Year-Round Stewardship Testimonial: The Beard-Armbruster Family

Ralph Armbruster-Sandoval:

Good morning, Trinity. I started to come to Trinity with Meg, Sol, and Sky in 2007 after our friend, Anne Shaw, and others left St. Mark's Catholic Church in Isla Vista. I had formed strong bonds with Father Joe and Father Paul but also with Deacon Gary Becker, who helped create Just Faith and was based at St. Roque. I was born and raised as a Catholic and always respected Jesus for standing up for what was right, for wanting to serve the most marginalized people. St. Mark's had a strong social justice lens but when Paul and Joe were reassigned, it changed and became far more conservative. Meg felt uncomfortable being there given the Church's sexism and heterosexism and she didn't feel welcome during Communion. St. Mark's also did not have any programming for young children.

So, we left. Anne was here and so was Mark Asman, who we both knew from Pacific Pride and other social justice organizations. Mark was always present and engaged. Very quickly we met Elizabeth Hess, Liam, and Kevin and our lives changed. I volunteered in church school, levels 1-3, I did Group Spiritual direction (thank you Georgia Noble), served on the Vestry, became a LEM and acolyte, and recently joined the Justice Outreach Committee. I joined and served in these various ministries because I felt called to serve, to put forth my “granito de arena”, that is my "grain of sand," my little contribution. I have been inspired and influenced by folks like Archbishop Oscar Romero, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day, and many others, people who put their faith into action. All over Trinity, I see similar folks- -clergy and non-clergy--people who want to create where "the last shall be first and the first shall be last."

I love serving with Sol because she helps me get robed up when we all acolyte together and she keeps us all organized. I love serving with Sky--or rather hearing Sky do the readings because he brings the Word to life with his spirit and voice. I love being here with Meg because she feels welcome here and we love to chat about the sermons afterward. I love being here and serving here because as Mark said long ago "I want you to know wherever you are on your journey of faith, you are welcome at God's table."

Blessings all. Thank you Sol and Sky for speaking today.

Sol Beard-Armbruster:

I started acoylting in 2015 when I was only 10 years old. I started off in the catechesis of the good shepherd program from a young age in both level 1 and 2 setting my own alter in church school and learning through Mac McNeel and Mary Gibson. I came home every Sunday and created my own altar as we had done in church school. I had my own service at home with my brother and we presented for my mom. I remember being in church school with Elizabeth Hess one day when I was older learning about genesis and other stories from the bible and then going into church at the announcements as most kids do. As soon as the service ended Terre Sanitate was talking to my dad and asked me if I was interested in being an acolyte. I had always looked up to the older girls and aspired to be able to do what they did and how they were able to memorize so many things. I also remember switch Sunday, so I had acolyted in a sense before with Shea and Julia. In this I said yes and have ever since, then have acyolted and loved it. Terre taught me everything I know and is an amazing teacher who wants everyone to feel welcome and to spread her love. Now almost 8 years later, I love acolyting as it makes me feel closer to my faith and I’m thankful for the opportunity and will miss it when I leave for college soon.

Sky Beard-Armbruster:

The first time that I read at the pulpit was when I was probably 11 years old. It's been so long that I can't exactly recall the date. But I was encouraged previously by Elizabeth Hess to become a lector who I think recognized my potential for speech from my time in church school. Now, on that day, I can remember a few distinct things. One, I was first up and two, my reading was from Exodus and I was quite nervous and uncertain. Until I started speaking aloud to you, in which I became much more comfortable as I realized my potential that I could do this previously overwhelming task.

Now in terms of why you should serve or why volunteerism is important to society. Consider Star Wars. The Galactic Republic is in decay, authoritarianism is rising, Palpatine created a populist movement centered around him and he ushers in the new Empire. But, if you think back to the scene in the Revenge of the Sith, the Senate is cheering him on in great applause. There is no great shock or dismay. The Senate is actually welcoming the fall of their old institution.

Any institution can fall if it is not maintained or participated in or if it is taken for granted. This could be as major as a democracy like in Star Wars or as simple as the church, but vital to the preservation and longevity of institutions is participation in those systems. For if there is no participation in those systems they have become obsolete in the eyes of the person who ushers in a new era, namely Palpatine.

Now you may be distancing yourself from these grand-scale examples, because you don't think that you have the potential to self-actualize into a person who volunteers or who can do anything. But remember, maintaining the places we love and cherish so much like Trinity only require a small amount of potential like how I overcame my initial nervousness around reading. You see, anyone great or small has the potential to participate. Think back to when you were in school, imagine no one in class participating in the lesson, the education system ceases to function, period. And you don't have to be a heroic figure like MLK or Gandhi to have a role in your community. Just remember all the value you receive from Trinity comes with a catch.

Your willingness to preserve is critical, because nothing in this world is guaranteed. You must always strive to preserve it.