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

As we prepare for the beginning of another program year, there are a couple of things to be aware of. The first is that we have several ministry needs for Sunday mornings. The good news is that our Sunday School is doing very well. This means that we need to divide the group into two classes. In order to do this, we need a few helpers in the classes. We always have at least two adults in each classroom to ensure the safety of the children. Helpers will need to complete a Safeguarding God’s Children program online. It takes a couple of hours at the most to complete the training which focuses on the protection of the children. Emily Gordon will have more to say about the need for helpers at our intergenerational service on Sunday.

Another need that we have is for a few more people who would be willing to serve as acolytes. Acolytes carry the cross to lead the processions during the service, assist the priest in setting the altar, assist with the offertory, and light and extinguish the candles. Gary Giammarco provides excellent training and support.

We also need a few more Readers/Eucharistic Ministers. This group reads the lessons, leads the Prayers of the People, and administers the chalice. The canons of the church require that Eucharistic Ministers have either been confirmed or received by the Bishop. Bruce Hixon and I will provide training.

That leads to the second point. If you are new to the Episcopal Church and would like to be confirmed or received by the Bishop, I will be offering a new members’ class this fall. The class is also open to anyone, even if you have been a member of St. Mark’s for as long as you can remember. We will cover topics such as the history of the Episcopal Church and St. Mark’s, the meaning of faith, customs and traditions of the Episcopal Church, the meaning of the sacraments, as well as trying to answer any questions you have. The class will meet in the undercroft between the 8:00 and 10:00 services beginning September 10. It will last for six sessions. If you are interested in the class, please email me: rjohnson@stmarks-canton.org

Fr. RJ+

Please Note:

The door camera/entry system is only working occassionaly. If you aren't buzzed in when you arrive at St. Mark's, please call the office phone.

Security reminder as school begins again:

Keeping St. Mark’s building a safe environment is our highest priority, and to do so we need all parishioners who are coming to St. Mark’s to make arrangements to be let into the building. Weaver’s staff absolutely cannot allow anyone not connected to Weaver CDC into the building, and there will be no exceptions to this rule.

Please schedule any visits with Fr. RJ or Katie with as much lead time as possible.

Sunday, August 20

Holy Eucharist at 8 and 10 a.m.

Lessons

Bulletin

Live Stream

Tuesday, August 22

Lunch Bunch, John's Bar at 1 p.m.

Wednesday, August 23

Evening Prayer, 4 p.m.

Zoom Bulletin

Save the Date: Photo directory picture day, September 10

Katie's office hours beginning August 21: MWF 8-2:30

Sunday, Aug 20 is last call for Amish Dinner payment. $15 per person, cash preferred, to MaryAnn Kiesling. This is parish wide event and includes the August MOD and Cluster Dinner.

Read What's New in the Diocese HERE

From: Episcopal Relief and Development

Help us respond to this crisis:

Your gift today helps us provide critical relief to those impacted by the Maui wildfires. We’re connecting with diocesan leaders and standing by, ready to support those affected with the life-saving supplies and resources they need most. We’re also making the long-term investment this community needs to rebuild and heal in the wake of such devastation.

Please donate here (through Episcopal Relief and Development) Or, make a donation to St. Mark's with the memo line "Maui Fires" cash, check, or via the online portal.

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

Bob's Music Notes

At my downtown Methodist Church the Cope family was active. They gave a Steinway piano to the chancel in 1949 and eventually gave land in Sebring OH for Copeland Oaks. David Cope and my son Scott were good friends.

David went on to earn a Doctorate at MIT and an engineering invention of considerable value. David was engaged to a girl at Wellesley College. He asked me to play for the wedding at the Houghton Chapel which had two organs: a brand new Fisk in the balcony and a seasoned Aeolian-Skinner in the chancel. I elected to play a half hour or so on the Fisk and the rest up front. The builder, Charles Fisk, was finishing the organ when I arrived - a charming fellow. He offered to pump the bellows for me! I used the electric blower instead.

This organ was most unusual - a replica of a North German instrument with something I never saw before or since: two divided black notes. On a conventional keyboard, C# and Db are one and the same, and D#/Eb and so on. But on this organ, if I recall correctly, D# was the front half, Eb the fback F# the front and Gb the back - all to conform to mean-tone temperament. It took some getting used to, and there were some pieces that would not work on it. I elected to play some Buxtehude preludes. And a few of the large stop knobs could function either half-way out or all the way! Of course, after my balcony time, down to the much more familiar Aeolian-Skinner in the front, which I enjoyed playing for quite a while, since David, the groom, was late for his nuptials.

If you have any interest in this historic treasure, Balint Karosi has a 17 minute video on YouTube "Demo of the mean-tone Fisk Organ at Wellesley College MA" and you'll get a first-hand glimpse of what I experienced.

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

*Please note: Your birthday/anniversary will only show up if you've completed your profile on Instant Church Directory.

Need to log in? Go here.

Prayer Concerns

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

Family and Friends: 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, Christine Allenbaugh, 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.