27jul22

This Sunday, July 31st, we will have a combined Sunday service at 9:30 am to bid farewell to our interim priests; Father Joseph, who celebrated Sunday Mass at 8:00 am, and Father Harvey, who celebrated Mass at 10:30 am at Saint Mark’s. This is a great opportunity for our 8:00 and 10:30 parishioners to come together and thank our interim priests. We are all so grateful for their service over the past year. Lynne Coughlin is chairing a special breakfast after the service in the Parish Hall. Please join us.

The following Sunday, August 7th, Father Grant Wiseman, our new Rector, will preside for the first time at Saint Mark’s, and again we will have a single service at 9:30 am. We hope you will join us to receive the Word of God and hear Father Grant’s words of hope for our parish. Following the service, you are welcome to join us in the Parish Hall for a reception to meet and greet Father Grant and his wife, Heather. All are welcome!

Our parking lots will be closed for repairs and repaving on Thursday, July 28th, and Friday, July 29th. Due to our school’s summer camp being in session for both days, parking on our campus will be limited. We apologize for all inconvenience.

On June 18, 2022, the Vestry unanimously voted to appoint Ken Arruda to fulfill the term of Carmen Carriazo-Cannon, who has moved to New York to be with family. Ken was born and raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield in Boston for 40 years, retiring as Vice President of Medicare Programs. After a challenging and gratifying career, he retired in October 2020 and relocated to Wilton Manors with his husband, Paul Skowronski. Ken and Paul were active members of the Episcopal faith community since the early 2000s, first at Trinity Church in Boston and then at their new spiritual home at Saint Mark’s. “I firmly believe that the hand of the Lord guided us to Saint Mark’s, where we immediately felt the welcoming warmth of the wonderful community and an immediate desire to be a part of it all,” reflects Ken. After a longtime battle with illness Paul passed away on April 22, 2022, and Ken “has been blessed with the wonderful experience of being surrounded with love and support of the Saint Mark’s compassionate and caring community.” Ken is committed to continuing to contribute wholeheartedly to the mission of Saint Mark’s and active participation in our ministries including the Guild, Stewardship, and Vestry. He is particularly interested in “outreach to the broader community, increasing the size of the congregation, and developing long-term financial strategies to ensure our ability to carry our mission well into the future.” Thank you, Carmen, for serving on the Vestry. Thank you, Ken, for offering your talent and time to help Saint Mark’s achieve its mission.

Although it is summer and often a more relaxed interlude for the choir, our music has been outstanding. The Soprano Section Leader Elyse Anderson sang the solo “Migatory V” by Guettel. Elyse is a professional teacher, musical theater writer, and teacher. She studied Vocal Performance and Opera at the Peabody Institute.

Watch her performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LizhWf8eMNY.

Saint Mark’s Church continues to collect food for the Broward Pantry. This is the time when the cupboards can be quite bare. They are so glad to have received generous deliveries of canned and boxed food over the past 4 months from Saint Mark’s, and school supplies last month. Please drop your food donations in the box at the back of the church. Food will be delivered to the Pantry on Monday, August 8th.

AM I SATISFIED? Most of us have never been alcoholics, druggies or criminals. We have worked, saved what money we could, enjoy our homes, and are somewhat satisfied. Actually, we resemble the satisfied landowner whom Jesus describes in Sunday’s gospel story. However, Jesus peers deeply into the landowner’s heart and ours. Do we live with passionate love for others? Do we address the desperation our sisters and brothers? Because of this gospel story, we could now select a needy relative or acquaintance to help this week. We could even make this a habit, and grow beyond our satisfaction to live anew the life of Christ. (Norm Carroll)

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.