December 11, 2015 
In This Issue
From the Senior Warden
From the Junior Warden
From the Music Director
Service Notes & Music
Christmas Services
Sunday Service Schedule
About the Gospel
Quick Links
The Gospel According to St. Mark's
From the Reverend Michele H. Morgan, Interim Rector

This past Wednesday, December 9th, we had over 100 people come to St. Mark's. We were hosting members of the Newtown Foundation, as they got ready to spend the day working to change the hearts and minds of lawmakers about background checks and to continue their work on sensible gun laws.
 
They came from all over the country and 40 people came in from Newtown, Connecticut. They were members of families and friends of those affected by the massacre at Sandyhook Elementary School, as well as other senseless acts of gun violence. They came in and the over 37 St. Mark's volunteers did everything in their power to make a comfortable space for them as they started the difficult work of sharing their stories and advocating for change.
 
We served them lunch and they introduced themselves before they went to Capitol Hill to speak with lawmakers. For the next 50 minutes our guests stood and explained why they were there, telling story after story of the loss and damage that guns had brought into their lives.  It was as wrenching an experience as I could ever remember. The stories were of lost children, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, mothers, fathers and of terrifying moments in which they were sought out and shot. And we stood as witnesses to why these people had come together and why they were there to go and tell congress that Enough Is Enough.
I spoke at length with a woman from Minnesota who was committed to background checks because her severely depressed daughter bought a gun and two months later she ended her life, as her father and grandfather had before her. Her daughter should not have been able to pass a background check. It was sobering to hear this story. Congress can do better.  
 
We all came back to St. Mark's, had dinner together, and in some ways it felt very much like home as those gathered checked in and told stories of their day. We then gathered in the Nave for the vigil that remembered those lost or injured by gun violence each year and to pray for peace in their honor.  We had over 300 people to hear our Clergy, Interfaith leaders, Bishop Mariann and Valerie Jarrett (from the White House Staff), and too many people who stood up and told their stories of being shot, witnessing their loved one shot, or having to deal with the wreckage.
 
We had one more day with the Newtown folks as they held a press conference on Thursday, finished signing a banner for the folks in San Bernardino; watch a screening of the documentary, Armor of Light with the filmmaker, Abigail Disney, and the main subject of the film, The Rev. Rob Schenck. When folks were leaving I was told over and over again that we made them feel at home and safe when they were out in the world feeling vulnerable. Justi and I want to thank all the volunteers for making that happen, and being present to a group of people who would just as soon not be gathered because of the tragedy that brought them together.
From Peter Sherer, Senior Warden

A Very Important Weekend - Please Think about Attending   

The Christian Education Weekend is January 8-10, 2016. It is a chance to have a frank and creative conversation about what role we expect education to play in the spiritual development of our children and ourselves. Catechesis has a strong curriculum for our littlest ones but our approach to older children, teens and adults needs to be rethought.
 
The Vestry identified Christian Education as one of the twelve major challenges facing the church. The question now is what approach to education are we going to recommend to our new Rector? When the Rector asks early in the new year "what is important to preserve about the way you have approached Christian education and what are you willing to change"? What will be our collective answer?
 
This is not something that our faithful Co-Directors Joe Calizo and Lucy Brown can answer alone. They need the thoughtful participation of people who have been in the education program a long time and people who are newer to the church to help them discern our collective commitment. This is an opportunity to make an impact on an aspect of our life together that has mattered to us all and which we want to pass forward to newcomers by way of faithful stewardship.
 
I urge you to rearrange your life and priorities to be available to contribute to the conversation in early January. As the Co-Directors describe the weekend they said "The future of our signature education programs is at stake....In changing times how do we make all of our programs compelling, engaging and relevant?  Please plan to be at the weekend with your ideas."
 
Peter Mosely and Kitty Donnelley two very experienced teachers will lead the weekend. Please respond to Joe Calizo at jcalizo@gmail.com or Lucy Brown at lucybrown66@gmail.com so they can reserve a space for you.
 
Thank you for considering this important work. 
 
Hugs
 
Peter
Around the house... from the Junior Warden Q&A, part II
 
4. Why isn't there a bulletin board for sign-ups in the foyer? Vision2020 made a deliberate decision to eliminate the messy, over-loaded, and often out-of-date-filled cork boards from the new foyer. We settled on the acrylic panels for announcements and clipboards for sign-ups to maintain the clean lines of the design. The panels are easy to use and available to any one/group. Thus far, one clipboard has always been empty but I hear complaints that they're easily over-looked. The current practice of taping a sign-up sheet to a panel is not satisfactory either, as it's hard to write on them. A proposal for some kind of sign-up board in the foyer has been submitted to the Fabric Committee and we are going to look at options.
 
5. How does my group get to hang something on the foyer or Baxter Hall walls? There's no schedule or system as it's new so one will be developed over time.

The current boards were designed by (a) Who we are by the Communications Working Group and (b) Strategic Plan boards by Shrine Mont on the Hill (those went up this week). They requested the access to the space from me.

Nothing stays forever so should you want to exhibit or display on any of these art-hanging walls, contact me or a member of the Fabric Committee.
 
6. Why can't we hang stuff on the brick wall in the foyer? The wall, which dates to 1926, was not restored during the recent construction so the mortar is very unstable. It was suggested to V2020 that we have the wall 'sealed' but we made a deliberate decision to leave it in its historic form. I'm not sure what would happen if we start hammering or screwing things into the bricks. Please treat it as 'historic' (which it is) and enjoy the contrast with all the 'new'.
 
Before you install anything anywhere in the building, please contact either me or the Fabric Committee.
 
Gutters: Wagner Roofing notified me this morning that this work is nearly complete. On Saturday (Dec 12) or Monday, they will do the repair to the east gutters so that sidewalk will be closed between 7:30am and 4pm on Monday. Please use another entrance to the building.
 
From Jeff Kempskie, Director of Music

Dear St. Marks,

All are invited to attend the St. Mark's Winter Music Studio Recital, featuring voice and piano students of all ages, this Saturday Dec. 12th at 11:00am in the nave.  A reception will follow the recital.

Also, please join us on Wednesday Dec. 16th for Carols & Cocktails (and Mocktails).  Social time begins at 6:30pm and singing takes place between 7 and 9:30pm.  We'll sing many of your favorite Christmas Carols (we take requests) while having the opportunity to socialize and enjoy a variety of snacks and beverages.  Please bring a drink or snack to share or $5 to help cover costs.

Peace,
JEFF
 
Prelude
O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Veni, Emmanuel, setting by Bradley Sowash (b. 1960)
 
Opening Hymn
14 Soon and Very Soon, Words & Music by Andrae Crouch
 
Canticle 9   Ecce, Deus
 
Sequence Hymn
(9:00) Prepare Now a Way for the Lord
(11:15) 76 On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry, Tune: Winchester New
 
Offertory Anthem
(9:00) Once in royal David's city, Tune: Irby - Boys & Girls Choir; Elizabeth Rivera, director
Rejoice in the Lord always, Anonymous 16th Century - Chancel Choir
 
Presentation Hymn
56 O come, O come, Emmanuel, v. 7 Tune: Veni, veni, Emmanuel
  
Sanctus S 124 From New Plainsong, David Hurd          
 
Fraction Anthem S 154, From New Plainsong, David Hurd

Music During Communion
(9:00) Light One Candle, Natalie Sleeth
(9:00) Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus, Janét Sullivan Whitaker - Boys & Girls Choir; Elizabeth Rivera, director
O come, divine Messiah! 16th-century French carol, arr. Howard Helvey - Chancel Choir 
What Child Is This? Greensleeves, arranged by Lloyd Larson - Handbell Choir
Hymn 68 Rejoice! rejoice, believers, Tune: Llangloffan
 
Closing Hymn
72 Hark! the glad sound! the Savior comes, Tune: Richmond
 
Postlude
The King Shall Come, Consolation, setting by David N. Johnson (1922-1987)
Christmas Service Schedule

Thursday, December 24
 4:00 pm   Christmas Pageant + Family Eucharist 
                   Reception follows

  9:30 pm   Congregational Caroling
10:00 pm   Festival Eucharist

Friday, December 25 
10:00 am  Holy Eucharist

Sunday, December 26
10:00 am  Lessons & Carols + Holy Eucharist 
Schedule of Services 
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Third Sunday of Advent
 
9:00 am Family Eucharist
The Reverend Michele H. Morgan, Presider
The Reverend R. Justice Schunior, Co-Presider

10:00 am Sermon Seminar
The Reverend R. Justice Schunior, Preacher 
 
11:15 am Holy Eucharist
The Reverend Michele H. Morgan, Presider
The Reverend R. Justice Schunior, Co-Presider and Preacher 
 
5:00 pm Contemplative Eucharist
The Reverend R. Justice Schunior, Presider and Homilist 
About the Gospel
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