St. Mark's on the Web (Best viewed on a full screen)

                                                                  November 2002
The Gryphon’s Roar St. Mark's  Newsletter
A message from  the Rev. Battle Beasley
Daughters of the King       
People and Places
Food For Thought

The Gryphon's Roar

If you'd like to keep up with the activities at St. Mark's, subscribe to receive our monthly bulletin which includes news and events at Saint Mark's Church. 

If you would like to receive a copy, please e-mail our editor at submitgryphon@aol.com

                       

The Reverend Battle Beasley      

                                                                                      

Fellow Pilgrims, 

How is it with your spirit? 

We are traveling together in and towards the heart of God. I say we are traveling together because it is impossible for us to take such a journey by ourselves; we need each other’s encouragement, wisdom, patience and love to keep us faithful to the Good News. I say we are traveling in the heart of God because God holds us in all times and places. We are God’s desire and delight says Julian of Norwich. I say we are traveling towards the heart of God because our awareness of God’s loving presence grows within us as we set our selves to the task of seeking God’s face. This journey we take being bound together by God with all creation in order that we might reflect God’s graciousness and love in our daily lives.

How is it with your spirit? 

Our lives are filled with an enormous amount of stress, suffering, grief and simple pleasures, rest and joy. At times we have a balance in our lives and at other times it may seem that we are living on only one side of those feelings and experiences. We travel this journey together as Christians to support each other in rough times and in good. We witness to God’s loving kindness to those under stress or grief quite often by simply being present. Like wise we celebrate joys by our acknowledgement of others.

How is it with your spirit? 

I find myself needing to reflect on that question as events in the world and in our parish family sometimes seem too hard too out of balance on the stress side of our lives. I need to reflect about the question to take me to that deeper part of myself, the part wherein I find the heart of God at peace, full of compassion for me and all the world around me. I invite you who are on this journey with me to take some time to revisit your deeper self, to allow the pressures of your daily life to be set-aside for a few minutes. Take time to give yourself the gifts God so wants to give you in his presence, where there is no pain or grief; renew your sense of God’s compassion for you that you and I might witness the Good News in the world.

Peace, 

Battle  + 

 Return to top of page

                    

DAUGHTERS OF THE KING

St. Mark’s Chapter 

WHO WE ARE:

 We are members of a lay order for women in the Episcopal church.  Our objective is to bring women and girls into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, through his Church.  As Daughters, we pledge ourselves to a Rule of Life – a lifetime of daily prayer and service and personal evangelism.  We are young and old, rich and poor, beautiful and plain, community leaders and quiet women, doctors, teachers, secretaries, executives and housewives, sinful and wavering, generous and strong.

 WHAT DO WE DO?

 We vow to pray daily for the spread of Christ’s Kingdom, for God’s blessing on the work of our Order, for the spiritual growth of our parish.  We have undertaken many projects in the Church and community.

 We are planning an intake program in January, 2003.  We invite all interested persons to come and join us.  Feel free to inquire about our work.  Our members are Pam Carr-Brannon, Debbie Colvin, Maria Christenson, Carey Hardison, Betty McKee, Mickey Sturm, Pauline Hall.

 FOR HIS SAKE

            Return to top of page

Food for Thought

 

Have you ever wondered why a pigeon walks so funny?  According to an interesting article in the Detroit Free Press, a pigeon walks the way it does so it can see where it is going.  Because it can’t adjust its focus as it moves, the pigeon actually has to bring its head to a complete stop between steps in order to refocus.  This is the way it walks: head forward, stop; head back, stop.  Don’t laugh – that’s how it goes!

In our spiritual walk with the Lord, we have the same problem as the pigeon.  We have a hard time seeing while we’re moving.  We also need to stop between steps – to refocus on where we are in relation to the World and the will of God.  That’s not to say we have to stop and pray and meditate about every little decision in life.  But certainly our walk with the Lord needs to have built into it a pattern of “stops”, which enable us to see more clearly before moving on.

 

Taken from the newsletter of All Saint’s Episcopal Church, Attleboro, MA

Return to top of page

GROUP SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

 

Group Spiritual Direction is being offered again this year. Saturday November 16th beginning at 9 a.m. until 2p.m. we will spend time learning about and experiencing the process of group spiritual direction. 

If you think you might be interested please talk to Battle, Candy Burger, Dan Ashmead, Dan Benedict or Frank Brannon

  

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING !! November 17th 9am. 

This is the time when we have opportunity to look at the past year and to discuss what we would like to see ourselves doing in the upcoming year. 

We will elect vestry members and approve a budget. 

It is a time for we as a community to reflect on our lives together and our work and witness in the world. 

Please make every effort to be present.

 SECOND SUNDAY

2nd Sunday breakfast will be hosted by the stewardship committee.  Come find out what Herb Stewart is capable of getting others to cook!  Remember to also bring food for the Second Harvest Food Bank.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN

In response to the Call to Action to fight violence in our society that was issued by the National Board of the Episcopal Church Women, the Diocesan ECW has chosen Magdalene Ministries in Nashville as our Special Missions Project.  The mission of Magdalene is to provide sanctuary, along with support service and educational opportunities for women who have a significant history of prostitution and chemical dependency.  How can you help?  Through financial donations, becoming a volunteer, providing linens and household items and having a Thistle Farms sale at your church.  Call your church office, ECW President or contact person for more information.

 

Return to top of page