The Messenger of St. Mark's | Advent | December 9, 2021
Please come wearing a mask - Masks are required indoors - even if fully vaccinated - per our current State of NM mandate.
For a complete listing and schedule of our online / in-person offerings available, please click on the button below:
Useful links:
  • Fill out a form to volunteer, donate altar flowers, fill out a new member/visitor form, and more!
  • Access and/or edit your Member Directory information.
  • Access previous sermons.
  • For all Stewardship-related materials, including downloadable pledge cards, click here.
SAINT MARK'S MISSION & OUTREACH
St. Mark's Christmas Pageant (Premiere, Performance and Party)
Happening Sunday, December 19th (In-Person and Virtually)

A huge thanks to everyone who came out to help us launch preparations for St. Mark's 2021 Christmas Pageant during our Advent Extravaganza.  

Please plan to join us for St. Mark's Christmas Pageant Premiere, Performance, and Party on Sunday, December 19th.

11AM: Live Rehearsal
Anyone who plans to participate in the pageant "in person" should join us for a brief "staging" rehearsal immediately following the Sunday Morning Service. Anyone who wants to participate (whether or not you were able to participate in the filming during our Advent Extravaganza) is welcome to join in! 

*4:00 p.m.: Call Time for Whole Cast
Cast members should arrive no later than 4:00 p.m. to get in costume! (If you were not assigned a costume at the Advent Extravaganza, please arrive by 3:30 to allow extra time for costuming.) 

*Note: While Cast Members get in costume, we will have an "encore screening" of our 2021 Pageant in the nave for early bird audience members!

4:30 p.m.: 2022 Pageant Premiere & Performance 
Join us as members of St. Mark's, young and old, share a hybrid retelling of the Christmas Story, incorporating both pre-recorded and live performance elements. 

5:15 p.m. Photos and Pageant Party 
Join us for fellowship around the fire in the Courtyard. Please bring finger foods to share! 

If you are unable to join us in person, please plan to join us on Zoom (and invite your out-of-town friends and family members to join us virtually, too!) Join us on Zoom here.
Capital Project: Stair Lift Coming for Choir Loft
In an effort to make the Music Ministry more accessible, the Vestry of St. Mark’s has authorized the purchase and installation of a chair lift for the stairs leading to the choir loft. Some of our current choir members can no longer participate in the ministry due to their inability to climb the stairs to the choir loft. 

The cost of the project is estimated at $16,000. St. Mark’s Capital Funds will be used for this project. We are asking for donations to the “Choir Stair Lift Project” from the congregation to help defray the expense as the General Capital Fund, used for such expenses, currently has a balance of approximately $17,000, just enough to cover this expense. Special Gifts to this important project can be marked “Choir Stair Lift Project” in the memo line or Capital Fund can be selected from the PayPal designation options. If you have questions about other ways to give such as stock transfers or year-end minimum distributions, please contact our Business Manager via email.

This decision is viewed as a first step to overcoming one of many accessibility issues in our worship space. We hope the project signals our growing awareness and resolve to address accessibility issues in the future. 
The Return of Wine to St. Mark's: Bring Your Chalice to Church
Beloved of God, we will begin serving consecrated wine at the Eucharist again each week beginning this Sunday December 5th.

We are inviting households to bring their own cup to receive wine as a household if possible. We will also have small glasses for individuals or that can be shared among a household available. Wine will be served at the back of the church at stations where those desiring to receive wine can go after receiving bread.
 
If you have served as a Eucharistic Minister or Visitor or would like to help with this ministry of administering consecrated wine, please let Fr. Christopher know (email him here).
New Art Exhibit!
Come check out the beautiful works created by the members of the Rio Grande Art Association; now hanging in our Sacred Arts Gallery (otherwise known as the Parish Hall). Works may be viewed Monday-Thursday 9-2 and on Sundays between 9-12. 20% of all sales goes to supporting the St. Mark's Arts Ministry
Luminaria Supplies Needed
We are collecting brown paper bags and votive candles for luminarias to be used on Christmas Eve. There is a box in the narthex for dropping off these items. Thank you for your generosity.
Socks and Gloves Collection
St. Mark’s is collecting NEW pairs of sock and gloves during the month of December. We will distribute them to charities which assist our friends who may not have the means to stay warm this winter. Your abundant generosity is appreciated.
Advent Study: All Creation Waits
All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings
By Gayle Boss
Illustrated by David G. Klein
 
Join one of our online book groups for Advent at St. Mark’s.
 
Open a window each day of Advent onto the natural world. In twenty-five portraits depicting how wild animals of the northern hemisphere ingeniously adapt when darkness and cold descend, we see and hear as if for the first time the ancient wisdom of Advent:  The dark is not an end but the way a new beginning comes.
 
Copies of the book are available in the church office or online at Paraclete Press or at your other favorite book sellers. 
Stewardship Updates
2022 Stewardship
Our current pledges total $435,000 from 105 households!

Many humble thanks to those who have turned pledges in.


Advent through Epiphany Schedule
GIVE TO ST. MARK'S
All are welcome to give and/or pledge to St. Mark's by:

  1. Mail (St. Mark's has a secure mailbox and is checked regularly): 431 Richmond Place NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106.
  2. You may give electronically through the Diocese of the Rio Grande Parish Donation site and check the box next to "Albuquerque-St. Mark's". Just fill out the rest of the information and click the Next button at the bottom of the page. Please make sure fill out "special instructions or comment" to let us know how to apply your gift (i.e.: pledge, congregational relief fund, etc.).
  3. You may give electronically (including pledge payments) to St. Mark's - securely via PayPal® - anytime. Please consider checking the box that reads, "I’d like to add to my donation to help offset the cost of processing."
DIOCESE & BEYOND
LGBTQ+ Evening Prayer
Diocesan-wide Confirmation Formation Classes
Bishop Hunn is delighted to announce the dates of the Diocesan-wide Confirmation formation classes. This is a four-week class in January and February intended for those preparing for Confirmation but also those who are interested in learning more about what it means to be an Episcopalian.  
 
This class can be used as a stand-alone formation opportunity or can be used in conjunction with formation at the individual parishes.  
 
All classes begin at 6:30pm and finish around 8:00pm.
 
  • Wednesday, January 5
  • Wednesday, January 19
  • Wednesday, February 2
  • Wednesday, February 16
 
For anyone interested, please email here to let us know and to get you signed up.
Snow Slam Registration
Email submissions should be sent (via email) to the Communications Specialist by 11:00 a.m. each Tuesday for inclusion on Thursday's e-news. Please see submission guidelines here.
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
431 Richmond Place NE | Albuquerque, NM 87106 |505-262-2484 | www.stmarksabq.org
© 2021