The St. Mark’s Weekly

Sunday School

10 - 10:40 a.m. for ages 4 to High School

Adult Forum Schedule
  

February 12

"Embracing Emergence Christianity", Part 3
 

February 19

"Embracing Emergence Christianity", Part 4
 

February 26

Marcus Borg and John Crossan “Demonstrations in Jerusalem”

March 4          
Borg and Crossan “The Crowd and the Crucifixion”

March 11       
Borg and Crossan “Resurrection as Resistance”

March 18       
Borg and Crossan “America as the New Rome?”

March 25       
Michael Foughty “Journey in the Holy Land”

 

Announcements

Listening Groups:
As we welcome a new class of Vestry, and prepare for the Vestry Retreat which will be Feb. 25th and 26th.  St. Mark’s Episcopal Church would like to ask our members to consider our common life and worship together so that the Vestry can better determine how we, as individuals and as a congregation, can best use God’s gifts at this time and in this place.  Our parish time of discernment will follow the retreat, but we would like to have some informal discussion before your Vestry meets. While it will be President’s weekend, we will have two opportunities for discussion during the Adult Forum, and after worship Feb. 19th. Please join us for one or more of these opportunities for participation and discussion.
 
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church began as a Mission Church in the Groveton area of Alexandria. It was initially a preaching station for the students of Virginia Theological Seminary, and a Sunday School for all people in the Groveton area. In 1956 the church sold its property then on Richmond Highway, and moved to new property on South King’s Highway. In reflecting upon this parish and its history, how can we prepare for its future and its spiritual life?
John

 
Your February/March issue of the newsletter will be available for you to pick up on Sunday. 
 
Thank you to all who contributed to the Theological Education Fund last Sunday. We collected $350.00, which will be given to VTS.
 
The 2012 budget and 2011 End of Year Reports are posted on the bulletin board in Gibson Hall.
 
Monday morning Bible study continues on Monday at 9:30 a.m. Join Fr. John and Rev. Meredith as we study the Old Testament books of Ruth and Esther. More books are on order. In the meantime, copies of the homework assignment for Monday are available by the mailboxes in Gibson Hall.
 
Our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and Talent Show will take place on February 21. Get your act together! Proceeds benefit the youth mission trip. Sign up in the Narthex to perform or see Rev. Meredith.
 
St. Mark’s is in need of a new webmaster. I’ve enjoyed serving as the church webmaster, but am planning to step down from this position at the end of February. I took on this job on without any prior experience and can honestly say that the webmaster job is neither difficult nor time consuming. One-on-one training will be scheduled with Emily Cherry, the Diocesan Communications Officer and editor of The Virginia Episcopalian. I am also available to help with training. Please contact me as soon as possible to discuss this further. Communication is important! Please volunteer to use YOUR gifts and talents to help keep St. Mark’s website up and running. Sheryl Sims
 
The Daughters of the King invite your participation in a 7-week Lenten study titled “Final Words,” a DVD program centering on Christ’s words from the cross, with an accompanying student book for weekly reading, costing about $10. This will be held in the large classroom after the 10 a.m. service beginning February 19 and ending on April 1 (which is Palm Sunday). If you plan to attend, please let either Emily (at the church office) know or contact Donna Anderson at 703/960-0093 and a book will be ordered for you.
 
One of the great gifts of being a part of the Diocese of Virginia, is the opportunity to use Shrine Mont, which is a retreat, camp and conference center in Bayse, Virginia, approximately 2½ hours to the west. With a pool, trails and golf nearby, it makes for a great family weekend. St. Mark's has made arrangements to reserve several houses on the "hill", with meals at Tucker Hall for Saturday, August 25th and Sunday the 26th. Costs will be approximately $95.00 per person. Our deposit is due March 2. Small scholarships are available. A second opportunity will be the weekend of July 7th and 8th, with fellow Episcopalians from the Mt. Vernon area, with accommodations in the Maryland House, and hotel with shared bath. Please call the parish office at 703-765-3949, or sign up in the Narthex if you are interested in attending either weekend.
 
St. Mark’s is sponsoring a pocket community garden in an effort to provide local residents, school groups, and church members with the experience of growing fresh vegetables or cutting flowers for their personal use. Both experienced and novice gardeners are welcome to join. Each gardener will have the use of a sunny plot, roughly 8x12 feet. Deer fencing and water barrels will be provided. The cost of a plot for the season is $40 and all funds will be used to support the garden. If you are interested, please contact Deborah Clay-Mendez at 703/960-4925.
 
Support the new community garden at St. Mark’s. In support of the new community garden at St. Mark’s, I am building the first 6 gravel side paths and the first 6 3 ft. x 12 ft. raised planters/beds for my Eagle Project. We are hoping they will be strong and work well. We also hope to make the garden beautiful for the church. Construction Day will be Saturday, March 24th. (Inclement weather date to be in April.) I will be in the lobby on Sunday, March 4th to share site plans and welcome volunteers and donations to help with the success of the project. Will Miles
 
The Pastoral Care Committee can use more casseroles to keep in our freezer to take to parishioners who are in need of a meal. Casseroles that will serve 2 people would be most appreciated. See Dottie Gibson for more information.
 
St. Mark’s will be at the VIC-HOP hypothermia shelter on March 5. Housed at Rising Hope Methodist Mission church on Russell Rd., across from Aldie's Supermarket, the shelter is open for business and off to a good start for the winter season. There is always a need for extra volunteers able to spend the night, or to be called upon if needed. If you are able to volunteer as needed, please see Rosemary Kley or the Rector. 

 

Birthdays

  February 13 - Kathryn Weatherly, Emily Davis
February 15 – Rev. Meredith
February 18 – Heidi Hainsey

Anniversaries

 February 13 – Barbara and Carl Foster
February 18 – Ray and Micki Shoemaker  
 

The Week at St. Mark’s

Sunday 2/12
8 a.m. HE
9:15 a.m. Adult Forum (Patience Hall)
10 a.m. HE
10 a.m. Sunday School
11:15 a.m. Choir rehearsal
11:30 a.m. Vestry mtg. for new Vestry
1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Eucaristia - San Marcos (Sanctuary, Patience Hall and Gibson Halls)
3 p.m. Amazing Grace Ghanaian Fellowship (Patience Hall)
5 p.m. Pan de Vida (Sanctuary and Patience Hall)

Monday 2/13                 
9:30 a.m. Le Petit Ecole (Gibson Hall)
9:30 – 10:45 a.m. Monday Morning Bible Study on Ruth
7 p.m. BSA Troop #4077 (Patience Hall)

Tuesday 2/14                
6:30 p.m. GS Troop #4841/841 (Patience Hall)

Wednesday 2/15          
10 a.m. HE at The Fairfax

Thursday 2/16              
10 a.m. Holy Folders (Lg. classroom)

Friday 2/17               
Youth Group ski trip (through 2/19)
7 p.m. Pan de Vida (Sanctuary)

Saturday 2/18               
10 a.m. KidsPro Soccer (Patience Hall)
2 p.m. Private event (Patience Hall)
3 p.m. Amazing Grace Ghanaian Fellowship Bible study (Lg. classroom)
7 p.m. Pan de Vida (Sanctuary)

Important Upcoming Dates
  

February 12
1^st Mission Trip deposit due

February 17-19
Youth Group ski trip

February 21

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner and Talent Show
 

February 25-26

Vestry Retreat at Shalom House
 

February 26
First Lent, Episcopal Relief and Development Sunday

February 29

Lenten program/dinner with All Saints at St. Mark’s: The Rev. Dr. Roger Ferlo from VTS “The Future of the Church”
 

March 7

Lenten program/dinner at All Saint’s: “The Church in Asia” with Lara Shine and Diamond Varner
 

March 14

Lenten program/dinner at St. Mark’s: “Christianity and Islam” with The Rev. Dr. Richard Jones
 

March 21

Lenten program/dinner at All Saint’s: "Local Mission"


Serving This Week - February 12