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Lent provided a time when converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby the whole congregation was put in mind the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent; by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. (Book of Common Prayer, 1979, page 265)

While so many people look only at the fasting and self-denial parts of the invitation to a Holy Lent, it is the pardon, absolution, and desire for all to be restored to the Fellowship of the Church that is most important. 

During the height of the pandemic, we saw an increase in people coming to church while sitting in their living rooms in their PJs and holding a cup of coffee (For Episcopalians, we always have our Coffee Hour). People began to see the importance of a relationship with diving. Coming out of COVID, we were so isolated, and our loneliness was exacerbated by our inability to gather face-to-face. We attempted to do it digitally, but it was truly inadequate. Now we find ourselves in a revival of community that is an opportunity for us to reevaluate what is important in our lives. We are seeing people attending churches again with the expectation that the Church they attend is authentic to their values and beliefs. It is a time for people who have felt, for whatever reason – unwelcome or inadequate to know that not only are they welcomed in church but invited to come as they are, broken and bruised people who desire love and community. The church at its best does just that, loves unconditionally.

Now as we begin Holy Week with Palm Sunday, We invite you to experience all of the pageantry, music, and liturgy that marks the culmination of Lent. As we celebrate Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, we begin a week where we desire the coming of some sort of King and end the week with a Savior. The empty feeling that we have at Jesus’s arrest on Maundy Thursday, and the silence and loneliness of Good Friday, are two of the most powerful services in the church year. Not all traditions celebrate those days by moving from Palm Sunday to Easter. We encourage you to experience all of these days as they make Easter Day even more powerful.

Yours in Christ,

Father Grant +

You’re invited to join us on Tuesday, March 28th at 6:00 pm, for our Lenten Series and Supper program. The supper will be 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. The supper will be hosted by our Church Choir). Our Lenten Series speaker will be a representative from The Wildlife Center. The presenter will be bringing a few of their rescue to visit with us. Their mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and release injured and orphan wildlife in South Florida, and to educate the public about wildlife issues and a peaceful co-existence with our wild neighbors. Learn more about the Wildlife Center! The series will end by 8:00 pm. All are welcome!

Jesus responds to Martha in this Sunday’s Gospel, “I am the resurrection and the life”, meaning insofar as we lead His life in ours, we are truly risen. Then, his crucial question: “Do you believe this?”. Jesus then comes to our tombs of addiction, depression, and deception and cries out, “Step up and step out”! And each of comes out! We are gratuitously alive in God’s wondrous world of mystery and beauty, but still bound hands and feet. So Jesus exclaims: “Untie him and let him go free”! (Norm Carroll)

Father Grant and Deacon Norm Carroll will lead a workshop for current lectors and anyone who would like to join our team of lectors.

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.