Friday, February 20, 2015 
In This Issue
From the Reverend Justi Schunior
Service Notes & Music
Sunday Service Schedule
About the Gospel
Quick Links
The Gospel According to St. Mark's
From the Reverend Justi Schunior

Friends,

"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."
The Book of Common Prayer, 265
Yesterday, our bishop, Mariann Budde, gathered the clergy of the diocese to discuss substance abuse in the church in light of the actions of Heather Cook, Suffragan Bishop of Maryland. On December 28, Bishop Cook struck and killed a cyclist while driving drunk and texting. She had previously been arrested for drunk driving under very disturbing circumstances. It's unclear what the search committee knew about this arrest and what kind of treatment, if any, she was receiving for alcoholism. For those you who may not have been following the case, the Episcopal Cafe has ongoing coverage here.
There was a lot to talk about, much more than we could possibly cover in four hours. Our topics included an overview of addiction and recovery, the stigma and shame that prevents people from getting and receiving help, Diocesan support for clergy and congregations, and church practices around alcohol. It was generally noted that the Episcopal Church tends to be an alcohol saturated environment, but we also have a longstanding relationship with AA and many people in recovery report feeling warmly welcomed in our congregations.

St. Mark's has done some good work. We offer grape juice at all of our Sunday services - this sounded revolutionary to some clergy yesterday. Even moving the pub from the basement to the Parish Hall has the benefit of keeping our alcohol use in the public eye as opposed to hidden away. But the tragedy in Maryland is a good opportunity to reflect on what we can do better. Popular events like "Beer and Hymns" and our "Holy Happy Hour" after the 5pm service prominently feature alcohol. No one seems to think that turning the church into a dry campus is the answer, but there might be ways that we can be more welcoming to those who are in recovery or those who are trying to de-emphasize alcohol in our social gatherings. As we enter a time of transition and prepare for a new rector, it is good to look at our communal practices.

Also, as we begin Lent, we all do well to examine our addictions (we're all addicted to something), our coping mechanisms, our driving habits, and the ways we care for ourselves and each other. Please keep the Palermo family (who lost a son, husband, and father), the Diocese of Maryland, Bishop Sutton, and Bishop Cook in your prayers. 

In other news, I am pleased to welcome the Rev. Josh Thomas as our preacher and presider this Sunday. I'm taking a little time off for retreat and rest and will not be present for Sunday services. Josh is a gifted preacher and we are fortunate to have him with us over the following couple of months on most Sundays as well as some time during the week. He can be reached at St. Mark's at josh.thomas@stmarks.net. 

Peace,
Justi

P.S. It looks like this extreme cold weather is coming to an end. But winter is always a very hard time for the homeless. If 

If you see someone who is homeless or in need of shelter, call the Shelter Hotline: 1-800-535-7252. For more information please visit the DC Department of Human Services website.

 

Prelude

Meditation on Aberystwyth, Edwin T. Childs

 

The Great Litany  S 61 

 

Offertory Anthem

If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee, Wer nur den lieben Gott, Setting by Jody W. Lindh - Chancel Choir                 

                                              

Presentation Hymn

313, v. 4, Tune: Jesu, meine Zuversicht

  

Sanctus  Russian Orthodox Tone 1, arr. Richard Proulx

 

Fraction Anthem  Agnus Dei after Alexander Archangelsky, arr. by Richard Proulx

 

Music During Communion

LEVAS 227 We Shall Overcome, African American Spiritual

Hymn 147 Now let us all with one accord, Tune: Bourbon

 

Closing Hymn

143 The glory of these forty days, Tune: Erhalt uns, Herr

 

Postlude

Allegro from Voluntary II, John Stanley

Schedule of Services 
Sunday, February 22, 2015
First Sunday in Lent
 

9:00 Holy Eucharist

The Reverend Josh Thomas, Presider

   

9:00 am Children's Chapel

Ms. Emily Williams Guffey, Leader

 

10:00 am Sermon Seminar

The Reverend Josh Thomas, Preacher

 

11:15 am Holy Eucharist with Incense 

The Reverend Josh Thomas, Presider and Preacher

 

5:00 pm Contemplative Eucharist

The Reverend Josh Thomas, Presider and Homilist

About the Gospel
St. Mark's uses a third-party vendor to send emails to parishioners, friends, and neighbors who have signed up to receive the weekly Gospel newsletter.
You are receiving this email because you expressed an interest in St. Mark's by completing a Newcomer's Card at a service, attending an event, or asking to subscribe.

If you no longer wish to receive this weekly newsletter, please click "SafeUnsubscribe" at the bottom of this message. Your web browser will open and a page on our vendor's website, Constant Contact, and will ask you to verify the address you want removed from this list. Type in your email address, press the yellow button that says, "Yes, Unsubscribe Me," and our mailing list vendor will automatically remove your email address.

If you do want to receive this weekly email, but want it to be sent to a different email address, please click "SafeUnsubscribe" below, and then go to the St. Mark's Gospel webpage to enter the email address at which you'd prefer to receive the Gospel.

The Gospel is archived online at http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs180/1108958702238/archive/1116389439140.html.