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St. Mark’s NewsJANUARY 2019

Dear People of God,

Merry Christmas!

We have experienced a blessed Advent and are experiencing a blessed and holy Christmastide here at St. Mark’s Church. Thanks to everyone who helped make Christmas Eve such a glorious and magical evening at both services and at the reception.

Remember Christmas lasts twelve days. Christmas Eve is just the beginning. This year the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6 th, falls on a Sunday. We will celebrate with a Festive Eucharist that morning. Epiphany is sometimes called the Twelfth Day. We commemorate the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles since the Magi or Wise Men were not of the Jewish Church. The message of Epiphany is to send the light of the Christian faith to those throughout the world.

Epiphanytide or the Epiphany Season extends from January 6th to Ash Wednesday.

Looking forward to 2019 here at St. Mark’s, Starke.

Happy New Year!

See you in church (if not before)!

Father Bert

CONTENTS RECTOR ALTAR GUILD CHOIR DOK ECW ERD FOOD PANTRY KAIROS MARKSMEN ULTREYA

FOOTNOTES

St. Mark’s Altar GuildThe Epiphany Season is beginning as of January 6 which this year is a Sunday. After Epiphany you will see the wise men now at the crèche scene as you enter the church. The Advent wreath is taken down before Epiphany. The last Sunday of Epiphany is March 3rd with Ash Wednesday falling on March 6. Flowers beautify our Altar during most of the year and after the service, flowers are taken to those who are sick, homebound, or in facilities such as nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living. The 2019 Flower chart will be in the narthex. Please sign up to donate for flowers in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving for blessings in your life. The Flower Ministry is an important facet of apostolic action of which you can be a part. Please consider joining the Altar Guild. Our members are: Virginia Johns and Judy Perkin (Directors) and Marianne O’Neill, Bobbie Faye Blackshear, and Mary Agnes Goldwire. Jennifer Luke and Elise Nesmith will be in training to become new members. Thanks to Kathy Crooke who provided many years of service but has moved away. Please keep her in your prayers. The Altar Guild is an important ministry of the church and can be a fulfilling one. The Altar Guild creates and maintains the environment for our weekly worship services and services on special church occasions. Contact Judy Perkin or Virginia Johns to discuss the Altar Guild and the way it can help enhance your service to God and the church community.

St. Mark’s News

Just a little

So proud of my choir members. It's a commitment and we have a great group. 

If you are a person that likes to sing we invite you to join us.  Keep a song in your heart.

Choir Practice is now at 9:30 on Sunday Mornings.Come join our choir and have some fun!

Graciously,Cindy Canova

CHOIR NEWS 

The Daughters of the King meet the 3rd Monday of each month. Every lady of the church is invited to attend. The next meeting is scheduled for February 18 th. There will not be a meeting in January due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

NEW TIME: 12:00 Noon

If you know of anyone who has an interest in becoming a Daughter, please contact Jennifer Luke at 904-263-2541. All are welcome and invited to join.

St. Mark’s News

EPISCOPAL RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT

 

Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) continues its mission of being there for those in need.  Most recently for those impacted by the California wildfires and Central Americans trying to immigrate to the United States in order to escape violence. According to their December 2018 press release,   ERD is working with Anglican churches in Mexico to help the Central Americans and notably with San Esteban Anglican Church in Rio Bravo, Mexico which is just across the Rio Grande border in Texas where I grew up.  This church, with ERD help, has been able to offer aid ministries such as soup kitchens to help the migrants.

You can donate through the ERD website Episcopal Relief and Development https://www.episcopalrelief , give money through St. Mark’s, or send a check to the address below. Episcopal Relief & DevelopmentP.O. Box 7058Merrifield, VA 22116-7058

Also, please include ERD in your daily prayers.  This organization helps us to be Christ’s light to persons all over the world.

 

Judy Perkin, ERD Representative

ECW WINTER MEETING FEBRUARY 16, 2019

The Reverend Canon Dr. Allison DeFoor, Canon to the Ordinary, previously served parishes in four prisons in the Tallahassee area. He also served as an assistant at Grace Mission, an inner-city mission there. He has an extensive background in criminal justice, including service as a prosecutor, public defender, judge and was the elected Sheriff of Monroe County. A former law professor, he was the founding chair of the Project on Accountable Justice at FSU. He has degrees in law, criminology and theology. While Chair at Tallahassee Community College, he oversaw the opening of the first prison ever built on the campus of a community college. His real passion is for prisoners. (Luke 4:14 – 21). The focus for our meeting will be learning about the ministry and interaction of our diocese with the prison system in our area. This will also be our meeting to draw for the free ECW Retreat Weekend. St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church Women will host our meeting. St. Mark’s News

FOOD PANTRY  The Food Pantry remains in need of our continued support. Please remember to bring your donations on Sunday. The items needed most are cereal and peanut butter. If you are not able to bring in items, the Food Pantry will also accept checks made out to the Bradford Ecumenical Ministry or you can give cash/checks to the church in their name. Also, if you have a couple hours a week free time, contact Brenda Farnsworth at 904-263-0333. Help is always needed and much appreciated.

Kairos Prison Ministry“I was in prison and you visited me.” Matthew 25:36

Kairos is the Greek word for God’s Special Time. Kairos volunteers represent the Christian faith and come from many denominations, but present only those principles that all share in common. Kairos leadership is drawn from lay persons, although clergy play a vital role.

Men Team Members, both lay and clergy, are needed to help serve at Florida State Prison – West (FSPW). Our group draws members from Starke, Keystone Heights, Gainesville, and Jacksonville. We sponsor two 3 ½ day introductory weekends each year in FSPW, plus monthly reunions on the third Saturday each month. Team members, old and new, are trained before each Kairos Weekend at a series of team meetings.

Be a Prayer Partner: Kairos is totally dependent on prayer. Many who cannot serve on Kairos teams serve as active prayer partners. Kairos is entirely dependent on financial support from volunteers, churches, organizations and business groups.

If you would like more information about Kairos Prison Ministry, please contact Mike Goldwire in our Parish at 352.275.8531, or talk to him or Joe Lukas at church on Sunday.

Each Kairos weekend costs about $3,500 to $7,000 at no cost to the prison or individuals who attend. Your donation will allow us to share the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ with even more incarcerated men and women.

Please mail your donation to Kairos Prison Ministry International at 100 Debary Plantation Blvd., Debary, Fl. 32713, www.kairosprisonministry.org, or make checks out to St. Mark’s with the designation “Kairos”.

St. Mark’s News

St. Mark’s News

The MarksMen will resume a schedule of having a devotional breakfast at 9AM on January 12 (the 2nd Saturday), and hosting a Family Grill’nChill on January 28 (the 4th Monday) where EVERYONE is asked to bring their choice of meat & A FRIEND!  We’ll have a salad and potato, looking for a growing number to join us in fellowship of Christians... no hidden requirements, come as you are. *Time also to plan for our VALENTINE GALA - FEBRUARY 16... plans are to serve a special meal with ‘Love in the Air’ at 6PM for everyone willing to participate... a fun game will be played after the extravagant dinner is completed with fine desserts... RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: see Clay and select your entree... expected donation is $25-30/person (steak, lobster, flowers etc cost a little more).  It will be a joyful experience for both couples and singles, and proceeds will go to the ‘kitchen fund’ to help us better serve larger groups in the future. St Mark’s is growing in 2019 - treat yourself and your special one right here for a Valentine Treat!

Appreciatively,Clay

 

Individual Highlights:

In

Ultreya is a monthly gathering for Eucharist and fellowship after Cursillo. One does not have to have attended a Cursillo to go to an Ultreya. The next Ultreya will be at ST. ANDREWS, Interlachen on January 13th at 4:00 PM. Dinner will follow the service.

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CURSILLO:

Cursillo is a renewal weekend sponsored by the Episcopal Church. Please see Fr. Bert if you would like to attend.

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DOK Corporate Communion:

Cancelled for January.February 18th at noon for the next meeting.

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SANCTUARY CANDLE:

Sign up for the sanctuary candle by calling Barbara. The cost is $4.00.

ALTAR GUILD - JANUARY:

5/6 Marianne12/13 Bobbie Faye and

Mary Agnes19/20 Virginia26/27 Marianne~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

VESTRY MEETING:

January 13 after church

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VESTRY MEMBER FOR JANUARY:

Clay O’Neal~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Paint the Parish House:

We are almost there. You can still donate. With your help we can make it happen.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COFFEE HOUR TREATS:

Please sign up on the sheet in the Parish Hall for your turn to bring something to share after church.

For the month of October, income exceeded expenses by $5,439. We are only at 74% of our budgeted amount for the year. Please check your pledges to be sure you are up-to-date. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FLOWER CHART:

The 2018 Flower Chart is posted in the Narthex. Be sure to sign up for your memorials and thanksgivings! The cost is now $50.00. You may share the flowers with another if you wish.

FOOTNOTES

St. Mark’s News

As most of you know, I have sold my home and will be moving soon. I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to all who have submitted articles to the newsletter. Without your help, this newsletter would not have been possible. It is my hope that another will soon take over this project.

This is a time of adventure for me but also a time of sadness as I leave my family here at St. Mark’s. From the very first visit, you have welcomed me with open arms and I can never thank you enough for all your kindnesses to me and my family. Please know that I will take all of you with me in my heart. As often as possible, I will come back for visits.

So, with heavy heart, I say goodbye. God bless and keep all of you as I move forward to a new and exciting future.

Hugs,

Linda

St. Mark’s Episcopal ChurchP. O. Box 487

212 N. Church StreetStarke, Fl. 32091

PHONE: (904) 964-6126FAX: (904) 964-6288

Web site: stmarksstarke.diocesewebsite.org

E-mail: stmarks03@embarqmail.com