31aug23

A Message from our Rector,

Father Grant Wiseman

Dear Parish Family,

I am looking forward to this week’s Family First Friday and the upcoming fall Tuesday Night programs that will begin on the September 19th. I want to ask a favor of you all. Heather and I have been fostering two puppies and they are in need of a forever home. They are purebred mutts but their mother was a purebred Goldendoodle. The bigger one we have named Coach and he is full of energy and has a very soft coat. The smaller one is Sam and he is a big cuddler. If you could share with your friends and neighbors about them, I would be greatly appreciative. They are four months old and we are working on housebreaking them.

Yours in Christ,

Father Grant

Family First Friday – Tomorrow!

Please join us on the school campus tomorrow at 6:00 pm for a fun evening of Pickle Ball and cookout. Come to play pickle ball at any level or just to watch! We will be providing hamburgers and hotdogs, a Labor Day tradition!

Sunday’s Gospel; Matthew 16:21-28; Come, Follow Me – 9/3

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims his future of “great suffering” and resurrection.

Then, He adds that to be his disciples, we must follow Him, and respond to our own pains and death as He did his, with courage, patience, and acceptance. Jesus preaches not doctrines, but how to live. This leads to joy of spirit in this life and resurrection forever.

(Norm Carroll)

The Pantry of Broward Food Collection – 9/3

Please remember to bring nonperishable food to the services this Sunday (or any Sunday). The Pantry is so grateful for the consistent support of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church. In August you were especially generous with your food and school supply donations to help those children/grandchildren start the school year with food and school supplies. For the month of July 500 pounds of nonperishable food items were donated! Also, the Back to School distribution, which our parish parish participated, was well received by the grandchildren within the Pantry of Broward’s client families. Thank you for your generosity!

From The Music Department!

It is said that good energy attracts good energy. I am so very happy with the progress of our choir. Because of their passion for good music and desire to be their best possible, they continue to inspire with good work. And let us not forget the abundance of musical talent in this stellar group. Over the past two weeks we have gained three new choir members, and I am hoping this is just the beginning.

Last Sunday soprano Doreen Fiorelli sang J. S. Bach’s Bist du bei mir (Thou Art My Joy), adding a beautiful moment to the service with her superb voice.

This coming Sunday we will hear tenor Michael Borosky (pictured) sing the well known Schubert aria, Ave Maria. The Congregation’s response to these talented singers, to the Chancel Choir and to beautiful music is extremely heartening.

Thank you for your continued support.

Gordon Roberts, Music Director

Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church

Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Meeting – 9/9

The Episcopal Church Women will meet on Saturday, September 9th at 10:00 a.m. in the Ministry Center.

Tuesdays’ Soup Dinners – Beginning 9/19

Mark your calendars! We will be having six Tuesday Night Dinners beginning September 19th. Ministry groups will take turns providing the dinners. The first six week sessions will occur on Tuesdays, September 19th, September 26th, October 3rd, October 10th, October 17th and October 24th. Possible topics for each session include Biblical Studies (multi-week), History of the Episcopal (Anglican Church), Understanding Medicare, History of the Book of Common Prayer, Laundry Love, Growing an Engaged Church, and Introduction to the Episcopal Church. Stay tuned for details!

Thank you Saint Mark’s Parishioners

for Volunteering!

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success

of the Back to School Picnic last Friday, August 25th. It poured, but all went well. Parents and church volunteers huddling together under one tent provided a great opportunity for all to get to know each other better.

Thank you, Gail Cuthbertson, Fred Johnson, George

and Lawanna Howell, Harry Richardson, Elizabeth Barcellos, Sarah Ransdell, Lori McFadden, Paula

Green, Howell Herring, Billy Salter, Ken Arruda, and

of course, Rev. Grant Wiseman and Heather Wiseman. There were others, so please forgive me if we have omitted your name. Thank you so much for all of your work and efforts! (Robin Dreyfuss)

Numbered Giving Envelopes – Now Available

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).

Let’s Stay in Touch

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.

Name Tags

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.

Daughters of the King (DOK) – Prayer Requests

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, and must be placed in the black lock box instead of the Sunday’s offering collection plates.

Important Links to our Activities Calendar and Sign-Up to Receive Our Weekly Email Newsletter

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. 

Let Us All Pray Together Daily

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.