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                                                                  DECEMBER 2003
The Gryphon’s Roar St. Mark's  Newsletter
A message from  the Rev. Battle Beasley
DIOCESAN CYCLE OF PRAYER
People and Places
Best o' Fall Fest o' Fall    UPDATE        
From the Heart by Carey Hardison  
Annual Parish Meeting by Gary Abrahamson, Senior Warden
Thank you from the Stewardship Committee by Pat Worsley

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The Reverend Battle Beasley      

                                                                                      

Dear People of God,

As I write this to you we are beginning the Advent season, the New Church year. This season of waiting and

preparation has its focus on the coming of Jesus. All our hopes and dreams as the hymn sings are met in that

wondrous event. And while we are called by the scripture readings in Advent to look for the signs of the

Kingdom of God breaking forth all around us, we are equally called to look inside ourselves to that place

where the Christ dwells, to pay attention to the urges of the Spirit that encourage us to be agents of His

Redeeming and Reconciling Love.

Many of us find ourselves a little bit more aware of the pressing needs of the world during these seasons of

Advent and Christmas.

Perhaps it is the ever-ringing bells of the Salvation Army that remind us of those needs as we are shopping.

Perhaps it is our own deepening sense of the Gift we have received in Jesus, and what a Grace that is.

Perhaps it is the many news stories that have to do with Angel trees and acts of great charity and kindness.

Whatever the reason it is an opportunity to deepen our knowledge of God's love for God's world an

opportunity to recommit ourselves to joining in the great work of sharing the knowledge of that love by word's

and deeds. It is an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the work of ushering in the Kingdom so long awaited

where there is justice and mercy and we are walking humbly with our God. Happy Advent to you and yours and

soon, very soon we will celebrate His coming again in great Glory.

Peace, 

Battle  + 
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   Best o’ Fall   Fest o’ Fall - Update

 

A Huge Success

Thanks to Generous Donations of Time, Energy and Talents!!

 

The weather was gorgeous.  The company was great.  The food was delicious.  There were lots of choices for spending

money.  We visited with old friends, made new friends and welcomed lots of folks who came down our drive for the first

 time.  We raised right at $800 for our Ecuador mission and over $4,000 for our own building and grounds account.  The

 Lord is good.  Rejoice and give thanks!

Your 2003 Fund Raising Committee thanks each and every one who contributed to the success not only of this BEST

 FEST but also to the Lasagna Dinner last January and the Talent Show this spring.  Together we added approximately

 $7,500 to the special fund for replacing air conditioning/heating units.  It was wonderful to earn these funds while we

 had fun and made new friends.  The work and fun we shared are part of our journey seeking God in ourselves and all

 creation. 

Thanks from your Committee Co-chairs: Elizabeth Gregory, Pauline Hall, Susie McEwen, and Patricia Worsley.

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DIOCESAN CYCLE OF PRAYER

Each month we publish Calendar of Prayer for the Diocese of Tennessee for the upcoming month. 

The calendar year actually begins on the first Sunday of Advent, 2003 and runs through Year C of the Eucharistic

Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer.

 

ADVENT I –             November 30, 2003

                              Church of the Advent, Nashville        

 

ADVENT II –            December 7, 2003

                              Church of the Good Shepherd, Brentwood

 

ADVENT III –           December 14, 2003

                              Church of Our Savior, Gallatin

 

ADVENT IV –          December 21, 2003

                              St. Bernard’s Church, Gruetli

 

CHRISTMAS I –       December 28, 2003

                              St. James-The-Less Church, Madison

 

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From the Heart

I've been an Episcopalian all of my life....a member of Saint Marks for about 5 years.  I pretty

much know the service by heart.

There have been times when I came to church, coasted thru the service, said a few hello's

and went home.  But recently, I've felt the presence of the Holy Spirit so strongly.......even

as I drive up Margie Lane.  To walk in the door and receive a hug and a smile from Norm

and Ann Baker has always been one of my favorite parts of church.  Seeing families growing

and changing.....the two little ClenDennings.....my gosh, it seems like yesterday I was lucky

enough to hold them as babies while they slept thru church.

Being a part of the Daughters of the King has been another favorite for me.  Sharing,

working and praying with these women has made an amazing difference in my life.  And

then there's Battle.....there have been two times in the last couple years that I REALLY

needed some help and he was there both times.  I could not have asked for more than what

he gave me.  We are so blessed with him.

I have spent the last 4 or 5 Sundays, not coasting thru the service, but in complete awe of

God's presence among us.  I've had goose bumps and joyful tears week after week!  

Maybe it's my relationship with God or maybe it's yours....and I just happen to be in the right

place.  Whichever the case may be, I am grateful.  Being a part of Saint Mark’s has become

so very important to me.

Thank you all for being a part of my journey.
 

Peace,
Carey Hardison 

 

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ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

 Our annual parish meeting will be held Sunday, December 7th.

The annual parish meeting is a time for us to talk about what we have experienced as a

community in the past year and to express some expectations, hopes, dreams, our vision for

the coming year.

Among the business that we vote on as a community are the proposed budget and new

vestry members. I say proposed budget because the vestry has finally to decide how our

monies are spent keeping in mind the congregation’s expressed will and spiritual intention.

The important rules concerning election of vestry members are:

  1. they must have received the sacrament of confirmation;

  2. a giver of record;

  3. a member in good standing.

If you know of someone whom you feel is called to be a vestry member please,

(1) check with Father Battle to make sure they meet our canonical, by law requirements,

(2) ask them:

(3) give their names to the vestry nominating committee chairman

Gary Abrahamson.

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Thank You

The Stewardship Committee wishes to thank every one who completed our Time and Talent/Rule of

Life Survey.  To date, we have received 67 surveys, and hope to receive a few more.  There is still a

need for Acolytes at the 10:30 a.m. service.

Please watch the rotation schedule published in The Gryhon’s Roar for the scheduling of Chalice

Bearers, Acolytes, Readers, Ushers, Oblation Bearers, Coffee Hosts, Nursery Workers, and

Sextons.  If you cannot serve when scheduled, please swap with someone else on the schedule and

let the Rector (361-4100) or Les Worsley know the name of the person with whom you

swapped. 

If you are unable to find someone with whom to swap, please let the Rector or Les know and they

will draft someone on Sunday morning. 

It is requested that Chalice Bearers and Acolytes be vested and in the Rector’s office at least 10

minutes prior to the start of the service.  Readers should arrive in time to review the lessons they are

scheduled to read that day – about 10 to 15 minutes prior to the start of the service.  Ushers and

Nursery Workers should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the service.

As the need arises in the life of our congregation for other ministries, someone will contact you or

announcements will be made in church about volunteering for the items in which you indicated an

interest.

Again, thank you for all you do for St. Mark’s.

Pat Worsley

Stewardship Committee


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SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK

 

KEEP THAT FOOD COMING!!!  St. Mark's Episcopal Church  has done an incredible job of

donating food for Second Harvest Food Bank in the last few months.  We need to keep it

coming in and going to the Hamilton Methodist Church Distribution Center for our

neighborhood. 

We have met every challenge put to us. 

Let’s not fall back like the clocks.  Let’s keep that barrel full.

 

December Birthdays

Candy Burger             1

Holly Granger             7

Gail Leverett               7

Andrea Tucker         10

Greg Hall                  20

Carey Hardison        21

Shelley Davis            29

Matthew Tantaris      31

 

 

December Anniversaries

Peggy & Bert Tucker    19, 1970

Janet Turner-McDonald and Dale McDonald   30, 2000

 

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