September 2013
St. Mark’s News Volume 16/Issue 8
From the Rector On Sunday, September 15, churches of all denominations across the nation are invited to participate in National Back to Church Sunday. Because that title makes it sound as though we are hoping you will return to church after your summer vacation the Episcopal Diocese of Texas has renamed it Invite Someone to Church Sunday, or even more succinctly Invitation Sunday. The idea is simple: extend an invitation to a neighbor, to a friend, or to a family member inviting them to join you for church on Sunday, September 15. Statistics indicate that 82% of those who are unchurched are somewhat likely to attend a church if they are invited, but only 2% of those who have a church home extend invitations. I would like to encourage every one of us at St. Mark’s to take this challenge of In this Issue Evangelism. On Sunday, August 18 and 25, we were once again reminded of what a wonderful and lively parish St. Mark’s is. On the 18th we gathered in the Parish Hall From the Rector .................. 1 to share a summer potluck of salads, sandwiches and desserts. There were newcomers Outreach ............................. 3 Parish Life ........................... 3 among us who expressed appreciation for the invitation to stay and eat. As is always Christian Formation ............ 5 the case at St. Mark’s, there was an abundance of food – more than enough to feed our Parishioner Highlights ......... 8 parish family and the strangers among us. The brightly painted Blood Bank bus parked Caffeine Ministry ................. 9 outside for our summer blood drive vividly demonstrated our commitment to the wider Celebrations ....................... ? community. The following Sunday, the 25th, we welcomed three young people into the ROTA .................................. ? household of faith, into the Body of Christ. We blessed backpacks and we distributed crosses to our young people returning to school. Our generosity was expressed in the number of backpacks we collected to give to needy Austin school students through Communities in Schools (CIS). We wandered around the Parish Hall and we were given the opportunity to be part of our many ministries at St. Mark’s, and to the wider community. What we say about ourselves is that “the vision of St. Mark’s is to be a warm and welcoming community; to teach, to preach, and live out the Gospel in our daily life and work; to pray and work for justice for all God’s people.” During the vestry retreat on August 17 we asked two icebreaker questions: what are five things on your Bucket List, and what five things are you grateful for. There was considerable unanimity that (more) travel within the United States and abroad were on our lists. For some, that travel would be more adventurous than for others of us. And on almost everyone’s gratitude list was belonging to St. Mark’s. The feeling was genuine, and not simply “please the rector” answers. Assuming that gratitude for being a part of St. Mark’s is shared by more of us than the 15 gathered around that table, let’s extend an invitation to our families, friends, and neighbors to join us for worship (and education) on Sunday, September 15. If you invite them, they will come. EZT+
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