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                The Gryphon’s Roar            

                              "St. Mark's Newsletter"

The Reverend Battle Beasley      

Dear People of God,

As you read this we will be approaching Holy week and Eastertide. 

This is my favorite time of the church year. I am always filled with Awe by the Liturgies the church offers us from Palm Sunday, Tenebrae, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, The Great Vigil and Easter Sunday. 

The word Awe in scripture means fear of the Lord. In fact we hear that expression most often instead of the word Awe. Fear conjures up for me the idea of being threatened in some way with great physical, emotional or spiritual harm. 

The God I know and believe in does not threaten me with harm. That’s not to say being in the presence of the Holy is an all-warm and fuzzy experience. The story we tell throughout Holy week and Easter fills me with Awe because the Almighty chooses to be totally vulnerable with you and with me. 

God loves us so much that She chooses to risk herself in relationship with us and for us. That willingness to be vulnerable to give God’s self to me and for me fills me with absolute Awe. That is a sense of deep wonder as in the presence of a mystery gift that I know has given me life and not only me but also all creation.

 I hope and pray your Lenten journey is good and that you too will have at least a moment of joyous Awe in the days to come.

Battle  + 

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New Leaders Conference

Bishop Herlong. Afterwards, Vestry members attended a meeting led by Dr. Paul Teschan about many of 

the issues Vestries may face and how to remain spiritual leaders without being bogged down with the 

business aspects of the church.  At the same time, Karen Seufert went to a meeting for Treasurers and 

Father Battle went to a clergy meeting with the Bishop.  After lunch, we were together again and attended 

the meeting for small churches to discuss the issues of smaller congregations and what we can do to grow.  

Even though much of this afternoon session focused on small rural churches, some interesting ideas were 

presented that can also apply to us.  We learned a lot from the daylong conference and hope to bring some 

of that inspiration to St. Mark’s.

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                                                           HOLY WEEK

Act One – Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is celebrated with drama and pageantry.  We re-enact the story of 

Jesus’   triumphal entry into Jerusalem by taking part in the procession as pilgrims 

ourselves.  We read the Gospel dramatically with persons taking part in the whole 

congregation shouting,  “Crucify Him!”

Act Two – Tenebrae, Wednesday Evening

             The name Tenebrae (the Latin word for “darkness” or “shadows”) has for centuries 

            been applied to the ancient monastic night and early morning services (Matins and  

            Lauds) of the last three days of Holy Week, which in medieval times came to be 

            celebrated on the preceding evenings.

            Apart from the chant of the Lamentations (in which each verse is introduced by a 

            letter of the Hebrew alphabet), the most conspicuous feature of the service is the     

            gradual extinguishing of candles and other lights in the church until only a single 

            candle, considered a symbol of our Lord remains.  Toward the end of the service 

            this candle is hidden, typifying the apparent victory of the forces of evil.  At the very 

            end, a loud noise is made, symbolizing the earthquake at the time of the resurrection 

            (Matthew 28:2), the hidden candle is restored to its place and by the light all depart in 

            silence.

 Act Three – Maundy Thursday

             On this night we recall and dramatize the Last Supper.  We remember Jesus’ 

            humble act of washing the disciples’ feet as we do so for each other renewing our 

            commitment to servant ministry.

            The altar is stripped and the Ambre, where we keep the reserved sacrament and 

            blessed oils is emptied in the symbolic act of Jesus having been taken away.

            We leave the church in silence.

Act Four – Good Friday

            So called because Jesus gave himself up for us.  We came to the dark and silent 

            church to hear again the Passion Story.  We keep vigil with Jesus on the Cross.

Act Five – The Great Vigil

            We begin with the lighting of the new pyre and process with candles, The Light of 

            Christ, into the dark church.  Slowly as we read the story of God’s acts on our 

            behalf, the story of salvation, the lights grow brighter until we reach the “Great 

            Noise” the Alleluia, celebrating the Resurrection.  The congregation is encourage to 

            bring bells, whistles ,  horns, drums all to make a joyful noise unto our Lord.

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THANK YOU

Following is the content of a letter received by Battle on March 6, 2003 from Bishop Herlong.

“Dear Battle and members of St. Mark’s Church:

            I am writing to express my gratitude for your contribution of $157.00 to the Bishop’s 

Discretionary Fund.

            The Bishop’s Discretionary Fund is an extension of your ministry through the office 

of the Bishop.  The Bishop’s Discretionary Fund is the source of support for special and 

unique situations in the diocese where no other funds are available.  Thank you for helping 

make this ministry possible through your generosity.

            This comes with prayers for your continuing Christian ministry and service through 

the Episcopal Church.

Faithfully yours,

The Right Reverend Bertram Nelson Herlong, D.D.

Bishop of Tennessee”

                        IN THE SHADOW OF WAR A Pastoral Letter

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We, your bishops, write to you in perilous times. We do not know what the next days will bring. 

War and the threat of war make many afraid for the welfare of all that they love, and all those 

whom they hold dear. Such fear gnaws at the edges of consciousness and can shake the 

foundations upon which we have built our lives and our communities.

We do know that the certainty of God's goodness and faithfulness can never be shaken. In a time 

of great violence and anxiety we, as Christians, are not to acquiesce to fear; we are to witness to the 

reconciling love of God.

We are aware that within the community of faith there are a variety of opinions about the course 

our nation is pursuing. Nevertheless, Christians are called by Jesus to regard all persons as 

neighbors, to reach out in mercy, and to pray for one another and for our enemies.

We remind ourselves now of those who need our prayers and concerns: all who will be caught up 

in this conflict, our military personnel including our chaplains, their families, people who suffer 

for conscience sake, Arab Americans of all faiths, followers of Islam around the world - the great 

majority of whom share a longing for peace, and the people of Iraq, among whom are more than 

one million Christians. Our prayers must continue for George, our President, and for the leaders of 

the nations, that they will make wise and measured decisions that will protect the innocent and 

will result in a swift and just peace, and the full restoration of the land and people of Iraq.

In this season of conflict and danger, our Church is called to be a community where all people can 

join in prayer for peace and healing in God's beloved world, for loved ones and those in harm's 

way, and for the assurance of our Lord's merciful presence and providence in the midst of crisis. 

As your bishops, we commit ourselves to adopt a discipline of fasting and prayer for the return of 

peace. We commend such a discipline to each of you. We urge our congregations to open their 

doors for prayer and to be places where all can find the hospitality and hope of our Lord Jesus 

Christ, the Prince of Peace.

In all times and circumstances, our faith is set upon the firm foundation of the love of Christ. We 

reaffirm our confidence that "neither death nor lifeÖnor anything else in all creation, will be able 

to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38,39)

In these difficult times, may God give us the strength to witness to the Divine Compassion.

A Prayer for the Whole Human Family

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with 

compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our 

hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our 

struggle and confusion to accomplish your purpose on earth; that, in your good time, all nations 

and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen. Book of Common Prayer, page 815.

The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church

March 18, 2003

Congratulations Confirmands

On Sunday, March 2, 2003, the Bishop visited St. Mark’s and confirmed the following people.  We wish to 

offer them our sincere congratulations.  With Rev. Beasley and Bishop Herlong they are:

PRAYER LIST


We would like to improve and enlarge upon the prayer list.  The list will be published each 

month in the Gryphon for all to contemplate during the month beginning with the May issue.  

Please expand information to include who the person is that we are praying for, i.e. friend, 

relative, co-worker of so and so.  Many times the reason for including that person in our 

prayers is private and that is OK, but if you want it known why we are praying for that person 

please include that information; i.e. Jennifer Dedmond's lymphoma.

The list will continue to be posted on the wall beside Battle's office.   You may write your 

requests there.  Additions/deletions may be sent to Lorna Noren for the Gryphon at 

submitgryphon@aol.com or to 

                Susie McEwen at lsmcewen@mailstation.com 

and we will try to keep this up to date.                      Thank you for your help.

SEE DEAD SEA SCROLLS!

The Murfreesboro Center for the Arts is having an exhibition of ancient Bibles and the Dead 

Sea Scrolls throughout April. I'd like to get a group together to go see this. Anyone interested? 

If you are, contact me at lkauppi@umpublishing.org (work),   lynnkauppi@juno.com (home). 

Thanks,

Lynn Kauppi

March 18, 2003
2003-061

ATTENTION PLEASE!!!!

Hoping to equal or exceed the fantastic turn out for our workday last year, your Junior Warden 

has scheduled another work day this Spring for the Saturday before Easter, April 19, 2003. 

Breakfast will be served beginning at 7:00 am and work will begin by 8:00 or as soon as 

everyone finishes breakfast. Come as early as you wish and stay as long as you are happy to 

help make our community house and home look more presentable for our use and more 

accessible to the community.

     We have laid out three or four major outdoor projects, which will continue where we left off 

in the fall. Essentially these involve trimming along the road, and in front of the church, 

cleaning up and planting in the garden around the sign, moving trimmings to a common pile 

for later chipping, and several clean up, fix ups in and around the church building itself. For 

those interested in continuing with improving the facility for our growing number of children, 

there will be opportunities to clean up around their play area. For our labyrinth walkers, we will 

be draining "Lake St. Mark's" which appears after a good rain like the recent ones we've had, 

so whether you like to dig, plant flowers, trim brush and trees, or just come lend a hand, get out 

you gloves and gardening tools, and let's make our dear old St. Mark's look even nicer. We'll all 

have a great time working together, and its a great way to meet people and feel connected to 

our growing community.

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