GOOD NEWS
 February 2007

LIFE TOGETHER

 First of all, a big THANK-YOU to everyone who worked to make our Christmas celebrations a wonderful and glorious offering to God. The Children’s Pageant will remain with us for a long time. The cast was enthusiastic and a delight to watch. The choir, the Altar Guild, ushers, greeters, acolytes, lectors, and everyone involved, including our parish staff, contributed to the success of this important season. The story of our faith was told in its many dimensions, and we are all grateful.

 Now that the New Year is upon us Lent and Easter will come before we know it. Ash Wednesday is February 21st, and marks a time, as the Book of Common Prayer says, to invite you, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.

 On that day the Ash Wednesday Liturgy will be at 9:00 AM and at 7:00 PM. On Thursday during Lent we will have a weekly program of Bible Study preceded by a light supper at 6:00 PM. Our study will focus on selected Scripture passages for the following Sunday. Child-care will be provided. Each evening we will end no later than 7:45 PM. We have invited parishioners from St. Matthew’s Church. West Barrington, to join us.

This year’s Confirmation and Inquirers’ classes will be led by the Rev. Judy Mitchell and held at St. Matthew’s Church, West Barrington. This is a fine opportunity for anyone who is interested in learning more about the Christian faith and practice, and the history and experience we all share as members of the Episcopal Church.

 There will be six sessions:

  1.  January 25, What Happened in the Reformation?

  2. February 15, How Did We Get To Be  Episcopalians?

  3.  March 1, Sacraments- What Are They?

  4.  March 15, What’s In The BCP?

  5.  March 29, What’s Going On In The Church Today?

  6.  April 12, How Will I Be Confirmed Or Received?

 All sessions will be from 7-8:30 PM. Telephone or email the church office to register.

 May God’s peace and blessing be with you.

                                  The Rev. David A. Ames

 

ANNUAL MEETING

Sunday, January 28th is our annual meeting.  We will have only one service at 9:00 AM. 

The meeting will start after the service. Church School at 9:00 AM that day and childcare will be available during the Annual meeting

LENTEN BIBLE STUDY

Join us on Thursday nights beginning February 22nd for a light supper and Bible Study. A time to come together to reflect on passages chosen from the scripture readings for Lent. Supper starts at 6:00 PM followed by Bible Study.

Childcare will be available during the study. Please look for a sign-up sheet to help with the meals. The meal can be soup or sandwiches, something light and easy.

 

FROM THE SENIOR WARDEN

Once a year we gather as a parish to reflect on the past year and to talk about the upcoming year (I like to call it the coming-together of 8 o'clock and 10 o'clock Nations). Some people in our parish have never missed an Annual Meeting, others have never been.

If you're in the latter category, I encourage you to join us on Jan. 28th (combined 9 a.m. service, meeting to follow) to offer your thoughts about where St. Mark's is headed, to observe, or maybe to ask a question. In addition to passing a budget for next year and electing new leaders, we will be talking about the ministry we have in Riverside and how it relates to other parishes in the region.

While we came in with a ``balanced budget'' this past year (and will propose a near balanced budget for 2007) - it was made possible by taking nearly $30,000 out of savings this year to do it and was based on employing a part-time priest. This year we will be drawing on an annuity to help bridge the gap, but the reality is, we are a parish with full-time needs, but part-time resources. Where that leaves us several years down the road is some of what we need to talk about.

As usual, we will have childcare available, so please make every effort to join us - and as many like to say around election time - you can't complain if you don't vote - or at least participate. Hope to see you on the 28th.
                                                 Jim Hummel

FROM THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT

 We welcome Mr. Adam Schneider as our new Organist/Music Director. Adam comes to us from St. Peter and St. Andrew’s Church where he has been the organist and choir director. Prior to that he was the organist and choir master at Trinity Episcopal Church, Stoughton, Massachusetts. A life-long Episcopalian Adam has preformed with the Master Class, American Guild of Organists, and he has participated in the Leadership Program for Church Musicians.

CHOIR MEMBERS WANTED

Do you enjoy singing?  We wish to increase the number of voices in our St. Mark's Choir. The Choir supports the congregation in worship and is itself a fine opportunity for friendship and celebration.  Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings at 7:00, and the Church service is at 10:00 on Sunday mornings.  If you are interested call the Church office at 433-0211 or speak to our Organist/Music Director Adam Schneider on a Sunday morning. 

EVENSONG

Evensong is a sung form of the Service of Evening Prayer that dates to the time of Thomas Cranmer and used in the late afternoon or evening.  It was originally formed by combining the Monastic offices of Vespers and Compline.   Choral Evensong from the Book of Common Prayer is a magnificent offering of corporate worship because of its greater musical provision. Our next service of Evensong will be on Sunday afternoon, February 25th at 4:00 PM.

 

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN

The Episcopal Church Women of St. Mark’s work tirelessly behind the scenes to help with many of our parish programs.  With bake sales, the annual bazaar, and outreach to those in need they have supported our ministry and mission in many valuable ways.

Younger women are needed in order to maintain the important work of the E.C.W. Meetings are on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM.  If you are moved to exercise your ministry in this way. Please contact the E.C.W. President, Linda Lawson at 433-4918. 

 

ST. MARK’S YOUTH GROUP

At Christmas time we went caroling through the neighborhood with the help of Deb Pfanstiehl.

 We stopped at Ray & Eleanor Gadouas, Habor View Manor, Riverside Square (to many beeps and honks of delight to people passing by), Mike Rossi, and Todd & Barbara Hoskin’s homes.

This year the Youth Group has a busy schedule. They are cooking dessert for Meals on Wheels, going to a hockey game, and holding another rock-a-thon to raise money.  We thank the church and the parents for all your support. 

 We meet on Sundays at 3:00 PM till 5:00 PM.  If we are cooking for Meals on Wheels we meet Friday nights at 7:00 PM.

Youth Group Leader

Sue Rossi   

WHAT’S COMING UP AT ST. MARK’S CHURCH

 Vestry Commissioning: Sunday, February 4th during the 10:00 AM service. We hope all new Vestry members will be able to attend. 

Pasta Supper: Join us for a fun evening on Saturday, February 10th at 6:00 PM. Tickets are $5.00 and children 5 and under are free. The menu is pasta, meatballs, salad, and rolls with ice cream sundaes for dessert.

 Family Sunday: February 11th at the 10:00 AM service.

 Rock-A-Thon: The Youth Group will be holding a Rock-a-thon on Friday, February 16th at 7:30 PM till 7:30 AM to raise money for the Youth Group. Last year they raised $525.00 and we are hoping that we can beat  that this year. 

Shrove Tuesday: The annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper will be held Tuesday, February 20th at 6:00 PM. Donations are greatly appreciated to help feed everyone.

 Ash Wednesday: Services of Holy Eucharist with the imposition of ashes on Wednesday, February 21st at 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM. Choir practice will be held at 8:00 PM that night.

 Lenten Bible Study: Thursday’s February, 22nd through March 29th at 6:00 PM. Light supper and childcare will be available.

Evensong: So many people enjoyed this service that we have scheduled another one for Sunday, February 25th at 4:00 PM. Childcare will be available provided by the Youth Group.

 

MANY THANKS

I couldn’t let another month pass without formerly commuting to the congregation my deepest and most sincere gratitude for the wonderful gifts showered upon me that last Sunday. All of you went far beyond your means and certainly well past the quiet send off I had requested. Thank you, Thank you!!                                                        John Dimeo

Happy Birthday to:

Unc Allen, Barbara Anderson, Devon Aparicio, Barbara Cloutier, Barbara Gaboury, Bruce Humphreys, Diane Hurd, Vera Lord, Judy Ouellette, Dylan Pacheco, Shannon Silvia, Joyce Smith, and Tyler Williams

DAFFODIL DAYS ARE COMING

On Sunday, February 18th & 25th Connie Pascale will be selling daffodils for the shut-ins and anyone else that would like to buy them. On Monday, March 19th at 7:30 AM we will need volunteers to wrap and deliver them. This is to help the American Cancer Society. Thank you to all who help with this outreach program!

LABYRINTH TALKS

Our Interim Rector, The Rev. David Ames will give the first lecture in a series at the Church of the Redeemer, 655 Hope Street, Providence, on February 14, 2007 at 7:30 PM.  The title of his talk is Re-Introducing God.

 The purpose of the Labyrinth Series is to explore a variety of arguments and perspectives to increase people's interest in, and awareness of, the reality of God. We hope this series will be especially attractive to those in our broader community seeking to know God but not knowing how or where to begin the journey.

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Link to 2006 News Letters