November 2014
St. Mark’s News Volume 18/Issue 10
From the Rector November is a month devoted to gratitude and thanksgiving. At St. Mark’s we begin the month by presenting our pledges for the mission and ministry of St. Mark’s in the coming year. We are reminded during this season of giving and thanksgiving that we are meant to return to God a portion of what He has given us. The biblical standard for this giving back is a tithe: 10% of that which we have been given. Yes, these pledges support our parish but in the first instance they are meant to be a reflection of our faith and a recognition that all we have has actually come from God. Our tithes are meant to be reflections of our gratitude; our thanksgiving for all that God has given us. Towards the end of the month we celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving, when we give “thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them.” We pray that we might be In this Issue faithful stewards of God’s great bounty. From the Rector ......................... 1 Yes, this is a month for gratitude and thanksgiving. But we are not Vestry Highlights ........................ 2 meant to limit our gratitude to this one month of the year. Gratitude and Parish Life .................................. 4 thanksgiving are meant to be cultivated on a daily basis. If we were to Outreach .................................... 6 say the Daily Office each morning we would begin each day by saying Christian Formation ................... 6 either the Venite (“Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving Caffeine Ministry ........................ 8 and raise a loud shout to him with psalms”) or the Jubilate (“Enter his Parishioner Highlights ................ 9 Celebrations............................. 11 gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise; give thanks to ROTA ....................................... 12 him and call upon his Name”). We would be invited to offer our own intercessions and thanksgivings, and we would conclude the service with The General Thanksgiving in which we “pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days.”
Yes, gratitude and thanksgiving are postures and attitudes that need to be cultivated. They need to become habits of being because sometimes it is difficult to be thankful. Sometimes our lives are difficult. Sometimes the lives of the people we love are difficult and painful. Our daily prayer, our weekly worship, and the seasons of the year give us a framework for being thankful people. I am thankful to God for this St. Mark’s community of faith and for the privilege of serving God together. May we all sing the following hymn no matter what our immediate circumstances might be: Now thank we all our God, with heart, and hands, and voices, who wondrous things hath done, in whom his world rejoices; who from our mother’s arms hath blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
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November 2014 O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us! With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us; and keep us in his grace, and guide us when perplexed, and free us from all ills in this world and the next. All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given, the Son, and him who reigns with them in highest heaven, eternal, Triune God, whom earth and heaven adore; for thus is was, is now, and shall be, evermore. (Hymn 397) -EZT+
The Top 10 Tips for happiness from Pope Francis
Plan for the Future
Live and let live; move forward and let others do the same. 2. Be giving of yourself to others. 3. Proceed calmly in life, move with kindness and humility. 4. Practice a healthy sense of leisure. 5. Sunday is a holiday. No work. 6. Create dignified jobs for young people. 7. Respect and care for nature. 8. Let go of negative things. 9. Don’t proselytize; respect others’ beliefs; communicate who you are in dialogue with others. 10. Work for peace. “We are living in a time of many wars… The call for peace must be shouted. Peace sometimes gives the impression of being quiet, but it is never quiet, peace is always proactive….”
On Saturday, November 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. we will have a workshop, Are you Ready for the Inevitable End? The “inevitable end” is the end of all of our lives. This is a workshop not only for our senior citizens—it is as relevant for those in their 20s as it is for those in their 90s! Do those who are closest to you know what your wishes are re. various medical interventions? Have you filled out the necessary forms to ensure your wishes are enforced? Do you have a will? Have you made arrangements for long-term care? Do you want to be cremated or buried? Have you made the necessary arrangements for burial or interment? Who are your children’s legal guardians? All these and other questions will be addressed at the workshop. We will also have the necessary forms available for you to complete. Join us!
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Vestry Highlights The St. Mark’s Vestry met on Tuesday, October 21, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. in the Bennett Wing classroom. Elizabeth+ opened the meeting with the Collect of St. James of Jerusalem (the brother of our Lord or the son of Alpheus). Clergy Conference was meeting at Camp Allen, so Elizabeth+ left early to return to Austin for the vestry meeting but our new Assistant, Nate Lee+, stayed for the remainder of the conference. Elizabeth+ reported that turnout for the Mission and Ministry meals has been high (close to 70 on 10/12 and 10/19 with close to 90 scheduled for 10/26) and there was some discussion about the logistics for setting out the food prior to the meal. Elizabeth+ also invited vestry members to consider being Diocesan Council delegates when Council meets in the Woodlands on Feb. 6 and 7. Diana Stangl and Bo Overstreet both expressed interest/willingness to do so. The Men’s Group pasta dinner on 9/20 netted @ $2,300 for the scholarship fund. Nearly 180 people were served and its financial success was due to the generosity of several people who provided beer, wine, and ingredients.
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November 2014 The Senior Warden, Kathy Genet, is the chair of the Vestry Nomination Committee, comprised of the five outgoing vestry members (Kathy Genet, Dan Bogard, Becky Janes, Susan Bonnen, and Bo Overstreet). Vestry members and parishioners are encouraged to suggest names for the next vestry class. To be eligible, candidates must be confirmed/received into the Episcopal Church, they must make a financial pledge to the mission and ministry of the parish, and they must be actively involved parishioners. Kathy will call a meeting of the committee and names will be presented at the November vestry meeting. Mr. Overstreet presented the Finance Committee report. Year-to-date we are at 114.76% of contributions. The men’s group scholarship currently has a total of $12,897.35 in the account. The men who painted the stucco have given us a bid of $2,800 to paint the deck to match the dark paint on the building. We are going to ask about how long the work would be guaranteed. Elizabeth+ reported that we have currently spent $35,821.74 on the re-siding project (stucco, carpenter, windows, doors, paint, electrician, outdoor lights). Still outstanding are bills for new gutters, for telephone line repair, and for window washing. We have received a pre-paid pledge for 2015 in the amount of $13,250. Elizabeth+ distributed information to the vestry about the procedures for receiving gifts of stock. Ms. Janes was not present to give the Education report, but she sent an email saying that Cathy Nelson and Cecilia Smith are working on a service project for church school children and their families that will occur on a Sunday morning in November between 10 and noon. Ms. Botkin and Ms. Stangl gave the Outreach Committee report: in October we collected diapers for the Austin Diaper Bank; children will collect contributions for Unicef on 10/26; in November we will be purchasing turkey feathers to benefit the El Buen Samaritano Thanksgiving baskets AND on November 22 volunteers are needed to help sort food for the baskets. In December the Angel Tree request is for bicycle helmets. Other reports included Parish Life, Health Ministries, Newcomers, and the Day School.
All Saints and All Faithful Departed On Sunday, November 2, we will celebrate the Feast of All Saints. All Saints is a commemoration of those who, having professed faith in the living Christ in days past, have entered the near presence of God—and especially those who either died heroic deaths or whose lives were in some other way iconic of the life of Jesus. It is also a day for welcoming new members in the household of faith by Holy Baptism. In our prayers we remember those “saints” whom we have known and loved, and who died in the past year. And at St. Mark’s it is our day for the ingathering of pledges for the Mission and Ministry of St. Mark’s in the upcoming year. All Faithful Departed began in the 10th century as a sort of extension of All Saints—an occasion for remembering the vast body of the faithful who are not known to the wider fellowship of the Church. It is a day for particular remembrance of family members and friends. On Wednesday, November 5, at 6:00 p.m. in Grace Chapel we will remember those we loved who are now in the near presence of God. Bring a photo or other memento of your loved ones. We will light votive candles in their memory and offer the Eucharist in thanksgiving for their lives.
Thanksgiving Eve Service
7:00 p.m. on November 26 Our Wednesday evening service on November 26 will be in the church, rather than in Grace Chapel, and at 7:00 p.m. rather than the usual 6:00 p.m. Join us as we sing praise and offer thanks to God for all good things we have received by his gracious hand. Almighty and gracious Father, we give thee thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we beseech thee, faithful stewards of thy great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen (BCP p. 194).
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November 2014
Parish Life First Friday Book Group Two “First Fridays” remain in 2014. We meet at 11:00 in the Bennett Wing classroom on the first Friday of each month (though we will not meet in 2015 in January or April). On November 7 we will be discussing the young adult novel Wonder by R.J. Palacio and on December 5 we will discuss Alice McDermott’s novel Someone. Join us as you have time and are able.
Episcopal Church Women 2014 Honored Woman: Millie Casparis This year’s ECW Honored Woman award was presented to Millie Casparis on Sunday, October 12. Millie was confirmed at St. Mark’s in 1982, and for the past 32 years she has been actively involved at St. Mark’s. She is currently the head of the Altar Guild, though she served as a member for several years before assuming the leadership position. She is the Treasurer for the St. Mark’s chapter of the Daughters of the King, and she is one of the St. Mark’s Marthas. She has worked on chicken BBQs over the years, she worked on the St. Mark’s cookbook, she has helped with Habitat for Humanity Builds and walked the Crop Walk, she prepares meals for pastoral care, she has worked on Fall Festivals, on our Yard Sales, and she has served on the Liturgy and Worship committee. This is not an exhaustive list of all that Millie has done, but it certainly illustrates why this is a much-deserved award. Congratulations Millie!
Women’s News As mentioned above, on Sunday, October 12, at the 11:00 a.m. service, we were proud to announce the 2014 St. Mark’s Honored Woman: MILLIE CASPARIS. At the Annual Retreat at Camp Allen, Oct. 17-19, the other Honored Women of the Diocese were announced and honored. Millie was unable to be there for the presentations at Camp Allen. Pat Bullock, Linda Crannell, Lisa Martin, Ann Seyler, and Dee Ann Thomasson attended the Annual Retreat, and were blessed through beautiful worship services, spiritual workshops, vendors for shopping, the serenity and beauty of Camp Allen and the delicious food prepared by the kitchen. Our own parishioner, Lisa Martin, took over the reins at the Retreat to be the Diocese of Texas ECW president for the next three years. Mark your 2015 calendars: The 2015 Annual Women’s Retreat will be November 20 - 22, and we are hoping St. Mark’s will have a large turnout, because St. Mark’s has agreed to be the host church for the retreat! At the Oct. 27 Potluck/Bunco night, Reverend Elizabeth announced that the Vestry voted to make the women’s annual ECW Diocesan Assessment to the Diocese of Texas a budget line item. THANK YOU VESTRY! Trinity Center in Need of Donations! The Trinity Center is planning its Annual Christmas Party for the homeless neighbors, scheduled for December 14. One of the best opportunities to support the party is by making a small contribution of $20. These donations help stuff gift bags with beautiful hoodies, socks, and LOTS of other useful items. There is an immediate need for small-size toiletries at The Trinity Center: trial size shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, sanitizer, body lotion, and anti-itch creams. The women are already asking for socks with the temperatures starting to get cooler. Donations may be placed in the Shower Ministry containers in the Parish Hall and are greatly appreciated. Next Potluck/Bunco meeting is Monday, Nov. 17 @ 6:30 p.m. We are meeting the third Monday of the month due to the Thanksgiving holidays. Our Bylaws state we present a slate of Officers for next year in November. The election of the new officers will take place at our Champagne Brunch on Feb. 7, 2015. ~Dee Ann Thomasson, President
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Intergenerational Advent Wreath Making Event Be sure to join St. Mark’s parishioners for our annual Advent Wreath-Making Event on the first Sunday of Advent. Gather in the Parish Hall on November 30 at 10:00 a.m. to make or freshen up an Advent Wreath for your family. Wreath bases, candles, plastic and real greens and decorations will be available. You may bring a base from previous seasons or order a base. Sign up in the Parish Hall to reserve your materials.
Music Notes One Sunday Left to Purchase Choir Poinsettias and Wreaths This coming Sunday, November 2, is the last opportunity to purchase poinsettias and wreaths from members of the choir. Be sure to stop by the table in the Parish Hall during coffee hour following the 9:00 and 11:00 services. Flowers and wreaths may also be ordered by contacting Mark Reed, the Director of Music (email: mreed1685@gmail.com ; phone: 512-203-1780).
Advent Lessons and Carols on December 14 Sunday, December 14, will be our annual Service of Advent Lessons and Carols at the 9:00 and 11:00 services. Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ. We look for his coming as a baby in the manger, we await his return in glory at the end of the age, and we celebrate his continuing presence in our world and in our hearts. The service of Advent Lessons and Carols combines readings that prepare us for Christ's coming with anthems and hymns that reflect on the lessons. The final lesson is always the story of the angel Gabriel telling the Virgin Mary that she will be the mother of Jesus. In the Gospel of Luke, Mary then sings the Magnificat in the presence of her cousin Elizabeth. This Song of Mary (My soul doth magnify the Lord...) is a canticle of praise and thanksgiving that has a traditional role in services of Evening Prayer. It is given special prominence in Advent because of its connection to the Virgin Mary. Interspersed between the lessons this year will be the six movements of Italian Baroque composer Francesco Durante's Magnificat. This glorious extended setting perfectly captures the spirit of the Latin text. It is a work filled with joy! The Choristers will sing a lovely new carol about the meaning of the Advent wreath. The choirs will join together with oboe and bells to sing a canticle of hope from Isaiah. Plan to attend on December 14, and let the scripture and music prepare your heart for the coming of God's Son.
From the Garden The Day School playground has been bustling of late with very small gardeners! The Junior Garden Guild, under the leadership of teachers Becky Nolan and Kiki Sousa, has sown a variety of seeds to tend and grow. They created a scarecrow to watch over the tender starts of corn, squash, and pea vines climbing bamboo teepees, and they have also planted an herb garden, a wonderfully hardy group of plants that reward with scent and purpose. They are learning about building soil with compost and are searching for fruit and vegetable scraps that can be added to the large black composter which is located on patio area between the church and the main Day School buildings. Becky and Kiki encourage parishioners to add to the mix—no
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November 2014 meats please—but coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peelings, and other vegetation will quickly decompose and help both our young gardeners learn and our gardens grow. Guilders Jay Doran and Tom Delamater recently cleaned up the overgrowth in the columbarium garden. The pea vine covered the walkway and they cleared that and other vegetation encroaching on our special space. Thanks to these special stewards who were willing to make the cleanups prior to the church window cleaning. Still needed: is there someone willing to pull the ivy off the entrance oak trees? The ivy is trying to win!! In mid-October, Becky Nolan placed her seasonal pumpkins to make the fall season pop. Becky is a tireless advocate of St. Mark’s beauty. She is an artist with seasonal color. St. Mark’s and the neighborhood as a whole appreciate her contributions. With the building improvements finally complete, Becky has planned a work day, Saturday, November 1st, All Saints’ Day, for doing some winter preparations and especially for spreading mulch in the beds which lie beneath the new stucco walls. The rain and cooler weather have breathed new life into our grounds. We can see golden lantana giving us its last hurrah, the roses are still presenting, and the leaves falling from the trees rustle and twist in the breezes. This is a golden season, a time when we can anticipate all the colors and fun of the waning year. Work done now results in a beautiful spring show. Remember to plan to help on Saturday, November 1st!
The earth laughs in flowers. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Outreach El Buen Samaritano Hands for Hope Event Our Turkey poster has arrived! Please help us dress our turkey with feathers as we raise money for the El Buen Samaritano's Hands for Hope event, which provides food for a Thanksgiving feast to families in Austin. Feathers may be purchased for $10 each and 3 feathers feeds one family. Please sign the form on the table and place your feather on the turkey. Last year we raised $880. Let's try to beat that this year.
Volunteer Opportunity on November 22 Would you and your family like to give back to the community this Thanksgiving? El Buen has saved 8 volunteer spots for St. Mark's members on Nov. 22, for the Hands for Hope event. Tasks include bagging turkeys and groceries and helping families bring items to their car. Children 6 and older are welcome with parental supervision. Be on the look-out for a sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall.
Christian Formation for Children by Cathy Nelson, DRE This month, we will be celebrating two important parish events and one new Church School event during the Education hour at 10:00 a.m. so we will only have Church School classes on November 9 and 23.
On November 2, St. Mark’s will celebrate our annual Mission and Ministry Sunday. Parents and children are invited to attend a reception in the Parish Hall at 10:00 a.m., in place of Christian Formation
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Hour. Families are asked to turn in their pledge cards during the offering at all three services. We also will celebrate All Saints’ Sunday and baptisms during the services so I hope you and your families will be able to join us for these important events. Our Intergenerational Advent Wreath-Making Event will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 30. Making or refreshing an Advent wreath with your children is a wonderful way to begin the season of Advent. A sign-up sheet will be in the Parish Hall.
On Sunday, November 16, Church School families will have a new opportunity to practice stewardship when we gather at 10:00 a.m. to do a service project. Parents and children will work together to pick up trash from the neighborhood greenbelt. Following the clean-up project, the group will reconvene at the cross on the meditation trail for a closing service with the Rev. Cecilia Smith. We are calling this event Mission Sunday and hope that we can have two Mission Sunday projects each program year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Mission Sunday grew from a discussion with Cecilia+ about building community. We noted that there are smaller communities within the larger St. Mark’s community in which families form or deepen relationships with other families. Under the larger umbrella of the St. Mark’s parish, these families connect as they worship, work and socialize together. But at various phases of their lives, there are smaller windows of time to come together. Offering opportunities to each group when they are already present makes it easier for them to participate. These experiences will become the foundation of their membership in the St. Mark’s congregation and more importantly, their membership in the family of God. As Sharon Ely Pearson writes in an article I cited last month about helping our children build a theology of stewardship, “Children and Stewardship,” she says that the sense of belonging to a community is important in faith development for children and all ages. Being part of a community helps us to recognize and understand the gifts we have been given and to learn how to use them. “Children need approval of family, friends and teachers as they begin to develop their own ‘theology of stewardship.’ They need hands-on exploration of concepts, being able to relate Bible stories to their lives and the issues of today.” And as we model our beliefs while we worship, work, and play together, children and adults alike grow in Christ. Having our service outside on the meditation trail is a new experience for most of our children, and we expect that it will be a meaningful service for all of us. Sometimes, experiencing something we are so familiar with in another setting deepens the experience, just as working together does. As a friend, Mary Beth Emerson, Assistant for Family Ministry at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in McLean, VA, wrote in her blog about the youth pilgrimage she led this year, “Place does work on the pilgrim, and CDSP, St. Gregory of Nyssa, the redwoods near the Russian River, and even the car rental parking lot at the Oakland Airport are all working on us still. But the Jesus we met in each other and in new friends is becoming a larger part of our DNA, continuing to seep into hearts and spirits.” “Pilgrimage reflection: Grace abundant and unexpected” http://www.keyhallonline.org/profiles/st-thomas-pilgrimage/
Children’s Christian Formation Schedule for November
Godly Play Class: Pre-K and Kindergartners will hear one more of the sacred stories of our faith this month. On November 9, the children will hear The Ark and the Temple which is told using the desert box, the piece of the desert in our classroom. Talk to your children about the role the desert plays in these stories. On November 23, in preparation for Advent and Christmas, the children will hear the Advent story. Godly Play Two Class: 1st through 5th graders will learn more about the saints of the church as they hear about the lives of St. Margaret of Scotland and St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra. Youth & Confirmation Classes: Confirmation Class will meet on November 9 and 16 for their final classes. On November 23, the 7th graders will join with the Youth Bible Class in the Bennett Wing
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November 2014 Classroom. And the Youth Bible Class will join in the Mission Sunday project and service on the 16th, but have class as usual on the 9th and 23rd. The classes will take a break during the seasons of Advent and Christmas, so I’d like to thank the parents and teachers who have faithfully led the Church School classes this fall! And thank you, Godly Play storytellers for helping to make the stories come alive each Sunday!
Christmas Pageant: Planning Ahead! Although it is amazing to realize that Christmas is almost here, St. Mark’s children will be thinking about it soon. The Christmas Pageant, which is held on Christmas Eve at the 5:30 p.m. service, is traditionally performed and narrated by St. Mark’s children. Following the 11:00 a.m. service on November 30, we will hold a lottery to pick the speaking parts played by older children. Watch for more information in your email boxes. Please send me an email at cnelson@stmarksaustin.org if you need to update your email address.
Christian Formation for Adults There is NO Adult Formation on November 2. On that Sunday we will celebrate the Feast of All Saints and we will present our pledge/commitment cards for the Mission and Ministry of St. Mark’s in 2015. The youth will once again make and sell breakfast tacos at 10:00 in the Parish Hall. On November 9, 16, and 23, Carol Oppel will continue her series on Walking the Book of Common Prayer with Thomas Cranmer. The class meets at 10:00 a.m. in Grace Chapel. The study guide for the class is available on-line: Carol will send the link per request.
Adult Inquirers/Confirmation Classes Bishop Dena Harrison will be with us at St. Mark’s on Sunday, January 25, to confirm and receive adults and youth. The youth classes started meeting in October, and now that Nate+ has arrived he and Elizabeth+ will teach the adults in December and January. The adult classes will meet at 10:00 a.m. on December 7, 14, 21, January 4, and 11. These classes are for anyone who has not been confirmed or received in the Episcopal Church, or for those who want to know more about the Episcopal Church: what we believe, how we interpret scripture, our history, and our liturgy. Childcare will be available on December 21 and January 4 when there are no other Christian Formation classes. Please let Elizabeth+ know if you are interested in attending.
Caffeine Ministry 2
Early Late
M & M Sunday – no one Mike and Beth Brode
16
Early Late
Pat Bullock and Becky Janes Amalia and Manuel de la Rosa
9
Early Late
Meredith and Kevin Childs David and Lorraine Bowman
23
Early Late
Jill Collins and Jonea Raney George and John DeMarines
30
Early Late
Advent 1 – no one Jeff Doidge and Lisa Leach
Early: Arrive 15 minutes before 9 a.m. service, make lemonade, set out cookies, etc. (Coffee will already be made.) Late: After 11 a.m. service, replenish cookies, and other supplies. After hospitality time, clean up all containers. Complete instructions are in the kitchen above the coffee maker. *If you are unable to make your time, contact the vestry member for November, David Johns.
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Parishioner Highlights Liz Badger blew me away with her life story (and Lansing’s also)! She started early with service projects that continue to this day: She identifies needs and does her best to serve those people and projects. If you have been reading the Highlights articles, you know I love “how we met” stories, and so I was intrigued that Liz kept her relationship with her husband Lansing below the radar in the 70s! From geology to city planning in Austin and her many degrees, please enjoy the fascinating read about Liz and Lansing. I think you will agree that despite physical challenges Liz shines as a parishioner that “has been there— done that” and continues to make a difference in our parish as she serves the best interests of St. Mark’s and Austin. Beth Chenoweth
Liz Badger and Lansing Pugh (written by Liz) I was born in Houston in 1951, the oldest of four children, 3 girls and 1 boy. My Catholic mom (from Detroit) married my Methodist dad (from Houston). As you can imagine, I had a conflicted religious childhood. I had my First Communion in the Catholic Church but also went to the Methodist Church with my dad. After I left high school, I rarely went to church. My brother John was born with spina bifida, paralyzed from the waist down, and his travails and successes have formed my beliefs and attitude. In high school, I worked a couple summers in the front office of the Houston Astros. My mom was friends with the wife of Tal Smith, the director of player personnel. We watched the 1969 moon landing on the office TV. During and after college I held a variety of jobs. I conducted telephone surveys for an opinion research firm; that’s why I always respond to people conducting surveys. I have also worked as a file clerk, gift wrapper, and secretary. When I was a senior in high school I joined Amigos de las Americas, a program that sends young people to Latin America to implement service/community development projects. We
spent months meeting weekly, training in first aid (as well as how to give shots), Spanish medical vocabulary, and preparation for living in a different culture. I went to Honduras in summer ’69. Another volunteer and I lived with a host family and worked in the local clinic giving immunizations against polio and other diseases. Right on the heels of that transformational experience was my first semester at Rice University where I met Lansing Pugh, a newly arrived Yankee from Massachusetts. He liked me a lot, and when he heard I was in AMIGOS, he decided to join too. When we received our assignments for the summer of 1970, I was assigned to Nicaragua and Lansing was assigned to be a route driver there. We got to visit when he dropped off supplies and mail at my village of Somatillo. We had become a couple by then but dating was off-limits while in the field so we kept our relationship out of sight to avoid problems that summer. Subsequent summers Lansing served on the AMIGOS field staff in Nicaragua and Colombia while I held jobs ranging from counting drosophila flies to wait staff in Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. One summer we both got jobs near Lansing’s hometown in western Massachusetts. We drove from Houston with my grandmother so she could visit relatives in Milton, near Boston. Also while I was in college my parents bought a large parcel of land near East Bernard southwest of Houston where my sisters Susan and Margaret started a business called Tylwyth Pony Farm that has a great reputation for breeding, raising, and selling Welsh ponies.
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November 2014 Lansing and I got married in the Rice Chapel in 1974. Lansing had won an architectural design combined the money he had won with my Steak and Ale cocktail waitress tips into a honeymoon in England, Wales, Scotland, and Italy where we stayed with Lansing’s sister who was doing stone sculpture in Carrara. After our return to the states we spent a year in Philadelphia where Lansing had an internship with an architect. I worked as a census enumerator for a special census done in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. After Lansing graduated with his architecture degree from Rice, we went back to Philadelphia where I earned a Master’s degree in Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. Back in Texas, we decided to move to Austin, where I found a job at the Bureau of Economic Geology at UT preparing environmental assessments of geothermal well sites in Eagle Lake and Cuero. I then got a permanent job with the City of Austin, first in the Environmental Resource Management Department reviewing plans for the Walnut Creek Sewer Line among others, then in the Planning Department working on Austinplan, a new comprehensive plan for the city which was scuttled by the 1985 recession. Lansing practiced as an architect, and when computer-aided drafting and design became available, he first used it on his projects, then sold the software to other practitioners, which he still does. We hooked up with AMIGOS again in 1984, reviving the dormant Austin chapter, recruiting volunteers for the program and volunteer trainers of the volunteers. By the way, the Austin chapter is looking for volunteers for next summer. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1991. MS is a disease that tricks the immune system into attacking the sheathing on the wiring in our brains resulting in all kinds of disabilities. The National MS Society is very active in trying to find a cure. Lansing has participated in many of the MS Society’s Bike MS fundraisers, cycling the BP Ride from Houston to Austin, the Valero Ride from San Antonio to New Braunfels, and the Sam’s Club Round-Up Ride from Dallas to Fort Worth.
couldn’t be Catholic or Methodist. I remember telling someone at work that I like the Catholic Church’s ceremony and spirituality, but not the dogma, and someone said that sounds like Episcopalian. Fortunately St. Mark’s is right down the hill from us! I was confirmed by Father Bill in 1997 and love being a member of St. Mark’s. The years of 2000 to 2002 were very tough for us. My sister Susie, two years younger than me, died of breast cancer in February 2000 at age 45. Also in February my work life came to an end after I had a sudden, serious, MS relapse. I spent a month in Health South’s Hospital where physical and cognitive therapists helped me adapt to using a wheelchair. I miss not being able to jump in the car and drive and I don’t like being so dependent. But it is what it is. Lansing’s mom died of liver cancer in 2001 and my mother died of colon cancer in 2002. The support we received from St. Mark's during these years was a blessing. We have three talented and big-hearted sons: Logan 32, Alex 28, and David 22. Logan graduated from Texas A&M and is a Graphic Information Science specialist with the City of Austin. Alex graduated with a political science degree from Texas State and is now a Development Coordinator at the Houston Zoo. David is taking a break from college and focusing on training Bandit and Holmes, our new dogs. I have my Girls’ Night Out group (Amelia Sondgeroth is one of the Girls), my MS networking group, and a local book group that’s been meeting monthly for over 20 years. My church activities include St. Mark’s monthly book group and the contemplative prayer group which meets on Saturday mornings. After contemplating, we go to breakfast. We never run out of things to talk about! I’m a member of the Daughters of the King and manage our Prayer List. At Jonea Raney’s suggestion, I looked into Education for Ministry (EfM) and am now a participant. It’s a 4-year program run on the academic calendar. The first year we’re learning about the Old Testament. I’m enjoying the program, and my fellow students are brilliant and entertaining.
After we had kids, I started thinking about finding a church. I wanted a spiritual element in my life, but it
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November 2014
November Celebrations Birthdays Wes Johns Diane Juneau Greg Stangl Glen Baumgart Allison Camp Anne Geraci Lynn Edgerton Marjie Lawrence Dylan Lewis Davis Fuhrman Ashley Phillips Dunaven Kurak Adin Kurak Jace Castleberry Resa Dunn Lucie Minne Susan Slattery Mary Smith Margaret Delamater Karen Dulaney Smith John Hicks Rosemary Spindler Deen Denny Melissa Blanding Bo Overstreet Ann Pratt Beth Chenoweth John DeMarines Rose Jennings William Kelly
11/01 11/01 11/01 11/03 11/04 11/05 11/06 11/06 11/06 11/07 11/08 11/09 11/09 11/10 11/10 11/10 11/10 11/10 11/11 11/13 11/13 11/13 11/14 11/15 11/15 11/15 11/16 11/16 11/16 11/16
Kelly Whiteknact Sean Williamson Glenn Lightsey Max Peers Daniel Aja Esme Barker Christianne Castleberry Diane Silver Claudia Janes Nate Lee Elizabeth Wood Neil Kepple Mike Thomasson Susan Albers Nina Erichson Anjuli Martinez Nicole Pike Jay Doran Cilla Peterek Evan Randall Marissa Bates Amy Farley Audrey Randall Jeffrey Siegismund Ben Crozier Amalia de la Rosa Christie Stockstill Susan Erwin Matthew Forrest Gabriella Hartline
11/16 11/16 11/17 11/17 11/20 11/20 11/20 11/20 11/22 11/22 11/22 11/23 11/23 11/24 11/24 11/24 11/24 11/25 11/25 11/25 11/27 11/27 11/27 11/27 11/28 11/29 11/29 11/30 11/30 11/30
Anniversaries Mary & Kevin Cromack Cynthia & Mark Zuniga Barbette & John Cooper Andrea Michael & Chuck Ragland Valerie & Ken Walker Laurie & Jonathon Mayor Cindy & Dru Cabler Lynn & John Edgerton Brenda & Rex White Amalia & Manuel de la Rosa Marie & Bob Peterek Marcy & Sam Greer Carolyn Foote & Gregg LaMontagne Becky & Jim Nolan
11/01 11/02 11/09 11/10 11/10 11/11 11/18 11/19 11/22 11/24 11/25 11/26 11/28 11/30
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November ROTA TIME
7:30 a.m.
MINISTRY
Youth Sunday
November 16
November 23 Youth Sunday
November 30
Choristers @ 9 a.m.
LECTOR
Jonea Raney
Pattie Rose
Margarita Moreno
Jon Dullnig
Amelia Sondgeroth
LEM / ACOLYTE
Jill Collins
Nancy Middlebrook
Pattie Rose
Wes Raney
Margarita Moreno
USHERS
Ed Shipsey Al McKinney
Beth Chenoweth Mary Smith
Danielle Adkins Stephen White
Jonea Raney Jill Collins
Judith & Jon Dullnig
LECTORS
Mary-Alis Kelly (1) Bill Kibler (2)
YOUTH
Nancy Kibler (1) Ginny Acker (2)
YOUTH
Dodie Wells (1) Ken Whalen (2)
LEM
9:00 a.m.
November 2
November 9
ACOLYTES
USHERS
GREETERS
Carol Oppel Bill Kibler Thom Temperli Mike Thomasson Becky Janes Lynn Edgerton Suzanne Lightsey Claudia Janes Ariston Awitan IV TBD Abigail Goff Meredith Childs Matthew Will Kelly Henry Janes Awitan Nora Kelly Eleanor Goff Hunter Rogers Kim B., Carol Kim B. Kim B. Mark Breen Mike Brode Ken Whalen Dee Ann Thomasson Phil Aboussie Ariston Awitan III Dodie Wells John Edgerton TBD Glen Baumgart Meredith Childs Maria & Mike Fuhrman Meredith Childs Kevin Cromack
Tom Schneider Pam Castles Clay Buckner Ethan Fuhrman TBD TBD Kim B.
Kim Buckner Michael Meigs
Kim Buckner Mike Thomasson Aidan Brady Clay Buckner Claire Dempsey Ryan Dempsey Kim Mark Breen Mike Brode Ken Whalen John Edgerton Meredith Childs Kevin Cromack
John Edgerton Lynn Edgerton Kevin Cromack
Kimberly Horne (1) Rex White (2)
Phil Aboussie (1) Cindy Bogard (2)
Andrew Poynot (1) Karen Milton (2)
Chris Blanding (1) Melissa Blanding (2)
Bill Willis (1) Beth Holmes (2)
LEM
Tom Schneider Dru Cabler
Thom Temperli Ann Seyler
Brenda White Rex White
Tom Schneider Thom Temperli
Sandy Sterzing Michele Bonner
ACOLYTES
Bonnie Brode Claire Cabler Ryan Dempsey Meredith Shaw J. Brown, Baptism Cindy, Jay
Matt Forrest Karen Milton Ben Forrest Sam Forrest Cindy, Jay, Michele
Max Genet Jay Brown Evan Overstreet Elijah Gallardo Cindy, Michele
Winston Baxter-Harwell Asher Eaton Evelyn Eaton Emma Baxter-Harwell Cindy, Michele
Sophie Lawrence Luke Thiessen Emma Kloninger Meredith Shaw Jay, Michele
USHERS
Carolyn Wier James Wier Bo Overstreet Rick Tennant John De Marines John Works
Jim Casparis Bob Peterek Manuel de la Rosa Jim Nolan Ryan Marquess
Henry Olivas Yvonne Chavez Darlene Goodnight Debbie Thornal Sandy Sterzing
GREETERS
Jean & Frank Severn
Jay Doran Diana Stangl
Shelly Botkin & Ryan Marquess
Sat. 9:00
Jonea Raney-TC Jill Collins Carolyn Wier Pat Bullock
Millie Casparis-TC Lynn Edgerton Darlene Goodnight Debbie Thornal Susan Baxter-Harwell
Diana Stangl -TC Dodie Wells Tina Stonebarger Helen Anderson
Meredith Childs-TC Barbara Dody Karen Milton Cynthia Archer Elijah Gallardo
Dee Ann Thomasson-TC Liz Davis Judy Elkins Henry Olivas
Depositor
Al McKinney
Frank Severn
Diane Brewer
Jim Casparis
John De Marines
WED. 6 p.m.
November 5
November 12
November 19
November 26
December 3
Lectors
Jill Collins
Pattie Rose
Jonea Raney
Kevin Childs
Rex White
Altar Guild
11:00 a.m.
LECTORS
Frank Severn Jean Severn Jay Doran Jodi Doran Pam Johns David Johns Sue Borel Lark Anthony Barbara Dody
Carolyn Wier Jim Casparis Henry Olivas Frank Severn
Yvette Webb
Vestry Kathy Genet, Sr. Warden J.P. Kloninger, Jr. Warden
Vestry members: Dan Bogard, Susan Bonnen, Shelly Botkin, Mark Breen, Suzann Dvorken, Becky Janes, David Johns, Nancy Kibler, Karen Milton, Jim Nolan, Bo Overstreet, David Randle, and Diana Stangl
Committees Acolytes: Jay Brown, Carol Oppel, Mary Cromack, Kim Kiplin, and Kim Buckner Altar Guild: Millie Casparis Building Committee: Amelia Sondgeroth Christian Formation: Cathy Nelson Communications: Pattie Rose Daughters of the King: Lisa Martin Women of St. Mark’s: Dee Ann Thomasson Facilities: Ray Smith Finance: John Edgerton
Deadline for the December 2014 St. Mark’s News is Friday, November 14, 2014. Please submit your article by email as an attachment to: office@stmarksaustin.org.
Outreach: Becky Poynot and Laurie Mayor
Rector The Rev. Elizabeth Zarelli Turner Assistant Rector The Rev. Nathaniel Jung-Chul Lee Director of Religious Education Cathy Nelson Organist/Director of Music Mark Reed Seminarians Tom Schneider Thom Temperli Head of Day School Anne Wingler
Parish Life: Brenda White Pastoral Care/Health Ministry: Jonea C.S. Raney Stewardship: Amelia Sondgeroth Ushers: Henry Olivas
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church 2128 Barton Hills Drive Austin, TX 78704 512.444.1449 www.stmarksaustin.org office@stmarksaustin.org
Staff
Parish Administrator Joanne Foote Newsletter Editor Becky Janes
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED