The Banner        December 2014 
In This Issue
Calendars
Angel Wreath Project
Christmas Pageant
*Parish Directory update!*
Epiphany Service
 

ST. GEORGE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

 

4301 N. IH 35
Austin, TX 78722  
 

Phone: 512.454.2523    

stgeorgeaustin@gmail.com

 

Church office hours:  

Monday - Thursday 

9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

 

www.sgchurch.org  

 

Sunday Schedule

8:00am - Holy Eucharist Rite I
9:00am - Contemplative prayer
9:45am - Choir rehearsal
10:30am - Holy Eucharist Rite II  
                   with Kids Word

4:00pm - St. Hildegard's Worship


The Rev. Kevin LJ Schubert

Rector

The Rev. Judith Liro

Assisting Rector & Minister to

St. Hildegard's Community

 

The Rev. John Brewer

Deacon 

Anne Weaver 

Music Minister 

Vanessa Nering
Newcomer Minister/
Office Administrator


Jerri Thompson

Day School Director

Vestry

Melissa Eason Brackin

Patsy Chandler

Mark Casstevens

August Dolan-Henderson

Spencer Gordon

Stephanie Meldrum

Mary Stewart Miller

Alice Nelson

John Rickard

 

Patsy Chandler

Senior Warden

John Rickard

Junior Warden

Melissa Eason Brackin

Financial Secretary

 

Frances Rickard, Treasurer


 

August Dolan-Henderson,  

Clerk


 

Mark Casstevens, Day School Liaison  


MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Click on the following links to find:


Click here to sign up to be a reader or intercessor during our Rite I & II services.

Please consider signing up early for Advent & Christmas Eve services!!  Your participation is appreciated!
January Banner Submissions
Deadline for news for the next issue of
The Banner is Friday, December 19th.
Please e-mail information and articles you would
like included in next month's edition to stgeorgeaustin@gmail.com .

Christmas Services 

 



Wednesday, December 24th
6:00 pm -Christmas Eve Service, Holy Eucharist Rite II, with Christmas Pageant
10:30 pm - Christmas Eve Service, Holy Eucharist Rite II, with Choral Music

   Services will not be held Christmas Day 

 

Sunday, January 4th
8:00 am - Holy Eucharist Rite I (No music) 
10:30 am - Holy Eucharist Rite II, 
with Lessons & Carols
 
Church office closed
The church office will be closed in observance of the Christmas holiday from Thursday, December 25th through Thursday, January 1st.  May you have a safe and blessed holiday and a very happy new year! 

Rector's Corner
Dear St. George's Family,
Harper is here!  Your continued prayers and support are greatly appreciated.
Peace, 
The Rev. Kevin LJ Schubert  
 Poinsettias for St. George's 
St. George's will be adorned with Christmas flowers and other decorations for our Christmas celebrations of the Nativity of our Lord and throughout the Christmas season. If you wish to make an offering for poinsettias, we invite you to do so. 

Complete one of the forms available on Sunday mornings of Advent and place it with your cash or check in the alms basin or mail it to the church office. Names of donors, along with any memorials or thanksgivings (optional), will be published in the Christmas service bulletins. Be sure to turn in your card by noon on MondayDecember 15th
to have your name appear in the bulletin. 

Suggested donation is $20 per plant. Make checks payable to St. George's and note "Poinsettias" on the memo line.
The Angel Wreath Project

 

The Outreach Committee Angel Wreath will sponsor 
St. George's Court and, in cooperation with the Women's Book Group, a Children's Book Drive.

 

Every child should get a book at Christmas!  This season Outreach and the Women's Book Group are cooperating in a drive for board books for ages 0-2 and story books for 3-5 yrs. Please bring a new, unwrapped board book (or several) to church for collection in the designated bin. 
We will give board books for babies and toddlers to Any Baby Can and books for older preschoolers to the Women's Storybook Project.  Both groups have a large need for books, so we can't bring too many!  Questions?  Call Sarah Campbell at 512-569-3081.
 
To sponsor a resident at St. George's Court with a $10.00 gift card from Wal-Mart or HEB, the stockings on the bulletin board are for the gift card of your choice.  
Choose as many residents as you wish to sponsor. The list of residents will be on the table in the Narthex. Write your name beside the name of the resident/s you wish to sponsor. Take the stocking/s of your choice with you and store in the baggie to protect the decorations and as a reminder of your gift.  If you have any questions, please contact Gayle Wall at gwall9407@austin.com or 512-837-0644.

 

Please return stocking/s with the gift card enclosed in the baggie and your book/s to the designated box in the Narthex or to church office no later than Sunday, December 14th.

  
Thank you for your participation!  
-The Outreach Committee

 

Wednesday Weavings Returns!
 
After a short break for the Grace Series, the Wednesday evening adult discussion group known as "Wednesday Weavings" will meet once in December and twice-monthly starting in January. The December gathering will be on Wednesday, December 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the home of John and Frances Rickard (4107 Rockford Ln., 78759). We will meet for a simple meal, a short time of centering prayer, and discussion on a selected reading for the evening. Copies of the reading will be available in church on Sunday, December 7. Please bring a contribution to the salad bar meal (for example, fruit, vegetable, or crunchy toppings).  Hope to see you there! Contact the Rickards at 512.346.5216 or email
fajrickard@gmail.com if you have questions. All are welcome!

 

 Hallelujah Hour - Dec. 11th
Come and celebrate the season over a pint of ale, 
cider or mead!  
Parishioners will be meeting
Thursday, December 11th at 5 pm at
 Mister Tramps
(8565 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78758). 

 This monthly gathering is open to regulars & newcomers
who wish to get to know each other in a
relaxed social atmosphere.

Pink Candle party - Dec. 14th
 
The four Sundays in Advent leading up to Christmas are generally a time of quiet reflection, except for the third Sunday, known as the "Pink Candle Sunday" which is a louder, celebratory day.  The youth put on a fund-raiser luncheon for the congregation, have crafts, music and a fun party.  The kids can decide on a charity to donate the proceeds to.  In the past we have donated to the Heifer Project, Casa Marianella, the Humane Society and the Environmental Defense Fund.  Our menus have been anything from soup and salads, to Mexican food, to Italian fare.  All have been happily enjoyed.  We will also have supplies on hand to decorate wreaths and/or Christmas ornaments.  This is a nice opportunity for the children to say thank you to the congregation.  It is always a lot of fun- hope to see you there!
Christmas Greening - Dec. 21st 
Christmas is coming! And one of the great Christmas traditions here at St. George's is the greening of the church. We'll gather
after the 10:30 a.m. Liturgy on Sunday, December 21st, to decorate our church for the Christmas season.  Your participation is greatly appreciated!
The Story of Jesus - Dec. 21st  
Join us at 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 21st, for "The Story of Jesus: A Reading from Mark with Hymns." This is a special Advent service that has been put together by Josh Shipman and Anne Weaver. As a community, we will read through the Gospel of Mark and sing hymns.  If you would like to participate as a reader, please see or email Josh- josh.shipman@ssw.edu or Anne - annecw515@gmail.com
Christmas pageant - Dec. 24th
Be sure to attend church with your children  
during Advent as Kidsword in Advent will be devoted to  learning the story and songs sung at the pageant.  
Rehearsal for the pageant will be
Saturday, Dec. 20th
from 10 am-noon in the church.    
The Christmas pageant will be held
Wednesday, Dec. 24th at 6:00 pm in the church.
Bring a costume from home...or show up before 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, to get into an extra costume. And parents, know that the Pageant can include grown-ups too! 
For we are all part of this enduring and ongoing story. 
Questions? Contact : stgeorgeaustin@gmail.com
2015 Flower Donation Calendar

A new flower and altar candle calendar for the year 2015 is hanging in the narthex of the church. If you would like to give altar flowers for one or more Sundays next year, or altar candles for one or more months, please print clearly on the calendar sheet so you can be recognized in the Sunday bulletin.  Be sure to note if you are giving the flowers or candles in memory of someone or in thanksgiving for some blessing in your life.  A donation of $35 (for either flowers or candles) is requested; checks may be made payable to St. George's and placed in the alms basin on Sundays or mailed to the church office. Be sure to note on the memo line that the check is for altar flowers/candles.

2015 Parish Directory    
It's time to prepare our 2015 directory! So we can be sure to have the most up-to-date contact information for you, please review your directory listing.  If all information is correct, please initial next to the listing.  If information is not correct, please complete the Information Request form. This form can be found on the tables at each entrance to the church.   Please also circle the name you would like printed on your magnetic nametag.  
If you have any questions, please contact the church office
 (stgeorgeaustin@gmail.com or 512.454.2523).  
The last day to turn in forms is
Sunday, December 22nd
Epiphany Service - Jan. 6th
This year the celebration of Epiphany will be held at Casa Marianella (821 Gunter Street).  The Epiphany service is a church festival celebrating the revelation of Jesus Christ to the entire world as represented by the coming of the Magi to worship the Christ child.  The celebration will be held Tuesday, January 6th at 7 pm and will also mark the 29th anniversary of Casa Marianella's opening.  Casa Marianella is a community that provides much-needed services to adult immigrants.  
If you are interested in finding out how to volunteer or donate, please contact their offices at info@casamarianella.org or by phone at (512) 385-5571.
Annual Parish meeting - Jan. 11th 
St. George's annual parish meeting will take place Sunday, January 11th. On this Sunday we will have brunch together and take care of some church business. The annual parish meeting is the time we elect members of the Vestry, select Diocesan Council delegates, hear reports on various parish activities, and discuss other church business. All ministry leaders are encouraged to submit reports to the church office by Tuesday, January 6th for printing purposes. 

News from
St. George's Episcopal School's Annual Fund Drive
is running through the month of December.   

Thank you to all the families who have donated to our annual fund. Your show of support offers us the means to improve quality within your child's school and our community. It is an exciting time in the life of St. George's Episcopal School and your donation advances our vision of quality care and education in Austin.  
 

  

The excitement remains in the air as we begin the Advent journey. Join us on December 18th @ 9:00 a.m.in the church to watch and listen as our children retell the story of Jesus' birth through song and dramatization. 
 
All family members are invited and encouraged to attend. The front pews are reserved for Haley Ford's family who won the honors during A Knight For St. George's fundraising event.  


 

Congratuations to:

Heather and Kevin Schubert and big brother Holden on the birth of Harper Llano Johnson Schubert on Sunday, November 23rd! Harper was born at 11:08 a.m. and weighed in at 9 lbs. 2 oz. Welcome to St. George's, Harper!

 

Confirm their joy by a lively sense of your presence among them, O God, and give them calm strength and patient wisdom as they seek to bring this child to love all that is true and noble, just and pure, lovable and gracious, excellent and admirable, following the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen

OUR LOVE AND PRAYERS are extended to:

 

Jan Phillips and her family, on the death of her father, Miles Wallace, on Friday, November 21st.

 

Vanamala Manohar and her family, on the death of her mother, Subhakti Jamkhandi, on Sunday, November 23rd.

 

Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting

 

 

St. Hildegard's Advent Silent Retreat  

"Luminous Darkness"

December 12

th - December 14th , 2014

Moye Retreat Center, Castroville, Texas

 (west of San Antonio)

 

The Light shines in the darkness

and the darkness has not overcome it.

The Gospel of John 1:5

 

In a time when hope and compassion seem to grow dim, we enter the silence to see in the dark.  The wisdom of scripture, science and poetry illuminates our journey. Solitude, chants and candlelight will nourish our souls in a circle of friends and we will join in praying for the peace of the world.  

Meditations by Judith Liro.

 

Cost: Sliding scale $90-$125 plus one shared meal for group.

Non-refundable deposit of $35, balance paid at the retreat.

Please make the checks out to St. Hildegard's.  Register with Pat Black by mailing a check to her home at 3907 Petes Path, Austin, TX 78731.  Also, please email her ggpat77@gmail.com with questions/concerns and to let her know that you are registering.  Space is limited; she'll let you know if there is room.  There is a limited amount of scholarship assistance and/or work-study. 

 

Moye Center provides comfortable single rooms and shared bathrooms close-by.  Most rooms are upstairs; a few downstairs are for those with mobility issues.  Arrive after 1:00pm and before 7:00pm Friday.  Our dinner gathering the first night provides time for conversation before entering Silence.  We keep Silence from later Friday evening until late morning on Sunday.  Those who register will be contacted about participation in a shared meal.  Meals during the Silence are prepared and eaten in silence.  

   
~~~

Book Reading and Signing at Book Woman 5501 N. Lamar

Saturday, December 6th, 6pm

Jann Aldredge-Clanton, She Lives! Sophia Wisdom Works in the World

She Lives! Sophia Wisdom Works in the World presents fascinating narratives of clergy and laypeople who are changing the institutional church and society by restoring female divine names and images to theology and ritual. Their stories reveal the connection between multicultural female divine images in worship and justice in human relationships, illustrating Wisdom's works such as gender equality, racial equality, marriage equality, economic justice, care of creation, nonviolence, interfaith collaboration, expanding spiritual experience, and changing hierarchies to circles. In a world filled with violence and injustice, these pioneers exemplify the transforming power of the Divine Feminine.

Rev. Jann Aldredge-Clanton, PhD, an innovative feminist theologian, writer and popular teacher, helps both women and men broaden their views of God, deepening their spiritual experience and contributing to justice and peace.  Among those featured in She Lives! are Judith Liro, Episcopal priest and co-founder of St. Hildegard's Community, and Virginia Marie Rincon, Episcopal priest and founder of TengoVoz in Portland, Maine.

December Birthdays and Anniversaries

We wish the following parishioners a very happy December birthday:
Meera Manahan, Judith Liro (Dec. 2), Brian Wolfe (Dec. 3), Louann O'Bannion (Dec. 4), Henry Thompson (Dec. 5), Alexandra McGhee (Dec. 6), Katherine McGhee (Dec. 6), Raul Carrera (Dec. 15), Belinda McGhee (Dec. 18), Alec Nelson (Dec. 20), Shirley Haulotte (Dec. 22), Lesa Sayer (Dec. 23), Josefina Castillo (Dec. 24), Patsy Chandler (Dec. 26), Trevor Thompson (Dec. 27), Miriam Long (Dec. 31), Sharyn Shappah (Dec. 31)

And to those who celebrate their anniversary:
Nancy & Raul Carrera (December 27)

Congratulations!
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