ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

513 NASSAU STREET SOUTH VENICE FL 34285-2816

THE MESSENGER

VOLUME 13, ISSUES 7-8 JULY-AUGUST 2014

Dear Friends,

One aspect of Christian living is our sense of existing in two worlds: our physical world and the world Jesus talked about, God’s kingdom. During his life-time, Jesus practiced living in God’s world and invited every-one who wished to join him. It was difficult for his friends and followers to understand how they could be living in the world Jesus proclaimed, but still be at home right where they were. We call this phe-nomenon ‘already, but not yet’ time. Jesus gave us a taste of how human relationships would unfold in God’s kingdom by showing us how to live with each other right here on earth. In one sense, we are called to use our lives here practicing for the great celebration that awaits us when heaven and earth are again joined together. It is a practice that still needs lots of faith-filled effort. Being a disci-ple does not remove us from the world, but offers us special God-directed energy with which to live in it.

Summer has come to St. Mark’s and while many of our activities continue on a slightly modified

basis, the staff is busy making plans for the coming year. We always seem to be about six months ahead of ourselves which makes for some interest-ing situations. On the one hand, it is lovely to have a less hectic daily schedule with time to smell the flowers, or go to the beach. On the other hand, we recognize that September is on-ly about ten weeks away, so we’d best have our next-season plans in place shortly. This is a church staff version of living in two worlds!

Before I outline what is tenta-tively planned for next fall, here is what our summer activi-ties include: Vacation Bible School will have concluded by the time this reaches you, but it has been a great success, thanks to Jackie, Peter the Musician, devoted parish volunteers, and wonderful high school counsel-ing staff. Devoted parishioners going on the Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic have completed their work there. The Contemplative Prayer Group meets every Tuesday afternoon in the Gar-den Room at 4:30, while Wired Word dialogue contin-

ues to be held every Wednes-day AM at 10:30 in the Picture Room, following the weekly service of Healing and Ho-ly Communion at 9:30. There will be a Parish Break-fast on Sunday, July 13. Chef Paul and his helpers afford us this chance to share a meal together, a Sunday Brunch kind of thing which is a delightful prospect before spending a lei-surely Sunday afternoon with no timetable! Then there is a Wednesday Night Parish Dinner on July 16, fol-lowed by a “Drive-In Mov-ie,” title to be announced. On Sunday, August 3, Chef Paul will again host a Parish Breakfast, and on August 20, our Wednesday evening meal together will be fol-lowed by ‘An Evening with Dave Sayer,’ our very own piano player/entertainer extraordinaire. We hope you will join us at any and all of these events. A huge THANK YOU to the people who have worked to make these pro-grams possible.

So, now we are up to Septem-ber 1, Labor Day, the very last day of summer leisure!!

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Please keep Fr. Jim and Carol in your prayers as they travel this summer.

Judy

PRESCHOOL NEWS

As we enjoy another fun, educational and spirit filled summer at St. Mark’s Preschool and Summer Camp, our thoughts are focusing on the upcoming school year. We have filled our classes except for a few spots in our 3-year-old room. Our staff continue ongoing training in CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) in order to meet assessment criteria for the STARS program through the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County.

We are planning for our 13th Annual Silent Auction & Dinner for Saturday, October 11, in Gray Hall. This year our theme is Black & White. At this time we are seeking sponsors for our auction. In return you receive seating and advertising for your business. We also seek donations from busi-nesses and individuals such as gift certificates, retail items, trips, getaway vacations, arts and crafts, and services. Give us a call for more information for this fun event allows us to provide special events and programs for children.

Choir rehearsals have al-ready resumed, and on Wednesday, Sept. 10, our regular Wednesday evening parish dinners will begin at 5:30 pm. The program that evening will be our Youth Mission Trip Revue about their time spent in Montgom-ery, Alabama. Diverse adult education classes are also planned, one of which is enti-tled, “My Neighbor’s Faith.” This four-week course will ex-plore the dynamics of interreli-gious encounters between peo-ple of differing faith traditions, including Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, and Shinto. Another class will be dealing with the spiritual as-pects of transitions in the aging process, noting what E. M. Forster said: “We must be willing to let go of the life we have, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” We will also be hosting guest speakers in mid-October, followed by our annual Stewardship Cele-

bration Dinner on Oct. 27. November programs include a musical segment. This brings us to Thanksgiving Dinner, hosted by the parish on Thanksgiving Day, and preced-ed by a Celebration of Holy Communion in the Sanc-tuary. On Wednesday, Dec. 3, we will enjoy our an-nual Intergenerational Dinner and program, fol-lowed by a holiday dinner and Advent Lessons and Carols on Dec. 10.

The fall program will also in-clude the beginning of a new academic year for EfM (Education for Ministry), the weekly Wednesday Morn-ing Bible Study, and the ECW’s (Episcopal Church Women) and Mark’s Men monthly programs. And last but not least, our Sunday School and Youth Pro-gram will be continuing as we eagerly await the birth of Jackie and Brian Over-ton’s baby in early August,

also the time when our be-loved Rector, Fr. Jim and wife Carol, return from their sabbatical leave. On behalf of this congregation, I also want to thank the people who throughout these months are providing pastoral care for those in need, noting especially the Lay Eucharistic Visitors, Seminarian Ros Hall, Deacon Keith Backhaus, our Parish Nurse April Merrill, and Cappy Warner+, as well as the ever-supportive administrative staff of this parish.

Please enjoy your summer, and take your rest now, for the congregation of St. Mark’s will need your presence and energy once the fall season is upon us! Invite your neighbors to join us. In Christ’s Love Rev. Judy +

PAGE 2 THE MESSENGER

For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of mon-ey, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to the one who possesses it. —Ecclesiastes 7:12

PAGE 3 THE MESSENGER

Bereavement Seminar offered at St. Mark’s We are fortunate to have Dr. Louis LaGrand, PhD, volunteer his time and talent to those experiencing grief. Dr. LaGrand has over thirty years of experience in the study of grief. He is a teacher, researcher, au-thor and counselor helping those dealing with grief. Go to www.extraordinarygriefexperiences.com to learn more about Dr. LaGrand. Beginning Wednesday, September 24 thru November 12, 3:00-4:30 p.m., Dr. Lou LaGrand will offer an 8-week program at the church office. We invite anyone who has experienced a loss within the past year (or more) to join us. Learn to live and love in separation of your loved one. Please call the church office to express your interest in this seminar and someone will get in touch you re-garding the program. Space is limited, please sign-up soon. Call 488.7714.

TEST YOUR SUMMER SAVVY To check your answers and best guesses,

call 488.7714 or stop by the church office.

April Merrill, R.N. Parish Nurse

University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter Vol. 30, Is. 13, p. 4

PAGE 4 THE MESSENGER

Summer Bible

Study

Wired Word resumed regular Wednesday morning meetings in June. We meet every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in Gray Hall Picture Room. Each week deals with a dif-ferent current topic in the news. If you wish to participate, contact the church office. You will receive your issue by email on Thursday prior to the meeting. Paper copies can be picked up in the church office when they become available. Wired Word is designed to be lay led and will be facilitated by The Rev. Judith Roberts. Leadership will rotate for those wishing to lead. Teachers will receive a special edition with suggested discussion points.

PHT FOR CHUCH DIRECTORY

If you already have a decent photo on file with the church office, you do not need to send in a new pho-to. If you have doubts, call the church office and ask. Right now we are looking for only those folks who do NOT have a pic-ture in the directory or who need to have their pic-ture updated through a change in family status (marriage, birth, death of a spouse, etc.).

Bay Breeze (formerly Heritage)

Polly Walther

Emeritus—Englewood Britta Swanson

Gardens of Venice Lee Phillips

Harbor Chase Barbara Gerrish

Harbor Inn South Jean Albanese Joyce Backhaus

Sunset Lakes Dave Lavender

Summit Anne Huartson

Village on the Isle Barbara Bryant Ann Dover Louise Hood

Windsor Rocky & Bonne Bryan

OUR HOMEBOUND

FAMILY

GOOD NEWS for people who eat breakfast. Paul Skulitz has vol-unteered to make pancakes for us over the summer. Mark the following dates on your calendar to enjoy a great sit-down break-fast on Sunday morning!

Sunday, July 13* Sunday, August 3

Volunteers needed to help with usual kitchen duties. Thank you. *Date changed to Sunday, July 13, to accommodate holiday travel schedules over the 4th.

this will be a

SNAP! for you!

We are looking for volunteers to help teach Youth Sunday School in the month of August and in the beginning of September. Ideally we would like to have two teachers per class, which are light during the summer, but still important to our developing young Christians. If you are interested and able to help, please contact Jackie at youth@stmarksvenice.com. One lesson children learn from attending Sunday School is that someone cared enough to provide them with the opportunity. Easy peasy.

“Reverend Judith is the Interim Associate

Rector, dear, not the fill-in anchor.”

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Just a little note to let you know that your Episcopal Church Woman have joined the Nite Owl Quilters in making quilts for Shriners’ Hospital. If you would like more information on this

ministry, contact Irene Piggott at 474.4399 or Barbara Willis at 497.3949.

April Merrill, R.N.,

St. Mark’s Parish Nurse.

Recently, a sur-vey of 15 area churches was conducted to as-certain which ones have a parish nurse on their staff. The num-ber was only four. It made us

more aware of how fortunate we are to have April Merrill providing this much needed and much utilized service among our parishioners. Not only does she do blood pressure checks on

the first Sunday of the month, she oversees the visitations of Lay Eucharistic Visitors (LEVs) to our homebound parishioners and she visits parishioners who are ill or in need of medically related information. She interfaces with family caregivers, often offsite, and helps them make connections with local caregiving agencies. To-gether with Deacon Keith and other clergy, she is a regular part of our Pastoral Care oversight group which meets weekly. Our grateful thanks to April for her knowledge, compassion, lively wit and wisdom, and her boundless energy. By the time you receive this newsletter, April and Ray will be gone for a few weeks of much needed vacation. When they re-turn mid-August, we’ll welcome them home. We offer thanks for April’s presence on the staff of St. Mark’s.

Mark's Men Exciting

Plans Mark's Men is planning diverse and outstanding speakers for 2014-2015. Invited, to name a few, are a national known author and aging expert, a former Sarasota City Commissioner, a Congres-sional District Director, and the Executive Di-rector of the Venice Symphony who will share news about the symphony's new venue the Per-forming Arts Center at Venice High School. Chip Andrews, Program Co-Chair is helping to obtain additional speakers. If you have someone to recommend, share your suggestion with Chip Andrews at 941.485.2170 or Bobby Wood at 941.480.0077.

Please mark your calendar for the third Tuesday night of each month at 6:00 p.m., beginning in October. Chef Jim Blow will prepare delicious meals. Look for ad-ditional information on www.stmarksvenice.org in the coming year. We look forward to these exciting programs and especially your attendance. Watch for the blue sign-up sheets in the narthex and in Gray Hall.

Bobby Wood, Co-Chair Steve Plichta, Co-Chair

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Classified Ads We Won’t Be Answering

For sale: antique desk suitable for lady with thick legs

and large drawers.

Now is your chance to have your ears pierced and get

an extra pair to take home.

Dog for sale: eats anything and is fond of children.

Tired of cleaning yourself? Let me do it.

TUESDAY MORNING

MEN’S FELLOWSHIP TO

CONTINUE

THRU SUMMER Fellowship doesn’t take the summer off as other activities might; so St. Mark’s Tues-day Morning Men’s Fellowship will contin-ue meeting every Tuesday through the summer: from 8 to 9 a.m. in the church office conference room. Yes, the number of attendees might decline a little, but the stimulating coffee and lay-led discussion will not. If you haven’t tried it “in-season,” give it a try “off-season.” The guys will give you a warm wel-come. Please join us.

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church located at: 508 Riviera Street 941.488.7714

church fax: 941.484.0596 preschool: 941.484.8707

Clergy: James H. Puryear (Rector), Judith S. Roberts (Interim Associate Rector), John Lawrence (Assisting Priest), Keith Backhaus (Deacon), Lynne Greene (Deacon, retired), Joyce Treppa (Deacon), Ros Hall (postulant to the diaconate) Vestry: Bobby Wood (Sr. Warden), Larry Lewis (Jr. Warden), Sam Corns, Jim Duval, Gary Dowrey, Maureen Maigret, Jane Marcin, John K. Moore, Susan Park, Jane Rexinger, Paul Skulitz, Clover Webster, Michael Knowlton (treasurer), Debbie Pfender (secretary) Church staff: Peter A. Madpak (Choirmaster & Organist), Jackie Overton (Youth), April Merrill (Parish Nurse), Sandy Albanese (Parish Administrator), Carlotta Woolpert (Administrative Assistant), Maury Leman (Finance), Vicki Mahon (Sexton), Jim Gietek (Assistant Sexton)

ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

513 NASSAU STREET SOUTH

VENICE FL 34285-2816

Let us not grow weary in doing what is right...let us

work for the good of all... —Galatians 6:9-10

St. Mark’s

Book Circle This book discussion group meets the third Tuesday at 10 a.m. in Gray Hall, unless otherwise an-nounced. (Meets in church office building July 15.) You are invited to attend just to listen or to partici-pate. Readings are selected by the participants, and each month we have a different facilitator.

For July we are reading and dis-cussing:

Night Falls on the City By Sarah Gainham And in August:

The Light Between Oceans By M.L. Stedman

Hope to see you at the meeting on July 15 and August 19 when you can pick up a list of the entire year’s reading schedule.

Coming Wednesday July 16: Drive-In Movie Night. Hot dogs, popcorn and reminiscing of days of yore when drive-in movies were the best way to spend a night out with your friends or that special someone. Sign up on green sheets in narthex or Gray Hall.

Looking forward to August? Our own Dave Sayer will be playing “Dave’s Faves” from the Great Amer-ican Songbook. Join us on Wednes-day, August 20. Watch for the green sign-up sheets as usual. Chef Blow and crew will be cooking up something special.

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