The Rector's Diary

The Rector's Diary~

reporting the day to day adventures of the rector of
St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Beaumont, Texas,
for your edification and entertainment

The Rev. Frank E. Fuller

For previous entries see Archives.

3 July (Fri): Day off & Independence Day observed at the office, so church closed this morning. Spent the morning reading,
wondering what I should pack and paying bills...bleh. Down to church for the reception for Ralph (Rabbit) Rouse's funeral at 1:
00, and a very nice gathering it was--I had not realized how big a family they had. Sad and surprised to hear Frances say her
brother had lost his grandson to a much-too-young heart attack in the last couple of days as well; too much grief for a family to
have to carry. Grateful--very--to Susan Selman for providing the reception for the Rouse's, and a good thing she drafted
Hannah to help. Fun hearing about the Selman guys with others of our tribe backpacking through Philmont Scout Ranch; just
hope they got it shape before going. A lovely service for Ralph, with special thanks to Marcia Perrine for playing the organ and
Nolan Thornal for choral solos. Nolan is off to Austria tomorrow for the adventure of a musical lifetime; I bet he comes back
with some great stories. Hot as a convection oven in the outside Columbarium for the interment; just glad no one fainted. It
was a pleasure to have Byron Crocker helping with the service and good to catch up with him; we don't get to visit enough.
Folks visited a little more in the Cloister after service, as I sort of expected. Home for a quiet afternoon and some work in the
backyard when the evening "cooled off" (yes, I jest, about the temp at least; I should follow Bishop Cilley's advice about yard
work more carefully: it was, "Don't!").

2 July (Thu): At home til 9:30, then to the office to celebrate the 10 o'clock service. In the office til about 1:00, then to lunch
and running errands. NT Greek with Tracie M at 3 and a conference at 4:00. Grateful to Ross Jones for agreeing to provide
leadership for the Some Other Place Tasting that will be August 18. Saw the July edition of the Revelation that arrived today--
what a great job Shelly does with that. Home later, wondering what I've forgotten to get ready for the team holding the fort
while we're gone, but confident they will have it in good hands.

1 July (Wed): Read MP at the office and worked on things for the staff for July while we're gone. Met with Betty F and
Hannah O about secondary classes for about an hour. Missed Rotary but met with Frances Rouse and sons about the service
for Ralph on Friday at 2:00 (you all note that the reception will be before the service, starting at 1:00). Ran out for a bite of
lunch after we worked up the leaflet for the funeral; then back for more chores at the office and visits with staff and the JW.
Celebrated HC (observing Independence Day early) with Dr. Gwin as Reader and a nicer crowd than expected, having figured
folks were already heading out of town for the holiday. Home and a few good phone visits after supper.

30 June (Tue): MP with staff briefly and office work on the weekly mailer, the last for a month. Celebrated HC (SS Peter &
Paul) for a small group, missing the Rouse's, who are such regulars. Out to lunch with a neighbor clergyman, solving all the
problems of the world, then back to visit with the Wardens, covering the excitements they can expect while I'm on vacation.
Spent an hour in practice with Ellen P going over the arts of voice and reading for her lay reading service. Off to the hospital for
another brief visit with Judy & James B and met her brother who was just in from Alaska to see their mother. Home for supper
and more phone work. Grieved to get the news later in the evening that Ralph Rouse had died following surgery today. He will
be missed; I've known few people who could make you feel so good just to be around him for a few minutes. Rest in peace,
Ralph, and rise in Glory.

29 June (Mon): MP & rump staff meeting, more than half the staff being on vacation. Should've been a short meeting, but we
had a lot to ponder and used the time well, looking forward the next two months. Office work and then out for a quick lunch
with Tim; back and a short visit with the Junior Warden, then over to Baptist Hospital for a good visit and prayer with Judy B.
and her mother. Ran errands and then home; phone calls through the early evening to pin down a number of plans. Good visit
with Corky M. about the church's mission and identity. We cannot grow if we do not serve; we cannot serve if we do not
grow–they are two sides of one golden vessel.

28 June (Sunday: Pentecost IV): Preached and celebrated HC at 8:00 & 10:15 & 6:00 PM; nice class at 9:00 discussing
General Convention, what we can expect and how it works. Realism says that the current tide of the culture runs strong in GC
as well, so that progressives can be expected to rule the roost. Some see them moderating their tone, others squeezing every
drop of advantage they can in their pursuit of what they believe to be justice. We should all pray for justice. And charity.
Interesting preaching about Jesus as the superstar on this weekend when all the world can talk about is Michael Jackson's
death. Sic transit gloria (et justicia) mundi.

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27 June (Sat): Home for the morning, working on plans for the adult education calendar through next spring. Missed getting to
go to the men's "pilgrimage" to St. Arnold's in Houston. Cleaned up and headed to church for the Kirby-Leger wedding at 5:
00, which was lovely. Back home for supper and them up to Easy's for the good-bye party for Sharon Overall, who leaves
next month for the north to begin med school. Wonderful time.

26 June (Fri): Celebrated HC for the men's group at 7:00, Dean being on vacation, and then visited upstairs with the Friday
Morning Ministry, which went well despite sadness among the recipients and staff at George's departure. Good sermon by
Jason B and a good start in the group's new life. Worked at the office til a bit before noon, then home until 6:00, when we had
the rehearsal for the wedding of Asa Kirby and Christy Leger, a lovely couple with families here but living in Austin. Wish we
could coax them home.

25 June (Thu): MP with staff and meetings about adult ed and planning for fall Sunday School through the morning. Lunch with
a vestry member to discuss further development of our outreach ministry. Bid Dean a fond adieu, as he heads to Colorado for
the week to visit family. Met with the senior warden since he was on campus helping sign checks. (Jan will be out next week
for vacation, so nobody ask for money next week.) A bit of budget work and then Greek class with only Jason present, so he
got a full dose of aorist verbs. Wrapped up early and home, since we have a full day tomorrow. TV full of Michael Jackson's
early death this afternoon; sad for him and his, but gracious mercy we do pay overmuch attention to our entertainers, methinks.

24 June (Wed): MP with staff and mostly phone and office work in the morning. Got the Rev. Jack Leighton to help with
some of my absent time next month for a couple of evening Sunday services, and grateful to him for that. Other various
business with the diocese. Grabbed a quick lunch and back to church for the one o'clock reception for those attending Bud
Fulbright's funeral service. Received George Main's resignation from staff as Friday Morning Ministry coordinator; thanks for
your hard work, George. Preached and celebrated at Bud's memorial; wonderful turn out and everyone was very brave in the
heat when we went out to the columbarium. Meetings and calls through the afternoon. Celebrated at EP/HC at 5:30 and then
home; more phone work in the evening. Busy day, but so proud of staff for taking care of everyone's needs and really
delivering the ball when the pressure is on -- we are so blessed. Stayed up late finishing Agincourt by Bernard Cornwell.

23 June (Tue): Having gone to bed early got up early, naturally, because my body rebels whenever possible against normality
and good sense, so used the early hours to do something very dubious and sign up for Twitter. Not that I believe in that, but
Shelly V. and Charles T. assure me this is the wave of the future and the best way to communicate for the parish if we have
another emergency. So, I love and trust Shelly and Charles, and despite misgivings, there I am to be found as "FEF3t". I might
eventually even figure out how to make it work and post the diary there too. Shudder. So, to church and MP; Ginger back
and seeming to have survived. Several visits in the office and by phone, and then over to the Fulbright's for a good visit with
Jody and the family about planning Bud's funeral. Quick lunch at Tony's, where I got to visit with Ruth A. and Elizabeth G., so
that you may be sure I am well caught up on local doings. Back to the office to follow up funeral prep and more visits, mostly
by phone, including a good visit with Bishop Rayford High. Home about 5:30. Now if I can just twitterpate....

22 June (Mon): Received news Bud Fulbright died this morning at the hospital. To church for MP and staff meeting, then tried
to track down Jody. Sent Ginger home sick with what looked like food poisoning; green is not her color. Phone and office
visits most of the day. Prayers for the small group of youth off to Galveston for a work week mission with Hannah; God bless
'em. Out to the Eastman's epic "2-2" golf tourney and party for the evening; what fun, and a hoot to meet old friends of mom
and dad, the Hunter's, from Waco. What a small world we live in. Good discussion in staff today about ways to grow our
outreach mission work locally for the long run; who knows what opportunities will open up for us these next few years?

21 June (Sunday Pentecost III): Celebrated at 8:00 & 10:15, while Dean preached; celebrated and preached at 6:00. Good
session of Adult class, mostly discussing the history of the Anglican Communion, after the Dad's Day Donut Factory, which
amply proved the power of powdered sugar to raise havoc on black shirts. A wonderful little celebration in honor of Kim
McAtee on the occasion of her retirement after eight years as our Children's Ministries Director-- what great good she has
done and what wonderful fruit it will bear through the years to come. We will miss her on the staff and count on her good
advice as our work goes forward. After the 6 PM service, spent a lovely hour with the group preparing to provide us music for
a Saturday night vespers service starting in the fall. It will be a very special blessing to us downtown.

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20 June (Sat): Quiet morning, though I had to miss the ordination of our new deacons in Houston, which was a big occasion
with 16 new deacons being ordained today. God bless 'em. Met in the afternoon with a lovely couple from Austin being
married here next week. Then out to the hospital to visit with Jody Fulbright and family, with Bud moving soon to hospice as he
is now comatose. Keep them in our prayers. Home for some phone work and prepping Sunday and next week.

19 June (Fri): Day off with a doctor's appointment and good routine reports in the morning, then to the office for some needed
paperwork and then a most pleasant afternoon with the Vacation Bible School. Nice visit with Ginny Mendoza about plans for
a class next fall on Wednesday nights. We have got to get the Crocodile Man to come and visit church some Sunday. Though
I do confess I had some wicked thoughts about boots as we viewed his reptiles.

18 June (Thu): MP with staff and then met for the rest of the morning with James Black working on the Stewardship campaign
for next fall; so grateful for his leadership and commitment. Grabbed some lunch and then back to wander around VBS some.
Office work and then a NT Greek class with Jason and Tracie, who are really showing gifts in their studies. More phone visits
and a couple of office counseling visits. Glad to have Senior Warden Allan Nichols home from his sailing adventures. Home a
little late. My 35th anniversary of ordination as a deacon of the Church. How time flies when you're having fun.

17 June (Wed): MP with staff. Meetings through the morning and a bunch of phone work. Rotary at noon, then home for a bit
to nurse griping stomach a bit-- no offense to Rotary intended. Back to church for more office time and then celebrated HC for
a good little group at 5:30.

16 June (Tue): MP with staff and a fairly long day of meetings and phone work, a quick visit around VBS in the afternoon.
Celebrated HC at noon for a good little group. NT Greek in the afternoon.

15 June (Mon): Quick staff meeting this morning so several of us could attend the funeral for Karen Rush's dad at Broussard's,
a lovely service. Back to the office for a bit, then home for lunch and back to see the kickoff for Vacation Bible School-- we
have more than 80 children involved and a most impressive lineup of teens getting service hours in. What a loud and lovely
blessing. A call from Treasurer David Grove reporting some of our folks nettled about having Betty Fuller appointed as one of
our CE directors, concerned at apparent conflicts of interest involved. Suggested they might want to volunteer for the position,
but it is right to express the concern, which I already planned to report to the vestry tonight, and did so. Received a very kind
and unanimous resolution of approval and support from the Vestry for Betty's appointment for that service. Met with Steve
McGrade, chairman of the All Saints School Board, discussing the need for new nominations for the St. Mark's representatives
on the Board; lacking a full slate we will postpone that until August when the vestry meets again. Good meeting with Hannah
Overall about her work as youth director. Met with the Vestry at 5:00, receiving an impeccable audit from our financial
auditors and a very good meeting concluding with some real energy and excitement around the new programs and possibilities
coming on line this fall. We are blessed with a superb vestry, and especially a great Christian Ed committee, whose work this
year will pay off for years to come, thanks to the fine hard labor of their chair, Tressa Clarke. Decided to decline a request to
consider hosting the diocesan council in two years, but agreed to consider it for a couple of years thereafter. Also a excellent
discussion tonight about finances, staffing, interparish relations and growth of the church by means other than out-and-out sheep
stealing. You don't get better vestry meetings than this one was.

14 June (Sunday Pentecost II): Very fine Sunday and good attendance, preached and celebrated at 8:00, led another "Stump
the Priest" session at 9:00, somewhat lighter fare than last week; preached at 10:15 with Dean celebrating. Prayed over the
Vacation Bible School leaders and so grateful for them as we go into a hectic and very special week with them.

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13 June (Sat): Quiet day at home mostly, prepping Sunday, catching this up.

12 June (Fri): Day off. News that Karen Rush's dad died over night at St Elizabeth's, having lingered from a stroke. May he
rest in peace and rise in glory, and his family find comfort in both. Back to visit the Fulbright's briefly. Caught a movie, "My
Life in Ruins," a lot better than the reviews lead one to expect. What do they know?

11 June (Thu): MP with staff and brief consults , then into the car for another trip to Houston to lunch at the diocesan office
with the Bishop and about 10 other rectors, to hear the bishop's views about the forthcoming General Convention and report
what things folks are saying we can expect. Sounds like the leadership is hoping it will be fairly uneventful. We may hope.
Over to MD Anderson for a very fine visit with Mike and Helen Overall, with him showing off his walking skills with the help of
his PT guys...a man deeply grateful to God that things are going so well; he's to go home Friday, and God be thanked. Longer
drive home with afternoon traffic; back in time for a quick visit with the Fulbright's at Baptist Memorial, where Bud is looking at
more surgery, then home.

10 June (Wed): And did I ever pay for that.... decided the better part of valor was not to push, so in to the office late. Rotary
meeting. Several phone calls on diocesan business and fall plans. Dean took the 5:30 service, so home to change and head out
to our first Traveling Eucharist, which was truly lovely over at the McGrades. Great crowd, great place -- thank you
McGrade's!--and lots of fun; I'd guess we had about 60 of us there. Everyone voted to go back next week, same time, same
place...lucky Nancy. Ah, were it only so.

9 June (Tue): MP with staff and meetings through the morning, including exploration of a possible dinner theater gig here at
church later this summer. Got word for sure that Westminster Pres day care will be moving in to the First United Methodist
facility, and very happy for them. Celebrated HC at noon, then out for a quick lunch and change of clothes to head out with the
youth later. Back for the monthly meeting with Jerome W to plan music, then an hour with Traci M and Jason B doing Greek
NT. Left for Houston with Hannah driving the van very ably with a load of our youngsters, and on to the Astros game.
Learned that our youth group could play a better game of ball than this year's Astros. It was Episcopal Night at Minute Maid
Field, and Bishop Andy got to do the honors on the field, while we enjoyed visiting with church folks from all over the area in
the stands. Ate more junk food than any time since I remember. I will pay for this. Home about 11:30; Hannah is a good
driver.

8 June (Mon): MP and staff meeting; we are almost getting too big for the Abbey to hold all our staffers. Excellent Christian
Ed meeting at 11:00 planning the big Fall Festival event for October, with the trademark enthusiasm and excitement that
committee nearly always shows for their work. That made me miss Prime Timers, which was too bad. Mostly office visits and
phones through the late afternoon, followed by a preliminary meeting about the 2008 financial audit, which looks very good,
followed by the vestry Executive committee meeting, setting agenda for the vestry meeting next week and reviewing plans for
the summer. Brief visit with early DOK's, but too pooped to stay around. Home and early to bed.

7 June (Sunday: Trinity Sunday): Preached and celebrated both 8 &10:15, Dean still out of town. Despite the complexities
of preaching on Trinity Sunday it has always been a favorite of mine-- we get to sing St. Patrick's Breastplate if nothing else.
John Scott had a good time putting me in my place noting I said not to believe anyone who says they can explain the Trinity and
then talking for 10 more minutes explaining the Trinity. How true, how true.... "Stump the Priest" for Sunday School, which
was fun; the quest to find something I can comment on in less than 15 minutes goes on. Nice installation for the Daughters of
the King, including new Daughter Jane Nielsen. Honors to Alma Martin, too, on her retiring as acolyte director. Good to see
how folks lingered to visit at the reception after. Got a nap in, then down to church for 6:00, sharing that with Dean, who is
back at last and seems none the worse for wear. It was a good day.