Star Newsletter Jan-Feb 2013
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Transcript of Star Newsletter Jan-Feb 2013
2013 January– February Issue
Contributors
The Rev. Lisa Mason, Rector [email protected]
Ashley Miles, Head of School [email protected]
Sarah Kates, Director of Children and Youth Ministries [email protected]
Carol Reposa Thille Newton
Peggy Henry
THE BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF PARISH LIFE AT St. DAVID’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND SCHOOL
THEJOURNEYFROMEPIPHANYTOLENT
EpiphanycelebratestherevelationofJesusbytheMagi,Gentiles,whotravelfromtheEasttobowdowntoworshipthebabywhowasborn,andoffertheir(inestgiftsinthanksgivingforHisbirth.GodrevealstheidentityofChristatHisbaptismintheriverJordan,andthenJesus,withthehelpofhismother,revealsHisdivinebeingintheturningofwatertowineattheweddingatCana.HepreachesinHishometown,andwe(inishtheseasonofEpiphanywiththeTrans(igurationofJesusonthemountaintop.AndthenweturnourfacestoJerusalemandallthatliesinwaitforJesusonhisjourneytothecross.WebegintheseasonofLentonAshWednesday.Lentoffersusatimetore(lectdeeplyonthethingsthatattempttoseparateusfromGod.Itisatimetorepent,makesacri(ices,andofferourheartsandmindstoGodforatonementandforgivenessandmer-cy.WemakeourwaytothecrosswithJesus,experienceHisbetrayalandallthefearthatsurroundsHisverybeingaspeoplelieinwaittogetridofHim.LentgivesusatimetopreparetoexperienceHisviolentdeathandHisgloriousresurrection.Wecannotexperi-encethecruci(ixionwithoutclaimingthehopeofeternallifepromisedintheresurrection.LentisalsoatimetoexaminethegiftsGodhasgivenyouandhowyouareusingthosegiftstogivethanksandglorifyGod.WewillgatheronWednesdaynightstoshareasim-plemealandlearnmoreabouttheopportunitiesforoutreachasacommunity.Amoredetailedschedulewillbeinthee-newsandtheSundaybulletins.OnSundaymornings,theadultformationofferingfrom9:15-10:15willexploretherelationshipbetweensci-enceandreligion.DuringHolyWeek,wewillonceagainworshipwithourbrothersandsistersatoursurroundingEpiscopalchurchesinthenortheastareaofSanAntonio.Maywewalkthejourneytothecrossandtheemptytombtogether.Peace,Lisa+
In This Issue · Letter from our Rector · Annual Parish Meeting
· Profiles in Devotion
· Trans-Siberian Adventure
· Green Growing Times
· Who is St. David? · School News
· Highlights at St. David’s
PARISHMEETINGSUNDAY,JANUARY27,201310:45a.m.inSANCTUARY
LUNCHTOFOLLOW
EveryJanuarywegathertoreviewthepastyearandlookaheadtothenewyear.Ourannualmeetingwillin-cludeapresentationofthebudget;electionofvestrymemberstoserveathree-yearterm;electionofdiocesancouncildelegatesandalternates;anddiscussionofupcomingeventsinthelifeoftheparish.
Weneedallofyoutoattendthismeeting.Yourparticipationandinputarevaluedinthelifeofyourchurchcom-munity.Weareblessedtohavealotgoingoninourmidstandwewantyoutobeapartofit.EverySunday,wehavenewpeoplecomingtoworshipwithus,andIwantyoutobeinformedaboutwhatweofferforallagesintheparishsothatyoumightwelcomethesevisitorsintoourlifeasacommunity.Weareinthesilentphaseofacapitalcampaigntoerectabuildingthatwillenrichtheministryofthechurchandschool.Progressisbeingmade,generosityaboundsand,Godwilling,wewillbelaunchingthepublicphaseofthiscampaignlaterthisspring.
Wehaveorderedthewoodforournewpews,andyourgenerosityhasfundedalargenumberofthem.Wearemakingprogressinourdiscussionofmodi(icationstothealtararea.Pleasecome,learnandparticipateinthoseconversations.
Youelectthevestrytoleadthisparish.Wehave(ivewellquali(iedcandidateswhoarereadytoserve.TheyhavebeenendorsedbytheRectorandthevestry.Atimeforadditionalnominationswasopentothecongrega-tionandallofthenamessubmittedbyJanuary15willgoforwardforelectionatthisannualmeeting.ThenamesputforthbythevestryareMariaGutierrez-Bates,JulieBissell,VivianGaschen,LennieIrvinandMikeNeedham.
Theannualmeetingisatimetocelebrateourlifetogether,liftuptheministryandlookaheadtodiscerntheministryGodiscallingustodoin2013.Severaloutreachandmissionopportunitiesawaitusso“comeandsee.”
Theschedulethatmorningis:
8:00a.m.HolyEucharist
9:15a.m.Formationforallages
10:00a.m.HolyEucharistwithChildren’sChapel
10:45a.m.JanuaryAnnualMeetinginSanctuarywithnurseryandchildren’sactivitiesprovided
LunchinMcAllistertofollow
The Rev. Lisa Mason
Rector
Valentine’sDinner&DanceBene(itingHaitiMissionfromSt.David’sYouth
Thursday,February14McAllisterHall
Dinnerfrom6:00-7:00♡Music&Dancingbeginsat7:30$30perpersonincludesChampagne/SparklingCider
RSVP824-2481/Childcarefor$10perfamilyincludespizza
PhantomisasleekblackLabradorretrieverwhonowservesasaguidedogforavisuallyimpairedpersonhereinSanAntonio.Hehasbeenspeciallybredandtrainedalmostfrombirthtodothiswork.Beforehissuccessfulmatch,though,hewastheadoredweekendhouseguestofDavidandRachelleRoth,whowelcomedhimintotheirhomeforsevenmonthswhilehewascompletinghistwoyearsoftraining.ThisworthyprogramisofferedbyGuideDogsofTexas,whichsinceitsfullaccreditationin2005hasprovided"eyes"andlovingcompanionshipforahostofvisuallyimpairedTexans,aswellastraining"thebestdogsinsight,"astheagency'smottostates.Inadditiontooperatinganin-housebreed-ingprogram,GuideDogsofTexasmaintainssixstate-of-the-artkennelsabletohouseeighteendogsatatime,alongwitharesidentialtraining-orientationcenterforprospectiveclients.
TheRothswithPhantom
ForboardersliketheRothswhodecidetofosteraguide-dog-in-training,theresponsibilitiesarecon-siderable.First,boardersmustagreetoprovideacomfortableindoorspacefortheanimal,aswellasplentyofaffection.Duringtheguidedog'sweek-
endvisits,hemustremainindoors,goingoutsideonlyforsupervisedplayandtorelievehim-self.Second,care-giversmuststayclosetohomewhentheirchargeispresentbecauseoneofthegoalsoftheprogramisforthedogtotakeabreakfromthedemandsoftrainingandenjoyrelaxedhumancompanionshipinahomeenviron-ment.Third,althoughGuideDogsofTexaspro-videsfoodandanynecessarymedicationsfortheanimal,boardersreceivenoadditionalcompensa-tionfortheirefforts.Lastbutcertainlynotleast,boardersmustcarefortheircanineguestintheknowledgethatonceasuccessfulplacementhasoccurred,theywillbeallowednofurthercontactwiththedog,whomustnowbondwithhis/hernewowner.TodaytheRothsarenotboardingaguide-dog-in-training,astheyhave"inherited"ahigh-maintenancepetfromarelative,buttheyremem-berPhantomwithaffectionandappreciation.AsRachellesays,"Knowingthatyouarehelpingsome-oneverymuchinneedofthesehighlytrainedani-malsisthebene(it."
Phantomloveshisdogtoys
PROFILESINDEVOTIONByCarolReposa
TRANS-SIBERIANADVENTUREByThilleL.Newton
JeanHeard,mybrotherandsister-in-lawJoeandMaryLambert,andIbeganouradventureontheTrans-SiberianRailway–TheGoldenEagleprivatetrain–onJuly29,2012.Thetripstartedwithournon-stop(lightfromHoustontoMoscowonelegantSingaporeAirlines.WhenwelandedinMoscowwewerewhiskedtoourdowntownhotelintimeforaget-togethercocktailpar-ty.InMoscow,thenextdaybeganwithaprivatetouroftheKremlin,followedbyRedSquare,St.Basil’sCathe-dral,Gumdepartmentstore,themaincemetery,whereIsawUlanova’stomb(IhadseenherdanceinNewYorkmanyyearsago)andthesubwaywithits1930sstylestations.WedrovedirectlytotheKazanskyRailwayStationforchampagneintheprivatewaitingroomandboardedourtraintobeginthe6000milejourney.Ourvery(irsttaskwastodecidewheretoplaceourthingsinthetinycompartmentswhichwouldbehomefor12daysandnights.Theroomconsistedofacouch(whichmadeintoabed)withatinytableandseat,aminuteclosetandabathroomadjacent.Uponthetableweregiftbottlesofvodka,(lowersinavaseandaplasticdoily.The(lowersweresooneliminated,asthecon-tainerkeptspillinganddumpingwaterallovertheta-ble.Anupperberthwasmadeupatnight.Therewasnoroomforourluggage,soitwasstoredattheendofthecar,whichnecessitatedfrequenttripstoretrieveorpackitems.Approximately90touristswereontheeleganttrain:afewAmericans,mostlyfromTexas;20orsoBrazilianswhoonlyspokePortugueseandtraveledwiththeirownguide;sixAustraliansandsometravelersfromEnglandandEurope.
Thetimechangesalmosteverydayaswetraveledeast.InRussia,youuseMoscowtimeplusone,ortwo,etc…Thefoodwasgourmetandwewereservedvodkaandexcellentwines.Our(irststopwasKazanwherewetouredthecity,viewingthechurchandnewmosque.Onvisitstotowns,weateatlocalrestaurants,touredmuseumsandothersitesandoftenattendedaconcert.MusicispartoftheRussiansoul.InYekaterinburgwevisitedthechurchthatwasbuiltontopofthebasementwhereCzarNicholasandhisfamilywereshot.TheentirefamilyhasbeencanonizedbytheRussianChurch.OutsideofthecityIvisitedtheplaqueshowingthesitewhereAsiaandEuropemeet.Tocelebratewewerepresentedchocolateandcham-pagne.Onthedayswhenwedidnothaltintowns,wehadlec-turesonRussianhistorybyaBritishMajor,attendedRussianclasses,harpandpianorecitalsandhappyhourinthebar.NovosibirskandAkademgorodokwerethenextstops.
ThelatterwasaplannedcitybuiltinSiberiaforgifted
scientists,closedforyearsasweremanyoftheSiberian
towns.Inthetrainmuseum,wesawtwoofourlend-
leasevehicles–aDodgetruckandlocomotive,stillun-
returned.EverymainsquarehasastatueofLenin.
Eachcityisonariver;the(irstbridgeswerebuiltinthe
late19thcenturywhenthetraintrackswerelaid.I
probablylikedIrkutskbestofthecitieswevisitedin
Siberia.
Route of the Trans-Siberian Railway
STEWARDSHIPCORNERThankstoallofyouwhohavegivenofyourtime,giftsandresourcestoempowerourministryin2012andinournewyearof2013.Yoursupportanddedicationglori(iesGodandenrichestheministrywithintheSt.David’scommunityandinthecommunitybeyond. Contributionsoftime,theuseofyourGod-givengifts,andyourre-sourcesinanyandallareasofministryarealwaysappreciatedwheneverGodputsthatcallonyourheart.IfyoueverhavequestionsabouthowtoserveGodandyourchurch,pleasedonothesitatetocallmeoremailmesowecantalkfurther.Peace,Lisa+
Itboastedmanyoldwoodenhouses,19thcenturyEuro-pean style architecture,most in terrible condition andnonewithplumbingor runningwater. Ourday thereclimaxedattheVolonskyHouseMuseumwithaconcertofRussianmusicand,needIadd,champagne.Andsowecontinued,dayafterday,citybycity,untilonAugust12thetrainpulledintoVladivostok,thebeauti-fulRussianPaci(icport.Thenextdaywe(lewtoSeoul,Korea,thentoLosAngelesand(inallySanAntonio.Wehadgonearoundtheworld!
Statue of Lenin in Novosibirsk
Mary and Joe Lambert, Thille Newton, and Jean Heard in
Novosibirsk
Thille Newton and Jean Heard boarding the train in Moscow
Sarah Kates
Director of Family Ministries
ComingdownfromtheChristmashighissuchadrag.Puttingupdecorationsissoexcitingbuttakingthemdownissuchachore.NomoreChristmasmusic,Christ-masmovies,ChristmascookiesorChristmasgiftsuntilnextyear.Whataromasandtasteswillyoumissthemost?Mygreatgrandmotherusedtosay“Allgoodtimesmustcometoanend”.Ialwaysthoughtthatwassuchade-pressingstatementuntilIrealizedwhatshemeant.Youcannotliveinthe“goodtimes/hightimes”foreverbe-causethenyouwon’tappreciatethenext“goodtimes”.Therewillbenothingtolookforwardto.WhenIwasyoungerIneverwantedthetimewithmycousinstoend.Theridehomewasalwayssomiserableanditusu-allymeantgoingbacktoschoolandtoroutine.NowasI’mgettingolder,Ihavecometoappreciatethe“cominghome”part.This“coming-down-from-the-high”timeinvolvesre-centeringyourself,doinglaundry,pro-cessingandpreparingforthenext“goodtime”tocome.InGodlyPlay,wecalltheseourGreenGrowingTimes.TheyareliterallythedaysbetweenChristmasandLent,EasterandPentecostandPentecostandAdvent.Thereismuchgrowingtododuringthein-betweentimesofthesebigcelebrationdays.Don’tyouknowMaryandJosephwereoverwhelmedwithjoyandhumilityonthenighttheSonofGodwasborn?Theywereexcitedaboutwhatthefutureheld.Theyadoredthatincrediblebaby.Staringintohispeacefuleyes,MaryandJosephneverfeltsowarmandloved.AfterthethreeWiseMenvisited,MaryandJo-sephquicklycamedownfromtheirhighasthey(ledthestableto(indsafetyfromKingHerod’smenwhowanted
Jesustodie.Imaginefearingforthisnewbornchild’slife!Howquicklythe“goodtimes”ended,andthereali-tyofhavinggivenbirthtotheSavioroftheworldwassetintomotion.EventhoughweemphasizeJesus’birthanddeath,itisthetimeinbetweenthatwetrulytreas-urebecausebyfollowinghislifeexample,welearntolive.DuringtheTrans(iguration,Peter,JamesandJohnwant-edtobuildshelterstoliveonthemountainwhereeve-rythingseemedsoperfect.Theydidnotwantthese“goodtimes”toend.JesustookthembackdownthemountainandtoldthemnottospeakofthisuntiltheSonofmanwasraisedfromthedead.Thismusthavebeenconfusinganddepressing.ButJesusandhisdisci-pleshadalotofworklefttodo.TheyhadnotimetoworryaboutwhenJesuswasgoingtodie.Theyhadre-lationshipstobuildandpeopletohealwhichcouldn’thappenuponthemountain.IhavecometorealizeitiswhatwedointheGreen
Growingtimesthatmakethe“goodtimes”thatmuch
sweeter.
GREENGROWINGTIMESBySarahKates
YouthSkiTripinDecemberChildren’sWednesdayNightProgram
Ashley Miles
Head of School
“WeareheretoloveGod,lovelearning,andloveourneighbor.”ThemissionofSt.David’sEpiscopalSchoolislivedoutdailythroughtheeducationalexperiencesourstaffprovidesthechildrenofourbelovedschool.Ourstu-dentslearntoloveGodthroughdailychapel,smallgroupGodlyPlayinstruction,andamyriadofexperiencestheyhavethroughouttheschoolday.AloveoflearningistaughtwhenSt.David’sstudentshavefuninvestigating,testing,andexperiencingnewconcepts.LovingourneighborbeginsatSt.David’sbymakingfriends,learningtoshare,takingcareofoneanother,andbeingkindtoothers.Agroupoftalentedanddedicatedindividuals,theSt.David’sEpiscopalSchoolstaff,workstoensurethateachandeverystudenthasanoutstandingearlyeducation.Ifyouhaveachild,grandchild,neighbororfriendwhowouldbene(itfromasuperiorearlyeducation,pleasesharethegoodnewsofSt.David’sEpiscopalSchool.Registrationforthe2012-2013schoolyearbeginsinJanuary.Parishmembers’childrenhavetheadvantageofenrollingtheirchildrenbeforethepre-registrantsandthegeneralpublic.FormoreinformationaboutenrollingatSt.David’sEpiscopalSchool,pleasecontactBonnieBabbittatbbabbitt@saintdavidschool.netor210-824-2481.GodBlessandHappyNewYear!
SCHOOLNEWSByAshleyMiles
WHOISST.DAVID?
ByPeggyHenrySt.Davidforwhomourparishchurchisnamedwasamany-facetedman.Accordingto“LesserFeastsandFasts”DavidwasbornA.D.544inthetownofMenevia,Wales.WecelebratehisdayonMarch1.Despitethefactthatinthe(ifthcenturymostofBritainwaspagan,Christianity(lourishedinWales.David’snamemeans“thebeloved.”Littleisknowofhisearlylife,butwhilehewasyounghefoundedamonas-terynearMeneviaandbecameitsabbot,eventuallyat-tainingthepositionofbishop.Allhewantedtodowasstudyandmeditateinthequietofhissurroundings,buthewasvirtuallydraggedtoanassemblyofbishopscalledtocombattheheresyofPelagianism.(Deemedby
theRomanCatholicChurchassuchbecauseitdeniedthe
theologicaldoctrineoforiginalsin).
DavidprovedtobesolearnedandeloquentthathewaschosentobePrimateofWalesasthesuccessortoArch-bishopDubricius.Hefoundedelevenothermonaster-iesinWales,andmadeapilgrimagetoJerusalem.LegendhasitthathewasstrictinthegoverningofhisownmonasteryatMenevia,butlovinginhistreatmentandcorrectionofwrongdoers.Hewasanearlypropo-nentoftheabstemiouslife,allowingthemonksinhiscaretodrinkonlywateratmealsinsteadofthecustom-
arywineormead.Davidwasascholarandacompe-tentadministratorwho(illedwithdistinctiontheof(ic-esheheld.HebecamealeaderandguardianoftheChristianfaithinWales,movingthecenterofEpiscopalgovernmenttoMenevia,whichisstillanEpiscopalcity,nowknownasTy-Dewi(HouseofDavid).AmongthefactsofDavid’slifewhichcanbehistoricallyestablishedisthattowardtheendofhislifehehadsev-eralIrishsaintsashispupilsatthemonastery.HeisclearlytheforemostsaintofWales,whoisreveredandlovedtothisdayaspatronofWales,Christianpriestandcourageousleader.OnSunday,March3wewillcelebratethesixtiethanni-versaryofourchurch.ThealtarhangingsandveiltobeusedonthatdayarefashionedfromSt.David’startan,donatedbyparishioners.Daffoldilpinscraftedbyre-nownedlocalartistZelimeMatthewsareavailableforpurchaseinthechurchof(iceforthosewhowishtowearatangiblesignoftheWelshsaintwecallourown.
Daffodil pins are available for
purchase in the church office for
$25.
Wednesdayeveningclassforparents,
grandparents,businessowners,teachers
andmore.
· Learnwhat’snewinsocialmedia
· Learnhowtousesocialmediainlife,
ministryandbusiness
· Learnhowtokeepyourchildrenand
teenssafe
Dinnerstartsat5:45p.m.
Programsforadultsandchildrenbegin
at6:15p.m.
ChristianEducation
ForAdults
Sundays
9:15-10:15a.m.
ChristianEducationforChildren
Sundays
9:15-10:15
LedbyAimeeWheatcraftand
HeidiMoseley
Pleaseviewourcompletecalendarofeventsandofferingsatwww.saintdavids.net
HighlightsatSt.David’s