Saturday, January 09, 2021
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Epiphany greetings, dear Church!
It's been yet another historically traumatic week - I hope this finds each of you doing well in spite of the political and pandemic news. Weeks like this make it even harder to not have the comfort of seeing each other regularly, so I'm all the more grateful to Kwame Poku for his idea of having a once-monthly Zoom Coffeehour. Our first one was last Sunday, and it was a joy to see your smiling faces! Our next one will be the first Sunday in February: Feb. 7 at 3 pm, hosted by Fran Boothe. Look for the invitation and link to come.
Also to mark on your calendar is the date of our 2021 Annual Meeting: Sunday evening, January 24 at 7 pm via zoom. In it we'll have the results of our pledge drive, and our budget and plans for the new year, along with updates from all our Ministry Leaders and their teams (Ministry Leaders, please send your updates by email to Mother Julia by Jan. 17 at the latest).
Speaking of our budget, we're still missing 11 pledges (about one quarter of our entire budget!) - please take a moment today to notify us of yours. You can let us know by email, text or phone to Marian Callaway: mariancallaway@verizon.net or 443-970-6587, or by postal mail to the church address below (however, given the slow pace of our postal delivery, it's recommended that you let us know by phone, email, or text). It will be a blessing to your church, and will help us know what 2021 holds for St. Mark's on the Hill. Pray for your church; this is a make-or-break year.
We all need a little bit of good news, and so I'm very excited to announce the reveal of our brand new St. Mark's Website! Thanks to our Director of Music, David Gunning Jr., who is also a technical wizard, we now have the start of this beautiful bright new site:
www.stmarksonthehill.org
We have lots to add to it, but what a great start. It's our first important step in growing the church, and will hopefully be welcoming to the average of 85 viewers that visit our online Sunday service during the week!
This Sunday (tomorrow), join us online for The Baptism of Our Lord, when we'll reaffirm our baptismal vows and you'll be virtually sprinkled with Holy Water. 10 am, or anytime during the week.
I ask that you keep the following people in your prayers: for Father Van Gardner, in the final stages of metastatic cancer, in hospice care at home with family. For the repose of the soul of Eartha Lamkin, who passed away after a long illness, and for her dear husband John and their family. For John Reed, still recovering at home from Covid 19. 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 don't delay in sending in your regular pledge every week. Simply pay your pledge online by clicking on this link:
www.episcopalmaryland.org/my-offering/
and under our church's name just put in your pledge amount.
Or mail your check to the church:
St. Mark's on the Hill Episcopal Church
1620 Reisterstown Road
Baltimore, MD 21208
Thank you so much; we are hard pressed to meet our expenses during this challenging time, and your pledge makes all the difference.
Blessings in this special 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, and again, Happy New Year!!!
Peace, and prayers unceasing,
Mother Julia+
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