(Price range information came from the Austin Chronicle Restaurant Guide)

CROP Hunger Walk

The Young Adults Ministry of St. David’s invites the whole parish to join them this Sunday at 1:30 for the 2009 CROP Hunger Walk to raise money and awareness for international hunger relief.  A group from St. David’s will be leaving the church at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday to head to Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Park in East Austin.  Please join us as we walk to provide food to hungry people around the world.  Contact for more details.
CROP Walk website

Young Adults

	Young Adults			Monthly			Photos			Special Events

Subscribe to our e-newsletter and stay up to date on our various activities & events.

Welcome To St. David’s!  Our Young Adult Community is made up of folks 20 to 40-ish who gather for study, fellowship, service, and worship in a variety of places at a variety of times. For more information, contact , Coordinator of Young Adult Ministries.

Please check out our various programs on the links up above & sign up to receive our e-newsletter, The Weekly Leek!

Wisdom Ways
Discussion for Young Adults - Sunday mornings at 10:20 in the Guild Room at St. David’s. 

Christianity 101

A Course on Faith and Practice

Enhance your worship experience with a deeper understanding of our tradition. Each month in Christianity 101 we’ll explore a new topic with the purpose of deepening our understanding of our faith. The Christianity 101 course also serves as preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, for anyone who would like to be Confirmed.

People brand new to St. David’s can attend the Newcomer Introduction class which provides an orientation to our community, worship, and ministries. We will offer this class every other month in addition to the Christianity 101 series.

All classes are free and open to everyone. No sign-up necessary. Attend as many classes as you like.

Classes will be held on Sunday mornings 10:25am-11:10am, September 2008-May 2009.

Schedule of Topics:

	September	Newcomer Introduction
	October	Christian Faith and Practice
	November	The Episcopal Church
		Newcomer Introduction
	December	The Kingdom of God
	January	The Sacraments
		Newcomer Introduction
	February	The Bible
	March	Prayer
		Newcomer Introduction
	April	Lay Ministry
	May	Evangelism
		Newcomer Introduction

Fellowship

St. David’s is a big church made up of lots of small groups. We want to make a place for you in the parish by involving you not only in Sunday worship but also by welcoming you into smaller groups of other people who share your dreams and concerns. These will be people who have the same interests as you, or people of your own generation. There is no limit to how many groups in which you may participate!

St. David’s Women is a fun and dynamic intergenerational group of women who meet the second Wednesday of every month (September-May) in Crail B (6–8 p.m.) for a meal, fellowship and a short program. During the summer months this group hosts potluck dinners at a members home. All are welcome. For more information, contact . Child care is available, but you need to make a reservation.

The Men’s Group is an intergenerational group of men who grill steaks on the labyrinth the third Thursday of each month (6 – 8 p.m.). For more information contact .

The Gay and Lesbian Fellowship group of St. David’s is a fellowship consisting of lesbian and gay people, our families and our friends. We have family friendly potlucks and may have a Lenten study group in the future. All members and friends of St. David’s are welcome and invited. For more information, contact .

Friday Morning Moms is a group of moms who meet each Friday from 10 a.m. to noon in the Guild Room. It is a great opportunity to connect with other moms, support one another in personal and spiritual growth, and share in the parenting journey. We do bible study, service projects, parenting roundtables – and sometimes we just talk and drink coffee! Free child care is provided, and everyone is welcome! For more information, contact . Please note: Beginning May 7, 2010, Friday Moms is hosting a personal renewal group the first Friday of every month. Normally, this 12-month course costs $300, but Tricia Mitchell, a trained facilitator, is offering it for free. Topics include managing your energy, setting priorities, and reclaiming your identity. Feel free to join the course for any session.

St. David’s Movie Group meets on the second Sunday of the month at 11:15 a.m. to discuss a movie that was chosen at the previous meeting. We pick first-run films and try to select movies whose theological and ethical content we find interesting. Contact the to find out the next movie the group will discuss.

Mamas and Papas is a group of parents who get together several times a year for social events. To be included on the Evite list contact .

Middle Marrieds is a group of empty-nesters who meet for fun and fellowship. Are you new to St. David’s? We’d love to include you! For details, contact .

The St. David’s Dads group is a collection of fathers throughout the spectrum of parenthood who are seeking community and a support structure as we raise our kids. The group conducts a variety of activities throughout the year including campouts, father/daughter dances, and miscellaneous activities with our kids. We also host dad only gatherings such as poker nights. The second part of our mission is to provide St. David’s with a resource of manpower for missions and issues. For more information, contact .

Foyers are small gatherings of people in each other’s homes where members get to know one another and share Christian fellowship. Groups of 8 or 10 people have a convener to decide dates and times. After each Foyer Group has met six times, the group disbands and members may sign up for a new Foyer Group. This is an excellent way to get to know each other at St. David’s! For details contact .

Don’t see the group you want? Start a new one! For more information, contact our Small Group Coordinator, . 

Prayer Groups

Rector’s Prayer Group: Started in the late 1940s, this prayer group meets in the Guild Room each Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. to pray for the church, its members and the world. All are welcome!

Intercessory Prayer Group. The group meets every Thursday, 12 to 1 p.m. This time is for reflection and intercession, where we pray for everyone who has submitted prayer request cards on Sunday. Intercessory Prayer is an extraordinary ministry because it draws us close to our Lord and it changes us from within.

Daughters of the King is an order for women who are communicants of the Episcopal Church, churches in communion with it, or churches in the Historic Episcopate. Each daughter takes a lifetime vow to live by the Rule of the Order, which requires a spiritual discipline of daily prayer, service and evangelism. For more information, please contact Mary Pendergrass at 250-5319.

St. Elizabeth’s Guild: Women of the church meet monthly on the first Thursday (May-September) from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.  Activities include healing mass, lunch, and study. For more information contact Louise Rieck at 478-1508.

Discussion Group

There are groups large and small in the church, which convene to discuss books, movies, theological issues, or happenings in the world or church.

ST. DAVID’S MOVIE GROUP: We meet on the second Sunday of the month at 11:15 a.m. to discuss a movie that was chosen at the previous meeting. We pick first-run films and try to select movies whose theological and ethical content we find interesting. Contact the to find out the next movie the group will discuss.

Discovery Class

Learn about our faith and the Episcopal Tradition

The Extended Discovery Class begins on Tuesday, January 8th from 7 – 8:30 p.m. Sessions will include a time of sharing in small groups, Bible study, and presentations on a variety of faith topics. Time will also be provided for questions about the Faith and its expression in The Episcopal Church. Leaders will include The Rev. David Boyd, George McGonigle, D.D., Dr. Steven Bishop, Dr. Tony Baker from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest (ETSS), and The Very Rev. Dusty McDonald, the former Dean of ETSS.

This class will also serve as preparation for those who desire to Reaffirm their faith or be Confirmed or Received into the Episcopal Church when Bishop Dena Harrison makes a visitation. All members and friends of St. David’s are welcome!

Journey Groups

To Register
1. Go to our online Calendar
2. Click the “Open Registrations” button.
3. Find desired Journey Group on the list and click to select it.
5. Click “Click here to register”
4. Click “Register as a Guest” and fill out the form with your name and email address.

Where Are We Wearing: How Our Clothes Impact the World
97% of our clothes are made overseas.  You can read the tag and know where your shirt was made, but what it doesn’t tell you about are the personal lives, hopes, and dreams of the individuals that made that item.  We acquire much on the backs of those who have so little, and we often unknowingly contribute to the ongoing poverty that exists in Third World countries.  Join KelseyTimmerman on his journey to meet the people who made his clothes and discuss how we as Christians should respond. 
Leader: Lisa Woods
Dates: Mondays, August 6 - 27, 7 p.m.
Location: Cherrywood Coffeehouse 1400 East 38 1/2 St.
Book: Where Am I Wearing by Kelsey Timmerman

Finding Meaning in the Two Halves of Life
We’ll explore Fr. Richard Rohr’s contemporary thoughts on Carl Jung’s “two halves of life” as written in his book “Falling Upward" 
Fr. Rohr explains that “in first half [of life] you’ve got to find your identity, your significance; you create your ego boundaries. In the second half of life, once you’ve created your ego structure, you finally have the courage to ask: What is this all for? What am I supposed to do with this? The search for meaning is the task of the second half of life." Together we’ll journey towards a deeper appreciation for the joys and struggles of seeking a more meaningful life in Christ.  
Leaders: Gustavo Hernandez and George Brown
Dates: Wednesdays, June 27, July 11 – August 1, 6:30 p.m.
Location: St. David’s
Book: Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life, by Richard Rohr
Child care and meal available.

Feeding the Spirit
As human beings, we are all seeking wholeness in our lives. One practical and fundamental way of achieving this wholeness is through eating whole foods lovingly prepared by yourself or a friend. In this 4-class series, you will learn how to prepare a wide variety of delicious plant-based dishes (soups, whole grains, vegetables, beans, sauces, and desserts), how to create a balanced meal, and tips on how to create balance in your life. Week one is an interactive cooking demonstration followed by three weeks of hands-on cooking classes.
Leader: Rachel Zierzow, Natural Foods Chef
Dates: Sundays, June 3 – 24, 4 – 6 p.m.

Location: St. David’s Kitchen
Cost: $40 for 4 sessions; includes supper
Child care is available at no cost.

Freedom from Bondage: A Practical and Spiritual Personal Finance Workshop Series
Whether you’re drowning in debt or simply spend more time worrying about your finances than you’d like, you’re not alone in being “in bondage” to money. Join parishioner and financial advisor Britton Gregory for a hands-on, four-part workshop series where we’ll talk about practical, spiritual, and sustainable steps to break free of that bondage, from establishing a budget that actually matches your spending, to establishing a “cushion” to shield you from life’s arrows, to digging out of debt and beyond!
Leader: Britton Gregory
Dates: Sundays, July 8 - 29, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Location: St. David’s
Cost: $25 for the workshop series
Child care is available at no cost.

BBQ and Books: The Vertical Self
Join the Spirited Book Group for dinner and discussion around the book, The Vertical Self.  The path that God has chosen for us to discover who we really are is the path of holiness. The most exciting thing is that this path is not for otherworldy saints, rather it is a path of earthy, gutsy holiness.  Come eat, drink and discuss how our daily lives can be the very path to the Christlikeness we seek.
Leader: Peter Techmanski
Dates: Saturdays, June 9 - 30, July 7 & 14, 4 - 6 p.m.
Location: First meeting at Peter Techmanski’s house
Book: The Vertical Self: How Biblical Faith Can Help Us Discover Who We Are in an Age of Self-Obsession, by Mark Sayers

Michael White

Having All Things in Common: Paul & Friendship
The Michael White Public Lecture Series takes place on select Wednesdays with a guest lecture by his friend and fellow scholar John T. Fitzgerald. Dr. John Fitzgerald trained at Yale University and the University of Tubingen. He serves in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Miami. In addition to focusing on the Early Christian Literature, he concentrates his research on the religious and philosophical schools of the ancient Mediterranean world in the period between Alexander the Great (d. 323 BCE) and Constantine (d 337 CE), highlighting the ways in which Jews and Christians interacted with various segments of the Greco-Roman Culture and appropriated the philosophical material for religious use. Author/editor of six books on New Testament Ethics and Philosophy, his most recent work is the reediting of Wayne Meeks’ The Writings of St. Paul (2007). For more information, contact the Rev. .

Upcoming Lectures:

Unity and Diversity in the Early Church, Part II:
February 20 Appreciating Eyes, Ears, and Toes: Keeping Your Body in Shape According to Paul (I Cor. 13 in Context)
March 26 Jesus’ Last Will and Testament: The Ideal of the Church in the Gospel of John
April 16 The Ancient “Corporate Economy” I: Self vs. Community in the New Testament World
May 14 The Ancient “Corporate Economy” II: Salvation as a Community Effort

Christian Formation

The Adult Christian Formation Commission coordinates the offering of classes on Sundays and on weekdays. These offerings, which are led by our clergy and lay leaders, academics, and other leaders in the Austin community, include topics on Bible study, current events, spiritual formation, Church history, and theology. These lectures, small group meetings, and discussions use books, current events, movies, and other media to explore the issues of living as a Christian in the world. If you are new to the Episcopal Church, the Discover Classes are a logical first step in learning about our tradition. Please feel free to contact The Rev. for more information about the Adult Christian Formation offerings. All classes meet on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at St. David’s.

NEW MICHAEL WHITE OFFERINGS

Dr. White, who holds the Ronald Nelson Smith Chair in Classics and Christian Origins, is a professor of Both Classics and Religious Studies, and is the Director of the Institute for the Study of Antiquity and Christian Origins (ISAC). He is the author of From Jesus to Christianity, published by Harper Collins. In the Spring, Harper Collins will publish Dr. White’s new book about the Gospel writers as storytellers and their images of Jesus.

BOOK STUDY SERIES
Scripting Jesus: The Gospels in Rewrite by L. Michael White (HarperOne, 2010)

Today, we tend to view the New Testament Gospels as written texts in light of our text oriented culture. Originally, however, they were intended to be “performed” as dramatic oral readings in the context of early Christian worship. Only gradually did they become more “literary” in character. Rather than biographies or histories in modern terms, their goal was to promote faith in Jesus in the light of their own times and situations. The early followers of Jesus did not own Bibles. Copies of the Biblical books did not begin to become available for roughly 200 years after the death of Jesus. As a result, they could not just “read” the Gospels as the principal means of learning about Jesus. Thus, in order to understand how they came about and how they imagined Jesus, the dynamic effects of oral story telling become extremely important as author and audience join in dramatic presentation. 

Here is a reviewer’s comment:
Michael White has a gift for showing us how to deal with very complicated questions—not by hiding the real complexities, but by taking us step by step into the exciting process of discovery. Every reader who has ever puzzled over the oddities in the Gospels, and over the odd new Gospels that have been turning up in recent decades, will be grateful for Scripting Jesus. White’s hands-on knowledge of archaeology, his broad knowledge of the literature and culture of the Greco-Roman world, and his mastery of scholarship in several different areas all combine to make this a rich and illuminating book. 
— Wayne A. Meeks, Woolsey Professor of Biblical Studies Emeritus, Yale University

There is a $100 tuition cost for this series and some scholarships are available. Please contact the for more information.

Lectures: The Gospel of John
Crail C, 7-8:30 p.m.
September 28
October 19
November 9
December 14
January 25
February 1
March 28
April 18
May 9

Book Study: Scripting Jesus (Second Half)
Crail C, 7-8:30 p.m.
September 21
October 12
November 2
December 7
January 18
February 8
March 7
April 11
May 2

The Forum at St. David’s

What is the Forum?

The Forum at St. David’s is an intergenerational group designed for fellowship and learning about topics of interest, current issues and happenings. It is open to members and friends of St. David’s, including interested members of the downtown community. Programs cover a wide variety of topics with speakers from U.T., local and state politicians, bishops and other church leaders, the arts, experts on interfaith issues, and topics of local interest. The meetings are once monthly (normally the third Thursdays) from 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. in Crail Hall. Lunch, prepared by Chef Ray, is $10. Parking in the St. David’s Parking Garage is free. Reservations are required. Call 610-3500 for reservations no later than 8 a.m. the Tuesday before the event. Visit our Calendar page to register online. Buy a Season Pass and save!

Purchase a season pass by clicking the button above. Once you get to the Confirmation screen your purchase is complete.

Sign up for the 10-program season for $85, including a wonderful hot lunch provided by Chef Ray and St. David’s kitchen ministry. Spread the word to your friends and downtown work peers. For ticket information, call 610-3500.

The Forum at St. David’s Announces its Guest Speaker Schedule for 2011-2012:

August 18: John Burnett, NPR Correspondent, “Globe-trotting Journalism”

September 15: Rhoda Mae Kerr, Austin’s first female Fire Chief, “Inside the Austin Fire Department”

October 27: Ken Herman, Political Columnist for the Austin American Statesman, “Newspapers at the Crossroads”

November 17: Dr. Fritz Benedict, Senior Research Scientist at the McDonald Observatory, “Recent Adventures with the Hubble Telescope”

December 15: Caroling at Noon concert series featuring The Tapestry Singers, with lunch in Cafe Divine immediately following.

January 19: Larry Sager, Dean of The University of Texas School of Law, “Constitutional Literacy Today”

February 16: Kitty Crider, Former food editor of the Austin American Statesman, “Forks up! The ever-changing world of food”

March 22: Gary Bledsoe, President Texas NAACP, “A Lifelong Austinite on Race Relations Then and Now”

April 19: Ginger Geyer, Accomplished Austin Artist, “Clay and the Spiritual Journey”

May 17: Early Maxwell, CEO of St. David’s Foundation, “Central Texas Healthcare”

Service

Café Divine: Join our vibrant hospitality ministry!  Chefs Ray and Paul can use your help almost anytime, but especially for Sunday dinner teams from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. or Monday Prep form 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact .

Coffee Divine/St. David’s Bookshop: Surround yourself with coffee drinks and good books by volunteering in the bookshop/coffee shop. Volunteers needed anytime – morning and afternoon shifts available. Once a week? Once a month? Volunteer on your schedule. Contact .

Retirement Home Ministry: St. David’s has at least two ministries taking the Church to those who cannot come to the Church: (1) Eucharistic Ministers who take Holy Communion to those unable (temporarily or permanently) to come to Church; and (2) Church Services (usually Eucharists) at some of the Retirement Homes in the Austin area. Presently we have a service at three Austin Retirement Homes: The Summit at Westlake (4 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month), Westminster Manor (3:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of every third month), and Brighton Gardens (2 p.m. the third Sunday of each month). The work is not difficult, and it is highly rewarding. Unless you want to do more, it should never require more than once a month and possibly less. It is up to you. The clergy at St. David’s preside at these services, but we need volunteers to really take the Church to these people. We need (1) Musicians to play the piano or some other instrument, to select music, and to lead the people in the singing (2) Eucharistic Ministers to help with Holy Communion (3)good-hearted people to help make arrangements in advance, to help distribute materials to those attending, to help the people in locating the correct pages in our Service Booklets, and a myriad of other things. For more details or to volunteer, please contact the .

St. Agnes Guild: Do you like to knit or crochet, or would you like to learn? The St. Agnes Guild meets the last Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in the Guild Room where we knit, crochet and visit. The articles we make vary from scarves, to caps for babies, to prayer shawls. Lessons are provided for those who want to learn. Here are some of our current projects:
- colorful, warm caps and scarves for Trinity Center‘s Women to Women 

- premie caps for Any Baby Can 

- lovely prayer shawls for parishoners and friends in need of comfort

We are always building up our inventory!  If you knit or crochet, or would like to learn, please come join us!  Also, we welcome donated supplies.

To make a prayer shawl: Cast on 65 stitches.  Knit for 5 feet (60 inches).  Cast off.  
For a simple scarf: Cast on 40 stitches.  Knit (or knit one row, purl one row) for 40 inches, or desired length.  Cast off. Feel free to make your own design, if you’d like. 


The St. Agnes Guild is always looking for new members and new ideas.  For more information contact .

Library Guild: A group of people interested in helping to maintain our forthcoming catalogued Reference Collection, as well as the Library’s Novel Exchange.

Environmental Guild

Labyrinth Guild

Worship Support Opportunities

Walking the Labyrinth

Overhead View of the Labyrinth

Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has only one path which leads to the center. A labyrinth has no wrong turns or tricks. The choices presented by the labyrinth are internal: what thoughts to pay attention to, how fast to walk.

You may stay in the center, or anywhere else, for as long as you are called. Exit by following the path back out from the center.
Clear your mind and become aware of your breath. Allow yourself to find the pace your body wants to go. If there are others on the labyrinth at the same time, you may “pass” people or let others step around you, whichever is easier, at the turns. The path is two-way: those going in will meet those going out. Do what feels natural when this happens.

Some people use the labyrinth for “process meditation” and follow their thoughts and images. Others use it for “listening prayer”. Others use it for “quiet time”. Others use it for “centering”, or “cleaning the bugs off the windshield.”

You might think of walking the labyrinth in three stages:

* Purgation: releasing, letting go of the details of your life. This is an act of shedding thoughts and emotions. It quiets and empties the mind as you walk into the labyrinth.
* Illumination: may occur in the center, or anywhere along the path. Stay as long as you like. It is a place of meditation and prayer. Receive what is there for you to receive.
* Union: Each time you walk out of the labyrinth, you become more empowered to find and do the work you feel your soul reaching to do.

In walking the labyrinth, we seek to know God’s presence in our lives.

“Solvitar ambulando.”
It is solved by walking.
St. Augustine
354 – 430 A.D.

Bible Study

Tuesday Men’s Bible Study:
Meets at 6:45 a.m. every Tuesday morning in the Guild Room.  All men are invited.

Wednesday Bible Round Table:
Meets at 6:45 a.m. every Wednesday morning in Crail A.

Wednesday Night Bible Study:
Meets at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday evening in the Vestry Conference Room.

Thursday Rector’s Book Study:
Meets at 7 a.m. every Thursday morning in the Guild Room.

Thursday Rector’s Prayer Study:
Meeings at 10 a.m. every Thursday morning in the Guild Room.