August 28, 2015 
In This Issue
From the Senior Warden
From the Junior Warden
From the Music Director
Service Notes & Music
Sunday Service Schedule
About the Gospel
Quick Links
The Gospel According to St. Mark's
From the Reverend Michele Morgan, Interim Rector

"Open the windows of your imagination, for a new wisdom is about to fly into your life. It will be coming unexpectedly. It will appear like a revelation, even though the threads of this story are old and tangled. Like a watchman, you have kept the issues and the personalities before you, considering them over and over. Now they will fall into place, connecting the dots of your hope, showing you for the first time what tomorrow will look like. Be up and moving. Be prepared. A new wisdom is about to fly into you life: stand on the edge of what you know and look for the light just beyond." ~ Stephen Charleston
 
So I have popped home for a few days to take care of some business, see some friends, check in on the Minnesota Twins and to take a day at the Great Minnesota Get together (the State Fair).  I am staying at the house with my god daughters (number 10 and 11) and this is the second morning that I have seen them get ready and get themselves out the door to the bus.  Now it feels like fall.  
 
There is something about the rhythms of life that can take me back in time to look at the patterns of my life, see what is there and then look anew.  Bishop Charleston is saying that live a life that is examined, look and do not be burdened by past.  Look ahead and see what is waiting for you.  
There is something about the rhythms of life that can take me back in time to look at the patterns of my life, see what is there and then look anew.  Bishop Charleston is saying that live a life that is examined, look and do not be burdened by past.  Look ahead and see what is waiting for you.  
 
Last fall as I started as the Interim Middle School Chaplain at Breck School, I was excited and terrified.  I had taught but not in the same class for a whole semester.  I was pretty sure that all the ghosts of my middle school would come at me like a mac truck and do me in.  I had some of the same experiences that I had as a 14 year old, including a 7th grade girl tell me that what I was wearing was sad and I should be ashamed of it.  Yet it was a reframing of my past experience in a very powerful way.   I learned a lot, I did a whole lot of new things, and tried to laugh at myself more, (the benefit of repeating middle school at 51 years of age). I finished my year and was new and shinny for what awaited me. 
 
So as we end August, and September is looming, what new wisdom is about to fly into your life and what will you do with it?  
 
Be well,
Michele 
 
From Peter Sherer, Senior Warden

A Few Updates
 
Hi All,
 
I am continuing to look for deposit checks for Claggett. We need about 15 more people to give me a $50 check for an individual or $100 for a couple so that we can sign a contract locking down June 11 and 12, 2016. Please bring a check with you on Sunday or put a letter in the mail.
 
The Christian Education Co-Directors, Lucy Brown and Joe Calizo are looking for people to teach this year. If there is a course you want to develop and teach please contact them soon so they can include you and your idea in the course catalog.
 
Lisa Ramish and her 20s and 30s co-conspirators are planning the Parish Picnic for September 13th. If you want to help her create a fun event feel free to contact her.
 
See you on Sunday.
 
Hugs,  
Peter
From Doris Burton, Junior Warden

From the book of Genesis: The Lost Chapter
 
1
On the eighth day, after a good and well-deserved rest, God, looking down upon the earth, recalled a small tree covered with red berries. 2On a whim, God plucked the berries, roasted and ground them, poured hot water over them and lo! God created 'coffee'.
 
3But brewing the beverage and cleaning up after took more time than God had to give. She found so many other problems on the earth to deal with that she asked the Man she had created, "Would you roast, grind, and brew the coffee?" And the Man, after tasting the brew, immediately said "Yes, Lord! Coffee is so good, I will do this!" And God asked the woman, "Would you clean up after the brewing?" And the Woman agreed, reluctantly, because she was already cleaning up after the Man but had went along with the plan as she was his helpmate and said, "Yes, Lord." And the Woman sighed.
 
4Months later, the woman named Eve, called to God, "Lord? Why do I have clean up the coffee mess all the time?" And the man, named Adam, also called to God, "Lord? Why do I have to pick, roast, grind, and brew all the time?" And God pondered their questions. But still they did as God asked.
 
5Time passed and Men and Women populated the earth. Adam and Eve had been providing coffee for so many and for so long because God had blessed the people with many varieties of coffee trees and the Men and Women had become very attached to the delicious brew.
 
6Finally, Adam and Eve called to the other Men and Women, "Will you brew the coffee? Will you clean up the coffee?"
7And none said yes.
8So Adam and Eve went back to God and said, "We're tired of doing all the work to produce and clean up the coffee when all these others are drinking it and doing nothing to help. We're not going to pick or roast or grind or brew or clean up any more."
9And God said, "Lo! I gave you coffee but did not do so to enslave you. I also made water for you to drink and that will just have to do until other Men and Women want coffee so badly that they agree to help." Yet none came forward.
 
10And it came to pass that coffee disappeared from the earth for many, many years.
From Jeff Kempskie, Director of Music
 
Dear St. Mark's,
 
Please consider joining us for the last Summer Choir of the season this Sunday, August 30th. We'll warm up and rehearse starting at 9am in preparation for the 10am service. We have two lovely anthems planned - Mendelssohn's beautiful "Grant Peace We Pray" and an arrangement titled "O Breath of life" which is based on an English folk tune. This is a perfect opportunity to sing with very little commitment or to see if you might want to join the choir this fall. All ages and levels of experience are welcome.
 
While I have your attention, I also want to invite you to participate in the music program at St. Mark's this fall!  The Chancel Choir season begins this coming Thursday, Sep. 3 with a 7:30-9:30pm rehearsal in the nave.  Among other things, we're singing Paul Winter's Missa Gaia (Earth Mass) this fall!  The Handbell Choir will begin rehearsing on Wednesday, Sep. 9 at 7pm downstairs in the Elders' Room.  No prior experience is necessary.  The Boys & Girls Choir (open to children in grades 1-8) kicks off the season with its annual retreat on Saturday, Sep. 12 at 10am and will likely rehearse in the Elders' Room on Sundays from 11-11:45 thereafter.  You may also contact me to arrange to sing a solo or play an instrumental piece from time to time.  The biggest step is in reaching out and letting me know of your interest!
 
Please note that we are especially in need of basses (the lowest men's voice part) for the Chancel Choir at the 11:15 service. Paul Bugge, our one and only regular bass at the 11:15 service (and a strong one at that) has moved out of the DC area. We absolutely need all four voice parts covered. You will be hearing more about this, particularly if no one comes forward! Again, I encourage you to give it a shot - it's so much fun to sing!
 
Peace,
JEFF
 
Prelude
What Wondrous Love Is This, Southern Harmony, arr. Craig Phillips (b. 1961)
 
Opening Hymn
439 What wondrous love is this, Tune: Wondrous Love
 
Sequence Hymn
656 Blest are the pure in heart, Tune: Franconia
 
Offertory Anthem
Grant Peace, We Pray, Felix Mendelssohn, arr. Carl Schalk - Summer Choir                   

Presentation Hymn
705 v. 3 adapted, Tune: Forest Green
 
Sanctus
S 130 from Deutsche Messe, Franz Schubert; arr. Richard Proulx
 
Fraction Anthem
S 164 from Deutsche Messe, Franz Schubert; arr. Richard Proulx
 
Music During Communion
LEVAS 178 Sweet Hour of Prayer, Words: William Walford,
     Music: William B. Bradbury
O Breath of life, Words by Bessie Porter Head
     Traditional English, arr. Alan Bullard - Summer Choir         
 
Closing Hymn
LEVAS 188 It Is Well With My Soul,
     Words by Horatio Spafford, Music by Philip Bliss
 
Postlude
It Is Well With My Soul, Philip Bliss, arr. Craig Phillips
Schedule of Services 
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
 

10:00 am Holy Eucharist 

The Reverend Josh Thomas, Presider 

 

11:00 Sermon Seminar

The Reverend Josh Thomas, Preacher

 

5:00 pm Contemplative Eucharist

The Reverend Josh Thomas, Presider and Homilist

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