Suzie Abrahamson Elected to Vestry November 2006

   Almost 9 years ago, August 1998, I accepted a position in Nashville to work with a man who had previously hired me in 1990. My husband, Gary, and I moved to Antioch from Cleveland, TN. Gary and I were raised as Methodist and joined the Episcopal Church through my brother’s affiliation in Leeds, AL. Upon moving to Antioch, Gary and I immediately started attending St. Mark’s and moved our membership within the year.

   When you change jobs, your insurance also changes and Gary & I had to choose and visit a ‘Primary Care Physician’. Ultimately, this was the beginning of a “very close” relationship with our St. Mark’s family. Gary’s prognosis in early 1999 was lung cancer. Chemo, surgery, more chemo and radiation were part of our lives and yours for the next 3 years. We were never without the caring, the compassion and the love of our new found family! In 2002, Gary had a seizure and the result was that his lung cancer had metastasized in his brain. Two surgeries and much radiation later, Gary gave it up to go home in June of 2005. Through all of this, so many of you walked that path to heaven with us and I am eternally grateful!

   Your support and friendship to me has continued and I have committed to “try” to give back. I’m honored to serve on the Altar Guild and most recently as a Vestry member.

   In January of this year, I changed jobs again (every 8 ½ years….next time I get to retire). The decision was hard….being single now with a secure job, why would I do that??? Well, your prayers and words of encouragement said “Go For It”! I am now, for the 3rd time, working for the man that brought me to Nashville….a great boss! Friends say either he “hasn’t learned his lesson” or “his confidence in me is obvious”! It’s hard taking those giant steps. I really appreciate those that pushed me….I’m so happy with that decision!

Jim Johnson Elected to Vestry November 2006
My name is Jim Johnson, and I’m at St. Marks due to a series of relationships.

When Mary Beth agreed to marry me a few years ago, we both wanted to find a church to attend. I went to a Hispanic church while we dated, and she, not speaking the language, did not understand squat! She went to another church that I thought was drier than gargling with ground glass. So, we agreed to look for another church.

I worked with Amy Harwell (Battle’s wife). We also lived on the same street, only a block apart. So we shared meals together and were simply neighbors and co-workers. Mary Beth, the brains behind it all, said to me one day, “Why don’t we go check out St. Marks”?

We visited several times. We both enjoyed ourselves. I especially enjoyed the banter in the morning before 8 o’clock service between Herb Stewart and John Seufert. That was like watching Rush Limbaugh spar with James Carville. Well, we joined the church, and I had both of those guys as my sponsor. John Seufert told the bishop, “This guy needs two of us to get in”!

Mary Beth and I were raised Southern Baptists. So, both of us now are comfortable to be in a church that we can at least be called “moderate”.

I am a “preacher’s kid” and have lived up to standard that most have of “preacher’s kids”. I have two parents that love God, each other, and a huge family of God. They instilled in me a love of God, people, and a search for truth even in the face of asking bad questions.

That search for truth was sharpened in college. I had one philosophy class my sophomore year and was considering it as a major. I heard the professor who taught that class was an “atheist”. I went to him and inquired about a major and asked if he would be my advisor. I told him that I was a Christian and wanted my beliefs challenged. He agreed to be my advisor and advised me to take his graduate level Plato class. I thought no way! Well, I took the class. Needless to say, I did three years of study to accomplish my major. During the spring semester of my senior year, he invited several students to his house for a meal. It was Easter Sunday. When we sat down to eat he said, “Let us bow our heads and pray”. I almost fell out of my chair! I later found out that he was an Episcopalian.

I am at St. Marks because of relationships. Relationships that do not seem connected, but in the economy of God’s kingdom ring true. My mother always says, “You don’t have to like them, you just have to love them”. That is not always easy for me to do.

George Kurz -  Senior Warden contact at GEKurz@bwsc.net
Re-Elected to Vestry November 2006-

            I was born in New Jersey but lived in the South for the past 51 years (I know – that means that I’m not just a Yankee – but a d… Yankee!) Most of my growing up was in Florida  (Orlando, St. Petersburg and Jacksonville). However, of all the moves made by my family, I’ve always considered that coming to Tennessee was the best! I love the mountains, plateaus, forests, and rivers – the tremendous variety and seasonal change in this state. From the very beginning, my goal was to be a civil engineer. Combining that with my love of water and the outdoors, resulted in my specializing in environmental and sanitary engineering. Initially, I attended UT, busted out and in 1970 became a “transfer student” to Vietnam for 18 months. When I returned, I finished my active duty in the Army War Room at the Pentagon. I returned to school at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville and finally graduated. My first job was in Nashville with the Tennessee Division of Water Quality. Then I worked in Chattanooga as system engineer for the municipal sewer system. That has subsequently been the focus of my professional life. Presently, I work part-time for an engineering consultant (Consoer Townsend Envirodyne) in Metrocenter in Nashville.

For the first half of my adult life, I was out of the church. However, about 21 years ago, I began to feel there were several things missing in my life. I was divorced for several years. Then I met Iva, and several good things came into my life. With an “instant” family (Iva’s two daughters – Jonie and Jackie) I felt there were a lot of good things being fulfilled. Also, I was impressed with the depth and commitment of Iva in her faith. We had been attending church together before we were married, but there were many things that I feel that I learned from her – especially about being a good steward and the importance of welcoming people.

George Noren - Junior Warden - Elected to Vestry November 2005

There is a song that states “Life is a winding road”.  This is a perfect description of my journey and how I ended up at St. Mark’s. 

For those of you that don’t know me, my name is George Noren and I am one of your newest vestry members.  I was born in Norwood, Massachusetts, and am a “cradle Episcopalian”.  I was baptized at All Saints Church in Attleboro, Massachusetts and spent the first eighteen years of my life in that church. 

After graduating high school, my path took me on many twists and turns that I never could have foreseen.  In August ’94 I went to Virginia Tech to study Geology.  In the first three years I was at college, I moved three times.  First I went to Scottsdale, Arizona, and then I moved to Tallahassee, Florida in May ’95, and then to Nashville in October ’96.  In January ’99 I left school and began attending St. Mark’s with my parents on a regular basis.  I immediately felt right at home.  I joined the choir and was confirmed at St. Mark’s.  Although I didn’t want to leave Massachusetts, I would not change the path that was set before me. 

St. Mark’s has been a wonderful church family and I am truly blessed that I have been given the opportunity to serve this congregation. 

I went through a period of searching for a place to worship. I needed a church that would help me feel close to God. I found that at St. Mark’s. Every time I walk in the door, I get such a feeling of peace. I have never felt so close to God as I do when I kneel on Sunday morning to pray.