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Their heart is established and will not shrink, until they see their desire upon their enemies. They have given freely to the poor, and their righteousness stands fast for ever; they will hold up their head with honor. - Psalm 112:8-9
I'm writing this reflection from my room at a clergy retreat in Albuquerque, New Mexico with the theme "Money and Mission: The Practice of Stewardship in the Missionary Church." We have talked a lot about money and mission and the challenge of giving "freely to the poor" while also asking people to invest in the support of the church itself. We ask people to invest in the church so that we as a congregation might, for example, have a warm, dry place to worship, a place to connect, and people to facilitate that connection with God and each other. As we count down the weeks until our building is completed, we are also beginning to imagine what possibilities this new structure might open up. Through this process, we have had to have hearts that were "established and will not shrink"--in other words, courage and faith.
Righteousness, as described by the psalmist, means proudly and faithfully doing God's work in the world AND resisting the temptation to focus on one's self to the exclusion of God and others. Other scriptures appointed for the day present us as salt, light, and those who have the "mind of Christ." As I sit in this retreat and think about the remainder of 2020 and beyond, I'm eager to see where St. Mark's goes in the future as we live more fully into our identity as beloved children of God.
--Tom+
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BFF Brief: New Bathroom and break from tracking progress...
As Rev. Tom is away this week, there isn't an up-to-date progress report to give. However, a HUGE thank you to Jan Martin, Barbara Holley, and Trevor Thorndike for renovating our bathroom from the floor up and giving us a bright, new, clean bathroom to use! This will continue to be our sole bathroom until the completion of the BFF project, so it is wonderful to have it renovated!
-- The Building For the Future (BFF) Committee
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The Memorial Service for Phil Burroughs
will take place on Sunday, February 9 at 3 pm at St. Mark's.
Reception to follow. All are invited to attend.
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UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Tuesday, February 25 - 5:30 to 7 pm
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Hafer House Ballroom
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 Lent is almost upon us, so it is time once again for our annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, sponsored by our men's group. Join us any time from 5:30 to 7 pm in the Hafer House Ballroom as we observe this tradition by eating pancakes, sausage, and other things in commemoration of "Fat Tuesday." Donations to our Hospitality Fund will be taken.
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Saturday, March 7th at 6:30 pm
Foundry Village Fundraiser
World Music Comes to Grants Pass: Lasana Kanneh in Concert
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St. Luke's Episcopal Church presents:
World Music comes to Grants Pass: Lasana Kanneh
in Concert
Saturday, March 7 at 6:30 pm (doors open at 5:30 pm) at Bethany Presbyterian Church 741 NW 4th St., Grants Pass. Fundraising benefit for Foundry Village (Grants Pass' version of Hope Village)
Tickets available starting TODAY. $18 at the door, $15 pre-sale. Contact St. Luke's at 541-476-2493 for ticket information.
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Sunday, March 29 at 9 am
Combined Service Sunday with Worship Ministry Celebration
and Vestry Commissioning
Altar Guild, EMs, EVs, etc...
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 As we continue to move through Lent, we arrive at another fifth Sunday, which is an opportunity to celebrate together! This time, we will be highlighting the ministries that enable us to gather each Sunday to worship together. Members of our Altar Guild, Eucharistic Ministers, and Eucharistic Visitors as well as our Prayer Team will be honored, recognized, and re-commissioned for their work. We will also honor, recognize, and commission our Vestry for the important work that they do. Come join us for our combined 9 am service followed by a potluck--hopefully in our new Parish Hall!
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Every Monday at 10 am
Monday Bible Study on Isaiah
Hafer House Library
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 Our Monday Morning Bible Study continues! We have plunged into what is likely to be a year-long study of the book of the prophet Isaiah (60+ chapters of it)! Please join us for coffee, scripture, and (often) cookies on Mondays at 10 am in the Library at Hafer House. Newcomers welcome!
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TOMORROW, February 8th at 8 am
Men's Breakfast
Hafer House Kitchen and Ballroom
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 Please join the Men of St. Mark's (aka Mark's Men) as we gather for the first of what we hope will be quarterly breakfasts in 2020 on Saturday, February 8th at 8 am in Hafer House. Coffee, conversation, and other breakfast fare will be served. We will also talk about the upcoming Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on February 25. Join us!
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ALSO TOMORROW,
February 8 - 2 to 3 pm
HELP NEEDED: Medford Food Project PANTRY UNLOAD
Hafer House
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 The Medford Food Project is coming up on Saturday, February 8th. We will not be able to unload boxes into our new storage room and so we will continue to need help putting a couple of pallets of boxes into Hafer House. We will need help between 2 and 3 pm on Saturday. If you can help text, call or email Geni Hilton at 541-261-7607 or click here. She will call you Saturday afternoon when we are leaving Access so that you have 10 or 15 minutes to meet us at the side door of Hafer House. With enough help it will take about 15 minutes of your Saturday.
Thank you for your help!
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Book Study and Potluck
The Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity by Cynthia Bourgeault
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 The book group began a new book on January 8: The Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity by Episcopal priest Cynthia Bourgeault.This book is "a radical view of Mary Magdalene as Jesus’s most important disciple, the one he considered to understand his teaching best. That teaching was characterized by a non-dualistic approach to the world and by a deep understanding of the value of the feminine. Cynthia shows how an understanding of Mary Magdalene can revitalize contemporary Christianity, how Christians and others can, through her, find their way to Jesus’s original teachings and apply them to their modern lives." Books are $12 and are available at smile.amazon.com (St. Mark's gets a percentage!). Join us at 5:30 pm on Wednesday evenings in Hafer House for great food for body, mind, and spirit!
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REMEMBER: Ash Wednesday is Wednesday, February 26th.
See below for service times.
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Rector's Reflections
Are you a Rogue Valley Manor resident? Are you interested in what St. Mark's is up to at the Manor? Well, subscribe to our occasional newsletter (once or twice per month) and stay in the know!
