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VOLUME 14, ISSUE 7-8 JULY-AUGUST 2015 Sear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Summertime affords some of us a chance to read for pleasure. I recently rediscovered a little volume in my library, the gift of a friend at Christmas several years ago. The book’s title is DIVINE AND HUMAN, and Other Stories by Leo Tolstoy, translated from the Russian by Peter Sekirin. One entry in particular caught my fancy. Entitled The Archangel Gabriel, it was written by the Persian poet, F. Attar, and translated and reinterpreted by Tolstoy. The Archangel Gabriel hears the voice of God speaking from paradise, blessing someone. Gabriel assumes that this must be a very important human being, a great saint, or a hermit, or a wise man. So he goes down to earth to investigate, but can find him neither there, nor in heaven. So he asks God to show him where to find the object of God’s blessing. God tells him to go to a certain village where a small temple is located, and therein he will find altar and fire. Gabriel finds the place and sees a man praying before an idol. Returning to God, he questions how God can bless an idol worshipper. God replies that, “it is true that he does not understand me properly. Not one man living is capable of understanding me as I am. The wisest of the whole human race are just as far from really understanding me as this man is. I look not at his mind, but at his heart. The heart of this man searches for me, and therefore he is close to me.” (pg. 35) This is such a comfort, to be reminded that God blesses our fumbling attempts to reach God, even though most of the time we lack clarity about God’s nature, why we need God and how we should respond. This effort is really a matter of the heart, rather than the head; we post-enlightenment people find it difficult to trust what our hearts are telling us. We are taught that the use of logic will give us reliable answers and point to actions that ‘make sense.’ Emotions (of which the heart is the seat) are not considered dependable guides to discovering the truth, deciding what constitutes right action. Herein lies the ambiguity inherent in Chris-tian faith: We believe that God represents truth in its highest form; at the same time, we acknowledge that the basis for all Divine action has been, since the beginning, God’s love for God’s creation. Truth may be the philosophical ideal, the distilling of essence until that kernel of absoluteness can be grasped, theoretically at least. But love is more like the oil that lubricates the gears of human existence. Sometimes, we can get along with just a little squirt applied in just the right place; at other times, we seem to need an all-encompassing grease job! The man praying before the idol, like the Corinthians’ altar to an unknown god of which Paul speaks, repre-sents our human yearning for reunion with the One who caused us to be, God by any name, Being itself. The important thing to remember is that God wants us to love God first. This is the chief work of human be-ings. Not all of us recognize Being Itself as God, but all religions acknowledge an ineffable something to which

ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

513 NASSAU STREET SOUTH ♦ VENICE FL 34285-2816

THE MESSENGER

human beings are drawn. How that love gets translated will be as varied as there are people to do the loving. For some, the effort may be to create beauty, for others to offer comfort, for yet others to recognize in the faces of strangers and newcomers something of the divine essence. Although it may be foreign to their expe-rience, they are called to embrace it. To use a clumsy and cumbersome simile, God is like the elephant in the living room, encountered by a blind person trying to make sense of what he’s run into by running his hands over the animal’s hide. He knows it is rough, that it is extensive, that it smells and that it is alive. But, he cannot grasp the essence of being that is the elephant in its totality. Nor can we of God. The best we can do is to recognize that God is made manifest through the agency of other people, inspired by God’s Holy Spirit. People in Africa may well experience God’s presence in ways entirely foreign to us. On our own continent, the American Indians spoke of the Great Spirit in language we did not know, but their reverence for what that represented was just as heartfelt as the awe we have for the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and our Lord, Jesus Christ. As you go about during these less-busy summer days, try to find where God is hanging out in your world, how you see God and experience God in your encounters with other people, and in the beauties of the eve-ryday world we inhabit. And, above all, be thankful that God loves to be sought after and discovered, how-ever imperfectly we pursue this quest. In God’s love, Rev. Judy

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REMINDER: Summer hours for

Divine Consign Showroom on James Street:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10-4

The church office will go on summer hours

beginning June 12 through August 14

Closing at noon on Friday

Upcoming Wednesday Night Dinners

July 8: Ken McBride, Himself

BBQ burger bar with all the sides. Potato salad, coleslaw,

barbecue beans, cake and pies, etc.

August 19: “Sing for your Supper” with Dave Sayer per-

forming more songs from The Great American Songbook

Baked Ham, scalloped potatoes,

green beans. salad with dessert

Dave Sayer

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Dear Bridgers and Aspiring Bridgers,

I am retiring as director of Round Robin Bridge after 21 years, but I have enjoyed every minute of it! It is such a worthwhile cause...providing ECW Scholarships for St. Mark’s college-bound students.

Tom and Linda Hubbard have graciously agreed to be co-directors for the upcoming 2015-2016 year. I hope that all the bridge players will play again next year and will contact Tom & Linda at 615.646.2793 before November 1 or 941.484.8565 after November 1.

Thank you all for making the job so easy and so much fun.

—Joan Mann

There will be

NO SUNDAY

SCHOOL

during the

month of July.

We will be using

that �me to

organize and plan a new program which will

move us from a tradi�onal Sunday School to a

children’s worship experience.

Divine Consign Miami Avenue location will be closed for two weeks beginning Monday, August 24th and will

reopen on Tuesday, September 8th.

James Street Showroom will maintain regular hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10-4

Deacon Keith’s Elder Care Ministry can always use more volunteer drivers. Give him a call at 445.1664 to get on the call list. Your duties will revolve around your availability and willingness to help on any given day.

Maury Leman, our Financial Secre-tary, is working on setting up the ability to give online. We have had several inquiries, especially from out-of-state friends, about this op-tion. Watch for news in upcoming issues of The Messenger.

Also, you can now receive your giv-ing statement online every month from anywhere! It’s secure and confidential. If you aren’t already receiving your statement electronically and would like to, con-tact Maury at finance@stmarksvenice.com or call him at 488.7714, Monday through Thursday.

♥

���������

A heart-felt thank you to the ministry leaders who schedule laity:

Angie Diehn, Lay Readers, Chalice Bearers, Acolytes

Joan Mann, Ushers

Degen Sayer, Greeters

Jackie Overton, Youth

Please help them do their job by keeping them informed of your availability for the UPCOMING schedule no later than three weeks before the current schedule ends.

Thank you from the bottom of our .

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BULLETIN BOARD

NEW CHOIR SEASON BEGINS!

1st rehearsal Wednesday, September 2, @ 7:30pm

NEW SINGERS ALWAYS WELCOME!

See Peter Madpak

Save date for Preschool Auction.

Don’t want to miss that!

October 3, 2015

Watch for sign-up sheets for the first Wednesday night dinner in September (date to be announced). St. Mark’s Youth will be recoun9ng their

mission trip adventures. Always a big hit!

Ken McBride at Five O’clock— NOT 5:30!!!!! July 8—sign up ASAPASAPASAP

Mark your calendar now!

ECW Board Mee9ng

Monday, September 28, 9:30 a.m.

ECW General Membership

Tuesday, October 6, 10:00 a.m. with

representa�ve from Shriners Hospital

for Children

Saturday, October 3, 5:30 p.m.

Preschool Dinner & Silent Auc9on

Monday, October 19, 6 p.m.

Women of Faith & Fun

Tuesday, October 20, 6 p.m. sharp

Mark’s Men

Monday, October 26, 6 p.m.

Stewardship Kickoff Dinner

Tea, Saturday, November 7, 3 p.m.

Church office closed Friday, July 3

in observance of Independence

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SURE Sarasota United for Responsibility and Equity

SURE is composed of 15 diverse local congregations. SURE does not provide services; instead every year we have a local Nehemiah Gathering where thousands come together and gain the commitments from local officials. Everyone works towards implementing solutions to resolve community problems. Each year the Covenanting Congregations identify a community problem to work on. Last year the problem overwhelm-ingly voted to work on was youth arrests and the implementation of Civil Citations in Sarasota County. Civil Citations are offered in 59 of the 67 counties within Florida. Sarasota County, where St. Mark’s is lo-cated, not being one of them. Briefly, it is a program where youths are offered counseling and restitution for non serious, non violent offenses, instead of incarceration and an arrest record that lasts for eternity. Did you know that 13,209 children each year are being arrested for these first time offenses? …and were eligi-ble for this program? Over much time, a Bill in the House (HB-99) and a Bill in the Senate (SB-378) were created to change this Social Injustice. The Bills gained sponsors, equally, and slowly moved through the halls. While that arena simmered, the local path was possibly clearer to make a positive change. The past ten months have been an amazing journey for me. I worked directly with the Director, the Juvenile Justice Committee and the Research Committee of SURE. Deacon Keith and I met with local and state offi-cials. I made the journey to Tallahassee visiting both the House and the Senate. Ah…Lobbying...I had done this before! Those high school days of learning to Lobby for a Bill, soon came back. God interestingly, sends me on some amazing journeys. I guess…The Lord knows my resume’. I spoke before a Senate Committee, The Children, Families and Elder Affairs. This committee was a pivotal part of the forward momentum of this Bill. It needed to pass this committee. I believe…at that moment and at that second, as my humanly made, God-given voice was heard, by each and every Senator sitting on Com-mittee…that and that alone was the reason for my Journey. Overwhelmingly…a vote was taken, ALL in favor. The Bill passed unanimously. Wow! There were other hurdles to be overcome after this committee. But with the power of Positive Prayer, on May 21, 2015, the Governor signed this Bill into law. This means that every child in the State of Florida will have access to the Civil Citation Program. I Believe…do you? This year SURE will work on the issue of Homelessness. There is already some progress with all five county commissioners agreeing to meet two times with the city commissioner. With God’s help we will strive to respect the dignity of every human being…as our Baptismal Covenant states. If you would like to help, please talk to Deacon Keith, myself, or go online to www.suresarasota.org All 13,209 children each year and I would like to say Thank You to everyone who helped along the way, especially those who took the time to wear those silly smiling green t-shirts to the Nehemiah Gathering and to St. Mark’s for this Journey…

Thank you, Debra Bradac

Preschool News

OPENINGS! OPENINGS! OPENINGS!

We have a few openings for the summer and for the new school year that begins in August in our 3 year old classes and in

our PreK VPK classes- where learning and fun go hand in hand! With all this fun and learning we also know God is always

with us. Prays of thankfulness and blessings for our families, friends and school are sweetly heard through out the school

by all the children everyday. We all love God very much in St. Mark’s Preschool.

PARISH NURSE A REAL HIT WITH KIDS!

April Merrill, Parish Nurse, spoke with St. Mark’s Preschool children about what she does as a Parish Nurse-including pray-

ing with people. The kids are s�ll talking about listening to their heart beats on the stethoscope, wearing medical face

masks and the “ouchy” immuniza�on needles used to keep them healthy. It was a fun and educa�onal presenta�on!

PRESCHOOLERS CRUISE TO SOUTH AMERICA!

Ms. Angelica demonstrated making Arepas for the 3-year-olds. Arepas is a grilled

bread na�ve to Columbia,

South American, Ms. An-

gelica’s homeland. This

was in conjunc�on with

our cruise adventure to

South America for fun,

food, art, music and

dance! Ms. Angelica also

modeled an authen�c

dance costume to demon-

strate bambuco and

cumbia, tradi�onal La�n–

America dances!

8

Listening to our heart beat. Discussing “the needle.”

Some�mes the teacher has fun too! Chase & Ryley: “Boys will be boys.” Showing compassion.

—April Merrill, R.N.

Parish Nurse

When it’s time to When it’s time to When it’s time to STOPSTOPSTOP drivingdrivingdriving One of the biggest decision seniors are faced with is the decision of when to stop driving. Driving provides us with freedom and independence that we often take for granted—until the possibility of no longer enjoying that freedom. Frequently seniors don’t recognize the physical or mental impairments that develop, making driving hazardous for themselves and others on the road. This is the time when it is important for family and/or friends to step in to help assess the situation.

What are some signs that it might be time to consider that difficult decision?

Frequent Traffic Tickets or Auto Insurance Changes These signs indicate the senior is having trouble concentrating, cannot see properly, has poor judgment, or is other-wise becoming a hazard to himself or others.

Visible Damage to the Senior’s Vehicle A visual assessment of the vehicle can identify dents, chipped paint or other signs of damage. More than one area of damage is a good indication that driving should be curtailed.

Physical Impairments If the senior is having difficulty getting in and out of the car, cannot turn his or her head around far enough to see behind or cannot manipulate the car’s controls, it is time to give up driving and find other means of transport. Per-haps rely on friends or public transportation to get to shopping or necessary appointments. (Ask your medical pro-fessional or Parish Nurse about SCAT Silver.)

Observations from Friends or Neighbors If friends or neighbors notice problems with driving ability, it’s time to suggest other transportation arrangements for the senior.

Driving Behavior Changes While riding with the senior, they seem confused or timid about driving, unable to read signs, or drift between lanes. These signs indicate physical or mental impairments may be affecting the ability to drive safely. Impaired reaction time when driving can be a seri-ous hazard.

Confusion or Getting Lost If the senior appears to be confused by stoplights, traffic signs or landmarks, it may be an indication that they are no longer mentally capable of driving. If the driver has to call a friend or family member because they have gotten lost and can’t find their way back home, he or she should not be driving. Some seniors get lost and are too proud to ask for help, relying on strangers to assist them, potentially risking more dangerous situations. If this type of story is retold by the senior, it is time to give up driving and find safer modes of transportation.

Giving up driving is usually a difficult adjustment for seniors. Appealing to his or her sense of civic responsibility can help to ease the way to depending on others for transportation needs. For more info go to Driving with Dignity, or AARP on the web, or contact Dave Pierce at the Venice Chamber of Commerce at 488-2236. Total Care Mart.com/Ar�cles/seniors-signs-�me to…

9

Wayne & Sharon Roach 705 E Sun Kissed Cir Avon Park, FL 33825-8977 ADDTFTDATTDTDFTTTDAFFFDDTTTTFATAFDDADAAADATTAAADTAFFFDAFADATAADAA

NON PROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDMANASOTA FL

PERMIT #900

Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord! —Romans 12:11

Clergy: James H. Puryear (Rector), Judith S.

Roberts (Interim Associate Rector), John Lawrence

(Assisting Priest), Keith Backhaus (Deacon), Lynne

Greene (Deacon, retired), Joyce Treppa (Deacon)

Vestry: Jane Marcin (Sr. Warden), Larry Lewis

(Jr. Warden), Bob Adams, Joanne Beinner, Sam

Corns, Gary Dowrey, Jim Duval, John Haseltine,

Susan Park, Jane Rexinger, Paul Skulitz, Susan

Stewart , Michael Knowlton (treasurer), Debbie

Pfender (clerk)

Church staff: Peter A. Madpak (Choirmaster &

Organist), Jackie Overton (Youth), April Merrill

(Parish Nurse), Sandy Albanese (Parish Admin.),

Carlotta Woolpert (Admin. Assistant), Carolyn

Walker (Office Assistance), Maury Leman

(Finance), Vicki Mahon (Sexton), Jim Gietek

(Assistant Sexton)

ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 513 NASSAU STREET SOUTH

VENICE FL 34285-2816 church located at: 508 Riviera Street

941.488.7714 church fax: 941.484.0596 preschool: 941.484.8707

HOMEBOUND

FAMILY

Bella Vita Trudy Cors Emeritus—Englewood Britta Swanson Gardens of Venice Lee Phillips Harbor Chase Barbara Gerrish Harbor Inn-Rutland Rd Jean Albanese

Village on the Isle Warren Clements Ann Dover Louise Hood Windsor Rocky & Bonne Bryan At home Walt & Jo Bell

WE ’ R E ON T HE W E B !

WWW . ST M AR KSVE NI CE . OR G

L IKE U S ON FACE B OOK !

St. Mark’s Book

Circle respite

The book discussion group that nor-mally meets the third Tuesday at 10 a.m. in Gray Hall, is taking the sum-mer off!

You can join them in September when they resume their regular meet-ing. Discussion will center on:

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

See you then.

Carlotta is always looking for more volunteers to add to our kitchen teams! If you want to have a jolly ol’ time with fellow parishioners who love setting tables, serving, bussing or running our fantastic dishwasher, give Carlotta a call at 488.7714. Chances are you will only be asked to work twice during the season. And if you sign up and can’t work on your par-ticular date, we have a list of subs you can call upon. You can also add your name to the sub list. We could not provide our Wednesday Night Supper series without our volunteers…. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!�

HELP!