15mar23

It was wonderful to see how many people began wearing the name tags we have made for our parishioners. I was especially excited to see a couple of first time visitors ask for name tags. If you did not get a name tag, please let me know, and I can have them ready for you by Sunday. If you are like me and forget them or lose them, I will be glad to make more than one for you. Our printer is such that I can literally make them while you wait. Wearing the name tags helps our visitors put names to faces and also helps advertise some of the many ministries at our church.

Holy Week is coming very quickly, and I hope that you will participate in the many offerings that will be coming. We’re planning to have a procession of the Palms on Palm Sunday, beginning in the school’s courtyard. For those who have limited mobility, we will process to you in the church. We will have a Seder Supper on Wednesday night, April 5th, 

in addition to Maundy Thursday Mass and Good Friday services. On Saturday evening, April 8th, we will have the Great Vigil of Easter with baptisms. On Easter Sunday, April 9th, we will have our regularly timed two services followed by an Easter Egg Hunt. I hope to see many of you at all of those offerings.

Yours in Christ,

Father Grant +

You’re invited to join us on Tuesday, March 21st 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 Episcopal Church Women (ECW). Our Lenten Series speaker will be Marybeth Keenan with Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church and School. Marybeth will be speaking on behalf of Night To Shine. Night to Shine (Tim Tebow Foundation) is a complimentary event for people with special needs hosted by local churches around the world. The series will end by 8:00 pm. All are welcome!

public about wildlife issues and a peaceful co-existence with our wild neighbors.  

The Guild will meet tomorrow at 12:30 pm in the Ministry Center. James Jana, our Franciscan friend, will give his presentation of Simon of Cyrene. Bring a dish to share and enjoy fellowship with folks you see in church. (Lynne Coughlin)

We hope you will join us on Friday, March 17th at 11 am to celebrate the life of Saint Mark’s parishioner Aston McBean. Aston had been a member of Saint Mark’s since 1988. At 10 until 10:30 am there will be a viewing in the church, followed by the service at 11 am. Please remember to keep Marjorie and their family in your thoughts and prayers. The service will be live streamed on our YouTube channel.

Many of us have excellent vision, but all of us are somewhat blind: not physically but spiritually. Jesus can provide 20/20 vision as in today’s gospel. Notice the blind man’s marvelous journey in gaining his vision. First, he calls Jesus a man; then a prophet; next a man from God. Finally, in verse 38, he calls Jesus, “Lord”, and he worships him. This clarifying of vision comprises our life-journey as we recognize, more and more, Christ in whomever we touch. (Norm Carroll)

TRUE Fund is a one-time assistance for parishioners dealing with a financial emergency hardship. All applications are confidential. The TRUE Fund Committee parishioners, Christy Hatzfeld, and Doug Reynolds review the applications for approval. For additional information or assistance please contact the church office at 954-563-555/

Saint Mark’s Book Club will meet in the Church – South Chapel next Thursday at 11:30 am for lunch and a book discussion from noon until 1:00 pm. The discussion will include the historic novel, Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan and/or The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis. All are welcome. Having read the book is not a requirement. Please RSVP to Dorothy Seibert at dorothyseibert@comcast.net if you plan to attend so there is plenty of lunch for all. The Book Club next meets at the same time and place for the discussion of “1984” by George Orwell. 

We had a small group of only 11, but with a BIG SOUND on March 5th by a choir determined to overcome the low numbers, helped by the guest soloist Robyn Lampe. We sang An Expression of Gratitude: https://youtu.be/sppzR_ONWWo, written by David Schwoebel, a current prolific and successful Christian composer with his own website. Listen to the choir and soloist rendition.

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)

Procession to the church before the 10:30 am service and the Passion of Christ

The Passion will be held in the Church will be done with speaking parts assigned. 

The Seder Supper in the Parish Hall at 6:00 pm.

The 7:00 pm service will take place in the church, followed immediately by a solemn Stripping of the Altar, and The Altar of Repose will take place from 8:00-10:30 pm.

Good Friday, April 7

This service is held at noon with a Chanted Passion with the Eucharist from the Reserve Sacrament. The Stations of the Cross is followed by Reflections on Christ’s Last Words

The Solemn High Mass at 7:00 pm with incense and Holy Baptisms.

8:00 am: Rite I Service

10:30 am: Rite II Service with Music, High Mass, Flowering of the Cross, followed by an Easter Egg Hunt

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.