Welcome Dr. Kevin Estes, Saint Mark’s New Music Director, and His Family
Please welcome Dr. Kevin L. Estes as our new Music Director at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church! We welcome Dr. Estes and his beautiful family – wife Jenny and two handsome young sons! Dr. Estes is a graduate of The Juilliard School, with training in organ and piano performance, orchestral & choral conducting, as well as composition. He has vast experience as a Music Director of several churches. Read more at https://saintmarksftl.com/welcome-dr-kevin-estes-our-new-music-director/
Thanksgiving Eve Service (11/24)
Father Harvey will celebrate a Holy Eucharist on Wednesday, November 24 at 6:30 pm in the Church. All are welcome to join us in gratitude.
Advent – Special Newsletter Next Week
November 28th is the First Sunday of Advent. Your vestry, clergy, musicians and volunteers are working diligently to present a most meaningful Advent and Christmas to parishioners and visitors. Next week’s newsletter will focus on all of the offerings. Below is a sampling of some of the upcoming events.
Children’s Diagnostic Treatment Center (CDTC) Angel Tree
Our Church and School are partnering to provide Christmas Gifts for the children who are patients at the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center. These children are living with HIV/AIDS. The Angel Tree will be decorated with 50 angels, in the Narthex on Sunday, November 21st. Please take an angel from the tree. Each angel has the child’s name, age, and desired gift. This year we Please return the wrapped, with the angel attached to the gift, by Sunday, December 5th. On Sunday, December 12th, the gifts will be placed on the altar, and a representative from the CDTC will be in church to accept the 50 gifts on behalf of the children and to thank everyone for their support.
Children’s Advent Sunday School (11/28, 12/5, 12/12, and 12/19)
Sunday School will take place during the 10:30 am service, for ages 3-11. The Sunday School will focus on the Christmas story and preparation for the Christmas Pageant. Mark your calendars. Watch for more details in our future newsletters.
Advent Beach Morning Prayer Returns
Join us for our annual beach prayer on Mondays during Advent, November 29, December 6, 13 and 20 at 8:30 a.m. We will meet at the pavilion, on the beach east of A1A and next to the Commercial Boulevard Pier, in Lauderdale by the Sea. Fr. Harvey will be leading the prayer services. All are welcome. Following the beach prayer, some attendees gather together for breakfast at ad nearby restaurant.  
Our School’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony (12/10)
Saint Mark’s church volunteers will be participating in the Tree Lighting Ceremony at Saint Mark’s school from 5:00-8:00 pm on Friday, December 10th. The church is sponsoring two age-appropriate craft tables for children ages prekindergarten to 8 years old. There will be food, beer, and wine (alcohol for adults only!) sold at the event. One of the crafts is children decorating wood cut ornaments. The Dollar Stores have the ornaments and it would be most appreciated if you could donate some ornaments for the children to color: religious themed ornaments, snowflakes, etc. Drop them off as soon as possible to the Church or the School. Any questions contact Sarah Ransdell at 954-401-5181 or ransdell@nova.edu.
A Play Area for Babies and Toddlers
The Vestry is preparing a rest/play area for babies and young children during the church services. It will be located in the Tower Room adjacent to the Narthex. It will be gated, and carpeted, in addition to being equipped with a doll house and blocks. We hope to have the space completed by the end of November.  
Pastoral Care at Saint Mark’s
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/parishnews/
Got news to share? We’d love to receive your submission at: https://saintmarksftl.com/submit-post/
All information will be reviewed and considered for posting on the church website, Facebook page, and Instagram, as well as in this Parish News