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

When I was in seminary, one of our professors chastised a group of students who refused to receive communion after another group of students took a theological position that offended them. In seminary it can seem like every theological difference is a matter of life or death. The professor said, “I we as Christians cannot be united around the eucharistic table, what hope is there for the world?”

In his prayer on the night before he was betrayed, Jesus prayed, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me”

This unity is not uniformity, nor is it mere tolerance. The rest of the world can unite based on common interest, when there is no disagreement on significant issues. In our reading from the Gospel this coming Sunday, we will hear Jesus say, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” I think Jesus would also say that it’s not enough to tolerate those with whom we disagree. We have to love them.

We can hold differing opinions, even on important matters, and still find unity around the table of the Lord. We can come shoulder to shoulder to receive Christ’s body and blood because we recognize that we are all in need of the healing, forgiveness, and grace that is on offer.

This unity across important differences is a witness to the world. It makes the statement that the love of Christ is more powerful than the things that otherwise divide us. In a world that is often fractured by relationships that have been shattered, we can stay engaged with one another around the table of the Lord.

Fr. RJ+

Sunday , February 23:

Intergenerational Event, 10 a.m. in the Undercroft

Services at 8 and 10 a.m.

Lessons

Bulletin

Live Stream

Monday, February 24:

Knitting, 1 p.m.

Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 PM in the undercroft.

Cost is $10 per session.

Cash, check, Venmo or PayPal accepted

Reserve your spot by texting 330-705-4359 or emailing yogabeth63@gmail.com

Tuesday, February 25:

Lunch Bunch, 1 p.m. at Athens

Wednesday, February 26:

Evening Prayer, 4 p.m.

Zoom Bulletin

UPCOMING:

March 3:

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, 6 p.m.

March 4:

Ash Wednesday Services at noon and 7 p.m.

March 9:

Bishop Jolly’s Visit

There will only be one service at 10:00 a.m.

View the St. Mark's calendar HERE.

St. Mark's Ladies:

We have received an invitation from St. Paul’s chapter of Daughters of the King, to attend a quiet day prior to Lent. The event will be on Saturday, March 1, at St. Paul’s. Here’s the scoop!

We need to RSVP by February 25.

10:00-Registration/Coffee
10:30-Welcome: Serena Thurin, Chapter President
11:15-Eucharist: The Rev. Dr. Barbara Bond
12:00-Luncheon
1:00-Program: Gratitude, by Carol Sutek
2:00-Closing Prayer

If you plan to attend, call Sue Little (330-704-4501)

Our Sunday School kids and Youth Group preteens started out this year’s Outreach with an enormous amount. Nine of them all worked very hard and efficiently to assemble 369 Hygiene Kits!!

A really good deal for washcloths can be found at Walmart (18 pack for $5.78). Amazon has deals from time to time on antibacterial bar soap.

Not a fan of shopping, but would still like to donate? You can put cash and/or checks in the offering plate at church, with a note designating it to go towards Hygiene Kits. We can find the deals and go shopping for you.

Hygiene Kit Totals

2024: 2,494

2025: 369

Thank you so much for supporting Hope Outreach Ministries through our St. Mark’s Sunday School. Hygiene Kits are (unfortunately) a continual need and very much appreciated.

~Beth Bletzacker, Coordinator

70th Anniversary Apparel!

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

Need to mail an order form? Find it here.

St. Mark’s 70th Anniversary

May 18, 2025

A celebration luncheon is being planned and contributions are being welcomed to support this special event. If you are interested in donating to the 70th celebration, checks may be made out to St. Mark’s with 70th Anniversary in the memo line and dropped in the offering plate or the office.

Book Club Updates

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.

February Anniversaries

6 Bill and Beck Rand

18 Ashley and Jess Hostetter

23 Brad and Sandi Kaustinen

February Birthdays

4 Rick Werren

5 Caroline Willoughby, Lesley Kiesling

7 Tom Turner

11 Peggy Peretzky

15 Ron Brookes

22 Lauren Hoot

23 MaryAnn Kiesling

24 Marcia Tirpak

*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

My late wife Kathleen studied voice with Karl Trump for 24 years. Toward the end of that time, he said to her, "I'm going on sabbatical next year and I want you to teach my students while I'm gone. I don't want someone coming in and changing all my methods."

Kathleen's response: "Me?" But Trump persuaded her to give it a try, and to that end, she spent several weeks sitting in his studio and observing how he handled different vocal problems, male, female, high/low voices, etc.

As the Fall of 1976 progressed, Kathleen was busy at the College of Wooster and all was going well until Mr. Trump, in early December, was not feeling well and checked himself into Mercy Hospital in Canton. The doctors were in the process of doing a heart cath when Trump's life ebbed away. He was 62.

Kathleen had the sad duty of notifying Mrs. Trump (and their two daughters) - and this meant that she now was the official voice teacher at the College, which lasted until they hired a former president of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Dale Moore, to be the professor of voice.

Both Kathleen and I studied with this genial fellow. I remember one of his exercises was a nasal scale on the word "Annie Annie Annie."

Trump's legacy was great. Our virtuoso keyboard friend Joyce Corbett tells me that, as an Oberlin student, she wanted to join the Honors Choir and to that end took some lessons with Trump and, poof!, she was admitted. I believe this choir under the direction of Robert Fountain toured Russia.

But. there was another legacy. Mr. Trump, in talking with me and my organist friend G. Dene Barnard wanted to organize a special choir of music professionals to do major choral works, and this was the beginning of an American Guild of Organists' Festival Choir. However, after a few rehearsals, Mr. Trump could not continue. What to do?

Prayer Concerns

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

For those who have died: Ten Gall

Family & Friends: Bobbie Lenzie, Lucas Anderson & family, and Clarice Lough (sister & friends of the Watters) + Katheleen Philippsborn (sister of Tom Turner) + Machelle Wells (friend of Jaime Heinzman) + Kimberly Nugent (daughter of the Thorps) + Father Jon Conventry (Trinity Episcopal Church - Alliance) + Jimmy Little (son of Sue Little) + Alison (friend of the Willoughbys) + Jane McBride (mother of Beth Crowl) + Tom (brother-in-law of AnJane McConville) + Gail and Judy 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) + Scott Jones, Val Hiner-Donlon, Rick Ciminelli, & Harold Freedman (cousin & friend of the Gordons) + Larry Aclaska & Judy Heisser-Turner (acquaintance & sister of Bert Heisser) + Lee, Theresa, & Chuck Boone (friends & cousin of the Hixons) + 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 (husband and sister of Barb Siegfried) + 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.