13jul23

It has been a year since Heather and I moved to Fort Lauderdale, and it has been an incredible year. Finally, we have learned the traffic rules of South Florida (there are none) and have found many wonderful places to eat. It has been wonderful to get to know all of you. We have seen many new people begin attending Saint Mark’s, and there’s so much energy here that is just waiting to do great things. I am excited by our music ministry and the outreach we are already doing as a church. Our school will begin this next school year with more than 540 students, and we are about to begin building The Center for Science. I am excited by the many new ministries we are contemplating that will expand our presence in the local community. We have been fortunate, as our attendance has been strong during the summer, which bodes well for us as we see our snowbirds return. I am looking forward to the fall programs we are planning. We will start up the Family First Fridays (changed from Saturdays) again soon. And I am looking for ideas as to what we might do! We are considering a Pickleball and Cornhole Tournament as additions to some of what we did last year.

Yours in Christ,

Father Grant

If you have requested giving envelopes, please note that your numbered envelopes are located on the counter at the entrance of the church. Please remember to sign for your envelopes, as they are registered in our Realm giving system. If you did not order envelopes, but would like to receive a set of envelopes, please contact Kelly Harris (kharris@saintmarks.com).

Due to construction taking place in the Ministry Center, coffee hour after each service is held in the South Chapel of the Church and can spill out to the Memorial Garden weather permitting. Please note that there are tables and chairs set up in the South Chapel for all to sit and visit comfortably. We are seeking coffee hour sponsors. You may sign up by filling in the form (8 am or 10:30 am) that is located on the table at the church entrance. Thank you for your support.

The Guild will be traveling to the Boca Raton campus of Florida Atlantic University for the 2:00 pm matinee performance of A Chorus Line. The cast is composed of professionals and FAU theater students. You may take the Saint Mark’s School van from the church parking lot to Panera Bread, 5975 N Federal Highway, Ft. Lauderdale, 33308, for lunch. After lunch the Guild will travel to Florida Atlantic University. If you choose not to have lunch, you can meet the van at Panera after lunch for the ride to FAU. You may also drive yourself directly to Panera or Florida Atlantic University. The ticket price will be $27.00 if we have less than 15 attendees, and $15.00 if we have over 15. Please contact Lynne Coughlin at 954-741-6566 or lynnescoughlin@gmail.com to arrange for ticket(s) and/or van transportation.

This coming Sunday, July 16th, the choir is preparing a very special piece in the choral literature. Soon ah will be done by William L. Dawson has been a staple since its inception. It calls on all the resources of the choir with its many colors and musical changes. Under normal circumstances I wouldn’t program it without the usual Wednesday rehearsals, but this choir has come a long way with its passion and hard work, I am confident they will handle this with their usual artistry.  

We continue to prepare for and be excited about our special guests, the string quartet Quartett Orfeo from Rome, Italy, who will be performing throughout the service on Sunday, July 23rd. It’s a very special musical happening.  (Gordon Roberts, Choir Director)

We are continuing to make an effort to keep our contact records up to date. If you are new to Saint Mark’s, or if any of your contact information has changed, please let us know! Simply fill out the blue card that can be found in the pew rack with your current contact information, and either place it in the collection plate, or hand it to an usher. Also, you can send your information to Ken Arruda, Junior Warden at kenarruda@comcast.net at your earliest convenience.

We are encouraging everyone to wear their name tags! If you would like a Saint Mark’s name badge or need a replacement (or a second card to keep in your car!), please see an usher and your card will be ready for next Sunday. If you would like your ministry affiliation to be displayed on the tag (e.g. Choir, Guild, ECW, etc.), please let us know. Also, you may reach out to Ken Arruda, Junior Warden at kenarruda@comcast.net, and he will receive your request.

Saint Mark’s Chapter of The Order of the Daughters of the King is a spiritual sisterhood of women who are called to pray for concerns in our parish. If you have a special request for prayers please fill out a card in the pew rack and place it in the black lock box located in the South Chapel, or you may reach out to Mindy Hardial, DOK Chapter President at mindyedsall@gmail.com, or Billie Hairston at bchair@bellsouth.net. All requests for prayers are handled confidentially.

Our church web address is www.saintmarksftl.com. To view up-to-date, easy-to-read church and school schedules of meetings and activities CLICK HERE, this is a very useful tool. If you want to receive the weekly Parish Newsletter via email please sign up at https://saintmarksftl.com/#subscribenow and complete the Constant Contact form located on the right side of the web page. If you are interested submitting an article to our weekly Parish Newsletter email dorothyseibert@comcast.net. 

Father Grant has a daily prayer blog which he starts each morning. He shares this with all who would like to pray together at www.atwinfather.com. When you go to the prayer of the day, there is an option to receive the daily prayer in your email inbox so that you don’t have to type it in every day.

While there are certainly times where a priest is the appropriate caregiver, or perhaps is someone specifically requested, the responsibility for ‘the love and care of one another’ is bestowed on each of us by baptism and commandment, and not by ordination. Congregational care is provided when faithful people are present and listening compassionately while the faith of others is being tested; and also, when we can utilize our ‘spiritual’ gifts and acquired skills to address someone’s ‘temporal’ needs. In so doing, we are preaching, practicing, and personifying Christ’s unconditional love. If God has placed upon your heart a desire to grow this ministry, please seek out a member of your Vestry and share your thoughts on how best to proceed, and how you can contribute.

Father Grant can be reached by email at gwiseman@saintmarks.com, or at 954-334-0131. Our congregation can be reached by contacting the church office . . . seeking your input.

We invite you to post on our church website blog, https://saintmarksftl.com/submit-post/, which helps us keep up with the sharing of information. All information will be reviewed and considered for posting on the church website, Facebook page, and Instagram, as well as in this Parish News.