23feb23

We have begun Lent, and I want to commend all the many opportunities we will have for making this season special. Our Tuesday Night Dinners will feature Soup and Salads and programs designed for us to learn about ministry opportunities in our local community. Monday Morning Prayer near the Pier at the end of Commercial Blvd. off A1A in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea provides a wonderful way to begin the work week. Fridays will offer Stations of the Cross, as well. As we move through this season when we are invited into a Holy Lent, we will have some markedly different prayers and music that are designed to go with the season. 

As people called to self-examination and repentance, prayer and fasting, self-denial and reading and responding to scripture during this Lent, I hope you will find a deeper spirituality and prayer life.

Yours in Christ,

Father Grant +

You’re invited to join us on Tuesday, February 28th at 6:00 pm, for our Lenten Series and Supper program. The supper is held in the Parish Hall, where we will enjoy a light supper, salad, and bread. Each week, a ministry within our Saint Mark’s community will host the supper. This evening’s supper host is our Vestry. Our Lenten Series is being led by Fr. Grant Wiseman our Rector. The series will end by 8:00 pm. All are welcome!

Sometimes, I feel like a dirigible tethered to earth by powerful cables that prevent me from flying free. These are the attachments of wealth, lethargy, or self-seeking that impedes my living a fully Christian life. But such shackles imprison many. So, the church encourages us through Lenten penance to smash these chains and prepare to fly free to Christ. Which cord shall I shatter this Lent to prepare for my rising in Christ?  (Norm Carroll)

GET READY THIS COMING Sunday, February 26, for a beautiful Lenten music presentation –JS Bach’s “Have Mercy” – an aria from the composer’s St. Matthew’s Passion, sung by Asael Cuesta Cardona, and accompanied by Erika Venable, the violinist. (“passion” is a euphemism for martyrdom…)

Here is the choir’s Anthem from February 5th – A perfect start for Lent: Call To Remembrance; https://youtu.be/48uXQtKXjXs written by Richard Farrant, a 16th C. English royal choral composer and sung acapella by your choir. He also wrote Lord for Thy Tender Mercy’s Sake, which the choir has sung many times. My favorite line is “Lord, remember not the sins and offenses of my youth…” hmmm. As if they were greater than the ones we commit as adults. Anyway, it is a song/poem begging for forgiveness from God. And finally our Anthem from February 12th; A Joyful Magnicat; https://youtu.be/2EXgva83wrs, written by Joseph Martin, an American composer that is much lauded and actually still living!

We hope you will enjoy the amazing Lent and Holy Week music that Gordon Roberts and your choir are preparing for you! If you like your Chancel Choir’s music, please subscribe to our YouTube Channel! The link to subscribe is http://www.youtube.com/@saintmarksepiscopalchurchc12. (Robin Dreyfuss)

Saint Mark’s Parishioner, Charles Baran will be performing in TRU, a one-man play about Truman Capote. Lynne Coughlin and Mike Mullins are organizing a group to attend the 5:00 pm performance with an on-stage discussion directly following the performance. Tickets are $35.00 and transportation to the theater from Saint Mark’s is being arranged. If you are interested in going please contact Mike Mullins at mike.mullins.fl@gmail.com or Lynne Coughlin at lynnescoughlin@gmail.com. Tickets for other performances from April 14th to May 7th are available through the Empire Stage website at www.EmpireStage.com or by calling 954-678-1496. Stay tuned for additional information.

Thank you to all for joining us! It was great to have our Pancake Supper return after a hiatus due to the pandemic.

. . . When I think about the Daughters of the King, I think about prayer. I believe that prayer, especially using our collective energy to praise and petition God, is the most powerful tool we have in this life. . . . Prayer can work miracles, it brings peace, and it lifts you up. If you are interested in making a commitment to prayer, please reach out to our chapter president, Mindy Hardial, or any member. You can spot us by the cross we wear, For His Sake. We will begin a series of discernment classes for those seriously considering joining us. Let us know if we can pray for you or someone you love. AND KEEP PRAYING!

Palm Sunday – The Sunday of the Passion with a procession (4/2)

Passover Seder – Wednesday in Holy Week (4/5)

Maundy Thursday – Stripping of the Altar (4/6)

Good Friday – Chanted passion with Eucharist from the reserve sacrament (4/7)

Great Vigil – (4/8)

Easter Sunday – 8:00 am Rite I and 10:30 am Rite II (4/9)

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. 

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.

We invite you to post on our church website blog, https://saintmarksftl.com/submit-post/, which helps us keep up with the sharing of information. All information will be reviewed and considered for posting on the church website, Facebook page, and Instagram, as well as in this Parish News.