Nodines Facilitate Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive

For the seventh year St. George gave generously to the annual CAM Thanksgiving Food Drive under the direction of Marti and Andy Nodine. On the left, Marti assists Joey with sorting a family box. See a summary of their inspiration below:

In 2012’s Abide-in-Me Conference, Bishop Gary Lillibridge–– with his usual dry and self-deprecating humor––offered a rationale, based on our Christian faith and values, for lifting up our communities, however we might define them, in creative but practical ways. I believe that his advocacy sparked St. George parishioners to expand our mission field to support the Larkspur community, as well as Christian Assistance Ministry, in more intentionally compassionate, material ways. 

St. George’s relationship with CAM began in the fall of 2005 as many Hurricane Katrina victims boarded buses heading west from Houston, their first sanctuary, to land temporarily in San Antonio. CAM’s staff and volunteers ministered to these uprooted, needy people at CAM’s downtown location as St. George Church and School joined the almost 80 local CAM member churches to supply food and clothing.

St. George’s Stewardship Committee expanded our community’s efforts in 2012 by sanctioning the first Thanksgiving Turkey Rodeo. Volunteers created a list of non-perishable food items; parishioners, school parents and kids donated the food; a donor purchased 15 frozen turkeys; and between Sunday services in mid-November, we assembled our first 15 Thanksgiving Dinner Boxes.

Our clients were overjoyed and enormously grateful to receive their very own Dinner Boxes, generous and (largely) complete. Interviewers were thrilled to be able to supply them and now order more turkeys for our freezers. Other member churches have begun to donate items on our master list, so that––in effect–– we can duplicate our offering to many more families.

We live in hope that we are lifting up our larger San Antonio community as Bishop Lillibridge envisioned seven years ago.

Respectfully submitted,

Marti Nodine

St. George Supports

Jubilee Free Sale

On November 9, the ninth annual Jubilee Free Sale occurred at Churchill Baptist Church, making goods available such as toys, baby items, household items, books, clothing, furniture and more to over 400 residents in the St. George area just in time for the holiday season.

The event is sponsored by the North Central Convening of Churches which includes St. George, St. Thomas Episcopal, Castle Hills Baptist, Coker United Methodist, West Ave. Compassion, North Central Fellowship, Colonial Hills United Methodist, and Churchill Baptist. Julabeth Carden has tirelessly facilitated St. George efforts for the past 8 years. Congregations at the churches donate and collect goods, set up the “sale”, and 30-40 volunteers help on the day to facilitate the huge event. On past “sale” days, as many as 750 residents received much-needed family goods for free! 

Among St. George parishioners who volunteered are Julabeth and Jerry Carden, Marilynne and Milt Herbster, Bernadette Williams and her mother, St. Fleur Cetoute, Craig Loeffler, Mike Holmes, Bob and Karen Tickmeyer, Jackie Michel, and Fr. Ram Lopez. (Loeffler and Cetoute are pictured here.)

To “shop” for items family members wait in line for the event’s doors to open and are given one large black bag and twenty minutes to collect items. They can return to the line and wait to reenter if they wish. They also receive one ticket for a large item such as furniture.

Thanks to all St. George parishioners who helped in any way with this worthy event!