December 8, 2022

I am amazed by how quickly the season of Advent is going. The last two Mondays have been fantastic as we pray at the beach. Having breakfast following has been a great way to get to know people even better. I look forward to trying other things like that morning prayer to connect with all of you. 

Christmas Eve is coming quickly and I cannot wait to welcome all the people who may be coming for the first time to worship with us. The two services we have planned for Christmas Eve are exciting and unique. The choir has planned some amazing music between now through Christmas and I encourage you to invite people to come and see what I believe to be an incredible choir that creates amazing music. 

The first holiday season with you all has been fantastic. 

Yours in Christ,

Father Grant +

The women will have a brief meeting and then decorate for the All Parish Potluck Luncheon which will be held on Sunday, December 11th. Looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday and Sunday. If you want to order ECW shirts and workbooks, please contact Jean Curlee at 954-258-8933. Workbooks are $15.00 each, Shirts S/M/L – $10 each, and X-Large/2X/3X – $12 Each. (Becky Fogleson)

John the Baptist lay captive in Herod’s dark, dank dungeon, and John knew he would soon die. But John spent his entire adult life seeking to identify the Messiah and that urgent question still remained. Desperately, from prison, John sent messengers to Jesus to ask, “Are you the one who is to come?” Jesus responds with Isaiah’s words from our first reading indicating, YES, but my salvation will be neither political nor military, but spiritually powerful and humanly peaceful. Despite realizing his imminent execution, John rejoiced, for he had introduced the Savior. Now, John heard the death-dealing approach of the soldiers. Never mind! The Savior is among us with the death of death for John and all who embrace Christ. (Norm Carroll)

We will have a single service at 10:00 am on Sunday, December 11, bringing together the entire parish. Following the service, we will all meet in the Parish Hall for our Annual Christmas Potluck luncheon with some surprises!

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

The Christmas music keeps on coming. On December 4, Adoramus Te by Vivaldi was fantastically sung by our soprano Elyse Anderson, and countertenor Asael Cuesta Cardona, both section leaders in the choir. (view their performance by clicking on the image on the left).

The Choir also sang A Christmas Prayer, a contemplative song celebrating Jesus’ birth, by Lloyd! (view the performance by clicking on the image on the right). (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/

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