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"St. Mark's Newsletter"
| February 2005 |
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
3100 Murfreesboro Pike
P. O. Box 741
Antioch, Tennessee 37011
615-361-4100
615-361-4100
“We at St. Mark’s are on a journey seeking God in you, ourselves and all creation”
Sundays 8:00 AM Holy Eucharist
9:15 AM Sunday School
10:30 AM Holy Eucharist
2nd Sunday 9:00 AM Breakfast
Wednesdays 6:00 PM Centering Prayer
7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal
Fridays 8:00 PM AA Meeting
Saturdays 8:00 AM Centering Prayer
The Right Reverend Bertram Herlong Bishop of Tennessee
The Reverend Battle Beasley Rector
Frank Brannon, M. Div. Pastoral Care Coordinator
George Kurz Senior Warden
Greg Hall Junior Warden
Karen Seufert & Les Worsley Treasurers
Lesley Branch Clerk of the Vestry
Next month deadline for submissions is Sunday, February 20th
Dear People of God,
As you read this, Lent is just around the corner. Don't forget Fat Tuesday
with all the non-fat pancakes you can eat! The season of Lent always seems
to be a Pilgrimage in and of itself. It's a time when we all make promises
or commitments to take on some new discipline or to give up some habit
of heart, mind or body that we believe is detrimental to our continued growth.
I want to invite you to look at Lent not simply as our journey to Easter but as
our walk deeper into the awareness of God's presence in our lives. Lent is a time
to practice our faith more fully. To lend ourselves to God for God's purpose.
If you are at all like me you find yourself much of the time deciding what God
wants from you and then trying to accomplish just that. What I believe we are
called to do is to simply offer ourselves to God and let God use what we do,
who we are, as God wills. The difference is our deciding versus our letting
God be and do through us. In contemplative prayer it is the notion of simply
resting in God. It is trusting God to be active not by force of our wills or our activity
but in our willingness to be available to God, for God.
This does not mean that we stop our activity, that we stop trying to discern
God's work for us; it does mean that we begin to resist judging our work in
an attempt to ascertain what we have accomplished. It means we begin to live
out our trust that God is working through us to accomplish what God desires for
us and for the world. Trusting that is happening whether we can tangibly recognize
the results or not.
It has been my experience that the more I am willing to "rest" in God, the more aware
I become of what I am truly being called to do and the more aware I am of God's
presence and activity in me, through me and around me.
Have a Blessed Lenten journey.
Peace,
Battle +
Contact us:
St. Mark’s Website – http://www.stmarksantioch.org
The Reverend Battle Beasley via email: pathwayspartners@yahoo.com
Electronic submission to the Gryphon’s Roar: submitgryphon@aol.com or nanaljn@aol.com
THE GRYPHON
The Gryphon is the newsletter of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and as such welcomes articles and suggestions from ALL parishioners. This is your venue for expressing thoughts you would like to share, important events in your families’ lives, suggestions you might have to make our parish life better. Please do not hesitate to use it.
Lorna Noren,
Editor
St. Mark’s Cottage Groups
Last year at the annual vestry retreat, it was discussed on how the St. Mark’s community could continue and enhance their warm, friendly and inclusive atmosphere. It was decided to initiate small groups where members and friends of St. Marks could get to know each other even better. As Father Battle talks about – we are pilgrims on a journey together and our cottage groups are a way to experience our journeys together on a monthly basis.
The vestry members took the initiative to start a small social group. Each group decides what they want to do socially and how often they want to meet. Some of the activities have been potluck meals, watching and discussing a movie, eating out and watching football games. I see so many benefits of our cottage groups.
Members and friends of St. Marks get to know each other from the different services, sharing our current aware nesses and concerns and having fun together.
Phase II now is in process. If you have not participated in a cottage group, I would invite you to join one. I will have a sign up sheet in the back of the church or you can give me a call .
Iva Kurz
Coordinator of Cottage Groups
VESTRY PROFILE - Richard Hardison
"We at St. Mark’s, are on a journey seeking God, in you, ourselves and all creation.”
Hello. My name is Richard Hardison and I’m lucky to be on the vestry. Why? Before I came to St. Mark’s I was on a journey of my own, even though I never thought of it as such. Wasn’t sure of where I was going; truthfully, not really caring all that much. And then I stumbled upon St. Mark’s.
Well, I stumbled across my wife Carey first and then St. Mark’s and the rest is history. Elected to serve on the vestry. Dealing with money and buildings and grounds and lions and tigers and bears...oh my! Things that make a church possible. Things I’m not sure I’m really best suited to deal with. So, having said that, I thought I would tell you what the mission statement means to me.
What kind of journey are we on? How long will it take? Is the road well marked? What happens if we get lost along the way? Questions are the first step of any journey. “Which way do we go?” is an important step and yet you can just as easily go in the opposite direction and be totally lost, or not, right from the start. How do we know what direction to take? We don’t, but thankfully for us God gave us a map.
“But I don’t know how to read a map!”
Never fear, because we have Father Battle and he is an excellent reader of maps. We have our map and someone to read it. Ok, now we’re ready to go. Right?
Not so fast Skippy. How long is this journey going to take? I want to get there and not waste any time doing it, but I don’t want to miss anything along the way... if it doesn’t take too long…I’m sooo confused. Our mission statement
leaves a lot out, doesn’t it? We’re on this journey that doesn’t seem to have a start, or a finish, just a lot of in-between.
Seeking God is the key for me, because it explains the journey in a way I can understand. When I was a child, my family would take a trip to the beach each summer. A long drive for a child of any age. All I could focus on was the fun we would have when we got to the beach and I wanted my fun to be “right now!” Luckily for me, my father was in charge. We took our time and stopped at every alligator farm, juice stand, souvenir shop and restroom between our home and the beach. We even stayed overnight in a motel, with pool and playground, instead of driving straight through.
Was that the best way? I don’t know, but it was my dad’s way. He wanted us to enjoy and appreciate the whole trip, not just the destination. Time spent with baby alligators was cool. Time spent with my dad, who found the time for alligators and small boys was way cooler. Best gift I ever received. Who knows what gifts God has for us along the way if we slow down enough.
While I travel on this journey with my St. Mark’s family, I’ll speed up if you need me to, but I just might ask some of you to slow down and visit the baby alligators. God has blessed us with a maze to travel, instead of a straight, boring highway. We are on a journey seeking God in you, ourselves and all creation. Fast, or slow. Alone, or in a crowd, God will be waiting for us when we come home.
Thom Granger 2
Betty McKee 4
Frank Brannon 6
Hilary Granger 7
Iva Kurz 11
Lauren Cook 13
Susie McEwen 13
Mary Ann Campbell 14
Dyanne Dycus Arnold 15
Ann Baker 17
Adam Hale 20
George Kurz 24
Doug Baxter 25
Lesley Branch 26
Alice Ashmead 27
Robert Ashmead 27
Don & Susie McEwen – 17, 1973
In January, we welcomed Thomas Anthony Jones, Adam Taylor Hale, Journey Alann Button-Hale, and Bliss Mirabel Button-Hale into the household of God through Holy Baptism. Thomas is the son of Dorothy and Robert Jones
of Montana. Adam, Journey, and Bliss are the children of Jeff Hale and Laura Button.
WHO AM I?
I am a child of God. John 1:12
I am the salt of the earth. Matt. 5:13
I am the light of the world. Matt. 5:14
I am part of the true vine, a channel of Christ's life;
I am Christ's friend. I am chosen and appointed by
Christ to bear His fruit. John 15:15, 16
I am a joint heir with Christ, sharing His inheritance
with Him Rom8:17
I am united to the Lord and am one spirit with Him.
I Cor. 6:17
I am a member of Christ's Body. I Cor. 12:27; Eph. 5:30
I am a new creation. 2 Cor. 5:17
I am reconciled to God and am a minister of reconciliation.
2 Cor. 5:18,19
I am a son (child) of God and one in Christ. Gal. 3:26,28
I am God's workmanship - His handiwork –
born anew in Christ to do His work. Eph.,2:10
I am righteous and holy. Eph. 4:24
I am a citizen of heaven,. seated in heaven right now.
Col. 3:3
I am hidden with Christ in God. Phil 3:20; Eph. 2:6
I am an expression of the life of Christ because
He is my life. Col. 3:4
I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved. Col. 3:12
I am a son (child) of light and not of darkness. I Thess. 5:5
I am a holy partaker of a heavenly calling. Heb. 3:1
I am a partaker of Christ; I share in His life. Heb. 3:14
I am an enemy of the devil. I Pet. 5:8
I am born of God and the evil one, the devil, cannot
touch me. John 5:18
Printed for the March 1994 'How To Do' Inner Healing seminar by permission of Neil T. Anderson, author of Victory Over The Darkness, Publisher, Regal Books, Ventura, CA;
pages 45, 46, 47.
2005 Vestry Retreat
Summary of Goals – This is (and should be) Our Business! (do it with Passion!)
 | Maintain and grow our community |
| Know one another better |
| Focus on people, our congregation & visitors |
| Educate people about the value of their involvement (to themselves, St. Mark’s and the community) |
Parking Lot Issues:
 | Apprentice program – specifically for treasurer, - other functions? |
| Put descriptions of roles of Jr. & Sr. Warden in the Gryphon |
| Question raised about local Habitat office (S. Failor) |
| ?? Parking at the church?? |
| Next year’s retreat needs an outside facilitator |
| How do we better use the Book of Common Prayer? |
| For visitors – how about a laminated instruction guide card in the pew |
| Add a “legend” in the bulletin for BCP = Book of Common Prayer, etc. |
| We are still too “comfortable” – need a wider community |
| Vestry – make more available, better communication, with/from congregation, act as sounding board |
| Use a lapel pin for vestry for those who don’t like name tags |
| Need to work with other organizations & churches more |
| People need to be involved – but don’t know how (or procedures, etc. |
| Ice problem – Richard will do it!! |
| Labyrinth sign – marker w/ explanation? |
| Emergency response plan |
| (added later) – resolve the alarm system situation! |
| (added later) – add dedicated high speed line for computer to not mess up phone |
| added – sign |
| added - copier |
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church – Committees 2005
Administration – A. Tucker, B. Beasley
Annual Parish reports, Registration – Fr. Battle
Assisted by P. Worsley and K. Seufert
Address Listing – P. Worsley
Parish Calendar, Social Events – P. Worsley
Publications: Bulletin – P. Tucker, P. Worsley
Gryphon – L. Noren
Service Rotation
Phone Tree – P. Carr-Brannon
Long Range Planning – A. Tucker, G. Gwyn
Counseling Center – F. Brannon
St. Mark’s 25th Anniversary – November 23rd - ???
Dinner
Invitations
Building & Grounds
Property Maintenance – S. Failor, R. Hardison
Church Sexton
Building maintenance & repairs G. Hall
Yard mowing – S. Paige, R. Campbell
Parish work days inside & outside
St. Mary’s garden
Labryinth maintenance
Nature & walking trail
Christian Education – F. Brannon
Adult Sunday – F. Brannon, L. Kauppe
EFM
Companions in Christ
Children – Godly Play – G. Miller
Sunday intermediate
EYC & youth programs
Finance – G. Kurz
Comprehensive stewardship – time and talent
Fall pledge – G. Kurz
Parish Narrative
Outreach – H. Sievers, L. Branch
Companion Church Santiago Apostal
H. Granger, E. Gregory
Room at the Inn
2nd Harvest collection
St. Luke’s
Magdalen House
Adopted families at Thanksgiving & Christmas
Habitat for Humanity
Odyssey Hospice
Spiritual Growth – B. Beasley, L. Clendening
Labyrinth
Centering Prayer
Group Spiritual Direction
Companions in Christ
Inreach & some outreach components – H. Stewart
Daughters of the King
Pastoral Care
Food for the sick (Parish)
Visitation
Prayer list
Cottage Groups I. Kurz
Coffee Hosts
Worship – B. Beasley, L. Worsley, P. Worsley
Altar Guild
Choir
Readers
Chalice Bearers
Ushers
Nursery
Ministers of Healing
Weddings and receptions
Lay Eucharistic Ministers
Altar Flower Guild
Oblation Bearers
Acolytes
Evangelism – B. Beasley, G. Kurz
Community garden
Welcoming – G. Kurz, I. Kurz
Sunday Greeters – bags and bread
Visitor follow-up
Newcomers’ dinner
IT'S ALMOST GARDENING TIME AGAIN!
OK so I'm just a little early. But gardeners know that we can get pretty antsy at this time of the year...just itching to get outside and get our hands dirty. It is time to think of plowing the garden and adding whatever fertilizers are needed to get things to spring out of the ground in just a few short months. There are cool weather greens to be planted in March. Some seeds have been purchased (OK I can't help myself!) but more would be welcome.
Lots of help would be welcome, too. Please sign up now by giving Susie McEwen a call (793-6298). Once the garden is plowed we will need help to plant the seeds. But then the garden season continues with weeding, watering and eventually harvesting our crops. And once harvesting begins there are beans and squash and other things that need to be harvested every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday so it can be taken fresh to Second Harvest Food Bank at Hamilton United Methodist Church.
Please give me a call even if you just want to work 1day a month or for 1 month or whatever fits into your busy schedule.
TO ACHIEVE YOUR DREAMS, REMEMBER YOUR ABC's
- Avoid negative sources, people, places, things and habits.
- Believe in yourself.
- Consider things from every angle.
- Don't give up, and don't give in.
- Enjoy life today; yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come.
- Family and friends are hidden treasures. Seek them and enjoy their riches.
- Give more than you planned to give.
- Hang on to you dreams.
- Ignore those who try to discourage you.
- Just do it!
- Keep on trying. No matter how hard it seems, it will get easier.
- Love yourself first and most.
- Make it happen.
- Never lie, cheat or steal. Always strike a fair deal.
- Open your eyes and see things as they really are.
- Practice makes perfect.
- Quitters never win and winners never quit.
- Read, study and learn about everything important in your life.
- Stop procrastinating.
- Take control of your own destiny.
- Understand yourself in order to better understand others.
- Visualize it.
- Want it more than anything.
- Xccelerate your efforts.
- You are unique of all of God's creations. Nothing can replace you.
- Zero in on your target and go for it!
From a Dear Abby column; author Wanda Carter
Be a Pilgrim in July 2005
The Dioceses of Tennessee 2005 Medical Mission trips to Ecuador will be the weeks of July 11 to July 15 and July 18 to July 22. Our own St. Mark’s Committee met in November and decided the best dates for us to visit would be July 21 to July 28. That way if someone wants to also do the Medical Mission they can participate the second week and stay for the Santiago Apostal visit.
Thanks to everyone who signed greeting cards and brought calendars and stickers for our Christmas package to our friends at Santiago Apostal!