The Gospel According to St. Mark's

i'm crying.

i'm scared.

i'm okay.

i'm alive.

i'm reminded of my calling.

i'd forgotten its essence.

to be a saltier tear.

to be a sweeter honey.

to be a sharper blade to cut more deftly to the quick.

to be a keener lens, mirror, and connector for the Divine.

to be more me so you can be more you.

to be less me so She can shine through.

- roger wolsey, July 21, 2016

From the Reverend Michele H. Morgan, Priest in Charge

A few weeks ago, we announced that this coming Sunday we would hold a "pop up" discussion about open communion and the language we use to invite folks to the table. The plan was to hold this discussion during the sermon seminar hour. However, given the difficult week - two funerals, saying goodbye to two beloved members - it seems best to postpone the discussion. Know that we believe this topic to be vital to our common life together and that we look forward to listening and sharing thoughts. Likely, this discussion will happen in September. Stay tuned!

From the Reverend R. Justice Schunior, Associate Rector

Friends,

Take a look at this picture from just a few months ago at the Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence last December. Our Nave is full of people - parishioners, elected leaders, travelers from all over the United States. We were all gathered together to mourn the thousands killed by gun violence in the years since Sandy Hook and gather strength to change laws and hearts.

In just a few months, we will host the vigil again - this time on the anniversary of Sandy Hook, December 14 at 7:00 pm. St. Mark's has the privilege of welcoming guests who will use our space over the course of two days; inviting local leaders and interfaith voices; planning music and writing prayers.

If this was an important event for you; if this an important cause for you, I ask you to come to a meeting this Sunday at 12:30 in the Rector's Room (downstairs) for an informational meeting about this year's vigil. I'd love to hear your thoughts about why this important and how we can be welcoming and I'll share with you the basic steps we need to take between now and December. If you cannot join us but would like to be invovled, please contact me at justi.schunior@stmarks.net.

Peace,

Justi

From Doris Burton, Junior Warden

Around the House...

At the Vision2020 dedication, Sept '14, the Bishop blessed each new space. Our kitchen has just had its first real 'test': two weddings, a crab feast, and two funeral receptions in the space of four weeks. We learned what works, what doesn't, what supplies we have too much of or not enough of...how the space works when there are many 'cooks'...and that it takes a lot of attention to clean up and return things to their proper place when finished (and I'm open to a Kitchen Manager...excellent pay!)

As I head off for 2.5 weeks (Fabric members will be filling in), "Take care of the kitchen!" is my one plea. I ask that you put things back where they belong, once used and washed: please DON'T leave things on the sink or shelf drains, put knives in the fork cups, extra supplies behind 'for someone', small amounts of food in the fridge on a plate for 'the angels' (who wants a spoonful??), a half-used bottle of water in the fridge 'for later', soiled/wet/used dishtowels/pot holders behind (take 'em home, wash 'em, and bring 'em back), crumbs on the counters (for...roaches? Ants? Someone else to wipe up?), if you spill something, please clean it up--completely...

Please...

I also leave you with a some environmental thoughts, for our house and, I hope, yours:

1. Plastic cutlery is no longer welcome in our kitchen. Once the current stash is gone, we have stainless, biodegradables, compostables...so if you need cutlery, please use what we have or ask me to replace what you used. Buying from the JW is cheaper and more responsible than from Costco.

2. Plastic-coated plates and plastic cups are no longer welcome in our kitchen. Once the limited supply is gone, we have glassware (for small gatherings-and a dishwasher just for them, to boot), and compostable cups; ceramic for coffee and compostable hot cups (when Jane Byrne isn't available) and Chinet plates.

3. Think about what you can do to be more 'green':

A. Stop buying bottled water: re-usable water bottles with tap water are the 'in-thing' (and remember to take yours home from church)

B. Stop using plastic straws (my latest 'soap box'): 6,263,319 plastic straws and stirrers were collected from America's beaches in the last 25 years. When you go to a restaurant, specifically say "no straws, please". Each day, Americans use 500,000,000 straws...enough to fill 46,400 school buses or wrap the earth 2.5 times per day! Most are made of polypropolene, from the same byproduct that fuels your car. These also end up in those disgusting garbage patches floating in the oceans. No more plastic straws!! (Did you know there's a compostable straw?? Google it!)

C. Nail polish and remover are considered 'hazardous waste' and should be disposed of in the same manner you dispose of oil paint and similar substances.

D. Unused hand/body lotion should be poured into the trash and the container recycled.

When we hold large food events, please pay attention to which bucket you are using for trash: blue for recyclables (cans and bottles) and the trash for food, plastic and compostables (they'll break down). We no longer use Styrofoam but that's just a start. The more each of us does, the better job we do for St. Mark's and our planet.

Finally, I would be remiss to not acknowledge a major contribution of the late Crane Miller, Junior Warden from 1976-77 (who then served as Senior Warden, '77-'79). Those were simpler times for the JW-we didn't own Baxter House or have the undercroft and everyone and everything was in the contained space of the old foyer and parish hall (except the pub, in the old crawl space). That does not diminish the work he did to keep our facility going. And--once a JW, always a JW. Crane remained curious and concerned about the building. When the future of Vision2020 was in doubt, it was Crane, then Treasurer, who reminded the Vestry about to decide our future, that we are a community of faith and it was one of those leaps we must take. And so, Vision2020 moved forward. Thank you, Crane.

Service Notes and Music

Prelude

Children's Song No. 4, Chick Corea (b. 1941)

Opening Hymn

516 Come down, O Love divine, Tune: Down Ampney

First Reading

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23

(9:00) Sequence Hymn

510 Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, Tune: Saint Agnes

Gospel

Luke 12:13-21

(9:00) Procession to the Baptismal Font

LEVAS 134 Take me to the water, African American Spiritual

Offertory Solo

Mein gläubiges Herze (My faithful Heart), Johann Sebastian Bach - Marjorie Coombs Wellman, soloist

Presentation Hymn

665 All my hope on God is founded, vv. 1-3, 5, Tune: Michael

Sanctus & Fraction Anthem Peter Crisafulli

Music During Communion

Hymn 302 Father, we thank thee who hast planted, Tune: Rendez à Dieu

Bist du bei Mir (If You Are With Me), J.S. Bach - Marjorie Coombs Wellman, soloist

Closing Hymn

594 God of grace and God of glory, Tune: Cwm Rhondda

Postlude

Children's Song No. 6, Chick Corea

Schedule of Services

July 31, 2016

The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

9:00 am Holy Eucharist + Holy Baptism

The Reverend Michele H. Morgan

The Reverend Rebecca Justice Schunior

9:00 am Children's Chapel

Ms. Caroline McReynolds-Adams

10:00 am Sermon Seminar

The Reverend Rebecca Justice Schunior

11:15 am Holy Eucharist

The Reverend Michele H. Morgan

The Reverend Rebecca Justice Schunior

5:00 pm Contemplative Eucharist

The Reverend Rebecca Justice Schunior

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