November 30, 2022

Having just returned from the first Monday Morning Prayer at the Beach (8:30 am at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Pier), I am grateful for the chance to begin the day looking out across the water. We are indeed blessed to have so many beautiful things to see and do in this place we call home. I invite you to join us for the remainder of the Monday mornings in Advent. The prayer and fellowship were wonderful. We have so much happening over the next few weeks and I hope you all will invite your friends and neighbors to join us for any of the upcoming events. This Saturday at 4:00 pm we will be having our Family First Saturday of Caroling on The Middle River. We will be using our kayaks, paddle boards, and any other vessel that arrives to go sing to our neighbors and then have a cookout following. Please join us for what promises to be a great time. On Sunday the 11th of December we will be having a combined service at 10:00 am followed by a potluck supper. That is the day we bless and send out the gifts we have collected for the children being supported at the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center (CDTC).

Heather and I are looking forward to our first Christmas season with you all and are grateful for the welcome we have received since arriving in July. May this season be blessed with joy and wonder as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth.

Yours in Christ,

Father Grant +

We will meet on the school’s Sea Lab dock. Join us for this fun event. If you want to sing along on the river or want to just enjoy the fellowship along the seawall come join us. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and drinks. Paddle boards and kayaks available for your use, as well. If you have a boat bring it to the dock and join us. For everyone’s safety, Wilton Manors Marine Patrol will be on hand to support this event. Cookout dinner to follow.

The Pantry of Broward serves nearly 600 seniors and child-raising grandparents on low and fixed incomes in Broward County. The Pantry gathers nutritious food and creates packages of 55-pound parcels for distribution. The Pantry also assists clients applying for affordable housing and for applying for legal custody of their grandchildren according to Ashlie Rolfe, Director of Community Relations. Please bring your food donations this Sunday of canned veggies, potatoes, pasta, sauce, rice and surprises this Sunday for those in need. 

All the Angels have been signed out. Thank you all! Please bring the gift wrapped items with the angel attached this Sunday, December 4th. The staff from the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center will be here December 11th to pick up the gifts. The children so appreciate the gifts.  

John Masefield, the poet, laments “The jingle of the cash register has sadly silenced, “O Come Emmanuel”. Advent is no more.” Could Masefield be right? Have we abandoned Christ’s birth for Santa, repentance for tinsel? Today, the Baptist calls us to become a whole new person: in motivation, goals and courage. Gifts, cards and greetings carry meaning, but John summons us to commit first to Christ. This Advent, cash will not have the final word. Christ will! (Norm Carroll)

The Guild usually meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month. However, for the month of December the meeting will take place on Thursday, December 8th. The Guild meets at 12:00 noon in the Parish Hall for prayers, a pot luck lunch and a program. Our Rector, Father Grant Wiseman is the December speaker. All are welcome. Any questions contact Lynne Coughlin at 954-741-6566.  

The Guild is a fellowship of Saint Mark’s Seniors at Saint Mark’s who gather for pot luck lunch, followed by a guest speaker or projects to support other ministries, like assembling snack bags for the Homeless Ministry.

During the last meeting Rafael Vasquez, who leads the Broward County 211 program, spoke to the group about critical support services available to seniors (age55+) through the program. He explained that the program works by connecting you with an advocate that will seek to understand all of your needs, then connect you (or your caregiver) with appropriate community services, including; financial assistance with utility bills, home health services, housing, transportation, home meal delivery, legal services, counseling and much more. 

There is also a unique “Touchline” Program that can connect seniors (or their caregivers) at no cost to an advocate who can do daily check-in calls for those who would like to have someone check on them to make sure they are OK and safe. If you or someone you know are interested or could benefit from the 211 program, please contact 211 Broward by dialing 211, calling 954-640-5800 or visiting www.211-broward.org. All contacts with the program are confidential. Also, If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ken Arruda 617-799-6395

4:00 pm; Family Paper Bag Pageant: Discover your role when you pull an assignment from the paper bag.

7:00 pm; Solemn High Mass (with incense)

10:00 am; Holy Eucharist

On November 20th the choir sang I’ll Walk with God from the musical “The Student Prince” with a lovely duet by Elyse Anderson, soprano, and Michael Borosky, tenor (view their performance by clicking on the image on the left).

On November 27th, the first Sunday of Advent, the choir sang their first Christmas song A Jubilant Song with a lovely solo by Asael Cuesta Cardona, the alto section leader. (view the performance by clicking on the image on the right). We are preparing for a joyful season.

(Robin Dreyfuss)

On January 22, 2023, we will hold our next Annual Meeting. There are five (5) members of the Vestry whose present terms will conclude with this meeting and we will also select

delegates (2) and alternates (2) for next year’s Diocesan Convention. If you feel that God is placing on your heart a willingness to represent the best interests of your fellow congregants in either of these roles, please share your desire with Father Grant, or a member of the Vestry, so that your name might be placed in nomination at our Parish Annual Meeting. (Harry Richardson, Junior Warden)

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.

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.

Father Grant, our rector is currently available to provide pastoral care for our parish. You may contact Fr. Grant at 954-334-0131, or by email at gwiseman@saintmarks.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/