2013 January– February Issue

Contributors

The Rev. Lisa Mason, Rector masonlisap@sbcglobal.net

Ashley Miles, Head of School amiles@saintdavidschool.net

Sarah Kates, Director of Children and Youth Ministries sarah.cozad@sbcglobal.net

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