HOLY WEEK | VACATION BIBLE CAMP 2017 | ANNUAL …

1th

eAPRIL/MAY

2 0 1 7

HOLY WEEK | VACATION BIBLE CAMP 2017 | ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT

2

FROM THE RECTOR

The Rev. Aaron M. G. ZimmermanRector

Did you get that? We were dead. But Christ made us alive.

Many people thing Christianity is about making bad people good, and good people better. But it’s not. Christianity is about making dead people alive.

Easter is good news. So how about the four-hour praise dance?

Love,

3 Parish Updates

4Damin Spritzer Organ Concert

5 Holy Week at St. Alban's

6 YA@SA / ECW

7 Youth Ministry

8-9 VBC 2017, Hero Central

10 Children's Ministry News

11Adult Sunday School

12Parish Life

13Sundays at St. A's

14Financial Update

15McWhirter Scholarship & Holy Baptism Info

What’s your favorite music at Easter? The hymn “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” (with that wonderful fourth verse added by Charles Wesley)? Or do you prefer J.S. Bach’s exuberant Easter Oratorio?

Last year, Chance the Rapper re-leased a song called “Blessings” (it debuted on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and made me cry. It’s on YouTube). The song is about God’s grace in the midst of trials. One of my favorite lines is where he says the world wants “four-minute songs” but what they need is “a four-hour praise dance performed every morn.”

Easter is such good news, it deserves a four-hour praise dance.

Life is full of pit-falls, unexpected re-versals, frustration, confusion, loss, and suffering. And ultimately, the fi-nal problem is death.

At Easter, Jesus Christ rises from the grave and shouts “No!” to suffering and death, and proclaims a glorious “Yes!” and “Amen!” to abundant life (John 10:10).

Franciscan Friar Richard Rohr in Immortal Diamond says God’s main business is resurrection. Taking things from death to life.

This is not a new idea. St. Paul wrote to the Ephesian church in the First Century, “But God, being rich in mer-cy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:4-6 NRSV).

3

APRIL 5 Final “Gospel According to The Office” 6:30 PM in the Parish Hall

APRIL 9Palm Sunday services at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AMNO SUNDAY SCHOOL

APRIL 12Tenebrae service at 7:30 PM

APRIL 13Maundy Thursday service at 7 PM

APRIL 14Good Friday services at noon and 7 PM

APRIL 16Easter: The Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ NO SUNDAY SCHOOL

MAY 4Newcomer party at the Zimmermans

MAY 5"Cinco de Mayo" Men's Chill Grill

MAY 21Last Sunday School before Summer schedule

SAME JESUS, NEW TIMES: Update on Sunday Schedule

On March 19, we launched our new Sunday schedule with services at 7:30, 9:00, and 11:15 AM. It has brought both fresh and familiar faces to church. With more options, more peo-ple are able to come: college students, families, senior citizens, and more. Average Sunday attendance in 2016 was 195. Attendance in the first two Sundays of the new schedule was 257 and 237. Eugene Lavery’s leadership and our choir’s dedication has ensured quality music at 9 & 11:15. And Sunday School attendance has jumped from about 30 to over 50 (and sometimes close to 70) people.

Thanks to all the volunteers who have made this a success. And thanks to you, the congre-gation, for embracing change! We’re making room to welcome more folks to experience God’s grace.

Capital Campaign: Major Milestone Reached

The Rev. Aaron M. G. Zimmerman

On February 26, the congregation packed into the Parish Hall for our Victo-ry Luncheon to celebrate the conclusion of the active phase of the Our One Foundation capital stewardship campaign. The campaign to date has received 146 pledges totaling $2,833,031, over five times annual giving. This included $10,000 pledged by our college students, matched by two anonymous do-nors, tripling the amount!

Thank you to all our donors whose generosity has made the Our One Foun-dation campaign the largest single campaign in our church’s history. As we press on towards our goal of $6 million, we will invite new members, as well as existing members still considering their pledge, to get involved as togeth-er we preserve St. Alban’s historic legacy and prepare for our future. In the meantime, the Building Committee will spend the next several months of 2017 working with our architect to turn the conceptual drawings of our Master Plan into a more detailed schematic design.

For updates and more information about the campaign and our Master Plan, visit www.stalbanswaco.org/ouronefoundation.

Campaign Co-Chair Stewart Kelly addressed a packed Parish Hall on February 26 as he shared the exciting news about the Our One Foundation capital stewardship campaign.

4

Sought after for lectures and perfor-mances, praised for “enormous sensi-tivity and musicianship” (AAM Jour-nal), and hailed as “elegantly assured” (Dallas Morning News), Damin Spritzer will present an organ concert of works by René Louis Becker. Becker’s music is perhaps best summed up in this apt and elegant description from Albert Riemenschneider, who said:

“True to the heritage of his native land, he com-bines in an unusual degree the best characteristics of the French and German schools. His melodies are always singable and beauti-ful and his earnestness and seriousness as shown by his sonatas is equaled only by his great command of rhythmic treatment.”

5

April 9 Services at 7:30, 9, and 11:15 AM (No Sunday School)This day commemorates the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem, a week before his crucifixion. It is a ser-vice both joyful and somber, and features reading of the passion. We begin with the Liturgy of the Palms. At both 9:00 and 11:15 AM, our service be-gins outside in the courtyard.

April 12 Service at 7:30 PMTenebrae, Latin for shadows or darkness, is an ancient service of the Church consisting of a se-quence of scripture, and songs, while candles are progressively extinguished. Hosted by the Episco-pal College Ministry of Waco.

April 13 Service at 7:00 PMThis powerful service commemorates the events of last night of Jesus’ earthly ministry, from the Last Supper, to his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, to his arrest. The name for this service comes from the Latin “maundatum,” mean-ing command. It is a reference to the words of Christ at the Last Supper when he said, “A new commandment I give you: love one another” (John 13:34).

April 14Services at noon and 7 PMWe offer two services on this day, at noon and 7:00 PM. Both commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Both services are at St. Alban’s and include the Good Friday liturgy from the BCP. The noon service features a homily from our rector, with organ and congregational singing. The 7:00 PM service is a combined effort of the Episcopal Churches of Waco: Holy Spirit, St. Paul’s and St. Alban's. It features a combined choir from all three parishes, and brief homilies from each rector. We offer nursery care at the 7:00 PM service.

6

SAVE THE DATE!Women’s Contemplative RetreatOctober 27-29Cedarbrake Retreat Center, Belton, Texas

Space available for 12, Details to follow

For more information contact: Regina Easley-Young, [email protected]

Daughters of the King is an international organization for women in the Episcopal Church. Each Daughter pledges herself to a life-long program of prayer, service, and evangelism, and is dedicated to the spread of Christ’s Kingdom and the strengthening of the spiritual life of her parish.

Our local chapter is called the Bishop’s Chapter and is made up of all three Episcopal Churches in Waco. A new training class is being planned. If you are interested in becoming a Daughter, please contact Judy Bauer at 254-744-4256 or Karen Reynolds at 254-749-2573.

Kelli Barron & Justin Forgey Young Adult Ministers

BREAKFAST CLUBThe first Sunday of every month, YA@SA will go to brunch after the 11:15 AM

service. All college kids are invited so bring a friend.

COFFEE TALK continues April 2,

April 16, May 7, and May 21.

Questions? Contact Kelli Barron at [email protected]

7

If you have questions or want to RSVP to an event, contact Grace

Brown, Youth Ministry Director, at [email protected]

All meetings in the Youth Min. Rm., 2nd fl. of the Outreach Ctr.

Grace Brown Youth Ministry Director

From roasting marshmallows in the courtyard, to bowling, to lunch and Nintendo 64 after the new 11:15 service, St. Alban’s Youth Group has had a busy couple of months! We will continue to meet every Wednesday for MIDWEEK from 6-8pm and every Sunday from 10:15-11am.

In Sunday School we are going through a series called MOSAIC, where we learn more about giving God every part of our lives. We will be talking about brokenness, idols, faith, restoration, and sharing your story through our study of the Bible. At Midweek we are learning more about how to pray, find rest, and listen for God’s voice. Below is the schedule through the end of the school year. Stay tuned for the summer schedule in next month’s Epistle.

Youth Ministry Schedule through May:

Please email [email protected] with any questions or to RSVP.

88

stalbanswaco.org/vbc

99

WHO: For children 4 years and up to the 5th grade.

WHAT: Hero Central takes kids on awesome adventures alongside some of their favorite Bible heroes and discover the qualities that make us truly heroic in God. Epic music, spectac-ular science, crafty crafts, heroic recreation, and fantastic Bible stories help kids (and leaders) discover their strength in God!

WHEN: June 12-16, 9:00 AM to 12 noon.

HOW TO REGISTER: Contact Jole Cromwell, Coordina-tor of Children's Ministry and Parish Life, at (254) 752-1773 or [email protected]. Registration forms are available at the church office or online at stalbanswaco.org/vbc

COST: Registration fee is $30 per child or $40 per family (scholarships available)

10

Kids Connection

Pajama Party

Calling all 4th–6th graders

for a Kids Connection

Pajama Party! 

April 30, 11:45 am -2:00

pm, here at St. Alban’s! 

Put on your "jammies" and

join the fun!

Mission project:  

Please bring a pair of NEW

pajamas, size 2–6x, for our

friends at Compassion

Ministries. (Must be in the

package.)

Questions? Contact:

[email protected]

Kids Connection

Pajama Party

Calling all 4th–6th graders

for a Kids Connection Pajama Party! 

April 30, 11:45 am -2:00

pm, here at St. Alban’s! 

Put on your "jammies" and

join the fun!

Mission project:   Please bring a pair of NEW

pajamas, size 2–6x, for our

friends at Compassion Ministries. (Must be in the

package.)

Questions? Contact: [email protected]

Kids Connection

Pajama Party

Calling all 4th–6th graders for a Kids Connection Pajama Party! 

April 30, 11:45 am -2:00 pm, here at St. Alban’s!  Put on your "jammies" and join the fun!

Mission project:   Please bring a pair of NEW pajamas, size 2–6x, for our friends at Compassion Ministries. (Must be in the package.)

Questions? Contact: [email protected]

Kids Connection Pajama Party

Calling all 4th–6th graders for a Kids Connection Pajama Party! 

April 30, 11:45 am -2:00 pm, here at St. Alban’s!  Put on your "jammies" and join the fun!

Mission project:   Please bring a pair of NEW pajamas, size 2–6x, for our friends at Compassion Ministries. (Must be in the

package.) Questions? Contact: [email protected]

11

So is the church. And our families. Where is God when we suffer? When we sin? When we (and our institutions or marriages) go off the rails?

The Apostle Paul wrote his first letter to a Christian community in Corinth asking the same questions. Join us as we dive into a fascinating, passionate, controversial, surprising, shocking, and very practical letter. We’ll seek to understand it as a whole text, not isolated verses (i.e., 1 Cor. 13). We’ll discover a God who can handle our messes, offer grace and strength, and helps us in our everyday lives. Never read the Bible before? No worries. The class aims to make the text accessible through cultural and historical background.

Know the Bible really well? Great! Come share your insights. All are welcome. And bring a Bible.

May 21 is our last day of our regular Sunday School schedule before summer break.. Stay tuned for info on special Sunday School events over the summer.

12

Bob and Betty Gianella 4/17

John and Sylvia Harrington 4/19

Joe and Freddie Bozarth, III 4/20

Jim and Loren Hardie 4/20

Mike and Debby Kelley 4/20

Steve and Janet McClain 4/22

John and Laura Burton 4/25

Ron and Mary Fadal 4/25

Seth and Sherri Morris 4/26

Ernie and Beth Navara 5/16

Doyle and Regina Easley-Young 5/20

Bryan and Christi Ticknor 5/22

Jeremy and Jennifer Counseller 5/23

Michael and Tracy Larsen 5/25

Kevin and Anna Shuford 5/27

Michael and Amanda Trakselis 5/29

Stewart and Tracy Kelly 5/30

Bob and Florence Scattergood 5/30

Werner and Dorothy Pankratz 5/31

Ron Fadal 04/01Loren Hardie 04/01Jamie Hughes 04/01Roy James 04/02Tommy Bundrant 04/03Daria Moore 04/03Paul Stringer 04/03Martha Bancroft 04/06Robbie Moore 04/06Brenda Cornell 04/07Christine Steffy 04/07Annie Mae Smith 04/08Langston Wade 04/08Joseph Li 04/09Jennifer Whiteley 04/09Jensen Escobedo 04/10Atalie Kroll 04/10Bonnie Sneed 04/10Caren Hollis 04/12Alan Jones 04/12Steve Reilly 04/12Lynn Wisely 04/12Hannah Blount 04/14Beth Richards Van Es 04/14Todd Heller 04/17Jeffrey Vitarius 04/17Athan Zimmerman 04/18Di Word 04/19Stephanie Gleaves 04/21Keith Watts 04/21Ashley Escobedo 04/23Cory Sigler 04/23Jeremy Uecker 04/23Susan Calhoun 04/24Dinka Poehl 04/24Cassandra Willis 04/25Nicholas Atkins 04/26Ross Hughes 04/26Meredith Roberts 04/27Debbie Boyd 04/28Paula Campbell 04/28Kathleen Chastain 04/28Braxton Ray 04/28Justin Watts 04/29Luther Brunson, Jr. 04/30

Stephanie Pieper 04/30David Tekell 04/30Claudia Bachofen 05/01John Harrington 05/01Devin Hensley 05/01Elijah Wade 05/01Laiken Sigler 05/02Abigail Zimmerman 05/02Annette Ayers 05/03Christie Fornelius 05/03Tracy Larsen 05/03Annie Uecker 05/04Alvin Edwards 05/05Joe Hopkins 05/07Meredith Watts 05/09Quinn Danley 05/10Alex Atkins 05/13Stacy Coker 05/14Colten Shearer 05/15Victoria Gleaves 05/16Tom Moore 05/16Kendall Ticknor 05/16Erin Skelton 05/17James Marmonti 05/18Regina Easley-Young 05/19Susan Li 05/21Meredith Dempsey 05/23Susan Townsend 05/25Jill Wood 05/25Stephen Evans 05/26Emery Shuford 05/26Olivia Shuford 05/26Jose Escobedo 05/28Jimmy Kessler 05/28June Shipper 05/28Amy Sielaff 05/28Virginia Uecker 05/28Ric Peavy 05/29Sebastian Strecker 05/29William Priest 05/30Harold Alexander 05/31Deborah Donofrio 05/31Isadora Fornelius 05/31Lauren Ribelin 05/31

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

April/MayALTAR FLOWERS

WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PRAY FOR

If you would like to provide altar flowers in thanksgiving for or in memory of a loved one, please contact Susie Farley at:

[email protected]

or call the church office:

(254) 752-1773

Charles SymankHeidi BuchananChristie CumbieJudy HillmanCollins familyEdith BorshayKelley Evans

RosieBruce BartonJoyce BraemarSusan DoyleFrahm familyBill GheeBeth MillerDoug SmithLoraine Smith

Brad ThomasBennie BuchananRussell HerbertHelen BrowderAlmuth EwingBarbara ButlerDevin FarrellJennifer WhiteleyWalker Danley

13

April 2Fifth Sunday in LentEzekiel 37:1-14Romans 8:6-11John 11:1-45Psalm 130

April 9Sunday of the Passion: Palm SundayThe Liturgy of the Palms Matthew 21:1-11 Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

The Liturgy of the Word

Isaiah 50:4-9a Philippians 2:5-11 Matthew 26:14- 27:66 Psalm 31:9-16

April 16Easter: The Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus ChristJeremiah 31:1-6 Acts 10:34-43 John 20:1-18 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

April 23Second Sunday of Easter Holy Baptism with Holy EucharistActs 2:14a,22-32 1 Peter 1:3-9 John 20:19-31 Psalm 16

April 30Third Sunday of EsterActs 2:14a,36-411 Peter 1:17-23Luke 24:13-35Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17

May 7Fourth Sunday of EasterActs 2:42-471 Peter 2:19-25 John 10:1-10 Psalm 23

May 14Fifth Sunday of EasterActs 7:55-601 Peter 2:2-10John 14:1-14Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

May 21Sixth Sunday of EasterActs 17:22-311 Peter 3:13-22John 14:15-21Psalm 66:7-18

May 28Seventh Sunday of EasterActs 1:6-141 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11John 17:1-11Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36

SUNDAYWORSHIP

"Beloved Children/Bad Christians: A Study of 1 Corinthians" (Jan. 8-May 21)

@ 10:15 AMOur regular Sunday School takes a break

after May 21. Thank you to all the Children's Sunday School volunteers who provide

such a great program over the school year. Stay tuned for information on special

Sunday School series over the summer.

YOUTHYouth Ministry (7th-12th gr.):Youth Ministry Room, Outreach

No Sunday SchoolPalm Sunday

or Easter

14

FINANCIAL UPDATESTEWARDSHIP 2017

Whole-Hearted Giving

Total Annual Pledged 552,922 (165 Total Pledges)Received Pledges Year-to-Date* 52,878*Includes 2017 pledges paid in 2016

For month ending February 28:

Pledges Received 52,878 Non Pledged Contributions 2,295 Total Contributions Received 55,173 Pledges Budgeted for the Month: 46,035

Financial Snapshot: February 2017 Income and Expenses* Annual Year-to-Date Budget Actual

2017 Income 695,878 122,924

-Expenses (700,793) (114,921)

Surplus/ (Deficit) (4,915) 8,003

* As of February 28, 2017** Expenses and Income are elevated due to an insurance claim of $95,676 for roof repair.

Assets and Liabilities

AssetsOperating Account 24,625Memorial Fund 5,340Endowment Fund 389,915Endowment Fund (Restricted Assets) 232, 713Capital Campaign Fund 346, 860Long Term Maintenance Fund 1,100Organ Renovation 84,644 Total Assets 1,022,249Total Liabilities (2013 A/C Loan Balance) (50,900) Excess of Fund Balances over Liabilities 971,349 As of February 28, 2017

Question about giving? Contact Business Manager Lori Youngblood at [email protected]

Please remember to stay current on your pledge. For questions about ACH payments, planned giving, Endowment Fund, stock gifts, or your pledge, contact Business Manager Lori Youngblood: [email protected]

Give online atstalbans.org/give

ENDOWMENT FUNDIn Memory of Bonnie CromwellCol. Hugh Henson

In Memory of Dorthea MangumCol. Hugh Henson

**

For information on St. Alban's historic capital campaign, visit bit.ly/r1found

15

For the St. Alban's April/May worship schedules, visitwww.stalbanswaco.org/volunteers

“Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble” (BCP p. 298).

We will offer baptism at our 9:00 and 11:15 AM services on Sun-day, April 23. If you would like to be baptized, or present your child(ren) for baptism, please email Parish Administrator Hilary Gardner at [email protected] or call the church office. Baptism Prep Class will offered Sunday, April 2, at 10:15 AM. It is required if you have not taken the class before.

305 North 30th StreetWaco, TX 76710254-752-1773stalbanswaco.org

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDWACO, TEXASPermit No. 386

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

A PARISH OF THE DIOCESE OF TEXAS

The RT. Rev. C. AndRew doyle

IX Bishop of Texas The RT. Rev. Jeff fisheR

Bishop SuffraganThe RT. Rev. denA A. hARRison

Bishop Suffragan

ST. ALBAN'S STAFFThe Rev. Aaron M. G. Zimmerman, Rector

[email protected]

The Rev. Alberto Melis, Deacon [email protected]

Grace Brown, Youth Minister [email protected]

Jole R. Cromwell, Coordinator of Children’s Ministry & Parish Life

[email protected]

Ricky Gamble, Sexton

Hilary Gardner, Parish Administrator [email protected]

Eugene Lavery, Director of Music [email protected]

Rebekah Hughes, Newcomer & Ministry Coordinator

[email protected]

Asher Murphy, Communications Coordinator [email protected]

Lori Youngblood, Business Manager [email protected]

ST. ALBAN'S VESTRY

Jerry Campbell, Senior Warden

Claudia Raimondo, DDS, Junior Warden

Bart Townsend, Treasurer

Brennon Arnold, Clerk

Pat Danley, Ph.D.

Kathy Davidson

Emily Edwards

Tracy Kelly, DVM

Carol Melis

Lynn Wisely, Ph.D.

John L. Wood, Ph.D.

Sam Vo, Ph.D.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are One Church within the Anglican Communion and The Episcopal Church. All are sought and embraced in worship, mission and ministry

in a spirit of mutual love and respect.

Here at St. Alban’s, we carry out the above Diocesan Vision by

ST. ALBAN'S SUNDAY WORSHIP7:30 AM Holy Eucharist, Rite I / 9:00 AM Choral Eucharist, Rite II / 10:15 AM Sunday School / 11:15 AM Choral Eucharist, Rite II

Children’s Chapel and Nursery available at 9:00 & 11:15 AM services.

Proclaiming to all, through word and deed, the grace of God in

Jesus Christ.

EASTER!April 16Sign up for VBCstalbanswaco.org/vbc