19jul23

Your Vestry is here to serve you. As your wardens, please let us know if you have any questions, share input, would like to talk, or have suggestions for future communications.

Thank you,

We have surely experienced recent frequent and heavy rains, but I haven’t noticed any animals falling midst the raindrops. No! Cats and dogs” has a deeper symbolic meaning. In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus himself describes dramatically the symbolism of the parable of the weds. Much of scripture symbolizes profound eternal truths which comprise divine wisdom. Let’s commit ourselves to weekly Bible study and Christly living. (Norm Carroll)

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).

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 Sunday, July 23rd we are so fortunate to have as our guests the string quartet, Quartett Orfeo, from Rome, Italy. They are here in the States and South Florida for only a week as part of a Cultural Exchange Program, and we are fortunate to have them in our sanctuary at the very beginning of their run. This marvelous Quartet will be performing throughout the area during their stay. In fact, on the afternoon of the 23rd, they will be doing a full concert with the Music for America String Orchestra just down the street from us at the UCC Church in Fort Lauderdale. So anyone interested in attending that concert is welcome. It is a very special opportunity.

Last Sunday, the choir was at its peak with their performance of, Soon Ah Will Be Done. My worries about a Summer choir were unfounded. The members of our parish chancel choir sing with intelligence and passion, a very necessary combination to make music. Music without passion is just notes . . . Bravo!

I am so honored to be able to work with all these marvelous people with the support of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church and its wonderful leaders from Father Grant through all the programs and ministries.

Gordon arranged for the Quartett Orfeo to perform at our 10:30 am service. Gordon is also sponsoring their visit. Thank you to Gordon and the Chancel Choir for sharing their talent and love of music with Saint Mark’s parishioners and guests.

During the summer months Saint Mark’s Book Club meets on the fourth Thursday via Zoom. On July 27th at noon, we will discuss The Silent Builder by Marilyn Weigold. If you are unable to obtain the book from the library (it is available from Amazon), an alternative is The Engineer’s Wife by Tracy Emerson Wood. They both tell the same fascinating story of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge shortly after the Civil War. Either book will suffice for our discussion. Contact Terry Gaw; tagaw@aol.com if you need the zoom meeting link with the ID and password. (Terry Gaw)

We are collecting school supplies for the Pantry of Broward. Please view/or download the flyer which list the supplies that are most needed. All supplies collected will be delivered to the Pantry of Broward on the first Monday, August 7th, along with our monthly food collections received on Sunday, August 6th. Thank you for your generosity!

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.