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All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. -- 2 Timothy 3:15-16
"That was inspirational!" Such might be our reaction to a particularly good speech, book, or article that moves us in a particular way. That's not the kind of inspiration St. Paul is referring to here, however. Another translation puts it more clearly: "All scripture is God-breathed...." What that means for us is NOT that all scripture is God-dictated, inerrant (without mistake), or so obvious that it needs no interpretation or study. Rather, the Bible, scripture, is intended to be a account of God's relationship with human beings and a guide to continuing and deepening that relationship. That process is called discipleship.
The "Way of Love" we've been working our way through is the way of discipleship. A disciple, in the Christian tradition, is a dedicated follower of Jesus. The word "follower," however, is an inadequate description of what Jesus required of his disciples. Perhaps "apprentice" might come closer. Yes, Jesus' disciples did follow him around and listen to his words, but they were also sent out as apostles (literally: sent ones) to do the work that Jesus was doing: "As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons." (Matt 10:7-8a) Quite a list! Yet what Jesus is essentially saying to them, and to us, is "Do what I do. Say what I say. Proclaim what I proclaim." Follow on the way!
--Tom+
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BFF Brief: Stucco soon, tongue-and-groove, and electricity!
This week we continue to make slow but steady progress towards completion of our project. The ceiling drywall is going up in the new Parish Hall, the tongue-and-groove boards are going up as well (mimicking the church ceiling) and we hope to finish off the stucco in the next week or so after more than a week of curing. Today, we had Pacific Power install a new power pole for our three-phase power that will supply the elevator with the power it needs. By early next week, the elevator should (at last) be going in! We are waiting for final city sign-off on the fire detection systems in the new building, after which we will be able to sheetrock the walls and begin the finish work.
Financing remains strong, but we are likely to use just about every dollar we have in completing the project, mostly due to the aforementioned fire detection systems being installed. We remain grateful for all of the financial support so far and invite anyone who has not yet given money to "buy in" with as little as a $50 donation by visiting our web page and clicking on the "Give online" button in the upper right hand corner of the page or by dropping a check in the offering plate with "BFF" in the memo line. With our tight budget as well as the likely need for basement renovation, any dollar given will be well used and appreciated. At this point, it is looking more and more likely that the project will not be completed until the end of the calendar year, though we're hoping for a Christmas opening! Thank you again for your financial support and your prayers.
-- The Building For the Future (BFF) Committee
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No copy of the St. Mark's at the (Rogue Valley) Manor bi-weekly eNewsletter this week! There will be one two weeks from now. Don't miss it, so click here to subscribe!
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UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
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NEW LGBT Support Group
at Medford Congregational UCC
on Friday, October 18 at 7:30 pm
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Garden Clean-up:
THIS Saturday,
October 19 at 9 am
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 Join us Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 9 a.m. for our Fall Garden Clean up. Contact the church office or Kit or Jerry Nilles for more information.
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Altar Guild Fall Meeting
THIS Saturday,
October 19 at 10 am
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 The stolen chalice is back!
The stolen paten is back!
We're back!
All Altar Guild members (or those interested!) are invited to join us THIS Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 10 a.m. for our Fall Altar Guild Meeting. We will discuss Advent and Christmas plans, do some work, and more! Contact the church office or Cindy Prewitt for more information.
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THIS Sunday, October 20
Pat Somes' Celebration of Life
2 pm at St. Mark's
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 Long-time member Pat Somes, wife of member The Rev. Norman Somes, passed away several weeks ago after a protracted illness. We will celebrate her life with a service
THIS Sunday, October 20 at 2 pm followed by a dessert reception in Hafer House.
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NEXT Sunday, October 27
at 10 am
Procession of Costumes
and Blessing of Trick-or-Treaters
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As a part of our usual Sunday School Prayer at the beginning of the 10 am service, we will have a costume procession and a prayer for children who will be trick-or-treating for All Hallows Eve. Children and youth are invited to wear your costume to church for the procession!
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NAME TAGS:
Are you wearing yours?
Do you know where your tag is?
Are you wearing it on Sundays?
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 As fall continues and the program year gets into full swing, we are we continue to get new people visiting St. Mark's. As a gesture of hospitality, we would like everyone to wear their name tags to church and coffee hour on Sunday mornings. Please return them to the baskets provided when finished with them. They will be returned to the church for the following Sunday.
Name tags have been cleaned out, so if yours is missing (and it isn't in your car or house), please put your name on the "Need a name tag" list or email or call TieKara at the church office and she will do a name tag printing run! A batch of new nametags was just printed, so look for yours on Sunday!
THANKS FOR WEARING
YOUR NAME TAG!
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11th Bishop of Oregon Search
Diocesan Profile released!
Applications taken Oct. 11-Nov. 1.
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On October 1, the Search CommitteeArvo for the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of Oregon released the Diocesan Profile and is preparing to receive names of candidates. Applications will be received from October 11 to November 1. If you know of anyone who you would consider a good candidate for Bishop of Oregon, please direct them to this web site:
https://www.oregonbishopsearch.org/
The election will be in June 2020 and the ordination and consecration will be January 2021. Please continue to pray for this process and for potential candidates. Thank you!
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Don't Forget!
Our Pledge Ingathering is Sunday, November 10
at both services. Please continue to pray about your
financial support of St. Mark's in 2020!
Don't have a pledge card? Pick one up at church this Sunday, stop by,
call the church office, or click here to submit an online pledge form.
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COMING SOON:
Thanksgiving Boxes (Bags)!
Donations accepted @ $30 per bag
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 Our Outreach Committee is gearing up for our annual Thanksgiving Box (this year, Bag) assembly! Our goal is to assemble 280 bags of food plus turkeys to help families through a half-dozen local elementary schools have a great Thanksgiving Meal. One bag and turkey costs $30, so we are encouraging people to sponsor at least one bag. For more information, contact Kit Nilles or the church office. Please put "Thanksgiving Bag" on the memo line of a check or donate here and designate for "Outreach Fund" (NOT Food Pantry). Thanks for your support!
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Annual Giving Campaign
Continues this Sunday
with the WORSHIP practice!
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 This week we continue our Annual Giving Campaign with the theme "Turn to the Future: The St. Mark's Way of Love." Borrowing from our Presiding Bishop's "Way of Love" program, each week we are highlighting a single practice on this "way" and link it to our own individual lives and church life.
This week, we focus on the practice of WORSHIP: Gather in community weekly to thank, praise, and dwell with God. "When we worship, we gather with others before God. We hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, give thanks, confess, and offer the brokenness of the world to God. As we break bread, our eyes are opened to the presence of Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are made one body, the body of Christ sent forth to live the Way of Love."
A reminder that you are invited to use the information and pledge card you should have received as a reminder to pray about your physical (involvement), financial (giving), and spiritual (prayer) support of St. Mark's in 2020. We will gather these cards at our Ingathering Sunday on November 10. If you want to submit your pledge online--after an appropriate amount of prayer and conversation, of course--you may do so by clicking here. Also, beginning this Sunday, Pledge Packets will be available in the church.
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Sunday School CONTINUES!
Meet at the back of the church for procession and prayer.
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Sunday School: God Space
With our new space as yet unfinished, this will (once again!) be a transition year for us. Sunday School has re-started in Dagwell Hall (our old education building) but with a new name: God space!  We will be creating a sacred space in which children can make that divine connection each week through prayer, song, and story. Join us!
Teaching Assistants Needed!
 Interested in Children's & Youth Ministry? We're always looking for Teaching Assistants for our Sunday School. See Geni or Natalie or contact the office via email or telephone (541-773- 3111) to volunteer. We will work with your schedule!
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Ministry Opportunity:
8 am and 10 am Service Coffee Hour and Welcome Coordinators Needed!
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 Are you organized, able to make phone calls or send emails, and willing to help us make sure we have a coffee hour EVERY Sunday? Well, we need you! We are recruiting a Coffee Hour Coordinator for both the 8 and 10 am services (i.e. two coordinators). The coordinators would make sure that every coffee hour has one or two hosts who are willing and trained to host it, both recruiting and training new people to host. See or contact Francis Plowman (8 am) or Bill Dames (10 am) for more information or if you are interested.
We are also recruiting Welcoming Coordinators foe each service who will coordinate our newcomer greeting and follow-up system for each service, making sure that newcomers are appropriately welcomed, tracked, and connected to the life of the congregation. If you are interested in doing this at either service, see or contact Rev. Tom.
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Monday Morning Bible Study
Continues Mondays, at 10 am
in Hafer House Library
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 Our program year is back in session, and so is our Bible Study on the Gospel of Matthew. Come join us in Hafer House Library at 10 am every Monday morning (there is always coffee available...)!
PLEASE NOTE: No Bible Study on Monday, November 11 (Veterans Day).
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Celtic Evensong
at Trinity, Ashland
Third Sunday of each month.
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All are invited to the new year of Celtic Evensong services at Trinity Episcopal Church in Ashland. The service is held on the third Sunday of every month at 7 pm (6:30 pm Celtic Harp music begins) beginning this coming Sunday, September 15 with "Blessed Unfolding" as the theme. All are welcome!
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Rector's Reflections
