The Message - May 2013

MAY 2013 • VOLUME 15, NUMBER 3

Children from Christ Church’s Childrens Choirs and students from James Madison Elementary performed Rescue in the Night on Sunday, May 5

The Peace that Passes Understanding - For Real: 2 Short FUSE Family Mission Trip: 8 “Puppy Dog Jig” Family Concert: 10 Wednesday Nights are NOOMA Nights: 11 Early Pentecost 2013 - The Real Gospel: 12

FROM

In this issue:

The Peace that Passes Understanding -- For Real!

How Could She!

Music Ministry....................... 4 World Missions ...................... 5 Youth Ministry ...................... 9 Family Ministry...................10 Our Church Life .................12 Outreach...............................14 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 6:00 p.m.

Holy Eucharist, Rite 2

Cover photo by Susanna Kitayama Back Cover photo by Roger Fry 2

PATRICK GAHAN Rector patrickg@cecsa.org

“How could she!”

“How in the world could she,” I heard myself exclaim as I was going through the ocean of mother’s papers after her death.

Amidst the tidal wave of bills, medical insur-

ance EOB’s, and caustic letters from creditors, I discovered she had co-signed a $32,000 loan for a young person in our family most unlikely to make the payments. What’s more, it was for a luxury car he didn’t merit or need. Mother should have known better. How could she be so shamefully and recklessly wasteful?

Serving as the executor of my mother’s tiny, indebted estate was draining. The discovery of the $32,000 loan made the task almost torturous. The loan, in fact, amounted to three times the value of mother’s meager assets. I did not like the discovery, nor did I like what it said about the waning days of my mother’s life.

A Story No One Wants to Hear Yet, because of that discovery, I can now finally understand Jesus’ most famous story, The Parable of the Prodigal Son, and I can better comprehend the crowd who heard Jesus’ words that day. The scripture clearly states that Jesus was speaking to a most diverse group of “tax collectors and sinners” on the one hand and a gaggle of “Pharisees and scribes” on the other (Luke 15:1-2). Talk about a divided crowd! Regardless of their profound differences, not a single person in that audience would have liked the story Jesus told.

You know the plot: A younger son approaches his father to say, “I can’t wait a minute longer for you to die, so give me what’s coming to me” (Luke 15:12).

In that ancient society, as in most soci-

eties until recent history, the second son had absolutely nothing coming to him.

It is unthinkable that he would hazard such a ludicrous and disrespectful request. If Jesus’ audience gasped when the son made his impertinent demand, they nearly fell over when the father granted the son’s wish.

Gathering up half the estate, the younger son grabbed his land titles and marched the sheep, goats, and donkeys through the middle of town, where he hastily liquidated his father’s assets at terribly low prices. What the father had

“ How could she be so shamefully and recklessly wasteful?” worked for two generations to build, his brazenly egocentric son disposed of in a few hours. All the while, people in the village began to say that the venerable father was losing his marbles.

The crowd listening to Jesus would have been shaking their heads in disbelief and horror, as well.

The son goes as far away from home as he can get, where he becomes the veritable life of the party. He spends his money on booze and prostitutes, and he has lots of friends as long as he can buy the drinks and finance their ribald revelry, but once he’s broke – he’s alone. The only job he can get is feeding

“ Yep, that’s what happens.

He had it coming.” pigs. He has gone from being the son of a good father in a noble Jewish family to inhabiting the lowest rung of society.

He has completely lost his identity (Luke 15:13-19). Now Jesus’ audience is nodding their heads and quietly whispering, “Yep, that’s what happens. He had it coming.”

On the brink of starvation, the boy plots an avenue for survival. He begins the long walk back home in order to

From our Rector... apply for a job as a slave. With each step, he practices his painful speech to his father, relinquishing his place as a son. As he rounds the bend towards the family’s farm, still several hundred

True, the father is shamefully and recklessly wasteful with his possessions, his love, and his forgiveness.

Astoundingly, it is also true that shamefully and recklessly wasteful is the definition of – “prodigal.” yards from the house, he can’t believe what happens, and neither can that audience hanging on every word of Jesus’ story. Even though the boy is still just a dot on the horizon, merely a moving black silhouette against the sky, his father sees him. The father knows that only one black dot on earth moves in that way. The black dot is his son, for whom he has been watching since the day he marched away from home with the sheep, goats, and donkeys.

How Could He! Overcome by the sight, the father then pulls up his robes and runs out to the boy. He won’t even allow the boy to finish his prepared speech, for he is too busy covering him with kisses. Pulling the family’s signet ring off his finger, he places it on his wayward son’s hand.

The boy’s identity has been instantly restored. “This calls for the biggest party ever,” declares the father (Luke 15:2024). Upon hearing that inconceivable declaration, Jesus’ audience wants to cover their ears to allay their tortured pain. “How could he!”

Hope for the audience is on its way, however. The older son, who has been working all day in the fields, doing both his work and the work of his self-indulgent brother, refuses to take part in the shindig. Hearing this news, the father goes out to the older son just like he had gone out to his younger one earlier. He

begs him to come in to see his brother “who was dead to them but is now alive again” (Luke 15:25-32). And then Jesus abruptly ends his story.

The disconcerted audience hangs their heads in disappointment and disapproval. A few are heard to say, “I wouldn’t go in either. The whole thing is totally unfair.” Regardless of their pasts, as stalwart religious citizens or sketchy characters living on the edge of polite society, any one of them bearing even a faint hint of right and wrong would have forgone that party.

But then they will miss it all. True, the father is shamefully and recklessly wasteful with his possessions, his love, and his forgiveness. Astoundingly, it is also true that shamefully and recklessly wasteful is the definition of – “prodigal.”

This is the story of the Prodigal Father – and not so much the prodigal son. As an older son myself, the story stings my ears. I don’t want to hear that my dutifulness, my fidelity, my faithfulness doesn’t amount to much. Yet I must hear it, for it is only Christ’s dutifulness and his fidelity and his unfaltering faithfulness that count.

From the God-ward Side Jesus’ story starts from the God-ward side, unlike me, who centers on the human side of things. I, like the older brother, am obsessed with what is fair, while Jesus concerns himself with what is holy

From the self-ward side, we will never accomplish a miracle of that magnitude – only from the God-ward side does such a miracle become a personal reality.

– that which reflects the Father’s heart.

How many mistakes have you and I made due to our overload of self-righteousness? On every occasion that we step out in self-interest instead of stepping into God’s will, we cause harm.

Note how the prodigal father in Jesus’ story makes quick steps toward his ter-

ribly wayward son, and how he just as quickly goes out to his sanctimonious older son. He will do no further harm protecting his self-interests. Instead, he will introduce radical love, forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing. From the self-ward side, we will never accomplish a miracle of that magnitude – only from the God-ward side does such a miracle become a personal reality.

At the Peacemakers workshop at Christ

‘Those with good sense are slow to anger, and it is their glory to overlook an offense’ (Proverbs 19:11).

Church held on April 12-13, I was shaken as much as that older son in Jesus’ story, and I began to see how we, too, can make relational decisions from the God-ward side. Peacemakers call this reconciliation process The 4 G’s of Peacemaking. When we are embroiled in a disagreement or a dispute with a family member or friend, we can take this clearly defined path of the 4 G’s and end up on the God-ward side of things instead of the ditch we most often dig for ourselves and the other: 1st Step – Glorify God: Instead of focusing on our own desires or dwelling on what others may do, we will rejoice in the Lord and bring him praise by depending on his forgiveness, wisdom, power, and love, as we seek to faithfully obey his commands and maintain a loving, merciful, and forgiving attitude.

As the Psalmist sings out, ‘Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday’ (Psalm 37:5-6).

2nd Step – Get the Log Out of Your Eye: Instead of blaming others for a conflict or resisting correction, we will trust in God’s mercy and take responsibility for our own contribution to conflicts— confessing our sins to those we have wronged, asking God to help us change any attitudes and habits that lead to conflict, and seeking to repair any harm we have caused. The writer of Proverbs

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From our Rector...

“Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 5:29). sagely offers, ‘Those with good sense are slow to anger, and it is their glory to overlook an offense’ (Proverbs 19:11).

3rd Step – Gently Restore: Instead of pretending that conflict does not exist or talking about others behind their backs, we will overlook minor offenses or we will talk personally and graciously with those whose offenses seem too serious to overlook, seeking to restore them rather than condemn them. When a conflict

with a Christian brother or sister cannot be resolved in private, we will ask others in the body of Christ to help us settle the matter in a Biblical manner. Wise words rise up from the Letter to the Ephesians to aid us, ‘Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear’ (Ephesians 5:29).

4th Step – Go and Be Reconciled: Instead of accepting premature compromise or allowing relationships to wither, we will actively pursue genuine peace and reconciliation—forgiving others as God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven us, and seeking just and beneficial solutions to our differences. Jesus himself warned us, ‘So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your

brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift’ (Matthew 5:23-24).1 How Will the Story End? Perhaps that deplorable bank document was my mother’s very last prophecy to me. Like a “pearl of great price, a treasure hidden in the field” (Matthew 13:44-46), those loan papers cry out from my mother’s grave that the only avenue to accept Christ’s abundant life (John 10:10) is to imitate his shameless, reckless, wasteful love. If, when, and how I do that will determine how the story ends.

Your brother,

Patrick U

1 Peacemaking Principles, pamphlet, Peacemaker Ministries, Billings, MT, adapted from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, by Ken Sande.

MINISTRY “Q Series” at Christ Church

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his summer, look for an exciting new chamber music initiative called the “Q series”, brought to you by Friends of Music and Christ Church oboist and parishioner Jennifer Berg. Jennifer is gathering some of San Antonio’s youngest and finest players to bring you a fresh perspective on some classic pieces.

OWEN DUGGAN Minister of Music owend@cecsa.org

For those who want to get more involved, Q is offering Friday “sneak previews” of their Sunday concerts. Get to know the musicians over a glass of wine while they discuss and demo a few

of the compositions being performed later that weekend.

This is a rare treat for the keenest of concert-goers!

Members of Q will not only include local professionals, but others will travel to San Antonio to perform as well. Look forward to appearances by Andrew Thompson of the St Louis Symphony, as he and the other members of Boston’s “Quintuplets” reunite here in San Antonio for the first time since their days at the New England Conservatory.

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All concerts are at 3:00 PM and admission is by suggested donation, $10 for adults, $5 for students.

June 9th - Kick off concert: BB-Q – music of J.S. Bach plus poems by William Blake set by Ralph Vaughan Williams; includes soprano Gail Wettstein.

July 21st - Quintuplets Reunite - works by Blumer and Harbison July 28th - Woodwind and Fire - Sonatas and Trios for Oboe, Bassoon, and Piano

MISSIONS Just Where Do Missionary’s Kids Go to School?

Over the past two years, as I have been traveling all over the Philippines assisting the tribal missionaries, Ginny has been teaching missionary kids at Faith Academy. In this article I will present some things about Faith Academy and how it fits into the greater missionary community in Asia and in the world.

In most places in the USA, if you get a new job somewhere, you can move to that town, figure out which school district is really good, move there, and then begin to carry out your work. It is not like that in most places overseas where missionaries work. We believe our kids deserve just as much chance for a good Western education as we had, but there are very few Western ed-

where there would be room to expand, develop facilities, and establish a long term option for the children of missionaries. It is still going strong today, and provides the chance for kids to excel in academics, athletics, and the arts.

A boarding option is available for missionaries that are working out of the city, and we have many students whose parents are working in closed countries, spreading the Gospel in areas where such activity can be considered quite dangerous.

Into this environment we have found ourselves. While my work has required me to travel frequently to the tribes over the past two years, Ginny has been able to fit into the ministry of teaching missionary children. She has taught many different high school classes including English, History, Math, Science, and Bible.

The challenges of teaching at Faith Academy are unique. This is not a salaried position – all the teachers are volunteer missionaries like us. There is no teacher union directing the activity – the focus is serving God effectively and representing Him to the students under instruction. The students themselves come from all Sarah in Faith Academy’s production of “Beauty and the Beast” over the world including ucation options in the remote areas of Europe, America and Asia. Korean stuthe country where we live. Those that dents make up the largest ethnic group are available are private schools. As far at the school and practically all of them back as the 1950s, a group of mission- have English as their second language. aries realized that they needed to put We have a number of Filipino students together options for the children of as well, children of pastors and busimissionaries to get an education. That nessmen in the community. way, when the children return to their home countries, they would have the Students whose parents are far away same opportunities as the children that and live in a dormitory have a unique grew up in those countries. set of challenges. They often live in a dorm with 16 or 17 other kids, and So in 1957 Faith Academy was started. some have not seen their parents for At first it was located in the heart of months. Yet they are at Faith Academy Metro Manila. Later, a better location because it is the best option for them. If was found further away from the city, you are a missionary in a closed coun-

try, where women are forced into marriage by age 12, or where you and your family can be in danger for the simple

“ The challenges of teaching at Faith Academy are unique. This is not a salaried position - all the teachers are volunteer missionaries like us.” fact that you are a Christian, sending your child away to a Christian environment for school to give the child better opportunities and a safer living condition is something that you would seriously consider, especially once they are older. Yet these kids still have emotional needs being away from their parents, and the teachers are often the ones to help meet those needs.

Missionaries teaching at Faith Academy have to have an understanding of at least three cultures where students hail from – the Philippines (as the host country), Korean – due to the large number of Korean students, and a Western (American) or European culture. So taking all the different cultures into consideration makes this a real challenge!

We ask you to continue to remember us in prayer as we serve the Lord here in the Philippines. Our doctor has said that I have to rest from such frequent travels, as it has affected my digestive health. However, there is plenty of work to do even from home, as I direct the language learning activities of our mission over the entire Philippines, and communicate through the internet with our people in remote areas. Ginny is a very gifted teacher, and her ministry is bearing fruit among the students at Faith Academy. We are thankful to serve, and thankful to have you all alongside us!

In Christ,

George, for all of us Ginny, Isaac (in the US), Sarah and Abby 5

World Missions..

Bible School in “Bible Land” - Kids Games in Nazareth

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his year, I am fortunate to be partnering again with Child Evangelism Fellowship for their summer camp program, Kids Games. CEF’s goal is to see “every child reached with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, discipled, and established in a local church.”

Their ministry, here in Nazareth and the surrounding villages, reaches hundreds of children every summer through a series of weeklong camps. Throughout the year they provide valuable teacher training for Sunday School teachers and local leaders, as well as counselor training for the youth that participate in the camps.

Their director comes every Wednesday to Amelia’s kindergarten class atthe Baptist School, where they learn about missionaries throughout history, and children who have stood for Jesus in the midst of oppression and persecution.

The staff members, Fadi Hanna and Samuel Basha, are locals. They know

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these kids and their families, know the cultural and spiritual difficulties they face, and have a sacrificial love for these children. For some of these kids that are not raised in Christian homes,

churches here would be intentional about reaching out to the non-Christian population and inviting them to the camps.

Pray that the churches here would be intentional about reaching out to the non-Christian population .....

Pray for the foreign volunteers, that the language barrier would not hinder their ability to share the gospel, and that they would be able to find the right balance of involvement and rest.

these camps are the only chance they get to hear about the love of Jesus.

We have already started organizing the camps for this summer, and I am getting pumped about what God has in store this year! We will have a mixture of local and foreign volunteers leading workshops, worship, bible time and games. Will you join me in praying for this exciting ministry?

Pray against burn-out and overwhelming culture shock. Some of these people are with us all summer, and it can be an intense experience for them.

Pray for the local volunteers, who often have to act as translators and serve as counselors.

Pray for unity of purpose and clarity of vision, that ministering to these kids would be our number one priority.

Blessings to you all in Christ,

Pray for the villages where we will be having camps: Nazareth, Eilaboun, Shef’amr, and Tur’an. Pray that the

The Millers

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

World Missions..

Arise Africa Hello Christ Episcopal Church, My name is Alissa Hollimon and I grew up going to Christ Episcopal Church as a child and teenager.

I spent many hours in the Carriage House and loved my time there.

I was honored when Reverend Gahan asked me to write in the newsletter about a ministry I started with a friend a few years ago, Arise Africa.

I had spent some time in Africa in 2008 and came home knowing I wanted to stay involved and help the people I had met. This is how Arise Africa was started in 2010. In three short years we are shocked at our growth and certainly feel like God has a plan that is much bigger than our’s ever was!

Arise Africa works with orphaned and vulnerable (living on less than $1.50 a day) children in Zambia. We have a child sponsorship program with 150 kids in it. We pay their school fees, buy clothes, feed them daily, and disciple

them in partnering community schools.

We also distribute an additional 16,000 meals to kids yearly. Arise Africa works directly with community schools and helps them purchase school supplies, textbooks, furniture, pay teacher’s salaries, and build classrooms and libraries.

We currently are working on building nine classrooms to a local school that is run by a minister that we have known for years. We also take Americans over to Zambia for mission trips throughout the year and help do building projects and kids Bible Camps.

“...we know God has this! It has been an incredible experience to take children that had no living parents, were living in the city dump...and bring them to a house with beds and mattresses and all the food they want.”

Our most recent addition to our ministry was an orphanage we opened in December of 2012, the Arise Home.

Some people think I am crazy for having ten African children in my name and in our full custody! But we know God has this! It has been an incredible experience to take children that had no living parents, were living in the city dump, in plastic homes, and bring them to

a house with beds and mattresses and all the food they want. A few of our kids are HIV positive and one was fifteen years old and weighed 52 pounds.

Since moving in with us in December he has gained 22 pounds and grown two inches and counting! He told us for the first time he feels like he has enough energy to play with the other kids.

They are happy, cared for, and loved, something they had never experienced before.

I can’t take the credit for any of this.

God has orchestrated all of the donors and supporters who have come to us and helped us financially support each child in the Arise Home and in our child sponsorship program. Without our individual donors and people willing to take on small and large tasks for us, none of this would have ever happened.

It has ALL been in the work of the Lord.

The next people that deserve the credit are the Arise Africa staff in Zambia. We have 21 individuals on staff. They work tirelessly in the compounds and slums and at the Arise Home loving on and caring for kids. They have a faith in the Lord that I can only pray to have one day. They are the hardest working and strongest individuals I have ever met.

Arise Africa is making a major impact in the communities where we work. But we need your help! We always have kids that need your sponsorship and are looking for more people to partner with us or come on mission trips. If you are interested please let us know!

In Him,

Allisa Hollimon www.ariseafrica.org alissa@ariseafrica.org

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World Missions..

Sharing Christ’s Mission in Honduras Terry and I are very excited to share with you our news about the upcoming Honduras Mission Trip. By the time you read this message, our group will be comBRIEN KOEHLER plete. BUT there Associate Rector may be room for for Mission and more so don’t be Formation shy. If the Lord is brienk@cecsa.org leading you to be part of this new area of mission work at Christ Church, let me know!! Call me at 830-200-1905 or email me at brienk@cecsa.org to get the information you need. We leave for Honduras from San Antonio (via Hous-

ton) on Saturday, June 29. We return on Friday, July 5. Our mission projects will be in the Copan Deanery of the Episcopal Church Diocese of Honduras (construction, women’s ministry, and Bible School for children).

You have a part to play in this mission.

First, we want everyone in our parish to put this trip on their prayer list, and we need your daily prayers for God’s blessing on what we will be doing. No mission trip ever works without a blanket of prayer from the sending parish.

God may lead you to make a special financial offering of support for the mission trip to Honduras; if this is so, please send it to Christ Church, marked Honduras Mission. Gifts to supplement our parish budget support and what is

paid by those who are making the trip to Honduras are always welcome and needed. A financial gift is another form of prayer and it makes you part of the team: it is personal involvement in the mission of Christ through our church.

And finally, you may be one who has already signed on to the team to be with us in Honduras, or you may be one whom God is nudging to be part of it.

Listen, then let me know. Prayer, financial support, and personal involvement are the three ways mission teams work; and every member of Christ Church can be involved in one or more of these vital components of mission.

Associate Rector,

Brien Koehler

Christ Church Receives DWTX Mission Grants for Honduras

In response to an application submitted to the Diocese by Terry Koehler, Christ Church has received two grants totaling $10,500 for designated projects in Honduras. The grants were awarded as part of the annual mission grants using funds designated for missions received from congregations all across the Diocese of West Texas. One of the Christ Church awards will be used for a variety of building and improvement projects in the Copan Deanery (church repair, construction, paint, finish carpentry, etc) and Spanish language Bibles ($3,000). The second Christ Church award ($7,500) will be used in conjunction with a grant of the same amount from the Diocese of Louisiana to replace the aging and battered vehicle of the priest who serves the Copan and Maya Deaneries (one priest for more than forty mission congregations scattered across the region near Copan). Christ Church and dozens of other beneficiaries of grants through the Diocese of West Texas will spread the kingdom of Christ across the world.

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Short FUSE (Faith Urban Service Experience) Please save the date of July 11 – 14 for our Parish wide mission and outreach adventure. We will travel to Houston, Texas and partner with CUSE (Cathedral Urban Service Experience). They are an inner city mission organization from the Diocese of Texas and Christ Church Cathedral Houston.

This trip will be a great opportunity for individuals of all ages to have a mission experience right in our great state of Texas. The Short FUSE adventure will provide opportunities for our members to serve alongside other ministry groups that operate in the downtown area of Houston. By offering your time, energy and sweat as we serve with these other hands-on ministries we will be supplying substantive help to God’s people in a much needed area of Houston.

Our hope is twofold - that this will be an experience that impacts a community and that local ministries are supported in their mission work and that this experience helps to transform us as mission minded people of God. That we would have a new vision of how our faith can impact our home life and community at large.

Brochures and posters with more detailed information will be available soon.

If you are interested in this great adventure, please contact Scott Kitayama at scottk@cecsa.org.

MINISTRY A Testimony of our Lord’s Faithfulness Let me tell you a story. It is about more than thirty-five young people who accepted the challenge to give up sixteen Sunday mornings to come hear the CLARK NILES explicit gospel or Director of Youth Ministry the good news clarkn@cecsa.org of our Lord Jesus. Eighteen of the group were contemplating confirmation, for they had reached the acceptable age here at Christ Church to acknowledge and accept the faith that most had been immersed in by their parents from birth.

The teachings each week were derived from the Youth Alpha series which included topics such as: “Who is Jesus?”, “Why did He die?”, “Why and how should I read the Bible?”, “Why and how should I Pray?”, “Who is the Holy Spirit?”, “How can I be led by the Spirit?”, “How and why should I tell others?”,

and “How can I make the most of the rest of my Life?”. These teachings and others were given by parents like Mary Ellen Archer, parent and youth sponsor Dennis Eberhardt, Clark Niles, Tina Bigley, loving adults like Pat Mcalpin, Trent Timberlake, our music minister Owen Duggan, priests Scott Kitayama and our own rector Patrick Gahan, and even a Bishop, Bill Frey. It was quite a line up of speakers, and many are grateful for their gift of time and care that went into these messages.

As we drew near the end in March there was a great retreat. I say great because it had all that you would want in a retreat for young people. It had adventure, fun, more strong teachings, an orienteering challenge with compasses and rough terrain, a river to cool off in, and time enough for the world we left behind in San Antonio to fade and become a little quieter in our heads. All in order that we might be able to hear the still small voice of the Lord, nourish, heal, and lead. And very importantly, by Saturday evening, we finally came together as a

group, a community, or as the scripture describes it, one body. Many thanks go out to all who helped make it so special, like Elizabeth Martinez and Helen Merrill who made sure we had the best food, the youth gang of Tina Bigley, Kristine Mangum, Dennis Ebernhardt, and Clark Niles. And parents like Mark and Nancy Wright, Jean King, and Scott Kitayama and especially John Harrison who allowed us to use his ranch on the Medina River for the retreat and the baptism of Taylor Sessions by Scott.

Yes it was more than great it was awesome! Thanks for the many prayers by many of you over this retreat.

After three more teachings we found ourselves at the end, which culminated on Confirmation Sunday. All eighteen who started were confirmed on April 28th. This event is a testimony of our Lord’s faithfulness to call us to Himself and make us His own. All praise, honor and glory are His.

The Beginning,

Clark Niles

Youth Retreat at John Harrison’s Ranch and Confirmation Sunday, April 28, 2013 9

MINISTRY Kick off Summer with our Family Concert Kick off summer at our Family Concert on Sunday, June 2 at 10 AM.

HALLETA HEINRICH Director of Family Ministries halletah@cecsa.org

Our own Owen Duggan and his talented gang of musicians will be performing live the “Puppy Dog Jig” his latest CD, in a Family Concert, Sunday, June 2, at 10 AM in the FMC Playground Amphitheater. Owen’s latest CD is a compilation of new and old sing-a-longs for kids of all ages. Snacks and drinks will be served as you enjoy this fun family time together. Graduating fifth graders will be honored at the concert as we bless them and cheer them on to be part of our Youth Ministry for the coming year.

“Puppy Dog Jig” Owen Duggan’s Latest – A New and Old Sing-Along CD For Kids of All Ages

VBS 2013 - Athens! is coming June 24 - 27 Christ Church, along with our friends at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, will host approximately 150 children and youth helpers for a Holy Land Adventure on June 24-27. As kids and adult volunteers are immersed in Bible-times culture, the reality of God’s love gains new meaning and relevance to our everyday lives. Plus, we’ll have an amazing time trying out new Bible-times crafts, games, food, songs and more!

Group time.

With just a month to go and dozens of kids already registered (including 12 from the Good Samaritan Center), we need adult and teen volunteers in the following areas: small group leaders, Marketplace crafts, decorations, and Arena Games/recreation.

Consider giving one or more mornings to this valuable ministry and watch these kids light up with joy! Your mornings will fly by but the impact you have on the children will last long after VBS is over. No experience is required and everything is very simple to learn.

Children will visit Paul’s tent-making house to hear about his second missionary journey, what happened when he and a friend were thrown in prison, his escape from an angry mob, his commitment to Jesus and his further plans to share the truth. In the Arena Games VBS will be held Monday -Thursday area, kids will take turns at hilarious from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. The regisrenditions of Olympic-style games like tration fee is $25 per child with a $50 discus, javelin toss and chariot races. family maximum. Teen Helpers that In the always-popular Marketplace, the volunteer will receive service hours.

Whoooo is this owl in a toga with a Grecian children will visit exciting shops includ- headband? It’s Hoot our Athens VBS mascot with Register your kids, grandkids and ing the pottery studio, the toy-making Mary, Andrew and George Case. Join all of them friends today at www.cecsa.org/chilshop, the scribe shop, the brick-making at Athens VBS June 24-27 dren. yard, an animal courtyard and the very Amy Case popular food market. Finally, kids will engage in wonder- VBS Director, ful song and Bible study time in their Celebration and Small amygcase@gmail.com

It’s All Hands On this Summer for Summer Sunday School Join us this summer for: “Hands On Bible” Sunday School for Preschool 3 Year Olds Through Kindergarten Graduates And “Hands On the Prayer Book and Bible” for First through Fifth Graders Beginning June 9 – August 25 Parents, Sign Up to Teach One or More Sundays!

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Pockets the Kangaroo Puppet will be here to help lead preschool 3 year olds through graduating kindergarteners with fun and active “Hands on Bible” Sunday School this summer from June 9 – August 25 from 10 – 10:50 am in FMC rooms 205 and 206. “Hands on Bible” Sunday School is fun, easy to teach, and activity based. The children love it! Parents should sign up to teach one or

Family Ministry...

Hands On Bible continued... more Sundays. Sign- ups will be located on classroom doors and in the Tomlin Room.

Halleta Heinrich will lead the elementary age children, first through fifth grade graduates, in a newly created “Hands On the Prayer Book and Bible” course. This summer class will serve as a development lab for creating a unit that will introduce our children to the Book of Common Prayer, whose basis is the Bible. The class will be held in the Level

II Catechesis of Good Shepherd Atrium classroom 208 in the FMC. Many hands on activities including art, journaling, and the many presentation materials found in our Level II classroom will be used as we explore the riches of the prayer book together. Halleta will need a Parent Helper each Sunday, so sign up ASAP. A sign up for helping in this class will be located in the Tomlin Room and outside SundaySchool classrooms.

Catch the Spirit! NOOMA Nights Get Ready for NOOMA Nights Summer Wednesday Nights At Christ Church July 10 – August 14 5:30 – 7 PM In the Parish Hall Popscicles, Play, and Pray for Kids Get ready for NOOMA Nights this summer, Wednesdays July 10 – August 14 from 5:30 – 7 pm in the Parish Hall.

NOOMA is the phonetic spelling of “pneuma” which means Wind, Spirit, or Breath. The NOOMA series is made up of 10 – 14 minute films centering on Christian teachings related to real-life experiences. Each film is dynamic, thought provoking, and inspirational, and will be a jumping off point for some great small group discussions.

Christian teacher and bestselling au-

thor Rob Bell is the creator and presenter of NOOMA. NOOMA Nights will begin with a Make It Yourself Sandwich Buffet beginning at 5:30 pm in the Parish Hall. Fruit and veggies will also be served each week to round out the menu. A kid friendly hot pot of something yummy like Macaroni and Cheese will also be served each week.

NOOMA film viewing will begin at 6:15 pm with small group discussion following.

Children will be escorted to the playground at 6:15 pm for Popscicles and Play, then journey to the second floor of the FMC for Prayer and Share and Free Art and Games

Time. Parents should pick up kids in room 206 of the FMC at conclusion of NOOMA. Nursery care will be available for infants through young 3 year olds in FMC nurseries 104, 105, and 106 for the entire evening.

Our hope is that NOOMA will continue to help us build relationships within our Christ Church family as we are challenged to discuss and share our hearts with each other in a relaxed, summertime environment. Friends from outside Christ Church are always welcome. For more information contact Halleta Heinrich at halletah@ cecsa.org or 736-3132.

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Early Pentecost 2013: The Real Gospel Bible Study & Preaching Series ‘That’s the Gospel truth!’ we hear people exclaim, but what does it mean? What is the Gospel truth? Surprising as it may seem, we stole the term ‘gospel” from imperial Rome.

Before Christ, the term was generally associated with ‘good news’ concerning the emperor, especially in terms of his military victories. ‘Declare the good news that Augustus has brought peace to the empire!’ would herald emissaries sent throughout the Roman provinces. No wonder the earliest Christians appropriated the word for their burgeoning movement. The Real Gospel is that Jesus has defeated evil and death. Caesar’s victories could not compete with that claim. (By the way, those early Christians stole the word ‘Caesar’, as well. The word means ‘Lord.’ Hence, the oldest Christian Creed is ‘Jesus is Lord’…and not Caesar. Don’t Sunday, June 2 Sunday, June 9 Sunday, June 16 Sunday, June 23 Sunday, June 30 Sunday July 7

Proper Proper Proper Proper Proper Proper

4 5 6 7 8 9

Galatians Galatians Galatians Galatians Galatians Galatians

think for a minute that our Christian faith is devoid of political connotations!).

A more pressing question for us modern Christians is what is the content of the Gospel? What’s at the heart of the ‘Good News”? Freedom, grace, faith, unity, the Holy Spirit, and –most especially – the Cross of Christ characterize the Gospel. Saint Paul, in his Letter to the Galatians, fiercely defends these central facets of the Gospel from those who would substantially dilute its message. During the first weeks of Pentecost, we will study Paul’s letter. A Bible Study will be posted each week on our website www.cecsa. org. To complement the studies, our Sunday sermons will draw from Paul’s timeless wisdom.

1:1-12 1:11-24 2:15-21 3:23-29 5:1, 13-25 6:1-16

The The The The The The

Real Real Real Real Real Real

Gospel Gospel Gospel Gospel Gospel Gospel

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Sets us Free Thrives on Grace Operates by Faith Erases Division Exudes the Spirit Centers on the Cross

Mid Pentecost 2013: Jesus’ How-To List Bible Study & Preaching Series Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday,

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July 14 July 21 Junly 28 August 4 August 11 August 18 August 25 September 1

Proper Proper Proper Proper Proper Proper Proper Proper

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Luke Luke Luke Luke Luke Luke Luke Luke

10:25-37 10:38-42 11:1-13 12:13-21 12:32-40 12:49-56 13:10-17 14:1, 7-14

How How How How How How How How

to to to to to to to to

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Be a Neighbor Make the Right Choice Keep Praying Make the Most of Life Raise Expectations Embrace the New Be Set Free Live Generously

Our Church Life...

Christ Church Family Camp Christ Church Family Camp Coming September 13 – 15 At Beautiful New “Headwaters” Family Camp At Laity Lodge Register On Line by May 31 – We Will Fill Up Fast!

Come be part of a great family and Church Family experience September 13 – 15 at the beautiful new “Headwaters” Family Camp at Laity Lodge.

Please register ASAP, preferably by the end of June, because we will be filling up our 25 family spaces quickly. You can register on line from the Christ Church website cecsa.org where there is a special link for Family Camp. Our friend John Hill is the Laity Lodge Family Camp Director, and he will provide us with great and experienced Laity Lodge counselors and speakers, wonderful meals, and many fun outdoor activities for the whole family. You can get a preview of the beautiful facilities and outdoor recreational activities at the Laity Lodge website www.LLFamilyCamp. org. FYI – you must register online, though, at the Family Camp link located on the Christ Church website. Contact Halleta Heinrich for further information.

Adult Christian Formation for Summer The summer offerings through our Adult Formation program should bring opportunities for anyone in our parish family to learn something new or to rethink things they already know.

JUNE: On the first four Sundays in June, Brien Koehler will be presenting a series titled “Stability in an Unstable World”. This four-part series was first presented to the Diocese of West Texas Community of Hope retreat last March at Mustang Island, and Brien will teach the course at 10am in the Parish Hall beginning June 2.

All Christians seek a stable and balanced spiritual life, but in our present culture and context neither stability nor balance is easy to find. Brien will lead us through an orderly process toward these elusive goals using some principles of the Rule of St Benedict--a spiritual regimen that has been used by the Church for about 1500 years.

Join us week by week in June for “Stability in an Unstable World”.

JULY & AUGUST: Searching Issues is the title of our “summer book study” to be offered Sunday mornings throughout July and August at 10 am in the Parish Hall. Parish member volunteer leaders will organize participants in small groups for reading and discussing Nicky Gumbel’s book that gives our series its name.

Details about the Searching Issues program will be published in our e-news and Sunday bulletins soon.

to God? What about the New Age? Is there anything wrong with sex outside of marriage? Tough, real questions . . . that require straight answers. Nicky Gumbel discusses these and other common objections to the Christian faith.

Searching Issues is for those seeking insights into some of the most difficult and complex questions surrounding Christianity. This book is also for those interested in bringing their friends to Christ. Whether you are studying on your own or with a small group, you will find helpful answers.”

From Amazon.com about Nicky Gumbel’s Searching Issues: “Why does God allow suffering? Do all religions lead

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CARE “The Knitting Ministry of Christ Church”

by Evelyn Camp

T

given about 20 lap robes to the wounded warriors.

here is never a dull moment when a group of ladies gather on Tuesday afternoons at Christ Church. Although there is laughter and animated conversation, there

There are 14 ladies that make up the core group, with others coming when circumstances allow. We consider what we do a ministry at Christ Church, and we are thrilled with the wonderful responses that we receive.

are busy hands doing serious business for an hour and a half.

Would you like to join these “knit wits?” Beginners are welcomed along with experienced knitters. The pattern requires only basic knit and purl skills.

And there are plenty of experienced knitters in the group to offer a helping hand.

CAROL MILLER Pastoral Care Administrator carolm@cecsa.org

We knit prayer shawls and lap robes for people who, for one reason or another, need a hug. Prayers are lifted up for the recipients of our creations and the completed shawls are blessed by our chaplain, the Rev. Scott Kitayama. Over a period of several years, we have delivered more than 200 prayer shawls and

If you are aware of anyone who needs a prayer shawl please contact Carol Miller at the Pastoral Care desk.

The group meets in the library on Tuesdays from 1:30 to 3:00 pm.

La Fiesta de los Amigos de Thunderbird On Sunday, April 21st, we were blessed with a glorious day to share with our neighbors at the Thunderbird Apartments. The Community Outreach Committee hosted the “La Fiesta de los Amigos de Thunderbird “ as an opportunity to reach out to our neighbors. Church members and residents got to know one another in the Fiesta decorated courtyard as they prayed together, shared stories and conversation and broke bread together. We served 80 plates of fried chicken and all the fixin’s with plenty of cold drinks and yummy deserts. We even worked on jigsaw puzzles together.

Thanks to the Youth Ministry, we had beautiful music which was enjoyed by all. Thanks to all who helped make “La Fiesta de los Amigos de Thunderbird” a great success.

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Planned Giving

For Pat and me to know that Christ Church is always there to help fulfill our faith is truly one of the great comforts of our life together.

To think about what it would be like without Christ Church is unsettling.

While we have confidence that God’s plan is to somehow always provide for his peoples’ needs, we have been given pause to pray over the ability God has given us to plan a gift that will help perpetuate the future of the ministries that are provided by our Parish.

The path has been opened to realize that in addition to our annual giving and the occasional capital drive donations we have shared, a part of what we will leave should go to Christ Episcopal Church.

The new Planned Giving Program has offered several avenues to do this. Pat and I have made provision in our Wills for a grant to participate in endowing Christ Church’s ministries in the years to follow.

Pat and I would like to offer encouragement to others in our Church family to join us in considering a planned gift to Christ Church.

Pat and Tom Frost

OF EVENTS Christ Church Staff: May 19: Pentecost Sunday

All Sunday School Pentecost Party in the FMC at 10 AM

Youth Sunday at 11 AM

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

May 26: Trinity Sunday

Baptism Sunday

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

May 27: Memorial Day/ Church Offices Closed

The Rev. Brien Koehler, Associate Rector for Mission and Formation, brienk@cecsa.org

June 2: Family Concert featuring Owen Duggan 10 AM in the FMC Amphitheater

VBS Staff Orientation 11 AM

Honduras Mission Meeting 12 PM

Christ Church 1.0 at the Gahan’s 1:00 PM - please RSVP to Anna Jewell June 7: Community of Hope Class begins 9:30 to 11:30 AM at Chandler Estates.

The 14 week course will meet on Fridays through September 6. Contact

Carol Miller for more information.

June 9: Q Series Concert - BB-Q 3:00 PM June 23: Honduras Mission Meeting 12:00 PM June 24: VBS Athens begins 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM June 25: VBS Athens 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM June 26: VBS Athens 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

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 Dr. Owen Duggan, Music Minister owend@cecsa.org Joshua Benninger, Organist joshb@cecsa.org Ruth Berg, Director of Children’s Music, ruthb@cecsa.org

June 27: VBS Athens 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM June 29 - July 5: Honduras Mission Trip June 30: “Proud to be an American” Independence Day Celebration 12:15 PM July 4: Independence Day/ Church Office Closed July 7: Christ Church 1.0 at the Gahan’s 1:00 PM - please RSVP to Anna Jewell July 10: NOOMA Nights begins 5:30 to 7:00 PM in the Parish Hall July 11 - 14: Short FUSE Mission Trip to Houston July 17: NOOMA Nights 5:30 - 7:00 PM July 21: Q Series Concert - Quintuplets Reunite 3 PM July 24: NOOMA Nights 5:30 - 7:00 PM July 28: Q Series Concert - Woodwind and Fire 3:00 PM July 31: NOOMA Nights 5:30 - 7:00 PM August 4: Christ Church 1.0 at the Gahan’s 1:00 PM - please RSVP to Anna Jewell August 7: NOOMA Nights 5:30 - 7:00 PM August 14: Last evening of NOOMA Nights 5:30 - 7:00 PM

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 Gretchen Comuzzi Duggan, Director of Communications, gretchend@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

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Confirmation Class 2013: Front row from left to right: Luke Rowland, John Janes, Larkin Crow, Becca Brown, McLean Carrington; 2nd Row: Taylor Sessions, Aston Down, Noah Clark, Chris Janes, Julianna Bathie, Katherine Green; 3rd row: William King, Margaret Schupbach, Julia Newton, Kara Rose, Paige Johnson, Jane Beck; Back: Zack Eichelberger

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 3.

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