The Lion's Pause

WE SEEK TO UNITE ALL PEOPLE WITH GOD AND EACH OTHER IN CHRIST THROUGH WORSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, EDUCATION, AND SERVICE

Rector's Ramblings

In the last century, there was a strong reaction against the notion of Christian faith as a personal matter. In Central America, this led to the rise of Liberation Theology which often stated that social and economic reforms were at the heart of the Gospel. Liberation Theology was in some ways a parent to Black Theology and Feminist Theology in the United States. It is well worth listening to the voices of these various theological points of view that remind us that the Gospel does have real world liberating consequences. After all, as St. Paul wrote in his Letter to the Galatians, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” The entire Letter to Philemon instructs a slave holder to treat a slave that Paul is returning as a brother in Christ rather than a slave. Jesus warned his listeners more about the dangers of the desire to accumulate wealth than he warned them about adultery. That is probably because most of them would have agreed that adultery is not desirable, while, the accumulation of wealth was often seen as a sign of God’s blessing.

This development was a much-needed corrective. However, there is also a danger discarding the personal nature of the Christian faith. Too often, the drive for social change has resulted in the goal of merely changing the position of the oppressor and the oppressed. What is required for true change in the social systems that have oppressed so many over the centuries is a transformation of the human heart. That is a work that we can cooperate with but only God can accomplish. It does not happen on a grand scale all at once, but one person at a time. Jesus called individual people to become part of the community he was creating.

We are often presented with false dichotomies and asked to make an either-or decision. Faith in Christ is a personal matter. God relates to us as individuals. Our faith in Christ also has social implications. As we begin to see others in the way that God sees them, we cannot possibly turn a blind eye to the many needs of our surrounding communities.

Fr. RJ+

Save the Date:

Photo directory picture day,

September 10 after the 10 a.m. service

Planning on getting a photo?

RSVP to let the office know.

Sunday, August 27

Holy Eucharist at 8 and 10 a.m.

Lessons

Bulletin

Live Stream

Monday, August 28

Knitting, 1 p.m.

Wednesday, August 30

Evening Prayer, 4 p.m.

Zoom Bulletin

Betty Fortney Sanctuary

Work has begun on the outdoor chapel! Boy Scouts from Troop 1001 worked all afternoon last Sunday. They will return next Sunday to complete the work.

They sanded, they power washed, they weeded, they raked, they transplanted perennials, they repaired fencing, they stained benches, they trimmed branches - they did it all!

Stay tuned for more transformation - take a peek and check it out!

INTERGENERATIONAL SERVICE

August 20, 2023 was our quarterly Intergenerational Service. All of our Sunday School children and teachers in our parish were blessed for a wonderful, safe school year. The children also had their backpacks blessed by Fr RJ.

Emily Bletzacker Gordon led our parish in assembling hygiene kits. We all put together antibacterial soap and a washcloth in a bag to donate to Hope Outreach Ministry, led by Pastor Marilyn. Sunday School kids helped the parishioners in showing them how, and all assisted them in writing a few notes to include in the kits. We were all able to assemble 636 kits that Gary Mull will be delivering to Hope Outreach this week.

Very special thanks is extended to Bill Rand for capturing all these moments through his photography. His time and effort is much appreciated.

After the service, everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch provided by Carol Popovich and her marvelous kitchen crew.

Thanks to all for your generous donation of money and products, as this brings the grand total of donated hygiene kits to 1500!! The Sunday School will continue in this very much needed and worthwhile project, and will start assembling them regularly very soon.

Beth Bletzacker, Coordinator

The Diocese has continued to offer easy online giving. To use this, please select "St. Mark's Canton" from the dropdown, and choose either a one-time or recurring gift. We thank you for your continued support.

Designate a Gift to St. Mark's

NOTABLE - Bob Morrison

Last weekend I did some playing on a pump organ, a reed organ, at Schantz Organ Company's 150th anniversary which was held in Amish country. In the early years of this firm, they built reed organs - one model of which was called "Ohio Beauty." I told Vic Schantz, president, that they must be doing something right to be in business this long. I also told him that, at St. Mark's, I am playing every week an organ that started life in Orrville OH.

And this got me thinking about my first organ position (at age 14) at North Avenue United Presbyterian Church in Baltimore at the corner of North Avenue and Payson Street. It was a modest structure that could seat probably 200 people and it was equipped with a reed organ, not a little pump affair, but a two manual and pedal instrument with an external blower for the wind pressure. I didn't fully appreciate this organ because it wasn't a pipe organ, but now I'm having different thoughts.

These reed organs don't make a "mighty" sound. (All WurliTzer theater organs are supposed to be "mighty.") Last week, for example, Ann Schantz sat at a little pump organ to accompany a hymn sing before I played, and they had a microphone nearby to amplify the sweet soft sound.

But, in retrospect, that North Avenue organ must have been much more than "sweet and soft" because it supported a full congregation of singers and now, in my mature thought, I should have been more appreciative of it. After all, it's an authentic wind-activated sound!

August Birthdays

4 Jack Gordon

11 Tory Willoughby

13 Joyce Rupp, Pamela Clark

18 Bradley Mull

August Anniversaries

1 Drew and Mandy Pelger

4 Bruce and Jane Schutrum

21 Scott and Debbie Shellhammer

26 John and Tory Willoughby

27 Patrick and Rebecca Watters

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Prayer Concerns

Vonda Temelkoff, Henry Aegerter, Geoff Gordon, Jim Weaver, Jane Schutrum, & Ron Brookes

Family and Friends: Ray Slinger (friend of Bob Morrison), Don Siegfried, Darin Hill (friend of Derek & Emily Gordon); Elaine Campbell (friend of the Turners); Lori, Mike, & Chase (friends of Leslie Redmon); Mark Osterhage (friends & neighbor of the Watters); Deacon Gretchen Platt, & Lisa (acquaintances & wife of Father RJ); Bob Rownd (friend of John Werren & Anne Coen); Judy Heisser-Turner (sister of Bert Heisser); Trish (friend of Paulette Frech); Broden Burt, Bill Allen, & Jim Belamy (acquaintances of the Mulls); Pat Walter & family (friend of Barb Whitehouse); Mark Osterhage (Neighbor/friend of the Watters); Alycia Geis (Karen Violand’s friend’s daughter); Jacinta Decker (co-worker of Mandy Pelger); Michelle Graber (Bobbi Gordon family/friend); Ray (friend of Bob Morrison); Don Siegfried & Janet Sheatzley-Morgan (husband & sister of Barb Siegfried); DaNay Jackson (friend of Ron Brookes); Allison Cornell-Hood, Bob Patterson, & Anne Higgins (daughter & friends of Diane Cornell); Finnigan Savage (friend of Pam McCarthy); Gail (sister-in-law to the Rands); Lynnda Hoefler & Jimmy Little (friend & son of Sue Little); Theresa & Addelyn (friends of the Hixons); Yanette Pysher (Vonda Temelkoff’s cousin); Tony Donahue (friend of the Boyds); Marc Hostetler (brother of Susan Hostetler); Baby David (acquaintance of the Nadels); Johnny Willoughby (grandson of the Willoughbys).

For those who have died.

For those in the armed forces.

PRAYER CHAIN:

St. Mark's has a group of prayer warriors who pray for the specific needs of those on the prayer chain. If you would like to place yourself or a loved one on the prayer chain, please contact Bobbi Gordon at ggordon24@sbcglobal.net

Prayer requests may be placed on the private Prayer Chain or on the Prayer Concerns list appearing in The Lion's Pause and Sunday bulletin or in both places. Please let Bobbi know your preference. Unless otherwise instructed, names will be listed as we receive them. Please update Bobbi or Katie on the status of your friends or family members as to when they may be removed from the prayer lists.