September 4, 2015
In This Issue
From the Junior Warden
From the Music Director
Youth & Family Ministry Update
Service Notes & Music
Sunday Service Schedule
About the Gospel
Quick Links
The Gospel According to St. Mark's
From Peter Sherer, Senior Warden
 
Some recent news.
 
The good news is that enough people have given me deposit checks for Claggett and that I can ask Claggett to send me a contract to lock in the June 11 and 12, 2016 dates. Many thanks to all and we are looking forward to a wonderful time with friends and family next year.
 
Andrew Stafford, our Treasurer, and the Finance Committee are working hard on a draft 2016 budget that they will finalize with Parish Managers in late September. This will enable Mike Townsend and Nora Howell to update canvassers on this year's canvass goal for October. Our canvass goal for next year will be higher than this year because we will have to budget for full-time salaries for the whole year for both the new Rector and for the Director of Youth and Family Ministries. This year these positions were not filled until June and August respectively so we were able to budget considerable salary savings.
The new Communications Working Group is concentrating on a series of important projects under the leadership of Martha Huizenga and Christina White. First up is their approval of a new information poster for the foyer that was designed by Stewart Andrews, Betsy Agle and a group including Pamela Blumgart, Edna Boone, Lucy Brown, Peter Hawley, and Bobbi Smith. You will see the results of their imaginative effort in the second week in September. The Working Group is now in the early stages of developing a strategy to overhaul the website. That will be a very important component of attracting new members and for keeping all of us up to date. Thanks to them for their hard work.
 
See you Sunday.
Peter
From Doris Burton, Junior Warden

I love visiting churches. The best experience I've had was at Trinity Church, off the U of Iowa campus. Even though it was late July, the little white, clapboard church was full (summer school), the service right out of the Prayerbook (I remembered all the prayers and responses!), the sermon thoughtful, the music wonderful (a small chamber orchestra and soloists from the faculty), and people much friendlier than most Iowans I've met. During the peace, people left the pews to greet and we were invited to coffee hour by nearly everyone.

The small parish hall was crowded: flowers on a table loaded with tempting goodies (I didn't get to eat a thing). We barely set foot into the room when we were welcomed, given a stick-on nametag, and as soon as my husband Jack and I mentioned our activities at St. Mark's, we were introduced to our counterparts, then handed from one parish leader to another, spending much of the time with the music director. Wow!
 
Coffee Hour: a usually fixed occasion of informal meeting and chatting at which refreshments are served (Merriam-Webster)
 
Two things are required: coffee and food.
 
For the past 9 months, Andrew Baisch, our Associate Rector Justi's husband, has set up coffee for 10:00 am; food has been frequently provided by Greg Smith. Jesse Babcock, Martha Connor Donnelly, Jim Steed, Ruth Hess, Charmaine Crawford or I have cleaned up after pub lunch or the 11:15 am.

We need help.

Kim Bayliss has volunteered to be one of 4-6 volunteers who set up the coffee-from the 9:00 am congregation. I've heard there is a plan for a group to rotate providing food at Sermon Seminar.

The fall pub lunch sign-up awaits your group. The 11:15am clean-up crew would like additional volunteers to reduce the load. We are all busy (and some are busier than others).

Can you help? Can you step forward just one Sunday out of 4-6 weeks to set up coffee for your community, or contribute to a welcoming table of food, or give up 20 minutes after to clean coffee thermoses and put things away?

Can you? Of course you can...

Now -- will you?
 
(p.s. Trinity + Coralville has 3 services, 5 priests, 2 deacons, a Director of Music, Parish Life Coordinator, 2 Administrators and a Sexton)
From Jeff Kempskie, Director of Music

Dear St. Mark's,

Now is the time to e-mail me and let me know that you're interested in participating in the music program at St. Mark's.  We always need fresh faces to join us each season to sustain the wonderfully high quality music-making that is such an important part of the Sunday morning worship services. 

Like to sing?  You could try out the Chancel Choir, which rehearses Thursdays from 7:30-9:30.  We especially need basses to sing at the 11:15 services.  Perhaps your child likes to sing.  Rehearsals for the Boys & Girls Choir will be on Sundays from 11-11:45am in the Elders' Room (beginning Sep. 13).  The Boys & Girls Choir Retreat, which includes a variety of fun activities, pizza, soda, and ice cream for lunch, and lots of rehearsing, will be this coming Saturday Sep. 12 from 10am-3pm.  Please RSVP.  Lastly, you might wish to give the Handbell Choir a try.  That ensemble rehearses most Wednesdays from 7-8:30.  No previous experience is required.  

Many people that come to me expressing an interest in singing, etc. do so with quite a bit of reservation.  I think people think "Will I be able to do this?  Am I good enough?"  Music-making definitely challenges us in many ways.  Nearly all the time, though, once folks start to sing with the choir, ring with the Handbell Choir, etc., they gain confidence and they realize they're having a lot of fun!  I am not making this up - this is what tends to happen.  Once again, if you are on the fence about participating in the music program here at St. Mark's, I strongly encourage you to get in touch with me.  I am confident that you will not regret doing so.

Peace,
JEFF
From Caroline McReynolds-Adams, Director of Youth & Family Ministries

Dear St. Mark's Youth and Parents,

You will be receiving a lot more communication and emails from me in the coming days as we gear up for the fall, but I want to make sure you have the following dates on your calendar:

September 13: Parish Picnic - Carnival Games!
September 19-20: Teen Retreat - Cascade, Maryland!
  • More information will be going out about this trip in the next couple days, but save the date for a fun, relaxing weekend in a beautiful country home!
September 27: Sunday School Open House!
  • This will be a time to meet your Sunday School teachers, fill out the registration forms, AND meet me to receive a packet of information about our 2015/2016 youth ministry programming! I will be in the Undercroft at the bottom of the stairs all morning.
As always, feel free to contact me with questions, concerns, or a coffee date!

-Caroline
 

Prelude
Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott (Come, Holy Spirit, Lord God)
     BuxWV 200, Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
                                                              
Opening Hymn
1 Father, we praise thee, now the night is over, Tune: Christe sanctorum
 
Offertory Solo
Wayfaring Stranger, Southern American Folksong, arr. Richard Walters
     Rob Hall, soloist                  
 
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
WLP 773 Heal me, hands of Jesus, Tune: Sharpe
Hymn 488 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart, Tune: Slane
Let Us Break Bread Together, Traditional Spiritual, arr. Moses Hogan
     Doris Summey, soloist
 
Closing Hymn
610 Lord, whose love through humble service, Tune: Blaenhafren
 
Postlude
Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet (Lord, we praise Thee, bless Thee, and adore Thee)
     Heinrich Scheidemann (1595-1663) 
Schedule of Services 
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
 

10:00 am Holy Eucharist + Laying on of Hands

The Reverend Michele H. Morgan, Presider

   

11:15 Sermon Seminar

The Reverend Michele H. Morgan, Preacher

 

5:00 pm Contemplative Eucharist

The Reverend Michele H. Morgan, Presider and Homilist

About the Gospel
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