The Rector's Diary~
  • May 3 (Saturday):  Vestry retreat from 9:00 to 2:30--we have such a fine bunch of vestry folks.  Serious
    talk about serious subjects, but great and buoyant spirit and a lot of fun as well.  You will doubtless hear
    more about this, but the main themes I heard were the need to redouble stewardship efforts, attendance, and
    reaching out toward younger families and youth to help the church grow.  The only serious shock was the
    admission that not all our vestry members check first thing each morning to see what the Rector's diary
    reports from the day before.  So, maybe we need to start a leetle contest—say, shorter sermons the weeks
    a majority of the vestry e-mails me every morning with replies on the daily diary?  Hmmm.... On a much
    more serious note, a lovely requiem eucharist and memorial service for Betsy Davis, with the most priceless
    trio sung by her family members.  What a blessed departure; what a blessing to all of us who were there.

  • May 2 (Friday):  Day off.  Down to church to set up for the vestry retreat Saturday.  Exciting moments with
    John Nelson helping nab a would-be vandal breaking into the "Y".  In the evening a bit of last minute prep
    for the retreat and then out to the airport to retrieve Betty from her Virginia expedition.  Nice day.

  • May 1 (Thursday):  Morning Prayer with staff.  Pastoral office visit with a parishioner.  To St. Stephen's for
    clericus (monthly lunch meeting with neighboring clergy) for mutual encouragement and harmless
    ecclesiastical gossip.  Errands and then back to All Saints School for an hour with the fifth grade boys.  
    Back to the office for productive meeting with vestryman Gerald Condon.  Returned phone calls for an hour,
    signed welcome letters to 130 new neighbors moving to the Beaumont area, then went looking for barbeque
    and home.
  • May 9-10 (Fri-Sat):  Drove down to Corpus Christi to be able to be at the funeral of old friend and mentor
    Dr John Etheridge.  Wonderful celebration and visits with old friends and colleagues, then back in the car
    and home.  Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his saints.

  • May 8 (Thursday):  Began the day with a meeting at Tanner Hunt's office with his colleague concerning ways
    to strengthen the church's financial future. At the office rejoiced to find the staff honoring Dean Calcote on
    the occasion of his 49th anniversary of ordination to the Sacred Order of Priests–for which God be thanked–
    with a theologically very appropriate and rich chocolate cake.  News of the arrival of new pew cushions–let
    all our glutes praise the Lord and magnify him forever! Various calls and home in the afternoon for more
    research and conversations in search of clergy help.

  • May 7 (Wednesday):  Preached at All Saints School chapel on Paul's arrest in Jerusalem and how God uses
    the failures of our lives to bless us the most sometimes, then to Morning Prayer with staff.  Office work til
    after lunchtime, then home for long afternoon on the phone restarting search processes.  

  • May 6 (Tuesday):  Morning Prayer.  Good visits with several folks, including chairman Pat Murphy about
    getting our Stewardship Committee meetings started and Elizabeth Gwin in the office about the wonders of
    life and family.  Celebrated Holy Communion at noon with a nice group present, then out for errands (having
    to miss the downtown clergy lunch meeting, with regrets).  To All Saints School for a class with the 5th
    grade. Home for an hour of phone work and then back to All Saints for supper and the marvelous Open
    House and Art Festival–revealing so much talent and dedication among our students and faculty alike. What
    Celia Coleman does for art education is a miracle!   Several answers to prayer today—God is so good to us!

  • May 5 (Monday):  Morning Prayer and staff meeting.  Jan out of the office for jury duty, so we can't spend
    money–this can be good.  Phone calls and usual office routine through the morning.  Received sad news that
    one best old friend and mentor, Dr. John Etheridge, died today in Corpus Christi; he gave more than he
    took, and he rests in Christ's peace.  Met with Hannah for youth work supervision, then to errands and
    home to an evening of phone work.

  • May 4 (Sunday/ Easter VII):  Excellent sermons this morning at both services by Parson Calcote, and
    exciting morning in Sunday School exercising I Corinthians chapter 3—and the need not be carried away in
    our support of any particular leader or party.  Special and poignant relevance to PECUSA's travails: we
    follow Christ, no particular party or partisan, and we have no commission from him to abandon where we
    are posted by him, until and unless we are driven out.  "It ain't the Alamo if you cut and run."  If that doesn't
    make sense to you, give me a call.  A very fine party to welcome and bless Hannah Overall in her new role
    as full-time Youth Minister.  I meant it when I charged everyone to send her a note expressing support and
    keep  her in your prayers.  Lovely evening service with 38 present.
  • May 17 (Sat):  Down to the church this morning surveying damage to the Pearl street fence from a wild
    nighttime driver.  Pretty quiet day, prepping for Sunday and building up some of the web site materials,
    adding a link for hymns to the spiritual life materials.  Tried out the E-giving process—give it a shot, it's fun.

  • May 16 (Fri):  Day off.  Saw Will off at the airport to Virginia.  Spent the morning in chores, with some
    useful phone calls in between.  Was delighted to discover that staff has been able to complete implementing
    arrangements so members and friends can make donations here at the web site if they desire to do so
    online.  (See the home page, click "E-Giving", sign in and your are done!)  Stewardship is part of staying in
    touch—try it, you might like it!

  • May 15 (Thu): Late to the office due to work at home, then ante-communion due to low turnout for the
    Thursday service.  An hour of returning phone calls and then a fine lunch with our chancellor, John Newton
    III, who is off to Virginia next week to celebrate graduation of John Newton IV from Virginia Seminary–and
    are we not all proud of that!  Good phone visit with Bishop Rayford High on a variety of subjects this
    afternoon, as well as with several others, and prep for vestry, then home to enjoy the evening with Will and
    Betty, as he leaves for Virginia to visit his grandmother for a few days.  

  • May 14 (Wed.):  Drove to Waco today to help Will move from Baylor for the summer; he will work at
    Camp Capers (near Comfort), the West Texas diocesan camp.  Remarkable storm on the way up–knew
    how Luther felt when he took the frock.  Enjoyed talking to Hugh Magers among others while on the way,
    catching up on a variety of things.  College dorm rooms at the end of the semester are a preview of
    Purgatory.  I do recommend, however, that every parent spend a four hour car ride with each of their
    children at least once a year—it is a great joy to have sustained conversation with our dearest and best, and
    all too rare in these busy days.  Rejoiced to be home.

  • May 13 (Tues.):  Morning Prayer with staff, following up calls and notes from yesterday, then meeting briefly
    with the Adult Education committee before celebrating Holy Communion at noon, observing the 459th
    anniversary of the introduction of the First Book of Common Prayer: we've come a long way, baby.  Met
    for a long visit with Pat Ritchie, then home to begin a New Testament Greek class for the younger Leister
    lads (and anyone else that wants to tag along).  Evening going over calls and followup to the staff planning
    day.

  • May 12 (Mon.):  Spent a most encouraging day with the parish program staff looking at plans for the coming
    year over at our house—we are truly blessed to have such creative and dedicated people serving St.
    Mark's.  To the church for the monthly meeting of the vestry Executive committee, and then spent a very
    pleasant evening with the Daughters of the King at their meeting.  Pat Ritchie gave a remarkable and
    illuminating presentation on her work for hospice and in her preparation for the permanent diaconate.

  • May 11 (Pentecost Sunday):  Wonderful Pentecost Sunday with good attendance, probably due in no
    small part to Mothers' Day and the good example of many moms through many generations.  Celebrated
    and preached at 8, taught I Corinthians 4 at Sunday School—the truly mysterious and gracious power of
    God in the apostles he sends us then and now.  Preached at 10:15 and was grateful Howell Gwin had
    remembered to prompt us to renew the tradition of the red and white roses in honor of our mothers, living
    and dead.  A lovely lunch with the Clark's and Nancy Neild, then back to the office to finish prep for the
    Staff planning session Monday and answer calls from Friday and Saturday.  Very pleased to say we now
    have five of us committed for the southeast Mexico medical mission in June, including Dr. Robert Birdwell,
    David Walston, Helen and Hannah Overall and myself.  Hallelujah!  Anyone who wants to help, we need to
    make contribution for the cost of medications, so donations are exquisitely needed and soon.
  • May 24 (Sat): Left at 06:45 with Judge Radford and Betty to Christ Church Cathedral in Houston for the
    Special Council of the Diocese of Texas to elect the new Bishop Coadjutor, who will succeed (D.v.) Bishop
    Wimberly next year as our Diocesan Bishop.  On the fourth ballot, with a majority of 51.8% of the clergy
    order and 54.8% of the lay order, the Rev. Canon C. Andrew Doyle, was elected.  Our prayers go up for
    him, for his family, and the Diocese, as we go forward into the future God has for us.  For more information
    about the election you might see http://www.epicenter.org/edot/Default.asp .

  • May 23 (Fri):  Day off; saw Will off on the bus to San Antonio for training for camp staff at Camp Capers,
    Diocese of West Texas' summer camp.  Much of the day spent working out payments for the Mexico
    mission team's airline tickets and other such.  Down to the church at 5:00 to meet with leaders from Troop
    601, helping with a concern with some of the scouts.  Early to bed to be ready for the diocesan election
    tomorrow in Houston.  Keep that in your prayers til we have a good, strong new Bishop.

  • May 22 (Thu):  Morning Prayer with staff and various office visits and calls, then Communications committee
    meeting with Shelly Vitanza, Charles Teel and David Lowell through lunch—progress with the web site and
    newsletters has been phenomenal: way to go, Shelly!  No Eucharist today due to the church being filled up
    with carpet installers.  More calls in the afternoon, then to Greek class with the Leisters.  Very sad call from
    the DOK about our prayers (from all of us) being needed for Linda Cook, injured in a dreadful accident
    while on an educational mission in central Mexico.  Please keep her close in your intercessions.  Movie night
    (the new Indiana Jones) with the family and then a moderately unsuccessful attempt to shear the offspring's
    5-month growth of hair before he leaves for summer camp staff.  Dads cannot do this right....it may do
    permanent damage.

  • May 21 (Wed):  Celebrated Holy Communion for the last chapel service at All Saints School for the year,
    then to church for several good visits and returning phone calls. To lunch at the Wellness Center with Judge
    Radford, JW Allan Nichols, Barney Hammer and Gerald Richardson, the delegates to our special Diocesan
    Council to elect our new coadjutor Bishop on Saturday.  Worked from home through the afternoon on calls
    extending the search for an assistant rector and conversations with fellow clergy around the diocese, then
    finishing up articles for the June Revelation and web site. Ended the day with a very fine conversation with
    Professor Philip Turner, a great mentor and vice president of the Anglican Communion Institute; always an
    encouragement to speak with him.  A very full day, with hopes it will pay off big for us soon.

  • May 20 (Tue):  Morning Prayer with staff, followed by meetings with building and grounds folk and others
    about carpet installation, scheduling and the like.  Holy Communion at 12:00 (St. Dunstan–everyone should
    keep a good pair of hot tongs around for dealing with the devil when tempted; where to apply them is
    entirely discretionary).  We need to have a regular Wednesday evening service going all year round, whether
    we have supper and programs or not—mid-week services are more important than we usually realize for
    keeping us steeped in grace.  Several good counsel sessions and then home for a quick NT Greek lesson
    with the Leister lads, then out to the movies with the family to see "Prince Caspian."  EVERYONE
    SHOULD GO SEE PRINCE CASPIAN.  Take a young sprout with you.

  • May 19 (Mon):  Morning Prayer and staff meeting, punctuated with arrival of various workers getting ready
    to take out the carpet in church as we replace same.  Big week for making messes around old St. Mark's–
    we'll have the Guild Room scoured this week as well.  Most of the day in the office and on the phone; a very
    pleasant long visit with my old friend, the Rev. Sam Todd in Houston, about various ministry questions.
    Vestry this evening with some very good follow up to the vestry retreat earlier in the month, then out to the
    airport to pick up Will, back from Virginia.  Regretted having to miss the All Saints School board meeting
    tonight, set the same night as vestry this month.  I'm working on bi-location, Steve, I promise!

  • May 18 (Trinity Sunday):  Lovely day and lovely weather for Splash Day for the Sunday School and the
    picnic on the lawn, following the 10:15 service.  We gotta have more of those—if only we could guarantee
    comparable weather to today!  Special recognition for our graduating seniors today—wonderful to have 4 of
    our six graduates with us; I liked how they laughed when I told them I'd be getting the numbers for bail
    bondsmen in the cities where they are going to university.  Evidently the lads thought I was kidding.  Special
    thanks to those few, those hardy, faithful few who served as Sunday School teachers this year.  God bless
    'em!  Sunday School discussion very good today on the difficult text of I Corinthians 5–lots to munch on
    there: how do we keep the Church faithful, holy and open to those who need it, when they are not?  Much
    of the afternoon on the phone with vestry and others.  Good group at 6:00 Holy Communion, and so home,
    with more phone calls in the evening, including a lovely visit with Candidate for Deacon's Orders, Tracie
    Middleton.  What a good day!
  • May 31 (Saturday):  Struck down with a flu bug—bleh!

  • May 30 (Friday): Day off.  Lovely supper at Frank and Kay Eastman's in the evening.

  • May 29 (Thursday):  MP with staff, brief meetings in office, then to Houston Methodist Hospital to visit
    Linda Cook, administer Holy Communion and admit her a Daughter of the King.  A brave lady: keep her
    and her family in your prayers.  Drove home for a bit, then to graduation at All Saints School, where the
    Rev. Susan Kennard was the class choice for commencement speaker, and what a joy to have her back.  
    Lots of recognition for fine youngsters in the class with very impressive achievements, a joy to be part of it.

  • May 28 (Wednesday):  Quick meeting this morning with Karen Rush and Betty Fuller about the plans for
    Confirmation class next fall, then on to a very productive meeting of the vestry Membership committee
    dealing with seeking and supporting new members, with Laurie Leister chairing that and getting us off to a
    very good start.  A short break for phone calls and then our first meeting of the Stewardship committee, with
    Pat Murphy as chair.  (Yes, I really do want the theme next year to be "Shirley, Goodhue and Murphy
    will follow me all the days of my life 'til I turn in my pledge..." if we can just get the right  people to be
    co-chairs of the every member canvass...).  Phone and desk work the rest of the afternoon following up the
    meetings and then home.

  • May 27 (Tuesday):  Morning Prayer and staff meeting, with a few missing due to the odd meeting day.  
    Morning returning calls; Holy Communion at 12:00 with a nice full house.  Lots of getting ready for great
    summer activities for the youth and other plans.  Greek class with David Leister and more calls afterwards.

  • May 26 (Monday, MEmoriAl Day):  Quiet day, office closed.  Picked up Will from the airport, got
    more reading time in, phone visits with friends.  God be praised for holidays.

  • May 25 (Sunday: Pentecost II):  Services well-attended for Memorial Day weekend–a pleasant surprise.  
    New carpet completed in the nave and chancel, put a spring in all our steps and make the church feel (and
    even smell) new.  Most fun today: having John Newton III brag on his fine son (J.N. IV), newly graduated
    M.Div. with honors from Virginia Theological Seminary and set to be ordained to deacon's orders June 28.  
    Prayers and recognition of our vets for Memorial Day and enjoyed singing America for marching out.  
    Excellent and lively discussion of 1st Corinthians 6 in Sunday School.  All told a grand day at church.  Then
    over to Nancy Neild's for lunch and fine conversation; we solved 4/5ths of all the problems on the continent
    before dessert.  Home and spent the rest of the day re-reading Niebuhr's Christ and Culture—what an
    elegant work, from a time not so long ago when constructive theology could make sense of much more than
    mere churchy fussing and be expressed with exquisite clarity of thought and language.
May, 2008