This Week's / Recent Announcements

  !!!

Whom have YOU invited to join us at
St. Mark's ?

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In place of a Coffee Hour today, Sunday, June 28th, 
we invite you to join us at Young’s Jersey Dairy,
near Yellow Springs, for food, fun and fellowship.

Following the 10:30 a.m. worship service, we drive to Young’s and gather at available tables in the Dairy Store (the older, more informal restaurant). After Lunch – and ice cream – there are many activates from which to choose. For more information (directions, menus, activities, etc…), check out Young’s web site: www.youngsdairy.com.

A signup sheet is on the bulletin board outside the church office for those who would like to carpool. 

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CONGRATULATIONS MARY!

For those of you who missed Mary's ordination to the priesthood on Saturday, June 20, 2009 at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Montgomery, OH, you can view all of the highlights of this sacred event by clicking HERE!  Many congratulations to Mary on her wonderful achievement!

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COFFEE HOUR HOSTS NEEDED!

There are a lot of opportunities available to host a coffee hour. This is a great way to share in fellowship with visitors and other members of the church. The sign up sheet is located on the bulletin board outside the church office. For more information on how to host a Coffee Hour please contact Tony Rubino or any Vestry Member!

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Rector’s Sabbatical

This summer, I am going to take an extended bit of Sabbath time. In our standard agreement with parishes, clergy receive two weeks of sabbatical time each year. It accumulates for six years (i.e. a total of 12 weeks); the process then begins again. In my nearly 13 years at St. Mark’s (two rounds of “Sabbath years”), I have not yet used any of my earned sabbatical time. This summer seems like a good opportunity to do that — at least in a very limited way. I am going to take the month of July as a short sabbatical. My plans are to use that time to travel with my family and rest from my usual work in the parish, so that I can return to St. Mark’s on August 1st (the anniversary of my arrival here) refreshed, renewed and ready to begin my 14th year with you.

In the Episcopal Church, while a Rector is away from a parish, the Wardens are responsible for the church’s ongoing life. Jim Rudd and Wayne Harper will be doing so in my absence. Please feel free to call upon them as needed. We are very fortunate this year to have among us Mary Slenski, who will be leading all worship services and will be providing spiritual support to the parish and to others whom we serve during this time.

                                                                         Mike

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Thank You for All Your Contributions!

Your contributions to St. Mark’s Church make many ministries possible, including spiritual support of people in the community outside our church walls. During a recent week, your support of our parish allowed our rector to:

>>> …celebrate the Holy Eucharist at the Widows Home of Dayton, a 75-bed nursing home and rehabilitation facility, located just five minutes from our buildings. This monthly service is very important to the residents who attend. Most of them are in their 80s and 90s and are no longer able to attend their own churches.

>>> …give the invocation at a Medal of Honor Flag ceremony at the nearby Army Reserve facility. You might have read about this presentation in Dale Huffman’s column in the Dayton Daily News. The commanding general from the medic unit of the 101st Airborne presented this flag to the widow, son and mother of an extraordinary young man from Dayton who was killed in action 40 years earlier. He was 20 years old at the time and received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his outstanding service in caring for wounded comrades.

>>> …prepared and presided at a service for the final reunion of the 91st Troop Carrier Squadron. Sixty-five years earlier, that same evening, these men and their comrades had left their airfield in England, flying unarmed C-47s, transporting into France the first U.S. paratroopers participating in the D-Day invasion. Many of their comrades were lost in action. Because of declining numbers and the limitations of old age, this was their last opportunity to gather with one another, to remember, and to honor those who did not return.

Your support of St. Mark’s makes these, and many other ministries possible, both among the members of our church and in the community beyond.

Thank you for all your contributions! 

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ST. MARK'S SOFTBALL

Come on out to support our St. Mark’s Softball team on Tuesday, June, 30th at 7:30 as they play against Faith Hill at Fairfield Park in Fairborn.  Also, find out more about St. Mark's softball by visiting our web page.

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An Invitation to SOLLI

SOLLI, The Southern Ohio Lay Leadership Initiative, invites you to join them for their 2009-2010 sessions. SOLLI, provided through our diocesan Anglican Academy, provides education and training for those who might want to become lay leaders in the church.
The program focuses on:

> Knowledge of the people and programs of the diocese

> Knowledge of Anglicanism

> Prayer and bible study

> Discussion of inter-faith and ecumenical relationships

> Commitment to peace and justice

> Training in group dynamics and process

> Training in leadership of congregations

For more information, please check out the SOLLI web site:

http://www.angacad.org/solli.htm

or contact the Rev. Karl Ruttan, Canon for Life Formation, at 800-582-1712.

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The care and nurture of all of God’s children, even the grown-up ones, is a part of the promise we make together to support a baptismal candidate just before their baptism. The realities of our world today mean that awareness and prevention of sexual exploitation, harassment and abuse is a real way to live into that promise. “Safeguarding God’s People” is training for that ministry and is encouraged for all vestry members, for anyone who works even occasionally with our children, or anyone interested.

Mary Slenski

SAFEGUARDING GOD’S PEOPLE:
Preventing Sexual Exploitation in Communities of Faith 
St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church
Tuesday, July 14 & Thursday, July 16
9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Beverages and healthy snacks will be provided (Donations accepted)
All reservations should be made to St. Margaret’s 
Email: stmargaretdayton@aol.com; Phone: 837-7741

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Looking ahead, we have several openings for Sunday School teachers to begin in September. No experience required. The materials we use make planning easy, and the kids are a joy. See Carol Nancarrow to take advantage of this opportunity to service.

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Volunteers Needed!

Volunteers are needed to take a turn in the nursery during the summer. There is a sign-up on the wall by the nursery door. The time is 10:15 until the end of the service.

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YARD SALE!

It is that time of year again for spring cleaning. St. Mark’s would love to have your gently used items for the annual Yard Sale in August. Starting Next Sunday, June 7th we will be collecting Yard Sale items in the room across the hall from the Children’s Chapel. For more information on the Yard Sale please ask Judy Kreutzer, Judy Rudd, or Gary Browning. Thanks in advance for all your donations. 

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While the choir takes a well-deserved vacation until its first rehearsal in September, special summer music can be provided by individuals and small groups. Non choir singers and instrumentalists are also invited to share their gifts at a Sunday service. The sign-up sheet is outside the church office. If you have any question please call Christine Browning or the Church Office.

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FREE INK CARTRIDGES !

Free 3e Black and 3e Magenta ink cartridge for a Canon 13CJ-6000. If you can use this type of ink cartridges they are available in the church office.

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· Altar Flowers $30
· Sanctuary Candle $7
· Coffee Hour Free

If you would like to personalize a message for the church bulletin; in memory, in thanksgiving, a celebration, etc… please inform the church secretary.

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Be God’s hands in the recession: We ask your prayers for all in Ohio who are suffering job loss, hunger, foreclosure, and other distress, and for the Episcopal congregations and community partners who are working to help them weather the storm. Every dollar you contribute to the Episcopal Community Services Foundation’s annual fund this Advent will go into grants to aid the frontline ministries of Episcopal churches across this diocese to provide food, rental and utility assistance, aid to the medically uninsured, and job coaching for displaced workers like the thousands who are losing DHL jobs in Wilmington.

Here is a glimpse of the kind of people you will be helping: the Hillsboro family bringing a child with cystic fibrosis home from the hospital in winter with their home out of heating oil and their budget overwhelmed. Samaritan Outreach was able to use ECSF funds to buy a delivery of propane for that family. Or another: the working woman with no insurance who needed emergency cancer surgery and whose restaurant wages could not cover the medical bills for her co-payments. Trinity, Troy negotiated down her bills and used an ECSF grant to help pay off most, resulting in monthly payments she could afford to pay with dignity.

Go fishing in your mail stack for the cheerful ECSF Gift of the Spirit mailer with a picture of Trinity, Hamilton’s after-school homework club on the back, and drop a check in it. Each dollar buys at least 4 meals worth of groceries! Or visit our website at www.ecsfsouthernohio.org and give online. Thank you! Your gifts bring hope and relief to thousands of people of all ages in need across Ohio.

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Coffee Hour Volunteers Needed...

Coffee Hour Hosts 
needed for Future Weeks!

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet & greet your church family members. If you would like more information on how to host a coffee hour please ask any Vestry Member. The sign up sheet is located on the bulletin board outside the church office.

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Starting Sunday, October 1, 2006 there has been a bin to collect items for Care House. This project will take place on the FIRST SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH  Please remember to bring in you donation.  We are grateful to all donors who provide these items for the children, and their families, who visit CARE House.  We especially hope you can help us provide multi-cultural activities and toys for the children to enjoy along with healthy snacks. Thank you. 

CARE HOUSE WISH LIST

(Please note the top 3 bulleted items are items we are currently in need of)

· Hand-held electronic games (preschool through adolescence)

· Sports items (baseballs and baseball gloves, footballs and soccer balls)

· Personal care items (combs, hairbrushes, lotion, mouthwash, Q-tips, shampoo, soap, tissues, toothbrushes and toothpaste)

· Juice boxes

· Snack foods (individually wrapped, please)

· Board games (preschool through adolescence)

· Stuffed animals (new please)*

· Plastic storage tubs (new please)

· Office supplies (i.e. pens, paper clips, plain envelopes, post-it notes)

· Gift cards (Wal-Mart, Kroger, Meijer)

· Gel pens and stickers

*As part of The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, CARE House is unable to accept used stuffed animals due to our infection control policy.

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The THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH is our regular monthly

“Hunger Sunday”

Please remember to bring in non-perishable food items to be donated to the Food Pantry at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Dayton.

Items Needed Pantry:  Canned Soups (creamed, vegetable), Condiments (ketchup, mayo, etc...), Canned Meat (tuna, Spam, etc…), Macaroni & Cheese, Pork & Beans, Dry Beans, Snacks, Pasta, Sugar, Soap (bathing & dishes), Toothpaste and Shampoo.

Thank you for your generosity!

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Regular Office Hours for the Church Office

Monday - Friday:  8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

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Prayer List

**Most of the Names on our Prayer List have been there for several months. If you want to keep someone’s name on the list, please notify the Secretary as soon as possible. Thank you.**

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Help Needed with Lawn Mowing

We need volunteers to agree to mow our church lawn during one or more weeks from spring until fall.

If you are will to give a few hours to this important chore, please select a week (or weeks) from the list on the bulletin board just outside the church office.

One of our “veterans” will be in contact with you to provide complete information.

Many Thanks!!!

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There are openings for Altar Flowers on the sign-up sheet outside the church office. The beautiful arrangements are only $30.00.

Thanks!

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Sanctuary Lamp

The candle in the Sanctuary Lamp represents the everlasting glow of God’s light upon us all. We celebrate the memory of those who have died and the blessing of those we care about. A signup sheet is available on the bulletin board outside the church office. Due to a price increase the Sanctuary Candle will now cost $7.00 for a two week period instead of $6.00.

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Starting Sunday, October 1, 2006 there has been a bin to collect items for Care House. This project will take place on the FIRST SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH  Please remember to bring in you donation. 

CARE HOUSE WISH LIST

· Juice boxes

· Snack foods (individually wrapped, please)

· Board games (preschool through adolescence)

· Hand-held electronic games (preschool through adolescence)

· Gel pens and stickers

· Sports items (baseballs and baseball gloves, footballs and soccer balls)

· Paper Products (napkins, plates and towels)

· Personal care items (combs, hairbrushes, lotion, mouthwash, Q-tips, shampoo, soap, tissues, toothbrushes and toothpaste)

· Stuffed animals (new please)*

· Plastic storage tubs (new please)

*As part of The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, CARE House is unable to accept used stuffed animals due to our infection control policy.

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Ways you can help St. Mark’s recycle:

·  Once you receive your lion’s tale place your personalized envelope in the recycle folder. This helps save money on envelopes, labels, and stamps. 

·  The Kemp School computer lab is supported in part by donations of used printer cartridges. If you have any used ink cartridges please bring them into the church office. Drop box is located on the bookshelf.

·  The Seamen’s Church Institute of New York and New Jersey is collecting and distributing 2008 calendars to seafarers. Episcopalians are encouraged to save 2008 calendars they received in the mail or from local business. Ruby Webster will be collecting these calendars (pocket to wall size) until the middle of January. The calendar donation basket is located on the church office bookshelf.

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Our On-Line Directory is Here!

Click on the Olan Mills logo below to get started to see the latest photos and names of St. Mark's parishioners.

(For security purposes the site is password protected.  The password will be announced at our Sunday Services or it may be obtained via. e-mail from St. Mark's Webmaster.)

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Don’t panic!!!

Everyone can have a chance to help will the Coffee Hour, Lawn Mowing, Altar Flowers, or Sanctuary Candle. 
Please do not push and shove!
There are plenty of openings just waiting to be filled.

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You already know this, because you are HERE!

But just because you are not able to make it to church doesn’t mean that you can’t share in at least part of our Sunday celebration!

Our webmaster, Dave Reuter, posts on our web site each week the scripture readings for the Sunday, the homily and the announcements. Also, if you would like some music to accompany your private worship time, you can visit http://www.cyberhymnal.org/ which allows you to choose, listen to, and learn about over 5400 hymns.

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The Baptismal Covenant

(The Book of Common Prayer, pages 304-5)

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?

Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

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It is said that music is the universal language for all people. Well, today, United Way is “preaching to the choir.” We believe St. Mark’s Episcopal and United Way have a common melody: 

>>> We care what happens to children and youth

>>> We promote strengthening individuals and families

>>> We respect dignity and independence for the elderly

>>> We support quality programs and services to meet needs

Please support the United Way campaign.

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St. Mark’s Focused Outreach Opportunities

>> Kemp School Community Project <<

>> Canterbury Court <<

>> CARE House <<

Contact Father Mike or Jim Rudd to learn how you can get involved! Together we can make a difference.

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“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself; and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart fro that desire. And I known that, if I do this, you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”

Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude

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St. Mark’s Youth Program meets in the Youth Room from 9:30 until 10:15 to discuss the role of faith in the lives of our young adults. The leaders are T. J. and Jenna Walch.

4th and 6th Grades meet from 9:30 until 10:15 for this year’s series, “This is the Church.” The leader is Laura Nancarrow.

2nd and 3rd Grades meet from 9:30 until 10:15 for this year’s series. The leader is Carol Nancarrow.

Kindergarten – 1st Grade meets from 9:30 until 10:20 to share a time of learning about the Bible and the life of the Church. Janet Reuter and Kendall Rubino are the leaders.

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Need to know what's happening this month or next at St Mark's???  Then click HERE!
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Weekly Scripture Readings

The Revised Common Lectionary, which lists all of the upcoming reading for the year is now listed on our web site.  From the Main Menu, go to Schedules, Scripture Readings, and then select the appropriate year of interest.  ...Or simply click HERE!

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Good News

The 2006 Sign up sheets for the Sanctuary Candle is on the bulletin board outside the church office. If you sign up for the candle it covers two Sundays for only $6.00.

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Building and Grounds Information !!!

When you leave our buildings during the week, please be sure to close windows and doors and turn off the lights.

We have had several occasions lately when we have come in early in the morning to find stairway lights on, the breezeway lights on, a window open, and even the church office door open.

Thank you for your increased awareness of our need to keep our facilities -- and the people who use them -- secure!

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The Parish Resource Center is now...

NEW SOURCE

St. Mark's is a long-time member of the New Source (formerly The Parish Resource Center), which provides a wonderful variety of books, videos, puppets, costumes, banners and many other items - plus friendly, helpful professional assistance - to all of our members.

The Center has recently moved and is now located on Salem Avenue just north of Cornell Avenue.  Visit them on their new web site at www.nstcm.org/.

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> Providing food for a family who lost their home and possessions in a fire

> Providing needed medication to a woman who was injured by her abusive husband

> Providing diapers for a "special-needs" child whose mother could not afford them

> Assisting a family who could not afford the cost of a funeral for their infant daughter.

Thank you, and may God bless you for your generosity!

Interested in Scouting?

If you're a girl, age 9-11 or in 4th, 5th, or 6th grade. You can become a Junior Girl Scout. Troop #2302 meets at St. Mark's on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. The first meeting of the next membership year is September 20th. If you're interested, phone Jackie Skiple at 427-1303 or email skiples@sbcglobal.net for registration information. Don't delay. Troop size is limited.

The lamp hanging in the sanctuary will need donors to keep it burning. The cost for each candle will be $6 for a two week period. Also, more than one person/family can sign-up for a candle. Each week the bulletin will announce from whom the candle was given and why. Sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board outside the church office.

We have been blessed with a wonderful group of infants and toddlers in our parish. Several of them participate each week in a special Sunday School program in our Nursery during the first part of the 10:30 service. To continue this, we need a few adults in the parish to volunteer, perhaps just once every month or two, to assist Judy Kreutzer and Sandy Bultman in the Nursery.

Please consider signing-up for this important, and fun, form of ministry on the list posted outside the Nursery.

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