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

In times of anxiety, there are two common emotional responses. One is emotional fusion. The other is emotional cutoff. Although these two responses may sound like they are opposites, they are very close.

Emotional fusion occurs when we all adopt the same way of viewing the world. Any difference of viewpoint is seen as a threat to the unity of the group. Emotional fusion often involves adopting code words so we can all “speak the same language.” It requires that no one in the group challenges any shared convictions of the group. Often, one person or a small group of people dominates the group by communicating what to think and how to feel. The group promises protection from whatever source of anxiety is “out there” that threatens the members of the group.

The danger of emotional fusion is that we will all make the same mistakes. If no difference in viewpoint is tolerated, information that contradicts the shared assumptions of the group must be ignored. Therefore, all information that might shed a different light on the assumptions of the group must be censored.

Emotional cutoff occurs when the perceived need to defend from any challenge to our worldview causes us to break of relationships with those who do not share it. It often causes one group to define itself over and against another group. Emotional cutoff occurs when we stop talking about the topics over which we disagree. Often, it means that we have no substantive conversation at all.

The danger of emotional cutoff is very similar to that of emotional fusion. We may not make the same mistakes, but we cut off the opportunity to receive information that could potentially help us make better decisions. Instead of being defined by what we are all for, we allow ourselves to be defined by who we are against.

The opposite of emotional fusion and emotional cutoff is self-differentiation. Differentiation means that we maintain relationships and conversations with those who differ from us without surrendering our personal convictions. In conversation with those who differ, we might find that our personal convictions are modified because of information we did not have prior to those conversations. That gives us the potential to find better solutions. Differentiation is the ability to say, “This is how I see things,” while remaining open to hearing how the other person views the world. It does not mean that we have to accept the other person's view of the world. However, it gives us the capacity to take on board information that might help us see the world more clearly, and, more importantly, the ability to maintain relationships with those who differ from us.

Fr. RJ+

SUNDAY SCHOOL OUTREACH PROJECT UPDATE

Sunday, August 18 was the Intergenerational Service. Emily Gordon and some Sunday School children led the Parish in assembling 713 Hygiene Kits! The kits consist of a washcloth and a full bar of soap that are then delivered to Hope Outreach Ministries (by Gary Mull) to be handed out to those who are less fortunate in the community. Because of YOU donating money and goods, the Sunday School is able to continue this much needed ministry. THANK YOU!!!

Total for 2023: 2,322

Total for 2024: 1,680

Our Sunday School is really hoping to break their 2023 total!

Beth Bletzacker

Sunday School Outreach Coordinator

Sunday, August 25:

8 and 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist

Lessons

Bulletin

Live Stream

Wednesday, August 28:

Evening Prayer, Zoom

Bulletin Zoom

Cluster Dinner Group @ Walther's Twin Tavern, 6 p.m.

View the St. Mark's calendar HERE.

Save the Dates

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.

Garden Grooming Days!

Hello St. Mark’s Gardeners!

If you can help spruce up St. Mark’s gardens for the remainder of the summer, and in preparation for fall, come on over for an hour or two, bring your garden tools and gloves and help spruce up the gardens for the remaining season! If you have any perennials or bulbs from your garden that you would like to transplant in our gardens, bring them along for planting. Refreshments will be provided!

Saturday, September 14 - 9:00-11:00 AM
Saturday, October 5 - 9:00-11:00 AM - clean up and bulb planting

Join the fun on September 21 from 5:30-9:00 and enjoy international fine dining and fellowship at your host’s homes! The evening will begin at the church with appetizers, and end at the church with dessert and coffee. In between “travel” to your host’s home and enjoy a sit-down dinner planned on an international theme. France - Italy - Spain - Greece? It’s all being planned - watch for invitations with details soon. If you would like to assist with providing appetizer and/or dessert, please respond to stmarksprogressivedinner@gmail.com. This event will fill up fast, so we are asking for RSVP by September 3. Bon Voyage!

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.

August Anniversaries

1 Drew and Mandy Pelger

4 Bruce and Jane Schutrum

21 Scott and Debbie Shellhammer

26 John and Tory Willoughby

27 Patrick and Rebecca Watters

August Birthdays

1 Jess Hostetter

4 Jack Gordon

11 Tory Willoughby

12 Todd Heinzman

13 Joyce Rupp Pamela Clark

18 Bradley Mull

28 Tony Kovacevich

*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

I first set foot in Canton OH when I auditioned for the music post at First Methodist. The next time was Friday, August 31, 1951, when my parents drove me from Baltimore. My first Sunday at church was September 2 - the last day for music director Don Farley which gave me a hint of what this fellow had been doing for fifteen years, and it was impressive. He not only did the music but was also youth pastor and office manager. He founded the Canton Woman's Chorus. He kept saying to me "A new broom sweeps clean." I disagreed. "I'm not about to change your approach to music, Mr. Farley!" I told him.

Reminds me of when Rabbi Paul Gorin retired from Temple Israel. His successor, John Spitzer, treated Gorin like his father - and the congregation took the new Rabbi to their heart.

Farley, thanks to Dr. Hohn and Susan Manning Ball, enrolled at Westminster Choir College to bone up his organ skills and then became chemistry professor and chapel organist at Berea College in Kentucky.

One month later I received a phone call from an Aultman Hospital nurse requesting organ lessons. On Tuesday, October 2nd, Shirley Kathleen Sanders appeared for her first lesson. I learned, years later, that she phoned her mom and said "I met the man I'm going to marry."

But such were not my thoughts. She proved to be an apt pupil and just six months after starting the lessons, she substituted for me when I was attending an out of town event.

She usually had her lesson in the late afternoon after her stint in the operating room and then we'd go across the street to Mergus Restaurant for dinner. Occasionally we'd splurge and get a shrimp cocktail - $1.95, which nearly broke the bank!

And, as time went on, we went to concerts together. I enjoyed her company but that was about it until Dr. Hohn called me into his office.

He said, "Bob, Kathleen isn't going to wait around forever for you to make a proposal."

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.

Family & Friends: Greg, Debbie, & Victoria Swinehart and Richard Flohr (family of Frances Swinehart) + Patti & Jack Freeder and Kim Milinkovich (former members 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) + Kirk Schuring, Jolonda Mull & Pam Lagodich (sister-in-law & friend of the Mulls) + Earl Hoot (father of Joe Hoot) + Scott Jones, Rick Ciminelli, Harold Freedman, & 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.