The Banner                 October 2014
In This Issue
Calendars
Rector's Corner
Wednesday Weavings
Acolyte Training
Day of the Dead Altar
St. George's School
 

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 Priest & 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  

 


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.

November Banner Submissions
Deadline for news for the next issue of
The Banner is Monday, October 27th.
Please e-mail information, schedules, photos and articles you would like included in next month's edition to stgeorgeaustin@gmail.com .

Mark Your Calendars
Oct 1st        Wednesday Weavings
Oct 4th        Blessing of the Animals
Oct 5th        Lifelong Learning Class begins
Oct 11th      Women's Book Club
Oct 12th      Acolyte Training
Oct 15th      Wednesday Weavings
Oct 16th      Hallelujah Hour @ 5:00
Oct 29th      Grace Series begins 6:30-8:00
Nov 2nd       All Saints' Sunday
Nov 14-16th  Annual Parish Retreat
Nov 22nd     Hands for Hope Drive

Blessing of the Animals
Saturday, October 4th 
12-3 pm

St. George's is partnering with Austin Pets Directory to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis with a  Blessing of the Animals and Community Fair on Saturday, October 4th. All are invited to bring their pets to the church grounds to receive a blessing. There will be live music, food, and frosty beverages to enjoy. Representatives from Austin-area pet organizations will also be present. This family-friendly event is a great occasion to bring together our community friends, including of course, our furry friends. All are welcome!




Rector's Corner
Dear St. George's Family,

 

Over the past several weeks I have felt a tremendous gratitude for our great community of St. George's.  September was a full month with various special services that included Bishop Fisher being with us. During this time I was blown away by the dedicated participation of everyone.  We thoughtfully and prayerfully committed ourselves to the very worthwhile ministries of this church, and welcomed our partners in ministry, the school, in blessing backpacks.  Your commitment to and faith in God and God's church is extremely evident, and for that I am extremely thankful.

 

October looks to be just as special.  This coming weekend we will gather with the greater Austin community for our first annual Pet Blessing and Community Fair.  Many of our non-profit partners will be on site to share their efforts with the community while we welcome pets of all kind to be blessed and celebrated.  This month also marks the beginning of our six week Lifelong Learning program which will form us in the many ways in which images shape our faith.  

 

October also marks the beginning of our annual Financial Stewardship season. Spirituality of Stewardship is the focus of our efforts as we prayerfully consider the gifts received from God and in gratitude for those gifts make a commitment to share those blessings.  The stewardship season concludes on All Saints Sunday, November 2nd, as we offer the pledge cards received to Christ's altar.  I pray that you are enriched by the opportunities offered by the Spirituality of Stewardship Ministry during this season, acknowledge the gifts God has bestowed upon you, and make a spiritual response in the form of a pledge to St. George's.

 

Each and every one of you continue to show me just how wide and deep God's love runs.  I am blessed to be a part of this great community as we live out the gospel, and am thankful for your continued support for your church, St. George's.  



God Bless, 

The Rev. Kevin LJ Schubert  

Ordination Announcement

By the grace of God and with the consent of the people The Rt. Rev. Duncan M. Gray III Bishop of the Diocese of Mississippi will ordain Laurence Christopher Wainwright-Maks to the Sacred Order of Deacons on Wednesday, the first of October 2014 at half past six in the evening, The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection Starkville, MS.  Your prayers are requested.


Commitment to Ministry Forms

A special thanks to all that offered your commitment to ministry forms on God's altar
during September.  The church office has received the forms and will distribute the names of those which signed up for the various ministries of St. George's to the corresponding leaders of those ministries.  Once the ministry leaders have received the names, ministry participants will be contacted and informed about the various ministries.  The office is pleased to announce that there was a large increase of received forms from prior years.  if you have any questions, please contact the church office .  


Annual Parish Retreat
November 14-16, 2014

Each Fall, St. George's gathers for a time of rest, relaxation, and community building at the
beautiful Well Spring Retreat Center on Wessendorff Ranch in the Texas Hill Country.
This year's retreat will be held from Friday, November 14 - Sunday, November 16.
 The retreat is dedicated to enriching our communal bonds as we enjoy times of worship, family and individual recreation, social activities, community building activities, and great food! There will be plenty of dedicated free time to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Texas Hill Country, including the spectacular sight of the famous 'narrows.' Accommodations for families with children will be in motel style rooms with a dormitory arrangement for others when the motel rooms fill up. There are no single occupancy rooms. You are asked to bring your own bedding, beverages and snacks to share.
Registration forms will be mailed shortly. 
The cost of the retreat includes sleeping accommodations and all meals (Meals are not provided on Friday, so plan to come fed or bring your own). Scholarships are available; please contact Kevin Schubert for more information. Come and enjoy a relaxing weekend in a loving restful environment!

Retreat Cost Breakdown

(Family Maximum cost is $125)
Friday - Sunday Adults: $45
Friday - Sunday Children: $25
Saturday Only Adults: $15
Saturday Only Children: $10


Spirituality of Stewardship

 St. George's mission is to worship God and share our faith through word, action, and service.  This mission courses through our veins as we reach out in faith to all people through our various ministries.  Over the next five weeks the community of St. George's will be engaged in the practice of stewardship spirituality. Focusing on the vibrant ministries of the church and our mission the members of St. George's are encouraged to prayerfully consider making a financial pledge for 2015. In the days to come you will receive the 

Spirituality of Stewardship Tiles providing various 

avenues to be engaged in the spiritual practice of giving, as well as a pledge card.  On  Sunday, November 2nd the pledge cards received will be placed on the altar for a special blessing and an acknowledgment of our commitment to giving. 

Wednesday Weavings

 

The adult discussion group known as Wednesday Weavings meets on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in different homes. We share a simple meal, have a short time of centering prayer, and discuss a selected reading for the evening. Readings come from an issue of Weavings: A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life and are circulated in advance.

 

Because we discuss a different reading each time, feel free to come any Wednesday you can. Please bring a contribution for the salad bar meal (for example, fruit, vegetable, or crunchy toppings). This month, the gatherings are on October 1st at Sarah Campbell's home and October 15th in Kleberg Hall.  

 

Printed copies of the reading will be available at church the Sunday before the group gathers on Wednesday. If you are interested in joining the Rallyhood.com site that provides a central source of information for the group, including meeting dates and an electronic copy of the upcoming readings, please e-mail David McGhee at dmcghee@austin.rr.com

 

 

Note:  Wednesday Weavings will not meet in November so that people can attend the Grace Series. 


Images of Faith 
Fall Lifelong Learning
 
Beginning Sunday, October 5th after the 10:30 worship service the St. George's community will enjoy a six week Lifelong Learning Class.  This fall we will explore various images of our faith; uncovering the powerful message of love, grace, and justice through the medium of images.  Each class will be approximately 30 to 45 minutes while we enjoy refreshments of coffee hour.  

 


Women's Book Group

On Saturday, Oct 11th, the book group will be discussing "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder on Saturday, October 11th from 3 - 5 p.m. at Martha Paull's home.  Please contact Carolyn Moreau at carolynmoreau@austin.rr.com for more information and directions.

Calling All Acolytes

If you are a current acolyte, or wish to participate as an acolyte during St. George's worship services, please mark your calendar for Sunday October 12th when there will be a special training offered.  All ages from 9 to 99 years of age are invited to participate in the Acolyte ministry of St. George's.  The training will be held after the 10:30 service in the church.

Hallelujah Hour

Join us for our monthly community fellowship hour!  
Hallelujah Hour is held on the 3rd Thursday of the month. 
We will meet at the Draught House Pub & Brewery (4112 Medical Pkwy #100, 78756).  So mark your calendars for Thursday, 
October 16th at 5:00 pm!


Fall Grace Series: Wednesdays 6:30-8:00 pm
Oct. 29 - Nov. 19

Mark your calendars for this fall's Grace Series held each Wednesday evening in Kleberg Hall from 6:30 to 8:00 pm between October 29 through November 19.  The Grace Series consists of four lectures centered around pertinent questions concerning life, faith, culture, and society.  We begin with a pot-luck meal, followed by a lecture from an experienced presenter.  We are currently solidifying the presenter for this series, and as she is confirmed more information will follow.  


Day of the Dead Altar

 

The "Day of the Dead" may sound like a horror movie title, but D�a de los Muertos is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and in some parts of South America and the U.S. It is a time to remember our friends and relatives who have died, but still live on in our hearts. It is a day of the year when the distance between them and us is shortened, the veil between us and the afterlife is thinner. It is a day when we can feel a closer connection to them. At St. George's we  will celebrate the day on All Saints' Sunday, November 2nd, with a special altar at the front of the church.

 

Mark Casstevens and Denise Hope will "build" the altar Saturday evening, November 1st, time yet to be decided. All are welcome to come for as long as you can and participate in the altar's assembly and decoration. On Sunday everyone is encouraged to please bring pictures and/or mementos of loved ones to church to place on the altar. Part of the tradition is to place on the altar some object that is familiar to that person, like a favorite book, playing cards, can of soda, etc., and/or to light a candle in their memory. Also, a sign-up sheet will be available if you would like your loved one's name added to the list of those remembered.


SafePlace Outreach
Many and heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed so generously in the latest assembly of bags for SafePlace.  The outpouring from people who were willing to shop was so huge
 that it loaded three tables in Kleberg.  The bags themselves were each lovely on their own and combined created a true spectacle, a loving mosaic.  We know that this loving spirit will accompany each bag and bring the intended comfort to each recipient.  Your loving kindness is deeply appreciated.


St. George's School

 

The first month of school was a busy time with many celebrations. 


We welcomed Grandparents to our campus and enjoyed playing with them in the classrooms and on the playground.


 

Families are showing their school spirit 
with our St. George's Episcopal School Garden Flags as seen by Ellie Thornson's smile. 
Drop by the school office and inquire how to pick one up for your family. 

Our Parents Teachers and Friends Committee has started the school year with the energy, and enthusiasm to match, in order to boost parent participation, and build a strong community for our children. 

October will be a busy month to prepare for upcoming events, such as our Halloween Parade on Oct. 31 @ 8:30 AM. Come and join us for a fun time as the children wear their costumes and parade to the church for a Halloween story called The Pumpkin Blanket. 
 
Jerri Thompson, M.Ed.
Head of School
St. George's Episcopal School

October Birthdays and Anniversaries

We wish the following parishioners a very happy October birthday:
Les Carnes (Oct. 1), Navin Manohar (Oct. 1), Georgia Woods (Oct. 4), Matthew Jones (Oct. 5), Cayolyn Moreau (Oct. 12), Donna Parker (Oct 13), Sandra Villalaz (Oct. 14), Mikail McIntosh-Doty (Oct. 16), Dylan Kadas (Oct. 17), Cassandra Church (Oct. 18), Sara Liang Scarborough (Oct. 18), Audrey Sayer (Oct. 20), Claire Puckett (Oct. 20), Adam Moreau (Oct. 23), Mary Spies-Maxwell (Oct. 23), Mark Casstevens (Oct. 24), Kat Hernandez (Oct. 26), Samantha Stevens (Oct. 27), Gerald Mendoza (Oct. 28)

And a very happy anniversary to:
Susan & August Dolan-Henderson (Oct. 27)
Congratulations!
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