M e s s e n g e r T h e

We are a downtown Church; committed to the Gospel, accountable to each other, loving Christ and making him known.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church - San Antonio, Texas ph 210-226-2426 fax 210-226-2468 www.stmarks-sa.org

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Inside This Issue

by The Rev. Jonathan Wickham

Parish Life is Sacramental Life: Outward and Visible Signs Grace

any of us know the two main sacraments of the church: Holy Baptism, Holy Eucharist. Some of us can

even list the remaining five sacraments: confirmation, holy matrimony, ordination, reconciliation and unction (anointing of the sick). But what is most compelling to me about the sacraments is not contained in a list. It is the sacramental life that draws me closer to God and nourishes me in faith.

The sacramental life is grounded in the promise that God’s Grace is real and is very active. The Prayer Book describes grace as “God’s favor towards us, unearned and undeserved; by grace God forgives our sins, enlightens our minds, stirs our hearts, and strengthens our wills.” God’s favor is towards us, and our awareness of God’s constant willingness to act on that favor can transform life into a wonderful journey filled with daily discoveries of outward and visible signs of God’s Grace.

The search to find and to understand the outward signs of God’s grace is what drew me to church as a young person and is what still draws me today. Nourished by the stories of grace from scripture, tradition and the experience of others I find myself challenged to live constantly aware of

grace emerging all around me.

As I grow in this awareness and take on this manner of seeing God’s Grace I am more and more astounded at what I see in the community of San Antonio and at St. Mark’s in particular. Countless acts of love, support, care and beauty are done every day by my neighbors. A family adopts forgotten discarded children and loves them to wholeness. An area business leader builds an amusement park just for physically and mentally challenged kids. Children collect money and topple dominos for unseen friends in a foreign land. Countless volunteers

give their time to ensure that hungry people are fed. Faithful men and women tend to the linens, candles, and other detail needs for worship. Walkers, runners and friends give their very bodies on a Saturday morning in the search for a cure.

A wonderful thing happens to me when I understand that these are all outward expressions of God’s Grace: I become empowered to become an instrument of grace in my own life. More and more my attention becomes focused on how I can become a sacrament- an outward and visible sign God’s Grace.

Mike’s Sabbatical Journey

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Spend a While on the Nile

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Graduating Acolytes

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The Messenger is published monthly and is available in PDF

format online at www.stmarks-sa.org

Parish Clergy

The Rev. Michael D. Chalk Rector The Rev. Jonathan Wickham Assistant Rector

Assisting Clergy

The Rev. Dr. John Lewis Co-director, The Work+Shop The Rev. Dr. Jane Patterson Co-director, The Work+Shop

Making a Gift of Their Service

The Rev. Mary Earle Assisting Priest

Staff

Jennifer Allison Children’s Ministries Co-Director Todd Allison Youth Director Priscilla Briones Accounting Janet Carrizales Nursery Coordinator Bill Edwards Parish Administrator Elaine Enloe Clergy Executive Administrator

Database Manager Sandy Falkenberg Cherub Choir Conductor Emmet Faulk Community Formation Director CAYA Worship Coordinator Heather Herschell Children’s Ministries Co-Director Melanie Lizcano Communications Director Ruby Merrill Facility Manager Pat Hutchison Noble Community of Care Edwin Rieke Organist & Dir. of Music Kristin Roach Asst. Organist & Dir. of Music Sara Talley Asst. Director Youth Ministries

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church 315 East Pecan St. San Antonio, TX 78205

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have just completed my study at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria under the direction of The

Rev. A. Katherine Grieb, Ph. D. Professor of New Testament. Her insights have proven to be invaluable as I have focused on Paul’s notion of the cross as the source and shape of ministry in the name of Christ. While Dr. Grieb has guided my work through an extensive reading list, she has also directed me to other expressions of the cross-shaped life throughout the D.C. area, particularly in the arts and in conversations with other scholars in the vicinity. Paula and I have visited wonderful downtown churches in the Washington D.C./Virginia area and spent time with friends from St. Mark’s who now live in this part of the country. We have also enjoyed sight-seeing in the Chesapeake Bay area, Shenandoah National Park, and Washington D.C. One benefit of being at the seminary for part of my sabbatical is to be within a community. I have enjoyed attending chapel, classes, and visiting with students who are just beginning their ministry. The seminary could not have been more generous or hospitable. It has been great to come back to the place where I first began this journey of ordained ministry. My sabbatical journey began with a trip by car that was the same route Paula and I took as newlyweds to Virginia Seminary many years ago. The sense of nostalgia was very strong as I thought about the adventure of starting a new life. I joined my colleagues, rectors of large Episcopal

congregations, at the National Cathedral for our annual conference, sharing our year in ministry and hearing a brilliant speaker. Paula flew to Baltimore to join me at the end of the week. Paula and I will now make a spiritual pilgrimage to Iona, Scotland, long known as the cradle of Celtic Spirituality. We will rent a car in Glasgow and drive to Iona, the Isle of Skye, Inverness, Edinburgh, and back to Glasgow. It is our expectation that this journey will enrich our lives spiritually and emotionally. Before we make our way to Scotland we will join our children, Brian and Catherine, in New York City for a few days. We both give thanks to God for you and for this opportunity of study, travel, and spiritual renewal.

From the Rector

Sabbatical Journey

Mike Chalk, Rector

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Greetings from the Holy Land

St. Mark’s designated the open plate offering on Good Friday, April 2, for the work of the nursing school of Bethlehem University, where St. Mark’s missionary, Dr. John Harry Gunkel teaches. Below is a thank you note I received from Sister Hildegard for the generous gift of $650 from St. Mark’s.

Easter fire in Qubeibeh Nursing Faculty Nursing School

by The Rev. Dr. John Lewis Qubeibeh, April 20, 2010

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NEWS

I would like to encourage you to “Spend A While On the Nile” by registering to be part of our Vacation Bible School, “Egyptian Marketplace,” to be held in conjunction with Christ Episcopal Church, from June 21 – 25. VBS will take place at Christ Church, located

at 510 Belknap Place, in the Monte Vista neighborhood of San Antonio. This summer’s VBS is based on the life of Joseph told in the Bible in Genesis. His story is considered to be the most complete life story in the Bible with the exception of the life of Christ. Joseph’s story is one of TRUE success based on his strong faith in God whether he found himself in prison or a palace. He succeeded wherever life placed him because he knew God was with him. Through Joseph, God’s people were saved, and reconciliation was achieved, as he forgave his brothers with his words “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20) Joseph pointed the way to Jesus Christ who through God’s people would save us all. This story of TRUE success in the eyes of God, and redemption and reconciliation, are lessons much needed in the world today. Make sure you and your children are here at VBS this summer to have these important lessons of faith reinforced. We will be using the popular Marketplace format with

children being divided into small Family Groups led by a Family Mom or Dad and assisted by a teen Big Brother or Sister. The stories from the Bible and their meaning for us today will be taught in Egyptian Family Time each day. Each family will rotate to the Egyptian Marketplace Time for Egyptian theme based arts, crafts, and snacks in the Marketplace Shops, the Pyramid Playground Time for

recreation, Drama Time with Joseph in prison and palace, and Celebration Time at the beginning and end of the day for music and praise as a large group. We still have a need for more Family Moms and Dads, and Big Sisters and Brothers, as well as Marketplace Shop Teen Apprentices and Playground Teen Helpers. We also have room for many more children

to round out our Egyptian Family Groups. We encourage you to register friends from outside of St. Mark’s for this great fellowship and formation opportunity. A VBS Registration Table with forms for all ages can be found each Sunday on the second floor. Registration forms may also be printed off from the church website at www.stmarks-sa.org. Contact Jennifer Allison at the church at jallison@stmarks-sa.org for more information. We hope to complete registration by the end of May in order to plan and organize, so sign up ASAP !

Spend A While On the Nile by Jennifer Allison, Co-Director Children Ministries

Reflections is published as a special edition supplement to The Church News by The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas and invites readers from every denomination or no denomination. Reflections is mailed twice: in May and November. Friends of St. Mark's contributed to the May Issue and we would like to recognize them for their great work: The Rev. Mary Earle, Sylvia Maddox, The Rev. Dr. John Lewis, Carla Pineda, and Renee Faulk. Emmet Faulk, St. Mark's Community Formation Director, created the the layout and design. Every issue of Reflections will be posted on the diocesan website at www.dwtx.org/blog.

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“But when life gets divided into two realms---into the sacred and the secular—and when being in one is being more religious than being in the other—then religion itself has gone astray.”

--Sister Joan Chittister from Welcome to the Wisdom of the World

MMinistry in inistry in YYour our DDaily aily LLifeife

Planning an event at St. Mark's? Having a meeting? Click and fill out the form! In order to schedule an event or meeting at St. Mark's, please fill out the appropriate form. Once you fill out the form and click submit, the form is automatically sent to the staff. If you have any

questions, please contact Elaine at the church or at eenloe@stmarks-sa.org. Thank you!

Event Planning at St. Mark's by Elaine Enloe, Clergy Exec. Asst.

As a resource parish, St. Mark's Episcopal Church is blessed to have a state-of-the-art facility to accommodate many uses. As our facility use policy states, "The use of the worship, reception and meeting facilities of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church is meant to complement and enhance the diverse and creative worship, education, and ministries of the parish and shall be consistent with the parish vision statement." Please review all policies and the event calendar before filling out the proper forms.

CLICK H

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YOUTH NEWS 2010 St. Mark’s Graduating Seniors On May 16th St. Mark’s will say farewell to our graduating seniors. Many of them we have watched grow at St. Mark’s from their days in the nursery to serving in the boy and girl choir, to acolyting. We wish them well as they head off to the next stage in their lives.

Jamie Bloodsworth Jamie has been an acolyte and has attended youth mission trips to Brownsville and New York. Also she participated with the National Charity League helping at Morningside Manor, Witte Museum, Botanical Gardens, and Kinetic Kids. After graduating from Alamo Heights where she was a cheerleader, member of the

National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and part of the Year Book staff, she will attend the University of Texas at Austin.

Charlotte Blount An acolyte since 6th grade, Charlotte was also in the Boy and Girl Choir, participated in the annual Pancake Supper and performed in the Talent Show. She is a member of Student Council, Best Buddies, National Charity League and enjoys volleyball. After graduating from Alamo Heights High School, Charlotte will

attend the University of Texas at Austin.

Macon Blount Macon was in the Boy and Girl Choir and youth choir as well as serving as an acolyte for the last 6 years. She also participated in the youth’s annual Pancake Supper and Talent Show. Macon will graduate from Alamo Heights High School where she was on Student Council, National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society,

National Charity League, and the Words for Smiles Club. She will be attending the University of Texas at Austin in the fall.

Brooks Cavender An acolyte for the past 6 years, Brooks has played trumpet for Christmas and Easter Services, participated in the Boy and Girl Choir and Youth Choirs until 2008 and has joined the youth group on missions as well as helping with the annual Christmas to the Streets BBQ. Brooks plays the trumpet in the AHHS Band

where he is the drum major this year. He is also an avid artist. Brooks will graduate from Alamo Heights High School and attend the University of Texas School of Architecture in Austin.

Andrew Lane Andrew has been a dependable acolyte since 6th grade. He has attended youth mission trips to New York and Chicago as well as helping with back to school drives, the annual Christmas to the Streets BBQ, Ruby’s Kitchen, and

volunteering for Good Samaritan Community Center. Following graduation from Texas Military Institute (TMI) and a summer visit to China, Andrew will attend Boston University.

Grant Piland A member of the acolyte team since 6th grade, he has participated in the annual Christmas to the Streets BBQ and other outreach projects including the Piedras Negras Mission Trip in 2009. Active in football, baseball and track, Grant helps with Challenger Baseball for special needs kids. He was awarded Eagle Scout his

sophomore year. Following his graduation from Alamo Heights High School and a trip to Europe in June, Grant will attend Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth.

Peaches Wade A member of the Boy & Girl Choir from 2nd through 6th grade, Peaches has also been an acolyte for the last 5 years and participated in mission trips to Brownsville and New York City. She has also helped with the annual Christmas to the Streets BBQ. Peaches played soccer through out high school: junior varsity for freshman and

sophomore years and varsity her last two years. Peaches tutors bilingual, Spanish speaking fifth graders three times a week. After graduating from Alamo Heights, Peaches is enrolling at the University of Georgia.

Will Digby Will is the son of Darin and Barbara Digby. He will graduate from Alamo Heights High School and will attend The University of Texas, Austin in the fall.

Meredith Holdsworth Meredith’s parents are Marian and Bryan Holdsworth. She will graduate from Alamo Heights High School and will attend college in the fall.

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2010 Tom Gish Award Winners

Congratulations to Brooks Cavender and

Grant Piland!!

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go.”

-Dr. Seuss

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Interviewer: Hello Ms. Ibarra. This is part 5 of the Know Your Nursery Series. It has been great conversing with the nursery staff. Everyone has shared their favorites with us and we are looking forward to your interview. Let’s begin….so tell us about yourself. Interviewer: What is your full name? Rebecca: Rebecca Ibarra Interviewer: Where were you born and raised? Rebecca: Here in good ol’ San Antonio, Texas. Interviewer: While in school, did you have a favorite subject? Rebecca: Yes, I enjoyed Math class. Interviewer: Do you attend church services at St. Mark’s? Rebecca: I do not attend church services here. Interviewer: Rebecca, how about your family? Do you have any children? Any grandchildren? Rebecca: Yes, I have 3 daughters. Carol Ann, Nancy and Jennifer. I have 6 grandchildren Vanessa, Briana, Brian, Angel, Geramy, Gage and one on the way (due in December). Interviewer: Tell the readers what is your role in the nursery? Rebecca: I work in the lamb nursery at St. Mark’s, I take care of the infants. Interviewer: Wow! Infants! You have your hands full. How long have you been employed here? Rebecca: I have been at St. Mark’s for 4 years. Interviewer: That’s great! Do you have any relatives that work here as well? Rebecca: Yes, my daughter Nancy, granddaughter Briana and my sister Mary Esther work with me at St. Mark’s.

Interviewer: That’s neat you get to work closely with them. Teamwork! Now for some fun questions. What is your shoe size? Rebecca: My shoe size is 9 ½ Interviewer: Any pets at home? Rebecca: No I do not have any pets. Interviewer: Now for a tasty treat. What is your favorite food dish? Beverage? Rebecca: I have several favorite foods. My all time favorite is huevos rancheros with refried beans and bacon. My favorite beverage is coffee. Interviewer: Do you have a particular bible verse you enjoy? Rebecca: My favorite bible verse is “ love your neighbor as yourself.” Interviewer: Rebecca, did your parents every give you good advice to live by? If so, please share. Rebecca: The best advice my parents gave me was “Always respect your elders and love one another.” Interviewer: Finally, do you have a favorite song you like to share with the children? Rebecca: My favorite song to sing to the children is “Jesus loves me”. To teach the children of the love Jesus has for them. Interviewer: That’s a great song to sing with the kiddos. Rebecca it has been a pleasure speaking with you. Thank you for the work you do with the infants. Keep an eye out for June’s issue of The Messenger for another Know Your Nursery Series.

Know your Nursery Series

Thank you and welcome back to part 5 of the Know Your Nursery Series. This month I had the chance to speak to Ms. Ibarra; who will share a little bit about herself and her role in the nursery.

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News of the Family

JUNE BIRTHDAYS

June 1st Daisy Bousquet, Leo Bowen, Patricia Crider, Susan Frost, Meredith Key, Jason Luce, Bob Szczepanski, Jean Van Gee June 2nd Brian Howard, Pat Noble June 3rd William Cotton, Mollie Zachry June 4th Stephen Cavender, Steve Hays June 5th Ben Crawford June 6th Josie Breazeale, Tom McCloskey, David Solis, Tim Ward June 7th Sharon Bothe, Jim McNeel, An-gus Ranson, Jay Reid June 8th W. B. Cavender, Melinda Down, Tammy Edmondson, Katie Mac-Donald, Eugenia Winget June 9th Randy Barber, Ashley Gilroy, Erin Klanica, John Lewis, Shannon Mills, James William Waltrip June 10th Libba Barnes, Fayth Ham, Greg Larsen, Gloria Villanueva, Julie Wilkinson

June 11th Justin Blanchard, Christopher Check, Todd Piland, Ava Red-mond, Andrew Sherwood, Sara Sherwood, Jim Zachry June 12th Blake Bonner, Peter Gainey, Kate Smelko, Edward Steves June 13th Claire Johnson, Julia Scheibe June 14th Laura Cadwallader, Deborah Hays, Mary Anne Parker June 15th Andy Besing, Joan Blakemore, Ed Keetch June 16th Joseph Bruni, Hannah Minister, Bailey Voight June 17th Mike Check, John Frierson, Heather Herschell, Frank Jones, Will McDonough, Craig Stokes June 18th Audrey Bell, Sasha Smith, Adam Thomas June 19th Jonathan Cotton, David Dix June 20th Audie Hawkins June 21st Norb Cole, Bill Matthews, Cath-erine McNeel June 22nd Kendall D. Center June 23rd Magda Canales, Sam Clements, John Long, Lisa Lucas, Tripp

Voight June 24th Kim Casey, Paula Chalk, David Foglesong, Lee Holder, Travis Long, Robert Tucker June 25th Hewitt Matthews, Devin Mullen June 26th Rowe Blount, Genevieve Lilli-bridge, Kate Vetters June 27th Adam Duncan, Rebekah Redmond June 28th Anne Ivy, Craig McCoy, Henry Satel, Ava Satel, Jose Sena, John Watson, Juliana Wilson June 29th Annabell Ames, Anne Connor, Beth Hawkins, Ben McPherson, Clayton Mitchem June 30th Elspeth Blakeman In compassion of: Ann Justine Douglas (April 29)

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EVERY WEEK Tuesday 9:00am Staff Meeting 10:00am DOK PrayErs Wednesday 9:30am Parents' Day Out 10:00am Eucharist & Study at Bishop Jones Center 10:00am Threads of Blessing at Bishop Jones Center 12:10pm Eucharist Friday 9:30am Parents' Day Out

JUNE CALENDAR St. Mark’s now posts all events on our interactive calendar at www.stmarks-sa.org. We maintain our web calendar as the primary church calendar. The interactivity features are very helpful. Please visit www.stmarks-sa.org for the most current information.

THIS MONTH Tuesday, June 1 7:00am Work+Shop Groups for Faith in Daily Life 12:00pm Liturgy Meeting 5:00pm SAMM Team Meeting Wednesday, June 2 7:00am Work+Shop Groups for Faith in Daily Life 5:30pm Environmental Stewardship Group Meeting Thursday, June 3 6:30pm Parish Choir Rehearsal Friday, June 4 8:00pm SUMMER OUTREACH WEEKEND Saturday, June 5 SUMMER OUTREACH WEEKEND DWTX - Abide in Me Conference @ TMI Sunday, June 6 11:00am SUMMER OUTREACH WEEKEND PARISH PICNIC Tuesday, June 8 5:30pm Finance Committee Wednesday, June 9 1:30pm Caregivers' Support Group Sunday, June 13 Mexico Mission Trip 6:30pm SA GLEF Potluck Dinner Monday, June 14 Mexico Mission Trip Tuesday, June 15 Mexico Mission Trip 5:30pm Vestry Thursday, June 17 Mexico Mission Trip 12:00pm Medical Staff Retreat Day

Friday, June 18 Mexico Mission Trip Saturday, June 19 Mexico Mission Trip Juneteenth Sunday, June 20 FATHER'S DAY Monday, June 21 Vacation Bible School at Christ Episcopal Church 10:00am Parish Aid & St. Nicholas Tuesday, June 22 Vacation Bible School at Christ Episcopal Church Wednesday, June 23 Vacation Bible School at Christ Episcopal Church Thursday, June 24 Vacation Bible School at Christ Episcopal Church Friday, June 25 Vacation Bible School at Christ Episcopal Church 8:00am Life Line Screening Monday, June 28 Good Sam Vacation Bible School Tuesday, June 29 Good Sam Vacation Bible School Wednesday, June 30 Good Sam Vacation Bible School

Happy Father’s Day! June 20th

"The greatest gift I ever had Came from God, and I call him Dad!" ~Author Unknown

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: The Rev. Michael D. Chalk

Editor: Melanie Lizcano Layout & Graphic Design: Melanie Lizcano e-mail articles to mlizcano@stmarks-sa.org

Article deadline is 2nd Wednesday of each month

SSTT. M. MARKARK’’SS SSUMMERUMMER WWORSHIPORSHIP SSCHEDULECHEDULE

Begins May 30th!

Service times are: 7:45am

9:00 Adult Ed 10:00am 11:11 CAYA

For more info contact the church office at 210-226-2426.

Answers to last month’s Bible Crossword - The Sermon on the Mount.

For more Bible Crosswords, visit

www.biblequizzes.org.