Christ Has Risen, Alleluia!
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THE COLLECT
O , God you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR SENIOR WARDEN
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I am quite sure that I am not breaking any news by saying that St. Mark’s, like most downtown churches, has a shortage of onsite parking. That has been true for a very long time but our recent growth has really magnified it.
Fortunately, through the work of Vestry member, Dustin Hopkins, we have at least some short term relief by having the Ellis Parking lot on Ionia, just north of Lyon St., available to us on Sunday mornings and I encourage those of you who are able to please use that lot, which will free up our own lot for visitors and physically challenged members. As convenient as that lot is and as thankful as we all are for it, we do not have a long term agreement with Ellis and we realize that it cannot be our permanent parking solution.
As a result, we have been exploring any number of ideas related to our own parking lot. Some ideas include partnering with other entities like the diocese, which is moving back to Grand Rapids and will need space, or GRCC whose own growth has put a premium on its available parking. If some of this sounds familiar it is because we’ve been down this road before with Ferris but that was 10 or more years ago, and the details of that effort don’t seem to exist either here or at Ferris.
Our growth, while fantastic and exciting, has also really magnified other building and physical plant deficiencies beyond parking. Feeding up to 200 people every Sunday morning has completely maxed out the available space
in the Parish Hall and has exposed the inadequacies of our Kitchen.
We are a very active parish.
Our building is used throughout the week for meetings by outside groups as well as St. Mark’s Ministries so, not only is it being used but on many days the use borders on abuse. We recently had an evening when groups were simultaneously meeting in the Canterbury Room, the library, the Parish Hall, and the chapel. And, nothing I’ve said so far addresses the limited access to any level of the building other than this one for those with mobility issues. Those are just some of the physical plant issues.
We are long way from coming to you with a grand plan or a recommendation of what should be done but we wanted you to know that we’re not blind to or ignoring those needs and that we have already spent a lot of time discussing them. We plan to ask several Parish members who have experience and expertise in building planning, finance, or construction to join the party in thinking through some of these options.
If you are one of the people asked, we hope you will look past the generous pay and benefits we will not be offering and join us anyway. Also, we’re not pretending to know about everyone’s background or experience in the Church. So, if you have an interest and experience in this kind of planning and are willing to join us then please let either Christian or me know.
Yes, these are problems but they are brought on by the exciting growth our parish is experiencing. And, wow, isn’t that better than the alternative?
Bruce Johnson, Senior Warden
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Parking for Sunday Services
- Street Parking is available on Pearl, Ionia, Lyon, Fountain and other streets near the Church.
- Parking is available in the Parish’s lot, the upper level of the GRCC building on the corner of Division and Lyon (access from Lyon) and the Ellis Parking Lot at 210 Ionia just west of Lyon Street.
- For the Ellis Lot - Please, pick up an exit ticket from an Usher, a Greeter or at the Front Desk of the Parish House. Parking is free. A green ticket is required to accompany the parking ticket and to exit the lot.
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Bishop Whittemore Foundation
Sunday
The Bishop Whittemore Foundation of the Diocese of Western Michigan strengthens our ability to be a visible presence in our communities and the world, based on the generosity of the Foundation.
Bishop Hougland has stated that the Foundation has “granted funds for renovation, repair and ministry work for parishes in the diocese."
This Sunday we are asked to contribute to the Foundation for its continued good work among us. Envelopes will be on the resource table and if you are donating with a check make your check payable to the Whittemore Foundation. Please, consider being as generous as you are able.
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The Walk For Good Food (formerly called the Hunger Walk) is this Sunday, May 6th at 2:30 pm.
We know that many of you enjoy a good walk with friends, so think about joining your friends from St. Mark’s to walk so that others may eat. ACCESS supports our Breakfast Cafe' so having a good team to support their efforts to raise funds would be a kind thank you to them. Join us for lunch followed by the walk. Thanks so much for your support of this event!
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Lunch Bunch
Want to socialize with other St. Mark's members in a relaxed place? Join us for Lunch Bunch on Sunday, May 6th after the 10:30 service. We'll walk to lunch somewhere nearby. Childcare is available. Please contact Laura
Kozminski with questions:
laurakozminski@gmail.com
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It’s Diaper Drive Time
St. Mark’s is happy to be helping the Kent County Diaper Drive efforts again this year. It is fitting that we will begin helping Moms and their babies on Mother’s Day. Please bring a box of diapers to church on Sunday, May 13th or any Sunday thereafter in May. St. Mark’s Outreach will match the number of diapers we raise with a monetary pledge as well. Any size is needed with the largest need being 4-6. So help us “Keep Em’ Covered” and bring in a box of diapers!
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Women's Spa Day
May 10
Donations of summer clothes are needed.
Please consider donating any clothing that is cool and light to our St. Mark’s Boutique for Spa Day. Toiletries, practical shoes, such as sneakers are also needed. Clean clothes helps provide a great deal of relief to a homeless neighbor after being out on the streets all day, so any donation is appreciated. Please, drop off the donations anytime during office hours or on Sunday. A sign up sheet for volunteers may be found at the Welcome Desk. If you have any questions, please contact
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Spring Wednesdays at St. Mark’s
Having started May 2 and running through the middle of June, we will again offer an adult Christian formation series on Wednesday evenings in the Parish Hall: Potluck Supper at 6:00; Presentation and discussion at 6:30; Compline (Night prayer) at 7:30 or thereafter. Our next presenter, Dr. Andrew Knapp, parishioner and Vestry Clerk will explore the following: Was ancient Israel a community united by ethnicity of by faith? Several stories will be explored from the Hebrew Bible relating to the treatment of foreigners. A flier for the seven-week Series is on the resource table and in the link below, and sign-up sheets are at the Welcome Desk for potluck offerings. Please,plan to be with us for this spring’s series. ~
+Christian
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Pentacost Sunday Reading
On May 20, please consider offereing a gift of reading the Acts of the Apostles reading in a language other than English. The text and instruction will be provided. A sign up sheet is at the Welcome Desk.
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St. Mary's Garden
Is an Environmental Stewardship Project. In Children’s Formation, we have embarked on a stewardship journey of God's creation and our call to care for it. It is important to present these concepts to our children and youth, and even more important to give them the means and inspiration to act upon their ideas. The youth of this parish know the south lawn is an often overlooked area and have received permission to re-imagine and transform this space. Our older youth are busy researching and sketching their vision for St. Mary's Garden. They are excited to create this sacred green space for their church community, but we are in need of your help. We would like to form an Earth Stewardship Ministry and invite interested individuals to join us in transforming our south lawn. We need gardening enthusiasts to help with design and planting. We also need fundraising experts to teach us the process of finding money for this project. We are excited to begin—join us!
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Ministry Opportunities
- Property Ministry - May 7 - The property ministry will meet on Monday at 5:30 pm. There are numerous important issues to discuss. Please, join us if you are interested and available.
- Lectors/Intersessors training - May 19, 9:30 am - All readers are invited to this retreat and workshop whether you are a seasoned reader or just wish to join this ministry. The theology of proclamation will be discussed and passages from Scripture will be used for practice in church. Come, Join us!
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Summer car loan needed for Plainsong Farm internship
Jimmy Pickett has created a joint internship between Holy Spirit Episcopal Church and Plainsong Farm, because as he looked across the nation, this was the place he could imagine integrating sustainable agriculture and Christian discipleship. After spending the summer with the farm, he will be joining the Episcopal Service Corps at the Society of St John the Evangelist. He is exploring the potential of a call to ordained ministry. His internship begins May 17 and although he has housing , a learning plan, and a stipend. The only thing we are missing is a car. Would you consider if you know anyone who might be willing to loan a young aspiring priest a car for the summer? Do you know someone with a car in their driveway unused? Please let Megan know if you are able to fill this need and she will put you in touch with Plainsong Farm.
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GROW YOUR HEALTH
Therapeutic Adaptive Gardening Workshop Friday May 11 8:30am to 4pm
at St. Philips church (you do not need to be a cancer survivor to attend)
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Sustaining St. Mark’s Ministry in 2018
Thanks to all who sustain our ministry together at St. Mark’s with pledges and offerings. We have pledged
$425,550
toward our common life in 2018. Last week, we received
$5,781
contributions in
pledges and offerings.
R
eceived YTD
Needed
Difference
YTD Contributions:
$ 253,867 $ 207,797 $ 46,070
A reminder that we gratefully received pledges at any time throughout the year. (Pledge cards and envelopes are available on the resource table in the church, which can be given as cash, check, or direct deposit.) Want more details about the Parish’s giving or finances? Please email questions to Finance Manager, Pam Stevenson
pams@stmarksgr.org
or our Treasurer, Sharon Buursma
sbuursma@msn.com
.
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Join us on Sundays for
Faith Formation
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9:15am—
Childcare
(Nursery, lower level) available for infants - kindergarten
Children's Choir Rehearsal
(upstairs children's chapel) for 1st-6th graders. No audition, all are welcome.
We Make the Road by Walking
(upstairs Youth Room) for High School - Adult. Overview of the whole Bible, organized around the traditional church year.
Devotional Book Group
(Library, main floor) for adults. Exploring faith and spiritual practices.
10:30am—
Childcare
(Nursery, lower level) available for infants - 2 years
Preschool/kindergarten
(Activity Center, lower level) chapel and formation for ages 2 through kindergarten.
Elementary
(Main classroom, upstairs) chapel and formation for 1st through 4th grades.
Middle
(Youth Room, upstairs) formation for 5th through 8th grades.
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Assisting Worship This Sunday
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St. Mark's Episcopal Church
134 N. Division Avenue
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Office#: 616-456-1684
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