15jun22

Parish Family of Saint Mark’s:

I cannot tell you how excited Heather and I are as we prepare to begin our ministry together with you at Saint Mark’s. We expect to arrive in town on July 11, 2022, and look forward to meeting many of you for the first time at the Institution on the 14th at 7:00 PM. I have asked my parents, the Rev. Don P. Marshall Wiseman and the Rev. Heather B. Wiseman to serve at that service. I am excited to hear the choir in person and to worship with you all in the sanctuary.

We enjoy learning about new towns, and although we have lived all over the country, we have spent very little time in Southeast Florida. Heather is going to be teaching Spanish at Chaminade Madonna High School, and we will be living in Wilton Manor. Our twin daughters, Audrey and Abby are beginning their careers, with Audrey working for Bank of America in Chicago, and Abby teaching Middle School Science at Darlington School in Rome, Ga. Heather and I are in the process of selling our much larger house and preparing to downsize dramatically. We will be bringing our two dogs, Monte and Rocky, and living the life of empty nesters for the first time in 22 years. We look forward to learning about Fort Lauderdale and all the opportunities we will have to minister together. I hope that we will plan several opportunities for us to gather together and get to know one another better.

Yours in Christ,

Grant+

What a beautiful sharing of music and love at church and the farewell to the Estes Family. It was a truly joyful and delicious celebration. Thank you to the choir for organizing the event and the beautiful decorations and for all who brought a delicious bounty of food.

The Guild, a group of retired parishioners, will meet on Thursday, June 16, at noon in the Parish Hall/Ministry Center for a potluck lunch. Please bring a dish to share. Dr. Norm Carroll will give a brief talk after lunch.

Gordon Roberts is a conductor, pianist, composer, writer, arranger, orchestrator, and director. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in piano and conducting from Julliard School. His honors included winning national Baldwin Piano Company recording competitions; he was accompanist for famed mezzo-soprano Jennie Tourel, founding Artistic Director of the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida, developing it into a major market chorus of 179 singers over 5 years. Under his leadership, the chorus partnered with the Symphony of the Americas for two separate seasons.

On Sunday, July 31st we will be bidding “farewell to our two interim Priests, Father Harvey and Father Joseph. They have attended to our pastoral needs for the past year and have earned our love, thanks, and well wishes. It is fitting that we express our gratitude by giving each what is termed a “purse”. This is not a pocketbook . . . it is a financial gift intended both as an expression of gratitude and as a contribution to their sustenance until their next ministry is revealed.

This is an exciting time for Saint Mark’s as we are transitioning from a long period of searching to a current period of anticipation and soon to the upcoming events that will launch us on a new path of God’s calling.

Thursday, July 14th, Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church: The first event is on the evening of July 14th, 7:00 pm in our Church… Our Bishop will be here … clergy from around the community will be here . . . our next Rector will be here . . .and hopefully, all of you will be there as well. A “meet and greet” gathering in the Parish Hall will follow.

Sunday, July 31st, we will have ONE COMBINED SUNDAY SERVICE. The entire Church Community will gather together with Father Joseph and Father Harvey officiating. We invite all in attendance to the Parish Hall for a brunch and to say Thank You and Goodbye to our wonderful interim priests. Service time to be announced. Most likely either 9:15 or 9:30 am. Please watch for further details.

Sunday, August 7th, we will again have ONE COMBINED SUNDAY SERVICE to gather as one community, as Father Grant will be officiating for the first time as The Rector of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church. We invite all in attendance to the Parish Hall after the service for a brunch to welcome Father Grant and introduce themselves to him. Service time to be announced, most likely either 9:15 or 9:30 am. Please watch for further details.

In the last three months, Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church has delivered over 120 pounds of canned and boxed food to the Pantry of Broward. The staff at the pantry and all the clients are greatly appreciative of our congregation’s generosity. In addition to canned and boxed food, we will also be accepting school supplies from the list below. Let’s all help to start the school year off right, bringing joy and happiness to the children and grandchildren of Broward County who need these important tools to help them in their classes. Thank you very much, Kirk and Charles Baran-Bookman for leading these efforts!

Crayons, washable markers, ink pens/colored pencils, loose-leaf paper, composition books, glue/glue sticks, scissors, erasers, Kleenex boxes, binders, backpacks, pencil boxes, calculators, white-out, hand sanitizer, protractors, or gift cards from Office Depot, Office Max, Target, Payless Shore Store.

Now that the cases of COVID have thankfully abated, wearing a facial mask is encouraged, but not required. Please respect the space of those who choose to be more cautious.

Our priest-in-residence, Fr. Errol Harvey is currently available to provide pastoral care for our parish. You may contact Fr. Harvey at 917-653-8839, or by email at eahnyc@yahoo.com.

Please check for our parish updates on the church website at: https://saintmarksftl.com/parish-news/

Got news to share? We’d love to receive your submission at: https://saintmarksftl.com/submit-post/