AAAUGUSTUGUSTUGUST 201620162016

THE GOOD NEWS

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:Message from The Rev. George. 1-2

Lections; Outreach 3All things Liturgical 4

Sunday School News 6

St. Mark’s 2020 Update 2

Prayer list; Budget Update 5

Message from Rev. Karin 7

Stewardship of Time: Sabbath as a Core Christian

Practice

Summer is a good time to reflect on how we wish to pace our lives and practice Sabbath year round. Sabbath is bigger than Christian practice; Jews and Muslims also observe Sabbath. It is one of the core practices of being a follower of the One living God.

There are numerous passages dedicated to Sabbath in the Bible; from Creation to the 10 Commandments to Jesus breaking the Sabbath to demonstrate its importance as a time of mercy. It is the only law of the 10 Commandments that is rooted in the Creation story.

In a culture that sees booked calendars and 60+ work hour weeks as a virtue, Sabbath can feel lazy or old fashioned. Who takes a whole day off to do nothing anymore?

Yet the very action of Sabbath taking can be remind us that we are human beings, not human doings. Western culture is so deeply entrenched in equating identity with what we do to earn money. Our identity has much greater depth than that.

More than ever, we are tied to

our work through electronic means; email, cell phone. We are expected to be available to our clients and workplace more now than ever before. What would it mean for us to unplug for a full day?

Sabbath is meant to be a time to reflect and rest, to give the earth a rest as well; to remember that it is a Godly act to rest and reflect. What might Sabbath look like for you?

I wonder how we practice Sabbath? Do we consciously set aside Sunday, starting at church, going home then making a lovely meal that day; spending the day with people we love. What would it look like to do that? Yes, indeed it is a challenge to do that with friends and family and kids in soccer and such.

But would if we started small? Two Sundays out of the month, I am not going to look at my smart phone; not email, text or facebook. I am simply going to enjoy what’s around me in real time; people, trees, the sky. I am not going to use my computer. I am going only do things that give me joy on that day; reading, playing piano, taking a walk, singing.

Slowing down in such a way to practice Sabbath is truly counter

cultural. In a world that demands we are what we do, that the one with the most toys and the busiest schedule wins, slowing down to do nothing for a whole day is truly distinct.

Sabbath can help us challenge our own addiction to work and worthiness being centered on doing. At first, it can difficult to unplug so completely. With time, it can be an opportunity for spiritual growth.I want to challenge each of us to grow our Sabbath Practice this year. As we come to the fall when we consider time, talent and treasure, I want to invite you to consider Sabbath as a way to be a better steward of your life and time.

Christian Stewardship invites us into a language of abundance. One way we can practice abundance thinking and being is with our time. I have enough time to practice

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WOULD YOU LIKE TOMAKE A FLOWER

DEDICATION?

We have flowers on the altar when dedications have been made by member of the parish. Dedications can be for all kinds of reasons, birthdays, anniversaries, memorials, etc.

Please note that the cost is now $60. You can take the flowers home after the 10:00 service if you want. ( If more than one family makes a dedication, each one gets one of the bouquets.)

1. Put your name on the Chart 2. Fill out the dedication form and be sure to get it to the office before the Bulletins/Mini News prints (Wednesdays at 10 am). You may also call or email the office with the details 3. Enclose the form and a check in one of envelopes in the pews and put it in the offering plate.

PRAYER @ ST. MARK’S: Wednesdays, 6-6:30 pm

This is a virtual prayer meeting held via video and phone conferencing system WebEx. The prayer group is open to everyone, but WebEx meetings are held by invitation only, so if you wish to participate email prayer@st-marks.org to be invited to this online service. Requests can be sent to the e-mail address prior to 12pm Wednesday to be included in the service.

Sabbath weekly. I have enough time to go to Church weekly. I have enough.

The strange thing is that when we live our spiritual practice, we find that we do have enough; our life becomes so much fuller, richer and deeper than we imagined.

In a season of refreshment and slowing down, I invite all of us to consider how we can make Sabbath a regular part of our weekly Christian practice.

—The Rev. George Anne McDonnell

St Mark’s 20-20 Update

It’s been a busy period for the St. Mark’s 20-20 team. As you know, 20-20 is drawn from the Vestry, Buildings & Grounds, and St. Mark’s Connects committees, and has strong representation from both the 10:00 and 8:00 o’clock services.

With the arrival of Reverend George at St. Mark’s, we have restarted 20-20 in a big way, moving from internal review and analysis to exploring the local world around us. To this end, 20-20 hosted presentations from Santa Clara city planning, as well as non-profit and for-profit developers.

We obtained documents from city and county offices that detail buildings, grounds, sewer, and receipt of public services. 20-20 participated in regional meetings with other organizations involved with community organizing, spanning from Marin to Monterey.

Reverend George joined us as much of these activities were underway, and brought new spiritual energy, leadership, and vision to the team. 20-20 meetings at St. Mark’s have grown to more than 20 people at times. In summary, in the current phase we are gathering information to help us better

connect with, and provide significant value to, our surrounding community. We hold regular meetings, and invite all interested parishioners to connect with St. Mark’s 20-20, and help chart the journey ahead.

—Karl Kadie

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3. Enclose the form and a

Sunday lection readings for August

August 712 PentecostIsaiah 1, 10-20Psalm 50:1-8, 23-24Hebrews 11: 1-3, 8-16Luke 12:32-40

August 1413 PentecostIsaiah 1:5-7Psalm 80:1-2, 8-18Hebrews 11:29-12:2Luke 12:49-56

August 2114 PentecostJeremiah 1:4-10Psalm 71:1-6Hebrews 12:18-29Luke 13:10-17

August 2815 PentecostJeremiah 2:4-13Psalm 81:1, 10-16Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16Luke 14:1, 7-14

OUTREACH

Outreach Mission Statement:

St. Mark’s Outreach Ministry strives to actively involve our congregation in programs that address the needs of the people in our community. We support programs that fit in the following criteria:

Are caring for people in need

Have demonstrated effectiveness

Have low administrative costs

Avoid replicating existing programs

Santa Maria Urban MinistryBack to School: It’s time for the annual Santa Maria Back-to-School supplies drive. This collection benefits the children of SMUM by providing them the school supplies they would not have otherwise. Ingathering will occur on the last two Sundays of July (24th and 31st). Needed items include: backpacks, binders, folders, binder paper, pens, pencils, crayons, washable felt markers, rulers, calculators, protractors, compasses, and lunch boxes. Please avoid the colors, pale blue, royal blue, and red for binders, lunch boxes, and backpacks.

General Donations: Thank you for your generosity. Non-

perishable food and clothing are always welcome. Simply leave donations in the outreach box at the back of the church. To donate other items, please contact a member of the outreach team.

Dinner at San Jose Family ShelterOur next meal will be served on Friday September 30th. This is an ideal event for youth involvement as roughly half of the residents are children, and it is always a lot of fun. Dinner is served from 5 to 6:30pm. If you’d like to participate but you can’t make the serving times, please consider making cookies or another homemade desert. Contact Rich Barber to get Involved at (rbarber@scu.edu)

—Rich Barber

Office HoursMonday-Thursday8:30 am-3 pm

Please note that Carrie will be on vacation July 25– Au-gust 5; the office will be closed during this time.

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KNITTING ANDNEEDLEWORK GUILD AT

ST. MARK’S

The 2nd Tuesdays of the month, August 9 & 23, 10am, Chapel . Join us on the second and fourth Tuesdays, of every month in the Chapel, for good work and pleasant company.

ST. MARK’S BOOKCLUB Sunday, August 14, after the 10am service

Do you love to read and enjoy the company of others? Everyone is invited so if you are interested, please contact Martha Barber at martha.barber@gmail.com for more details, or just show up! We usually meet on the second Sunday of the month.

For our August selection, we will be reading and discussing The Painter from Shanghai, by Jennifer Cody Epstein.

All things liturgical. (In other words,

what’s going on in Worship?)

Liturgy:· a form or formulary according to which public religious worship, especially Christian worship, is conducted.· (in ancient Athens) a public office or duty performed voluntarily by a rich nobleman.

The origin of the word liturgy is mid 16th century, from French or late Latin from Greek leitourgia'public service, worship of the gos,' from leitourgos'minister,' from leitos'public' + ergos 'working.'

Liturgy is public work meant to proclaim and worship God. It is meant to remind us that we have enough time to pray. It is meant to remind us to take Sabbath. It is meant to remind us that we are made for goodness and to be God’s people, good news in the world.

Coming up in September Worship: We continue in the long season of Ordered Time. We will be introducing a few new things for worship in September:

Prayers of the People:This September, we will

begin using Prayers of the People written by a Deacon in the Diocese of Louisiana, Ormonde Plater. He has written Prayers of the People that are based on the lectionary readings. We will integrate the names of the people we pray for into those prayers and invite all those that praying the prayers to pray the names of people as well as the prayer. We will continue to have the people of our congregation bid the prayers.

Eucharistic Prayer from Common Worship: This September for the 2nd half of Ordered Time, we will be using a Eucharistic Prayer Common Worship a supplemental text from the Church of England.

If you would like to read a copy of the Prayer Two from Common Worship online or learn more, you can find that prayer and instructions at the following url:

https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/additional-eucharistic-prayers/notes.aspx

You can also google Common Worship to find out more.My favorite line from this Eucharistic Prayer is:As you feed us with these gifts,send your Holy Spirit,and change us more and moreto be like Jesus our Saviour.

Healing Service with Communion

Wednesdays 10:30Led by Rev. Karin White and

Rev. George McDonnellHospitality Room,

Valley Village390 North Winchester Blvd.

Everyone is welcome!

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Parish Prayer List for August 2016

WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHOSE ON OUR PARISH CYLCE OF PRAYER:

Carol Sheuefele, Don and Barbara Snyder, Bill and Vicki Sourile, Mark Sowards, Dee Spence, Mickey Starr, David Steele and Mary Guzman, Bryan and Malorie Street, Laura K. Stewart, Mary Su.

WE PRAY FOR CONTUNIUED HEALING AND STRENGTH FOR THOSE IN OUR PARISH WHO ARE ILL OR GRIEVING:

Those living at Skyline and Valley Village, Gerri, Tom, Maray, Rivka, Pat, Crystal, Dave, Allison, Val, Sondra, Rosalie Wilson, Patricia Beam, Thora, Nancy Anne, Lillian, Joan and Paul, Starr, Stephen Ministers and those in their care, Heidi, Justin, Theresa, Yvette, Norma, Walter, Sonja, Cindy, Alan, for police officers shot in the line of duty-especially Brent Thompson, Michael Krot, Patrick Zamarripa, Michael Smith and Lorne Ahrens, for all grieving for their loss-families, friends, and all of Dallas

WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED AND THEIR LOVED ONES:

Ryan Prior, Wilda, Mary, Patrick M., Helene, Alton Stirling, Philando Castile, Starr Coble, Jean, Cynthia, Clyde, Esther.

Saint Mark’s Executive Summary for June 2016 YTD Budget vs. Actual

Budget ActualIncome:$105,722 $109,160Expenses:$136,208 $114,055

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Applications for the Memorial Garden

The Memorial Garden at St Mark’s is a setting of natural beauty and tranquility, where people can choose to have their ashes interred at the time of death. It is a place to remember those who have gone before, and to pause for prayer and meditation.

The Memorial Gardencommission has drawn up a new application and a contract for those who would

like to reserve a plot in the Garden. These documents are now available in the church office. If you are interested in an application, contact St Mark’s Church office (408-296-8383) or Rev. Karin White at 408-691-3620 or email karinreedwhite@gmail.com.

—Karin White

SUNDAY SCHOOL!

The sun is bright and the stu-dents are relaxed and having fun. The students and teachers meet together in the chapel each Sunday to explore differ-ent lessons and projects. Hope that the students are using the prayer boxes that they deco-rated so beautifully a couple of weeks ago!

In June Teacher Sue played her guitar and we sang some favor-ite hymns and lively songs. She gathered together copies of this music so that we may en-joy singing these favorites again. For the next few Sun-days we will be exploring kindness to one another, bak-ing and sharing with the congregation, and exploring God’s world with cameras.

In the early part of July Teach-ers Dave, Margie and Sue in-troduced the idea of a beautification project for the preschool shed that is located in the playground sand area. The students looked at the shed and thought about different Bible stories that could be in-cluded in the project They came back to class to sketch some ideas. Teacher Margie’s vision for the murals includes impressions of art work of two impressionists painters with an ecumenical take on these well known masterworks of the genre. The first family painting party to do the priming on the shed will be on Sunday July

31after service, about 11:30 a.m. until about 2:00 p.m. This to be followed by a pool party at Teacher Dave’s home. All students and parents are invited for a swim. Please let Dave know if you would like to help.

During the month of August all of the students will be in church for the Sunday ser-vice and they will have a chance to participate in the homily and other activities during the service. The soft play area at the back of the church is available for rest-ing, reading and quiet play and Teacher Margie is in the preschool room for child-care. This is a time for the family to worship together.

Saturday, August 27 we have a chance to attend a Diocesan sponsored Rela-tional Ministry Training with Eric Law at St. Paul’s in Salinas. The day is called First We Be-long: Relationship Centered Chil-dren & Youth Ministries. Reverend Katherine Doar and Reverend George have heard Eric speak and found the training to have an im-pact on ministry and on any interaction you may have with a child or youth. All are welcome, just let us know if you would like to attend.

—Joan Gorham

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ST. MARK’S STAFFThe Rev. George Anne McDonnell, Rector

Email: therevgeorgemcdonnell@gmail.com360-357-2877

Kate Mikami, Preschool DirectorCarrie Morton, Parish AdministratorJozef Antolin, Senior WardenMichael Burroughs, Music DirectorJean Platner, Assistant Choir DirectorLiz Moore, Recording TreasurerJack Gorham, Treasurer*Phone-emergencies 360-357-2877

ST. MARK’S VESTRY E-MAILJozef Antolin Sr. Wardenj jozefantolin@gmail.comSteve White, Jr. Warden trampatb@gmail.comLarry Michaud lmichaudca@gmail.comMichele Fagan michelefagan@hotmail.comShari Corbett shari.corbett@yahoo.comWinston Haddaway wowroti@yahoo.comCarol Korzow korzow@gmail.comCharles Mendoza Charliesplace1@gmail.comBarbara Snyder snyderdb99@hotmail.comPatti Wilczekpattiwilczek@gmail.com Eloise Pelmulder, clerk eloise.pelmulder@gmail.com

OFFICE E-MAILOffice email office@st-marks.orgCarrie Morton carrie@st-marks.org

MINISTRY TEAMSAltar Guild Susan RobertsonBuildings & Grounds

Rose Guild Larry MichaudLawn Care Jack GorhamPaint Club Jack Gorham

Children Dave MullerEndowment Fund David CaldwellFellowship All of usFinance Jack GorhamMusic Michael BurroughsNew Members Eloise PelmulderOutreach Rich BarberStewardship Barbara SnyderSunday School Joan GorhamUshers Shari CorbettWebsite Kim HubbardWorship Marty Schaefer

Notes for the Journey

From Assisting Priest, Rev. Karin White

A few months ago, I submitted my resignation as Pastoral Associate at St Mark’s. After a time of getting to know each other, Rev. George has invited me to rejoin the staff as Assisting Priest. That means that I will be assisting her (and the vestry) in the areas of worship, adult formation, and pastoral care, with an emphasis on ministry to and with people in the second half of life.

What does that mean? The second half of life can be a time of abundance. Over the years we gather many of the blessings of life: memories, values and beliefs, and material possessions. My own material weakness is travel materials – places we’ve been and places we hope to go – and books of all kinds. (Bill Costley told me that his son told him, “I wish you collected stamps instead of books!”). I’m also aware that I have many spiritual values that I hope to pass on to my family and friends. And someday there will be a

need to “put my affairs in order” so that, at the end of my life, my family won’t be stuck with a “mess” as they deal with saying goodbye and figuring out what to do with all that abundance I’ve collected.

Rev. George and I have been talking about how we can help people at St Mark’s prepare for the future as they live fully in the present. So we are planning a 4-week series in October between services (9-9:50) to share ideas of what to do with our abundance.

The sessions will be—Life-in-Box (or binder) on putting important papers in order; Ethical Will: writing things down so your values live on; Memorial Service Planning: so we will know the rituals you love; End of Life documents: to give information on wills, advance directives, obituary, etc.

Please save these dates. If you want to talk about these things earlier, don’t hesitate to call one of us.

Looking forward to more time as your priest in the coming months.

—Rev. Karin

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1957 Pruneridge Ave.Santa Clara, CA 95050

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

AUGUST 2016

THE GOOD NEWSSt. Mark’s Episcopal Church

1957 Pruneridge Ave., Santa Clara, California 95050 www.st-marks.org

(408) 296-8383 Fax: (408) 247-4781Email: office@st-marks.org

SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULEJoin Us...Everyone is welcome!

Childcare is offered from 9:45 am-noon

8 am - Holy Eucharist (contemplative, without music)

10 am - Holy Eucharist (with music)

10 am - Sunday School (for ages 3-12)

11 am - Fellowship Hour(coffee, refreshments, and fellowship)

Office Hours:Monday-Thursday 8:30am—3 pmClosed July 25– August 5Good News submission Deadlines:September: deadline August 11October: deadline September 15