(ENS) Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold joined the top elected leaders of eight other churches in welcoming a new milestone on the search for Christian unity. After 40 years of dialogue in the Consultation on Church Unity (COCU), the churches will form a new relationship called Churches Uniting in Christ CUIC) during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January. As "the first step in this journey toward unity," the church leaders issued an appeal to work "to overcome both the sin of disunity, including the sin of racism."

Besides the Episcopal Church, CUIC includes the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church and the International Council of Community Churches.

In a covering letter to bishops of the Episcopal Church, Bishop Christopher Epting, deputy for ecumenical and interfaith relations, said that "one of the reasons we have been so supportive of COCU over the years has been the participation of the historic black churches in the conversation." Epting urged wide distribution of the appeal among congregations, encouraging them to study and sign the document as "one more way to 'incarnate the vision' of racial justice in our land.'"

The appeal offered a vision of God's Beloved Community where "all people and their particular gifts are included, respected and valued; a community that seeks alternatives to violence to settle its differences," as well as a community "committed to eradicating racism and making no peace with oppression."

"It is fitting, therefore, that this Appeal calls us to begin our new life as Churches United Christ on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2002."

The Appeal said that, "emboldened by this vision," the churches would "seek to demolish the institutional barriers which keep us from being a united Christian community that is truly catholic, truly reformed, and truly evangelical." It added, "We believe that God is calling us to this vision and to this task, and we know there is a balm in Gilead that heals the sin-sick soul."

In another example of symbolism, the Inaugural Celebration for CUIC will be held January 18-21, in Memphis, Tennessee, where King was murdered. COCU will hold a final plenary session and the Inaugural Worship Service for CUIC will be held on January 20.

--James Solheim is director of Episcopal News Service.

At last year’s (2001) annual planning meeting the Vestry developed and approved restructuring of our committees. It was our hope that restructuring would enable us to better utilize our resources and make us a stronger community. The Vestry now realizes the new committee structure has not been as successful and effective as we had hoped. However, we do believe there are some committees/groups that have remained strong and in tact despite last year’s restructuring. In fact, some have flourished. At the January 2002 Vestry meeting we approved the following committee structure as outlined below. It is our hope that this will indeed meet the needs of our church community. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the committees, please feel free to speak to one of the Vestry members or me.

Blessings & Peace,

Debbie Colvin

Senior Warden

Vestry Commissioning

The Vestry was Commissioned Sunday 27th of January. We formally commissioned our new vestry at both services Sunday the 27th. The members of the vestry make a public commitment to God and to the congregation to make a Rule of Life while serving on the vestry. The Rule of Life covers 3 areas of growth, Prayer, Study and Work.

Part of their commitment is public and part is private.     

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Notes From the January 2002 Vestry Meeting

Clerk of the Vestry

Congratulations to Cindy Page. At the January Vestry meeting Cindy was appointed Clerk of the Vestry. The Vestry is grateful to her for accepting this important responsibility and look forward to her participation. We acknowledge and thank Suzie Abrahamson for her service as the Clerk of the Vestry during the past 2 years. She has done a wonderful job and we appreciate the care and support she has given to the Vestry during her tenure. Thank you Suzie!

Second Harvest

Donations to the Second Harvest Food Bank from the second Sunday Breakfast in December totaled $354.00--a generous response from all for the abbreviated breakfast. Thanks to everyone for supporting this very important outreach in our comunity. 

Also;

Out Reach:

Second Harvest Food Bank,

collections from the Little Red Wagon were 287 pounds of food —

retail value $ 482.00.

Daughters of the King

Two years ago the DOK  adopted the Berry Family, a mother & 3 children. Throughout the year we remember their birthdays , assist with school supplies & provide assistance for Christmas. Each of us has had personal contact with the family members at different times. They are very grateful & have extended their thanks to us repeatedly.

St Mark’s Family Cookbook

Sandy Winters & Pam Carr-Brannon would like to compile a cookbook of St. Marks Best Recipes. We will be collecting recipes for several months, then hope to have the publication ready in time for Christmas 2002. We need input in the form of recipes from everyone & anyone who would like to help with the detail work please contact either of us. What great gifts!

Lenten Quiet Days

The Episcopal Churchwomen are sponsoring  2 Lenten Quiet days: Sat. March 9, at Church of the Advent, Nashville, 10 AM til 2 PM & Friday, March 22 at Otey Memorial Chapel, Sewanee, 10 AM til 2 PM. For more detailed information
please check the bulletin board in Reynolds Hall.

Thank You from the Altar Guild

The Altar Guild wishes to extend sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the Altar Guild fund at Christmas. Your generosity is much appreciated. We also wish to thank Max Torlay for his continuing gift of communion wine, and Pam Carr-Brannon for baking the communion bread. Max and Pam have provided these gifts to St. Mark’s for several years. We give thanks for these special people.

Pat Worsley