Saturday, December 05, 2020
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Advent blessings, dear Church!
Greetings, dear ones! I hope you're staying safe and well during this historic time of worsening pandemic. Please continue all your best practices, and don't let "Pandemic Fatigue" influence your self care.
Because of the worsening Covid statistics all throughout our state, remember that all churches in the Diocese are closed until at least Jan. 1, 2021. We are very blessed to already have in place good livestreaming of our services, and that will continue uninterrupted every Sunday at 10 am. We continue to fine-tune the audio quality, with many thanks to Rick Tomlinson. I know this closure is hard news as we move through Advent with Mary and Joseph towards Christmas Eve, but we will do our best to offer beautiful worship that you can participate in from home, and feel the comfort of seeing your sanctuary in all it's beauty. Many thanks to all who help prepare and participate in our livestreaming! We look forward to providing an especially beautiful service on Christmas Eve at 7 pm.
Folks, we have to step up our pledges for 2021: so far we've only received five pledge promises. There's no way we can develop a working budget with that little participation, and no way I can continue to serve as your priest, unless everyone does their best to at least duplicate what you pledged for 2020. Don't let St. Mark's be one of the many churches to fall as a casualty of the pandemic; we've come SO far in the last two and a half years. Thank you. Just fill out the purple pledge sheet and mail it to the church at the address below.
Please mark your calendars for a Community Zoom Meeting on Tuesday evening, Dec. 29 at 7 pm. This will give an opportunity to discuss anything on your minds, and to give a "pre-annual meeting" update on where we stand with pledges and projects. Look for a link to come with how to join in.
Although we had to cancel this years' Christmas Bazaar due to pandemic restrictions, we are allowed to provide our regular outreach of the Christmas Turkey Dinner Boxes, so join in if you'd like to help! Pick up is Friday, Dec.18, and distribution is Saturday Dec.19, both from 10 - 1. Contact Bunny Anderson or Vickie Lamkin for details.
I ask that you keep the following people in your prayers: for Eartha Lamkin, who suffered a cardiac arrest last night and is in ICU at Sinai hospital. For Fr. Van Gardner, home from Hospital again. For John Reed, home from hospital after being diagnosed with Covid 19, and for his wife Robin Quarles, who also tested positive but is feeling fine. For Ann Tomlinson, Rick Tomlinson's mother, who broke her arm, and for Rick, suffering the sudden loss of his dear friend Ray Buchanan. For John Hopkins, Alyson's husband, on home dialysis. For Cecelia Callaway, Marian's mother, in a nursing home in New Jersey. For David Kaplan, struggling with leg problems, We pray also for David Lamkin, John and Eartha's son, diagnosed with a recurrence of leukemia, and for Martin Lamkin, navigating congestive heart failure. May they all feel the sure presence of God, the healing power of Christ, and the consolation of the Holy Spirit. Know that everyone on our Parish Prayer List is prayed for by name every day, led by Carolyn Workman of the BMT. Many, many thanks to her for her powerful and faithful prayer ministry among us. If you feel called to join in this daily prayer ministry, that would be wonderful: just contact Carolyn Workman at 410.833.4668.
Please, of your kindness, don't delay in sending in your regular pledge every week. Simply mail your check to the church:
St. Mark's on the Hill Episcopal Church
1620 Reisterstown Road
Baltimore, MD 21208
...or pay your pledge online: simply click on this link:
episcopalmaryland.org/my-offering/
and under our church's name just put in your pledge amount. Thank you so much; we are hard pressed to meet our expenses during this challenging time, and your pledge makes all the difference.
Thank you for your prayers, phone calls, texts, and emails - it's a blessing to hear from you, and a blessing to continue to pray for you.
Blessings in this new season, and I'll "see" you on Sunday mornings at 10 am on Facebook Live! Until then, know that God loves you so, and is always, always with you. Please stay vigilant and safe!
Peace, and prayers unceasing,
Mother Julia+
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