Gryphon 11/04

“We at St. Mark’s are on a journey seeking God in you, ourselves and all creation”

Weekly Schedule

Summer is fast drawing to a close which means most of us will be
getting back to a somewhat set routine. Here at St. Marks that includes
ur Rally Day, Sunday August 28.

This is the day on which we have time to see what opportunities are being
offered here for work, study and prayer. Those three things are used to
outline our spiritual life. What work are we doing for the Kingdom of God.

This might be outreach ministries, it may be service at the church in worship
or christian education. We are each called to different ministries, called to
use our gifts and talents in service of God, where are you called?

How are you seeking to deepen your knowledge of God's activity in the world?

And, finally, prayer. What is your personal prayer life?
Have you considered joining centering prayer, or regularly walking the Labyrinth,
or joining the Daughters of the King? Come see what opportunities are being
offered here at St. Marks and discern for yourself what areas you might be called
to explore or deepen on your journey Towards God.

Contact us:

St. Mark’s Website – http://www.stmarksantioch.org

The Reverend Battle Beasley via email: pathwayspartners@yahoo.com

St. Mark’s Vestry – stmarksantioch@bellsouth.net

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

At the retreat in January, the vestry established numerous goals for 2005.
One critical goal was to correct the problems that we had experienced with
the security system over the past couple of years. This system was originally
controlled by an entry-code box, that was located on the inside wall, next to
the kitchen door. The system was tied into smoke alarms, movement alarms,
and entry alarms.

Unfortunately, it did not protect the barn (which has experienced break-ins).
Also, some of our furry neighbors in the attic found that they liked to snack on the wiring.
This caused some outages and false alarms. Most significantly, we had cases of false alarms
when people entered or left the building and did not set (or reset) the alarm correctly.
Under the security contract, we were allowed a set number of false alarms.
Those times that we exceeded the allowable number, we had to pay an additional fee.

Vestry member, Steve Failor, took the lead in reviewing the existing system.
His experience as a fireman proved invaluable for developing specifications for
a new system and for reviewing proposals for repairs, replacement, and/or upgrade
of various parts of the system. This new system is a major expense. That was weighed
against one of the major overall responsibilities of the vestry – the fiduciary responsibility
to protect the investment represented by the church building and grounds, and to provide
for security of the people using these facilities.

At the last meeting, the vestry executed a contract with a security contractor for this
function. The work for installing the improvements and new equipment should occur in
the first part of July. The contractor will test all the existing components, replace all
the smoke detectors, add a heat detector, “varmint proof” the wiring in the attic and
elsewhere as needed, connect a system to the barn, and add a new door safety system
to the kitchen door.

Of special note is that the entry system will be keyed to electronic “fobs” that can be
carried on a key chain. We will get 30 of these units, which will be individually identified
for each authorized person. We are also purchasing a new computer for Fr. Battle and
for the church office. Vestry member, Andrea Tucker and the administration committee
has reviewed the specifications for the machines and insured that this has been
coordinated with the security system requirements. One of these machines will act as
the master control for the system and log all entries by the person’s name.

The system with the new door security will have the flexibility to continue to prevent
unauthorized entry during power outages, while allowing escape for persons inside the
building during an outage. Once the new system is installed, we will change the mechanical
lock keys, and issue a new key and entry “fob” to persons needing access to the building
on a regular basis (including AA or any other organization that is part of our outreach).

If you have any questions about this new system, please feel free to talk to me - or to any
of the members of the vestry. While the system is being switched over, I ask for your
patience while we swap keys, issue the electronic fobs, and get the computer system up
and running.

As part of the celebration of our 25^th anniversary this year, the Vestry approved issuing a new
directory with color photographs of all members. The photos will be taken by a team from Olan
Mills on Friday and Saturday - 16 & 17 September, 2005. They will also compile and publish the directory.
We will begin scheduling appointment times and dates on Sunday – August 21^st. Our goal is 40 families
ach day for the two days. Each family will receive a directory and a complimentary 8x10 portrait.
Additionally, Olan Mills will include pages for people to submit pictures of all our family members who
are in military service. There is no cost to the church or individuals for this directory.

However, additional copies of the portraits (in a variety of forms) are offered by Olan Mills for
separate purchase. The images can be viewed at the time of the appointment – so an additional
appointment is not required. It is a great opportunity to obtain a professional portrait for yourself
and for your extended family. We will post a sheet with “frequently asked questions” – and answers
in Reynolds Hall. One of the reasons that we selected Olan Mills was their professional and flexible
approach to creating a comprehensive directory.

In addition to the family portraits, we will have several pages to display pictures of various
activities and ministries conducted by our congregation. Depending on the level of your participation
in this program, St. Mark’s should be eligible to have most of these extra pages at no cost.

To make this process run smoothly, we need to have people volunteer for the Directory Program Committee. We need to have a Coordinator, Telephone Leader, Host/Hostess Leader, and a
Design/Layout Leader. We will post a list of the positions and duties in Reynolds Hall.

Continuing Episcopalians of Tennessee is made up of people who want to remain
members of the Episcopal Church, and who are concerned that our new bishop
can be an effective bishop for the entire diocese. It is critically important to the
future of the Episcopal Church in this diocese that as many people as possible
become informed about the issues before us.

A well-organized group is working to pass a resolution at the next diocesan convention
to join the Anglican Network of Dioceses and Parishes. Please visit the CETN website for information and links to other helpful sites.

Get informed! Read! Surf! Stand up and be counted! And plan to attend the next
meeting of Continuing Episcopalians. The date and time will be announced as soon
as possible.

August Birthdays

August Anniversaries

My husband Mike Rice a member of St Marks who attends the 8:00 service with me was recently deployed to Afghanistan. I would like to provide his address for those who wish to send him their prayers and a word of encouragement. I know this will mean a great deal to him.

Continuing Episcopalians of Tennessee is an organization led primarily by laypersons from churches throughout the Diocese of Tennessee. Meetings are held about once a month in various churches, usually on Sunday afternoons. It is critically important to the future of the Episcopal Church in this diocese that as many people as possible become informed about the present divisions in our diocese and the ramifications of certain proposals and resolutions that will be offered at the next diocesan convention, and work toward calling a new bishop who can be an effective bishop for the entire diocese.

The mission of the Continuing Episcopalians of Tennessee is to preserve a place at the table for all Christians. We embrace a spirit of acceptance, and proclaim Jesus Christ through our Episcopal tradition of unity and diversity in service to the world. We remain faithful to the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church USA.

· To support one another, and to build a stronger sense of community and harmony in our diocese.

· Selection of a bishop loyal to the Episcopal Church USA and its heritage of inclusion of a range of theological views.

· Oppose diocesan alignment with the Anglican Communion Network, aka Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes, whose goal is separation from ECUSA. Their plan is to be recognized as an alternative "Anglican province" in North America, to get ECUSA kicked out of the Anglican Communion, and then to claim ownership of all assets previously held by ECUSA. That would include St. Mark's property!

· Election of delegates to the diocesan convention of January 2006 who support the theological inclusiveness and “middle way” which is the traditional heart of ECUSA; who are well educated about the consequences of joining the ACN; who support election of a bishop loyal to ECUSA; and who oppose the exclusion of disparate views that currently characterizes diocesan decision making.

Find out what is at risk, and what you can do. Only a few months remain! Visit www.cetn.org for more information.

WHITE ELEPHANT SALE AT FALL FEST--October 22, 2005

Preparations are underway for our white elephant sale at fall fest. We are thankful for
any help including the following:

1. Looking for volunteers for:
     -- Setup on Friday 10/21
     -- Working the sale which will run 7am - 4pm. We'd like to have enough
         workers so we can work in 2-3 hour shifts.
     -- Cleanup crew

2. Donation of all those wonderful items you no longer need, but other people would
     gladly purchase. We will have a POD (Portable on Demand Storage unit)
     delivered to the church approximately September 21 and can begin to accept
     your donated items then. We'll take most anything except clothing.

     We ask that you price your items prior to bringing
     them to us. We figure you are probably the best judge of what your donations
     are worth and this will save many hours of volunteer time.

More updates to follow. Thanks for any help, advice, support, etc. that you can
give us to make our sale a success.

Plan to sign up for your volunteer opportunities on Rally Day (August 28). Remember
the Fest o’ Fall when you’re cleaning out your attic/basement/garage and save the
“good stuff” for the white elephant booth. Start rooting cuttings of your favorite
plants right away, so they will be big and healthy in October.

And, please let the creative side of you take over and fashion something special for
the Art Cupboard. Last, children’s clothes (up to size 6) will be offered for the first
time this year . . . bring some of your kids/grandkids’ gently used and greatly outgrown
clothes for what will be a very popular booth!

THE GRYPHON’S ROAR

Weekly Schedule

August Birthdays

August Anniversaries