27sep23

A Message from our Rector,

Father Grant Wiseman

Dear Parish Family,

We have so much going on that is wonderful. We have had more baptisms than funerals, which very few Episcopal Churches can boast. The chancel choir has returned from their summer break and is sounding fantastic. We are slowly seeing more and more people step up to volunteer for all the ministries. I am grateful to all who have decided to help and participate in the Tuesday Night Dinners. This next week, we will continue learning about the Episcopal Church also the Anglican Communion.

This week has reminded me of the importance of listening to one’s body. In 2010, I began a health journey that I had been putting off for way too long and because of that, I ended up causing more damage to my colon by waiting too long. That taught me a lesson. So, when I had a multiple-day headache and some dizziness, I decided, on Monday, to go to the ER. I ended up getting a ton of tests, scans, and blood draws. Fortunately, the scans and tests showed that while I have some things to work on, I am fairly healthy for a person with multiple autoimmune diseases.

It also gave me a baseline for certain things that happen as we age. The things I have to work on are things that can be fixed; mostly diet and exercise. All this is to say that when your body tells you something is not right, go get help. And don’t be afraid to tell those who are treating you all that could contribute to what is going on. I will have some physical therapy for what they think is causing the pain. I encourage everyone to keep up with all the medical and psychological needs that they might have and get regular physical check-ups. I want to keep our baptisms to funeral ratios, with baptisms outnumbering funerals by a large margin. 

Yours in Christ,

Father Grant

Saint Mark’s Book Club – Tomorrow

Our Book Club will meet tomorrow for lunch at 11:30 a.m. and have a book discussion from noon until 1:00 p.m. in the Ministry Center. This month’s book is Demon Copperhead, a novel by Barbara Kingsolver. Generations ago, Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield from his experience as a survivor of institutional poverty and its damage to children in society. His book inspired Barbara Kingsolver to write a contemporary parallel. Barbara Kingsolver grew up in Appalachia and after living in different parts of the world, has returned to Appalachia as her home. She knows it’s struggles well and Dickens and she share a faith in the transformation of a good story. Please RSVP to dorothyseibert@comcast.net if you plan to join us for lunch so we can prepare.

Sunday’s Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20; Actions Speak Louder – 10/1

“I’ll do the dishes!” I’ll shovel the snow!” How often this 12-year-old would promise action, but it was only words. Jesus, in today’s gospel, illustrates the power of action over words. He is calling each of us not just to attend Sunday liturgy, but to live our lives in Christ, and celebrate it on Sunday. Christianity is not just a creed but a way of life. Christ’s way. (Norm Carroll)

Pantry of Broward – Monthly Food Collection – 10/1

The Pantry of Broward County has been feeding seniors in Broward County since 2008. The Pantry serves seniors in need living on low, fixed incomes and grandparents raising their grandchildren. Please bring nonperishable items: beans, pasta, tomato sauce, canned tuna fish, etc. to church on any Sunday. The Monday after the first Sunday of the month parishioners deliver the food to the Pantry. They eagerly await our donations each month and are very grateful for steady support. Your generous donations to the Pantry of Broward totaled 300 pounds of food foe month of August!

Tuesdays Soup Dinners – 10/3

The third gathering of the six-part series will be this Tuesday, October 3rd at 6:00 pm in the Parish Hall.   Each Tuesday, a Ministry group takes turns providing the dinner. Our Chancel Choir will be hosting the dinner this coming Tuesday. On October 10th, Saint Mark’s Episcopal School will be hosting, and the Daughters of the King on Oct. 24th. If a group can provide the meal on October 17th, it would be most appreciated. Please contact Father Grant at gwiseman@saintmarks.com, if your group can prepare the dinner. Thank you!

Family First Friday – 10/6

Mark your calendar for the next Family First Friday on October 6th with an appetizer dinner and karaoke, a big hit last year! Please bring appetizers to share and beverages for your family. Please invite your friends!

First Communion Classes – Beginning 10/15

Saint Mark’s Church will offer First Communion Classes on October 15th, 22nd, and 29th from 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please sign up with Father Grant by emailing him at gwiseman@saintmarks.com. If your child has been baptized and is already taking communion, and you want them to learn more about communion and the church, this is a great class for their formation. If your child has not been baptized, and you wish to have them baptized at the same time as their first communion, please let Father Grant know to schedule it. The planned First Communion date will be November 5th at the 10:30 a.m. service. Father Grant can schedule a time if that date does not work for your family. The class is ideal for first through third-grade students.   

Introducing New Ministry to Saint Mark’s – Laundry Love!

Father Grant is excited to announce the launch of Laundry Love, a new community outreach ministry at Saint Mark’s. Our Laundry Love ministry is partnering with a local laundromat and will bring free laundry services to the homeless and working poor in our community. Our motto is “Bringing Dignity to Those In Need”. Saint Mark’s Laundry Love chapter is also joined by two existing chapters at All Saints Episcopal Church and Saint Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church.

You can support this vital new ministry in one of three ways: Volunteering at the monthly events, donations of laundry detergent pods (box located in the back of the church), or financial support. Billy Salter will be leading the Laundry Love ministry – please reach out to Billy directly if you would like to support Laundry Love in any way:

billy.salter@gmail.com, or 804.297.9253. Laundry Love events will be held the fourth Wednesday of each month, starting on October 25th, 4 pm until 6 pm..

During last Sunday’s services Billy Salter presented a compelling case for Laundry Love.

From The Music Department!

The season has officially started. We had our first Wednesday choir rehearsal last week, and last Sunday was the first wearing of robes to start the musical/liturgical year. It was a pretty full turnout from the choir, giving me hope that this season, we will continue to build this wonderful group. Saint Mark’s is fortunate to have very talented singers, and other musicians who give their time and talent to the music program. It’s a joy for me to be able to work with these dedicated people who continue to want to improve and become the best possible. Music without passion is just a bunch of notes on a page.

This coming Sunday the choir will be singing a wonderful piece by Pepper Choplin called Give Me a Song. I’ll be playing two-period pieces for the Prelude and Postlude. The Prelude is a little heavier than I usually plan, a Toccata by Johan Jacob Froberger that I think will be interesting and maybe even inspiring to start the service. The Postlude is worth a listen as it is a dialogue for two trumpets (organ trumpets) by Louis Nicolas Clerambault.

Once again, I want to express my gratitude to members of the congregation for their very positive remarks and support of our music program. We are always looking for interested singers who might want to join the choir. Give us a try. It’s a friendly, talented, fun group.

Gordon Roberts, Music Director

Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church

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.