stop until 11:45 a.m. on Sunday. Needless to say, I was tired. I vague-booked this year’s Traveller 100 because I quit at mile 50-something last year. Last year, after arriving home feeling really sad and defeated, I signed up again and tried to figure out what went wrong— pulling (not a medical term) my hamstring. I went to some experts, PT’s, Chiropractors, running friends, and did some serious stretching on the offending leg. This year, the leg everyone worked on performed most awesomely, it was the other one that “pulled.” My friend Kurt Stein, who I served with in Iraq, encouraged me around mile 42 that this race was really hard, so decided I would keep walking forward until I missed a time cutoff and got pulled from the course. By the way, this is not the toughest 100-mile course, but it is very tough. There are rocks everywhere that will send you flat on your face in an instant—not to mention some serious mountains one must go up, then go down. There’s so much that happens in a race like this. In fact, it’s not really a race—more like a human migration or primitive ritual to reenact a battle. Everyone is suffering. If I run 30 miles, I’m going to be sore. If I keep running and walking, my soreness adds up, while I add other soreness and strains to the already taxed infrastructure. Not everyone finishes, even if they try to finish. Usually they try for hours before quitting, thinking that maybe some luck will come their way. And I haven’t even written about what happened inside my head. By the time it was dark, we had been running/walking/running/hopping over and around rocks for around 12 hours. Do anything for 12 hours and you’re going to be done.
David Peters & Kurt Stein
Everyone straps on headlamps that give you a 5 foot-diameter circle to see by. You’re looking for rocks that will make the ground suddenly rise to meet you. As the fatigue kicked in, I found myself “seeing things.” I saw people in the trees to my right. I saw a cat next to the trail. Every chem light along the trail appeared to be 500 meters away, but then suddenly it would be 1 meter on my right. Weird. I soon realized my depth perception was the first thing to go. This was still true when the sun came up and I was still hobbling along, trying to finish before the 30-hour clock hit 30. I came to a large tree that blocked the path about chest height. All we need to do was duck under it. I ducked under it, but realized it was still 15 feet in front of me. I saw weird stuff at night, in my sleep-deprived and exhausted madness. When the sun came up, I would see a leaf on the path that looked like a crab. It would move sideways like a crab. I would see a stick that looked, obviously enough, like a snake. They were normally moving, doing their business. Rocks took on a mechanical quality, like they all had gears inside them. They were alive, in a rock-like way, just as the dead leaves were alive in their own red, brown, and green way. Soon, after reacting to these and other things, I learned to just say, “focus on the trail, don’t look around.” I think I may have experienced, in a small way, that thing the ascetic mystics, the LSD amateurs, and the other people who have quested for the Spirit through fasting and physical deprivation. Granted, I was eating as much as I could stomach. I became
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November 2017 nauseous around midnight and it lasted for two hours as I slowed down and my inner monologue became more self-defeating. Some aid station volunteers got some rock salt under my tongue, a ginger candy in my hand, and a Tums in my belly. After that, I was fine. I kept going in this epic race, hoping I would be too slow to continue and they would pull me from the race. I began bargaining with God as I recalled my faults and failures, my weaknesses and lack of fortitude— these thoughts seem to come on extra strong in the middle of dark forests for some reason. The Devil has a way of reminding us of our sins when we are at our weakest. On faster runs I normally recite the Lord’s Prayer as a mantra for the last big push. But out there in the forest, I could only speak directly to God, in grunts and groans, even as I could not escape the messages God was sending to me about my vulnerability and fragility. The legendary ultra marathoner Dean Karnazes said, "If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon. If you want to talk to God, run an ultra.” Then, as I kept going, it began to dawn on me I could finish at my current pace, so I kept it up. I walked fast, up the mountain, down the mountain. I hobbled down, trying to run, but it wasn’t much faster than walking fast. I only stopped to eat some salty pretzels and chips and fill my water bottles. I tried to stay on the move. When the sun came up, I knew I could finish. I saw Kurt, and he was doing great. I felt like I could push through, especially at the end. To make the push I started turning off switches, I ignored all (and I mean ALL) my chafing issues, I stopped worrying I was making my left hamstring worse by taxing it, even as pain shot through me—begging me to walk. I gripped my handheld water bottle, my fall insurance, knowing that I might go down hard if I kept trying to speed up. The last 10 miles seemed to take forever. I run 10 miles every Monday and Tuesday with Bryan Mealer without any issues. Bryan is way faster than me, but I can keep up, most of the time. But these ten miles took forever as I limped and walked along. At last, I got on the final stretch the main asphalt road that ended the race. The race director drove up to me and said I needed to hustle to finish. I did, as best as I could—after 99.7 miles. I crossed the finish line with 15 minutes left on the clock. I was awarded the Golden Spike award (it’s a railroad spike on a wooden plaque). The award goes to—get this—to the last, youngest finisher. So, folks who finished after me were all older than me... let the reader understand. I was wearing my Last Horse Runners T-shirt when I received the award, because the last horse in the barn had the most fun on the trail! I was inspired to keep at it during the night by my memories of the Soldiers of the 62nd engineer battalion and the staff and patients of Walter Reed who showed me how strong the human body is. I know the pain they pushed through, emotional pain and physical pain, and I felt like I could follow them in their courage. Thank you for your encouragement this year and last. I hope to “run with patience the race set before me. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
New Church Directories are in! Pick up your copy with the blue cover on Sundays. Located in the basket near the soda machine. Please, only one directory per household. Thank you!
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November 2017
Christian Formation in November Adult Formation Classes, Sundays, 10 a.m., Grace Chapel
November 5: Final in the series on Apocalyptic Literature, led by The Rev. Cecilia Smith. The discussion will cover the topics of its use and misuse.
November 12: Current Issues in the Anglican Communion, led by The Rev. William Fowler.
November 19 & 26: A Look at Practical Legal Issus of Immigration, led by St Mark’s parishioners Mehron Azarmehr, an attorney, and Michael Meigs, formerly with the U.S. Foreign Service Office. Mehron and Michael will describe individual cases of those desiring admission to the United States, drawing on personal experience and placing individual aspirations in the context of United States immigration law and enforcement.
Children’s Christian Formation, Sundays, 10 a.m. Godly Play Classes, suitable for children between ages Pre-K and 2nd grade. Godly Play meets two doors down the hall from the Common Room. Classes for November are below: November 5: No classes. M&M Ingathering! Come to the Parish Hall for the Youth Group Breakfast Tacos sale! November 12: The story: “The Ark and the Tent.” November 19: The story: “The Ark and the Temple.” November 26: The story: “The Exile and Return.” December 3: Advent Wreath making for families and all members of St. Mark’s! 3rd-5th Grade: meet in Classroom D, at the end of the hallway down from the Common Room, using the curriculum Lesson Plans That Work, which use each week’s Gospel reading as a starting place for discussion & activities. Middle/High School, Bennett Wing Classroom: Breakfast & Bible Study. No Children’s Formation classes in December Advent 1: Advent Wreath making on December 3. On this first Sunday of Advent, please join us in the Parish Hall for Advent Wreath Making at 10 a.m. Christmas pageant preparations will also get underway in early December. Stay tuned for more details as the season get closer! The Christmas Pageant takes place on Christmas Eve during the 5:30 p.m. service. There are roles for children/youth of all ages to participate: sheep, angels, shepherds, Mary & Joseph! Or behind the scene roles as well: moving backdrops, helping with costumes, etc. Start thinking about and asking your kids how they would like to be involved!
Youth Confirmation Classes Classes continue on the following Sundays, 10 a.m.: November 5th, November 19th, December 3rd, and December 10th. Please note: The class on Dec. 10th is a makeup, in case you missed one of the earlier classes.
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November 2017
Parish Life Youth Group Activities: Sundays in November Nov. 5: All Saints Day: Breakfast Taco Sale sponsored by the Youth group! Youth will meet from 8-10 a.m. to prepare/conduct sale. Proceeds to be used towards Angel Tree gifts. Nov. 12: Meet after the 11 a.m. service for lunch with the Clergy. We will have a meal & discuss issues affecting the Episcopal Church and St. Mark’s. Program will begin after Youth Ensemble practice is complete so that Youth Singers may fully participate. (Youth Ensemble practices until 12:45 p.m.) Nov. 19, noon: Help make Angel Tree Tags for the Outreach Committee. Nov. 26: No meeting (Sunday following Thanksgiving Day holiday). Dec. 3, noon: Lunch & shopping for Angel Tree gifts. Departure after Youth Ensemble practice is finished so that Youth Singers may eat/join in the shopping trip!
Daughters of the King New Prayer Request Procedures. If you have a prayer request or update for the Daughters of the King Prayer List, please call or e-mail the church office (stmarksaustin@gmail.com), or email Liz Badger who is our Prayer List Coordinator at lizbadger9@gmail.com. In addition, we would like to make a couple of changes:
Please provide an approximate timeline when you submit your request so that we know when to remove names, i.e.: keep persons(s) on for 1 week, 2 weeks, a month, 3 months, 6 months, a year, or leave on permanently. This can always be changed if you let us know.
Please keep the DOK updated on the persons you place on the list so that we can be more informed and effective as we pray.
Coats for Kids. As the weather is starting to cool down, please remember to donate to the Coats for Kids Drive, which continues through the month of November. Please place gently used or new coats in the bin in the Parish Hall. Adult sized jackets that would fit a teen are also welcome! Advent Quiet Day in December. Coming up Saturday, December 2nd, the DOK is sponsoring an Advent Quiet Day. This is open to all in our parish—men and women—as well as other area churches. The Quiet Day is a wonderful opportunity to step aside from the hustle and bustle of our overcrowded schedules and to-do lists, and listen for the voice of God as we enter the Advent/Christmas season. We begin with Morning Prayer, have simple meditations followed by time to be still and alone, and end the day with Communion. Hopefully the weather will be mild enough to enjoy being outside on the Meditation trail. Come and begin preparing your heart as you await the birth of Jesus. Look for a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board near the coffee area in the coming weeks. A simple lunch will be provided.
Men’s Group Then Men's Group meets the Second Monday of each month @ 6:30 p.m. for dinner and fellowship. Dinner is prepared by cooking groups that rotate each month. Men's Group is open to all men of St. Mark's. To get on the email list, contact Bob Peterek: rpeterek@austin.rr.com.
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Music Notes Thanks to everyone who purchased poinsettias and wreaths to benefit the music program! If you missed the sale, please contact Mark Reed by email (music@stmarksaustin.org) or phone (512-230-1780) by Friday morning, November 3rd to place an order. The choirs will be singing some beautiful music this November. Here’s what to listen for on Sundays: November 5: When the Saints Go Marching In (arr. John Rutter) When the Saints Go Marching In is an American gospel song from the late 19th century. Although its origins are unclear, it quickly became associated with the New Orleans jazz scene and with the black gospel tradition. Louis Armstrong’s 1938 recording launched the song into the national consciousness. The choir will sing a thrilling arrangement by John Rutter (b. 1945) that incorporates fragments of The Battle Hymn of the Republic. 9 a.m. November 12: Hymn of Promise (Natalie Sleeth, arr. Ellingboe) Natalie Sleeth (1930–1992) was a prolific composer of choral anthems, with a special focus on music for children and youth. The Choristers will sing her anthem Hymn of Promise. Sleeth wrote this piece while she was "pondering the ideas of life, death, spring and winter, Good Friday and Easter, and the whole reawakening of the world that happens every spring." Inspired by a T.S. Eliot line, the lyrics grew from the idea that "in our end is our beginning." The anthem expresses profound truths about the human experience in language accessible to children. 11:00 a.m. November 12: Rejoice! Rejoice! (Aaron David Miller) Advent themes come early in our lectionary cycle this year. The Epistle foretells the resurrection of the dead at the last trumpet. The Gospel lesson recounts the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids awaiting the return of the bridegroom. The choir will sing a thrilling Advent anthem by Aaron David Miller (b. 1972) that says “Rejoice! Rejoice! Our King is coming! The time will not be long.” Miller is an accomplished organist, music director at a Presbyterian church in St. Paul, and a prolific composer. This anthem features a driving, rock-influenced piano part and a syncopated treatment of the text. November 19: God’s Gonna Set This World on Fire (Spiritual, arr. Moses Hogan) As we approach the end of the liturgical year, the lectionary readings continue to focus on the end of the present age and the coming of God’s kingdom. Despite its title, this Spiritual contains a message of hope. Injustice and oppression will be burned away, and then hunger and thirst will be no more. All will be welcome at God’s table. The arranger Moses Hogan (1957–2003) is recognized as one of the greatest American choral composers. He studied at Oberlin and Julliard, and became an authority on the AfricanAmerican Spiritual.
November Caffeine Ministry Vestry Contact – Clarence Bonnen 5
Dodie Wells & Yvonne Chavez
12
Sarah Tso & Yvette Webb
19
Lee Wagner & Robin Bridgewater
26
Stephanie Young
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Parishioner Highlights Sometimes it is the case when you read one of the Highlights articles that you think you have a lot in common with who is being featured. You then wonder why you weren’t aware after attending St. Marks for many years. And that is the exact reason that these articles are fun to do! David Elkins: military service, musician, teacher, photography, and video production just to name a few. Judy Elkins: a remedial and gifted children’s language arts teacher. Both are very active in St. Mark’s as you can see. Enjoy getting to know the Elkins and their two sons as you read about all their good deeds. We extend our gratitude as they help to make St. Mark’s the fabulous church that it is. By the way, this is one of my favorite pictures (delicious looking desserts) for a Parishioner Highlights article!
Beth Chenoweth
Judy and Dave Elkins We are very honored to have been asked to share the story of our lives with our St. Mark’s family! Dave and I were high school sweethearts. We attended Arlington High School where we were both in band and Dave was the star of both the junior and senior play. After Dave’s graduation from North Texas State University in January of 1968, he was accepted at the Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. This was at the height of the war in Vietnam. We were married in March before Dave left for Newport, and following my graduation from TCU in May, I joined him as he completed his training. Dave was assigned to the USS Ft. Mandan which was a Landing Ship Dock or LSD. He was the Personnel and Admin. Officer and then the Navigator during his 3 years of service. We were stationed out of Norfolk, VA, and I began my teaching career in Virginia Beach as a first grade teacher. After his military service, Dave completed his master’s degree and received his doctorate in Speech Communication from Southern Illinois University in 1976. Our first son, Michael, was born during this time and a second son, Steven, was born while Dave was teaching at the University of Texas at El Paso. In 1980, the Elkins family moved to Stephenville, TX, where Dave was a professor at Tarleton State University. He played trombone in the Ultra Club Big Band which raised scholarship money for students. Known to the students as Dr. E., he was the sponsor of the speech student’s group—The Advocates, coached the Debate team, and ran UIL speech tournaments. He was selected as Stephenville’s
Favorite Professor one year and won the President’s Academic Excellence Teaching Award. He served as a Faculty Mentor and received a Presidential Fellowship. During his career, Dave presented many papers at state, regional, and national meetings. He taught photography and video production, and created videos for the university. I taught first and second grade remedial language arts and the gifted program in Stephenville. My claim to fame was the creation of an effective remedial program using children’s literature. My principal joked that I could teach a chicken to read! Dave grew up in the Methodist church and I was a Baptist. My mom was a church organist and pianist so I really appreciate our excellent music at St. Mark’s and Mark Reed’s expertise! When we married, Dave and I joined the non-denominational Bible Church but we always felt something was missing. It wasn’t until we visited St. Luke’s Episcopal in Stephenville that we knew we were finally home! St. Luke’s is a white frame WW II Chapel with a steeple. It was originally on an army base that was moved to its current location on the corner of the Tarleton campus where lovely stained glass windows were added. It still has the initials of German prisoners carved in the doors. We attended St. Luke’s for 27 years and the parish had the same priest for over 30 years—Father Sam McClain. Our sons were both baptized on Easter Vigil and church life was central to our family life. These years in Stephenville were extremely happy ones watching our kids grow up and enjoying many years with our parents still alive. In 2007 our son, Steve, married our beautiful daughter-in-law, Diana, in a lovely service at St. Luke’s followed by a wonderful reception in the church garden. The painted labyrinth made a terrific dance floor! After retirement, we moved to the Austin area (Buda) in November of 2007 to live near our two grown sons. We visited many area churches before finding St.
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November 2017 Mark’s. We were immediately drawn in by the friendliness and welcoming spirit of the parish. We are starting our 11th year here! I am active with ECW, the Martha’s, Altar Guild, the Shower Ministry, the Quilters Group, and Daughters of the King. Dave served on the vestry at St. Luke’s, and presided over a Christian Seder for 11 years at St. Luke’s. He has been a LEM and Lector and hosted a Seder along with Jonea Raney for two years at St. Mark’s.
Currently, we are experiencing the new adventure of being grandparents. Our 2 1/2 year old granddaughter, Cali, brings us tremendous joy! In addition, we are looking forward to celebrating our 50th anniversary next March 30th, 2018! We love St. Mark’s and are so glad our son, Mike, just happened to jog past one day. He then called to tell us that he had discovered another church for us to visit! And the rest is history!
Saving Grace by Michele Bonner No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 In the past few months, we have endured hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires. We have witnessed violence between white nationalists and counter-protesters. We’ve seen a gunman open fire on a group of people attending a concert. We’ve watched thousands of women and men come forward to tell their stories of sexual harassment and assault. In the past few months, we have been tested. As always after these kinds of tragedies, there are questions. For some people the question is, "How could God let this happen?” For others, the question comes from a different perspective: "Where can I find God in this?” The truth is we can't control nature. Nature is a phenomenon of the physical world and it plays by its own rules. The truth is we can't control people who have decided they want to hurt others. The truth is God gave us the freedom to make our own choices about how we live with creation and with others. The truth is God didn't let this happen. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul reassures them that, although they will be tested, God will be with them to comfort them and to see that their suffering doesn't overwhelm them; that he will not let them be tested beyond their strength. Paul gives them the comfort of knowing that God remains constant in spite of any trouble they encounter. That was good news for the Church in Corinth, and it's good news for us. None of us chooses to be tested, but it is a part of everyday life. Knowing that God is constant gives us hope that the difficulties and challenges of life are temporary, and that they will lead to moments of stability and peace. That's where we find God in all of this. We find God in the people who step up to help others in whatever way they can. We find God in the people who stand up for what they believe is right, even when doing so puts them in danger. We find God in the people who risk their lives so others may live. We find God in his own faithfulness to us. It's that faithfulness that enables us to live faithfully for God amid all the changes and chances of this life. Despite all of our differences - in background, gender, ethnicity, and experience - through all of life's ups and downs, joys and sorrows, we are united in the body of Christ, and God is faithful to us as one body. Despite all of our differences, when we are tested by tragedy, we work together, we pray together, and we walk together through those testing periods. Paul said, "No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone". In other words, we're all in this together. That's our saving grace. That's where we find our hope. Michele C. Bonner is a longtime member of St. Mark’s. She has served twice on the Vestry, as a LEM, a lector, a Martha, and a Youth leader. Michele is a senior on the priest track at the Iona School for Ministry and a candidate for Holy Orders. She is currently serving as the Pastoral Leader at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lago Vista.
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November Celebrations Birthdays Thomas Wes Greg Glen Peter Allison Anne Matthew Marjie Dylan Ashley Adin Dunaven Jace Resa Lucie Susan Mary Margaret Matt Michael Karen John Clyde Harlem Dean Todd Melissa Bo Beth John Rose
Allen Johns Stangl Baumgart Lambert Camp Geraci Shepard Lawrence Lewis Phillips Kurak Kurak Castleberry Dunn Minne Slattery Smith Delamater Friedlander Gehrig Dulaney Smith Hicks Lambert Uwague Denny Sanders Blanding Overstreet Chenoweth De Marines Jennings
Nov 1 Nov 1 Nov 1 Nov 3 Nov 3 Nov 4 Nov 5 Nov 5 Nov 6 Nov 6 Nov 8 Nov 9 Nov 9 Nov 10 Nov 10 Nov 10 Nov 10 Nov 10 Nov 11 Nov 12 Nov 12 Nov 13 Nov 13 Nov 13 Nov 13 Nov 14 Nov 14 Nov 15 Nov 15 Nov 16 Nov 16 Nov 16
William Lindsay Max Sharon Daniel Esme Christianne Diane Claudia Elizabeth Mary Page Mike Susan Nina Anjuli Nicole Jay Cilla Evan Matthew Amy Audrey Jeffrey Ben Amalia Christie Susan Matthew Gabriella Mayumi
Kelly Mullins Peers Voudouris-Ross Aja Barker Castleberry Silver Janes Wood Jones Thomasson Albers Erichson Martinez Pike Doran Parkison Randall Cain Farley Randall Siegismund Crozier de la Rosa Stockstill Erwin Forrest Hartline Tomicek
Nov 16 Nov 16 Nov 17 Nov 18 Nov 20 Nov 20 Nov 20 Nov 20 Nov 22 Nov 22 Nov 23 Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 24 Nov 24 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov 25 Nov 25 Nov 27 Nov 27 Nov 27 Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov 29 Nov 29 Nov 30 Nov 30 Nov 30 Nov 30
Anniversaries Mary & Kevin Cromack Lucy Joyce & Chase Almond Barbette & John Cooper Andrea Michael & Chuck Ragland Laurie & Jonathon Mayor Jennifer & Todd Sanders Yvette & Stephen Niemeyer
Nov 1 Nov 9 Nov 9 Nov 10 Nov 11 Nov 11 Nov 13
Cindy & Dru Cabler Angelica & Ben Joyce Brenda & Rex White Amalia & Manuel de la Rosa Marie & Bob Peterek Marcy & Sam Greer Carolyn Foote & Gregg La Montagne
Nov 18 Nov 22 Nov 22 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov 26 Nov 28
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November 2017
November ROTA MINISTRY
November 5
November 12 Choristers: 9 a.m. YOUTH SUNDAY
November 19
November 26 YOUTH SUNDAY
December 3 1 Advent
LECTOR
Jon Dullnig
Amelia Sondgeroth
Jill Collins
Pattie Rose
Margarita Moreno
LEM/ ACOLYTE
Margarita Moreno
Nancy Middlebrook
Pattie Rose
Wes Raney
Jill Collins
USHERS
Pattie Rose Mary Smith
Ed Shipsey Al McKinney
Jonea Raney Jill Collins
Danielle Adkins Stephen White
Beth Chenoweth Mary Smith
LECTORS
Becky Janes (1) Phil Aboussie (2)
Nora Kelly Will Kelly Jace Castleberry
Brian Kelly (1) Mary-Alis Kelly (2)
YOUTH TBD
Christine Brunson (1) Meredith Childs (2)
LEMS
Becky Janes Brian Prall
Bill Kibler Carol Oppel
Michael Brown Pam Castles
Kim Buckner Mike Thomasson
Carol Oppel Becky Janes
ACOLYTES
Claudia Janes Matthew Awitan Lucas Breen Henry Janes Nancy B.
Nora Kelly Will Kelly Beatrice Reshetnikov Mairin Bachschmid Nancy B
Matt Forrest Sam Forrest Ben Forrest Nick Forrest Kim B., Carol
Claire Cabler Hunter Rogers Mairin Bachschmid Henry Janes Nancy B.
USHERS
TBD TBD Dodie Wells TBD
Mike Brode Phil Aboussie Ross Ramsey Stephanie Young
Ken Whalen Barbara Wilson Stephen Wilson Henry Olivas
Clay Buckner Bill Kibler Emma Kloninger Stella Kloninger Kim B., Carol John Cooper Wade Buckner Dan Bogard Lindy Siegismund Lee Siegismund
GREETERS
Yvette Webb
Diana Stangl
Laura Merritt Ellie Reshetnikov
Michael Meigs
Laura Merritt Ellie Reshetnikov
LECTORS
Ginny Acker (1) Rex White (2)
Barbara Dody (1) Dodie Wells (2)
Mehron Azarmehr (1) Jennifer Payne (2)
Beth Holmes (1) Chris Blanding (2)
Sarah Bancroft (1) Dave Elkins (2)
LEMS
Dru Cabler Liz Davis
Brian Prall Brenda White
Jay Brown Liz Davis
Brian Prall Barbara Dody
Dru Cabler Rex White
Emmaline Baxter-Harwell
Ryan Dempsey Matthew Awitan Karen Milton Michael Meigs Cindy
Luke Thiessen Claire Cabler Asher Poynot Morgan Dew Jay, Cindy
Josef Genet Jay Brown Beatrice Reshetnikov Xander Stockstill Jay
Luke Thiessen Michael Meigs Clara Baumgart Josie Baumgart Cindy
USHERS
Carolyn Wier James Wier JP Kloninger Bo Overstreet Rick Tennant John De Marines
Charles Brewer Bob Peterek Manuel de la Rosa Jim Nolan Ryan Marquess
Henry Olivas Yvonne Chavez Darlene Goodnight Debbie Thornal
Frank Severn Jean Severn Jodi Doran Jay Doran Pam Johns David Johns
Carolyn Wier James Wier JP Kloninger Bo Overstreet Rick Tennant John De Marines
GREETERS
Barbara Dody
Steve Niemeyer
Shelly Botkin Ryan Marquess
Jean & Frank Severn
Steve Niemeyer Barbara Dody
Sat./Sun. 9:00
Jonea Raney-TC Jill Collins Carolyn Wier Pat Bullock
Diana Stangl-TC Evelyn McMillen Susie Baxter-Harwell Dodie Wells
Dee Ann Thomasson-TC Henry Olivas Tina Stonebarger Karen Milton
Judy Elkins-TC Debbie Thornal Darlene Goodnight Clara Bogard
Jonea Raney-TC Jill Collins Carolyn Wier Pat Bullock
Depositor
Bo Overstreet
Jim Nolan
Shelly Botkin
Al McKinney
Cecily Bennett
WED. 6 p.m.
November 8
November 15
November 22 Thanksgiving Eve
November 29
December 6
Lector
Jay Brown
Jill Collins
Rex White
Pattie Rose
Dodie Wells
9:00 a.m.
7:30 a.m.
TIME
ALTAR GUILD
11:00 a.m.
ACOLYTES
Jay Brown Morgan Dew Xander Stockstill Jay, Cindy
Mark Breen Dee Ann Thomasson Dodie Wells Amalia de la Rosa
Page 12
November 2017
Vestry Clarence Bonnen, Sr. Warden Melissa Blanding, Jr. Warden
Vestry members: Dan Aja, Mike Brode, Dru Cabler, Jill Collins, John Cooper, Scott Forrest, Marjie Lawrence, Ryan Marquess, Laura Merritt, Becky Poynot, Pattie Rose, and Ann Seyler.
To view the monthly calendar of events at St. Mark’s, visit our website: www.stmarksaustin.org.
Committees
Staff
Acolytes: Jay Brown, Carol Oppel, Cindy Cabler, Kim Kiplin, and Nancy Bachschmid
Interim Rector The Rev. William Fowler
Altar Guild: Karen Milton Building Committee: Amelia Sondgeroth Christian Formation: Cindy Cabler Communications: Pattie Rose Daughters of the King: Judy Elkins Women of St. Mark’s: Diana Stangl
Outreach: Laurie Mayor
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church 2128 Barton Hills Drive Austin, TX 78704 512.444.1449 www.stmarksaustin.org office@stmarksaustin.org
Director of Religious Education Cindy Cabler Organist/Director of Music Mark Reed Seminarian Brian Prall
Facilities: Ray Smith Finance: Diana Stangl
Deadline for the December 2017 St. Mark’s News is Wednesday, November 15, 2017. Please submit your article by email as an attachment to: stmarksaustin@gmail.com.
Associate Rector The Rev. Dr. David W. Peters
Parish Life: Brenda White Pastoral Care/Health Ministry: Jonea C.S. Raney Stewardship: Amelia Sondgeroth, Dru Cabler
Head of Day School Anne Wingler Parish Administrator Joanne Foote Newsletter Editor Becky Janes
Ushers: Ryan Marquess
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Page 13