Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Logo 2
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The First Sunday of Advent
November 27, 2016
 
Saturday Evening:
5:00 pm - Mark's Place, Parish Hall
Sunday Morning:
8:00 am - Holy Eucharist, Rite I
9:00 am - Continental Breakfast & Advent Wreath Making, Parish Hall
10:30 am - Holy Eucharist, Rite II
3:30 pm - Confirmation Class
5:00 pm - EYC Game Night
 
Readings for Advent I
The Old Testament: Isaiah 2:1-5
The Psalm: 122
The Epistle: Romans 13:11-14
The Gospel: Matthew 24:36-44
  
Lay Leadership for Advent
Layreaders: 8:00 am Toni Belhu
10:30 am Jay Barnes, Joe Bieker, Mike Janik
Ushers: Don and Pat Miller
Greeters: Tina Queen
Acolytes: Thomas & Sophi Jolley,
Ethan Thrower, Nate Christy
Children's Chapel: Carol Carothers,
Anthony Varriale
Nursery: Krissy and Pierre Miura
No Formal Breakfast
Coffee Hour: Ann Brown and Vestry
November Vestry Lock-up: Bill Roberts

The Week Ahead at St. Mark's (Nov 27-Dec 3) 
Tuesday   6:30 pm EfM Group; 7:00 pm Aikido
Wednesday 8:15 am Morning Prayer with Eucharist  
10:00 am Bible 101
4:30 pm Covenant Bible Study with Eucharist
6:30/7:00 pm Choir Rehearsals
Thursday 7:00 pm Aikido; HE with Healing
Saturday 9:00 am Beginners Aikido, Cursillo 4th Day
10:00 am Confirmation Make-up Session
 
We joyfully welcome back The Rev. Deacon Brenda Gilbert to our folds this Sunday. Brenda has been sojourning at St. Peter by the Lake in Denver this past year and returns to serve St. Mark's beginning this week. We are all glad to have her back among us. There will be a special reception to welcome Brenda back after church this week.
 
Advent begins this week. On Sunday we will offer the materials and information for you to make a family Advent Wreath and to celebrate the Advent season as we prepare for the coming of the Christ Child. Families with children will be receiving a mailing this week with information for practicing Advent with your family. Be thinking about how you might prepare for Christmas in your family.
 
December is a busy month at St. Mark's.
Sunday, December 4 we have the St. Mark's Christmas Dinner at 5:30 after the Gaston County Christmas Parade down Main Avenue at 4:00. We suggest our families park in the city lot (enter through South Street), come early (maybe even with lunch for your family before the parade and other festivities), then come back to the church after the parade for Christmas Dinner. Please use the link below to sign up to bring a food item and to help with set up or clean up that evening.
 
 
Sunday, December 11 The Rt. Rev. Jose McLaughlin will be with us for a great weekend full of opportunities to visit and learn from him. Don't miss out on this great day.
  • He will celebrate and preach at the 8:00 and 10:30 services with confirmation for 20 new Episcopalians at 10:30. He will also attend Mark's Place on Saturday evening.
  • At 9:00 Sunday, we will offer Breakfast with the Bishop in the Parish Hall. Come meet and greet and enjoy a delicious breakfast. Following Breakfast, children will go to Sunday school and learn about our bishop and the youth and adults will have class in the Parish Hall with him.
  • After the service we will have a reception for the Bishop and Confirmands. Everyone is asked to please bring a finger food (sweet or savory), ready to be served, for the reception. The Vestry will supply cake and punch. The Vestry will also meet with Bishop Jose after church.
Be watching for information about the St. Mark's Angel Tree to help families at Gardner Park. It will be on the bulletin board in the hall and online this year. Information will be available soon.
 
Are you connected to St. Mark's on Facebook? We post a daily devotional each morning, plus events, pictures, and other announcements. Be sure to like our page - St. Mark's Episcopal Church Gastonia.
 

They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not life up sword against nations, neither shall they learn war any more.
                                            Isaiah 2:4 
 

Items for this St. Mark's Thursday Email Blast should be sent to

Polly Redd, Director of Communications, by Wednesday morning, at pgr@stmarksgastonia.org.