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                                                                  SEPTEMBER 2003
The Gryphon’s Roar St. Mark's  Newsletter
A message from  the Rev. Battle Beasley
DIOCESAN CYCLE OF PRAYER
People and Places
Best o' Fall Fest o' Fall    UPDATE        
A Call To Ministry

The Gryphon's Roar

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The Reverend Battle Beasley      

                                                                                      

Dear People of God,

I love this community! Most of you by now have heard me proudly proclaim that we are the only Church in

Christendom that has hecklers, either during the sermon or at announcements. When I tell people outside St.

Mark's that fact I receive one of two reactions: either people laugh out loud or they look rather disapproving.

In either case they all ask, what does that mean? Most often I answer that question by saying, we do not take

ourselves too seriously. And yet I feel that doesn't do justice to the sense of humor we experience here. The

world is a serious place, there is too much sorrow and the work of the church is far too great for us ever to

accomplish by ourselves that of course is why we daily place ourselves into God's hands. Our sense of humor

dances with joy, at least it does for me. Joy is born out of the realities of life, out of all our good times and bad,

our questions and doubts, our tears and our laughter, joy. Joy in living the life God has given us, joy in the

relationships God has planted and nurtured in our lives, joy in being able to give thanks that it is not finally all

about us and our abilities but is about God using us in our very weakness to fulfill God's purpose. No, I do not

dance with joy all the time, yes I know that we all struggle in our daily lives at times just to make ends meet or

to have a sense that what we do truly matters. And no we don't have hecklers at every service every Sunday.

I do however have a taste of joy a glimmering of the Body of Christ working God's purpose out in and thru us

for all God's creation. Do you know why angels fly? Because they take themselves so lightly! Keep your

sense of humor and look and see if you too can taste the joy of God's love.

God's Peace, 

Battle  + 

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   Best o’ Fall  Fest o’ Fall - Update

We are in FULL gear!

Health and Wellness Booth

Blood Pressure Checks – Melanie Pafford-Failor, Pauline Hall, Pam Carr-Brannon, Frank Brannon, Steven Failor, and possibly others. 

Chair Massage – Kathy Larson and Carey Hardison

 Guided Meditation led by Bob ClenDening

 Depression Screening – Frank Brannon and Sherry Walker

 Health Information Brochures will be available on many topics.

 Mental Health Professionals and Nurses will be available to answer health/wellness questions.

 We need current health magazines that you are willing to give away – dated 2003, such as “Heartwise”, “Diabetic Cooking”, etc.

Shhhhh!

It’s a SILENT Auction!

 

           And it’s an important part of the Best o’ Fall Fest o’ Fall!  Items included in the silent auction

are limited only by your imagination – so they’re unlimited!

           Make a list of business people/suppliers you know personally and could ask for donations

for the silent auction.  Also, consider services you yourself could render.  Think big; think

“generous tax deduction!” Because we don’t want to “double beg” from any of our supporters,

please coordinate your solicitations through Cindy Page [459-9067] [cpage110@comcast.net]. 

Almost anything goes . . . new goods, services, restaurant vouchers, weekend get-aways . . . 

                To get you started:  consider an autographed book, lawn services (by you, maybe),

babysitting services, restaurant certificates, art objects, a color television, legal services, tax

consulting services, creative services, microwave, CD player, autographed CDs, tickets

(symphony, rock concert, theater, ballgame, the Nashville Zoo, Adventure Science Center . . .

and so on), and gift certificates (Best Buy, JoAnn’s, or any other vendor with whom you do

business – especially those in St. Mark’s vicinity). The potential is there.  Many businesses have

a certain “set aside” for charitable contributions. They want to help the community, so don’t be

afraid to ask.  Be sure to check with the coordinators before you do, so that we don’t double

beg. 

           When you get your donations, bring them to the church as soon as you can, along with

information about the donors.  Karen Seufert, St. Mark’s Treasurer, will have acknowledgment

forms ready at Rally Day (September 7), and then there will be a supply at the church.

           Happy hunting!  Shhhhh!

 

White Elephant Sale

 

Have you been meaning to clear out the house and garage of those unused and no longer

needed items, but just haven’t gotten around to it?  There’s still time!  Start gathering all your

items that are in Good Shape and Working Order and donate them to the St. Mark’s White

Elephant Sale to be held during Fall Fest.  Examples of Acceptable donations include books,

jewelry, board games, household items, small appliances, tools, sports equipment, etc.  Thanks

for NOT donating Clothing items.

You can bring donations to church beginning September 21.  We will stop taking items on

Sunday, October 19.  See Jacquee Parris after church on those days.  She will take the

donations and store them until Fall Fest. 

 

 

Friday, October 24 (1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.)

Saturday, October 25 (10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.)

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DIOCESAN CYCLE OF PRAYER

Each month we will be publishing the Calendar of Prayer for the Diocese of Tennessee.  It begins on the first Sunday of Advent, 2002 and runs through Year B of the Eucharistic Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer.

 

PENTECOST XIII – September 7, 2003

            The Order of the Daughters of the King

 

PENTECOST XIV – September 14, 2003

            The Church of the Holy Cross, Murfreesboro

 

PENTECOST XV – September 21, 2003

            St. Matthew’s Church, McMinnville

 

PENTECOST XVI – September 28, 2003

            St. Michael’s Church, Cookeville

 

PENTECOST XVII – October 5, 2003

            St. Francis’ Church, Goodletsville

 

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A CALL TO MINISTRY

 

“The call to ministry”, says Verna Dozier, “ is the call to be a citizen of the kingdom of God, in a new way, the

daring, free, accepting, compassionate way Jesus modeled.  It means being bound by no yesterday, fearing no

tomorrow, drawing no lines between friend and foe, the acceptable ones and the outcasts. Ministry is commitment

to the dream of God.”

You and I, individually and as a part of the community of St. Marks are called to be a part of that dream, that

ministry.  Commitment to God’s dream may begin as we worship together on Sunday mornings, yet “what happens

on Monday is more important than what happens on Sunday…  The important question to ask is not, ‘What do

you believe?’ but ‘What difference does it make that you believe?’” (The Dream of God)

On Rally Day (Sept. 7th) your outreach committee will again be putting before you just of few of the many

opportunities for ministry available to us every day.   Come and here how you can support the ministry of St.

Luke’s Community House or the Campus for Human Development.  You may choose to be an inn keeper for

Nashville’s homeless by participating in our Room in the Inn program, or simply open your pantry to feed the

hungry in our own community with the help of Second Harvest Food Bank.  We can make a difference, one person,

one meal, one day, one hour, one smile at a time. 

What is your part in the dream of God?

Liz Gilliam

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St. Marks T-Shirts AvaUable~

 Early-order special Price!

The shirts are 100% cotton in dark green with light blue print The front has a small “pocket patch” with 

the Episcopal Shield aid St. Mark’s name; on the back, the St. Mark’s Labyrinth is crowned by the 

invitation, “Be still, and know that I am God.” They come in adult sizes S/M/L/XL/XXL/XXXL The costs 

are $12 per shirt, with a special early-order price of$ 10.00. (Sorry, but there is an extra $2 for XXL and 

XXXL shirts. It is a lotmore material, after all.) The shirts will be available on August 31,so you can 

wear yours on Rally Day, September 7.

Please complete the form below and submit NO LATER THAN August 3 to receive the early-order 

discount. You can leave the form at the church or mail it to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (P. 0. Box 

741, Antioch, TN 37011-0741).

 

 

RECIPES WANTED

As many of you know I have collected recipes from our church family for several years to put into a 

loose leaf binder as a wedding present to many of the young people of our congregation.  Recipes 

given in the past are saved on my computer.  Now we have weddings coming up soon and since 

there are many new people since I last asked...I am asking again for your favorite recipes.  You can 

send me one or a dozen, I don't mind. 

I have a small mailstation machine and it may not receive long emails so may I suggest you email to 

me one at a time.  Or bring to me at church.

Plans are being formed to create a church cookbook to sell as a fundraiser and I will submit all the 

recipes I have saved to that project.
Thanks for your help!
Susie McEwen  lsmcewen@mailstation.com

 

August Birthdays
Dave Colvin                5

George Noren            10

Jacquee Parris          13

Lorna Noren              21

Steven Page              22

Battle Beasley           29

August Anniversaries

Sharon & Mike Rice 21, 2002

 

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