Weekly Announcements

Week of May 11, 2008

Christian Education Pillar

1. Attention Important People: Would you like to be an important person in the life of a child or youngster at St. Mark's? There are several opportunities to teach Sunday School or become involved in the youth program. By giving the gift of your interest and attention to a young person, you will make a difference. Once you form a bond with a child or youngster in this way, it is wonderful to see them grow up in the bosom of our community. Contact Brock Hansen at brockhansn@aol.com or 202/362-3009, or Heather Powers at hepheather@gmail.com or 202/726-7706 to learn about the range of opportunities.
   
   The Diocese requires a half-day training class, "Safeguarding God's Children," for everyone involved with children in our parish. The next two classes are 10 May and 4 June. For registration and details, log on to www.edow.org/prevention.
   
   

Parish Life

2. Living Yoga: St. Mark's Yoga Center will host the Washington, DC premiere of "Living Yoga - The Life and Teachings of Swami Satchidananda," a new film which chronicles the birth of the modern Yoga movement and its impact on the world. Q&A will follow with Writer/Producer Joshua M. Greene.
   
   Mr. Greene is a well-known filmmaker and author (Here Comes the Sun: The Spiritual and Musical Journey of George Harrison, Justice at Dachau: the Trials of an American Prosecutor). He has spent more than 30 years as an instructor of Bhakti Yoga. Thursday, 15 May 2008 8:00 - 10:00 PM. in the Parish Hall. $5 at the door. To view a clip: http://www.livingyogamovie.org
   
   
3. May Film Club - "Casablanca": How time goes by. You must remember this - our 16 May gathering will be the eighth Anniversary of the St. Mark's Film Club! In honor of this special occasion, we will present the the film the AFI's Top 100 series named the most romantic movie ever made: "Casablanca."
   
   Directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Dooley Wilson, Paul Henried, Peter Lorre, Sidney Greenstreet, S.Z. Sakall, Conrad Veidt and Marcel Dalio, and written for the screen by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, and Howard Koch from the play "Everybody Comes to Rick's" by Joan Alison and Murray Burnett, "Casablanca," has one of the funniest, most romantic, and inspiring scripts ever written, with an international cast featuring the greatest actors of Hollywood's Golden Age. In a marvelous bit of understatement, Dailey Variety, in its December 6, 1942 edition, reported that "Casablanca ...ought to be a solid moneymaker everywhere." It was that, and then some.
   
   Please join us on Friday, 16 May at the home of John and Nancy Yanish, at 1321 Geranium Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. We will also screen a special "making of" documentary short film that was produced for the 50th Anniversary edition of "Casablanca." Bring beverages and snacks or desserts to share. Note: To RSVP, or for further information, contact Alicia Ruble, at 202/939-0541 or e-mail blurbologist@hotmail.com.
   
   Special Note: The Washington, D.C. Film Society is currently opening its doors to new members. If you are interested in learning more, visit their website at: www.dcfilmsociety.org.
   
   
4. Please Consider Hosting Coffee Hour this Spring or Summer: Many dates are available. Hosting is easy and reimbursement is available. The sign-up sheet is on the Parish Life bulletin board. Contact Belinda Sims at belsims@aol.com, or 301/219-2173, for more details.
   
   
5. What's just as easy as hosting a Coffee Hour? Coordinating the St. Mark's Coffee Hour. A new Coordinator is needed, beginning September 1, 2008. If you're interested, contact the Parish Life Coordinators, Elizabeth Long (eglsailin@starpower.net) and Linda Huntington (linda_huntington@yahoo.com).
   
   
6. Race, Reconciliation and Shine Mont: Deeping our engagement with one another on issues of race and reconciliation is the primary focus of our Annual Parish Weekend at Shrine Mont, 6-8 June. The work we do together to explore our own differences and divisions can help us better engage the world. One major indismissable difference is race. An outside facilitator who specializes in conflict and reconciliation, Harriet Lewis, is already working with our St. Mark's content team—Loretta Veney, Priscilla Mendenhall, and Charlie Rupp - to prepare and lead the sessions. Sian Jones is also attending the planning sessions so that the children's programs can be integrated with the adult program.
   
   Our weekend together in Orkney Springs, VA is about holding one another up in love; it is not about putting anyone on the spot. If you are new to St. Mark's, this is a wonderful way to enter into our community. For those who cannot make Shrine Mont this year, a post St. Mark's gathering will be held to share this work. Please see Mary Thuell in the Parish Hall to sign up for Shrine Mont. (From Louise Walsh)
   
   
7. Third Agers, Save the Date: On Monday, 9 June at 11:00 AM., we are planning a Third-Age Field Trip, starting at the Lincoln Cottage and moving on to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Rock Creek Cemetery.
   
   During the Civil War, Lincoln used this cottage as a summer retreat for himself and his family. After a $15 million dollar restoration, it is now open to the public. We are asking for a group tour rate of $10 per person, based on the participation of 15 individuals. Please send your name and money to Peggy Pecore after May 22.
   
   After the tour of Lincoln cottage, we will continue to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Rock Creek Cemetery. St. Paul’s, built in 1775, is the only surviving colonial church in the District of Columbia. After a picnic lunch, we will visit the 86-acre cemetery, established in 1719. Notable among its many mausoleums and sculptures is “Grief” by Augustus St. Gaudens and Stanford White. This powerful female figure is a memorial to Henry Adams’s wife, Marion Hooper “Clover” Adams.
   
   You won’t want to miss the exciting field trip, so save the date! (From Sara Rau)
   
   
8. St. Mark's Reading Group: Our book for 2 June is 1185 Park Avenue by Anne Roiphe; for 7 July it's Paula by Isabel Allende. For further information about participating, contact Linda Ewald at llerbe@aol.com. Hope to see you one of these first Mondays!
   
   
9. Golfers - Save the Date: The sixth annual Capitol Hill Group Ministry's Hope for the Homeless Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, 8 September 2008 at the Glenn Dale Golf Club, Glenn Dale, MD. Contact Peggy Pecore or Rick Rutherford for details.
   
   

Outreach Pillar

10. Casseroles for the Soup Kitchen: Today, you may leave your casserole(s) on the table near the High Altar or take them directly to the Church of the Brethren, located at 4th Street and North Carolina Avenue, SE, between 5:00 and 6:00 PM. If you have not already made a casserole contribution for the Church of the Brethren, please pick-up a casserole recipe and pan from the table near the High Altar and take it to the COB this afternoon. All of the casseroles that St. Mark's provides to the COB help to feed those who cannot afford to feed themselves. Remember: the COB is the only church in southeast DC serving lunch four days a week for the homeless and working poor. This is especially important as the need to provide food to others increases (throughout the world). Our own monthly goal is only 20 casseroles. Your continuing support towards that purpose is greatly appreciated! (signed Your Soup Kitchen Team: Jack Richards, Mary Lee Watts, and Jim Shelar)
    
    
11. Other Soup Kitchen Activities: Today from 5:00 – 5:30 PM., we resume making sandwiches (instead of chopping vegetables) at the Church of the Brethren. Sandwich-making continues May through September (when we resume chopping vegetables for the daily soup). We always need 4-5 persons—including Y-O-U--to help us finish on time. Please join us and share some interesting and rewarding conversations. Teens always welcome!
    
    

Arts Pillar

12. Come, celebrate the St. Mark’s Players 25th Anniversary Season! The Wiz!
    
    Produced by: Sherri Haddad
    Directed by: Rick Hayes
    Music Direction by: J.N. Wickert III
    Choreography by: Rikki Howie
    Stage Managers: Jerry M. Dale, Jr. and Christine Farrell
    
    
    • Fridays at 8:00 PM. - May 9th, 16th, and 23rd
    • Saturdays at 8:00 PM. - May 10th, 17th, and 24th
    • Sundays at 4:00 PM. - May 11th, and 18th
    
    Tickets Available on Friday, April 18th at www.stmarksplayers.org or at the Door on the day of the performance. Ticket Prices are Adults - $20.00; Student/Senior - $18.00. Under 12 - $15.00
    
    

Youth & Family Ministry

13. Banner Sunday on June 1: Banner Sunday is our annual celebration of the end of the Sunday School year. There will be one service at 10:00 AM. that will include a procession of the Sunday School classes with their banners, performances by both youth choirs, and a sermon by our graduating senior Miranda Ossolinski. The Middle and High School classes will be writing the service and we will be including the child-friendly Eucharistic Prayer we used on Christmas Eve. 18 May is the last official day of Sunday School but, because Honduras preparations will be taking up several Sundays in May, we are asking all of the High School students in town Memorial Day Weekend to meet with their teachers after the 9:00 AM. service on 25 May to finish planning for 1 June.
    
    
14. Are you coming to Shrine Mont? The annual retreat in Orkney Springs, VA is June 6-8 and we’d like to get as many families & youth there as possible. Activities will be based on Dr Seuss’ book The Lorax and the idea of earth stewardship. Elementary and Middle School students will be invited to participate in a theatrical version of the story and in exploring the natural wonders surrounding the retreat center. We need parents and other adults to volunteer to help at various points during the weekend, so please let Sian know if you are willing and able. Also, if your kids are interested in coming but you can’t make it, let Sian know and we’ll see if we can work something out.
    
    
15. Summer Sunday School Starts June 15: Following on the activities planned for Shrine Mont, we’ll be focusing on earth stewardship and ecology this summer and doing a “Giving Tree” project to raise money for Sustainable Harvest International, the NGO that Sian and the teens will be working with in Honduras. Planning is under way, but we need parents to volunteer to lend a hand on one or more of the Sundays between June 15 and August 17, so please let Sian know if you can help.
    
    
16. Honduras Youth Service Trip 2008: More important dates:
    
    
    • 31 May - Final pre-trip meeting between teens & trip leaders.
      
      
    • 21 June - Bon Voyage Party at Chez Ossolinski from 3:00 - 7:00 PM.
      
      
    • 22 June – Commissioning at the single, 10:00 AM. service.
      
      
    • 23 June to 7 July - The trip! Our current plans have us flying out of National Airport at 2:15 PM. on 6/23.
      
      
    • 23 June to 7 July – The trip! Our current plans have us flying out of Reagan/National Airport at 2:15 PM. on 6/23.
      
      
17. Babysitting: Deborah and the Nursery team are looking for teens (12+) and adults (who are Safeguarding God’s Children-trained) who might be interested in helping in the Nursery during the summer when many of the usual babysitters will be away. Contact Sian if you are interested and she will forward your information on to be added to the substitutes mailing list.
    
    
18. Youth & Family Ministries Calendar: There is always a lot going on at St. Mark’s! This new, interactive online calendar is the best way to stay informed about all the activities available for youth and families (including registration deadlines). You can access it on the St. Mark’s website by going to http://www.stmarks.net/parish_life/index.htm and clicking on “Youth Calendar.” A few events you should check out are:
    
    
    1. 18 May – Last Day of Sunday School
       
       
    2. 1 June – Banner Sunday (one service at 10:00 AM.)
       
       
    3. 6 - 8 June – Shrine Mont. Time to get the annual parish retreat on your calendar!
       
       
    4. 15 June – First Day of Summer Sunday School.
       
       
    5. 22 June – Commissioning of Honduras Service Team at the single, 10:00 AM. service
       
       

From around our Diocese...

19. A Mighty Flood of Justice: St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church & St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, in conjunction with The Thurgood Marshall Center for Service and Heritage cordially invite you to a celebration commemorating Thurgood Marshall: “A Mighty Flood of Justice -- A River of Righteous Living”
    
    Saturday, 17 May 2008
    6:00 PM. Reception
    6:30 PM. Dinner Tickets $20
    
    St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church
    600 M Street, SW
    Washington, DC 20024
    202/554-3233
    www.staugustinesdc.org
    
    Guest Speaker John W. Marshall, Secretary of Public Safety, Commonwealth of Virginia and son of Mr. Justice Marshall. Guest Speaker Elaine R. Jones, Former Director-Counsel NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
    
    
20. Eucharist to Commemorate Thurgood Marshall: A special evening Eucharist to commemorate Thurgood Marshall on the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Brown vs. Board of Education is set for 5:30 PM. May 18 at St. Alban's, D.C., in concert with Washington National Cathedral. The Rev. Canon Eugene Sutton, Bishop-elect of Maryland, will preach, the Rev. Timothy A. Boggs will celebrate and music director Sonya Sutton will lead a special music offering. In 2006 the diocese passed a resolution asking the General Convention of the Episcopal Church to recognize Marshall in the in the book of Lesser Feasts and Fasts. This also calls for parishes throughout the diocese to remember Marshall on a date near May 17 - the anniversary of the famous Supreme Court case he argued for school desegregation.
    
    
21. One Sky--Solving Climate Change Together: Discussion with Majora Carter, executive director of Sustainable South Bronx, K.C. Golden, Climate Solutions policy director, and Betsy Taylor, co-founder of 1 Sky at 7:30 PM. May 20 at Washington National Cathedral. Hosted by the Rev. Canon Eugene Sutton. Tickets: $16; $9 students, seniors 65+. Visit www.nationalcathedral.org/register or information at 202/537-2221.
    
    
22. Art of Spiritual Companionship Course: Applications are now being accepted for the 2008/2009 Art of Spiritual Companionship course, which is designed to introduce the theory, spirituality and practice of the ancient Christian tradition of spiritual direction. Graduates may serve as spiritual resources to their faith communities to help others discern the work of the Spirit in their lives. Further information is available at www.cathedral.org/cathedral/programs/ArtofSC.shtml or from Terri Lynn Simpson at tsimpson@cathedral.org or 202/537-5246.
    
    
23. Episcopal Church Service of Repentance Set for October at Washington National Cathedral: In this bicentennial year of the abolition of the international slave trade, the Episcopal Church, mandated by the 2006 General Convention resolution A123, (http://www.episcopalarchives.org/e-archives/bluebook/23.html#2006-A123) will hold a Service of Repentance at the Washington National Cathedral on 4 October at 10:30 AM. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will preside.
    
    "Confronting the Past: Changing the Future" will begin on 3 October, 1:00 - 6:00 PM. with a reception and workshops focusing on the following:
    
    
    • Narratives of the Episcopal Church, slavery and Jim Crow segregation
    • The use of scripture to support slavery
    • The continuing reality of institutional racism in the church and society
    • Examples of initiatives for the "repairing of the breach" (Is. 59:12)
    
    Full story: www.episcopalchurch.org/78650_96767_ENG_HTM.htm
    
    

...Also of Interest

24. A Day of Conversation with Dr. Diana Butler Bass: Diana Butler Bass set out to explore what’s right with religion. With support form the Lilly Foundation, she discovered neighborhood churches that are thriving and enriching the communities in which they reside. Join her as she talks about her research, encounters and conclusions in the intimacy of Ludlam Hall. Listen as she explains how churches - people like you and me - are respecting tradition and heritage while embracing the new.
    
    Saturday, 17 May, 9:00 AM. to 4:00 PM. St. Luke's Church, Ludlum Hall, 6030 Grosvenor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814-1852. ($25 suggested donation, includes lunch) Copies of Christianity for the Rest of Us will be available for purchase. For further information, please contact The Rev. David C. Wacaster at 301/530-1800 or asst@stlukesbethesda.org.
    
    
25. Traces of the Trade: Traces of the Trade will have its national broadcast premiere on Public Broadcasting System's Point of View (POV) series on 24 June. (Check local listings for time.) It was one of only three documentaries bought by POV at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
    
    "Traces" is the feature documentary that tells the story of the DeWolf family, the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history and also a prominent part of the Episcopal Church in Rhode Island. James DeWolf Perry was the 18th Presiding Bishop. In the film, Katrina Browne, a DeWolf descendant and producer and director of the documentary and nine other family members retrace the route of the "Triangle Trade" in slaves, rum, sugar and other goods between Rhode Island, Ghana, Cuba and back to Rhode Island. Browne and the other members of the family addressed complex issues of atonement and reconciliation during the journey. Full story: www.episcopalchurch.org/78650_96696_ENG_HTM.htm
    
    
26. General Convention Logo Designs: Requesting entries by 30 June, organizers have launched a church-wide contest for logo designs conveying the 2009 General Convention theme of "Ubuntu" (pronounced oo-boon-too), a Zulu or Xhosa word that describes humaneness encompassing a sense of caring, sharing and being in harmony with all of creation. The central focus on ubuntu -- a concept that South African Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu interprets to express "a person is a person through other persons" -- will be complemented by Convention sub-themes of "Identity" and "Mission," planners say.
    
    Sponsored by General Convention's Joint Standing Commission on Planning and Arrangements, the contest offers a $5,000 first-prize contribution to an organization addressing one or more of the Millennium Development Goals.
    
    Contest rules are here: www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_96732_ENG_HTM.htm.
    
    Full story: www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_96731_ENG_HTM.htm.
    
    
27. The Greatest Story Ever Told: …told by a great storyteller! Taken directly from the King James Version of the Gospel of Mark, this tour de force production was originally directed by Sir Alec McCowen and toured Africa, Germany and throughout the United States from 1979 to 1981. One review stated: “Regardless of one’s personal predilections or feelings about the Gospels or the Bible itself, St. Mark’s Gospel is an experience not to be missed.”
    
    Starring Michael Tolaydo, Directed by Paul Takacs, Costume Design by Leon Wiebers, Lighting Design by Nick John.
    
    H Street Playhouse, 1365 H Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
    
    For tickets, call 866/811-4111 or order on-line at www.theateralliance.com
    
    
    • June 2 8:00 PM.
    • June 13 8:00 PM.
    • June 14 8:00 PM.
    • June 15 3:00 PM.
    • June 19 8:00 PM.
    • June 20 8:00 PM.
    • June 21 8:00 PM.
    • June 22 3:00 PM.
    • June 26 8:00 PM.
    • June 27 8:00 PM.
    • June 28 8:00 PM.
    • June 29 3:00 PM.
    • July 3 8:00 PM.
    • July 5 8:00 PM.
    • July 6 2:00 & 8:00 PM.
    
    

News to Use

28. Moving? Whenever you change your address, phone number, or email address, please advise Susan Block, the Parish Administrator, so she can update the parish database. Please send changes to susan.block@stmarks.net or to St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 118 3rd St., SE, Washington, DC 20003, or call Susan at 202/543-0053, ext. 305. Thanks.
    
    

Oral Announcements Policy

29. Oral Announcements Policy: The recent worship survey indicated that our oral announcements are highly valued but too long. The Worship Committee would like to establish an ethos of intentionality in regard to these announcements. The oral announcements have the important function to connect a real live person to the printed announcement in the bulletin. Nonetheless, the bulletin announcement should be the primary source of information. To help us focus on this policy of intentionality the Worship Committee has set forth some self-regulating guidelines.

    Oral Announcements Policy
    
    Prepare in advance what to say. If you feel that your announcement is important enough to share with others, give that announcement the thought it deserves.
    
    

    • Announcements are to be no longer than 30 seconds.
      
      
    • A limit of two announcements (two Sundays) for the same event. The exceptions are those announcements concerning Life Community & Faith, Shrine Mont, The Canvass, and Elections/Annual Meeting.
      
      
    • Only one announcement (one Sunday) for non-St. Mark’s events
      
      
    • Suggested content:
      
      
      1. Your name
      2. Reference the announcement number in the bulletin and activity
      3. Tell where to sign up or who to contact
      4. Correct any mistakes concerning the announcement in the bulletin.
      5. Do not duplicate the bulletin announcement. Relay only the essentials.
      
      Note that the deadline to have a written announcement put into the bulletin is Noon on Wednesdays. E-mail the announcement to Kathrine Ebert, our Program Associate, at kathrine.ebert@stmarks.net or leave a copy in her mailbox in the Undercroft.
      
      

    The 30-second time limit, along with the rest of the guidelines, is self-enforcing. No longer will the verger ring a bell to signal that time is up. Remember, if 10 people make one minute announcements, a huge 10 minutes eats into Sermon Seminar at 10am and into the middle of the liturgy at 11:00 AM. The issue is not one of control. The key concept is intentionality and unselfishness. The less time we spend before our peers talking, the more we give back to the worship service.