Beautiful Sunday in San Antonio!

Announcing the upcoming church event

Above the communion table

The Lion of St. Mark - above the rear balconey

It is a picture-perfect day here in south Texas with sunny skies and the temperture barely hitting 80F!

We went to worship this morning at St. Mark's UMC in the Balcones Heights community (north San Antonio).  What a lovely group of folk!  We were warmly welcomed and gladly accepted their invitation to join them for their fifth Sunday potluck.  One never leaves a church potluck feeling empty!

Domestic Goddess at work!

Not to out done by Charles' outside activity, Belinda was hard at work in the kitchen whipping up some of her famous egg salad for lunch tomorrow. 

Wesley (seen in the chair behind Belinda) was exhausted by all the activity and took a nap.

Housework to Homework

"Before"

"After"

Charles trimmed the hedges in the front garden today.  Everything looks SO much better now!  And then he was on to doing his homework for his conversational Spanish class he is taking this fall.  Yea, God for a lovely day today!!!

A week in Wesley time

His little tongue is hanging outside his mouth:  Kittie Cat Dreaming!

Plum-tuckered out from all that "watching!"

It's been a busy week for Wesley - bird watching, rain, supervising the installation of the new AC unit, and taking in some serious cat naps!

Happy birthday, Johnny Appleseed

 

Today mark the birthday of Johnathan Chapman, "Johnny Appleseed" who was born on this day in 1774 in Leominster, Massachusetts. 

Home's A/C Compressor is Dead

Current temperature IN the house:  Oi Vey!

At 6:16 p.m. today:  91.5 degrees outside; 86.5 degrees INSIDE!

Request prayers for a speedy replacement of our home's A/C compressor tomorrow! 

Concert at Incarnate Word Chapel

Incarnate Word Chapel

Inside the beautiful chapel



Above the altar

The Copperleaf Quintet

Our third part to today was a concert offered in The Chapel of The Incarnate Word.  This is a stunning worship place on the campus of The Incarnate Word University. 

Today, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word offered a concert by The Copperleaf Quintet.  The concert, by five amazing vocalists was titled, "Sacred Harmonies: Music for the Soul," featured a` cappela music from the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods.

Sights in San Antonio

Let's eat!

That's a mighty big gourd!

It's a small world!

Live music at Central Market!

After church this morning we went to lunch at one of Belinda's old favorite places to eat in San Antonio, Cappy's. This is an awesome place with terrific food and great aptmosphere! 

 

After lunch we stopped by Central Market to browse a bit at this amazing store.  It reminds us of Harrod's in London! While we were looking around, Belinda was spotted by a couple she knew from her time at Martin Army Hospital at Fort Benning, Georgia.  Small world!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

This morning at Coker UMC

 

 

 

 

What a delightful day we've enjoyed in San Antonio!  It began this morning with our driving over to the northeast side of town where we attended the worship service at Coker UMC. 

During each service this morning, men were invited to take part in a special choir formed 'on the spot.'  Charles was one of nearly 50 men who took part in the choir at the11:00 service (in the back row, under the brass organ pipes, wearing a blue shirt)!

First Day of Autumn

Prayer for Autumn Days

God of the seasons, there is a time for everything; there is a time for dying and a time for rising. We need courage to enter into the transformation process.

God of autumn, the trees are saying goodbye to their green, letting go of what has been. We, too, have our moments of surrender, with all their insecurity and risk. Help us to let go when we need to do so.

God of fallen leaves lying in colored patterns on the ground, our lives have their own patterns. As we see the patterns of our own growth, may we learn from them.

God of misty days and harvest moon nights, there is always the dimension of mystery and wonder in our lives. We always need to recognize your power-filled presence. May we gain strength from this.

God of harvest wagons and fields of ripened grain, many gifts of growth lie within the season of our surrender. We must wait for harvest in faith and hope. Grant us patience when we do not see the blessings.

God of geese going south for another season, your wisdom enables us to know what needs to be left behind and what needs to be carried into the future. We yearn for insight and vision.

God of flowers touched with frost and windows wearing white designs, may your love keep our hearts from growing cold in the empty seasons.

God of life, you believe in us, you enrich us, you entrust us with the freedom to choose life. For all this, we are grateful.

(from Beliefnet.com)

UMW District Event, San Antonio District of the UMC

Enjoying wonderful food and fellowship!

Great music provided by the Northeast Community United Methodist Church!

This past Tuesday, Belinda attended the annual meeting for the San Antonio District's UMW.  It was held at the Coker United Methodist Church.  It was evening of great fellowship and worship!  Yea, God!!!

Rainy weekend in San Antonio!

Yes, it has been that rarest of events here in south Texas, a weekend with rain!  The rain started moving in Friday evening and rained off and on all weekend including all day today!  It has been a real treat to be sure.  After the blistering heat this summer it is nice to have an evening below 70F.

Charles was the chaplain on duty this weekend at the VA which meant that he worked yesterday and today.  The chapel service is televised throughout the hospital so it is hard to say just how many people 'attend' each Sunday.

Tonight is also the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, New Year's Day in the Jewish calendar.  This is the year 5773, L'shanah tovah! (For a good year!)

Prayer for 9/11 Remembrance

9/11 Memorial in Bayonne, NJ

"God of the ages, before Your eyes all empires rise and fall yet You are changeless. Be near us in this age of terror and in these moments of remembrance. Uphold those who work and watch and wait and weep and love. By Your Spirit give rise in us to broad sympathy for all the peoples of Your earth. Strengthen us to comfort those who mourn and work in large ways and small for those things that make for peace.  Bless the people and leaders of this nation and all nations so that warfare, like slavery before it, may become only a historic memory. We pray in the strong name of the Prince of Peace. Amen."

--From the Liturgy for the Remembrance of 9/11 by Rev. Eileen W. Lindner and Rev. Marcel A. Welty, National Council of Churches.

A beautiful Sunday in San Antonio

The beautiful weather we woke to yesterday continued today!

We made our way to Alamo Heights on San Antonio's east side this morning to attend worship at St. Andrew's United Methodist Church.  We had meant to take in a second church but its website hadn't been updated so we had the wrong worship time.

Belinda knew about St. Andrew's from the mother having lived in the neighborhood a few years ago.  We were happy to have more time to spend with the folks at this friendly neighborhood church.  We sat in on one of the adult classes which was a lot of fun. The service was a celebration of the music ministry and was amazing!

Following worship we joined the congregation for a wonderful catered lunch from Bill Miller's BBQ.  It was great to hear more about the ministries of the church and make some new friends!

Amazing Saturday!

Chaplain Reed's home

What a differance a day makes!  On Friday we saw temps over 105F - today was on in the mid-80s!!! And there was a nice wind coming out of the north which made for a delightful afternoon. 

Early this afternoon we drove past Kerrville (west of San Antonio) for a house-warming at the home of one of the VA chaplains.  The weather and company made for a delightful afternoon!

On our way home stopped in Kerrville at the Cracker Barrel where we did some window shopping.  Belinda just had to try on some of the Halloween hats on display.  Doesn't she look cute!

Alkula #30

Jennifer Betty Jean Alkula was born on September 1, 2012 at 11:07 a.m. 3 weeks early, but still healthy at 7 lbs. 6 ounces.

Proud parents are my nephew, Jeremiah, and his wife Jessica. 

Labor Day weekend

Museo Alameda - San Antonio

At Mi Tierra's bakery

Sporting a new look in the El Mercado

Today we ventured out into the heat of a Texas summer morning and visited the Oak Meadow United Methodist Church.  What a lovely group of people!  We were recognized as guests in the worship service and Charles was invited by the pastor to offer the benedection. 

It was a special day for us as well because we happened to be there on a first Sunday of the month and were invited to take part in the congregation's monthly potluck lunch - and boy, do they know how to cook at Oak Meadow UMC!

Following lunch, we made our way downtown and visited the Museo Alameda, the museum in the El Mercado Charles had visited a few weeks ago.  It was nice to share this delightful museum with each other.  A brief stroll to Mi Tierra's bakery (just had to get something, don't you know!) and then it was back home where Wesley McFluff was waiting for us.

We hope you are having a great Labor Day weekend, wherever you are!