June Evangelist - St. Mark`s Cathedral

A Monthly Magazine
June 2015 • Volume 55 • Issue 6
The
ST. MARK’S CATHEDRAL
SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA
www.stmarkscathedral.net
Giving the First Fruits
by the Very Rev. Alston B. Johnson
alston@stmarkscathedral.net
Years ago, Asian farmers decided they
would eat the good big potatoes and
just use the small ones for seed. A new
understanding of the laws of life came
to them when, through the years during
which they kept up the practice, nature
reduced all their potatoes to the size of marbles! Those farmers
learned through bitter experience that they could not keep the
best things of life for themselves and use the leftovers for seed. The
laws of life decreed that the harvest would reflect the planting.
“Planting small potatoes” is still common practice. Too many
folks take all the big things of life for themselves and only plant
the leftovers. They expect that by some crazy twist of the laws of
nature their selfishness will reward them with blessings.
– shared by Toni Cooke
A few Sundays ago I shared with the congregation a short
exchange I had with one of our new Confirmands about
Christian Stewardship and tithing.
“Alston. What is Stewardship?
What is Tithing?”
I had to pause for a moment and
think about it. My first thought
was that I am still working
toward giving a tenth of all that I
own and earn to God. I am still
working toward giving a tenth of
my best time to God. I am still
working on giving a tenth of my
best physical, intellectual, and
emotional energy to God. My
time, talent, and treasure still
have a way of remaining “mine”
even though I am a preacher of
the Gospel and a priest of the
Church. Giving God that tenth of everything, that tenth of
myself, still presents a challenge. The question of time, talent,
and treasure is still open ended in parts of my life.
I said to him, “Tithing is really about seeking to consecrate a
tenth of your livelihood, a tenth of your station in life, toward
the work of God and the life of the Body of Christ. Is it easy?
Of course not. Does it sometimes feel counter-intuitive and
foolish? Of course it does. But God is not simply trying to
raise up better versions of what the world would make of us.
God is looking for persons who are being transformed. God
is looking for children who are becoming more like Christ. It
really is about letting go and letting God.”
In every facet of his life, Christ continually invited the disciples
to give away parts of themselves that we work very hard to
maintain. Christ invited his followers to put their future in His
hands, to put their daily needs in His hands, ultimately to put
themselves in His hands. Christ promised that if the disciples
would entrust their lives and their daily needs to Him, that He
would continually watch over and protect them.
In some strange way it puts me in mind of those farmers who
take the big potatoes for themselves, mistakenly believing
that you can plant small potatoes and yield a crop of large
potatoes. If what we share with God is only our leftovers, how
is it we can be surprised that we
do not see God at work in the
depths of our lives? We have not
let God into our depths, if we
only share from our leftovers.
God invites us to give the first
fruits. God invites us to have his
purposes first in our hearts. God
invites us to give some of the
big potatoes of our lives to his
purposes. God’s promise on the
other side of such acts of faith, is
that we will have all that we need;
actually that we will have all that
we need and more, because
we have honored him with our
substance.
I realize that some at St. Mark’s find these discussions tiring,
or repetitive. I mention our need for ongoing awareness
regarding our Stewardship because our worship, charitable
ministries, education, and administration as a Cathedral
depends upon the annual generosity of our members.
(continued on page 2)
(Giving the First Fruits, continued from cover)
We cannot sustain our shared life without your support.
We cannot create greater depth and breadth as a Christian
community without your support. Your gift, your pledge, your
tithe is absolutely necessary to our life as a Christian community.
SUNDAY WORSHIP
8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Sunday
Holy Eucharist
Holy Unction offered at 10:30 a.m.
5:30 p.m. Friday
Holy Eucharist (uses the Sunday Propers)
If you have ten potatoes, please plant one of them at St. Mark’s.
I believe that the Lord will honor and bless your gift so that
it will come back to you ten-fold. One thing is for certain,
you will have met the invitation that our Lord gives to his
children. And with establishing that reciprocation with God,
perhaps you will have a sense of that “peace which passeth all
understanding,” peace of mind and soul, know that you have
done that which God has asked; and that you may enjoy the
Sabbath and rest from all your labors.
JUNE 7, 2015
The Second Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 3:8-15
Psalm 130
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Mark 3:20-35
JUNE 14, 2015
The Third Sunday after Pentecost
Ezekiel 17:22-24
Psalm 92: 1-4, 11-14
Blessings and Godspeed, Alston and Co.
2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Mark 4:26-34
JUNE 21, 2015
The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 10-16
Psalm 133
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Mark 4:35-41
JUNE 28, 2015
The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24
Psalm 30
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Mark 5:21-43
Take A Look At Our New Website!
We’ve upgraded our website to make it a little
cleaner and easier to manage! Please take a look
around! The address is the same:
www.stmarkscathedral.net
Weekday Worship
at the
Cathedral
Wednesdays
7:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Fridays
5:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist
(This service is an option for
those who cannot attend
Sunday worship.)
Oblationers Needed
The Altar Guild invites parishioners (families, adult singles,
siblings, friends) to serve as oblationers (gift bearers) at the
10:30 a.m. Sunday service. This is a meaningful way to serve
the faith community. For more information please contact
Lynn Yancey at lynnyancey@comcast.net.
2
Altar Guild
Celebrates
Outgoing
Leadership
The St. Mark’s Altar
Guild thanked it’s
outgoing Directresses with a reception
last month. Connie Emmons and
Mary Walmsley were recognized for their service over the past year.
Directresses for 2015-16 are Lynn Yancey and Joy Ratcliff.
Incoming and Outgoing Leadership (above, l to r) Joy Ratcliff, Lynn
Yancey, Mary Walmsley, Connie Emmons
Past Directresses posed for a photo during last month’s reception:
(right, l to r) front row, l to r: Bess Maxwell, Jane West, Marilyn Deupree, Kathryn Gaiennie, Bettie Hastings back row, l to r: Patsy
FitzGerald, Marybeth McVie, Connie Emmons, Mary Walmsley. Ellen Alley, Lennis Elston
MEMORIAL FLOWERS
June 7
The flowers on the High Altar are given to the Glory
of God and in loving memory of Dr. William H.
Barnwell, II.
The flowers on the Chapel Altar are given to the glory
of God and in loving memory of Kenneth E. Williams
Jim V. Hamric, Jr. H.R. & Marguerite Cupples and
Bob Cupples.
June 14
The flowers on the High Altar are given to the Glory
of God and in loving memory of Mr.& Mrs. Burr D.
Ilgenfritz and Mr.& Mrs. Warren C. West.
The flowers on the Chapel Altar are given to the glory
of God and in loving memory of Felix Arceneaux.
June 21
The flowers on the High Altar are given to the Glory
of God and in loving memory of Mr.& Mrs. Robert
D’Aquin, Mr.& Mrs. Dan Donald, Sr. and In honor of
Seth Donald.
The flowers on the Chapel Altar are given to the glory
of God and in loving memory of Patricia Richards
Carter.
June 28
The flowers on the High Altar are given to the Glory
of God and in loving memory of Dr. Ollie P. Williams,
Carl Pons, Mary Skannal Pons, John Holland
Williams and Hazel Miller Williams.
The flowers on the Chapel Altar are given to the glory
of God and in loving memory of William Fair.
BIRTHS
Katherine Leslie Hernandez, daughter of Claire & Joseph
Hernandez, on May 3, 2015. Grandparents are Melinda &
Robert Hernandez.
Charles Wesley Robinson, V, son of Werner & Wesley Robinson, on May 16, 2015. Grandparents are Pat & Murray Viser.
DEATHS
Rest Eternal grant to them, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine
upon them.
Eddie Joe Peters on April 26, 2015.
Dr. Thomas E. Strain, father of Lynn Yancey, grandfather of
David and Richard Yancey, on May 11, 2015.
May their souls, and the souls of all the departed, through the
mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
BAPTISMS
You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked at
Christ’s own forever. Amen.
Ka’Mia Marie Vasquez, daughter of Malia Vasquez, on April 4, 2015.
Isabella Marie Foster, daughter of Elizabeth & Robert Foster,
on April 26, 2015.
Abigail Elizabeth Jackson & Kathryn Ann Jackson, daughters
of Ashley & Robert Jackson, on April 26, 2015.
David Lucas Kim. son of Mary & David Kim, on April 26, 2015.
WEDDINGS
Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder.
Claire O’Neal Childs & William Connor McGrew on
May 2, 2015.
Allie Lynn Anderson & Gilford Lee Gillen, Jr. on May 23, 2015.
3
Almost
Pentecost
Picnic 2015!
We needed
an ark to get there.
But even inside, St.
Mark’s Parishioners
had a blast at
the Almost
Pentecost
Picnic!
Hand Crafted by God
You know that you are perfect, right?
You are. Perfectly imperfect.
And handcrafted by God to be exactly who you are.
This summer we will be having a girls Bible study
to look at this very thing.
It will be led by Katie Baker, along with
McKenzie Pugh and Blain Lewis.
They will be Using the book The Gifts of
Imperfection, as a guide to talk to our girls
about the very important fact that they are
perfect, as they are. and who they are is who they should
be because He took the time to make them this way.
The Bible Study will meet on Wednesdays
starting in June.
Please come and join.
4
Music News
Cathedral School News
by Dr. Chris Carter, Headmaster
ccarter@stmarksschool.com
On May 21, St. Mark’s Cathedral School graduated 26
8th graders at a service of Evening Prayer in the Cathedral.
Many of these students have attended St. Mark’s since they
were three years old; whether or not they are parishioners,
St. Mark’s is very much a spiritual home to each of them.
We are proud of their growth and accomplishments and are
certain they will do well in high school. I would ask that you
keep these new graduates in your prayers as they leave the
shelter of the Tower and make their way in a wider world:
Lindsey Cecile Aaron
Christopher Reece Adair
Julia Nicole Aiello
Come Sing With Us This Summer!
If you have been thinking about joining the St. Mark’s Choir, but
don’t have time to fit the weekly Wednesday evening rehearsal
into your busy schedule, summer is a great time to give us a try!
We rehearse every Sunday at 9:30am immediately prior to the
10:30am service. There is no weeknight rehearsal during the
summer.
If you are interested in singing with us for one Sunday, or for
all or part of the summer, please feel free to arrive at the Choir
Room by 9:20am on the Sunday(s) you wish to sing in order to
receive music and be fitted for a vestment. All that is required
is a willingness to sing. If you have any questions or would like
additional information, please call Bryan Mitnaul, Canon for
Cathedral Music at 318-226-4034.
Andrew David Atkins
Mary Louann Carpenter
Emelie Anne Cehajic
Noah Gavin Chico
Emily Michelle Cline
Eliza Luann Drummond
Kelly Anne Gerald
Charles Owen Hardtner
Richard Clayton Holmes
Mary McCullough Humphrey
Carson Reed Jones
Connor Michael Kent
Abigail Elizabeth Koruna
Reilly Kathleen Majors
Emma Olivia Michael
John Peyton Morgan
Mary Elizabeth Durrett Nordberg
Sarah Olivia Parr
Johnathan Campbell Siskron
Beckett Allen Soignier
Katherine Elizabeth Tharpe
Olivia McCoy Walker
Riley O’Quinn Walker
Geoffrey Joseph Westmoreland
St. Mark’s Physical Training
meets at 5:30 a.m. every weekday
morning in the field
across from the parking lot.
Ale and the
Almighty
Although the school is quiet in the summer, the office staff
is still working and teachers will be in and out. We will be
getting ready to welcome new students to St. Mark’s in
August and to prepare a wonderful final year for next year’s
8th grade.
We will still meet during the
Summer at Drake Catering
7:00-8:00 p.m.
Best wishes for a joyous summer from all of us at
your Cathedral School!
5
EYC Calendar
Mondays
We will be having a lot for fun activities
this summer. Be sure to check the
website calendar for event updates.
Coffice at Rhino
4:00-5:00 pm – Middle School
5:00-6:00 pm – High School
We will be camping, having field days, and packing
lunches for Hope House.
June 27 – Slide City
Something new this summer is our new Youth
Week from July 30th - August 2nd.
July 20 - 24 – VBS
This will be a week where each group will have a
day of service here at the cathedral, lunch, and a fun
activity and then the week ends with our Dollywood/
Rafting trip.
July 27 - August 2 – Youth Week
July 30 - August 2 – Summer Trip: Dollywood and
Rafting
This will be our big rally kick off for the youth
program.
Summer O’Fun
More Summer fun activities will be announced later.
Summer Youth Workout
Starting in June, we will be starting our new Girls’
Bible Study, Hand Crafted by God, led by Katie Baker.
We look forward to all the girls in our youth group
joining us. More details to be announced later.
We are planning on offering a summer workout for
the youth that is similar to our SMPT workouts.
We will do training for VBS on Sunday June 28th
after church.
St. Mark’s Vacation Bible School 2015
Come chill out during the hot summer days as VBS takes a “frozen” look at our lives and what
we can do when the going gets tough. We will learn that with Jesus’ help, the easiest thing we
can do when faced with challenging times, is to “Let it Go,” and let God work through us.
Monday – Friday
July 20th – 24th
8:00 – 11:30 am
Let it Go
ee
Cost: Fr
T-Shirts $12.00
Limited space, so sign up early!
Must know size by July 3rd
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Registration and picture
due by July 13th
Olaf will be collecting warm hugs during the week to give to Shriner’s Hospital
(This could include latex-free fun band-aids, stuffed animals, items for babies under 1 and items for teenagers.)
6
St. Mark’s Cathedral’s Spring 2015 Confirmands
(Front: left to right) Grace Crooms, Anne Deupree, Sarah Smith, Hailey Boyter
(Back: left to right) Ashley Jackson, Robert Jackson, John Pou, Clay Erwin, Ben Hodges, Margaret Stroud, Bishop
Owensby, Jackson Gilchrist, Joe Griffies, Brandy Griffies, Chad Hill, Marissa Hill (not pictured: Art Carter)
All that we have comes from God; and will one day return to God.
Jesus often talked about our relationship
In general planned gifts are made through:
to the “things” we possess. In Luke 12:13-21 Jesus is asked
about dividing a family inheritance. He replies with a story. A
rich man decides to build new barns to hold his bumper crop,
then to “eat, drink, and be merry.”
A Bequest in a Will
However, “God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is
required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose
will they be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and
is not rich toward God.” We are stewards of God’s bounty.
Caretakers. For a brief period we are given time, energy, and
resources. What we do with these gifts ultimately defines
the character of our life and the depth of our spiritual
understanding. Planned giving is one expression of the wise
use of the personal resources God has entrusted to us.
Gifts of Special Assets (real estate, closely held stock, life
insurance, retirement accounts).
Planned Giving:
Planned gifts are either outright gifts (i.e., gifts of appreciated
securities, real property, personal property, etc.) or deferred gifts
(i.e. bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts).
Planned giving encompasses a variety of ways that gifts
can be made to the church from accumulated resources.
It usually involves financial or estate planning; however, it
is not reserved for the wealthy. Planned giving is a means
by which anyone concerned with the wise use of his or her
personal resources makes a considered choice about their
ultimate disposition.
A Life Income Gift such as a pooled income fund, a charitable
gift annuity, or a charitable remainder trust.
Planned giving establishes a way for a donor to provide for family
members while remembering the church as well. It often enables
the donor to provide more for his or her heirs and to make a
larger gift than thought possible. It often reduces taxes as well.
Planned gifts can be designated for an organization’s general
funds or its endowment.
In the life that we share at St. Mark’s, we need our members to
prayerfully consider the needs of our future generations.
If you would like to visit about planned giving at St. Mark’s,
please contact the Dean, the Wardens, or members of our
Finance Committee.
7
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
JUNE 1
Scott Crichton
Karen Hardtner
Michelle Roberts
Matthew Schoonover
2
Mike Cooper
Brooklyn Dunn
3
Kim Weaver
4
Edie Williams
Cindy Harris
Bill Gray
John Perkins
Andrew Atkins
5
Charlie Burwell
Ellen Alley
Caroline Seale
6
Joyce Giles
Loyce Knight
Patrick Davenport
Debbie Hall
Murray Viser
Lisa Childs
John Reeks
Leah Muslow
Kate Rhea
7
Richard Elston
Katie-Beth Davis
Charlotte Anderson
Anne Deupree
Katelyn Pavlick
Robert Pavlick
Kaitlyn Stage
8
Michael Reeks
13
Lottie McGuire
9
Sonya Attaway
Sandra Leatherman
John Atkins, III
Knighton Sample
Mary Elizabeth Harper
Frances Hardtner
Barro Massad
14
William Comegys
Wilson Little
10
Rebecca Gavin
Sarona Snyder
Taylor Slack
Elizabeth Myers
Alyssa Coggins
Hugh Herzog
16
Skip Simonton
Michael Fleming
Peyton Mayeaux
Henry Hood
Anthony Comeaux
11
Cindy Herzog
Brett Schoonover
12
Donald Mack
Susan Hardtner
Barbara Newtown
Barron O’Neal
Candice Mulhearn
Brant Lewis
15
Ione Dean
Brad Massad
Matthew Smitherman
Rob Grand
Wade Sample
Edwin Byrd
20
Marge Rand
Elaine Lee
Witt Caldwell
Corbin Lattier
Jack Q=Petersen
21
Diane Lawrence
Greg Rembert
Jan Cook
Beth Patterson
Charles Patterson
Avery Hennigan
Loren Lepore
22
Waldo Cecil
Martha Ann Evans
Jeff Howell
17
Jerry Frantom
Susan Berry
Betsy Levels
Kendall Stage
23
Tom Watts
Holly Woodard
Elouise Lattier
Jessie Short
18
Robert Ewing
Lauren Sealy
24
Sharon Reed
Cristina Walker
Lindsey Reading
Pam Short
19
Dee Peterson
Jonathan Hardtner
Heidi Sanderson
Camille Sample
25
Cina Hodges
Talbot Trudeau
John Henry Nelson
26
Debbie Camus
Leslie Caraway
27
Karon Waguespack
Charles Mitchell
Marshall Jones
28
Trisha Hogan
Sarah Trickett
Frances Bowen
29
Pat Viser
Amy Mata
Ryan Q=Petersen
John Van Hook
30
Ann Walke
Leon Nims
Lee Schmidt
Karen Popwell
Catherine Roemer
Dorothy Lea
Young Family
and Singles
Summer
Pot Luck
St. Mark’s
June 20
2:00 pm
Hosted by Michelle and David Roberts
at the Robert’s Lake House
This is a very special
“bring a new member Pot-luck”
Bring a dish AND bring a new friend!
Please RSVP with Michelle
at 318-294-6288
Please help us with the history of St. Mark’s
weddings! If you were married by a clergy of
St. Mark’s, either at the cathedral or another
location, please submit a photograph to be
included in the album. The earliest photograph
in the album at this point is from the early 1920’s.
Contact Martha Cooper if you have questions.
523-9136 or sug63@aol.com
8
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June
EYC Calendar
St. Mark’s
Mondays
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(the fridge pa
Coffice at Rhino
4:00-5:00 pm – Middle School
5:00-6:00 pm – High School
June 27 – Slide City
July 20 - 24 – VBS
July 27 - August 2 – Youth Week
July 30 - August 2 – Summer Trip: Dollywood
and Rafting
Summer O’Fun
More Summer fun activities will be announced later.
Music Camp
June 1-5
n
9:00 am – noo
Starting in June, we will be starting our new Girls
Bible Study, Hand-Crafted By God, led by Katie Baker.
We look forward to all the girls in our youth group
joining us. More details to be announced later.
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Members of the Vestry of St. Mark’s Cathedral
Scott Deupree, Senior Warden – Lad Shemwell, Junior Warden – Patrick Caraway, Treasurer – John Reeks, Chancellor
2015
Scott Crichton
Bob FitzGerald
Kathryn Gaiennie
Patrick Harrison
Jonathan Hardtner
The Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby
(Bishop of Western Louisiana)
bishopjake@diocesewla.org
The Very Rev. Alston Johnson
(Dean)
alston@stmarkscathedral.net
The Rev. Dr. Rowena White
(Canon)
rowena@stmarkscathedral.net
The Rev. Dr. Wayne Carter
(Associate Clergy)
wayne@stmarkscathedral.net
The Rev. John Raish
(Assisting Clergy)
Lois Maberry (Ministerial Intern)
lois@stmarkscathedral.net
2016
Rick Beruvides
Rosemary Cole
Bill Kalmbach
Anne Lasseigne
Pat Viser
2017
Laura Boyd
Bonnie Dubin
Bill Reyenga
David Roberts
Patrick White
Bryan T. Mitnaul
(Canon for Cathedral Music)
bryan@stmarkscathedral.net
Christopher Lynch (Associate
Organist & Choirmaster)
christopher@stmarkscathedral.net
Brooks Boylan (Lay Canon for Parish
Family Ministries)
brooks@stmarkscathedral.net
John Scheel (Facilities Manager)
john@stmarkscathedral.net
Katie Baker (Assistant Youth Minister)
katie@stmarkscathedral.net
Becky Deverts (Financial Office Manager)
becky@stmarkscathedral.net
Bess Maxwell (Administrative Assistant)
bess@stmarkscathedral.net
2018
Caffery Brown
Amy Lewis
Kevin Payne
Darrell Rebouché
Mike Schofield
Ashley Jackson
(Director of Children’s Formation)
ashley@stmarkscathedral.net
Jennifer Beruvides (Coordinator for
Events and Hands-on Outreach Ministry)
jennifer@stmarkscathedral.net
Judy Austin (Receptionist)
judy@stmarkscathedral.net
Marguerite Allen (Receptionist)
marguerite@stmarkscathedral.net
Beth Reeks (Minister for Pre-K
Children’s Programs)
preschool.beth@gmail.com
Katie-Beth Davis
(Nursery Coordinator)
smcnursery1@gmail.com
Address Service Requested
(318) 221-3360
Fax: (318) 424-8427
www.stmarkscathedral.net
_________________________
908 Rutherford Street
Shreveport, LA 71104
St. Mark’s Cathedral (Episcopal)
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Shreveport, LA
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