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

Tomorrow, Saturday, January 25, the church commemorates the Conversion of St. Paul. Saul of Tarsus was a devout Pharisee. He was, by his own admission a zealous persecutor of the church. He oversaw the stoning of St. Stephen, the first martyr of the church. He was on his way to Damascus to persecute the church there when a light from heaven flashed around him, and Jesus spoke to him saying, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Saul was blind after the experience and continued his journey to Damascus, where he met Ananias. Ananias baptized Saul and Saul received the Holy Spirit and his sight was restored. You can read about the event in Acts 9:1-22.

It is unclear exactly when Saul chose to go by the name Paul. It may have been for practical reasons that the Greek word saulos means something like “prancer.” If he was preaching to philosophers and governors and they thought he was named Prancer, he might have been less convincing.

When I was a student at Oral Roberts University, I was asked to describe my conversion experience on a number of occasions and in a few classes. Most of my fellow students could describe a moment that sounded something like the conversion of Paul. One moment they were hostile to Christianity. The next moment they were sharing their newfound Christian faith with any who would listen.

I had no such story to tell. I have had faith in Jesus for as long as I can remember. My understanding of faith and devotion to Jesus has certainly grown over time. I wondered at times if I was lacking something because I could not point to a Damascus Road experience. There were a few people who even told me that if I could not tell them about the moment I became a Christian, I probably was not truly a Christian. It was only with the help of one of my professors that I put these concerns behind me. He explained that even though Saul/Paul had that moment when he began to have faith in Jesus, his conversion continued after that moment. After his initial encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus, Paul went to Arabia for three years. There is little known about what he did in Arabia. It is likely that he studied and learned. His conversion continued.

Whether you can point to something like a Damascus Road experience, or your conversion was much gentler and more gradual, or you cannot remember a time when you did not have faith in Jesus is not what matters. What matters is that you have faith in Jesus. Your conversion will continue as you continue your journey of faith. We are not who we were yesterday, nor are we who we will be tomorrow. By the work of the Holy Spirit, we are transformed to reflect the glory of Jesus more each day.

Fr. RJ+

St. Mark’s will hold its Annual Parish Meeting on January 26 following a single service at 9:00 a.m. An amendment to the Bylaws will be proposed to change the date of future annual meetings to February. The purpose for this change is to allow all of the prior year’s financial data to be available for the Financial Report. The proposed amendment is:

The annual meeting of members of the Parish, for the election of the members of the Vestry and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held on or before the ~~fourth Sunday of January~~ third Sunday of February of each year or on such other date and at a time and place that may be designated by the Vestry.

Annual Report

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.

Sunday , January 26:

Service at 9 a.m. only followed by the Annual Meeting

Lessons

Bulletin

Live Stream

Monday, January 27:

Knitting, 1 p.m.

Tuesday, January 28:

Lunch Bunch, 1:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 29:

Evening Prayer, 4 p.m.

Zoom Bulletin

View the St. Mark's calendar HERE.

The Great Chili Cook-off!

Spicy - Mild - Texas style - Gramma’s recipe - Vegan!

Bring it on!

Bring your best crockpot Chili for tasting and

see who wins THE GRAND PRIZE!

DATE: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2025

WHEN: AFTER THE 10:00 SERVICE

Sign-up now in the Narthex!

Beth Julian will guide you through slow, relaxing yoga stretches, breathwork. and guided muscle relaxation.

January 28, 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

Book Club Updates

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

My first organ pupil in Canton - just one month into my employment at (then) First Methodist Church, was an Aultman RN, class of 1950, Shirley Kathleen Sanders. From Steubenville, at "Big Red" High School she was active in accompanying the school choir and doing piano duets with one of her friends. The day after my 26th birthday she came for her first organ lesson and, as I learned quite later, she phoned her mom to say she had met the man she would marry.

At the time, I was living at the YMCA - very convenient, only a block or so from my church where I spent hours exploring that wonderful Aeolian-Skinner organ. This went on for several years until I got a call from Don Lester, pastor of a United Presbyterian Church, saying that a fellow in his congregation was looking for a roommate - and this might be something for me to consider, especially since this person had been the cook for his college fraternity.

I took Pastor Lester up on his offer and met Wilbur Robert Meloy who worked as a publicist for the Cancer Society. We rented a house on Fulton Drive almost across from Taggart's Ice Cream Parlor. In retrospect, it wasn't the Waldorf-Astoria but, when you're in your twenties you can adapt easily. I remember that my bed was a sofa couch - and I loved it. I could watch TV and then slide down into the bed. And after lessons with Kathleen, she would join me for dinner at this house.

But as time passed, I began questioning Pastor Lester's description of Wilbur's kitchen skills.

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: Earl Hoot and Craig Kerner

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) + 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) + 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, & 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 and 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.