The Lion's Pause 🦁

The Lion's Pause

WE SEEK TO UNITE ALL PEOPLE WITH GOD AND EACH OTHER IN CHRIST THROUGH WORSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, EDUCATION, AND SERVICE

Rector's Ramblings

As we begin another year, it is natural to reflect on changes that we might like to see in our lives. I’ve noticed many more advertisements for fitness centers and weight loss programs. I’ve seen invitations to join in a “Dry January” during which people are invited to abstain from alcohol for thirty-one days. There are also various programs designed to guide people in reading the Bible in manageable daily readings. I would not discourage anyone from working on personal fitness. I certainly would not discourage anyone from reading the Bible over the next twelve months.

Most of us have had the experience of making a New Year’s resolution only to find that by February we have left it behind. There are several reasons for this. Our lives are busy, and adding another activity can be a challenge. Perhaps the most powerful reason is that we forget why we made the resolution in the first place. When we sign up for a workout program, we don’t sign up simply for the sake of working out. We sign up with the hope of improving our physical fitness. When we decide to read the Bible, we are not simply looking to add one more book to the list of books we have read. We are hoping to experience a deeper relationship with God.

In his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen Covey says the first habit is to “begin with the end in mind.” I think that is good advice, but I would add that we must continue with the end in mind. When the temptation to set aside a resolution comes we need to return to the reason we had in mind when we made the resolution. Then, things like reading scripture, praying, or attending worship are not a task to be checked off our list. They become an important part of nourishing our growing relationship with God.

Fr. RJ+

70th Anniversary Apparel!

Apparel to celebrate St. Mark's 70th Anniversary will be sold starting in January and through March 2. T-shirts and sweatshirts will be available for purchase in the Narthex on Sunday mornings.

Sunday , January 5:

Services at 8 and 10 a.m.

Lessons

Bulletin

Live Stream

Wednesday, January 8:

Evening Prayer, 4 p.m.

Zoom Bulletin

Vestry, 6 p.m.

GREETERS!

There’s a new GREETER sign up sheet on the kiosk just waiting for you to be willing to welcome your fellow parishioners, prior to the 10 o’clock service.

View the St. Mark's calendar HERE.

Book Club Updates

January 13 - Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult

February 10 - The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

March 10 - Mr. Einstein’s Secretary by Matthew Reilly

April 14 - The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

May 12 - The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

Newsletter Additions

If you are adding something to the Lion's Pause, please submit it here by the Monday prior to Friday publication.

January Anniversaries

3 Jan Hudson

16 Mark and Kim Nadel

24 Fred and Roberta Zollinger

January Birthdays

3 Sara Strattan

4 Livvy Mull

6 John Willoughby

8 Rick Crowl

10 Debbie Shellhammer

13 Parker Heinzman, Ryleigh Heinzman

16 Tasha Smith

18 Julie Werren

25 Barrie Thorp Ten Gall

*Please note: Your birthday/anniversary will only show up if you've completed your profile on Instant Church Directory.

Need to log in? Go here.

Notable with Bob Morrison

Growing up, I lived in two musical worlds. At Peabody, it was all classical and formal and proper. At church, much of the same, but at Sunday evening services we sang Gospel songs - "Give Me That Old Time Religion," "When the Roll is Called up Yonder," "In the Garden," "Trust and Obey," "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus," "Wonderful Grace of Jesus," - I could fill pages with titles of these gems of faith.

But there was a disconnect. I got a kick out of playing those Gospel songs but kept thinking this wasn't my true calling - after all, my parents and especially Aunt Elizabeth were paying my Peabody bills and I should be playing classical pieces instead of Gospel songs.

And, further, I got the notion that the sweeter sounds of the organ - tremolos, celestes (slightly off-tune ranks for a sugary sound), and diminished chords were somehow suspect. Better to stick with solid flutes and diapasons!

But these sweeter sounds were so much fun to play - so, in spite of guilt, I continued to enjoy the Gospel songs and the better popular songs of the day.

But then a man entered my life who brought these disparate elements together in the most magnificent way - a teacher, born in California, playing organ in church at age nine, and making his NY debut recital at Town Hall in 1926, Alexander McCurdy.

Prayer Concerns

Have compassion on: Anne Coen, Ten Gall, Vonda Temelkoff, Jim Weaver, Jane Schutrum, Ron Brooks, and all those who suffer from any grief or trouble.

For those who have died: Johnny Willoughby

Family & Friends: The Willoughby Family + Baby Ulysses (MaryAnn Kiesling’s 2nd cousin’s grandson) + Linda Young (Marcia Kiesling’s mother) + Kimberly Nugent (daughter of the Thorps) + Craig Kerner (Mandy Pelger’s father) + Grosschmidt family (friends of the Nadels) + Father Jon Conventry (Trinity Episcopal Church - Alliance) + Jimmy Little (son of Sue Little) + Greg, Debbie, & Victoria Swinehart and Richard Flohr (family of Frances Swinehart) + Patti & Jack Freeder and Kim Milinkovich (former members of St. Marks) + Alison (friend of the Willoughbys) + Jane McBride (mother of Beth Crowl) + Tom (brother-in-law of AnJane McConville) + Barb, Gail, & Jody Shumway (friend, sister-in-law, & co-worker friend of the Rand’s daughter) + Dr. Mallamaci (acquaintance of Bobbi Zollinger) + Jolonda Mull & Pam Lagodich (sister-in-law & friend of the Mulls) + Earl Hoot (father of Joe Hoot) + Scott Jones, Val Hiner-Donlon, Rick Ciminelli, Harold Freedman, & Tim Swihart (cousin & friend of the Gordons) + Larry Aclaska & Judy Heisser-Turner (acquaintance & sister of Bert Heisser) + Lee, Theresa, & Chuck Boone (friends & cousin of the Hixons) + Lucas Anderson & family and Clarice Lough (friends of the Watters) + Elaine Campbell (friend of the Turners) + Melanie & Trish (friends of Paulette Frech) + Pat Walter & family (friend of Barb Whitehouse) + Alycia Geis (Karen Violand’s friend’s daughter) + Don Siegfried, Janet Sheatzley-Morgan, & Erin Siegfried (husband, sister of Barb, & daughter-in-law) + Allison Cornell-Hood & Anne Higgins (daughter & friend of Diane Cornell) + Finnigan Savage (friend of Pam McCarthy) + Tony Donahue (friend of the Boyds) + David (acquaintance of the Nadels) + Those in the Armed Forces.

PRAYER CHAIN:

St. Mark's has a group of prayer warriors who pray for the specific needs of those on the prayer chain. If you would like to place yourself or a loved one on the prayer chain, please contact Bobbi Gordon at ggordon24@sbcglobal.net

Prayer requests may be placed on the private Prayer Chain or on the Prayer Concerns list appearing in The Lion's Pause and Sunday bulletin or in both places. Please let Bobbi know your preference. Unless otherwise instructed, names will be listed as we receive them. Please update Bobbi or Katie on the status of your friends or family members as to when they may be removed from the prayer lists.