The Gospel According to St. Mark's

Angela Nedd's last day as our Parish Administrator for Programs and Facilities is today. Angela has been a strong and reliable presence over the past few years during our most chaotic times - construction, a new facility, and a rector's retirement. We wish her the best in her future endeavors!

Meet Diana Church

The most recent addition to the St. Mark's staff team, Diana Church serves as the Parish Administrator for Programs and Facilities. With a professional background in philanthropy and fundraising, she is eager to use her project management, customer service and organizational skills. In addition, Diana continues in her role as capital campaign consultant for the Episcopal Church Foundation. Prior to joining St. Mark's and ECF, she managed a government grants portfolio for a faith-based humanitarian aid organization and served as program officer for a family foundation. A lifelong Episcopalian, Diana is an active volunteer in her home parish of Christ Church Capitol Hill and the Diocese. In her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, she served on the search committee for the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky. She holds a BA from Sweet Briar College and an MSc from the London School of Economics. When she has free time, she enjoys competitive swimming, knitting and all things DIY.

From the Vestry

Everyone who volunteers at St. Marks does it in a different way. We'll share some of their stories in the upcoming weeks. But each person knows that volunteering is giving the gift of you to the church.

From Jim Steed

"It's now been a year since my vestry term ended. I still think the work our vestry did together is one of the most meaningful things I have done in my 46 years at St. Mark's. Sometimes a vestry must make "great" choices, as our current vestry is now doing in selecting a new Rector. But much of any vestry's work is to be faithful to its routine obligations because, though routine, those obligations are what enable us to function. I can't say I was never bored, or annoyed, or that I never behaved unhelpfully [though I hope seldom, please God]. As a group the vestry bonds together. Certainly I came to know my colleagues better than I could likely have done in any other activity.

The vestry is not a place for headliners or champions of a single, great issue. Rather, it is a place for learning-again-that even in wonderful, unusual places like St. Mark's 90% of life is still about showing up. IF you can do that, then you have what it takes to serve; and I hope you will."

From Peter Sherer, Senior Warden

Rector Search Update

The Vestry continues to evaluate the candidates presented by the Discernment and Search Committee. The snowstorm delayed some key activities until after transportation improves. We will be in a position to report further progress in mid-February. In the meantime we appreciate your continued support and patience.

Hugs

Peter

From Doris Burton, Junior Warden

Around the House...

Notes from the Junior Warden

Snowmageddon, Snowzilla... it was Havoc on the Hill! And...without the generous labor of Jeff Kempskie, Marika Klein, and Jessie Babcock (who also hired a 'local'), getting to church last Sunday would have been impossible. The JW is very grateful to people who step up and do what is needed to get critical things done. Removing 20+" of snow from our sidewalks was not done as quickly as I'd hoped but then, it didn't happen quickly anywhere. Thanks also to Keith and David of Green's Maintenance who worked on snow piles to enable staff to park in our lot.

TRAVEL AND PARKING NOTES:

Please be aware: driving in the city is still tricky: As of today, 3^rd and A Streets are single-lane, corners still piled with snow (be careful when turning), and lots of cars still not dug out. If you can walk to church, please do so: that will free the limited street parking for those who cannot. Nonetheless: you are not excused from coming to church!

Our parking lot clear enough but we are short 2 spaces (due to snow piles-do wear boots). You cannot park on the brick driveway. You can park at National Capitol Bank (continue down 4^th, turn right immediately after CH Presbyterian Church, thru the alley to the NC Bank lot.) The walk thru the courtyard is snow-covered but other walkways are open. Independence Ave, a snow-emergency street, is the clearest for parking but likely residents have gotten there first.

After church,if you have time: drive by the RFK parking lots to see what's been removed from DC streets so far: a sight to behold!

Important News from the Fabric Committee:

As many of you know, Edwin Green has cared for our property for 30+ years, first as a sexton, then as the owner of Green's Maintenance, his cleaning contracting company. The Vision2020 project that significantly expanded and reconfigured our building significantly increased the demands on his personnel.

One goal of V2020 was to make our new space available as rentals to the community. These changes increased the demands for cleaning and maintenance and brought higher expectations for cleanliness. Rental events often run into the late evening requiring coverage for security, late-night re-sets and cleaning, as well as more work during the day.

Since September, for example, we have had a group of 3-year olds in our nursery three mornings each week and a home-school consortium in the Undercroft each Tuesday. I receive as many as four rental requests each week: most are rejected for myriad reasons (unlicensed kitchen, scheduling conflicts, cost) but this gives you an idea of the interest in our space: each requires added demands of our maintenance staff and attention beyond our needs.

Last winter, Michael Summey (Junior Warden, '13-'15) and Nora Howell (Vestry & Fabric Committee) began the long and daunting task of re-working the expired contract into a new one that would lay out the expectations we have for the care of our new space. The Statement of Work/Maintenance Rhythm, part of that contract is posted on the bulletin board in the lounge for you to see those tasks in detail.

The new contract was signed July 16, 2015, for a 6-month trial period because we needed to collect data while determining the areas we overlooked or needed to adjust.

The Fabric Committee Working Group (FCWG), a subcommittee created to carefully follow the progress of the new contract, then began considering whether to open bidding on this work. It was a difficult decision as we have a long history with Green's Maintenance; yet, we knew competitive bidding would assure us that the work will be performed at a reasonable cost and the workers will be paid a fair and living wage in accordance with the standards set by the Episcopal Church of the U.S., the Federal and city governments.

On January 28, we issued a Request For Proposal to four companies that have expressed an interest in working for us: Green's Maintenance, two recommended by Community Purchasing Alliance which we joined last year, and a business that inquired at our office. The responses are expected by February 29 after which the FCWG will make a recommendation for

hiring.

If you have questions or concerns about the process, please contact me.

Lastly, at Sunday's Vestry meeting, we will be voting to name the nursery, so far undedicated, in honor of the late Margaretta Trusheim. She was an long-standing member of the Altar Guild beginning in the late 1950s, but her prime love was for the children of St. Mark's: Jane Miller, who submitted this request, reports Margaretta "took it upon herself to care for all the children on the then-monthly Communion Sundays (the others were Morning Prayer) so that the mothers could attend the service...it was de rigeur ...for anyone with a new baby to take that child to Margaretta as soon as possible... "

Signage for all our dedicated spaces is moving forward and we hope to have them in place late spring.

From Jeff Kempskie, Director of Music

Dear St. Mark's,

Please join us for a lovely Choral Evensong Service sung by the Chancel Choir on Sunday, February 7th at 5:00pm in the nave. The Magnificat & Nunc dimittis will be by Gerald Near and the anthem will be "Transfiguration" by Craig Phillips. A small reception will follow the service. If you're planning to watch the Super Bowl that evening, know that the service itself will finished by 6:00pm. That should hopefully allow enough time for you to get home (or wherever) and still see the opening kick off if that's your thing.

Looking ahead, the Cantate Chamber Singers will be presenting a unique concert at St. Mark's on Saturday, February 27 at 5:00pm. Cantate will collaborate with the Bowen McCauley Dance Company ("Metro D.C.'s premier contemporary dance company," the

Washington Post) for a spirited joint performance of Brahms's Liebeslieder Waltzes as well as the premier of newly commissioned choreography to Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb. Cantate will also perform Bach's double choir motet Singet dem Herrn. General admission tickets are $35, $15 for students. A reception will follow the performance.

Peace,
JEFF

From the Reverend R. Justice Schunior, Associate Rector

Friends,

It's hard for me to believe, but Lent begins in just a week and a half; Ash Wednesday this year is February 10. I'll have more to say about this season that can be both challenging and invigorating for our spiritual lives, but now I just wanted to give you all a heads up about a particular Lenten practice.

The Liturgy Planning Team (LPT) strives to create worship that is beautiful, meaningful, and illuminating. During Lent, we believe that fewer words, more silence, and less busyness helps us live into the season. Last year we had a Lenten fast on oral announcements. To some, this was a wonderful idea that made the service more spiritual and less like a marketplace. For others, it cut off a crucial and lively way to communicate important events in the parish, especially the many important events that happen around Holy Week and Easter. This year we've attempted a compromise: We will have no oral announcements on Lent 1 (February 14) or on Lent 4 Laetare Sunday (March 6). Of course, every Sunday we will still have written announcements.

I hope this advance warning of when we will have oral announcements and when we wont' helps your planning and communication. If you need my help to get the word out about an important event, please let me know. I also hope that our announcement fast days helps your mind rest a bit from the demands of a busy church and our busy lives.

Peace,

Justi

Service Notes and Music

Prelude

He Comes to Us as One Unknown, Repton, arr. Robert J. Powell (b. 1932)

Opening Hymn

522 Glorious things of thee are spoken, Tune: Austria

Sequence Hymn

440 Blessed Jesus, at thy word, Tune: Liebster Jesu

Offertory Anthem

He Comes to Us as One Unknown, C. Hubert Parry, arr. John Ferguson

- Chancel Choir

Presentation Hymn 119 v. 1, adapted, Tune: Dix

Sanctus S 128 William Mathias

Fraction Anthem S 152 Ambrosian chant, adapt. Mason Martens

Music During Communion

I Sat Down Under His Shadow, Words from Song of Solomon 2.3-4

Music by Edward C. Bairstow - Chancel Choir

The Greatest Of These Is Love, Words from 1 Corinthians 13.1-13
Music by Rene Clausen - Marjorie Coombs Wellman, soloist

(9:00) This Little Light of Mine, African American Spiritual

Closing Hymn

530 Spread, O spread, thou mighty word, Tune: Gott sei Dank

Postlude

Trumpet Tune in E-flat (Homage to the 18^th century), David N. Johnson (1922-1987)

Schedule of Services

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Third Sunday after Epiphany

9:00 am Holy Eucharist

The Reverend Michele H. Morgan, Presider

The Reverend Rebecca Justice Schunior, Co-Presider

9:00 am Children's Chapel

The Reverend Rebecca Justice Schunior, Leader

10:00 am Sermon Seminar

The Reverend Michele H. Morgan, Preacher

11:15 am Holy Eucharist + Laying on of Hands

The Reverend Rebecca Justice Schunior, Presider

The Reverend Michele H. Morgan, Co-Presider and Preacher

5:00 pm Contemplative Eucharist

The Reverend Michele H. Morgan, Presider and Homilist

About the Gospel

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