All posts by Keith Earle

Boomers and Bloomers – Warrior and Family Support Center Trip

By | Adult Ministries | No Comments

On Monday, February 6, the Boomers and Bloomers visited the Warrior and Family Support Center at Joint Base San Antonio – Ft. Sam Houston. The Facility is located on a 3-acre property at Ft. Sam and is housed in a large and spacious 12,500 sq. ft. building. The current facility was constructed about 10 years ago; completely financed through donations, and today serves as the “gold standard” for other communities near military medical facilities.

A tour of the facilities was organized by Margaret White and Pat Lindemood and was directed by WFSC Director Judith Markelz. An entertaining, enlightening and informative tour was provided by WFSC Assistant Director John Wolf.

The WFSC provides coordinated services to patients, next of kin and extended family mem- bers of service members, with focus primarily on Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom Warriors. The facility provides a friendly, comfortable environment for everything from watching a movie on a large-screen TV, playing video games, checking email, making a phone call, or just grabbing a cup of coffee. A large well-appointed kitchen also provides a venue for those with culinary inclinations.

Many activities are provided through WFSC – everything from Thursday Night Bingo, tickets to Local Entertainment and Sporting Events, to Dining-out and Trips to the Zoo. The WFSC calendar is always full.

The Wounded Warriors and their Family Members can also visit the WFSC to maintain contact with other military members or extended family members to receive emotional support, answers to questions and to extend their rehabilitation.

The trip was highlighted by a recovering PTSD patient who addressed all of us as we were leaving with an emotional testimony about his stay at the Center. The recovering soldier told us his story of depression, despair and suicidal thoughts to recovery and a positive outlook toward the future. Absolutely inspirational – and a wonderful testament to the caring work of the Warrior and Family Support Center.

 

Youth Group at Laser Tag

By | Community, Fellowship, Worship, Youth | No Comments

The St. George Youth took 11 kids to Laser Quest this past Sunday to enjoy some laser tag fun.  I must say that my undefeated record against my youth group kids is no longer in play as I took it on the chin as Will Wickersham ( 6th Grade ) and Sebastian Trevino ( 7th Grade ) blasted me on more than one occasion.  It’s important to me that all kids who come through our program know that ALL formation does not necessarily have to take place at St. George.  Laser Tag, in very different way, is just as important as the fellowship we develop and nurture on Sunday mornings on campus.  One of the things I enjoyed most about out Laser Quest experience was my attempt at trying to connect Father Nate Bostian’s sermon to my “code name” at Laser Quest.  Father Nate Bostian referenced ,in his sermon, how Jesus gets “cranky” in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 2​​3.  I promptly decided that my code name at Laser Quest was “Cranky Jesus” and I especially found it hilarious when I tagged my kids and at the end of the game it said “you have been tagged by Cranky Jesus.

Order of the Daughters of the King – Called to Serve

By | Called to Serve, Community | No Comments

What did you put on your wish list for Christmas? Did you ask for a walker because your family couldn’t afford the device that would allow you to walk around your home? Did you ask for coats because no one in your family had one as winter approached? Did you ask for professional clothing because you had nothing to wear for upcoming job interviews?

Probably not. I suspect wish lists for St. George families included such things as the latest popular toys, stylish clothing, and updated technology. Most of us are fortunate enough to afford the necessities of life, but did you imagine the items above were on the wish lists of families in our own neighborhood, families whose children attend Larkspur Elementary?

As a part of their goal of year-round stewardship, the Order of the Daughters of the King at St. George agreed to adopt a Larkspur family and provide some of their wishes for Christmas. Through the generous giving of the Daughters, not only did they provide gifts for one family but eventually provided for three families with additional $50 HEB gift cards to two more families!

After Julabeth Carden had bought gifts for all the individual family members, the Daughters met on a Sunday after church to wrap all the gifts. What a joyous occasion it was as we got into the spirit of giving and listened to Julabeth tell us the amazing stories of these families. She was fortunate enough to accompany a Larkspur administrator to deliver the bounty and see many faces light up with joy.

The Daughters have pledged to collect needed articles to donate monthly to Larkspur families. Items that we take for granted such as laundry soap, socks, underwear, and snacks are above many a family budget just blocks away from us.

To hear more of the specifics of these gifts and our neighbors, come to the Annual Meeting and hear Julabeth’s full report. You will surely receive a blessing!

The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 29th at 9:30 AM.  Tacos, juice and coffee will be served. Childcare will be available.  For more information, click here.

daughters-of-the-king-logo

 

7th Annual Paper Bag Epiphany Pageant, Jan. 5

By | Children's Ministries, Fellowship | No Comments

Please join us for our Annual Paper Bag Epiphany Pageant on Sunday, January 5, during the 10:45 AM worship service. It is great fun for the whole family! The Paper Bag Pageant tells the story of the Birth of Christ in a way that everyone can be involved in with active participation from the youngest to the oldest.

With the St. George version, anyone coming in the front doors can be given a paper bag containing a costume “prop.” You will only discover your role after you open the paper bag. There are no lines to memorize, no acting skills needed, and no rehearsals. Each role is asked in turn to gather around the altar as the play is read.

The service is a hit with all ages, and by the end of the reading everyone should be standing around the altar. One of the amazing things about the Paper Bag Pageant is it’s fun, spiritual, and prompt. We hope you will be a part of this fun tradition at St. George!!

New Year’s Day Worship Followed by The Rector’s Black-Eyed Pea Throwdown Challenge!

By | Fellowship, From Fr. Ram | No Comments

Please join us for Holy Eucharist on 4:00 on New Year’s Day, and stay for…

Rector‘s Black-eyed Pea Throwdown Challenge!!

black-eyed-peasFr Ram will be cooking up a batch of his black-eyed peas to share after the 4 pm Holy Eucharist on New Year’s Day afternoon.  All you cooks are invited to boil up some peas and bring ’em out for all God’s people to sample!

Everyone else is invited to bring their favorite New Year’s Day snacks (cheese trays, tamales, relish trays – you name it) and we will enjoy fellowship and start the year with Jesus and each other.

Black-eyed pea cooks:  Please email our Director of Operations and Management, Maricela Graciano-Ramos (mgracianoramos@saintgeorgechurch.org) so we will have a place to plug in your crock pot.  Small serving cups and spoons will be provided so that you can share your culinary artistry!

 

Christmas Gift to Our Sister Community in Haiti

By | From Fr. Ram | No Comments

December, 2016

haiti-dec-16-emailMerry Christmas to our brothers and sisters at St. Benoit! This week we sent a gift package to our sister community in Haiti, St. Benoit.  Included in this gift were school supplies, printing supplies, homemade pencil pouches from last year’s 5th grade, some soccer balls, and even some Chain of Love shirts to share with the children and community.  A loving donation of a Communion set to the church was included in the gift, as noted in Fr. Ram’s letter to our friends below.  Construction of the new church is developing nicely and the building will be ready soon with the scheduled dedication to take place on the feast of St. Benedict this year! Please keep our brothers and sisters in your thoughts and prayers as we move through this season and remember how our prayers and love help sustain this beautiful partnership.

-Keith Earlehaiti-2-dec-16-email

Fr. Ram’s Note:

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Your friends at St. George are sending you a chalice and paten that came to us some years back.  It is what is left of a United States Army Chaplain Communion set.  While we do not know its history, the set was commissioned to serve those engaged in carrying out various missions.

As I reflect on this initial intent I am aware that once again these vessels will be once again used to serve those on a mission.  In this case, a Kingdom of God mission to proclaim the resurrection hope and life of Jesus Christ to all people.  And we both share in this most important mission of all to seek and serve Christ in all persons.  May this chalice and paten be a sign between of us of our continuing friendship and support of each other’s mission and ministry to the glory of God.

May God grow our partnership and may we be blessed to share the blessing of God to us – His only Son.

Faithfully,

The Rev. Ramiro López

Youth Confirmation Classes begin on January 15

By | Youth | No Comments

Confirmation classes for youth in 6th-12th grade are fast approaching.  Daniel Forman will teach a confirmation class based on the curriculum “Confirm, not Conform” to any student who wishes to participate.  Students who wish to be confirmed need to show a commitment to attending each session if possible.  The dates for the classes will be:

Sundays from 8:30 – 9:30 AM at St. George          

– January 15th

– January 22nd

– January 29th

– February 5th

OR

Tuesdays from 3:30- 4:30 PM at St. George

– January 17th

– January 24th

– January 31st

– February 7th

 

Students can attend strictly attend either Sunday OR Tuesday sessions or mix and match.

Please let Daniel Forman (dforman@saintgeorgechurch.org) know if you plan on attending.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Holmes and Bridget Lynch!

By | Uncategorized, Youth | No Comments

Elizabeth Holmes, a senior at TMI – The Episcopal School of Texas, won first place in the school’s fifth annual Poetry Out Loud recitation contest, held Nov. 28 in the school’s Margaret M. Alkek Theater. Runner-up was sophomore Bridget Lynch.  Elizabeth and Bridget are both St. George parishioners.  Elizabeth will compete at the state level Feb. 25, 2017, at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin.  To read more, click here.