In This Issue 02 Birthdays • Church Announcements 03 Church Announcements Cont. • Missions 04 Pathways to Hope Event 05 Children’s Ministry • Habitat • Financial Report 06 Youth Ministry 07 August Calendar of Events 08 Officers • Pastoral Care • Crossroads

S AN P EDRO P RESBYTERIAN C HURCH

S HARING THE P ROMISE OF P EACE IN C HRIST Calvin’s Corner Dear Friends,

“The Presbyterians have opened more mission fields than any other church in history,” so claims Marge Carpenter, former Moderator of our General Assembly, and mission spokesperson for our denomination.

I was blessed once to hear her share the stories of countless Presbyterian missionaries throughout the centuries and throughout the world. Did you know that Margaret Landon, a Presbyterian missionary, wrote the book on which the play, “The King and I”, was based? She was serving in Thailand (the former Siam). Her story is based on information she uncovered in the library there. The Presbyterians were the first to enter Thailand in the 1850s.

Marge had visited Bangkok in hopes of seeing some of the examples of our mission work. She did find much being done in the area of day care for the poor, care for the elderly, and some courageous work being done to end child prostitution, which is running rampant in that country. And yet, this work was nothing compared to what was being done in Chiang Mai. There lies the largest university in Thailand started by Presbyterians. There is a church, a hospital, a high school, a nursing school, and on a little island there is a leprosarium.

The first two missionaries to Thailand started a leprosarium on this island because the King of Siam banned them to this island. They turned it into a hospital for people suffering with leprosy, they also were banned to this island. The church grew there. According to Marge wherever the church helped leprosy victims, the church grew. We helped leprosy victims in Miraj, India, and the church grew. We helped leprosy victims in Taiwan, and the church grew. We helped leprosy victims in South Korean, and the church grew there. Isn’t it interesting how God used these poor inflicted people as those upon whom he built his church?

And this is only a microcosm of what God has done through Presbyterian missionaries. But so many of us do not know of these amazing and courageous people in our history and in our church today.

We spend so much time and money combating sexual immorality and theological heresy that we are distracted from the good work being done for the Lord all over the world. Let us not forget these special people in our prayers, in our support and in our commissioning of more missionaries to spread God’s Word. Yes, it is important to confront what is facing our church, but we must not do it to the neglect of the Great Commission of Christ, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Let us still go and share the Word,

1 ATTEND Come out for a great breakfast SPPC and informational displays from many of the groups and organizations of the Church. It’s Celebration going to be a Rally-Day-Lite this year—which means displays Breakfast! may not be as elaborate as they have been in the past, but IN THE there still will be lots of things FELLOWSHIP HALL you can learn about and sign up SUNDAY, Shelly Smith, 8/01 for. If your group needs table Bob Gibson, 8/03 AUGUST 28 space, be sure to talk to Linda Ann Coleman, 8/04 Hutchins, Fellowship Deacon. 9:30-12:00 Billie Winniford, 8/05 Joette Patterson, 8/18 Kendyl Mapes, 8/06 Justin Baca, 8/19 Charlotte Randolph, 8/19 Tianli McCloud, 8/06 Paul Gaedke, 8/21 Sherry Closner, 8/08 Katie Krenz, 8/21 Jennifer Casey 8/09 Amy Gates, 8/22 Joel Deal, 8/09 Helen Saro, 8/23 Andrew Hodgkins, 8/09 Donna Stachowiak, 8/23 Louise Jennings, 8/09 Mason Workman, 8/23 Sabrina Rodriguez, 8/09 Melba Evans, 8/24 Daniel Simpson, 8/10 Betty Hayes, 8/24 Luke-Gregory Espinoza 8/11 Caitlin Conkling, 8/25 Grant Green, 8/11 Alicea Bonnema, 8/26 Richard Terwilliger, 8/11 Bob Kilgore, 8/27 Kay Westerfield, 8/11 Brendan Smith, 8/27 Lesley Sallee, 8/12 Laura Tapley, 8/27 Dottie Minor, 8/13 Caitlin Hengst, 8/28 Joyce Popelar, 8/13 Bill Johnston, 8/28 Saturday, September 10th at 10:00 a.m. Lauren Skloss, 8/13 Bill Barnes, 8/30 Nick Petergal, 8/14 Gwen Joyce, 8/30 Honoring our Office Manager, Jim Potyka, 8/14 Harvey Juarez, 8/31 Pamela Goble, 8/17 Mabrie and her husband Sean Casbeer who are expecting a baby girl! Stephen Ministry Reception to be held in the Fellowship Hall.

Stephen Ministry: We hope to start another training class in January, 2017, for

people interested in becoming Stephen

Ministers. Stephen Ministers are caring individuals who go through 50+ hours of training which prepares them to be a listening presence to people who are experiencing a crisis of some kind. For more information, please contact Betty Hayes at 210.497.3433. If you are interested in being trained to be a Stephen Minister, please contact Pastor Faith for an application. Interviews for potential Stephen Ministers will be held in Fellowship Volunteer Needed! We are looking for early November with the class beginning on Thursday, 2 people to help in the kitchen starting in October. January 12, and running through the end of May, with They must be able to do set up and clean up and be commissioning on June 4th. willing to help cook. Please contact Linda Hutchins, Fellowship Deacon for more information. 2 SPPC is a church built on a solid foundation of faith. We are built on “the Solid Rock” of Christ. Our name “San Pedro” literally means “Holy Rock.” Our history as a congregation has been an affirmation of that bedrock beneath us, and we want to move into the future God has for us ATTEND from this strong groundwork. As Calvin said in the 2015 Annual Report, we are “on the edge of great potential…and there are questions that must be asked at this stage of the life of our SPPC church.”

To help us ask and answer some of those questions as we think about our future, we plan to Celebration develop Focus Groups of 8-10 people that will reflect together on where we’ve been, where we are, and where we ought to go as a community of Rock Solid faith.

Breakfast! For four weeks in October, these groups will meet to discuss four different facets of our life together. IN THE Starting on Rally Day, 8/28 and throughout September you will be asked to sign-up to be part of one of these groups. We hope most of you will be part of one of these Focus Groups—long-time members and newer mem- FELLOWSHIP HALL bers—because your ideas are important to us. They will be held at various times in the week—including Sunday SUNDAY, morning during the Sunday school hour—so that everyone who wants to participate will have the chance to do so. AUGUST 28 9:30-12:00 Calling all Boomers! Get this date on your calendars-- Saturday, August 27, 2016, starting at 6:00 PM! Come out for a night of fun, food, fellowship, and frivolity at the Jongewaards’ home. (1503 Nightshade, 78260) Boomers is a super-fun social group for people born between 1940 and 1960, or so—but we don’t ever check IDs! Watch for more information as the time gets nearer.

GIRLFRIENDS Save the Dates: October 1st for the Girlfriends’ Fall Fling luncheon: "A Whimsical Party Platform Party." December 10th for the Annual Girlfriends’ Christmas Luncheon.

SPPC is going to Schlitterbahn on Labor Day, Monday, September 5th! The park opens Monday morning at 10 a.m. so be sure to bring your sunscreen, picnic baskets, coolers and children to spend the day. We are doing things a little differently this year; everyone is responsible to purchase their own tickets. Hope you’ll join us!

Our Missions & Charities Need You

"Traveling this summer? Save those hotel toiletries for Christian Assistance Ministry (CAM). Let's help those folks give a "hand up, not a hand out"! CAM bin is located just outside the Fellowship Hall.

School Supplies Needed—We are collecting school supplies for Coker Elementary for our Back to School Night at SPPC on August 10th. Donation bin is next to the Missions Desk. Many thanks to the ladies who so graciously baked, set up, served and cleaned up for the reception for Anna Belle Hawkins after the memorial service. *************************** We wish to thank our many friends for their kindness shown in our bereavement. We thank you for your prayers, telephone calls, cards, flowers, food, and your petition to God for our strength. - The Hawkins Family 3 4 I know we’re all enjoying our last few weeks of summer, but the start of school is fast approach- ing. I always feel equal parts excited and apprehensive when a new school year begins, how about you? I am happy to get back to the normal routine, yet I feel a sense of loss when my kids get on that bus. The school year propels time forward so much more quickly; gone is the pause of summer. My prayers for my kids definitely increase and grow more urgent, that’s for sure. This year I have a 5th grade daughter, a 4th grade son, and a son starting Kindergarten! One of my favorite verses to pray over my kids is Psalm 139:5 – You hem me in, behind and be- fore, and lay your hand upon me. I love this imagery: God goes before our children, leading them. He walks behind them, looking over them. And he comes alongside them, ever-present, like a friend. I imagine God’s hand on Lucy’s back, or his arm around Eli’s shoulder. I envision him holding Joel’s hand as he enters the school halls without me. This verse is for them, and it is also for me, as I am reminded with each new school year that our kids belong to the Lord, who fully surrounds them with his love. If you spend a minute searching “Back to School Prayer” on Pinterest or Google, you’ll find a wealth of resources and ideas in praying for your kids. I recommend 30 Days of Prayer for Your Child’s New School Year on faithalongtheway.com. I also love this prayer for our children as found on GraceforMoms.com: I am praying for all of you as we transition from summer to another school year. May you and your family richly know God’s surrounding presence in your day to day lives as you move forward.

With love, Dawn Reiss, Director of Children’s Ministry Things to know about San Pedro Kids in August:  There is no Sunday School this month. Sunday School will kick-off for the school year on Sunday, September 11.  All San Pedro Kids Sunday School TEACHERS will have training on Sunday, August 7 and Sunday, August 14 from 9:45-10:45 am.  San Pedro’s 4th Annual Back to School Night is on August 10 from 5-7 pm. All families are welcome to come for this fun night of food and fellowship!  Acolytes will have a mandatory Training and Refresher Course on Sunday, August 28 from 9:45-10:45 am. Acolytes are 3rd-5th graders in our Children’s Ministry, and serve the first Sunday of each month, starting in October.  There is a church-wide back-to-school breakfast celebration/Rally Day on Sunday, August 28. We invite all families to come, learn more about how they can get involved, and tour our Sunday School classrooms! Coming in September!  Sunday School Kick-Off on September 11! (No Sunday School on September 4.) Stay tuned for more details.  Wednesday Night Kids Kick-Off of September 14! Keep your eyes peeled for more information!

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY NEWS - San Pedro is a member of the FINANCIAL REPORT - Year-To-Date as of June 30, 2016 Presbyterian Habitat Cluster. Every year we partner with 12-15 local Total Operating Income $377,251.29, Total Operating Presbyterian churches to raise sponsorship monies and provide Expense $563,784.69. Donations are typically lower in the volunteers to build a Habitat for Humanity home. The Presbyterian summer while families are vacationing. We have had Cluster has built 21 homes with Habitat. San Pedro currently needs a several large property repairs (primarily heating and new volunteer coordinator to represent us in the Cluster. cooling systems) that have driven our expenses up much Gene Trevino is our current representative and he is stepping down higher than budgeted. We have drawn monies from our after 15 years of service. The Cluster meets on the first Monday of operating reserve account to help pay some of these bills. each month from September through May. The Cluster meetings are held at San Pedro church and they typically last about an hour (5:45 - If you would like to make a special offering to help us pay 6:45PM). The actual build usually starts in February and wraps up in some of these property expenses, please feel free to place about 6 weeks. The Habitat coordinator is responsible for recruiting a check in the offering plate and note that it is for volunteers to work on the Cluster build and for providing information "PROPERTY' Thank you for continuing faithful support of about and promoting the Habitat build. If you would like to be the our church. new San Pedro Habitat coordinator, please call Gene Trevino at 210-479-7650 and he will be happy to help you learn more about this special mission opportunity.  5

6 C ALENDAR O F E VENTS

Monday, August 1 Friday, August 12 Monday, August 22 5:00 AM Camp Gladiator 5:00 AM Camp Gladiator

9:00 AM Vet TRIIP Saturday, August 13 9:00 AM Committee on Ministry 9:00 AM Men’s Bible Study 7:00 PM Boy Scouts Meeting Sunday, August 14

Tuesday, August 2 No CM Sunday School 5:00 AM Camp Gladiator 7:00 PM Camp Gladiator 8:30 AM Worship 9:00 AM Vet TRIIP 7:00 PM Scout Committee Mtg. 9:45 AM Sunday School 7:00 PM Boy Scouts Meeting Wednesday, August 3 11:00 AM Worship 5:00 AM Camp Gladiator 12:30 PM Deacons Meeting Tuesday, August 23 7:00 PM Camp Gladiator 8:00 AM Vet TRIIP Meeting 2:00 PM Vivace Piano Recital

12:00 PM Brown Bag Bible Study Monday, August 15 Wednesday, August 24 1:00 PM Staff Meeting 5:00 AM Camp Gladiator 5:00 AM Camp Gladiator Thursday, August 4 9:00 AM Vet TRIIP 8:00 AM CBS Teacher Training 7:00 PM Camp Gladiator 7:00 PM Boy Scouts Meeting 12:00 PM Brown Bag Bible Study 7:30 PM College Ministry Coffee 7:00 PM Lit N Lattes 1:00 PM Staff Meeting 7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal 8:00 PM AA Tuesday, August 16 Friday, August 5 7:00 PM Camp Gladiator Thursday, August 25 5:00 AM Camp Gladiator 7:00 PM Session Meeting 8:00 AM CBS Teacher Training 7:00 PM Camp Gladiator Saturday, August 6 Wednesday, August 17 7:00 PM Handbell Rehearsal No Scheduled Events 5:00 AM Camp Gladiator 7:30 PM College Ministry Coffee 9:00 AM NSARTA Sunday, August 7 8:00 PM AA No CM Sunday School 12:00 PM Brown Bag Bible Study Friday, August 26 8:30 AM Worship 1:00 PM Staff Meeting 5:00 AM Camp Gladiator 9:45 AM Sunday School 7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal 5:30 PM VIPs 11:00 AM Worship Thursday, August 18 5:00 PM Youth Pool Party 7:00 PM Camp Gladiator Saturday, August 27 @ Gaedke’s 7:00 PM Handbell Rehearsal 9:00 AM Men’s Bible Study 6:00 PM Boomers-Back to School Party Monday, August 8 7:30 PM College Ministry Coffee 8:00 PM AA Sunday, August 28 5:00 AM Camp Gladiator 9:00 AM Vet TRIIP Friday, August 19 8:30 AM Worship 7:00 PM Boy Scouts Meeting 5:00 AM Camp Gladiator 9:45 AM Celebration Breakfast/Rally Day 11:00 AM Worship Tuesday, August 9 3:00 PM Mobile Loaves & Fishes 12:00 PM Student Leadership Council 10:00 AM FIAT Meeting Saturday, August 20 10:00 AM Needlework 10:00 AM SA Poets’ Association Monday, August 29 7:00 PM Camp Gladiator 2:30 PM Diakonia Emmaus 5:00 AM Camp Gladiator 7:00 PM Boy Scouts Meeting 7:00 PM Stephen Ministry Monthly Gathering

5:30 PM TnT {Twenties&Thirties} Tuesday, August 30 Wednesday, August 10 5:00 AM Camp Gladiator Sunday, August 21 7:00 PM Camp Gladiator 7:00 PM Scout Masters Meeting 12:00 PM Brown Bag Bible Study ROCK Deadline! 1:00 PM Staff Meeting 8:30 AM Worship Wednesday, August 31 5:00 PM Back to School Event 9:45 AM Sunday School 5:00 AM Camp Gladiator

Thursday, August 11 11:00 AM Worship 12:00 PM Brown Bag Bible Study 1:00 PM Staff Meeting 7:00 PM Camp Gladiator 7:30 PM College Ministry Coffee 7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal 8:00 PM AA 7 14900 SAN PEDRO AVENUE Non Profit Org. SAN ANTONIO, TX 78232-3711 US Postage PAID Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday Permit #2666 Phone: 210.494.6560 Fax: 210.494.7839 San Antonio, Texas E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.sppcsa.com

SAN PEDRO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH STAFF RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Rev. Dr. C. Calvin Reynolds - Senior Pastor Rev. Faith D. Jongewaard - Associate Pastor Rev. Paul Gaedke - Associate Pastor

Mark Twehues—Director of Music Katarina McAnelly—Associate Director of Music, Organist Dave Reiss—Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries Dawn Reiss—Director of Children’s Ministry Patricia J. Waite—Director of Children’s Music Kelly Hager—Director of Children’s Church/Childcare Coordinator Mabrie Casbeer— Office Manager Dana Boom—Treasurer Luis Reyes—Sexton Jesse Ramirez—Sexton Jason Hatch —Sound Engineer

The Rock is a monthly newsletter published by San Pedro Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, Texas. Its purpose is to inform congregation members of news and events within the church community. All SPPC members are welcome to contribute items for publication subject to minimal editing and space limitations. All SPPC members receive The Rock automatically. If you are not receiving issues regularly, please call the Church Office to ensure future delivery. For more information, contact the Church Office at 494-6560. SESSION Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Jim Potyka Eric Mapes Jim Horacek Lee Hooper Lori Baca Shawn Walters

BOARD OF DEACONS

Chair, Board of Deacons Diana Grippi Debra Perez (Youth) Christian Education Ellyce Warns (Children) Rudy Gaedke (Adult) Fellowship Linda Hutchins PASTORAL CARE & COMMUNION Financial Development Gene Trevino Any church member who is unable to attend communion services may request that Communion be distributed in his/her home by Financial Management Tom Joyce calling the Church Office at 494-6560. Member Care Carolyn Gaedke Missions Leslie Anderson CROSSROADS This is a good time of the year to give yourself a gift of a cross for the Property Jeff Hodges cross wall. We have many on the wall now but we want one from Witness and Evangelism Jean Judy every family in our congregation. It is your "footprint" in the church always to remember your faith base. A picture will be taken of your Worship Dennis Solis cross and it will be placed on the CROSSROADS wall. 8