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| News
from St. Mark's Episcopal Church |
April
2009 | |
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With the renewed life in Spring comes a renewed sense of
energy and dedication at St. Mark's. On May 3 the High School
group will be bringing lunch to feed the homeless as part of
Common Cathedral/Ecclesia Ministries outreach in Boston. On
the same day our Sunday School will be participating in the
Walk for Hunger. Details about that will follow separately,
and we hope that some of you will sponsor the St. Mark's team!
The outreach team is working to assemble a shipment of
supplies to El Hogar (see how you can help in the Outreach
article), and exploring possibilities of working with the
B-Safe program for two days in July. John speaks in his letter
about offering a free course in the community to help those
between jobs explore what is most important to them.
How would you like to work to serve others? Do you
have an idea you would like to explore or a particular cause
you would like to support? Talk with Marge Douglass or any
member of the outreach team (Sue Heidbrink, Sue Thompson,
Betsy Figenbaum, Emily Howser, Pat Doleman, and Ginger
Blanchet).
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 Letter from John de
Beer
Dear Friends,
I
know of four parishioners who have recently lost their
jobs. One has already found other work; the others are
looking, joining many in our communities and in the
world who are presently unemployed.
The new
vestry at St. Mark's has made this a high priority for
our life this year, seeking to respond in some way to
those whose lives have been disrupted. We are going to
experiment with offering a free course to help those
between jobs explore what is most important to them, and
listen for God's particular call. You can find details
elsewhere in this newsletter. Please invite anyone who
might benefit, whether or not they are parishioners
here.
On a personal note, my wife Tricia
has resigned as Rector of the Church of Our Redeemer in
Lexington. She is taking some time herself to rest and
to discern where God is calling her next. You may expect
to see her from time to time in worship at St.
Mark's.
I look forward to worshiping with
you this Holy Week and Easter. Palm Sunday has been
designed to help all ages enter imaginatively into God's
amazing presence in Jesus ministry and in our own time.
The more you can participate in worship on Palm Sunday,
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, the more you may be
able to enter in to the joy of
Easter.
Blessings,
John
The
Rev. John de
Beer
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Between
Jobs: A Spiritual
Exploration of What's Next
The time
between jobs can be a time to explore what is most important
in life. Imagine finding a job which challenges you to use
your special talents in service of something that matters
deeply to you.. Are there jobs like that out there? The first
step is to identify what you feel really called to do.
St. Mark's Episcopal Church is offering a free
course over four weeks designed to help you listen for your
unique call. The course is open to anyone who is currently
unemployed, whether or not they are members of St. Mark's. No
religious commitment is required.
The course will
meet on Tuesday mornings in May, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Each morning will include brief presentations, individual
reflection and group discussion. The course is designed and
led by the Rev. Dr. John de Beer, who has written and taught
extensively about vocation and call. The topics are as
follows:
May 5th: Where do I find my self-worth
when I am between jobs?
Strengthening my connections with
others, with the world around me and with my deeper
self.
May 12th: What do I really care about?
Exploring my passionate connection with the
world.
May 19th: What am I really good at?
Receiving as gifts my innate abilities, those things that
I do well and love doing.
May 26th: What is holding me
back?
Moving from resistance to commitment to my inner
sense of call.
Registration:
Send your name,
email and/or phone number to St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 10
St. Mark's Road, Burlington, or email stmarksburl@rcn.com.
Enrollment is limited. If you have questions, email the
Rev. John de Beer at connect.john@gmail.com, or leave him a
message at 781-272-1586.
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 From the Senior
Warden
Happy Spring
After this cold, snowy winter
it is really wonderful to see the flowers come popping out of
the ground, which I believe is God's gift to us of a new
beginning. We also have another gift by way of two new
members; Elizabeth Edwards and Jeremy Grace. We all welcome
you both into St. Mark's family.
The Vestry went
on a very enjoyable retreat in March at Bethany House of
Prayer, which was hosted by the Sisters of St. Ann-Bethany at
their convent in Arlington. This year we have 5 new vestry
members and this was a great way for all of us to get to know
each other a little bit better as we reflected on Psalm 139.
At the end of the day we had Eucharist with the Sisters
in the chapel.
We looked at the viability
characteristics of a church, which are the elements of
congregational and diocesan life that are considered basic and
essential. They represent the fundamental obligations and
responsibilities that each congregation undertakes as a
constituent part of the diocese. We scored very well on
these and noticed how far we have come from a few years ago.
Then we looked at what we were successfully doing and
it turned out to be Stewardship which involves our time,
talent and treasure and that we should continue to work on
building this up even further by listing areas that time and
talent are needed within the church especially with property
issues. The troubled economy which affects all of us was a
subject and we felt we could support each other through home
gatherings. Inviting speakers to explain ways in which we can
leave a legacy to St. Mark's through bequests, wills and gift
annuities was also discussed.
The other important area
we are strong in is Outreach. People Helping People including
the Pantry seems to be our number one priority for
outreach. Having the wonderful new Pantry building on
our property certainly is a plus. We have some parishioners
who are on the board of People Helping People and we are
hoping to add to that and involve the youth in perhaps packing
food for distribution. This year we stopped charging the
Pantry for rent and we are going to discontinue charging them
for snow removal.
The support of a young boy in
Honduras at El Hogar by the name of Julio is also to be
continued and to find other ways for helping the orphanage.
We would like to get to know Julio on a more personal
level so we can better support him in his life and education.
I wish you all a joyous Easter and a happy spring.
Peace,
Shirley
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 From
the Associate for Multigenerational
Ministries
In just a few days we will be celebrating Palm Sunday and
then move into Holy Week. Since Palm Sunday is also Story
Sunday things will be a little different. Instead of having
the whole congregation read the Passion, we will have only a
few members tell the story so that we can hear with our ears
and hearts to this central Christian story. John will then
lead us in some "Wondering Questions" (a great term from Godly
Play) which I hope you will find helpful in preparing for Holy
Week.
As part of my preparation for Holy Week I
recently read a book by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic
Crossan entitled, The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach
about Jesus ' Final Days in Jerusalem. For me Holy Week was
always just about the two services of Maundy Thursday and Good
Friday. The other days were like any other. In reading the
book I learned that Holy Week is really about the whole week
from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. As usual I was trying to
compress too many events into too little
time.
The authors begin with Jesus' procession
into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and then devote a chapter to
each day. On Monday, Jesus enters the Temple and throws over
the tables of the money-changers and other merchants. On
Tuesday he is confronted by the Elders questioning his
authority to heal, preach, and teach. Wednesday is spent in
Bethany where Jesus is anointed by the nameless woman.
Thursday evening he prepares his disciples for his death
through the blessing and sharing of a meal. On Friday he is
brought to the Elders and Pontius Pilate who condemn him to
death. Saturday, the day of the Jewish Sabbath, nothing seems
to happen. Finally Sunday arrives once again with the
discovery of Jesus' resurrection.
As you can see,
a lot happens during this short time. Jesus goes from
processing in on palm branches to rising from the dead in just
seven days. And even though I knew the stories of these events
I was surprised by how little they affected me until I read
this book. Usually I spend the beginning of Holy Week in
denial. I find thinking about the crucifixion very upsetting.
As I mentioned in my sermon watching The Passion of the Christ
by Mel Gibson was quiet traumatic. So I push out of my
mind until Friday.
However, Borg and Crossan
point out that our faith depends on living through the whole
week. We can't just simply skip to the parts we like. As much
as I would like to go right from Palm Sunday to Easter, if I
did this the story wouldn't make sense. After all without Good
Friday, there can be no Easter. We have to accompany Jesus
from the Temple, to the Last Supper all the way to the tomb in
order so that we can participate in Jesus' resurrection. When
we carry the stories in our hearts we begin to grasp that
these are stories about us. We too travel through hardships
and pain. But with our faith we know that Easter is
always just around the corner.
May you have a
contemplative Holy Week and a blessed
Easter.
Peace,
Sarah |
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Common Cathedral Field
Trip
On May 3 the High School group will be
bringing food to the Common Cathedral service held in Boston
Common. Common Cathedral is run by Ecclesia, a group
located at St. Paul's Cathedral committed to serving the
homeless community of Boston. Each Sunday they hold a
church service with Eucharist followed by a free lunch.
St. Mark's will be hosting the free lunch as well as the
United Church of Christ church of Amesbury. This is a
great opportunity for us to enact Jesus' call to feed the
hungry as well as experience a different type of church
service. Anyone who would like to join us please contact
Sarah
Manly.
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Easter Egg
Hunt
The Easter Bunny will be
visiting St. Mark's on Easter Sunday so that we can have an
Easter egg Hunt! The hunt will begin after the service,
outside (weather permitting). We will supply bags to collect
the eggs.
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Mother's Day
American Girl Tea Party
Your American
Girl Doll is welcome
May 9,
2009 3 pm
St. Marks
Episcopal Church
To benefit
the Burlington Food Pantry
Fun...Food...Entertainment...Raffles...Prizes
Adults $8, child & seniors
$6
Limited
seating...Reservations: 781-272-1586
Get a free raffle ticket with a
donation of a can of
soup.
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Outreach
Notes
El Hogar
Support
As well as financial support, El Hogar,
the school in El Salvador which St. Mark's helps to support,
can use supplies.The outreach team is asking for your help.We
must gather items and have them packed and mailed by April 22
or 23rd as it must reach El Hogar's storage unit in
Jacksonville, Fl. by May lst, otherwise it will be held until
the following May. They have one shipment to El Hogar per
year.
Anyone who would like to help us with purchasing
items that are needed can bring them to Church the next
three Sundays, April 5, 12, and the 19th. There will be
a box in the Narthex for the items. Items needed are:
coiled Notebooks, Socks- large preferably dark colors
and boys underwear - large sizes 14 and 16.
Next MeetingThere
will be an evening Outreach meeting held at the home of Sue
Heidbrink, 6 Town Line Road, Burlington at 7:00 p.m. on
Wednesday evening April 1st. All interested in joining
us please come - you will be welcomed Wednesday Lunch
The next Wednesday Fellowship Lunch will be held on April
8th at 12:00 noon. Please come and join us
in friendly conversation, good food and getting to know
everyone a little bit better. Bring a friend if you
would like. All are welcome.
Marge
Douglass |
| Easter
and Mother's Day Flowers
If you would like to include the name(s) of anyone in the
Easter bulletin, and have not been able to get to church,
please call Senada at 781-272-1586. A donation to help with
the purchase of flowers is appreciated but is not
necessary.
Once again, we plan to have the Altar of
Roses for Mother's Day. Order forms are available on the back
pew of the church. The cost is $5/rose, and our net proceeds
will be donated to a local battered women's shelter through
REACH. The deadline for ordering roses is Sunday, May
3rd.
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The
Property Team Wants You to 'Play Ball'!
As spring approaches, we have some games to play at the
rectory and around the outside of the church. As
members of the team, we can contribute our TIME and our
TALENTS as we make the grounds more attractive and the
buildings improved. Be looking for a "sign up"
sheet in the narthex. You can tell us your talent and the
amount of time that you can contribute. We can use lots of
players.
Jack
Heidbrink
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Counter Needed
Can you sort paper? Make copies? Add using a
calculator? If you answered yes you have all the
qualifications needed to be a counter at St. Mark's!!!
Counters work in teams of two to add up checks and cash
received during the past week and at the collection, and
deposit it in the bank. We have four teams of counters so you
only have to do this one Sunday a month. If you can't be there
for your Sunday you can arrange either to swap with another
counting team or with your fellow counter to count and do the
deposit on an evening that week. We are looking for
one person to count as a replacement for Angela Anderson, who
is now our treasurer. If you are interested please see Angela
or Karen Donahue, or email Angela.
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Box Tops
for the Lillian Vallely School
This year the Outreach team and the children of St.
Mark's are collecting box tops for the Lillian Vallely school,
a Christian school serving children who live on the Fort
Hall reservation in Blackfoot, Idaho. Each of the box
tops is worth 10 cents. The school uses the money to fund the
library and to buy much needed materials in order to better
educate the children. Box tops can really add up! The
more you clip, the bigger the difference. The list of box tops
is way too long to put here, but is on a handout on the table
in the narthex next to the bag where you can leave box tops.
Or email Catherine Owens and she will send it to you
as an email attachment.
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Project Bread's FoodSource
Hotline
With the high cost of living in the Commonwealth and more
than 522,000 people across the state struggling to put food on
the table, chances are that a friend or neighbor of yours is
having difficulty making ends meet this winter. Project
Bread's FoodSource Hotline can help. The FoodSource Hotline is
the only comprehensive information and referral service for
the hungry in Massachusetts. Counselors can provide
information and screen callers for food stamp eligibility,
connect them to school meal programs, and direct them to
emergency food resources right in their neighborhood.
Counselors can assist callers in 160 languages and the calls
are both personalized and confidential. Extend your
goodwill and reach out to those in need. A call to Project
Bread's FoodSource Hotline may be all it takes to provide
comfort to someone who is struggling.
In response to the increased demand for help, Project
Bread's Food Source Hotline has extended its hours
to:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M.
Saturday: 10:00 A.M. - 2:00P.M.
1-800-645-8333 TTY:
1-800-377-1292. |
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Treasurer's Report
General
Fund
Feb 2009 YTD
Actual
Feb 2009 YTD Budget
Contributions
$14,060.00
$14,468.34
Rental
Income
$7,876.00
$7,708.34
Other
$1,656.63
$1,476.66
Total
Income
$23,592.63
$23,653.34
Total
Expenses
($24,742.72)
($28,365.00)
Net Benefit
YTD
($1,150.09)
($4,711.66)
$3,561.57
Well,
could it be true that Winter is behind us and we can now look
forward to the excitement Spring brings? We certainly
still have it in the budget to rise together and Spring
forward with outside kind of expenditure activities. The
month of February financially for St Mark's anticipated
expense that have yet to be recognized, such as Outreach,
Operational Expenses (Utilities and Insurance as well as
Maintenance and Repair), Adult and Youth ministry, and the
Vestry Retreat. This is why you're seeing what appears
to be quite a favorable Net Benefit when comparing Year To
Date Actuals to Budgeted. So personally, I look forward
to the coming months when the weather welcomes us all to come
together, be together, and enjoy each other's company while
supporting our communities, traveling to a place of interest,
planting flowers, or perhaps mending our rectory, educational
building, or
church.
Respectfully,
Angela
Anderson
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Choir
Notes
A big thank you
to all of you who have helped heal my shoulder with your
cheery greetings, thoughts and prayers. When John
visited me with the flowers from the altar, I was reminded
once again of what special people you are. I have been touched
by your kindness and concern, which has helped me feel so much
better!
Thank you, too,
to Jack Heidbrink and Steve Cuhna, who helped our organ repair
person do what was necessary to stop the organ from making
that loud humming noise. Between letting him into the church,
helping him move the organ, assisting with tools and other
assorted tasks, Jack and Steve were essential in getting the
job done.
The Youth and Adult Choirs During
Holy Week and Easter
On Palm Sunday
the Youth Choir will join the Adult Choir in singing a
triumphant choral introit, "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna." This will
open our service before we sing "All Glory, Laud and Honor"
while we process with palms. The Youth Choir will be featured
during the Offertory with their favorite Palm Sunday anthem,
"Little Gray Donkey", complete with percussion accompaniment.
During Holy
Week the Adult Choir will sing during the evening services on
both Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, featuring anthems by
Bach and Tchaikovsky. Both choirs will participate on Easter
Sunday, adding to the festive nature of the service. The
finishing touches will be provided by our own Bruce Burrell on
flute and clarinet, and our returning guest trumpeter, Adam
Dohanian.
Schedule
Change
Please note
that we will be having our Adult Choir rehearsal immediately
following the 7:30 pm service on Maundy Thursday, April 9th
rather than at the usual
time.
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Lion in
the Limelight
 At a parishioner's suggestion, our Lion
for the month is our Administrator, Senada Zaganjori, shown
here with a friend. Senada was born in Albania. Her
husband to be, Alexander, was visiting cousins in Albania.
They met, fell in love, and Senada came to the United States
in 1997. They have two children, David, age 10, and Nadia, age
8, both of whom go to the Pine Glen school in Burlington.
When she isn't working for St. Mark's, Senada works at
the Lahey Clinic, as an Appointment coordinator in the
Physical Therapy department. She dreams of going back to
school and becoming a nurse, but her priorities right now are
her children. She loves gardening, and photography, art, and
design. Her favorite place to vacation is Disney, as you might
have guessed, and locally at York, Maine. She has a big family
back in Albania, including her parents and one brother (her
other brother lives in London). She and her children will be
visiting them for three weeks in June. Senada works in
the office on Monday and Wednesday morning. Please stop in and
say hello! |
April Women's Group
Fieldtrip
On Palm Sunday, April
5th we will be attending the Burlington High School Musical -
The Wizard of Oz. The play begins at 2:00 PM. Having seen a
preview, the show promises to be a huge success. We will have
17 women in attendance. Tickets have been purchased and Linda
Kelley will be distributing them. If anyone has any questions
or is in need of transportation, please feel free to contact:
Linda Kelley at 781-883-8972 or email at
ljkelley@rcn.com
Rosemarie Tieri at 781-272-1558 or email
rozeetea@yahoo.com
Judy Gustafson at 781-229-2688 or email
judester52@comcast.net
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 Notes from EDS
It's been an exciting month. I am enjoying my
liturgy class. Some of you heard some of the fruits of that
class in the instructed Eucharist we had at the end of March.
I've gotten involved in supporting the technology we
use to offer our classes over the Internet. EDS is searching
for a new President, and we had three candidates on campus
this month. I trained on the job as we broadcast their Lenten
meditations and student interviews. I also started to get more
deeply involved in some of the issues around the changes the
EDS community is experiencing.
I've visited three
churches as possible field education sites. I've come to
realize that a church is a good possibility for me if I see
something and think, "I have to bring that back to St.
Mark's!" I still am grieved at the thought of not being with
you next year, but that knowledge has sharpened my
appreciation for the time I do have. I sat in my pew a few
weeks ago watching you come back from communion, and felt such
love for all of you that everything seemed sharper, colors
brighter, life more vivid. How lucky I am to be a part of this
wonderful community!
I've started working with the St.
Mark's discernment team. This is a three month process that
will result in a recommendation to the vestry about whether
St. Mark's will support my application for ordination. We've
met twice, once with our liaison from the Commission on
Ministry, and once after I had given the team initial drafts
of a spiritual autobiography and statement of my ministry
goals, both of which are part of the final application to the
Diocese. I am incredibly grateful to Deb Smyth, chair, Sally
Cassidy, vestry representative, Bruce Burrell, Andy Gilbert,
John Kelley, and Elizabeth Centauro, for their willingness to
spend a considerable amount of their time to work through this
with me and write the resulting report to the vestry.
Once they have prepared their report the vestry may
wish to interview me as well, then they will decide if they
can recommend me. Their letter of support and one from John
will also become part of my application, which is due August
first. Then the Commission on Ministry will decide if they
want to interview me. If they do, interviews are held in
November, and John is told their decision in January. So it's
a long process, but in the meantime, all possibilities are
open, and every day a joyful challenge!
Peace!
Catherine Owens |
Usher
Schedule
April
5
MARK
LAMOURINE
NELSON
HOLT
April
12
BRIAN
CULLINAN
RICK
BLANEY
April
19
CAROL
HODGKINS
DENNIS
HODGKINS
April
26
MARK
LAMOURINE
NELSON
HOLT
May
3
GREG
DOOLEY
BOB
JANKOWSKI
May
10
DON
HOWSER
BOB
PATTISON
May
17
BRIAN
CULLINAN
RICK
BLANEY
May
24
CAROL
HODGKINS
DENNIS
HODGKINS |
Regular
Schedule
Holy Eucharist
and Church School begin at 9:00 am on Sunday. After service we
have coffee hour in the parish hall, and the youth choir
rehearses.
Bible study group meets in the Parish Hall
after coffee hour.
Adult Choir rehearses on
Thursday at 7:30 pm.
On the first Sunday of
the month Sunday School combines with our regular service for
a special Story service. We also have our monthly food
drive to support People Helping People.
The
Youth Group meets on the first and third Sundays after the
service. High School classes meet on the Sundays when
Youth Group does not meet.
Vestry meets at 7:00 pm in the Choir Room on the second
Monday. |
| April
Special Events |
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Outreach Team Meeting
April 1, 7:00, Sue Heidbrink's
House
Palm Sunday
April 5, 2009
Wednesday
Parish Lunch
Noon April 8, 2009
Maundy
Thursday
April 9th, 7:30 pm
Good Friday
April
10th, 12:00 and 7:30 pm
Easter Sunday and Easter Egg
Hunt
April 12, 2009
Vestry Meeting
Monday April 13th, 2009, 7:00 in the choir
room | |
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