st. mark's news

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Page 1 May 2015 St. Mark’s News Volume 19/Issue 5 From the Rector Among the many adjectives that describe St. Mark’s, on the top of the list is consistently the adjective “generous.” The members of our parish are generous with their time, with their talent, and with their treasure. You generously give to the mission and ministry of St. Mark’s – to ministries that support our life together as a community of worship and formation, and to ministries that take us into the community. You also give generously to causes outside the mission and ministry of St. Mark’s (Multiple Sclerosis, Cystic Fibrosis, AIDS, Eating Disorders, Juvenile Diabetes, for example). Because of your faithful and generous stewardship we were able to add a line item to the budget for 2015: Special Projects 2015 in the amount of $31,604.00. It has been my conviction that we needed to be faithful and wise with this treasure you have entrusted us with as we seek to serve God and God’s people. In general discussions about how we might allocate the money we have talked about a two-fold focus: outreach and worship (particularly worship at the 9:00 a.m. service). The Austin ministry, Mobile Loaves and Fishes began when five parishioners of St. John Neumann Catholic Church answered God’s call to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Alan Graham and his friends began delivering meals out of the back of a minivan to men and women living on the streets of the city. That first trip was in September of 1998. Since that first delivery Mobile Loaves and Fishes has served over 4 million meals, and with the support of more than 18,000 volunteers they are the largest prepared feeding program to the homeless and working poor in Austin. Their newest venture is the Community First! Village. Through their years of feeding the homeless grew a vision for housing the homeless as well. But the vision was larger than simply putting a roof over the heads of those who needed shelter; the vision was one of providing the chronically homeless with a community in which to live. The vision is in the process of becoming a reality on 27 acres of land adjacent to the Expo Center. In March, Donna Emery, the Director for Development for Mobile Loaves and Fishes, came to St. Mark’s to talk to us about the Community First! Village, and to invite us to be one of the first Episcopal churches in Austin to be involved with the project. As of Saturday, April 25, there will have been three groups of St. Mark’s parishioners (about 40 of us) who have had the opportunity to tour the site. Among the builders of the Village is our parishioner, Tim Hendricks, who is the Senior VP for Cousins Properties. The goal in the next two years is to provide housing for 250 300 homeless men and women. There will be three housing options: 5 th Wheel RV’s, Micro-Homes, and Canvas-Sided Cottages. In addition to housing, the Community First Village will have: In this Issue From the Rector ......................... 1 Vestry Highlights ........................ 2 Parish Life.................................. 4 Music Notes ............................... 4 Christian Formation ................... 6 Parishioner Highlights ................ 9 Celebrations ............................ 11 Caffeine Ministry ...................... 11 ROTA....................................... 12

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Page 1: St. Mark's News

Page 1

May 2015

St. Mark’s News Volume 19/Issue 5

From the Rector

Among the many adjectives that describe St. Mark’s, on the top of the list is consistently the adjective

“generous.” The members of our parish are generous with their time, with their talent, and with their

treasure. You generously give to the mission and ministry of St. Mark’s – to ministries that support our

life together as a community of worship and formation, and to ministries that take us into the community.

You also give generously to causes outside the mission and ministry of St. Mark’s (Multiple Sclerosis,

Cystic Fibrosis, AIDS, Eating Disorders, Juvenile Diabetes, for example). Because of your faithful and

generous stewardship we were able to add a line item to the budget for 2015: Special Projects 2015 in the

amount of $31,604.00. It has been my conviction that we needed to be faithful and wise with this treasure

you have entrusted us with as we seek to serve God and God’s people. In general discussions about how

we might allocate the money we have talked about a two-fold focus: outreach and worship (particularly

worship at the 9:00 a.m. service).

The Austin ministry, Mobile Loaves and Fishes began when five parishioners of St. John Neumann

Catholic Church answered God’s call to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Alan Graham and his friends

began delivering meals out of the back of a minivan to men and women living on the streets of the city.

That first trip was in September of 1998. Since that first delivery Mobile Loaves and Fishes has served

over 4 million meals, and with the support of more than 18,000

volunteers they are the largest prepared feeding program to the

homeless and working poor in Austin. Their newest venture is

the Community First! Village. Through their years of feeding

the homeless grew a vision for housing the homeless as well.

But the vision was larger than simply putting a roof over the

heads of those who needed shelter; the vision was one of

providing the chronically homeless with a community in which

to live. The vision is in the process of becoming a reality on 27

acres of land adjacent to the Expo Center.

In March, Donna Emery, the Director for Development for

Mobile Loaves and Fishes, came to St. Mark’s to talk to us about the Community First! Village, and to

invite us to be one of the first Episcopal churches in Austin to be involved with the project. As of

Saturday, April 25, there will have been three groups of St. Mark’s parishioners (about 40 of us) who

have had the opportunity to tour the site. Among the builders of the Village is our parishioner, Tim

Hendricks, who is the Senior VP for Cousins Properties.

The goal in the next two years is to provide housing for 250 – 300 homeless men and women. There will

be three housing options: 5th Wheel RV’s, Micro-Homes, and Canvas-Sided Cottages. In addition to

housing, the Community First Village will have:

In this Issue

From the Rector ......................... 1

Vestry Highlights ........................ 2

Parish Life .................................. 4

Music Notes ............................... 4

Christian Formation ................... 6

Parishioner Highlights ................ 9

Celebrations ............................ 11

Caffeine Ministry ...................... 11

ROTA ....................................... 12

Page 2: St. Mark's News

May 2015

Page 2

Places for Worship, Study, and Fellowship

A Memorial garden and columbarium

A community garden

Chickens, goats, bees

A medical facility for physical and mental health

Walking trails

An Alamo Drafthouse provided outdoor theater

A B&B for mission visits

So what does this mean for us at St. Mark’s? The Micro-Homes cost $20,000 each. At the Vestry

meeting on April 21, the vestry approved the recommendation that St. Mark’s purchase one of the Micro-

Homes for the Village. In addition to purchasing a home, there are, and will be, additional opportunities

for parish involvement in the Village. On Sunday, May 17 at 10:00 we will invite everyone who has

visited the Village (or is interested in doing so) to meet and brainstorm how else we can continue to be

involved in the months and years to come. I am excited about this “special project for 2015” and look

forward to seeing ways in which our own life together as a community of faith might be affected by

meeting and working alongside those people who are “least among us.”

St. Mark’s has responded to Christ’s mandate to love our neighbors as ourselves in innumerable ways.

We feed the hungry, we visit those in prison, we give homeless women the gift of a warm shower, we

purchase fans in the summer for the elderly and disabled, we collect diapers for those served by the

Diaper Bank, we have helped build homes with Habitat for Humanity….and this is not an exhaustive list.

And now we will give a chronically homeless person the gift of a home in a new community of hope and

dignity. The phrase that came to my mind during the tour of the Village was “passionate compassion.”

This passionate compassion is contagious and I am thankful we have been infected.

EZT+

Vestry Highlights

The St. Mark’s Vestry met in the Bennett Wing classroom at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21. The meeting

opened with the Collect for St. Anselm, whose feast day it was. The agenda and minutes from the March

meeting were approved, with specification that teens under the age of 18 would need to be accompanied by a

parent for the Costa Rica trip.

Elizabeth+ reported on a 3/24 meeting that she and Joanne attended (with our plumber included by conference

call) re. the still outstanding plumbing bill that was the result of damage done by Google Fiber to the main

waste water line. The dispute is still unresolved. Her report also included: the Meditation Trail cleanup went

well on 3/28 (having been rescheduled due to rain the previous week); the Good Friday Meditation Trail

service was well attended (@100); 565 people worshiped with us on Easter (30 at 7:30, 246 at 9:00, and 289 at

11:00); the parking lot was restriped on Easter Monday; Michele Bonner will meet with the Commission on

Ministry on 4/24 re. her application for the bi-vocational priesthood. Elizabeth+ then proposed that rather than

participating in the 2015 Habitat for Humanity build, we use the budgeted $6500 towards the purchase of a

$20,000 Micro-Home for the Community First! Village. In addition to that $6500 we have two other financial

sources from which to draw: $6900 in the designated Outreach fund (from which we have been funding mini-

grants) and the $31,600 line item for 2015 special projects. The vestry voted to approve the purchase of a

Micro-Home. The vestry also voted to approve sending Habitat $1000 for the 2015 Build.

Page 3: St. Mark's News

May 2015

Page 3

Nate+ reported on the MeetUp initiative and said that numbers dwindled the last two meetings. He also

reported on the Newcomers’ wine and cheese at the Turner’s home on 4/19. There were 29 people present and

they represented people who have been new to the parish in the past 3 years. There were three discussion

groups, and three questions to answer. Discussion was lively, interesting, and helpful. One of the findings was

that our Newcomers ministry does a good job of welcoming, but less so of connecting newcomers to various

ministry opportunities.

The Junior Warden, Diana Stangl, reported on recent Meditation Trail activity: the large cross in the outdoor

classroom space was knocked over by someone(s) the weekend of April 11, and the weekend of April 18

someone(s) marked the entire trail with pink ribbons tied around trees and Stations of the Cross markers. The

Senior Warden, JP Kloninger, reported that we have had to cancel the Costa Rica trip in July due to an

insufficient number of participants. Travis Smith+ has indicated interest in having people from his parish join

us during the summer of 2016, so we are going to reschedule for a year from now. Diana Stangl also gave the

Finance Committee report. Our financial contributions year to date are at 125%. The area in which we have

spent over budget is on our facilities: roof repairs and plumbing repairs to name two. For the month of March,

income exceeded expenses by $9,410.

Other reports included Education, Outreach, Parish Life, and Day School. The meeting concluded with

Compline.

Summer Worship Schedule Begins June 7

Sunday, May 31 is our last Sunday of three services. On June 7 we will begin our summer worship

schedule of Sunday services at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.; Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. in Grace

Chapel. We will resume our three service schedule on September 6.

Thomas Temperli prepares for a trip to Israel

As a result of both a seminary-required course on Ministry Across Cultures and my own long-standing personal

interest in contemporary culture and politics in Israel and Palestine, I will be going on a three week trip to Israel

this June. My time in Israel will be spent getting to know two Palestinian Episcopal priests and their parishioners,

both of whom minister to Arab-speaking parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. Both priests minister to

groups of people who are ethnic and/or religious minorities.

I plan to spend the first half of my trip with Father Nael Abu Rahmoun at Christ Church in Nazareth, and the

second half of my trip with Father Fadi Diab at St Andrew’s Church in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. I

expect that this trip will be highly informative in terms of understanding the Christian population in the Middle East

and understanding the effects that the current political situation has on Jews and Arabs alike. I look forward to

sharing what I learn with you all in the Fall.

Peace,

Thomas Temperli

To learn more about the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, visit them on line at http://www.j-diocese.org/. If you

would like to make a financial contribution to this student travel opportunity, please contact Thomas.

Page 4: St. Mark's News

May 2015

Page 4

Parish Life

First Friday Book Group The First Friday Book Group meets on the first Friday of each month at 11:00 a.m. in the Bennett Wing

classroom. At our May meeting we will put together the list of “next to reads” for the next several

months. Here is what we are reading in May and June:

May 1 The Invention of Wings Sue Monk Kidd

June 5 Still Life with Bread Crumbs Anna Quindlen

p.s. We would love to hear from you what books you are reading and loving and we would love for you

to join us! Everyone is welcome to join us as her/his schedule allows.

Women's Group Our geranium/Fredericksburg Farm food fundraiser was a success! Thanks to everyone who ordered

geraniums, bought food items, or made a donation.

The next meeting of the Women's Group will be Monday, May 4, at 6:30 p.m. at the church. We will be

watching the move Julie & Julia. Instead of a potluck meal we will order pizza for the group. Please let us

know if you are coming so we enough pizza for all. You may also bring your favorite beverage (tea,

water and coffee will be available). We look forward to seeing you on Monday, May 4.

Music Notes

Mark your calendars for a very special evening in July!

On Sunday evening, July 19, the Chapel Choir of Christ United Methodist Church in Pittsburgh will present a concert at

St. Mark’s as part of their annual summer choir tour.

Located in suburban Pittsburgh, the 3,200 member Christ United Methodist Church is one of the largest Methodist

congregations in the Northeast. Nearly 250 musicians participate in the church’s eleven choral and instrumental

ensembles. Before moving to Austin, Mark Reed served as Organist and Associate Director of Music at Christ Church for

seven years.

The Chapel Choir is comprised of approximately fifty 7th- through 12th-graders. During the academic year, the Chapel

Choir sings at the early service each Sunday morning. Every summer, the choir takes several of their favorite anthems

from the year “on the road,” visiting four or five churches. This will be their first visit to Texas.

Plan now to attend this exciting concert, and consider whether you might be willing to host two or more of the choir

members (or chaperones) at your home for the night. Host families will stick around after the concert to be introduced to

their houseguests. Host families should provide breakfast (cereal, bagels, pastries, or something simple is fine!) and then

transport their guests back to the church the following morning. The students are accustomed to various

accommodations such as couches, air mattresses, host family sleeping bags, etc., in addition to regular beds.

If you are interested in helping out by serving as a host home on Sunday night, July 19,

please contact Mark Reed by email at: [email protected]

Page 5: St. Mark's News

May 2015

Page 5

Men of St. Mark’s Fishing Trip: June 7-9, 2015

Become a part of the fishing tradition here at St. Mark’s! This trip is a valuable time for St. Mark’s men,

young and seasoned, to bond over exaggerated story-telling, cold beer and enjoying God’s creation. After

a long day on the boats, Captain’s Quarters Inn has a pool to lounge around

and relive the day and there are plenty of restaurant choices near the motel.

We will be leaving right after church on June 7 and carpool to the coast,

returning either late Monday evening or Tuesday afternoon (depending on

your schedule). Since it is a chartered trip, the more people that come, the

lower the price…so the more the merrier! Both deep-sea fishing and bay

fishing are available, and included in either excursion is rod, reel and guides. For more information,

please contact Jim Casparis (512) 444-3096, or Nate Lee+ (703) 599-5114 or

[email protected].

Heifer Living Gift Market on Sunday, May 31, at noon.

There will be a petting zoo and hotdogs and ice cream to help us celebrate the

end of the Church school year and our part in Heifer’s work around the world.

Watch for sign-up sheets later this month to find out how you can help “pass on

the gift” to others during our celebration on the lawn. More information about

Heifer can be found at www.Heifer.org.

12th Annual St. Mark’s Scholarship

Golf Tournament

The St Mark’s Episcopal Church Men’s Group will host our annual golf tournament, with proceeds to endow

scholarships for our high school graduates. This year’s tournament will be played at Roy Kizer Golf Course on

Saturday, June 27, with an 8:00 AM Shotgun Start. There are three opportunities to participate this year.

Players: Player Registration Forms will be available in an envelope on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall

Volunteers: This year we are looking for volunteers to staff two committees: Tournament Event Committee, which

will put on the event; and Sponsors and Gifts Committee, which will solicit and track sponsorship donations and gifts

– contact Phil Aboussie at [email protected].

Sponsors: We will begin soliciting sponsors for this year’s tournament in the coming weeks – we greatly appreciate

your past support and hope everyone will continue to support this worthy venture.

Page 6: St. Mark's News

May 2015

Page 6

Join our parishioners in the fight against Cystic Fibrosis

Great Strides Walk on May 2!

St. Mark's church is our parish, and our two children, Colt (5 years old) and Willow (4 years old), also attend the Day

School. Colt and Willow both have Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a life-threatening genetic disease that primarily affects the

lungs and digestive system. An estimated 30,000 children and young adults in the United States have CF. Patients

with CF have unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs, leading to frequent respiratory infections and blocks

the pancreas from producing enzymes to break down food. In the 1950s, most children did not live to attend

elementary school, but now thanks to new medicines produced by research the predicted survival is to 41 years old.

Before arriving at school or church, Colt and Willow wake up at 6:30 AM to start their treatments consisting of

four different inhaled medications while wearing a vibrating vest to break up the thick mucus that collects in their

lungs. All this is an attempt to minimize respiratory infections which lead to progressive damage to their lungs that

may eventually require them to get a lung transplant to survive. Twice daily treatments

are the norm when they are healthy. When they are sick, four treatments each day are

needed, which can take up to 3 hours! In addition to breathing treatments, Colt and

Willow swallow up to 25 pills throughout the day to help them digest their food and keep

them healthy.

To learn more about Colt’s and Willow's daily treatments and the latest research in CF,

please watch this video our family made: https://youtu.be/0zrW8PhdzV0

CF is classified as an orphan disease and does not qualify for significant governmental

funding. Thus, Colt and Willow are dependent upon their friends and families to fund

more research to help them breathe easier.

How to support Colt, Willow, and additional research for CF?

Take a few minutes to watch the video and learn more about the impact of CF on our

lives. https://youtu.be/0zrW8PhdzV0

Donate to help fund research by visiting the Aja's Great Strides page at www.fightcf.cff.org/goto/aja

Join us at the Great Strides 5K Walk for Cystic Fibrosis at the Austin Zoo May 2nd, 9 a.m. - This

year several families from St. Mark's will be walking with the Aja family (Dan, Nicole, Colt and Willow Aja)

(please sign up to join us by visiting our website: www.fightcf.cff.org/goto/aja )

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about CF and how it affects so many families!

Dan and Nicole Aja

Christian Formation for Adults

Adult Christian Formation for this program year concludes in May, so there are only three more Sunday

classes: May 3, 10, and 17 (there are no classes on the 24th or 31st). On May 3 and 10 Philip Turner will

conclude his series on British and American Christian Socialism in the 19th and 20th centuries. On May 17 we

will have a discussion about the Community First! Village – sharing ideas and visions for present and future

involvement in this ministry opportunity.

FYI the schedule for Adult Formation is drafted during the summer for the upcoming program year. If there

are any classes you would like to have taught, topics discussed, guests invited….contact Elizabeth+ so that she

can share your ideas with the committee (to which you are also invited to participate!).

Page 7: St. Mark's News

May 2015

Page 7

Christian Formation for Children by Cathy Nelson, DRE

We are just over halfway through the Season of Easter, also called The Great Fifty Days of Easter, which

runs from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. In the 4th century the church began to use this time to help

the newly baptized better understand the meaning of the sacraments and how to live their lives in Christ.

Today during this season, we still consider what Jesus’ passion, death, resurrection and ascension, the

paschal mystery of Christ, mean to us. These stories are found in the lectionary; and in readings from the

Acts of the Apostles, we learn of the healings, preaching and ministry within the early church and beyond

as they set out to change the world in the name of Jesus. We are meant to consider what this model leads

us to do and be in our time.

Many Christian educators use this time to challenge us to think about what this really means to us. One

writer says that our Easter celebration has become the “re-creation of the historical event” unlike the

Easter celebration of the early church when it was seen “as a ‘graduation’ day for new converts” and the

Great Fifty Days of Easter were used to “review and deepen their understanding of their faith—a faith

grounded in the resurrection.” http://www.reformedworship.org/author/victoria-cok

Others have pointed out that after the many preparations of Lent and Holy Week and the celebration of

Easter, life goes very quickly back to being ordinary, as though nothing has happened. And if, after the

fasting and feasting, we just go back to the status quo, we are missing the whole point.

A favorite author, Gretchen Wolff Pritchard, writes that if families take on a service project during Lent,

there is a danger that we may teach our children that caring for others is “a penitential discipline which

we take on temporarily during a season of special moral effort—the season of Christ’s suffering—and

then drop with relief when the Good News of the Resurrection is revealed and we can go back to being

happy and normal. This shows a badly distorted understanding of what the Good News is all about.”

Wolff Pritchard says that if we “set out to love our neighbor in Lent,” we should be overjoyed to continue

our efforts to follow Christ after the hearing the Good News of the Resurrection. And, she says, if you

didn’t begin in Lent, now is the perfect time to start! www.the-sunday-paper.com

In a blog titled “Jesus is risen? Now what?” the Rev. Drew Downs writes that on Easter Sunday life gets

back to normal – no more fasting or practicing Lenten disciplines, and the “Alleluias!” are back in church

again. “And yet, this is the day we celebrate the most revolutionary act in human/GOD history: the day

GOD changed the nature of the world.”

Downs says getting back to normal life doesn’t honor “the rebellious character of the Easter event or the

scope of the resurrection story.” If we can’t irrevocably change the nature of the world, then the least we

can do is change something about ourselves and about our community. We can sacrifice from our excess:

our clothes, our toys, our food.” He calls for us to act! Now!

“Who we are after Easter should be shaped by what we experienced before and through Easter: a new

revolution. A revolution that expects us to do some of the heavy lifting.”

http://drewdowns.net/2015/04/07/jesus-is-risen-now-what/

So, what are some ways families can live out this revolution? Try out new disciplines with your family or

continue with some of the Lenten practices you began in February.

Make a commitment to attend church more often.

Read Bible stories with your children from a children’s Bible.

Page 8: St. Mark's News

May 2015

Page 8

Practice random acts of kindness in your neighborhood.

Make a prayer list and pray for friends, family and others each day.

Use the Book of Common Prayer to find prayers to say alone or with your family during the day.

Begin the practice of blessing your children (To Bless a Child by Roy G. Pollina is on our bookshelf

in the Parish Hall.).

Join the Great Strides Walk to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on May 2 with the Families

with Young Children.

Join the Church School families for another Church School Mission Sunday on May 17 at 10:00 a.m.

Participate in our Heifer Living Gift Market on May 31 to support www.Heifer.org.

Watch for information about St. Mark’s efforts to support the Community First! Village to see how

your family can help.

Shop for items needed in the food pantry at El Buen Samaritano.

Search the internet for sites that offer family-friendly activities, such as http://littlehelpinghands.org/.

Church School Schedule for May In our final Godly Play classes this year, the younger Godly Play class for Pre-Kindergartners and

Kindergartners will hear the stories The Good Shepherd and World Communion and The Synagogue and

the Upper Room. The Godly Play Two class for 1st through 5th Graders will hear the final stories about

saints of the Church, St. Elizabeth of Portugal, and St. Augustine of Hippo.

The Youth Class will meet in the Bennett Wing with Danielle Adkins, Jay Brown and Ellise Johnson for

Bible study over breakfast.

Mission Sunday, May 17 @ 10 a.m.: Instead of church school

classes, families are invited to participate in our spring Church

School Mission Sunday. The Rev. Cecilia Smith will join us to

celebrate Holy Eucharist with help from the children and adults,

and help lead us in a service project.

As our programs wind down for the summer, I want to

recognize and thank the many volunteers who gave their time

and energy to our children’s programs. Following is a list of the

people who helped with or led Chapel, Church School classes,

Youth Confirmation Class, Youth Group, Youth Lectors and

Acolytes. Not included, but equally important, are the many

parents, who assisted in meetings, services and Church School

classes. Thank you!

Also, special thanks to our many Vacation Bible School

volunteers whose names do not appear below since the roster

has not been finalized at this time. Those who work with St. Mark’s children provide our children and

youth with opportunities to experience the love and grace of God.

Danielle Akins

Ariston Awitan

Jennifer Baumgart

Clarence Bonnen

Susan Bonnen

Michelle Bonner

Anna Bryan-Borja

Bonnie Brode

Jay Brown

Kevin Cromack

Amy Farley

Scott Forrest

David Genet

Kathy Genet

Ellise Johnson

Nancy Kibler

Kim Kiplin

JP Kloninger

Michelle Lehrach

Henry Olivas

Carol Oppel

Eric Panter

Ellie Reshetniko

Vacation Bible School

registration deadline is May 1

Our program this year is Psalms and Songs

from PowerXpress. Attendees & volunteers:

please register through our website

www.stmarksaustin.org as soon as

possible! And don’t forget to tell us how you

will be helping us during the program! You

may turn your check and a copy of your

insurance information into the front office. If

you don’t have children in the program but

want to help, let Cathy Nelson know soon! You

will need to take Safeguarding God’s Children

training and go through the certification

process beforehand. It is a wonderful event

and we would love to have you join the fun!

Page 9: St. Mark's News

May 2015

Page 9

Parishioner Highlights

Ronnie and Betty Lee live an extraordinarily busy life as they serve St. Mark’s and enjoy their occupations,

interests, and family. They passed their hard work ethic on to their children, and they keep going with their many

achievements. I have seen how patients react to their dog Chloe—I witnessed a true spiritual and emotional

transformation as Chloe brought peace, a smile, and many times even laughter and joy into the role of integrated

healing. So thank you both for all you do and are doing for our community and for St. Mark’s!

Beth Chenoweth

Ronnie and Betty Lee

We are the Ronnie and Betty Lee family. We have two

children and four grandchildren. Our

children are Lorri and Tony.

Lorri and her husband live in League

City and have two boys, Justin and

Andrew. She is a teacher and her

husband, Jody, is an engineer in the

oil industry. Justin just turned 18 and

will graduate from Clear Springs High School in June

with high honors. He has been accepted as a cadet at

West Point. He runs cross country and track. Andrew

is a junior at Clear Springs High School where he is on

the varsity golf team. He has been nominated to attend

Boys State in Austin this summer and is working on his

Eagle Scout project.

Tony and his wife, Kim, live in Austin with their two

children, Courtney and Cameron. Courtney is at Texas

A&M majoring in allied health with an interest in either

veterinary science or nursing. She has her vet tech

certification and has worked part time with a vet.

Cameron is a sophomore at Bowie High School and

plays percussion in the Bowie band. He works part

time at the neighborhood pool. Tony is the CFO for a

large mechanical construction company and enjoys

playing soccer. Kim is a first grade teacher at Clayton

Elementary. She enjoys working in the yard with her

beautiful plants.

The other member of our family is Chloe. She is a

certified therapy dog, and we are members of the

Therapy Pet Pals of Texas. We take Chloe to the

Texas Neuro Rehab facility and the Regency Nursing

home where she visits and kisses the therapists,

patients, and residents. It is amazing what kind of

effect she has on the patients’ rehabilitation. They

really love to have her visit.

We have lived in Austin since 1973 in Whispering Oaks

on Greenland Street, the same street as church

member Nancy Middlebrook. We have been members

of St. Mark’s since we moved here. Ronnie served on

the vestry and was an usher. He also was one of the

cooks for the chicken BBQs for many years. Betty has

served as a Sunday school teacher. Our daughter was

the first female acolyte. Both Lorri and Tony were

acolytes and active in the youth group. We were

sponsors for the junior high youth. Tony was a

counselor at Camp Allen. When we first joined St.

Mark’s the sanctuary was where the present kitchen

and parish hall are located. We were in on the planning

and construction of our present sanctuary. We were

also involved with the planning of the first columbarium

inside the sanctuary building.

We met while attending UT. Betty graduated with a

Bachelor of Arts degree and also obtained her teaching

certificate. She taught in several school districts in

Corpus Christi, Houston, and Austin. She retired last

year and now volunteers at Clayton Elementary.

Ronnie attended UT studying an engineering route to

business. He first worked as a draftsman designing

A/C systems. He moved up to running that company.

We then moved to Corpus Christi where Ronnie

managed another A/C company. He was hired by

Carrier Corp. and travelled South Texas and Louisiana

until he had an opportunity to return to Austin as a

District Manager. Later we purchased a travel agency

and we were able to enjoy traveling abroad. We sold

the agency in 2004 and Ronnie retired.

Another interest of ours is the masonic and shrine

organizations. Ronnie is Past Master of Onion Creek

Masonic Lodge and a Past Potentate of Ben Hur

Shrine. He is also a Shrine Clown with the name of

“UmPahPah” and entertains at parades, parties,

hospitals, and nursing homes. He was in charge of the

Shrine Circus for 8 years and has just retired.

We now own a travel trailer and have taken extended

trips, the latest being thru Arkansas and north to Sue

St. Marie Michigan and back home through Wisconsin.

It took 6 weeks and we traveled 5,000 miles. We love

to visit the many state parks in Texas. We have also

celebrated Mardi Gras in Louisiana the last two years.

Chloe travels with us and loves to swim in any bodies

of waters we can find.

Page 10: St. Mark's News

May 2015

Page 10

May Celebrations

Birthdays Herschel Carrico 05/02

Scott Forrest 05/02

Will Jennings 05/03

John Minne 05/03

Jane Sharpe 05/04

Kathy Genet 05/05

Eleanor Goff 05/05

Jana Kay Green 05/05

Lisa Leach 05/05

Matthew Miller 05/06

Nassos Papalexandrou 05/06

Andrew Wood 05/07

Scottie Aplin 05/08

George DeMarines 05/09

Sookie Knapp 05/09

Nicolas Ruiz 05/09

Michael Davis 05/10

Joanne Foote 05/10

Harry Lipp 05/11

Pattie Rose 05/11

David Way 05/11

Matthew Awitan 05/12

Savannah Dew 05/12

Joseph Schmittou 05/13

Jean Severn 05/13

Jewellyn Forrest 05/14

Natalie Langham 05/14

Carl Niemeyer 05/14

Samuel Niemeyer 05/14

John Glover 05/15

Will Johnson 05/16

Stephen Niemeyer 05/16

Meredith Shaw 05/16

Erica Sondgeroth 05/16

Leo Paterra 05/17

Mark Reed 05/17

Vincent Geraci 05/18

Bev Hicks 05/18

Viviana Martinez 05/19

Beatrice Reshetnikov 05/19

Grace Borja 05/20

Alexis Chun 05/20

Michael Meigs 05/20

Gary Todd 05/20

Mary Tonsager 05/20

Jack Branscomb 05/22

Patrick Chandler 05/22

Quinlyn Chun 05/22

Katie Albers 05/23

Richard Branscomb 05/23

Matthew Frederick 05/23

Mary Ann Huston 05/23

Gavin Santos 05/23

Jessie Cromack 05/24

Emerson Dew 05/24

Corina Joyce 05/25

Dan Smith 05/25

Will Smith 05/25

Virginia Sullivan 05/25

Becky Nolan 05/26

Amy Papalexandrou 05/26

Robert Romero 05/26

Thomas Delamater 05/27

Glenn Peers 05/27

Kristin White 05/27

Jay Brown 05/29

Beatrice Dixon 05/29

Alex Pugh 05/29

Benjamin Martinez 05/31

Chuck Ragland 05/31

Greg Silver 05/31

Anniversaries Greta Gonzales & Kevin Brady 05/01

Kathy & David Genet 05/06

Robin Bridgewater & Lee Wagner 05/07

Ann & Roger Seyler 05/07

Maria & Michael Fuhrman 05/11

Jean & Gene Main 05/11

Beth & Mike Brode 05/12

Bradley & Barron Johnson 05/13

Jennifer & Mark Santos 05/18

Alicia & Aaron Barker 05/21

Elizabeth & Martin Mufich 05/22

Mary Carole & Britt Sitzes 05/24

Mary-Alis & Brian Kelly 05/25

Elizabeth & PhilipTurner 05/25

Heather & Mehron Azarmehr 05/26

Emily & Mark Mazac 05/27

Tara & Robert Pitt 05/27

Susan Baxter-Harwell & Phillip Harwell 05/28

Jennifer & Glen Baumgart 05/29

Sarah Stassney-Chun & David Chun 05/31

Megan & Matthew Frederick 05/31

Caffeine Ministry

3 Early Wes Raney 24 Early Ken and Jackie Whalen

Late Audrey and Evan Randall Late Carol and Gary Todd

10 Early Julie and Kyle Rush 31 Early Danielle Adkins

Late Emily and Clint Rogers Late Heifer Helpers

17 Early Sarah Tso and Dee Ann Thomasson

Late John and Randa Stephenson

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 May: David Randle.

Page 11: St. Mark's News

May 2015

Page 11

May ROTA

TIME MINISTRY May 3 May 10

Youth Sunday May 17

May 24

Youth Sunday May 31

7:3

0

LECTOR Margarita Moreno Jon Dullnig Jonea Raney Nancy Middlebrook Jill Collins

LEM/ACOLYTE Jill Collins Jonea Raney Pattie Rose Wes Raney Margarita Moreno

USHERS Beth Chenoweth

Mary Smith

Danielle Adkins

Stephen White Judith & Jon Dullnig

Jonea Raney

Jill Collins

Ed Shipsey

Al McKinney

9:0

0

LECTORS Mike Fuhrman (1)

Dodie Wells (2)

Suzanne Lightsey

Ethan Fuhrman

Ginny Acker (1)

Phil Aboussie (2)

Will Kelly

Ryan Dempsey

Davis Fuhrman

Becky Janes (1)

Nancy Kibler (2)

LEM Thom Temperli

Lynn Edgerton Tom Schneider

Becky Janes

Pam Castles

Kim Buckner

Mike Thomasson

Bill Kibler

Lynn Edgerton

ACOLYTES

Claudia Janes

Ethan Fuhrman

Henry Janes

TBD

Carol, Kim K.

Aidan Brady

Meredith Childs

TBD

TBD

Kim K.

Ariston Awitan IV

TBD

Matthew Awitan

Henry Janes

Kim B.

Clay Buckner

Will Kelly

Hunter Rogers

Nora Kelly

Kim B., Kim K.

Suzanne Lightsey

Ethan Fuhrman

Henry Janes

TBD

Carol, Kim K.

USHERS

Mark Breen

Dee Ann Thomasson

Dodie Wells

Glen Baumgart

Mike Brode

Phil Aboussie

Ross Ramsey

Ken Whalen

Michael Brown

Ariston Awitan III

John Edgerton

Lynn Edgerton

Kevin Cromack

Mark Breen

Mike Brode

Ken Whalen

John Edgerton

GREETERS Maria & Mike Fuhrman Meredith Childs

Kevin Cromack Kim Buckner

Michael Meigs

Diana Stangl Kim Buckner

11

:00

LECTORS Suzann Dvorken (1)

Michele Bonner (2)

Dave Elkins (1)

Roger Seyler (2)

Eric Panter (1)

Barbara Dody (2)

Kevin Childs (1)

Meredith Childs (2)

Suzann Dvorken (1)

Cindy Bogard (2)

LEM Rex White

Brenda White Thom Temperli

Dru Cabler

Jim Casparis

Sandy Sterzing

Liz Davis

Michelle Bonner

Jay Brown

ACOLYTES

Winston Baxter-Harwell

Asher Eaton

Evelyn Eaton

Emma Baxter-Harwell

Jay, Cindy

Bonnie Brode

TBD

Emma Kloninger

Meredith Shaw

Jay, Cindy

Matt Forrest

Karen Milton

Ben Forrest

Sam Forrest

Jay, Cindy

Sophie Lawrence

Luke Thiessen

Ryan Dempsey

Claire Dempsey

Jay, Cindy

Jim Casparis

Max Genet

Josef Genet

Elijah Gallardo

Jay, Cindy

USHERS

Carolyn & James Wier

Bo Overstreet

Rick Tennant

John De Marines

John Works

Jim Casparis

Charles Brewer

Bob Peterek

Manuel de la Rosa

Jim Nolan

Ryan Marquess

Henry Olivas

Yvonne Chavez

Darlene Goodnight

Debbie Thornal

Sandy Sterzing

Jean & Frank Severn

Jodi & Jay Doran

Pam & David Johns

Sue Borel

Carolyn Wier

Jim Casparis

Henry Olivas

Frank Severn

GREETERS Frank Severn

Laura Merritt

Shelly Botkin

Ryan Marquess

Yvette Webb

Jay Doran

Steve Niemeyer

Barbara Dody

Yvette Webb

Jay Doran

ALT

AR

GU

ILD

Sat.

9:00

Jonea Raney-TC

Jill Collins

Carolyn Wier

Pat Bullock

Dee Ann Thomasson-TC

Dodie Wells

Barbara Dody

Susan Baxter-Harwell

Millie Casparis-TC

Tina Stonebarger

Judy Elkins

Lynn Edgerton

Meredith Childs-TC

Helen Anderson

Henry Olivas

Cynthia Archer

Elijah Gallardo

Diana Stangle-TC

Karen Milton

Liz Davis

Darlene Goodnight

Debbie Thornal

Depositor Diane Brewer Jim Casparis John De Marines Bo Overstreet Jim Nolan

WED. 6 p.m. May 6 May 13 May 20 May 27 June 3

Lector Jill Collins Michele Bonner Rex White Jonea Raney Pattie Rose

Page 12: St. Mark's News

May 2015

Page 12

Vestry Committees Staff

J.P. Kloninger, Sr. Warden

Diana Stangl, Jr. Warden

Vestry members:

Clarence Bonnen, Michele

Bonner, Shelly Botkin, Mark

Breen, Jill Collins, John

Cooper, Karen Dulaney Smith,

Suzann Dvorken, David Johns,

Nancy Kibler, Karen Milton,

Jim Nolan, and David Randle

Acolytes: Jay Brown, Carol

Oppel, Cindy Cabler, 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:

Pat Bullock

Facilities: Ray Smith

Finance: John Edgerton

Outreach: Becky Poynot and

Laurie Mayor

Parish Life: Brenda White

Pastoral Care/Health Ministry:

Jonea C.S. Raney

Stewardship:

Amelia Sondgeroth

Ushers: Henry Olivas

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 Administrator

Joanne Foote

Newsletter Editor

Becky Janes

Deadline for the June/July 2015

St. Mark’s News is Friday, May

15, 2015. Please submit your

article by email as an attachment

to: [email protected].

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

2128 Barton Hills Drive

Austin, TX 78704

512.444.1449

www.stmarksaustin.org

[email protected]

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