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From the Rector | 
Dear Friends,
Tricia and I took two weeks of vacation this summer; a week at the beach in North Carolina and a few days for the journey there and the journey back. We were joined at the beach by my son Chris, his wife Jen and their daughter, Sadie, as well as by Jen's sister and her husband and daughter. Tricia's brother and Jen's mother were there for part of the week. It was a wonderful time of rest and recreation.
 | | Chris and Sadie experience abundant life |
It was also a time of transformation. The word transformation is important to me. It signifies the change that happens as I move from the way of the world to the way of Jesus, from experiencing the world as a fearful place that I need to control, to a graceful place in which I can give and receive love.
Jesus defines his mission in terms of this transformation; "I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10).
Transformation happened at the beach as "family" was woven new for me. "Family" is always changing. The birth of a child changes everything. So does the death of a family member. All the relationships need to be renegotiated. Those of us who gathered at the beach had experienced several losses over the past five years, as well as the birth of two year old Emmie. We were not the family that we were. Easy then to be stuck in regret, closing in and closing down - the way of the world. Instead, we were given grace to continue to let our hearts break open - finding and claiming each other anew. This is what Jesus came to teach us. Love is stronger than death. Life, abundant life, is always on offer.
Sunday, September 11, provides us with a special opportunity to allow God to transform us as we continue to allow our hearts to break open. On this day, the tenth anniversary of the destruction of the World Trade Center, two parishioners, Vincent Milano and Carol Jacobson have chosen to marry one another as part of the 9:30am worship service. Vin and Carol both spent years caring for their former spouses, each of whom died after a long struggle with diabetes. Now they are choosing again to love "until we are parted by death." St. Mark's has been important for both of them as they found healing from the illness and death of their formers spouses. Now they are delighted to affirm their commitment to the new life God is giving them in one another. St Mark's mission is to create a place of safety and support in which all God's people are given the opportunity to be transformed, as we explore our faith and our call to service. Carol and Vin are a wonderful inspiration to all of us as we gather to welcome all to a new program year.
Blessings,
John |
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Staff Changes
This summer we said goodbye to the Rev. Philip Major. We are deeply grateful for the contribution he and his family made during the past year and we wish them well in their new life in Wyoming. We are pleased to welcome a new staff member. Tamra Tucker has just completed a year in Life Together, the Diocesan Young Adult program. Beginning September 1st she will work ten hours a week at St. Mark's. She will be available to the youth group, helping them take more of a leadership role in Story Sunday. Tamra will also co-ordinate the communications at St. Mark's, helping those who work with the weekly bulletin, the monthly ROAR and the website to communicate what God is doing among us, young and old together. |
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Calendar | |
Sunday, September 4th Our Food Pantry Drive
Saturday, September 10th People Helping People Barbecue
Sunday, September 11th Welcome Sunday
Milano & Jacobson Wedding
Sunday School Registration
Sunday, September 18th The Rev. Canon Mally Lloyd guest presider
Natalie Finstad "Be The Change, Kenya" guest preacher
Sunday, September 25th Laying on of Hands
Flu Shots available at coffee hour
Saturday, October 1st Congregational Resource Day
Saturday, October 22nd Our Fall Fair
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| From the Senior Warden |
Here we are at the end of summer and a new and exciting year ahead of us. Welcoming Sunday is September 11 as well as the wedding of Vincent Milano and Carol Jacobson during the 9:30 am service. Everyone is invited. There will also be Sunday School registration in the Narthex. Our new Associate for multigenerational ministries is Tamra Tucker who has been attending church over the past 3-4 weeks. Introduce yourself to Tamra and make her welcome. She has a lot to offer us.
On July 25th and July 26th we participated in the B-SAFE program by preparing lunch and snacks for 85 people at St. Mary's Church in Dorchester. I want to extend my sincere thanks to the following who gave of their time and talent to make this happen:
Sue Thompson Pat Doleman Chelsey Doiron
Sally Cassidy Jean Allan Allison Cassidy
Marcia Doiron Philip Major John de Beer
Emily Howser Noah Bonder-Major
The cost of the food comes out of the Outreach budget which is another way St. Mark's uses your Stewardship pledges during the year. Many thanks!
Our Fall Fair is scheduled for October 22, 2011, keep the date available to enjoy some fellowship with St. Mark's parishioners and also with our neighbors.
Faithfully,
Shirley Estrella |
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Scholarship Announcement | |
This year Emily Doiron, Elizabeth Centauro and Nicole Blaney are the St Mark's scholarship recipients. In order to apply for the scholarship, you need to be a St Mark's parishioner who plans on taking courses of study or training for a career beyond secondary school.
Emily Doiron will be attending UMass Dartmouth. She is not sure of her career path just yet. She will be in their school of Liberal Arts.
Elizabeth Centauro will be attending Laselle University in Newton. She will be studying fashion design and business.
Nicole Blaney will be attending Middlesex Community College for two years and then plans to go to Salem State. She would like to become an Elementary School 1st grade teacher.
Your St Marks' family and friends wish you the very best in college and hope you come back to visit and worship at St Mark's whenever you have an opportunity. |
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Sunday School News |
Sunday School News
By Tracey Healey
On behalf of the Sunday school, I would like to extend a big thank you and lots of prayers and good wishes to Rev. Philip Major. We will miss him and his music dearly, but are happy for him in his new calling.
Sunday school registration will be held Sunday 9/11/11 in the Narthex right after the service. Forms will be on a table right outside the door. The first day of Sunday school will be the following Sunday, 9/18/11. ALL children ages 4-18 are welcome.
If you would like to help with the Sunday school in a rotating schedule, there is a sign up sheet in the Narthex or you can e-mail me at thealey202@earthlink.net.
I look forward to another great year with the children of St. Mark's. I have missed them so much over the summer. As always, please feel free to contact me with and questions or problems at (781) 365-0693 or thealey202@earthlink.net.
God Bless
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People Helping People Fundraiser | |
Barbecue for People Helping People on September 10
Bring your family and friends to a fundraising barbecue for People Helping People on the town common on Saturday, September 10, 2011 from 4 to 6 p.m. Tickets are just $5 each and cover all food, beverages and entertainment.
The restaurant chain b.good is donating the food and live entertainment for this fundraiser, so ALL proceeds from ticket sales will go to People Helping People. Tickets will be sold at the event. In case of rain, the barbecue will be held at the Senior Center.
The barbecue menu will include hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, veggie burgers, and salad. Milkshakes and fruit shakes will be made to order on b.good's traveling shake truck.
b.good is opening its eighth location at 68 Mall Road in the fall. The restaurant offers fresh, organic meals, featuring locally grown produce. Learn more about them at www.bgood.com.
Raffle to Benefit People Helping People
Take a chance on a $1,000 gift certificate at the Capital Grille in Burlington (dinner for 6, including wine). Tickets are $20 each and the winner will be drawn on September 19 during "The Taste of Burlington" event. All proceeds benefit People Helping People. Tickets are on sale at the following Burlington businesses: Cambridge Savings Bank at 214 Cambridge Street; High Point Chiropractic at 83 Cambridge Street; Planet Fitness at 40 Ray Avenue; and Spencer Cleaners at 271 Cambridge Street and 240 Middlesex Turnpike.
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| CHOIR NOTES |
Notice Anything New?
You may have noticed that we now have a piano in the sanctuary. This is a result of the generosity of Linda Kovitch, daughter of Ruth and Bernie Kovitch. Linda inherited this piano from her grandparents, but has not played it recently and so was hoping to find a new home for it. She not only donated the instrument, but also helped fund the repairs. We will be using the piano at various times during our worship service, and have already tried it out during summer services. We are planning on having a dedication of the piano later this year, so stay tuned!
Youth Choir Notes
I'm looking forward to seeing the members of the St. Mark's Youth Choir at our first rehearsal of the new school year on Sunday, September 18th. We'll get started after the service, as soon as our members have had an opportunity to get a drink at coffee hour and come back up to the sanctuary. We'll finish up at 11 am. Since we'll be trying lots of new music, it will be helpful to have as many at our rehearsals as possible.
As always, children in grades 2 or higher who enjoy singing are welcome to join us. We rehearse on Sundays after the service, and sing during two services a month, along with our Christmas Eve Family Service and our Easter service. Come along and bring your friends! Even if you can't start with us on September 18th, join us whenever you can and we'll teach you all the songs.
PLEASE NOTE: We will be having regular rehearsals after every Sunday service, with the exception of September 11th, our "Welcoming Sunday". We want to give our Youth Choir members the opportunity to join us at the luncheon and festivities that will follow the service.
I am also on the lookout for any children who are playing a musical instrument and who think they would like to play during a service at St. Mark's. It would be great to have them be part of a future "Story Sunday" service (our intergenerational service held on the first Sunday of each month). Student musicians could play as part of an ensemble or as a soloist. There are plenty of opportunities, so I invite any interested instrumentalists to come speak with me about the possibilities.
Adult Choir Notes
I would like to thank our Adult Choir for their commitment to singing during our summer services. Those who were in town joined us in our offertory anthems and to lead our congregational singing. This is very unusual for church choirs, so I am grateful for their devotion, their time and their talent. They continue to inspire me every week.
Please introduce yourself to Sadie Harmon, our newest soprano and recipient of the St. mark's Choir Scholarship. As an added bonus, her mother Jannine has rejoined our alto section. We are thrilled to have them both with us! Andy Gilbert has been singing tenor with us when his schedule allows, and we have loved having another tenor to add to our forces. Thank you all!
We will resume our Adult Choir rehearsals after Labor Day, beginning on Thursday, September 8th at 7pm and every Thursday until mid-June. We welcome anyone who likes to sing to come try us out on a Thursday night. We have a wonderful time making music together, and we'd love to see you there.
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