Saint Mark's Messenger Beaver Dam, Wisconsin Joann Ellis, Editor March 2017 Walking Together Are you ready for Lent? When I think about lent, I think about 40 days of prayer, inner reflection, repentance and God focused time. Lent is a time in which we turn away from ourselves, our lives, our needs and focus solely on our relationship with God. Historically speaking, during the time of lent people would take time out of their daily labor to pray, to fast, to reflect, to practice silence and focused on God, but nowadays it is impossible to leave our jobs, our families and friends in order to go to church to such things. Understanding the world that we live in and the busyness of our daily life, I would like to present to you a few resources that you can use during this important time of the year. Online Resources: Loyola Press http://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic- faith/liturgical-year/lent This is a Jesuit Ministry that presents great resources for you to learn and grow during the time of lent. Society of St. John the Evangelist http://ssje.org/ssje/5marksoflove/ This resource provides you with daily emails and pdfs for lent. Lent Madness http://www.lentmadness.org/bracket/ Lent Madness began in 2010 as the brainchild of the Rev. Tim Schenck. In seeking a fun, engaging way for people to learn about the men and women comprising the Church’s Calendar of Saints, the Rev. Schenck came up with this unique Lenten devotion. Go! For Lent http://www.episcopalchurch.org/blog/Le ntenReflections Go! for Lent is a series of reflections on scripture passages that include the word “go.” The many uses and meanings of “go” throughout scripture provide rich sources of contemplation for this Lenten season. D365 http://d365.org A daily devotional with scripture, a personal message and prayers to use during the day. There are many books out there that would help you during the time of Lent. I encourage you to read the Bible and use at your Book of Common Prayer and the different devotional prayers found in it. Finally, I encourage you to come to church, to seek the guidance of your priest and your fellow parishioners. May God walk with you during your devotions and may this Lent be a time of transformation. Yours in Christ, Fr. O
Transcript
Saint Mark's Messenger Beaver Dam, Wisconsin Joann Ellis, Editor March 2017
Walking Together
Are you ready for Lent? When I think about lent, I think about 40 days of prayer, inner reflection, repentance and God focused time. Lent is a time in which we turn away from ourselves, our lives, our needs and focus solely on our relationship with God. Historically speaking, during the time of lent people would take time out of their daily labor to pray, to fast, to reflect, to practice silence and focused on God, but nowadays it is impossible to leave our jobs, our families and friends in order to go to church to such things. Understanding
the world that we live in and the busyness of our daily life, I would like to present to you a few resources that you can use during this important time of the year.
Online Resources: Loyola Press http://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/lent This is a Jesuit Ministry that presents great resources for you to learn and grow during the time of lent.
Society of St. John the Evangelist http://ssje.org/ssje/5marksoflove/ This resource provides you with daily emails and pdfs for lent.
Lent Madness http://www.lentmadness.org/bracket/ Lent Madness began in 2010 as the brainchild of the Rev. Tim Schenck. In seeking a fun, engaging way for people to learn about the men and women
comprising the Church’s Calendar of Saints, the Rev. Schenck came up with this unique Lenten devotion.
Go! For Lent http://www.episcopalchurch.org/blog/LentenReflections Go! for Lent is a series of reflections on scripture passages that include the word “go.” The many uses and meanings of “go” throughout scripture provide rich sources of contemplation for this Lenten season.
D365 http://d365.org
A daily devotional with scripture, a personal
message and prayers to use during the day.
There are many books out there that would help you during the time of Lent. I encourage you to read the Bible and use at your Book of Common Prayer and the different devotional prayers found in it. Finally, I encourage you to come to church, to seek the guidance of your priest and your fellow parishioners.
May God walk with you during your devotions and may this Lent be a time of transformation.
Elizabeth Tester and Oscar Rozo's Baby Registry Arrival date: April 6, 2017
https://www.amazon.com/gp/baby-
reg/elizabeth-tester-oscar-rozo-april-
2017-watertown
Greetings all! Thank you so much for considering supporting the newest arrival to our family through this registry. We are very excited to welcome him to the world. In talking with many other moms they have related that they received multiples of things that they never wound up using. Therefore I have tried to construct our registry with that in mind. If you feel something has been left off the registry that we might need, consider that we didn't include it because we have already been gifted it (like onesies, towels, etc) or someone is making it for us (like baby blankets). If you are unable to find a gift that works for you, please consider giving gift cards which we can then use for the purchase of diapers (disposable or reusable is what we are hoping to go for). Of course, we will be delighted with your generosity regardless so thank you for any and all consideration you might give. And thank you for helping us celebrate Zeke!
Hi! I am Markie, St. Mark’s new religious, spirituality, theology, church culture and church philosophy guide. I am here to answer all kinds of questions regarding faith, church and theology. Here is the question for this month:
“As Episcopalians, what is our relationship to the saints?”
Let me begin by quoting the catechism that is found in the Book of Common Prayer: “The communion of saints is the whole family of God, the living and the dead, those whom we love and those whom we hurt, bound together in Christ by sacrament, prayer, and praise” BCP page 862. In other words, Saints are those who have been baptized, those who are nurtured by the Holy Eucharist, those who have experienced change, growth and spiritual maturity by seeking God in their lives. In the Episcopal Church we believe that everyone is called to sainthood. Do we ask the saints’ to intercede for us? In the Episcopal Church we believe that there is not a need for third parties. The Gospel of John 14:6 states; “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” It is through Christ that we are saved and therefore there is no need for someone to intercede for us. If they can’t intercede for us, what are the Saints for? The Episcopal Church sees the saints as role models and samples to follow. We even have a book called Holy Men and Holy Women which help us reflect on the lives of the Saints and encourage us to follow their example. We will continue next month with more answers to your questions, but in the mean while I would like to invite you to learn more about our patron saint, St. Mark the Evangelist. Search online, look in the scriptures and as you learn new things about our patron saint, share with each other, your priest and me.
May God be always with you and inspire your hearts to follow the steps of the Saints!
Your friend, Markie
PRAY FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE SERVICE.
Dennis Adams, Joshua B., James Brink, Jimmy Brink, Sam Budde, Barry
Hilbert, Joshua Kent (is being deployed), Karl Krueger, Brian Lampert,
Stephen Strube.
Lord, keep our servicemen and women safe, whether they serve at home or
overseas. Hold them in your loving hands and protect them as they protect us.
Amen
-244-9486March 2017
BIRTHDAYS 19-Ricky Polensky 28-Mary Jane Drews 28-Megan Moquin 30-Jasmine Moore BAPTISMAL ANNIVERSARIES 2 James Merrill Jr 6 June Harmon
WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES 3-Jim and Christine Merrill 3-Dan and Sue Kuhn 21-Steve & Cyndi Helmer
If your Birthday, Baptismal Anniversary or
Wedding Anniversary is not listed, please fill
out a update form and turn into the office.
The form is located on the Narthex Table.
MARCH 2017
LITURGICAL MINISTRY SCHEDULE
YEAR A
*Remember it is your responsibility to find a sub for your date if you are unable to serve the day you are
More EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN NEWS EXCERPTS (FULL NEWSLETTER POSTED ON BULLETIN BOARD IN NARTHEX.)
Hurricane Relief Funds disbursed by Haiti Project by Heidi Ropa (Haiti Project director) "In everything be giving thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you." 1
Thessalonians 5:18 This past year, I have been in a position to witness the generosity of
people's hearts. Without knowing their spiritual story, I simply see
people's love for God in their response to their neighbors in need. It is
a sacred place to be. The Haiti Project ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee
acknowledges and thanks the hundreds of donors and many churches who
helped raise $112,501.52 in response to significant damage in Jeannette,
Haiti from Hurricane Mathew in early October.
Here is how your financial gifts were immediately dispersed in October:
the delivery of emergency food aid to the community;
A fully-funded school lunch program at a time when many families lost
their gardens and fruit trees.
Repairs to hurricane damage on the school campus;
Emergency roof repairs on several homes.
Social assistance loans to teachers to repair their homes and rebuild
their lives;
Here is the enduring legacy of your generosity:
5 hurricane-proof houses built following higher standards to insure structural integrity
11 local men are employed by this project and are learning new skills, supervised by an engineer
PROCREEH ERD women's business loans reissued after hurricane loss
More to come: The St. Marc's Hurricane Committee will determine priorities for the remaining hurricane relief
funds. The Haiti Project Steering Committee will consider these priorities as we direct your generous
gift. Thanks be to God!!
Time to Register for Camp Webb!
Available slots are filling fast . . .
don't delay! Thinking about enrolling your child in
