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St. Mark’s RemarksSt. Mark’s RemarksSt. Mark’s RemarksSt. Mark’s Remarks Seek God Serve Others Transform LivesSeek God Serve Others Transform LivesSeek God Serve Others Transform LivesSeek God Serve Others Transform Lives JULY/AUGUST 2017

Storm Chaser . . . Storm Chaser . . . Storm Chaser . . . Storm Chaser . . .

Services: 10:00 am-Praise Service/Choral Holy Eucharist Rite II on alternating Sundays.— Spanish 8:00 am Lion’s Den Fellowship following 10 am service . .Wed. 10 am-Healing Service

C all them what you may...the

storms in your life, the chal-

lenges you face, the “ups and

downs,” pitfalls or simply

bad days. Some are unexpected, shock

and surprise us. We don't know how

well we will do until they happen,

while others we can see coming on the

horizon like an approaching storm.

Does the distant rumble scare you be-

fore you see the first cloud?

Does the very warning of such an event

put your life in turmoil even when you

don't know all the details?

I ask this because I witnessed the most

remarkable thing this morning. First of

all, when the weather person tells me

we will have a thunder storm I know

that my dog will have a difficult time.

Long before it arrives he begins to

sense its approach.

So, right on script he woke me up early

this morning. Ever notice, these things

happen in the darkest hour most gen-

erally? As I gathered myself and went

downstairs with Sir Tobias right on my

heels. I started speaking words of com-

fort letting him know that I wouldn't

leave him. Soon the storm that was

brewing didn't seem as big and as we

went to the front porch to get the paper

he was ready with the sounding alarm

of a “woof” to chase that intruder away.

Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and

of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid

of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is

that doth go with thee; he will not fail

thee, nor forsake thee.”

It was dark. In the distance the skies

flashed and the thunder rumbled

across the mountainside. But all

around me the birds sang. I mean

there was a glorious chorus of chirping

echoing throughout the darkness. I

couldn't even see one bird, but it

sounded like thousands.

Out of all the creatures God created

wouldn't you think that the bird would

have the most to fear? Yet, they never

stopped singing. I've noticed that every

morning around dawn they are sing-

ing. Storm or no storm. What is it that

they know that we don't know? When

Psalm 50:15 says, “And call upon me in

the day of trouble: I will deliver thee...”

it doesn't end there. It ends with...

“and thou shalt glorify me.”

We should wake up everyday grateful

for it, and yet, if it's a day of a “storm”

in our life, or an approaching storm, we

aren't singing. Sadly, our singing has

been reserved for the good days. If we

would sing during the storms, like the

birds, the rumble of all fear around us

would add depth to our voice and carry

it further. Perhaps even to inspire oth-

ers and calm those who care about us.

“But I will sing of thy power; I will sing

aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for

thou hast been my defense and refuge

in the day of my trouble.” Psalm 59:16

Michael Cochran

Join us every Sunday morning in our Join us every Sunday morning in our Join us every Sunday morning in our Join us every Sunday morning in our

Lion’s Den Café, Knight Hall, after the Lion’s Den Café, Knight Hall, after the Lion’s Den Café, Knight Hall, after the Lion’s Den Café, Knight Hall, after the

10:00 am Service for welcoming fellow-10:00 am Service for welcoming fellow-10:00 am Service for welcoming fellow-10:00 am Service for welcoming fellow-

ship, a cup of coffee and a variety of ship, a cup of coffee and a variety of ship, a cup of coffee and a variety of ship, a cup of coffee and a variety of

tasty treats. tasty treats. tasty treats. tasty treats.

Service Change . . . Service Change . . . Service Change . . . Service Change . . .

Beginning July 2nd, the

Spanish Service will be held

at 8:00 am for the remain-

der of the summer..

VBS Coming Soon . . . VBS Coming Soon . . . VBS Coming Soon . . . VBS Coming Soon . . .

July 17—21st (See Flyer)

Summer Food Drive . . . Summer Food Drive . . . Summer Food Drive . . . Summer Food Drive . . .

The Food Pantry is conduct-

ing a food drive over the

summer when the kids are

home from school. The kids

need wholesome snacks, i.e.,

peanut butter, cereal, etc.

Donors may drop their dona-

tions in the designated box

in the Narthex.

Divine Diners . . . Divine Diners . . . Divine Diners . . . Divine Diners . . .

Contact Carolyn Morgan at

gcmorgan41@aol.com or 817-

266-8016 if you are interest-

ed in joining the Summer

Devine Diner group.

Take Me Out to the Take Me Out to the Take Me Out to the Take Me Out to the Ballgame . . . Ballgame . . . Ballgame . . . Ballgame . . .

August 25th (See Flyer)

Happy 105th Birthday, Happy 105th Birthday, Happy 105th Birthday, Happy 105th Birthday, Fr. Harold Knight . . . Fr. Harold Knight . . . Fr. Harold Knight . . . Fr. Harold Knight . . .

We will shower Fr. Knight

on July 26th with bunches of

birthday cards. Bring your

addressed and stamped card

to church by July 22nd and

we will mail them for you.

Let’s All Celebrate!

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Kid’s Korner . . . Kid’s Korner . . . Kid’s Korner . . . Kid’s Korner . . .

Mother’s Day Gift Project . . . Mother’s Day Gift Project . . . Mother’s Day Gift Project . . . Mother’s Day Gift Project . . .

St. Mark’s Kids Are —

Pick up your flyer in the NarthexPick up your flyer in the NarthexPick up your flyer in the NarthexPick up your flyer in the Narthex

Order Your Tickets Today!Order Your Tickets Today!Order Your Tickets Today!Order Your Tickets Today!

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Recycling Helps St. Mark’s . . . Recycling Helps St. Mark’s . . . Recycling Helps St. Mark’s . . . Recycling Helps St. Mark’s . . . As St. Mark’s strived to “go green” in 2012 our “Helping Cans” project was started.

Yolanda Jones oversaw this project and Al Rausch took it over in 2014 when Fr. Scott was trans-

ferred. Who knew that saving the world could be so profitable? Items these “additional funds”

helped us purchase were runners for various doors to the church & Knight Hall and WiFi equip-

ment was bought for the Thrift Store. Since January 2014 through April 2017, I have redeemed

$746.00 from the recycled bottles & cans. We get $1/lb. for cans and $.40/lb. for bottles.

How this money continues to HELP the church:

Raw materials were purchased for the garbage can storage bins just outside the kitchen

door - Don Henney contributed the time and labor for construction.

$107 was given to the Men's Club as a reimbursement for the meat they bought for one of

their meals/meetings.

ECW was given $100.00 for expenses incurred in the "one year anniversary

party" for Fr. Gerardo.

We currently have about $115 on hand.

Here's what I want everyone to know:

1. Separate the bottles and cans into the 2 appropriate containers.

2. We want clear plastic bottles only—no milk cartons, plastic trays from food, paper cups or no take-out

containers.

3. Tin cans are fine with the aluminum cans.

4. If anyone wants to be in charge of getting the recyclables to the re-cycler and collecting the money, I

would be happy to give them the job (and the required training!)

Saving the world really does help St. Mark’s. Please support this project. — Al Rausch

Cursillo News . . . Cursillo News . . . Cursillo News . . . Cursillo News . . . "The 2017 Cursillo #118 Three-Day Weekend will be held at the Chapel Rock

Conference Center in Prescott, July 13-16. This will be a co-ed weekend, and

we ask for your prayers for the Team Members and the Candidates."

Blessings. Monica Larsen

Divine Diners Kick Off 2017 Divine Diners Kick Off 2017 Divine Diners Kick Off 2017 Divine Diners Kick Off 2017 Summer Season . . . Summer Season . . . Summer Season . . . Summer Season . . .

It’s official . . . Divine Diners, aka Devine Diners

with an “e’, is an official “Fellowship Ministry” kick-

ing off its maiden event hosted by Bobbie Degnon at

her beautiful home on June 10th. A lovely summer

picnic (inside of course) was served featuring fried

chicken and all of the trimmings. Those who signed

up to participate were divided into small groups con-

sisting of 6-8 persons, and the groups gathered to

plan their future summer events. I know that to date

one group has met for a delicious lasagna dinner and

one has met for a pizza/game night. A 4th of July

event is scheduled at Leisure World. It’s not too late

to sign up, be counted and participate. Contact Car-

olyn Morgan at gcmorgan41@aol.com or 817-266-8016

if you need more information or would like to join these

fun folks.

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Communication Ministry Attends Workshop . . . Communication Ministry Attends Workshop . . . Communication Ministry Attends Workshop . . . Communication Ministry Attends Workshop . . .

Participants from all Central Arizona congregations attended a “Communication and Social Media for

Churches” Workshop on June 19th at Christ Church of the Ascension in Paradise Valley. The Workshop

was presented by Nicole A. Krug, Canon for Media &

Communications for the Diocese of Arizona. St. Mark’s

participants were Kathy Cheatham and Mary Lou Bur-

gess. The information was geared towards digital media

and the use of technology, i.e., Websites, E-Mail Newslet-

ters and Social Media and produced a plethora of excel-

lent ideas and information beneficial to all congregations.

Have you visited our website or our facebook page lately?

Have you joined our Facebook Group Page? Give it a

try . . . It’s a wonderful way to catch up on Church news,

prayer needs and to share the love of Christ. Any questions or if you need help, please ask Kathy

Cheatham, Mary Lou Burgess, Maureen Davies, Dianne Nunez or Anali Perry.

Christ has no online presence but yours, No blog, no Facebook page but yours, Yours are the tweets and posts through which love touches this world, Yours are the posts through which the Gospel is shared, Yours are the updates through which hope is re-vealed. Christ has no online presence but yours --Meredith Gould

Did you know?Did you know?Did you know?Did you know? •There are over 1.86 billion monthly active

Facebook users worldwide (as of 2/1/17)

•There are 1.15 billion mobile daily active

users

•Photo uploads total 300 million per day

•Every 60 seconds: 510,000 comments are

posted, 293,000 statuses are updated, and

136,000 photos are uploaded

•50% of 18-24 year-olds go on Facebook

when they wake up

ECW&M Reports ‘Thankful Offerings’ for UTO . . . ECW&M Reports ‘Thankful Offerings’ for UTO . . . ECW&M Reports ‘Thankful Offerings’ for UTO . . . ECW&M Reports ‘Thankful Offerings’ for UTO . . . The day of Ascension (May 25th) marked the final day for the ECW&M’s United

Thank Offering campaign under the leadership of Maureen Davies and Kathy

Smith. Memories take me back to the fall of 2016 when they made their presen-

tation to the congregation as they explained the mission of the UTO — “To Ex-

pand the Circle of Thankful People”. They appealed to parishioners to fill their

Blue Box with daily prayers, offerings and awareness of the abundance of God’s

blessings and remit the sum to the ECW&M in the form of a personal check. The

United Thank Offering is a spiritual and financial partner in the mission work of

The Episcopal Church. Several times during this campaign they gave gentle re-

minders to parishioners and replenished the supply of Blue Boxes in the Narthex.

At its June 2017 meeting, Maureen and Kathy reported a total of $789.83 in UTO thankful offerings and

the ministry voted to supplement this total and remit $800 in UTO offerings to the Dioceses for St. Mark’s

United Thank Offering. Grateful hearts are

the reason the United Thank Offering is able

to continue to award grants which are gifts of

love, and which change lives. They are also the

reason the United Thank Offering is a vital

mission arm of the Episcopal Church. We love

the concept that UTO is not a fund drive, but

rather a discipline in our daily life in Christ

wherein we offer prayers of thanksgiving for

our countless blessings; this makes giving a

joyful experience. Thank you everyone for all

of your “thankful” offerings.

UNITED THANK OFFERING PRAYERUNITED THANK OFFERING PRAYERUNITED THANK OFFERING PRAYERUNITED THANK OFFERING PRAYER

GRACIOUS GOD, source of all creation, all love, all true joy: accept, we pray, these outward signs of our profound and continuing thankfulness for all of life. Keep each of us ever thankful for all the blessings of joy and challenge that come our way. Bless those who will benefit from these gifts through the outreach of the United Thank Offering. This we ask through Him who is the greatest gift and blessing of all, Jesus Christ. Amen

Join us at www.stmarksmesa.org and on Facebook at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church-Mesa, AZ for updates and more news!

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July 13—July 16 — Cursillo Weekend

July 16 — ECW&M Meeting following 10 am

service — Conference Room

July 17—21 — Vacation Bible School (See

Flyer)

July 22 — Funeral for Jano Cook Leone — 10 am

August 15 — Ministry Council (all ministry leaders) —7

pm Conference Room

August 25 — 6th Annual Episcopal Night w/ Arizona

Diamondbacks

Baptism/Confirmation Class — Every Sunday —1:30 pm

Follow the Calendar on the Web Site for updates and addi-

tions.

Room Reservation Forms are available in the Church office.

Jr. Warden Schedule — 1st & 3rd Tuesdays 8-10 am — Fridays

7-11 am

Summer Food Drive — Food Pantry needs wholesome sum-

mer snacks, etc. Donation box in Narthex.

Upcoming Events . . .Upcoming Events . . .Upcoming Events . . .Upcoming Events . . . “Give rest, O Christ, to your servant, Janette Leo-

ne, (Jano Cook, the daughter of Thomas & Dawn

Cook), with your saints, where sorrow and pain are

no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.”

Amen.

In Memoriam . . . In Memoriam . . . In Memoriam . . . In Memoriam . . .

The Day of Pentecost and The Day of Pentecost and The Day of Pentecost and The Day of Pentecost and Baptism . . . Baptism . . . Baptism . . . Baptism . . .

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and be-

gan to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave

them ability. Acts 2:4

Thank you Jan Northcutt for organizing and direct-

ing all of the wonderful voices on Pentecost Sunday

— they truly made a “joyful noise” to the Lord!

It was a beautiful day for a Baptism; thus, William

Jack Heinrick, the newborn son of Jeff & Tracy Hen-

rick, was baptized in fine fashion. He didn’t even

make a peep! Congratulations William Jack — we’re

looking forward to the day when you join Elmer and

Arthur Perry along with all of our kiddos at St.

Mark’s.

Thank you Rev. Canon Meghan Traquair and Rev.

David Pettengill for visiting St. Mark’s on June 4th

and 11th as our guest clergy in Fr. Brambila’s ab-

sence. We were enriched by your presence. Please

come back and visit us again.

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322 North Horne Street, Mesa, AZ 85203

Office Hours: Tues —Fri: 9 am-1 pm

(480) 964-5820

E-Mail: office@stmarksmesa

Web Site: www.stmarksmesa.org

St. Mark’s Episcopal ChurchSt. Mark’s Episcopal ChurchSt. Mark’s Episcopal ChurchSt. Mark’s Episcopal Church

Parish Directory

The Rev. Gerardo Brambila Vicar

The Rev. Steven Ford Assistant Priest

Chris Perry Director of Music

Gloria McManus Parish Administrator

Deb Cannon Licensed in Children’s Ministries

Terry Gordon Senior Warden

Bob Cheatham Junior Warden

Al Rausch Treasurer

Bishop’s Committee Members

Caleb Collins John Ddamba

Judy Hossack Anali Perry

Paige Stalcup Charles Vaughn

Ministry Leaders

Acolytes Paige Stalcup Altar Guild Terry Gordon Choir and Praise Ensemble Chris Perry Christian Formation for Youth Deb Cannon Dianne Nunez Communications Kathy Cheatham/ ML Burgess

Ministry Leaders(Cont’d.)

Cursillo Monica Larsen Daughters of the King Marge Fountain Divine Diners Carolyn Morgan ECW&M (Women’s & Men’s Ministry) Jeanette Rogers Food Pantry Penny Place Greeters Judy Hossack Hispanic Ministry Fr. Brambila Liturgical Arrangements Viviana Brambila Ministry Counsel Terry Gordon Office Angels Gloria McManus Pastoral Care Elaine Austin Scriptorium Deb Cannon Sunday Lay Ministries Fr. Brambila/ Gloria McManus Tai Chi Dee Greiner Thrift Store Sally Worthington Ushers Kathy Smith/ Bob Cheatham

Visit us on the Web: www.stmarksmesa.org and join us on Facebook at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church-Mesa, AZ

This section of the Newsletter is provided for Parishioners to advertise their business. We will print a copy of your business card for a period of three (3) consecutive Newsletters. Rather than assess a fee for the publication, we are asking for a monetary dona-tion to help defray the cost of printing the Newsletter. Currently, the Newsletter is distributed to all of our parishioners and guests — approximately 200 copies per edition. At the end of the three printings, you may renew your business card along with an addi-tional monetary donation. Contact Mary Lou Burgess at mburg37114@aol.com or 480-218-5434 for further information.

Space available . . .