Annual Report

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

ANNUAL REPORT

Called to Community Deepening our Discipleship

This year has been one of great joy and energy in the community of St. Mark’s. In the fall, the Spiritual Life Inventory gave us a snapshot of where we are collectively in our faith community. The response to the inventory was a strong indicator that people care about their spiritual health and want St. Mark’s to be a place where community support helps deepen their journey with God. The Renewal Works team of over twenty demographically diverse parishioners prayerfully considered the findings of that inventory, made recommendations to the vestry, and engaged in their own spiritual growth as part of that process.

Part of the desire to grow in Christ is also a desire to be with one another in new and robust ways. On Wednesday evenings, we shifted to a hospitality model for dinner and scheduled most of our meetings and rehearsals for that one night. As a result, Wednesday night dinners are an important mid-week gathering point for folks across multiple formation and community activities. Delicious food, lovingly prepared by our kitchen staff, is an ongoing highlight when we gather—whether mid-week or during a festive reception.

Our adult and youth formation offerings included robust teaching and table conversations ensuring the practical aspects of our faith journeys were shared. Our vestry extended their meetings to a full two hours, so they may seriously engage in faith formation while attending to the needs of the community. We incorporate reflection into our volunteer activities fostering the connection that service to the people of San Antonio is service to God. Our strong musical offerings remain an important form of hospitality to our city, gathering people for worship and for concerts throughout the year. It was a particular privilege welcoming the whole Diocese of West Texas to St. Mark’s for the Investiture of the Rt. Reverend David Read this December.

We remain in a strong financial position based on the generosity of our people. It is this abundant and resilient spirit that allows us to embody our core vocation: Feeding San Antonio with the Bread of Life. The ongoing care for those who hunger, whether it is for real food, knowledge and meaning, or beauty and creativity, is integral to the character of St. Mark’s. As the future of the church unfolds, I have every confidence we will continue living out our core vocation. Our staff works tirelessly, behind the scenes, supporting the mission and ministry of this place, and I am grateful to share leadership with them. Our vestry and lay leaders are simply indispensable for our common life.

I am pleased to share this annual report as but one way of celebrating our life and ministry together. It is a privilege to serve in this place!

Peace,

We Are Here On Purpose

When St. Mark’s gathers for worship, for fellowship and formation, or for musical offerings, it is evident that the people who make up this community come from all corners. Some live near enough to say they are in the neighborhood, but many of our members drive from other parts of San Antonio and beyond. For much of this past year, that has included navigating significant road construction downtown. That intentionality is worth noting; we are here on purpose.

When people are drawn to come to St. Mark’s, whether for an occasional visit or to participate in the community that they consider their church home, it is likely they are being fed by the sense of purpose that guides our fellowship. The Core Vocation of St. Mark’s is a touchstone for all we do:

Feeding San Antonio with the Bread of Life

Feeding those hungry with real food;

Feeding those hungry for knowledge and meaning;

Feeding those hungry for beauty and creativity

“Bread of Life” images the way Jesus nourishes and sustains us in love. We are fed when we worship and care for one another; we become formed as Christians by study and service. Being part of the gathered Body of Christ brings us connection across generations, provides communion with those who have come before us and guides us to include in our vision those who will follow us. From this strong sustenance comes the joyful desire to share with others through active expressions of faith.

Real food is shared through ministries of outreach and hospitality. Volunteer service and small-scale grants become means of responding to what’s happening in our community. This year, one of our grant recipients was the Housing First Community Coalition, whose Towne Twin Village project created permanent supportive housing for seniors with community and dignity at its core. Support for mental health efforts in our congregation and beyond is a response to an urgent, present need.

Knowledge and meaning are deepened through a spiritual life that is active and growing. We hold sacred the invitation to be transformed by prayer, study, and community life. People are growing at St. Mark’s through weekly Bible studies and by reflecting on social matters such as race through the lens of faith, via Sacred Ground. The St. Mark’s Bookstore encourages continued spiritual learning through sacred and contemporary literature. Living in this community prompts us to think about how we engage with civic life and in the public sphere when we reflect together on our actions of service. Faith helps us ask why and answer in word and deed.

Beauty and creativity are expressed in our music program and its formative effect on young musicians, as well as on people outside the church realm who come through our doors to be fed by the music offered through our St. Cecilia series. Thoughtful liturgy is enriched by the beauty of music, and artful flowers adorn the altar where we offer our worship to God. The arts and various ways creative life is lived become expressions of our divinely ordered humanity, helping us rejoice in the wide beauty of our Creator’s gifts.

Our robust parish engagement with the Renewal Works process bears witness to the season of revitalization underway. We are the inheritors and stewards of many gracious gifts in this community. As we come to St. Mark’s with purpose, we look forward in faith, trusting that the daily bread God has given us is still the Bread of Life meant to be shared in community.

Feeding San Antonio with Birthday Cake Choir Pilgrimage to Edinburgh and London

Baptism on All Saints’ Sunday Sunday Morning Reception

Christmas Eve Blessing of the Animals

Godly Play in Children’s Chapel Adult Choir

Thank you to all those who have named St. Mark’s in their estate plans and informed the church.

Dina Aboul Saad & Charles Harvey

Barbara Alden

Margaret & Stephen Allison

Susan Bain

Elspeth Blakeman*

Beverly & Ken* Bryars

Ruth Burink

Ruth & Richard Butler

Joyce & John* Carothers

Betty Cavender

Kelly & Stephen Cavender

The Rev. Michael & Mrs. Paula Chalk

Pamela & Gary Chambers

Anna B. Coiner*

Gillian Cook, O.P.

Kate Crone

Light Cummins*

Darin Digby

Michael Duffey

Margaret & Gordon Dunkley

The Rev. Mary & The Rev. Douglas Earle

Germaine & Charles Field

The Rt. Rev. James & Mrs. Sandy Folts

Marijane Gish

Virginia & Guy* Halter

Gail Harwood

Madelyn Hauser*

David Heller

The Rev. Elizabeth Knowlton

Allison Hays Lane

Billie & Robert LeClercq*

The Rev. Dr. John Lewis

& Ms. Patricia Bridwell

Carolyn Lowery

Mary & John McClung

Carolyn & Jack* Meyer

Marilyn Middleton*

George Miller*

Sally & David Morgan*

Lillian Morris

Phillip Norman

Janice O’Brien*

Dorothea Oppenheimer*

Camilla & William* Parker

Mary & Joseph Parker*

Ruth Peyton

Nancy Reed

Jeanne Reesman

Edwin Rieke

Susan Riordan

Emily & Harold Scott*

Patsy Scott*

Derek Shively

Elizabeth Simpson*

George Hutchings Spencer, Sr.*

Elsie Steg*

Martha Steves

Antoinette Tiner*

Leslie Todd

Jill & George Vassar

Adrianne & Michael Vaughn

Robin & Ralph Voight

Agatha & Charlie Wade

Barbara Ward

James Williams*

Mollie & Henry* Zachry

Holly & Brian Zook

Thanks also to those who have shared their intent anonymously.

*Deceased

Everett Jones Legacy Communion

The Everett Jones Legacy Communion honors parishioners who designated St. Mark’s in their estate documents or made lifetime gifts. Unrestricted gifts are most helpful to St. Mark’s, enabling us to meet the needs of the church over time. By growing our endowment and preserving strong annual household giving, we keep pace with the escalating fixed costs associated with ministering both inside and outside our walls. If you already included St. Mark’s in your plans and not yet notified us, please contact Dina Aboul Saad or clergy so that we may include you in the Legacy Communion. We invite the opportunity to share information about the management and use of our endowment and other funds as you consider your giving plans. By sharing your thoughts and intentions, you allow the church to prepare for your faith community’s future.

Visit the Give Page for a booklet designed to help you reflect on and collect your specific preferences related to your estate and financial affairs. Contact Dina Aboul Saad at the church to discuss your thoughts. Then consult with your certified financial planner or attorney. There are a variety of vehicles you can use to meet your philanthropic, tax planning, and estate planning goals to benefit St. Mark’s.

* $400,000 used for capital improvements during the restoration of the parish house after the scaffolding collapse of 2019. Our Endowment

$2,985,518 $3,969,000 $6,449,173 $5,763,625*

$1,465,190 $1,264,637

Household

Endowment and Funds

$2,035,000 $2,128,442 $443,749 $414,099

$424,173 $424,173 $140,000 $140,000 $19,500 $47,901

Budgeted: $3,062,422

Actual: $3,154,615

Understanding Our Expenses

This graphic represents how we utilized our revenue in 2023 to further our core vocation of Feeding San Antonio with the Bread of Life.

Administration includes the day-to-day work of keeping members informed and connected, managing business matters, and providing operational support for all we do. This also includes staff development and DWTX Council delegation expense.

Outreach includes the variety of ways we support the broader community including parish-related activities, support for our community partners, seminary support, and our Diocesan apportionment (camps and conferences, support of 88 congregations).

Fellowship and Hospitality include intergenerational programs, receptions, and meals that enable our members to engage at St. Mark’s during weekdays.

Facility includes staff who feed us and care for the property, and maintenance of our systems like phones, security, copiers, and heating/cooling.