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

When Father RJ asked me if I would be willing to write a brief article for the Lion’s Pause because he was going to be on vacation this week, I was a little hesitant but then agreed. Thankfully he made a few suggestions: What do I love about St. Mark’s? What has your Christian faith meant to you in a recent situation? What is the best part about being a mother, grandmother, etc.? Wow, so many great ideas. Anyone that is a grandmother knows that you can write an entire dissertation on the best part of being a grandmother. That would be easy. I was giving it a lot of thought when the song, Need A Favor by Jelly Roll, came on the radio. As the song began and I listened to the words:

“I only talk to God when I need a favor

And I only pray when I ain’t got a prayer

So who the hell am I, who the hell am I to expect a savior, oh

If I only talk to God when I need a favor?”

It made me question, was I one of those people? I grew up Catholic, went to a parochial school. I memorized all the important prayers. I say my prayers morning and night but am I only reciting the prayers I have memorized? I have my list of things and blessings to thank God for, but was I really talking to God?

As I thought back on a phone call I received on April 9, 2020, I realized that was the first time I really talked to God and that day I asked for a favor. And that day, my relationship with God changed. My memorized prayers were said less, instead I started talking to God. I assume he was listening because a lot of things began to happen. Appointments were moved. A well known physician I was to see developed COVID, so I had to see someone else. What I thought were screwups or misfortunes turned out to be blessings. And as the months, now years have gone by, I no longer just pray, I talk to God. I still say my prayers. I found the Lord’s Prayer calms me when anxious or scared which turns out I say often. I still ask God to bless my family and friends, but now instead of just reciting the prayers I memorized, I start my day off talking to God. There really is a difference.

Kathy Wise

SAVE THE DATE -

May 18, 2025

St. Mark’s 70th Anniversary

Time flies - hard to believe we are coming up on our 70th year. A wonderful celebration is being planned, so please mark your calendars now, and stay tuned for future details!

Sunday, July 28:

8 and 10 a.m. Morning Prayer

Lessons

Bulletin

Live Stream

Wednesday, July 31:

Evening Prayer, Zoom

Bulletin Zoom

View the St. Mark's calendar HERE.

Save the Dates

August 18 - Intergenerational service in the Undercroft, with Blessing of the Backpacks

September 8 - Photo Directory Day: Get a new directory photo after the 10 a.m. service!

September 15 - Morning Prayer, Outdoor Service

October 6 - afternoon Blessing of the Animals in the Outdoor Chapel

Please see sign-up sheets in the Narthex for these events.

Yoga with Beth

Due to my travel the first two weeks, and back to school prep, I will not be offering Tuesday night yoga in August. This Tuesday, July 23 will be the last one until September 3. Then there will be the usual 4 weeks at $10/week or $30 to pay for the month in advance.

Thanks to all for your support and encouragement and I look forward to seeing you again in September!

The Diocese has continued to offer easy online giving. To use this, please select "St. Mark's Canton" from the dropdown, and choose either a one-time or recurring gift. We thank you for your continued support.

DONATE

Newsletter Additions

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

July Anniversaries

13 Beth and Rick Crowl

24 Bruce and Judy Hixon

29 Katie Cerrone-Arnold and Chris Arnold Arnold

30 Kent and Pamela Clark

31 John and Kathy Wise

July Birthdays

9 Jane Schutrum

12 Vonda Temelkoff

13 Eloise Hochwalt

17 Scott Shellhammer

27 Brynn Pelger Rachel Crowl

*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.

Bob's Music Notes

It was the Fall of 1953. After organ study at Fontainebleau, I was on a plane returning home. But I was not a happy camper. When my luggage was overweight, the airline claimed all my money (all fourteen dollars of it) to pay the penalty.

I was surprised to see, seated not far from me, Jean and Broadus Staley who had also been at Fontainebleau, she to study piano and he, composition with Nadia Boulanger. Boulanger had enrolled in the Paris Conservatoire at age 9. At 12 she had memorized Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier. She was the first woman to conduct the NY Philharmonic. She organized the music for the wedding of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly. She was the teacher of Robert Hebble (who visited St. Mark's twice), Aaron Copland, Virgil Thompson, and Daniel Barenboim. When Gershwin applied for lessons, after a chat with him, she said "I can teach you nothing." She was the head of that summer institute and I attended her classes and saw her daily in the lunchroom. And she sent a handwritten note to my pastor saying that I had been a student there. There wasn't anything about music that she didn't know, and I stood in awe of this genius. And Broadus had personal daily contact with her.

Jean Staley was a concert pianist. She and her husband did national concert duo piano tours. Broadus was, for 31 years, the parish musician at Cleveland First Baptist with some 300 singers over the years. His published anthem "Run Run to the Stable" is one of my Christmas favorites. He was also on Mt. Union's faculty.

And here they were - Mr. and Mrs. Staley. A thought entered my head. Could they be a solution to my financial distress?

Prayer Concerns

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

For those who have died:

Family & Friends: Patti Freeder (former member of St. Marks) + Clare Alice Julian family (mother of Patrick Julian) + Judith Johnson (Father RJ’s mother) + Johnny Willoughby & Alison (grandson & friend of the Willoughbys) + Jane McBride (mother of Beth Crowl) + Joel Harris (friend of Derek & Emily Gordon) + Joanne C. (Florida friend of the Kieslings) + Tom (brother-in-law of AnJane McConville) + Gail & Jody Shumway (sister-in-law of Bec & Bill & 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, Rick Ciminelli, & Tim Swihart (cousin & friend of the Gordons) + Larry Aclaska & Judy Heisser-Turner (acquaintance & sister of Bert Heisser) + Lee, Theresa, and Chuck Boone (friends & cousin of the Hixons) + Mark Osterhage (friend of the Watters) + Elaine Campbell (friend of the Turners) + Sammy Coates (friend of Leslie Redmon) + Melanie & Trish (friends of Paulette Frech) + Pat Walter & family (friend of Barb Whitehouse) + Alycia Geis (Karen Violand’s friend’s daughter) + Don & Janet Sheatzley-Morgan (husband & sister of Barb Siegfried) + DaNay Jackson (friend of Ron Brookes) + Allison Cornell-Hood & Anne Higgins (daughter & friend of Diane Cornell) + Finnigan Savage (friend of Pam McCarthy) + Yanette Pysher (Vonda Temelkoff’s cousin) + Tony Donahue (friend of the Boyds) + Marc Hostetler (brother of Susan Hostetler) + 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.