Last Sunday the class finished discussing the questions at the end of Chapter 1 in Max Lucado’s book “Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World.” Question 7 involved analyzing the promises God makes us in various verses of scripture.
Psalm 55, Verse 22 is quoted as saying, “Cast your burden on the Lord and he shall sustain you. He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Some of us wondered about the exact interpretation of “never being moved.” One class member thought the statement might mean “… moved from their righteous path.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 states, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting your care upon him, for he cares for you. Another class member pointed out that “care” in this verse has two appropriate meanings. One is that He is concerned about you. The other is that He takes care of you.
In the last question Max refers back to the acronym C.A.R.E., standing for “Celebrate God’s goodness,” “Ask God for help,” “Leave your concerns with him,” and “Meditate on good things. Great “conversation” about these items!
This Sunday, 3/3/19, we will start with the questions for Chapter 2 that begin on page 160. The title of that chapter is “Rejoice in the Lord’s Sovereignty.” Hope you can join us, normal time and place, between services starting at 9:45 in St. Mark’s Room, second floor in the Leadership Center.
In Christ,
Peggy and Paul Foerster
p.s.: The following Sunday, we (P & P) will be in Baltimore where Paul will be presenting a session at an international conference for mathematics teachers. We are looking for someone to facilitate the class that Sunday.
We are looking forward to class this weekend! We didn’t have the number expected for last week’s class so we again enjoyed a fellowship time, which is still very fulfilling. Hopefully, we will be able to resume the next chapter in the book “Inspired” by Rachel Held Evans this week. This book has been such a great conversation starter. Hope to see you there!!
Reminder: this will be our last class ’til March 24 as we line up with “Tacos with Taylor” and “Fun and the Son” youth and children’s formation classes, and they’re not holding class the two weekends of spring break. We have found that it is has been the most productive use of our resources to not have class during 3-day weekends and holiday weeks due to the dip in attendance amongst families.
We always have the gathering area “coffee hour” and nursery care during the 9:30-10:30 hour as you come to worship. This is a great time of fellowship before worship and there is always food and goodies to feed those who come.
Join us for Shrove Tuesday on Tuesday, March 5. We will celebrate “St. George style” with pancakes, pancakes, and even more pancakes at our Annual Pancake Supper from 5:30-7:00 PM!
Along with the pancakes, we will be serving sausage and fruit. Don’t forget to stick around for the pancake races! Donations are accepted and will go to benefit the St. George Church Camp Scholarship Fund. Click here to learn more about the different camps and conferences that this fund helps provide to members in our community.
Last Sunday the class read and “conversed” about three of the Bible verses in Question 7 for Chapter 1 in Max Lucado’s book “Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World.” Max prompts us to note the promises in these verses:
- Proverbs 3:5-6. ”Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.”
- Matthew 11:28-30. “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
- John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you;not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Some discussion centered on how the “yoke” (of oxen, for example) would perhaps have had more meaning to the people of 2000 years ago at the time the Gospels were written. One class member interpreted the Matthew passage as meaning our part of the burden will be lighter when we are yoked with God who will take part of our load. Another commented that we might be less burdened if we are yoked to Christ rather than to a worldly load. Yet another speculated that this passage might have changed meaning through mistranslations over 2000 years.
There was more lively discussion that this letter is too short to elaborate on. Hope as many of you who are able can join us in class this Sunday, 2/24/19 (normal time and place, between services starting at 9:45 in St. Mark’s Room, second floor in the Leadership Center), as we encounter more of Max Lucado’s questions relating to relief of anxiety.
In Christ,
Peggy and Paul Foerster
First Communion Schedule
- February 24 (class will be held after 10:45 service): We Celebrate
- March 3 (during 10:45 service): We are Sent Out
- May 19: First Communion
Mary Poppins Jr. tickets are available now!
Show dates:
February 28 @ 1:30 PM
March 1 @ 1:30 PM, 7:00 PM
March 2 @ 1:30 PM, 6:00 PM
The next baptismal preparation training will be offered on Sunday, February 24, at 9:45 am in the Sanctuary. The training covers the theology of the Baptism service and a walk-through of the service. Parents and God-parents/Sponsors are encouraged to attend.
Gene Rachels came to visit St. George one Sunday; Paul and Peggy Foerster invited him to lunch, and he knew he had found his church home. Having retired from the military, he adopted San Antonio as his home and was happy to find a church where he felt welcome immediately.
Gene didn’t just attend on Sundays – he volunteered for a number of positions, most notably greeter. He was the quintessential greeter who always had a smile on his face and a kind word for everyone. He would ask about your family and love waiting to hear the answers. Not only was he a greeter, we was also an Office Angel, regularly stuffing Sunday bulletins and preparing packets for our shut-ins. He was active in Jerry Fulenwider’s men’s group too.
Sadly, Gene began a fierce battle with cancer, but when he was able, he was in attendance at St. George. The battle was one of ups and downs as he improved and declined a number of times, but never did his smile or his grace leave him, even at his sickest. Upon his death, Gene received a glorious send off to heaven in a Ft. Sam Houston military funeral. As I watched the funeral, I had to smile and think of how it suited him so well.
Sometime later we were notified that Gene had left a bequest in his will for St. George. Imagine everyone’s surprise to hear that that bequest totaled $60,000. I can imagine his smiling face as he anticipated the surprise of his church family.
The timing of the bequest was serendipitous as it came just after the new Leadership Center was opened. Immediately Ram donated $10,000 to the camp scholarship fund because of Gene’s love for children and children’s ministries. Additionally, Gene’s generosity paid for the refurbishment of the sanctuary to match the other new campus buildings, including new flooring, new paint, kneelers, pew pads, pew refinishing, Bibles, Prayer Books, and more. The renovation of the bathrooms across from the parish hall was celebrated by all. Finally Gene’s largesse paid for the Adirondack chairs on the patio of the Leadership Center. It just so happened that the Head of School Rob Devlin and Father Ram were standing on the patio one day looking over the beauty of the courtyard, discussing how the patio needed comfortable chairs for enjoying the scenery and engaging in peaceful conversations. Thus Gene’s money provided those chairs.
The beauty of the way in which Gene’s bequest was used is how he was represented in the choices. He was a greeter and a loyal Sunday parishioner, he loved children, and he loved conversations with those in his church family. We can all thank him every Sunday when we see his gifts and know the heart he had for St. George and its people.
Written by Pam Piedfort with thanks to Haley Bankey for remembering the details