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                       "St. Mark's Newsletter"

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

3100 Murfreesboro Pike

P. O. Box 741

Antioch, Tennessee 37011

615-361-4100

P. O. Box 741

Antioch, Tennessee 37011

615-361-4100

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

Weekly Schedule

Sundays           8:00 AM            Holy Eucharist

9:15 AM            Sunday School

           10:30 AM           Holy Eucharist

2^nd Sunday        9:00 AM            Breakfast – Sept. - May

Wednesdays     6:00 PM            Centering Prayer

Fridays             8:00 PM            AA Meeting

Saturdays         8:00 AM            Centering Prayer

                                            Next month deadline for submissions is Sunday, October 23^rd 2005

Dear People of God,

We are fast approaching the season of Advent a time of preparation and anticipation. We are also preparing for our annual meeting and the election of 3 new members to the vestry. Elsewhere in the Gryphon you will read the qualifications for being on the vestry, I want to ask each of you to pray for election and that we together might discern who is being called to this ministry at this time.
St. Mark’s is growing, and that growth provides wonderful opportunities and distinct challenges. As you pray about who might be called to this ministry talk to others and see if the spirit is leading you in similar directions.
I am extremely thankful for those who have served and those who have offered themselves in service. I thank each of you for taking seriously the call to this ministry and for your prayers in the process.

God's peace,

Battle + 

A VISION BEYOND OURSELVES

 Our 2005 Stewardship campaign will kick-off on 9 October and end on 6 November. Over the past year, your Vestry and Treasurer have looked hard at our finances. We have a responsibility to you for the fiscal health of our parish. However, we also understand the importance of giving of time, talent and money – as a part of our relationship to God. Our giving is part of what we do to further the building of His Kingdom on Earth. For that purpose – in your name, we devote part of our church resources to a category labeled “Ministries” in the budget and the monthly financial reports. Ministries include Christian education, evangelism, outreach, our companion church in Ecuador and supplements to the Rector’s discretionary fund. Our outreach includes money to 2^nd Harvest and St. Luke’s Community Center.

 The Vestry analyzed the monthly finances since January 2002 and I’ve summarized it on an annual basis in the following graph. The numbers for 2005 were projected on a gross monthly basis (no seasonal adjustment). First, you can see that total giving has increased at St. Marks. It is our intention to continue growth in that number, since we have seen the average Sunday attendance grow from 82 to 95 in the same period. What is really exciting is that there has been real growth in average individual giving as well! It is also good to see that our revenue has increased over operating expenses. (Many of you remember that we had some tough times just a few years ago – so this should be a big relief.)

 We have had some significant expenses this year, and the Vestry is planning to address some additional long term maintenance issues concerning the roof and guttering. We will proceed carefully with those expenditures but these needed repairs will increase our 2005-2006 expenses. Additionally, as a long term investment for the future of our Church, the vestry agreed to proceed with leasing a 60 foot, modular, portable unit with space for three classrooms. This has a base cost of about $5,000 and a monthly lease cost.

 The point that I’m excited about is that the growth in giving has enabled us as a parish to increase our budget for Ministries. This now represents about 15% of our income. I believe that this growth in our ministries represents “A Vision Beyond Ourselves”, and I feel that aspect, and our corporate worship of God, and our life as a Christian community – are characteristics that set us apart.

As chairman of the 2005 Stewardship campaign, I ask you to continue to support and grow our vision – through time, talent, and money! The standard of giving in the Episcopal Church is the tithe – 10%. I understand that our congregation (like many) is made up of people with a wide range of available resources and needs. At St. Mark’s we have a tradition of emphasizing stewardship in our lives (as well as through our wallets) all year long. (We just happen to talk more about it in the fall because that is when we prepare the next year’s budget.) Pat Worsley informed the Vestry that we have a severe shortage of people making commitments in three categories of the Stewardship Time-Talent surveys. Those areas are for Coffee Host/Hostess, Sextons/Church Cleaners, and people to be with our younger children in the Nursery (and we’ve been blessed with more children this year, too). Therefore, if you want to focus more of your pledge towards “time”, then please look on this as an additional opportunity and mark your Time-Talent survey to help with those categories (and other priority needs identified on the sheet).

 Thank you for all that you do to build and support our St. Mark’s community!

 Faithfully,

George

SOME HALLOWEEN FOLKLORE

Trick-or-treating came from a custom where cakes were made for wandering “souls” on Halloween. People would go begging for these “soul cakes” from town to town.  It was believed that the more cakes beggars got, the more prayers would be said for the dead relatives of the person who gave out the cakes.  The more prayers said, the faster a soul could go to heaven. 

Jack-O-Lanterns have a strange story behind them too.  According to Irish folklore, a man named Jack tricked the devil into climbing a tree.  After the devil was high in the tree, Jack carved a cross in the tree’s trunk and trapped the old devil.  A deal was made between the two.  If the devil would never tempt Jack again, he would let him come back down to earth.

 When Jack died, so the story goes, he was too evil to get into heaven and the devil wouldn’t let him into hell either because of the trick he had played.  Instead, Satan gave Jack a small flame to light his way in the darkness.  He is said to have kept it in a turnip so it would last longer.  Jack-O-Lanterns were still turnips when the Irish came to America but because pumpkins were easier to get, the immigrants used those instead. 

Happy Halloween!!

 October Anniversaries

Steven Failor & Melanie Pafford-Failor     10, 1992

Lesley & Alan Branch                               20, 2001

Cathey & Gene Gwyn                                          20, 2001

A TIME FOR THANKS

 ECUADOR

 We need to thank those people who donated gifts for Ecuador.  Those people and gifts are:

 Gene Gwyn - 2 airline tickets via frequent flyer miles

Susie McEwen - children's books

Jim Johnson - soccer ball and air pump

St. James medals - Battle

Pressed flower note cards from Ann Honig

 Thank you so much for your generosity.  It is so appreciated. 

Melanie Pafford-Faillor

  CAMPUS FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

 We have received a letter in August from the Campus for Human Development thanking us for our generous donation for the month of July of $200.  Campus for Human Development helps the poor through Room In The Inn, Respite Care for the medically fragile, Guest House for those in treatment, provides shelter beds, meals, classes, showers, clothing vouchers and bus passes.  They greatly appreciate the generosity of the people of St. Mark’s.  This letter will be posted on the bulletin board in Reynold’s hall for all to read.

A minister decided to do something a little different one Sunday morning.  He said "Today, in church, I am going to say a single word and you are going to help me preach. Whatever single word I say, I want you to sing whatever hymn that comes to your mind.” The pastor shouted out "CROSS." Immediately the congregation started singing in unison, "THE OLD RUGGED CROSS."  The pastor hollered out "GRACE." The congregation began to sing "AMAZING GRACE, how sweet the sound." The pastor said "POWER" The congregation sang "THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD". The Pastor said "SEX" The congregation fell in total silence. Everyone was in shock. They all nervously began to look around at each other afraid to say anything. Then all of a sudden, way from in the back of the church, a little old 87 year old grandmother stood up and began to sing "PRECIOUS MEMORIES." Pass this along and make someone smile today GOT TO LOVE THE LITTLE OLD LADIES  

 A college drama group presented a play in which one character would stand on a trap door and announce, "I descend into hell!" A stagehand below would then pull a rope, the trapdoor would spring, and the actor would drop from view. The play was well received. When the actor playing the part became ill, another actor who was quite
overweight took his place. When the new actor announced, "I descend into hell!" the stagehand pulled the rope, and the actor began his plunge, but became hopelessly stuck.  No amount of tugging on the rope could make him descend. One student in the balcony jumped up and yelled,  Hallelujah, Hell is full!.