The Messenger - April 2015

themessenger

Monthly Newsletter of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church APRIL 2015

VOLUME 104

ISSUE 4 FROM THE RECTOR

IN THIS ISSUE: Finance Report Page 2 Parish News Page 3 Adult Formation Page 4 -5 Youth Ministries Page 6 Children & Family Page 7 Birthdays Page 8

Claiming the Gift of the Great Fifty Days "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity... Choose life, so that you and your descendants may live." Deuteronomy 30:15, 19b While this quote is from the Hebrew Scriptures, it strikes me this season as a good invitation to live out the call of the Great Fifty Days, or the season of Easter. Easter Day can too quickly fade to other distractions. We may forget that we have indeed been asked to keep a season joy longer than our Lenten pilgrimage. (I have been told that perhaps Fiesta allows us a further season of revelry that might help sustain our Easter joy. Since I have yet to witness the fullness of this celebration, I will let you know my assessment of this next year!)

Regardless, it is too easy for me to think that resurrection is a one time event rather than a way of living. The reality is that resurrection in our spiritual lives may be much more like becoming a parent. We start with pregnancy. We know something is different. We begin to feel differently. But, the birth is still on the horizon. We are not sure what this new life will bring. We are excited and joyful, but there is uncertainty and a realization that every aspect of our life will change.

Then as we watch our children grow and change, we change along with them. We start to know ourselves in profoundly different ways. It makes us look at our own childhood in a different way. We see our parents and our siblings in a different light.

And while my children would be the first to roll their eyes, for us parents it really seems impossible when they change seemingly overnight into young women and men about to graduate and head off to college. And the journey will continue.

ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 315 E. Pecan St. San Antonio, Texas 78205 (210) 226-2426 www.stmarks-sa.org stmarks@stmarks-sa.org Office hours: Monday thru Friday 9:00a.m.-5:00p.m.

Emergency Pastoral Care: 210-507-0256

But that sense of tending new life, nurturing it, being transformed by it, and letting it go is what resurrection is all about. We need to look for new life in our journey with God. It may be something we hardly recognize at first. We may just sense we need a new way to pray. We may join a bible study or take the risk to have a conversation about our faith with a friend we have never discussed it with before. But each day that we choose life, choose hope, choose to be a people of faith, we are living the resurrection. Alleluia, Christ is Risen. The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia.

Peace,

Beth+

The Messenger is published monthly and is available in magazine format online at www.stmarks-sa.org.

Parish Clergy The Rev. Beth Knowlton Rector The Rev. Carol Morehead Associate Rector Making a Gift of Their Service The Rev. C. Douglas Earle Assisting Priest The Rev. Mary Earle Assisting Priest The Rev. Dr. John Lewis Co-Director, The Work+Shop The Rev. Dr. Jane Patterson Co-Director, The Work+Shop The Rev. Linda Ricketts Assisting Priest Staff Todd Allison Youth Director Priscilla Briones Finance Manager Catherine Cardenas Children’s Ministry Intern Janet Carrizales Nursery Director Joseph Causby Director of Music & Organist Emmet Faulk Parish Business Administrator Erin Hughes Youth Ministries Assistant Director Gail Jackins Families & Children’s Ministries Director Marsha Kimura Music Department Administrator Jesse “Chuy” Mendoza Kitchen Manager/Chef Ruby Merrill Facilities Supervisor & Receptionist Pat Hutchison Noble Community of Care Amanda Quisenberry Youth Ministries Assistant Dr. Edwin A. Rieke Dir. of Music & Organist Emeritus Callie Sanchez Families & Children’s Ministries Intern Derek Shively Head Sexton Leah Thomas Special Events Coordinator

St. Mark’s Episcopal 315 E. Pecan St. San Antonio, TX 78205 www.stmarks-sa.org

FINANCE REPORT Emmet Faulk, | Parish Business Administrator | efaulkjr@stmarks-sa.org

2015 Giving Update As of Thursday, March 19, 2015, below is an update on giving. At this point, we are below our projections for 2015. If you have not pledged, please consider pledging today. Thank you!

As of: 3/19/15

2015 Pledge

TOTALS $1,646,628 # Pledges 343

Up

Down

New

NoCH

$183,488

($29,835)

$66,482

174

31

34

104

AVERAGE

$4,801

$1,055

($962)

$1,955

Median Pledge

$2,400

$365

($500)

$1,650

ONLINE PLEDGING IS NOW AVAILABLE! If you have not already pledged, please visit our website at http://stmarks-sa.org/#/home/2015-pledge

February Financial Report Below is the budgeted financial report for February 2015.

2015 FINANCIAL REPORT Actual for Period Pledge Revenue

Budgeted for Period

$110,020

$151,667

Non Pledged Giving

$9,299

$13,375

Open Plate Giving/Seasonal Giving

$2,117

$2,063

$29,397

$46,123

TOTAL REVENUE:

$150,833

$213,228

TOTAL EXPENSES:

$202,514

$221,177

REVENUE UNDER EXPENSES:

($51,681)

($7,949)

Other Revenue (e.g., parking lot)

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PARISH NEWS St. Mark’s Bookstore Luncheon May 8 St. Mark’s Bookstore will once again host an author for it’s Spring Luncheon, which will be on May 8, 2015 at 11:30am. This year’s speaker is Robert Darden, author of Nothing but Love in God’s Water: Black Sacred Music from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement (Penn State Press, 2014). Bob is Associate Professor of Journalism, Public Relations, and New Media at Baylor University and former gospel music editor for Billboard magazine.

He also launched The Black Gospel Music Restoration Project in 2008 and managed and maintained by the Baylor Libraries’ Digital Projects Group. It will become a permanent feature of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture when it opens on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in 2015.

To reserve your spot, please call Karen Perretta at kperretta@sbcglobal.net.

Upcoming in our Music Program

MUSIC NOTES

On Mother’s Day, May 10, our Cherub Choir (ages 3kindergarten) will be singing a musical prelude before the 9am service. All children in this age group, even those who are not currently in the Cherub Choir, are invited and encouraged to participate. Rehearsals are on Sunday mornings at the beginning of the 10.10 Sunday School hour.

Joseph Causby | Director of Music & Organist | jcausby@stmarks-sa.org

One Body, Many Menus The Spring One Body, Many Menus program has been a success. These gatherings have offered us time to know one another better and to envision how we live into our core vocation of feeding the hungry with real food, feeding those hungry for knowledge and meaning, and feeding those hungry for beauty and creativity.

Thanks to all those who have hosted: Jill & George Vassar, Nancie & Frank Sutter, Beverly Bryars, Sarah & Jaret Lozano, Rosalind & Gene Alderman, Susan & Jim Wilson, Ann Coiner & Ed Rieke, Jennifer & Greg Merritt, Shea & Robert Pollom, and Carl & Ann Leafstedt.

Didn’t get to one of the Spring meetings? Don’t worry! There will be another round of gatherings this fall. Look for sign ups in September 2015.

ST. CECILIA GUILD PRESENTS MUSIC FROM ST. MARK’S 2014-2015

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Adult Christian Formation The Rev. Carol Morehead | Associate Rector | cmorehead@stmarks-sa.org

A

s we enter the Great Fifty Day of Easter, here are offerings to help us grow in Christ and in our life together. With summer approaching, we invite you to take advantage of these opportunities for study and reflection before we slow the pace. For more details, see the website or email Carol.

Sunday Offerings Celtic Spirituality, with The Rev. Mary C. Earle, Sylvia Maddox, and Andrew Morrison Live into an Easter life by joining in as we look at our deep roots in the Celtic tradition.

April 12 ···················· Connecting with the Celtic Past: Who were the Celts? What are the key elements of Celtic spirituality? Why does this speak so strongly across the ages to us today?

April 19 ···················· Connecting with and through the Saints May 3 ······················· Connecting with Creation: How can the Celtic tradition lead us so see creation as the "first cathedral"? What can we learn from their ability to perceive Christ's presence in nature?

May 9 ························ Retreat and Cèilidh, Bishop Jones Center; 9:30am-2:00pm & 7-9pm May 10 ······················ Connecting the Daily with the Eternal May 17 ······················ Connecting with the Outer World: The Celtic saints were the Great Evangelists of history, sailing away, trusting in the Spirit, bringing Christianity and learning to the 3 countries of Western Europe, that were struggling under the dark ages.

May 24 ······················ Celtic Christianity and the Holy Spirit May 31 ······················ Trinity Sunday. The great mystery of connection. For the Celts, the Trinity is a way of naming divine reality, and proclaiming the ultimate connection, "The Three of My Love."

Rector’s Forum: Being a Christian in an Increasingly Secular World How do we live out our Christian Life in a world that no longer easily supports this choice? How do we live out daily life and work in a way that honors our life in Christ? This class will explore themes of secularism historically as it relates to our daily lives.

May 10 ·········· What do we mean by secularism? How have cultural shifts from the past few centuries changed how we think about the nature of God? As people of faith, how are we still confronted with these cultural shifts?

May 17 ·········· What are the historical roots of the rising secularism we face? How do these events from that past shape our experience of religious institutions and the questions we bring to our faith journey?

May 24 ·········· What are the primary challenges we experiences as Christians in our day to day life as a result of an increasingly secular world? How does this change the role of our faith communities?

May31 ··········· What Christian practices help us stay grounded in our journey? In what ways can we most effectively witness to our faith with those who do not profess our faith?

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Midweek Offerings Wednesdays Mid-Week Bible Study, 6:00 - 7:30 pm, Dean Richardson Room; April 8, 22; May 6.

Daughters of the King Book Study, 5:00 - 5:45 pm, Room 305 Thursdays Time Out Bible Study, The Gospel of Mark, 10:00-11:30am, Youth Suite Mesa Redonda, This Spring, the Mesa Redonda will be reading Living Reconciliation by Phil Groves and Angharad Parry Jones; Gosnell Hall & Room 102 March 26 ··········· Introduction April 2 ··············· Living Reconciliation April 9 ··············· Journey into uncertainty April 16 ············· Companions April 23 ············· Encounter with power April 30 ············· Transforming conflict May 7 ················ Risk May 14 ··············· New way of being May 21 ··············· Sharing the vision Saturday, May 9 Celtic Spirituality Pilgrimage & Cèilidh, Bishop Jones Center, 9:30am-2:00pm; & 7:00pm Join The Rev. Mary C. Earle, Sylvia Maddox, The Rev. Carol Morehead, and Andrew Morrison for a day exploring the practical aspects of the Celtic tradition. We’ll conclude with a traditional cèilidh on Saturday evening, which is a time for celebration in song and word. Lunch provided; no cost to attend, but please reserve a spot by calling or emailing Carol at cmorehead@stmarks-sa.org.

One Body, Many Members 2015 Parish Retreat: Fun & Fellowship!

Mustang Island Conference Center, May 1-3 When: Who: Why: Basic Schedule:

May 1-3 Where: Mustang Island Retreat Center Anyone from St. Mark’s!

To grow together as a community of faith. All ages are welcome.

Friday:

Arrival beginning as early as 3:00pm.

Dinner at 6:00pm, followed by evening activities and Compline Saturday: Breakfast, followed by program from 9-12.

There will be separate programs for Adults, Youth, and Children.

Childcare will be available during this time for itty bitty’s.

Lunch, then the afternoon is free for beach with optional activities Dinner, followed by activities and Compline Sunday: Breakfast; optional morning activities; Eucharist; lunch and depart for home Housing: Mustang Island Retreat Center is equipped with a limited number of rooms.

Because of limited space availability, we will not be able to accommodate single room requests at the retreat center. If you would like a single room, please indicate so on the form and we will contact you regarding options nearby to the retreat center. Some of the off-site choices are two and three bedroom units, so consider if you would be willing to have a private bedroom but share a bathroom. Costs will depend on the unit.

MICC Cost: Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children under 12, full room & board) - $575; Each additional child, 2-12: $56; Meals only the weekend: $76 Scholarships available; see Beth or Carol.

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YOUTH MINISTRIES Todd Allison, Youth Director | Erin Hughes, Assistant Youth Director | AmandaQuisenberry, Ministry Assist. | youth@stmarks-sa.org WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SMCYOUTH

@SMYGSA

#SMYGSA

HOLY WEEK & EASTER April 1 April 2

During Spring Break, St. Mark's youth group had the wonderful opportunity to share in meaningful community with other youth groups from San Antonio during a two day retreat at Mustang Island Conference Center. Youth groups from St. Mark's, St. David's, St. Thomas, and Church of Reconciliation spent Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning worshipping and creating relationships together while enjoying a relaxed environment on the Island. While the weather was not ideal (cold and rainy), the Son shined through to create an environment filled with love, the Spirit and renewal.

Abby Richards, the youth minister from Church of Reconciliation, lead our teaching for the short week on "thin spaces." These thin spaces are places and situations where the space between Heaven and Earth, or God and us are so thin, we have chances to really feel God’s presence in a way that is unlike any other. We often have mountain top experiences at youth retreats, Happening weekends, or Camp Capers, that seem like the greatest experiences of our lives, and then we go home. Because the trip is over and the thin space has become thick again, we often find it difficult to continue to incorporate intentional time and conversation with Jesus. Abby shared tools with our youth to keep our communication with Christ, and to bring thin spaces with them instead of leaving thin spaces behind.

St. Mark's youth group had an incredible time bonding, sharing, and creating relationships with youth from other youth groups at Mustang Island, and cannot wait to create thin spaces throughout the year!

5:30-7pm Youth Seder Supper (Chapel) 7:00pm Maundy Thursday Eucharist GethsemaneVigil (Overnight, Bethlehem Chapel) April 3 7:30am Mass of the Presanctified Gifts 12:00pm Good Friday Service 1:00pm Stations of the Cross April 4 10:00am Easter Egg Hunt, Bishop Jones Center ** Youth arrive at 8:45am to ‘help’ ** 1:00pm Holy Saturday Liturgy April 5 6:00am Easter Vigil (with incense) 9:00am Easter Service (no incense) 11:15am Easter Service (with incense) April 8 5:00pm Fellowship in Youth Suite 5:30 Dinner (Café Kairos $6) 6:00 Bible Study & Discussion April 10-12 Youth Retreat @ Camp Eagle April 12 No Youth Formation (Youth Retreat) 5:00pm SNL @ Bishop Jones Center, Sr. High April 15 5:00pm Fellowship in Youth Suite 5:30 Dinner (Café Kairos $6) 6:00 Bible Study & Discussion April 19 8:30-12 S.O.W. Fund Drive 10:10 Youth Formation April 22 5:00pm Fellowship in Youth Suite 5:30 Dinner (Café Kairos $6) 6:00 Bible Study & Discussion April 26 8:30-12 S.O.W. Fund Drive Feast of St. Mark Celebration (No Formation) April 29 5:00pm Fellowship in Youth Suite 5:30 Dinner (Café Kairos $6) 6:00 Bible Study & Discussion

SUMMER OUTREACH WEEKEND

JUNE 5-7

Details in Youth Suite

YOUTH SUNDAY SENIOR RECOGNTION Sunday, May 10 @ 9am (Reception following in Youth Suite) Seniors! Let us know your plans after graduation. Email us at youth@stmarks-sa.org

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CHILDREN & FAMILY MINISTRIES Gail Jackins | Director of Children and Families Ministries | gjackins@stmarks-sa.org

2015 VBS Registration at St. Mark’s St Mark’s is excited to host Camp Discovery VBS this summer from 9:00am to noon, Monday through Thursday, June 22-25. Mrs. Shea Pollom and the Vacation Bible School committee are planning a wonderful experience for children age 4 and older, including programming for younger children of adult volunteers. At Camp Discovery, kids have fun as they explore the Bible, make new friends, sing songs, and learn how Jesus works through them in their everyday lives. Campers discover Bible truths that excite and challenge them.

Jesus, our True North, gives campers the wisdom and the courage to step out in faith and serve—whether they’re at school, playing with friends, or helping out at home.

Register campers at stmarks-sa.org/#/formation-ministries/2015-vbs.

Please remember to mail in the suggested fee of $25 per child with a family cap of $50.

After registering, mail your fee to St Mark’s, 315 East Pecan St, 78205.

Camp Capers Day Camp at St Mark’s This summer, St. Mark’s will host Camp Capers Day Camp on June 15 to 19. Day campers will be here from 9:00 to 3:00 and bring a lunch from home each day. This new offering is designed for children who haven't been to Camp Capers before but are considering attending, children who don’t sleep away from home, and inviting other children who would enjoy a fun, meaningful week sharing the transforming, unconditional love of Jesus Christ. St Mark’s will provide facilities and supplies, snacks, volunteers, and host families who will provide housing for the Camp Capers staff. Camp Capers counselors and staff will be the leaders of programs and activities.

Specifically, we are in need of *7 host families to provide room, meals, and daily transportation to/from St Mark’s for pairs of 2 Camp Capers Staffers for the week; *Funds to purchase craft supplies; *Snacks for the Day Campers and Capers staff; *Adults and older teens to volunteer that week.

Lenten Legos On the Wednesday evenings of Lent, our gradeschoolers have been re-creating the Bible stories of Lent using Legos. Here is Jesus in the Temple turning over the moneychangers’ tables.

If you have questions or are interested in supporting this new opportunity for Camp Capers and St Mark’s, contact Gail at gjackins@stmarks-sa.org.

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The Messenger (USPS 514-020) Published Monthly (3rd Wednesday) ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 315 East Pecan Street, San Antonio, Texas, 78205 Telephone: (210) 226-2426 Periodicals Postage paid at San Antonio, Texas POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE MESSENGER c/o ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 315 E. Pecan Street, San Antonio, Texas 78205 Rector/Editor-in-Chief: The Rev. Beth Knowlton Layout & Graphic Design: Emmet Faulk e-mail articles efaulkjr@stmarks-sa.org

Article deadline is 3rd Friday of each month

APRIL BIRTHDAYS Special birthday wishes!

Amanda Ochse, on her 94th (28-Apr) George Hall, on his 93rd (8-Apr) Beechie Kampmann, on her 93rd (18-Apr) Kathryn Foss, on her 91st (20-Apr)

April 13: Jane Brackett, Keith Henderson April 14: Ian Boehme, Tifini Furst, Mark Webb April 15: Carol Anne Adamson, Sara Carrizales, Ann Jones, Selma Ortiz, Soraya Ortiz, Louise Persinger April 16: Rob Cavender, Robert Rister, Veronica Segovia, Jim Wilson April 17: Don Beardslee, Jan Briley, Renee Faulk, Julie Howard, Dawn McCastor, Jennifer Merritt, Thomas Rochelle April 18: Beechie Kampmann, Frates Newsom, John Reesman, Joseph P Scott, Jr. April 19: Sandra Adamson, Stephanie Chapman, Mariana Fisher April 20: Hannah Beever, Kathryn Foss, Chuck Harvey, Davis Sugg April 21: Evie Lunsford, Adrienne Medley, Phil Norman, Thomas Redmond April 22: Allison Bates, Lilly Gardner, Roy Robbins April 23: Sam Boldrick, Magda Hamza, Rocio Rodriguez, Emily Tobar April 24: Jerilyn Blanchard, Janis De Lara, John Dempsey, Cece Emery, Jeanine Gonzalez, Lili Kuykendall, Mac Kuykendall April 25: Chad Bauernfeind, Teresa Dobbins, Walter Decker Hamner, Ann Leafstedt, Sandy Ray April 26: Lois Shipman, Chrissy Whitford April 27: Dina Aboul Saad, Susan Corona, Sally Gorham, Rebecca Ibarra April 28: Luke Frederick, Glenn Jones, Amanda Ochse, Mellick Sykes, Nikki Tisdale, Damon VanZandt April 29: Marshall Davidson, David Dean, Andy Wyatt April 30: Tao Bennett, Nancy Capra, Graham Claiborne, Jim Clements, Kim DeForrest, Travis Holmstrom, Alfredo Ortiz, Juju Robinson

April 1: Ella Furst, Mattie Goodwin, Chester King April 2: Tiffany Bockerstette, Dane Dreyer, Sean Gunn, Hayden Mabbitt, Mollie Rochelle April 3: Ross Brackett, Maxwell Fisher, Chuck Lodek, George Stewart, Olivia Weatherbie April 4: Erin Matteson, Mark Queen, Brandon Raney, Henry Scott, Andrew Walter April 5: John Baker, Hanna Budenholzer, Jody Kelly, Sember Lucas, Doug Weatherston, Jack Wilson April 6: Beverly Bryars, Olga Raygoza, Katherine Sohn, Robert Tisdal, Oralia Torres April 7: Jennifer Allison, Emma Matthews, Carolyn Parchman, Stephanie Perez, Sarah Steves April 8: George Hall, Dan Ludwig, Jean Parker, Karen Schneider, Will Scudder, Christopher Sherman, Fred Skinner April 9: Estella DeVora, Kathy Wassberg April 10: Lewis Herder, Elana Jones, James Lillibridge, J.P. Sargent, Peter Stanton April 11: Ann Bell, Kari Englehardt, Gabby Grimes, Molly Neck, Genevieve Salazar, Alexandra Smith, Kate VanZandt April 12: Charlotte Bruni, Lucie Englehardt, Palmer Johnston, Sarah King, Kendall Schrader, Michael Steves

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