The Message-January 2013

JANUARY 2013 • VOLUME 15, NUMBER 1

Youth Minister, Clark Niles, with students during a YOUTH ALPHA gathering on Sunday morning.

Pressing On or Stepping Back in 2013?: 2 Value-Packed Parenting: 8 Lent 2013: 40 Days Toward Change: 10 Embracing a Life of Meaning: 12

FROM

In this issue:

Pressing On or Stepping Back in 2013?

Music Ministry....................... 4 World Missions ...................... 5 Youth Ministry ...................... 7 Children’s Ministry............... 8 Outreach .............................10 Our Church Life..................10 Pastoral Care.......................14 Calendar of Events ............15

Sunday Services: 7:30 a.m.

Holy Eucharist, Rite 1 9:00 a.m.

Family-friendly Communion Service with Music 10:00 a.m.

Christian Education for Children, Youth, and Adults 11:00 a.m.

Choral Eucharist, Rite 2 4:30 p.m.

Transitions Post-College Ministry in Carriage House 6:00 p.m.

Holy Eucharist, Rite 2

Cover photo by Trent Timberlake.

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PATRICK GAHAN Rector patrickg@cecsa.org

On October 14, 2012, Felix Baumgartner stepped off of his helium-powered spaceship and flew 24 miles to the earth’s surface. On the way down, he gained the modest speed of 834 miles per hour

or Mach 1.24, which means Felix broke the sound barrier without the aid or protection of a jet aircraft. When the 43 year-old, rakishly handsome Austrian gently landed just 40 miles west of the Roswell, NM Airport, he immediately hit his knees in surprise and thanksgiving.

I would have never seen Baumgartner’s jump, except for my daughter-in-law Sara. She told me about Google’s Zeitgeist 2012 video. The film lasts only 2 minutes and 45 seconds, yet in rapid succession the video chronicles the people and events of last year that have most caught our imagination. The film begins and ends with Baumgartner’s heroic exploit. In between, the camera catches incredible athletes with legs and those doubly incredible without them, politicians standing before live audiences and others standing in front of gray rubble, children enrapt in joy and children enveloped in sorrow, an Olympic city shot through with lights while the first Olympic city is stampeded with riots, celebrities who made our hearts soar and others who tore our hearts to pieces, scientists and doctors who spent their entire lifetimes serving humanity and those whose lives they changed, huge throngs celebrating a new spring of freedom and equally large throngs decrying an encroaching winter of bondage.

Zeitgeist is a German word contrived in the latter 18th century that means “spirit of the age.” Clearly, the film’s 2012 editors believe we are living in a heroic age, an age where individuals and

groups step out to achieve what was once thought impossible if not downright absurd to even contemplate. Who would have ever thought a man with no legs would win an Olympic sprint or another would be cured of aids or the first particle of creation would be discovered or Arab women would be given the vote or even a driver’s license or a man in just a suit and a helmet would break the sound barrier? Yet each one of these heroic exploits began the minute the person took that first step, that first bold step into the unknown.

“ In the coming year, these snapshots of our lives will either combine to form a collage of animated courageous hope or one of stagnant cowardly despair.”

I wonder. What will be the zeitgeist of Christ Church in 2013? Will we step out or step back? In eleven and a half months we will know the temperature of our 2013 spirits by the succession of snapshots that make up each of our lives. In the coming year, these snapshots of our lives will either combine to form a collage of animated courageous hope or one of stagnant cowardly despair. For Christians, that really is the ultimate existential question.

Do you recall Jesus’ response to the person who steps up to him on the road and eagerly offers to follow him… but only after he has taken care of some pressing personal business: ‘No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God’, retorts Jesus (Luke 9:62). The minute we say “yes” to Christ’s saving grace we are enlisted in his service. We are set upon the road to follow him.

To imagine we can step off the path or take a timeout or go “inactive” is to think that our call from Christ is just one call amongst many, one duty set in an ocean of others. If that is who Christ becomes for us, then he is not

From our Rector... our Savior. He is not our Lord. He is not the Alpha and Omega of our lives.

He is merely a footnote on our resume, a name we drop in polite company. If it has come to that, then we will live constantly looking back over our shoulders wondering how we missed our shot at a full heroic life and realizing what we called our life was a sad masquerade.

“ If that is who Christ becomes for us, then he is not our Savior.

He is not our Lord.

He is not the Alpha and Omega of our lives.

He is merely a footnote on our resume, a name we drop in polite company.”

Paul Tillich (1886-1965), the German theologian who escaped Hitler to teach in America, offered reliable guidance to Christians who urgently desire to avoid this masquerade. Tillich continually reminded his students and his readers that faith demands the whole self.

Our minds, our bodies, our emotions, our love life, our political engagement, our business affairs, our recreation – all of what makes up each one of us is required in the authentic life of faith. No part of our lives is off-limits from our relatioship with Christ.

For example, do you recall the words of Eric Liddell in the 1981 historical film, Chariots of Fire? Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian and athlete was born in China at a mission station in 1902.

When he was challenged as to why he was wasting time training for the Olympic games in the face of his pressing missionary work, Liddell’s face lit up and he responded, “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.” He went on to win the 400 meters in the 1924 Paris games with a world record that held for the next twelve years. During all the time that followed the Paris Olympics, he served in his beloved China. Liddell died in 1945 in a Chinese prison camp.

He was 43 years old.

Finally, in 2008, it was reported by Chinese officials that Liddell was offered a chance to leave the camp and return to Scotland and be reunited with his wife.

He refused, giving his spot to a pregnant woman. To a fellow missionary who was attending his death, Liddell spoke his last words, “It is complete surrender.”

Surrender is the key. Tillich and Liddell are correct. Only after we surrender our life – all of our life – to serve Christ and his kingdom of love will we live as the heroes of faith that we were designed to be. Only then will we not look back and regret what might have been. Then will we no longer say to ourselves in disgust and despair – “if only.”

fact that “Christ Jesus has made us his own” – even with all of our messy baggage. Let’s press on to tell others with our words and with our actions that they, too, are invited into this astounding love. Let’s press on with wonder to accept the new opportunities Christ bequeaths to us. Let’s press on to this exhilarating life of wonder and service, leaving behind the detritus of our formerly stale lives.

We all harbor regrets, but not one of us comes close to the dark past that followed St. Paul. In his zeal to destroy the new Jesus movement, he herded innocent people into prison, ransacked homes, and was complicit in at least one murder. That’s a lot of darkness to carry around, and yet when explaining his life to the first Christian fellowship he began in Europe, he confessed:

Our kitchen will begin a creative meal ministry to those in need.

‘Not that I have already become like Christ or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.’

Philippians 3:12-14

Our outreach and mission efforts will cooperate on at least one meaningful missionary effort that is affordable and accessible.

“Only after we surrender our life – all of our life – to serve Christ and his kingdom of love will we live as the heroes of faith that we were designed to be.”

“Pressing on” should be our 2013 Christ Church theme. Let’s press on to fully accept the nearly inconceivable

Where do we start? Here are some of the pressing goals we will undertake at Christ Church in 2013: Our youth will sponsor ten outreach opportunities in the area.

Our adult choir will offer three to four concerts to those who never hear such divine music.

Our children’s choirs will open our musicals to the students at James Madison Elementary.

Our youth ministry will offer comprehensive Christian instruction and discipleship training to our teens.

Our family ministries will extend life-changing instruction and support for our individuals and families at every stage and enlivening intergenerational experiences throughout the year.

Our adult formation ministries will help train us to frame our entire lives in relationship and obedience to Christ.

Our pastoral care ministries will equip and send out our people to care for the growing number of those suffering in our parish community.

Our welcome ministries will enhance our hospitality to the stranger and seek attractive avenues to invite others in our neighborhoods into fellowship with us.

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From our Rector... “ I pray that the zeitgeist of Christ Church in 2013 is a spirit of rapturous romance with our Lord that inspires us to love others with creative words and actions.”

Find your place on this list and press on to a life that matters. I pray that the zeitgeist of Christ Church in 2013 is a spirit of rapturous romance with our Lord that inspires us to love others with creative words and actions. Then, and only then, will Christ Church be that “light set upon a hill” that Jesus extols (Matthew 5:14).

Just remember Felix Baumgartner, because it all begins with just one heroic step.

Your brother,

Patrick U

MINISTRY Jim Cullum at Christ Church If you like your Tuesday fat (Mardi Gras) then we’ve got an even fatter day for you: Sunday, February 10th! Jim Cullum and his amazing jazz band will be leading worship at the 11:00 AM service.

For those of you unfamiliar with Jim’s signature Dixieland sound I recommend you give him a listen on Youtube, especially his rendition of “Sweet Sue” played at a recent Bix Beiderbecke festival in Quad Cities. Jim’s San Antonio Riverwalk jazz establishment, The Landing, has been a musical landmark in Texas for 50 years!

OWEN DUGGAN Minister of Music owend@cecsa.org

Bring your friends to participate in this joyful worship experience.

By the way no toe tapping on the kneelers! Okay… the floor is all right.

Following the worship service, you are invited to join us for a Gumbo Mardi Gras Luncheon in the Parish Hall. Details coming soon.

Jim Cullum

From Bones to Brahms From bones (trombones) to Brahms, we’ve got it all. Christ Church is home to a several of the San Antonio Symphony’s 2013 Brahms Festival concerts curated by conductor Sebastian Lang-Lessing. Brahms is one of the great European composers of sacred music and a number of the fine players at the festival are on the Christ Church worship musician roster.

We are pleased to have them and the Symphony organization as special guests of our Friends of Music program. Over the next two months we will host the following concerts: January 31, 7:30 PM: String Sextets No. 1 in B-flat major and No. 2 in G major February 7, 7:30 PM: String Quartet No. 2 in A minor Paganini Variations, Books 1 and 2, Three Intermezzi, Op. 117

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February 14, 7:30 PM: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 120 Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor Clarinet Quintet in B minor And on February 17 at 7:30 PM as an addendum to the official Brahms Festival we will host a special concert by violinist and former concertmaster of the San Antonio Symphony, Stephani St. Ambrogio and the Cactus Pear Festival.

For more information and ticket prices please visit: www. brahmssa.com.

MISSIONS Greetings from Nazareth!

We moved to the Middle East over seven years ago and sometimes you meet someone who wants to talk about religion from a combative point of view.

This happened the other day and I felt in my spirit that I should take a short, sharp, and shocking approach. One can hope that something you say will stick in the person’s head and over time lead to a genuine openness and questioning attitude. John the Baptist and Jesus used this approach quite often when they were talking with the self-righteous folks of their day.

“…I felt in my spirit that I should take a short, sharp, and shocking approach.”

Sitting in his shop this man started off with what he thought were the weaknesses of our faith. I had pulled up the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7) on his computer, in Arabic, and told him to read it, which he did not want to do. He pointed out how our book is translated, while his book is the same all over the world (in Arabic). Time for some apologetic judo- using his argument against him: Yes, I said, praise be to God that our book is translatable and people in any place can read it in their own language and pray to him in their own language, whereas his deity understood only Arabic! “You speak Arabic and Hebrew, I speak three languages, and yet your god only hears prayers in Arabic!”

I responded (kindly, by the way).

He pointed out how we have four gospels, which to him was evidence that the original gospel (injiil) that Allah had given to the Son of Mary had been lost and corrupted. I responded, “How great is our God! We have four witnesses to the words and deeds of Messiah. You only have a man’s testimony about himself. I much prefer to have four witnesses than one.”

How is that we believe in three gods?

He challenged. Do we really say that that little baby in his mother’s womb is God? Yes, we do, and how glorious that

is—that God is not far away from us but in his love he has come to be among us and with us.

And regarding the Trinity we believe the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are ‘one God, co-equal in essence, and inseparable.’ (I learned that from the Greek Orthodox liturgy, how often do you get that kind of theology on Sunday morning?) Because we believe in the divinity of Jesus, Christians are often accused of the great sin of ‘association’ or ‘shirk’. I told him that we believe in one God with one essence, and that unfortunately Muslims are the ones who are guilty of this sin of association (shirk) because they believe the Qur’an is eternal with Allah, yet is not Allah himself.

This is a most grave fault in Islam, I told my friend.

All of this took place completely in Arabic, of course. When I left he had my phone number and the entire Sermon on the Mount open on his computer (in Arabic). What will become of this? Who knows… but will you keep him in your prayers? I don’t always enjoy these encounters (they are exhausting) but they are part of life and witness here.

And sometimes it takes a short, sharp, shocking word to break through years of indoctrination.

David Julian (8) is having some troubles with some of the kids at school who are violent and lie and (in accordance with the local custom) are never punished.

He asked me once, “Why do they call Nazareth a holy city if the people here are so bad!?” A good question, but once long ago there were some good people here. I recall a Jewish teenage girl who accepted God’s call on her life and there, in her womb, was conceived without the help of any man, a human being in whom were present the fullness of God and yet was human, like us, in every way, but without sin: God with us.

Your support for this work is, as always, much appreciated. Pray for health, guidance, and provision for our family.

Blessings,

The Millers

As to other news, Sharon and the kids are well. I submit my doctoral thesis in two or so months, and if you want to read the current draft just e-mail me.

“…praise be to God that our book is translatable and people in any place can read it in their own language and pray to him in their own language…”

Amelia (5) sings Arabic tunes from Kindergarten all the time, and Samantha is now two years old, and has learned to say ‘no like it!’ We are also very happy to have Sharon’s sister visiting over Christmas.

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World Missions..

George Olson with New Tribes Mission We are rejoicing with the news that our partners in the tribe have presented the Gospel to our friends there, and there are six new Palawano believers! God is so good! It is not just in the Palawanos, but all over the Philippines that God is working today!

CLA consultant coaches missionaries in their tribal or national language studies, and also does an evaluation on a missionary’s progress in language. This usually requires a visit to a tribal location for at least three days. Meanwhile, Ginny teaches missionary kids at Faith Academy. We are so thankful that we have been able to continue to serve the Lord here in the Philippines.

20 – the number of missionaries that were in full time language study at some time in 2012

So here are the numbers, and what they mean:

6 – the number of trips made away from home over the course of 2012 for the purpose of carrying out the duties of the CLA Consultant ministry

3 – the number of active chronological Bible teaching programs that have begun in the past year or will begin in the next year in a remote location for the purpose of opening the Gospel in a new area where people have never heard!

21 – the number of missionaries that will be in full time language study at some point in 2013 7 – the number of missionaries that will be doing part time language study alongside some other ministry in 2013

25 – the number of missionary kids that Ginny teaches regularly at Faith Academy, not including the kids that are on the soccer and rugby teams that she has coached. Praise the Lord that

25 – the number of language evaluations I (George) have done on missionaries studying a national or tribal language since becoming a language consultant (19 of these were completed in 2012)

Visiting a tribal family in Northern Luzon

I was always a math guy, and numbers have significance to me. They represent important milestones in the work the Lord has done, and we are very thankful to have been a part of His work. But let us remember – it is not just about the numbers – we are here to make disciples that will make disciples – something that cannot truly be measured. In order to make disciples, one has to be able to communicate. And the tool that God has given us to communicate is language! That is why we are sticking around here in the Philippines, to continue to help train people in how to learn language and then to make disciples wherever they go.

Having been trained as a CLA (Culture and Language Acquisition) consultant, and Ginny being a teacher already, we were both able to fill important needs in the mission field. In a nutshell, a

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11 – the number of missionaries that finished full time language study in 2012. 5 of these have moved into Bible teaching in a tribal language, 3 are moving into a tribal ministry this next year, and the rest are working in other ministries

George, Isaac, Ginny, Abby and Sarah

we are able to help these missionary families through Ginny’s ministry!

So you see that the work keeps on going, all for the purpose of bringing the Gospel to people who have never heard. We are so blessed to be allowed to serve the Lord here in the Philippines!

Blessings to you all in Christ,

George Olson

Visiting with tribal kids

MINISTRY Youth Update Here we are back from Christmas break with lots of great things ahead this spring semester:

We will have service opportunities every month this semester, with our first on January 26th at the Good Samaritan Center. There will be many youth involved from our Diocese and it should be lots of fun!

To begin, the “Youth Alpha/ Confirmation� classes on Sunday mornings have begun with a very good turn out at our open house on January 6th. There were many parents, youth, and great questions. The line up of speakers for these classes is impressive with: Patrick Gahan, Scott Kitayama, Trent Timberlake, Dennis Eberhardt, Tina Bigley, Pat McAlpin, Mary Ellen Archer, and Clark Niles. The excitement is building and it is great to see many of our youth again.

Remember, it will be a great program to bring a friend!

The Shrove Tuesday dinner has been assigned to the youth this year, so get ready for lots of pancakes and fun for all with a theme of Mardi Gras for our younger kids. We will have face painting, and the making of masks. Come join us on February 12th from 5:30 to 7:00 PM.

CLARK NILES Director of Youth Ministry clarkn@cecsa.org

Parents: come join other parents in our Parenting Classes hosted by Mark & Nancy Wright. This group is meeting Sunday mornings at 10, in the FMC movie theater. We are using a DVD series by Mark Gregston. Mark has worked with teens for 34 years. He has a formalized therapeutic program called Heartland with a residential counseling center. Mark and wife Jan have begun teaching about parenting teens as well as younger children, nationwide via the radio, internet, church seminars, books, retreats, and speaking engagements. It should be a great time to hear and share with others.

Youth Pastor,

Clark Niles

Clockwise from top: Youth and Children during Lessons & Carols.

Nancy Lee Archer during SAMMinistries Christmas Celebration. Students at Youth Alpha gathering.

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MINISTRY Children’s Communion Class

HALLETA HEINRICH Director of Family Ministries halletah@cecsa.org

Children’s Communion Class Begins Sunday, January 27 9 AM Rooms 208, 205, and 206 in Family Ministry Center Following Classes will begin at 10 AM

Our first Children’s Communion Class will begin Sunday, January 27 at 9 AM. Following classes will be held at 10 AM during the regular Sunday School hour.

First and Second Grade children and above are eligible to participate in this class designed to enrich the children’s experience of Holy Communion. Parents are asked to be active participants in the class by serving as Class Helpers, Retreat Helpers, and Communion Celebration Leaders. The class will conclude on Sunday, April 7 with a Communion Celebration Service and Reception hon-

oring the class participants and their families. A Communion Retreat will be held Saturday, April 6 from 10 AM to 3 PM.

Lesson Five – How Do We Prepare Our Hearts to Receive Holy Communion?

Part One: Prayer – Hand Prayer Presentation

Basics of our Christian faith are connected to Bible teachings and the sacrament of Holy Communion as we consider the following topics each Sunday:

Lesson Six – How Do We Prepare Our Hearts to Receive Holy Communion?

Part Two: Confession and Reconciliation – Lost Sheep Presentation from Matthew and Luke and Expansion of True Vine Part II Presentation from John

Lesson One – Who is Jesus? Teachings from John on Jesus as Our Good Shepherd and Introduction to Communion Journals Lesson Two – Who is Jesus? Teachings from John on Jesus as the True Vine Lesson Three – What is the Lord’s Supper? Bible Background and Reenactment of the Last Supper

Lesson Seven – Who Are We As Christian Community? Eucharistic Presence of Jesus Our Good Shepherd Presentation Contact me at halletah@cecsa.org or 736-3132 if you would like to enroll your child in this class.

Lesson Four – How Do We Celebrate the Lord’s Supper? Altar Guild Lesson and Presentation of the Last Supper in Church, Looking at the Liturgy of Holy Communion in the Book of Common Prayer

Value-Packed Parenting Christian Parenting Class for Parents and Grandparents of Young Children Begins Sunday, January 27 During the Sunday School Hour In the FMC Library/Sacristy Next to Children’s Chapel

Dr. Kevin Lehman

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It has been proven that parents are the most important faith influences in their children’s lives, but we all need support in bringing up our kids in a positive and Biblical way.

Dr. Kevin Leman has compiled an inspiring and practical video series to help parents bringing up young children, “Value-Packed Parenting.”

1) The Ten Best Gifts You’ll Ever Give Your Kids

Dr. Leman is an internationally known psychologist, radio and television personality, and speaker who has taught and entertained audiences worldwide with his wit and common sense psychology.

3)Discipline Isn’t Spelled P-U-N-I-S-H-M-E-N-T

He has made house calls for hundreds through radio and television programs including The View, Today, Oprah, CNN’s American Morning, and LIFE Today with James Robison. He has also served as contributing family psychologist to Good Morning America.

6) Birth OrderWhat You Need to Know About It

The following are the seven inspiring & entertaining video lessons included in the class:

2) How to Listen So Kids Will Talk and How to Talk So Kids Will Listen

4) Ten Ways to Improve Your Child’s Self-Confidence 5) Caution: Anger Ahead!

7) Standing Up to the New GoliathHelping Kids Overcome the Negative Influences of the Internet, The Media, and Technology The class will include community building support, discussion time, and will be parent-led. Contact Halleta or Amy Case for more info.

Children’s Ministry...

“The Little House that Stood” Special Children’s Movie Event: Veggie Tales’ Latest: “The Little House That Stood” The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders Sunday, January 27 After 10 AM Service During Annual Parish Meeting In FMC Movie Theater Room 302 Veggie Tales’ latest offering “The Little House that Stood” will be shown for children ages 3 through fifth grade during the Annual Parish Meeting, on Sunday, January 27 after the 10 AM service. Based on the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders, this feature film is a lesson in making good choices. Hardy snacks will be served. Parents are asked to pick up their children in the FMC 302 location at the conclusion of the Annual Parish Meeting.

“Rescue in the Night” Channel that drama for God’s glory!

All students in grades 1-6 are invited to be a part of this spring’s Children’s Musical, to be presented on Sunday, May 5. The story of faithful Daniel serving his ever-faithful God will come alive as you learn of scheming cohorts, a spineless king and, of course, a den full of hungry lions.

Bring a friend and join in the adventure of “Rescue in the Night,” a humorous yet profound musical picture of God’s amazing power and dependable love.

For more information, contact Ruth Berg, 4229963 or ruthaberg@gmail.com.

Vacation Bible School 2013 Athens: Paul’s Dangerous Journey to Share the Truth Vacation Bible School 2013 June 24-27 Mark Your Calendars Now! We will join Paul on his second missionary journey to Athens this summer and witness firsthand his courage and faith in Jesus, all to spread the life-changing truth of God’s Love.

Amy Case is returning as VBS Director and will be seeking many adult and teen volunteers to serve as “Oikos” Small Group Leaders, Marketplace Shopkeepers, Arena Games Leaders, Decorations Team, and Kitchen Helpers. Please let Amy know ASAP if you want to be part of VBS. More information will follow soon about registration of children, adults, and teens.

Christ Church will transform into ancient Greece as our children experience with all their senses this Bible-times metropolis through interactive learning centers. Children will be part of small groups or “Oikos,” a Greek term for households or families.

Within these small groups children will experience: “Oikos” Time, small group Bible Study; visit Paul and hear firsthand about his missionary journeys; Athen’s Marketplace where they can snack, learn, and create Greek-style Arena Games with our own Mini-Olympics; and Opening and Closing Celebrations with Music and Worship Time.

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Good Samaritan Christmas Bags

We would like to THANK YOU for participating in our annual Christmas Bag campaign! We reached our goal of 600 bags, and were able to help everyone who came to our doors on December 21st!

SAMMinistries THANK YOU! Your generosity ensured that children who have experienced homelessness had a joy-filled holiday season! With your gracious assistance, we were able to provide presents for the 339 children in 134 families in our programs. We are deeply grateful to you for providing gifts for these children who otherwise would not have received much, if anything, for Christmas.

Many blessings, Navarra R. WIlliams, President and CEO

Lent 2013: 40 Days Toward Change Bible Study & Preaching Series Who doesn’t want change? We want to change our waistlines or our hairlines. We would like a change of fortune and a change of scenery. Some wait for a changing of the guard, while others aim to be game changers themselves. The word ‘change’ seems to leap off every other sentence of our politicians’ lips and resound from every other weight loss or pharmaceutical TV commercial.

Christians have known that fact from the beginning. That’s why we devote forty full days each year to make some of those hard changes. Lent is the forty-day season where we dare to take a deep inventory of ourselves and get honest with the state of things. This is also the season where we begin new personal habits that will lead us closer to God, thereby becoming more the person God has longed for us to be.

We talk about change incessantly, but how serious are we about making changes in our lives? Superficial change may be easy enough, but those deep down changes are tougher.

These Bible studies and the sermons that proceed from them will offer both Biblical and concrete avenues for us to undertake that path to personal change.

Wednesday, February 13 Sunday, February 17 Sunday, February 24 Sunday, March 3 Sunday, March 10 Sunday, March 17 Sunday, March 24

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Ash Wednesday Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Serious about Change Lent 1 Luke 4:1-13 Change Takes Time Lent 2 Luke 13:31-35 Open to Change Lent 3 Luke 13:1-9 Change Direction Lent 4 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 Change Agent Lent 5 John 12:1-8 Impede Change Palm Sunday Luke 22:14-23:56 Change for Good

Our Church Life...

Hearts & Hands Tea Hearts & Hands Valentine’s Tea Tuesday, February 5 4 - 7 PM 720 Ivy Lane Liecie Hollis will once again host the event at her lovely home. Chaired by Aggie Eyster and planned by the Hearts and Hands Committee, this special time to greet, meet and eat with the women of Christ Church is being planned just for you!

The Daughters of the King Mother and Daughter Tea It was probably the idea of Ada Allen Hall, as a way for the Daughters of the King to honor the Jr. Daughters. Although no one seems to remember exactly when this tradition began, it has become an annual event we all look forward to!

This year’s tea will be held Sunday, February 17 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM in the Capers room. Though it honors our juniors and their mothers, all women and girls of the parish are invited. Our guest speaker will be The Rev. Patrick Gahan.

So, ladies of all ages, save the date!

Free valet parking.

Childcare will be provided at the church upon request- call 736-3132.

Children during “La Posada” Christmas Pageant on December 9 (Susanna Kitayama) along with Sydney King, Fred Shockley, and Bill Frey as three wise men on Epiphany Sunday (Jennifer Rose).

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Our Church Life...

Lent Wednesday Nights: Embracing a Life of Meaning February 20 – March 20 Parish Hall Dinner: 5:15 - 6:00 PM Eucharist: 6:00 - 6:30 PM Study: 6:30 - 7:30 PM

While visiting with our newly formed Family Ministry Advisory Team and those who have been faithful attenders of our Wednesday evening services, it became apparent that our church family is seeking more opportunities for building relationships within Christ Church.

March 6 – Session Three: Community Matters

We have chosen a program to be offered during Lent that will facilitate sharing, a building of relationships and support among participants in “Embracing A Life of Meaning,” a five session discussion and DVD series by bestselling Christian author Kathleen Norris.

It is our hope that this study, which focuses on what really matters in life and the sharing in small groups each week, will serve as a foundation for building closer relationships within our church family. We are a great church and each person is an important member of the Body of Christ who should be treasured and supported.

Topics will be presented and discussed in small groups each week: February 20 – Session One: Belief Matters February 27 – Session Two: The Bible Matters

March 13 – Session Four: Place Matters March 20 – Session Five: We Matter

Nursery and childcare will be provided in the Family Ministry Center from 5:00 to 7:45 PM. The children’s program for 3 year olds through 5th graders will be in rooms 205, 206 and Children’s Chapel from 6:30 to 7:30 PM.

Almost Heaven!

by Halleta Heinrich My grown son Zach recently shared with me that his dream job would be to cross the Frio River every day to go to work at Laity Lodge, the camp of his youth and childhood. He said it would be like heaven!

We have an opportunity to give our Christ Church families a little bit of heaven this coming fall, from September 13 to 15 at Laity Lodge Family Camp in Leakey, Texas, along the Frio River.

We have reserved spece for twenty-five families at the newly opened “Headwaters,” Family Camp’s beautiful new home. If you would like to see and hear more about this facility contact www. llfamilycamp.org and you will be impressed. Friend of Christ Church, John Hill, is the Laity Lodge Family Camp Director, and he assures us the setting and family time opportunities will be life-changing.

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As quoted in the Laity Lodge Family Camp website: “In the fast-paced, achievement-oriented world of American families, children and parents are often pulled in separate directions by activities—school, work, athletic and artistic commitments, church and youth groups. Relaxed time together is scarce. Time to talk and laugh together is elusive.

With family renewal in mind, Foundations for Laity Renewal invites you to Laity Lodge Family Camp, a Christian Family Camp in Texas!”

Our prayer is that as many Christ Church families as possible will be able to participate in Family Camp at Laity Lodge next September.

It will be a special time for your family to relax together and have so much fun and eat great food in a naturally

beautiful setting – a real hint of heaven!

Reserve these dates now! If you would like to be on the Family Camp Planning Team, contact me at halletah@cecsa. org or 736-3132.

Partial scholarships will be available.

More details about registration will follow soon.

Our Church Life...

covenant

& character Bible Study & Preaching Series January 6 - February 10

During this short season of Epiphany we have been exploring– through our weekly Bible Studies and Sermons – some of the elements of our covenant with God that will infuse our lives with promise, hope, and power.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday,

January 6- Grace Filled January 13- Spirit Driven January 20- Talented and Gifted January 27- Full Bodied February 3 - Love Focused February 10- Truth Unveiled

For more, go to www.cecsa.org

Let Them Eat Tacos!

If Marie Antoinette had offered the French masses tacos, instead of glibly stating, “Let them eat cake”, she may still have her head. Maybe not in Paris, but in San Antonio I learned you can get a whole lotta taco for the buck.

Greg Sethness and Tom Hardin showed me how you can enjoy a taco feast in San Antonio on the paltry lunch money your wife doles out to you. Greg took me just down the road to one of John Barrett’s favorite haunts Taqueria Chapala Jalisco, just three minutes from the church at 1819 McCullough.

I ordered the Four Mini-Taco Lunch. You are given a choice of beef, chicken, pork and lengua. In a moment of supreme cowardice, I passed on the tongue tacos, and specified only beef and pork.

Greg ordered the enchiladas.

Within minutes our plates arrived, and I was pleasantly surprised.

My four tacos were adorned with fresh cilantro and surrounded with charro beans and rice. All Chacho’s Fajita Taco Lunch Special the items were perfectly Tom did the ordering, and when he prepared, and I was able to take two returned with our platters – and I do tacos home to Kay. The mean “platters” – not plates, I thought price for my lunch – I would need the Polish Army to help me finish it all. This was Chacho’s Fajita only $4.99!

Taco Lunch Special.

While Sethness’s and Barrett’s place was close Get this, you begin with a hearty cup of by, Tom Hardin ordered Totilla Soup, which is made according me to buckle up my seat- to an old Mexican recipe. Next, there belt for a longer haul up is the fresh avocado salad. Finally, you IH-10. Tom went into delve into a taco so full of grilled meat his super banker mode that you could fashion two more out of and refused any hints it. (One thing Tom really likes about Chacho’s is that they do not use ground about our destination. meat in their tacos.) Complimenting Four Mini Taco Lunch at Taqueria Chapala Jalisco Within minutes of exit- the gargantuan taco is a generous servKnowing John the way I do, I was just ing the freeway, however, we drove ing of refried beans and iced tea – all relieved to walk in the joint and not into the huge parking lot of Chacho’s for – (you’re not going to believe this) find a wall full of slot machines and a Restaurant. I knew I was in for taco nir- $5.49! Kay, again, feasted on fully half vat of bathtub tequila presided over by vana when I noticed the drive through the lunch that I brought home. the Mexican mafia. Instead, the taque- for take-out was a dual lane and cars ria is painted with electric red and yel- were moving through it like a tollbooth Forget the cake. San Antonio is taco paradise! low, full of patrons, and boasts a menu on the New Jersey Turnpike! the size of the Magna Carta.

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CARE “Stability in an Unstable World” Join us for Community of Hope’s Annual Retreat

CAROL MILLER Pastoral Care Administrator carolm@cecsa.org

March 9-10, 2013 (early arrival on Friday the 8th, is at your option).

Mustang Island Conference Center.

Our speaker, The Rev. Brien Koehler, recently retired from active ministry in the Episcopal Church after 35 years. His most recent parish was St. Luke’s in Baton Rouge, LA. He and his wife, Terry, have lived in many places and served a variety of churches over the years: Wisconsin, Illinois, Gulf Coast Florida (twice), Ft. Worth and Louisiana. He is now living in New Braunfels and serving as a part time chaplain at Nashotah House Seminary in Wisconsin where they will live during six months of the year (in shifts of two months or so) being back in Texas in the off months. He loves to teach and said that speaking at our conference will be a pleasure! Our worship leader, at the retreat will be The Rev. Scott Kitayama.

COSTS: Guests Staying Friday & Saturday Nights: $203 or $185 without dinner First Meal: Friday evening Last Meal: Sunday Brunch Guests Staying Saturday Night: $120.

If you arrive for breakfast add $8.

First Meal: Saturday Lunch Last Meal: Sunday Brunch Day Guests Saturday & Sunday: $98.

First Meal: Saturday Lunch Last Meal: Sunday Brunch If you arrive for breakfast add $8.

Day Guests Saturday: (lunch/dinner) or Sunday: (light breakfast/brunch) $52.

Register ASAP. Lodging at the retreat center is limited. Make checks payable to Christ Church Pastoral Care Fund Your check is your reservation. Deadline is Friday, March 1. Point of contact is Carol Miller, 210-736-3132, carolm@ cecsa.org, Community of Hope Retreat c/o Christ Episcopal Church 510 Belknap Place San Antonio TX 78212 SCHEDULE: Friday optional day at the beach on your own

Saturday 10:30 Morning Prayer, Benedictine Rule 11:00 Session I “Stability and How I Lost it!”

12:30 Lunch 1:30 Noonday Prayers, Lectio Divina 2:00 Session II “Looking for Stability in all the Wrong Places” 3:30 Quiet time, prayer, walk on the beach 6:30 Dinner 7:30 Session III “Stability Recognized” 9:00 Sharing followed by Compline Sunday 8:00 Light Breakfast 8:30 Morning Prayer, Benedictine Rule 9:00 Session IV “Stability Recovered” 10:00 Holy Eucharist 10:30 Brunch PACK: Casual clothes, Bible, Book of Common Prayer, Rule of St. Benedict, notebook and pen, umbrella, sunscreen.

DIRECTIONS: The Conference Center is on Mustang Island. Take I-37 to Corpus Christi, exit to travel through Corpus Christi onto Hwy 358, South Padre Island Drive (SPID). SPID becomes Park Rd 22, cross the JFK Causeway and turn left onto Hwy 361. Proceed 10 miles, watch for the sign on the right.

The Community of Hope celebrated a wonderful and very well attended Quiet Day on December 15, 2012.

Pictured: Sudie Holshauser and Carol Miller. Guest speaker, Sylvia Maddox.

14

OF EVENTS Christ Church Staff: January 27: Value-Packed Parenting begins, 10 AM

Children’s Communion Class begins, 10 AM

The Rev. Patrick Gahan, Rector patrickg@cecsa.org

January 31: Brahms Concert, 7:30 PM

The Rev. Scott Kitayama, Associate Rector, scottk@cecsa.org

February 3: Christ Church 1.0 Welcome luncheon, Gahan home, 1 - 2:30 PM February 5: Hearts & Hands Valentine’s Tea, 4 - 7 PM February 7: Brahms Concert, 7:30 PM February 10: Jim Cullum leads worship, 11 AM

Gumbo Mardi-Gras Luncheon in the Parish Hall.

February 12: Shrove Tuesday; Pancakes by Youth, 5:30 PM February 13: Ash Wednesday

Services at 7:30 AM, noon, 6:00 PM (with music)

The Rev. Brien Koehler, Associate Rector for Mission and Formation, brienk@cecsa.org Carol Miller, Pastoral Care Administrator, carolm@cecsa.org Halleta Heinrich, Director of Family Ministry, halletah@cecsa.org Clark Niles, Director of Youth Ministry clarkniles82@gmail.com

February 14: Brahms Concert, 7:30 PM

Dr. Owen Duggan, Music Minister owend@cecsa.org

February 17: First Sunday of Lent

Daughters of the King: Mother-Daughter Tea, 3 - 5 PM

Stephani St. Ambrogio, Violin Concert, 7:30 PM

Joshua Benninger, Organist joshb@cecsa.org

February 20: Wednesday Nights “Embracing a Life of Meaning” begins, 5:15 PM

Ruth Berg, Director of Children’s Music, ruthb@cecsa.org

February 24: Second Sunday of Lent March 2: Diocesan Junior Choir Festival, 10 AM - 4 PM March 3: Third Sunday of Lent Christ Church 1.0 Welcome luncheon, Gahan home, 1 - 2:30 PM March 8-10: Community of Hope Retreat, Mustang Island March 10: Fourth Sunday of Lent March 11-15: Spring Break March 13: No Youth Group March 17: Fifth Sunday of Lent March 22-24: Youth Alpha Retreat March 24: Palm Sunday

Christ Church Support Staff: Robert Hanley, Parish Administrator robert@hanleypmservices.com Darla Nelson, Office Manager darlan@cecsa.org Donna Shreve, Financial Manager donnas@cecsa.org Carmen Mercado Cary, Director of Communications, carmenc@cecsa.org Anna Jewell, Executive Assistant to the Rector, annaj@cecsa.org Donnis Carpenter, Receptionist donnisc@cecsa.org Elizabeth Martinez, Kitchen Manager elizabethm@cecsa.org Robert Vallejo, Facilities Manager robertv@cecsa.org Rudy Segovia, Hospitality Manager rudys@cecsa.org Joe Garcia, Sexton joeg@cecsa.org

15

The Hospitality Food Pantry held its Annual Christmas Luncheon on December 1, 2012.

About 200 people were served during this special meal at Christ Church.

The Message (USPS 471-710) is published bi-monthly by Christ Episcopal Church, 510 Belknap Place, San Antonio, TX 78212. Periodical postage paid in San Antonio, TX. Postmaster: Please send address changes to Christ Episcopal Church, 510 Belknap Place, San Antonio, TX 78212. Volume 15, Number 1.

Periodical Postage PAID San Antonio, TX Christ Episcopal Church 510 Belknap Place San Antonio, TX 78212 www.cecsa.org