The Online Lion from St. Mark's for January 30, 2011

St. Mark's Episcopal Church January 30, 2011
New Canaan, CT Epiphany IV

Annual Meeting of the Parish Sunday

New Member Sunday, January 23, 2011

We welcome you and your family to St. Mark's
If you are seeking a church home, we would be honored to have you as a member of our parish family. Please speak to one of the clergy, or be in touch with us during the week to find out more about us (contact information below).

This Sunday's schedule:
   8:00 a.m.     Holy Eucharist Rite I - chapel
   9:00 a.m.     Year of the Story
   9:50 a.m. Church School (PK3-5th)
10:00 a.m.     Holy Eucharist Rite II

11:15 a.m. Annual Meeting with Childcare & Children's Yoga

11:30 a.m.     Jr. High Youth Group and Confirmation Class
   2:00 p.m.     New Haven Symphony Children's Program
    4:00 p.m.    Sr. High Youth Group
   5:00 p.m.     Holy Eucharist Rite II

Nursery care is available for children under 3-years old from 9:00-11:45am in the nursery wing.

If you are interested in joining or finding out more about St. Mark's, please contact us or call the church office: 203.966.4515. Visit our website to learn more: www.stmarksnewcanaan.org. Click here to read/hear recent sermons and for the current newsletter, The Lion's Roar If you have a pastoral concern, please contact Mother Anne Richards or Father Peter Walsh.

Sunday at St. Mark's

The Year of the Story continues Sunday in Morrill Hall from 9:00-9:45am as we take a year-long mountain-top tour of the Bible! Each Sunday we discuss a major Bible story, beginning with Genesis and ending with Revelation. We are into the New Testament. Sunday, Fr. Peter discusses the Teaching Ministry of Jesus.

Click here for the syllabus.

The Annual Meeting of the Parish takes place this morning immediately following the 10:00 service. The meeting includes a State of the Church address by the rector during the service , reports by the Senior Warden and Treasurer, election of Officers, new Vestry and Nominating Committee members, and new Substitute Diocesan Delegates. All are encouraged to attend; children's yoga and light refreshments will be provided in Morrill Hall during the meeting. Click here for the candidate slate and bios.

Thank You to all those who have already committed to the 2011 Annual Campaign. To date over $1,209,184 has been pledged. If you haven't already done so, please submit your pledge card asap. Click to Pledge/Click to Pay

The Lion's Den Book & Gift Store has a music sale going which might help if you find you're a bit down from the winter blues. Stop by and check out a great selection of CDs at 50% off.

Foundations for Discipleship Class This is a class intended for newcomers and adults preparing for baptism or confirmation but open to everyone. The clergy leads 12 sessions spanning the program year at 11:15-noon in the Education Center. The class covers the basics of the faith including Jesus, the Bible, prayer, the sacraments, and church music. No Class This Sunday, we resume the following week; please come to the Annual Meeting.

The New Haven Symphony presents Greta's Dream, the second in a series of children's musical productions, at St. Mark's Sunday from 2-3pm. Children and adults will delight in this charming story and creative musical accompaniment. Prior to performance (1:30) children are invited to the "Instrument Discovery Zone" to see the instruments. Tickets are $15/adult, $12/senior, $5/child and may be purchased at the door.

Please keep the following people in your prayers:

Tyler Everett Austin, Capt. Samuel Booth, Patty Bozzella, Loretta Chappell, Jim Dwyer, Matthew Evans, Eugene Foley, Bill Laemmel, Laura Minchella, Ruthann Saphier, Pam Shea. We pray for those who have died, especially for George M. Cochran, father of Moffett Cochran and for Kempton "Tony" Dunn, husband of Ellen Dunn, father of Heather Drugge, grandfather of Grace, Frank, and Katherine Drugge.

Altar Flowers this weekend are donated to the Glory of God and in loving memory of:

Tim McLane and Betsy McLane McKinney by the McLane Family

Ralph L. Evans, Jr. by Patricia Milligan

Peggy Schaefer by her sister Jean and her nieces and nephew

Events & Announcements

Small Casseroles Needed St. Elizabeth's Guild is completely out of small casseroles for delivery to the sick. If you can bring in a frozen casserole or frozen soup(to feed 2-4 people), that would be great. Please bring to Thea in the parish office.

Youth Group Tackles Hunger in Haiti Through The Souper Bowl of Caring. Please come to church prepared to help the hungry and homeless in Haiti on Souper Bowl Sunday, February 6. Our 6th and 7th graders will be walking around in their football jerseys and asking you to show your generosity for those in need in Haiti. The media attention to this horrible tragedy has calmed down, however, their suffering is profound and long lasting. The need is still very great. The Souper Bowl of Caring is a national organization that was founded 20 years.

Sunday Morning Greeters Needed. Sign-up sheets are outside the library or contact Judy Webb with your availability, and she will sign you up. We need 2 sets of 2 greeters each week.

Hearts and Hammers Community Bridgebuilders Gala on Saturday, March 5 at the Habitat for Humanity

Greenwich Hyatt Regency. CB invites St. Mark's to this evening of dinner, dancing and silent auction. Proceeds go to the CB's sponsorship of the West Main Street project in Stamford. Tickets are $250/person. Contact the Church Office 203.966.4515 for more information and to reserve a place at a St. Mark's table. Tickets may be purchased or gifts to support this project may be sent to Habitat for Humanity CFC, 1542 Barnum Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06610 with Community Bridgebuilders in the memo line.

May Fair Furniture is Abundant This Season! With several households of furniture awaiting our pickup, we are in need of storage - barns, garages, basements, storage units. If you can, please help us store our White Elephants until May. Contact Dick DePatie 203.966.4515

Chocolate, Dessert and Wine Lover's Evening on Saturday, February 10, 6-9 at the Hilton Stamford Hotel. Enjoy music, food, and fun and the Valentine Gift Boutique. Proceeds benefit the Shelter for the Homeless in Stamford. Contact JoAnne Kennedy (jkenned@optonline.net) or at church today for advanced purchase tickets - $45 ($50 at the door.) Please visit the website for more information: www.shelterforhomeless.org/

Inclement Weather potential is upon us! In the event of poor weather, St. Mark's follows the New Canaan School closure policy - if the public schools are closed all our programs are canceled. The exception is that all worship services will be held. We ask that you use your best judgment and please be safe. When in doubt, check the phone message and website.

The Food Pantry is running low on supplies while the demands are increasing. Please help us restock our shelves with the supplies listed below. Donations should be brought to the Undercroft, down the ramp by the lower parking lot; food can be put on tables along far left wall of room.   Financial gifts should be made to Human Services of New Canaan with Food Pantry in the memo line.

Bottled Juice/Juice Boxes                              Coffee and Tea (regular or decaf)
Mayonnaise/Ketchup/Mustard/Cooking Oil    Canned Pasta/ Pasta Sauce
Salad Dressings                                             Large Snacks (pretzels, etc)
Hash/ Stew / Chili                                            Kids snacks (individually packaged for lunch)
Canned chicken (no tuna)              Toiletries - Hair Care, Dental Products

Children and Family Ministries Registration

In the Episcopal Church, all baptized children are invited to receive
the bread and wine of Holy Communion.

Church School begins at 9:50, and children rejoin their families for Holy Communion at The Peace. In the Episcopal Church

If you have questions about communion education at St. Mark's, please contact
Joshua A. Hill
Director of Children's and Youth Ministries.

Sunday in Children's Ministries:

All Children invited to Kids' Yoga in the library

during the Annual Meeting

Meet at Chapel Door during Dismissal Hymn

Church School:
    Godly Play (PK3-2nd): "The Parable of the Good Samaritan"
          Ask your kids about it.
    Weaving God's Promises (3-5th): "Jesus Heals the Sick"
          See what they remember!

Nursery Care is available every Sunday in the education wing from 8:45-11:45am for children up to 36 months.

Save the Date:

June 5th, 2011 after church, Morrill Hall:

GRATEFUL HEARTS: A Parish Banquet to Honor and Appreciate All Who

Minister with Children and Youth.

(Help Wanted, contact Josh Hill)

Youth Ministries Registration

Jr. High (6-7th Total Chaos in the Name of the Lord Amen) meets in the undercroft today after church.

Confirmation (8th &up): "Annual Meeting: The Nuts and Bolts of Church" finished at 1 in the library.

Sr. High (8-12th): Field Trip to NYC: Dinner and Priestly Ordination at St. James' Madison Avenue. Driving away from St. Mark's at 3pm, back around 9pm. Bring $25.

Save the Dates:

St. Mark's Episcopal Youth Community

Week Day Adult Education & Worship

Monday Class

"Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life" by James Hollis, PhD, is the focus of the current Monday class. Join Mother Anne and fellow parishioners (from all stages of life!) on Mondays from 9:15-10:30 in the Library as we discuss key life issues such as barriers to transformation, the dynamics of intimate relationship, recovering a mature spirituality in a materialistic age, the family during the second half of life, and career vs. vocation. Childcare provided. Please read chapter 6 ("The Family During the Second Half of Life") for Monday's class.

Wednesday Morning HE at 9:30 a.m. in the Chapel. Service of Holy Eucharist Rite II with Healing

Wednesday Morning Bible Study

continues in the Education Center from 10-11am. Bishop Grein is leading a study of The Gospel of Matthew. All are welcome.

Meditation Group

meets Thursday mornings from 9-9:30am in the Parlor in the Parish House. All welcome.

Bible Marathon Continues!

Here is an opportunity to read through the Bible cover to cover (that's right, every word) in six months (October-April). Mother Anne holds a time for discussion twice a month on Thursdays. Next discussion group is Thursday, Feb. 3 from 10-11am in the Education Center. The reading schedule may be found online:

www.stmarksnewcanaan.org/adulteducation.asp

Photo Gallery

*New Member Sunday, January 23

January 16 at Church