Contents; JUNE 2004

Next month deadline for submissions is Sunday, June 20^th

Dear People of God,

I think I often tell you what a generous community I believe St. Mark’s is. Whenever there is a need, be it locally as with 2nd Harvest Food Bank or globally with our companion church, St.James the Apostle in Ecuador, this community responds immediately and generously. Knowing that, I should not have been surprised by the baby shower you threw for Zella Anne. And yet knowing something and experiencing that very same thing can be radically different. Amy and I were - are - simply overwhelmed by your generosity, by your care for us. One meaning of the word generous is “to give liberally, in abundance”. Your giving to us was most abundant indeed. We had felt all along that our needs (and wants) would be met, but the outpouring of gifts, of celebration, of prayers and good wishes has been beyond all that we could ask or think. We rejoice to be in this church, for ourselves, feeling your love and support and for Zella, knowing that she will grow up surrounded by your care and love. We also trust that over her life at St. Mark’s she will be taught (by experts) how to practice generosity and caring love. For this also, we thank you.

Thank you.

Peace,

Amy,Battle & Zella

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Prayer for the 175^th Anniversary of the

Diocese of Tennessee

O God, by your grace you have called us in the Diocese of Tennessee to a goodly fellowship of faith.  We thank you for your presence with us since our founding in 1829.  As we celebrate our 175^th anniversary, continue to inspire our witness to your Son Jesus Christ, that all may know the power of this forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection.  Bless our Bishop, Bertram, and other clergy, and all our people.  Grant that your Word may be truly preached and truly heard, your Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received.  By your Spirit, fashion our lives according to the example of your Son, and grant that we may show the power of your love to all whom we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

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                                                          ClAM

     (Celtic Prayer)

Circle me, 0 God

Keep Hope within,

Despair without -

Circle me, 0 God

Keep Peace within,

Keep turmoil out —Circle me, 0 God

Keep Calm within,

Keep storms without —Circle me, 0 God

Keep Strength within, Keep weakness out.

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Vestry Profile – Lesley Branch

     Welcome to another edition of Meet Your Vestry.  My name is Lesley Branch.  If you don’t know me, you probably know my parents, Pat and Les Worsley.  We’ve been attending St. Mark’s since I was 5 years old, and I just can’t imagine my life without the St. Mark’s community.  St. Mark’s is more than our church – it is our family.

     When I was nominated to be a Vestry member two years ago, I was very honored to be asked.  Serving on the Vestry has provided a great opportunity for me to learn more about the workings of St. Mark’s.  My time on the Vestry has shown me that the Vestry is greatly involved in the business part of the church, but that’s just one tiny aspect of St. Mark’s.  It’s the entire congregation that makes this church such a special place.

     I’ll never forget Margie Boutwell, my first Sunday School Teacher, first communion classes with Father Kochtitzky, or EYC trips with Nancy Hopper and Tony Debboli.  Some of these names may not be familiar to you, but they are part of the history of St. Mark’s.  And they are a part of my history.  These people, and many, many others, have helped shape me into the person I am today.  It is impossible to put into words the impact St. Mark’s has made on my life. 

     It is the history and family at St. Mark’s that drives me to be a Vestry member, acolyte, nursery worker, etc.  It is my love for this church that makes me want to volunteer my time and talent.  I know many of you feel the same way.  If you have any suggestions on how to improve our little “House on the Hill”, please speak with me or any other Vestry member. 

            Thank you so much for the opportunity to serve.  I look forward to continuing serving for the rest of this year, and through 2005. 

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June Birthdays

Maria Christensen         3

Max Torlay                  7

David Winters              9

Amy Newman              16

Will ClenDening            19

Jim Hall                        20

Rachel Robnett 20

Cathey Gwyn               22

Suzie Abrahamson        24

June Anniversaries

Bob & Linda ClenDening                      8, 1996

Ann & Norman Baker                          19, 1949

Rebecca & Phillip Simpson                   22, 2002

Dean & Becky Meyer                          25, 1977

Pam Carr-Brannon & Frank Brannon   27, 1992

Thom & Holly Granger             28, 1986

Rebecca (Simpson) graduated from MTSU this week.  Rebecca has completed her student teaching and has passed 2 of the tests for state certification.  She still has 2 tests to take.  She is hoping to find a position teaching 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade in the Rutherford County or Murfreesboro City school systems. 

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Father Battle Beasley

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

3100 Mufreesboro Road

Antioch, Tennessee 37013

Dear Battle:

You and your parish have been faithful supporters of the Campus for Human Development and our ministry to homeless people in Nashville. You have offered shelter and fellowship through your Room In The Inn partnership with St. Ignatius and have donated more than $150 worth of clothing and telephone cards to Spanish-speaking participants. I also read the article in the Cross and Crozier about your collection of used backpacks for homeless people. Your parish may be small in number, but it is certainly mighty in heart.

In an action typical of your generosity, St. Mark’s opened its doors to the Day Team from the Campus and allowed us to meet for an all-day retreat there. The church and grounds provided an ideal setting for our retreat; we spent the day in reflection about our work and were able to make some plans for the future. We appreciate your hospitality in letting us share the beautiful and sacred space you all have created at St. Mark’s.

Thank you, Battle. Please express our gratitude to everyone at St. Mark’s. May God continue to bless you and your parish.

Wishing you peace,

Mary Wilder

Day Team Leader, Campus for Human Development

CELEBRATE (CONT’D)

Susie McEwen recently spent the weekend in Ohio with her parents for a special occasion.  Mr. and Mrs. Forest Sands celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows in the church Susie grew up in, Hebron Christian Church.  Her father had also attended that church since he was a baby.  A reception followed the Sunday morning service in the basement of the church.  Susie's brothers also attended, Steve and Sharyl Sands with their daughter, Melissa, and Doug and Lisa Sands with their sons, Jacob and Aaron. The 4 families represent a total of 144 years of marriage. Also in attendance were a couple that Mr. Sands had “stood up” with at their wedding 60+ years ago and with whom he served in the Coast Guard during WWII.  This was a great surprise.

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COMPANIONS IN CHRIST

You may or may not have heard the phrase Companions in Christ being spoken around St. Mark's.  This is a 28-week small group experience in spiritual formation.  It is an individual journey in your own spiritual development, from wherever you are---searching, struggling, stuck, or just being ready to move on to the next phase---whatever that may be.

If you interested in experiencing this journey or just curious, please talk to any one of those who have already embarked on this journey: Mary O Benedict, Iva Kurz, Shelley Wise(Davis), Lorna Noren, Dan Benedict, Greg Noren, Jacquee Parris, Liz Gilliam, George Noren & Pam Carr-Brannon.

A new group will begin September 10, 2004. If that seems like a long way off, remember how quickly time gets away from us.  If you are remotely considering this, please let Pam know, as plans need to be formulated regarding meeting times (the possibility of a day time group if enough are interested) & materials to be ordered.

Pam Carr-Brannon

OUR COMPANION DIOCESE

Do you know that we sorted and packed 50,000 one-a-day vitamins into 30-day packets as a gift for our Companion Church, Santiago Apostle? Essentially, this represents about a year’s supply for that whole congregation. About 25-30 people worked on Sunday, May 23 during the Sunday school hour and after the 10:30 service to accomplish this!  WOW that was efficiency at its best!  Thanks to each of you who helped.  Frank and Pam Brannon and George Kurz are taking about half of them to Ecuador when they go June 2, 2004.  The delegation that goes in September will take the rest.

T H A N K S    SO    V E R Y  M U C H !!

Your companion church committee will host St. Mark’s Third Annual Ecuador Dinner Saturday June 27^th in Reynolds Hall at 6:00p.m.  Plan to come.  There will be a wonderful South American Menu and a surprise dessert…made with something Holly Granger and Elizabeth Gregory bought on their 2003 trip!  Pam Carr-Brannon will tell us about her experiences on her June 2004 trip to Ecuador.  It’ll be fun and relaxing (and a great way to learn more about our Companion Church and life in Ecuador).  There is no charge. 

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 DANCE, DANCE, DANCE!!

Have you always wanted do learn how to dance?

Have you danced in the past and would like to get back into it? Do you just want some exercise that is not the hum-drum routine of aerobics or the treadmill?

Well, beginning on Monday, June 28, 2004 you can!  I will be starting a tap and ballet dance class that will meet every Monday from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm for adults.

Whether you are a beginner or advanced, if you have never danced and would like to, if you just want a fun kind of exercise then come one come all!  Don’t worry whether or not you have dance shoes.  Use a hard soled shoe for tap and your socks for ballet.  It is going to be very, very informal.

Remember, this is just for fun.  We are not the Boston Ballet or the Rockettes.  It is just a way to get the blood pumping and the blood pressure lowered!

Lorna Noren

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CHURCH TYPOS

The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment and gracious hostility.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn sing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.

The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

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The Light in the Tree

Walking through the forest, I saw a light in a tree.

How long, I wondered before it would flee?

It seemed to know me and want me to stay.

Is this even possible, it’s the middle of the day!

It danced and it pranced as if it had life

A soul? lost or found? Was I seeing it right?

I wonder who else has seen this great sight

Is it always here, both day and night?

I reached out to touch it but it flitted away

Just teasing me, making me want to stay

And watch and wonder how it got here

What does it want? Will it talk, will I hear?

All at once it was gone and I didn’t know why

But I followed the way it was leading me by.

It led to a church on the top of a hill

It looked so friendly, so quaint and so still.

I met some nice people who welcomed me in

Who didn’t care who I was, was I good, did I sin?

The following Sunday I went there again,

I loved it and felt loved again and again.

And there, at communion, I saw the great light

It was the paschal candle reflecting so bright,

On the window and there just beyond in the wood

Was the tree where I found it, so tall where it stood..

Was the light that I saw in the woods on that day,

A sign from God that led me this way?

It was so real a spirit, so happy and free,

Did I find God or did God find me?

An original poem by a parishioner

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