From the Reverend Justi Schunior, Associate Rector
At the December 13, 2015 DC MD VA Orange Walk to End Gun Violence
Friends,
On Thursday, June 2, people around the country (and a couple of us outside the country) will wear orange as a sign of their support and commitment to curtailing gun violence. The Wear Orange movement began when fifteen-year-old Hadiya Pendleton was shot and killed in 2013. A Chicago native and majorette, Hadiya had just been in Washington DC the week before performing at President Obama's inauguration. Her friends chose to wear orange to remember her life because orange is the color hunters wear to stand out in order to be safe. June 2 is Hadiya's birthday.
I encourage all of you to wear orange on June 2 as a sign of your support for common sense solutions that will save lives while maintaining our civic right to protect ourselves. Wear orange if you agree that the lives we lose every day to gun violence is a horrific waste and a tragedy and that we can do better. If it's comfortable for you, please take a picture and share on social media with the hashtags #WearOrange #Episcopal. I'll be wearing orange in whatever city I'm in (various strikes are making our vacation travel plans a bit messy) and sharing on St. Mark's Facebook Page and Instagram Page - St.MarksDC.
Wear orange again on Sunday, June 5. Episcopalians, including our own bishop, will be joining us. And I have a brand new orange stole to wear for the occasion. You can read about the orange stoles HERE and you can read Bishop Mariann's reflection HERE.
St. Mark's will once again host the Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence this coming December 14, the actual anniversary of the Sandyhook massacre. We will once again be in the spotlight as supporters of those who experienced the worst kind of tragedy and yet continue to work to ensure that no one else endures that tragedy again. June 2 and June 5 is another opportunity to show our commitment to those who have needlessly lost loved ones.
Peace,
Justi
From Peter Sherer, Senior Warden
Dear Ones,
A couple of things on my mind.
Last Sunday
Can you imagine being a visitor last Sunday and seeing us outdo ourselves at the service and afterwards? I would come back for sure.
I want to thank David and Stephanie Deutsch for planning such a wonderful baseball themed lunch. Not only did they organize the lunch, but because it wasn't in the church budget, they underwrote the cost of the lunch themselves. Way above and beyond the call and we are all grateful to be able to mark an important milestone in Michele's tenure with us. You two are heroes.
All Parish Retreat at Claggett Last Call
Kit Arrington is collecting money from people who have registered to go to Claggett on June 11 and 12. Please send it to her and mark your checks "Claggett" in the memo line or see her after church on Sunday. We now have over 120 people going and if you want to ride the free bus please let Kit know soonest so we know what size bus to order. Big fun is guaranteed.
From Doris Burton, Junior Warden
Around the House...
News you can use: The kitchen is moving toward being as green as possible. Now that the dishwasher is usable again, we're back to our regular cups/dishes/stainless for coffee hour and pub lunch. We have been using Chinet plates (compostable) and going thru the plastic cutlery that regularly piles up in the kitchen.
Soon to go into effect is the move toward all compostable or biodegradable supplies. Once all that plastic ware is gone, we'll use cutlery made from sugarcane when we can't use the stainless. Renters are required to purchase thru us or purchase their own biodegradable supplies. When the plastic cups are gone from the pub stash, those waiting for action are also biodegradable.
This also means-if you are holding an event of any kind in the building, please do not buy plastic ware, plastic coated plates, plastic cups.If you don't want to wash dishes, you can order what you need through the Junior Warden and simply pay the pub account instead of Costco. Plus: you're doing something good for the environment. Next Sunday, June 5, the ice cream social planned by Christian Ed followed this procedure and supplies will be in place for them. We currently have a huge stash of paper plates with a variety of designs (loads of Christmas plates) so please use them up to make room for the compostable supplies.
Garden In 2000, the courtyard, formerly covered in wood-chips (from the days of a Head Start program) was turned into the garden you see today. A team carefully selected the plants, had the Celtic cross installed, tilled the soil and planted. Over the years, as plants died, whomsoever (including yours truly) plunked a plant or a tree wherever to honor someone but with no thought to the original design. As JW, I am committed to going back to that design bit by bit. Should you want to add something-in honor of, in memory of, etc., please contact me. I have the original plant list and will appreciate additions being chosen from that list instead of whatever. As plants die, they'll be replaced by what belongs there.
Garden II: As you are working in your own garden this summer, take note of what needs thinning. The courtyard has too many Japanese iris, the daylilies need to be thinned...same for some of the Hosta. In the fall, I hope to have a 'plant swap' where we can all share what we have in excess.
You may have noticed we have a new tree from the city in one of the sidewalk tree boxes: it is a Burr Oak and will live for 100-200 years, grow to 80' with a 10' canopy. It will be here for the 250th!
A Street Parking is the name for the garden along A St that appears has been abandoned. Not so. While it's in pretty awful shape, there are plans for a new installation so please stay tuned.
Volunteers welcome We still need a few people to take care of the garden weeding this season. Most of the courtyard has 'a' volunteer but each could use help and the garden along the building is crying out for care. Please contact me if you could spare some time to weed throughout the summer.
From Jeff Kempskie, Director of Music
Dear St. Mark's,
Please join us on Sunday June 5th at 5pm for a Choral Evensong Service sung by the Chancel Choir. This beautiful, meditative service, an example of the rich Anglican choral tradition we inherit as an Episcopal church, will include Preces & Responses by local composer Gary Davison, canticles by Walmisley, a delightful a cappella anthem by Alice Parker & Robert Shaw, organ works by Herbert Howells and William Mathias, plus hymns and service music. A reception will follow in Baxter Hall.
Mark your calendar on Wednesday June 8th for Hymns & Hoopla! Formerly known as Beer & Hymns, this fun evening will provide an opportunity to sing some of your favorite hymns while sampling a variety of beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks) in addition to tasty snacks and treats. Social time begins at 6:30 and the singing starts at 7:00. Feel free to drop in anytime - we'll wrap up by 9:30. Also, this is a fantastic opportunity to invite a friend to St. Mark's! Please e-mail me if you'd be willing to help by bringing a more substantial food item or an attractive non-alcoholic beverage, which we can reimburse you for.
Just a little further down the road, St. Mark's will host a series of early music concerts collectively known as "Baroque Bonanza II" beginning June 17th. You can view the complete list of performances here on the St. Mark's website.
Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ (I call to you, Lord Jesus Christ), BuxWV 196, Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
Opening Hymn
372 Praise to the living God! Tune: Leoni
Gloria in excelsis John Rutter
Offertory Anthem
Cantate Domino, Hans Leo Hassler - Chancel Choir
Presentation Hymn
380 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow, v. 3 alt. Tune: Old 100th
Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation, Amen, Fraction Anthem Peter Crisafulli
Music During Communion
(9:00) Something's Got a Hold On Me
Love is Little from Shaker Songs, arr. Kevin Siegfried - Chancel Choir; Adam Caughey, soloist
Hymn 507 Praise the Spirit in creation, Tune: Julion
WLP 773 Heal me, hands of Jesus, Tune: Sharpe
Closing Hymn
423 Immortal, invisible, God only wise, Tune: St. Denio
Postlude
Magnificat Primi Toni, Dietrich Buxtehude
From the Church Office
Summer Service Schedule...aka there is no summer service schedule!
For the past several years, in July and August, we have moved from two morning services to one service at 10:00 am. Lots of us go away on vacation for part of this time; the choir takes the summer offl; and sometimes, for large stretches at a time, there is only one clergy person. This is why we made the change in the past.
However, as we focus more and more on how we can grow our church and be welcoming to new people, we have decided to keep all three services throughout July and August. While there's no hard data that proves that when churches cut services, membership declines, there is strong anecdotal evidence for it. The diocese tells us that when they've tracked ANY kind of service changes in the few parishes they have tracked, they all resulted in near term attendance loss.
When services change, the challenge isn't for the committed few, it's for the rest of us mortals. Most families need months to get into a new routine, and summer brings enough change without also changing church time. And for the newcomer, it can be a disaster -- they either don't come because of the new time (not realizing it will soon be the old time), or they come and start to build an expectation about it and then are asked to change that expectation before they've become committed. These are reactions we want to avoid.
So, this summer, keep coming to church! We will have offerings for children and families all summer long (Summer Sunday School; Children's Chapel; Family Services). If one of the things you liked about combined services was the chance to meet new people and worship in a different way, consider visiting a new service for a few weeks. There may be a few less people in the pews, the choir may not be leading us in music every week, but St. Mark's is open for business all summer long!*
* of course there are some exceptions. On special days of celebration or when we expect many folks to be away we will have one morning service at 10:00 am; the 5:00 pm service will continue as normal.
Upcoming 10:00 a.m. Morning Services:
June 12 - All Parish Retreat
July 3 - Fourth of July Weekend
July 24 - Crab Feast
September 11 - Kickoff Sunday and All Parish Picnic
October 2 - Earth Mass & Blessing of the Animals
Schedule of Services
Sunday, May 29, 2016
The Second Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 am Holy Eucharist
The Reverend Michele H. Morgan, Presider
9:00 am Children's Chapel
10:00 am Sermon Seminar
The Reverend Michele H. Morgan, Preacher
11:15 am Holy Eucharist
The Reverend Michele H. Morgan, Presider & Preacher
5:00 pm Contemplative Eucharist
The Reverend Michele H. Morgan, Presider & Preacher
About the Gospel
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