All of us at St. Mark’s share a commitment to our faith and to our community, and we welcome visitors regardless of religious background, race, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Everyone is welcome!

Wooden Love Sign, (ca. 2000), Doi Inthanon National Park, Chom Thong District, Thailand, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

Rector's Message

Dear Church,

Last week, I had the opportunity to see Province V at work! I was asked to be the director of music for the Province V Big Provincial Gathering, and I have been working with the planning team since August 2023! Our church is part of the Diocese of Chicago, and the Diocese of Chicago is part of Province V. There are thirteen other dioceses that are part of Province V. Typically, this gathering happens every three years before the General Convention, and it is a time for the Province to get prepared for General Convention and to learn from one another. 

Almost every Bishop from each diocese in the Province was there, including our very own, The Rt. Rev. Paula E. Clark. Preparing and leading the music for this gathering is one of the highlights of my career. It was pure joy, and I loved every moment of this experience. On top of leading music for the worship services, I offered a workshop on congregational singing and building a choir. Thank you all for your support over the past few months as I prepared for this opportunity—I appreciate all the love and support I have received. 

This Sunday is a special Sunday at St. Mark's—it is our Annual Evensong. This service is one of the services I look forward to the most at St. Mark's. If you have not attended an Evensong yet, I encourage you to come! Our choir will be joined by some special guests, including a tenor from the Lyric Opera and guest organist Beau Surratt. Our very own The Rev. Greg Millikin will be officiating, and the choir will be under my direction. 

The service is on Sunday, May 5, at 7pm, with a special pre-service recital by Vannia Phillips starting at 6:45pm. We have secured parking at Roycemore School, so feel free to park at the school and walk over for the service. You don't need a permit to park there; they have given us special permission for this event. 

Then, next week, there is the Coriolis concert, on Saturday, May 11, at 7:30pm. Mark your calendars and plan to come to support Coriolis and St. Mark's members Chris, Tommy, and Pat. 

If you have not seen it already, please check out the 2024 Fall Concert Series lineup on our website! It is an incredibly talented lineup, and I am excited for another season of concerts at St. Mark's.

Thanks and happy music, y'all!

Westley Art Hodges

Director of Music Ministries

This Week at St. Mark's

Save the Date

Saturday, May 11

• 7:30 pm - Spring Concert Series: Coriolis in the Sanctuary. This concert will be followed by a champagne, sparking cider, and dessert reception.

Saturday, May 18

• 11:00 am - Funeral for Maryallen Estes. Follwed by a Reception in the Parlor

Sunday, June 2

• 2-5:00 pm - Interfaith Family LGBTQ+ Pride Fest at Raymond Park, Evanston (See flyer below)

Sunday, June 16

• Race Against Hate 2024

Announcements

First Friday at Reza in Evanston - Tonight!

Please join us tonight for dinner at Reza's in Evanston (1557 Sherman) at 6:30 pm. They serve Persian and Mediterranean food which means lots of good options for all. You can review the menu at rezarestaurants.com. They have suggested that we consider ordering family style but are still willing to accept single orders. However, they will not do individual checks to remember to bring cash or be prepared to send payment via Zelle. Last month at Mount Everest we had 20 diners! Looking forward to another impressive gathering. Remember, it's OK to bring a friend! Please let me know if you are interested in attending - Rachel Easton       224-234-9380         

Remembering Maryallen Estes (1926-2024)

Parishioner Maryallen Estes will be memorialized on this date:

Saturday, May 18, 2024

11:00am

Followed by a Reception in the Parlor

If you are available to help with the reception, please contact Joanne Greene.

The choir is also invited to confirm with Westley if individuals are available to sing.

Click HERE to read Maryallen's obituary.

Adult Forum 9am Series: Easter Themes and the Movies!

Greg+ leads an Adult Forum series each week at 9am in the Parlor over coffee and breakfast treats, and the topic is Easter Themes and the Movies. This Sunday, May 5th, we look at a curious short film directed by Steven Spielberg called "Kick the Can," from the 1985 anthology film Twilight Zone: the Movie. The film is available for rent on Apple TV, but we are providing a link to watch on your home device HERE.

All are welcome to attend, even if you’ve never attended one before. On May 12th, we look at the 2020 Pixar film "Soul," found easily on Disney+. We conclude on May 19th for the summer break with "The Tree of Life," available for rent on Apple or if you have a Hulu subscription.

St. Mark's Day (Apr. 28) - Consider Giving to our Trust

This year St. Mark's will be celebrating St. Mark's Day on April 28th. Our tradition since the creation of St. Mark's 1970 Trust Fund, our "rainy day" fund, has been to deposit our open collections on that day, along with any specially designated contributions, into the 1970 Trust. Over the years, this Fund has provided much-needed money for various extraordinary purposes, including both unanticipated operating and capital expenditures. So, please keep this important goal in mind as St. Mark's Day approaches, and give generously to ensure our future financial stability.

Evensong — May 5, 2024 at 7pm (pre-service recital at 6:45pm)

Join us for our annual Evensong, led by our fabulous choir and some other special guests! The service will start at 6:45 p.m. with a pre-service recital by violinist Vannia Phillips. Our guest organist will be Beau Surratt, and Westley will conduct the choir. Greg+ will officiate the service. Please be sure to mark your calendars and come out for a beautiful service of prayer, songs, readings, and canticles. You don't want to miss this annual tradition at St. Mark's! For more information, please contact Westley.

Personal Finances Presentation by Northern Trust - This Sunday!

During coffee hour after church on Sunday, May 5th, our Investment Committee has arranged for Northern Trust to present a session covering the basic financial topics of Spending, Saving, and Credit for our parishioners. This one-to-one-and-a-half-hour session is intended for adults and soon-to-be-adults alike, and will focus on developing a plan for spending and saving that aligns with your values and goals, as well as building and using credit responsibly.

If this discussion is as successful as we hope it will be, our plan is to hold additional sessions next fall that will cover more advanced topics, such as planning for retirement and investing basics. The committee is very grateful to Northern Trust for providing these timely and informative classes, and we look forward to hosting a full house at each of them. Because having a solid understanding of personal finance concepts is so important, St. Mark's also will be inviting the other parishes in our Deanery to participate remotely via Zoom, which will be available to our own parishioners as well.

This is a hybrid meeting, so please feel free to Zoom in from your home or device by clicking THIS LINK. password: saintmarks

Spring in the Garden

Rain and warm weather are bringing flowers and new growth to the gardens. If you are interested in providing annuals or cold-hardy perennials for up to 5 planters in the front of the church please contact Lola Himrod at Lhimrod@comcast.net or 847-864-7815. Or, if you are interested in ordering and/or organizing a planting party this fall of spring bulbs, she would be happy to hear from you.

Education for Ministry Open House - Wednesday, May 15th

Interested in deepening your relationship with God? Want to study scripture with other committed people? Looking for an intimate intentional spiritual community? Consider joining an EfM group. Education for Ministry is a four-year seminar course in which you’ll study the Old and New Testaments, church history, and theology while engaging in the weekly practice of theological reflection. The EfM program is designed to help us prepare for the ministry we are all called to as Christians. You’re invited to participate in an existing group’s session at our open house on Wednesday, May 15 from 6pm until 9p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 939 Hinman in Evanston. Please contact Laura Jenkins at laura.m.jenkins@icloud.com for more information or to register for the session.

2024's Lion of the Year: Seth Himrod

Congratulations to Seth Himrod who was announced on Sunday as this year's Lion of the Year - the annual award given to a parishioner who goes above and beyond in their baptismal ministry to the church and community. Thank you, Seth!

See some photos of St. Mark's Day this past Sunday, below:

Captions: (Top) Seth receives the coveted Lion pin from Fr. Greg at the 10am service. (Lower left) Doug Sondgeroth astounded us once again with two themed cakes, one for St. Mark's Day and one for our Lion of the Year! (Lower right) Tim Heuer, Aina Gutierrez and Seth Himrod enjoy the festivities during coffee hour.

Mulching Party - Sunday, May 19th after the 10am Service

It’s time for mulching our beautiful grounds and property for the summer season. As we have done in previous years, we are calling on all parishioners to join together to make the work go by super-fast. Sunday, May 19th is the Feast of Pentecost, and the last Sunday before Memorial Day Weekend and the unofficial start of the summer season. Wear jeans and outdoor clothes to the 10am service and plan to stay to pitch in, if you are able. Coffee Hour will be both inside and outside as a treat (weather-permitting). For more info or to volunteer in advance, please let Lola know at Lhimrod@comcast.net.

Race Against Hate Set for June 16th

Join with our Episcopal kin in saying NO! to Racism in Evanston as we support our friends at the YWCA in their battle to End Racism. St. Matthew's, St. Augustine's (Wilmette), St. Andrew Pentecost, St. Luke's and St. Mark's are participating again in this annual event, a walk/race for a cause: to support the equity work of the YWCA. Last year, the Episcopal team was the top fundraising team. What will we do this year? To register, go to tinyurl.com/racehate2024 and look for the team: Episcopalians Unite Against Hate. And Save the Date, June 16th.

Red Cart Sunday - Sunday, May 19th

Help the Wednesday Lunch Program! Bring jugs of juice/non- carbonated drinks (apple juice, cranberry juice, lemonade, or iced tea) or powdered mix for iced tea or lemonade. Package cookies (Oreos, windmill, and fudge stripe, etc. are preferred). We also need grocery style plastic bags that we use to pack lunch items for people who request a lunch to go. Place items in the cart at the back of the sanctuary.

Article about Greg+ and Canterbury Northwestern from the Diocesan Newsletter

Carina Biar will never forget that January Sunday in 2023 in the Canterbury House at Northwestern University. “We didn’t have heat or water or walls in the dining room because a pipe had burst over winter break,” says Biar, who was a senior at the time. “So we wore down coats and made luminaria and celebrated Epiphany in a place of community where people show up even when things inside and outside are pretty crazy.”

The feeling of belonging to a nurturing and close-knit community has sustained the small Canterbury ministry at Northwestern even as its numbers have dwindled to about half a dozen deeply committed regulars. “As a student, I always had a lot of competing priorities, but the place I knew I needed to be every Sunday night was the Canterbury House,” says Olivia Alexander, a graduating senior who is the group’s current president. “I was drawn to this place by how kind and supportive people were. It has been the through line of my entire college experience.”

Students graduate and depart, however, and to ensure the Canterbury community’s future, the ministry must grow. Last fall, the Rev. Greg Millikin, recently-installed rector at nearby St. Mark’s, Evanston, began work as the group’s quarter-time chaplain, with an eye toward expanding its reach while preserving its character.

Read more.

Did you see the lineup for the 2024 Fall Concert Series? If not, head to our website and check it out! It is an impressive lineup with some very talented musicians!

We hope to see you at Evensong and the Coriolis concert! Invite your friends, families, and neighbors!

Pictured is Vannia Phillips, guest violinist for our annual Evensong.

2024 Spring Concert Series:

Sun. 5-5, 7:00 pm— Choral Evensong,

Prelude recital by Vannia Phillips, violin

Sat. 5-11, 7:30pm—Coriolis, a cappella choir

Not subscribed to Ridge Notes?

You can subscribe by following the link below!

Creation Care Corner

In Our Prayers

Celebrating Birthdays

Nick Easton (5/3)

Martha Lettner (5/4)

Sam Consiglio (5/9)

Vittorio Laudati (5/16)

John Sagan (5/18)

Anne Heniz (5/19)

Mary Koss (5/22)

Bob Molumby (5/22)

Dalia Benz (5/28)

Nasim Alexander (5/29)

Donald Koss (5/29)

Celebrating Anniversaries

Fred and Susan Lewis (5/31)

Have we missed your birthday or anniversary? 

If so, please send an email to elion@stmarksevanston.org

so we can correct our records and include you in the next issue of the eLion.

Clergy, Staff & Ministry Chairs

The Rev. Gregory L. Millikin, Rector

(847) 864-4806, ext. 114

(310) 721-6356 (mobile)

rector@stmarksevanston.org

Westley Art Hodges, Director of Music Ministries

(847) 864-4806, ext. 118

(312) 241-5308 (mobile)

music@stmarksevanston.org

Andrew Schaeffer, Interim Parish Administrator

(847) 864-4806, ext. 102

office@stmarksevanston.org

Rudy Burke, Sexton

(847) 687-9172 (mobile)

(847) 864-4806, ext. 103

sexton@stmarksevanston.org

Tim Heuer, Senior Warden

srwarden@stmarksevanston.org

Nancye Kirk, Junior Warden

jrwarden@stmarksevanston.org

Chris Schultze, Treasurer

(847) 864-4806, ext. 112

treasurer@stmarksevanston.org

Allison Ashley, Creation Care Team

creation@stmarksevanston.org

Donna Richardson, Outreach & Social Justice Committee

outreach@stmarksevanston.org

Patrick Furlong, Investments Committee

investment@stmarksevanston.org

Vestry

Gretchen Constantine, Adrianna Dangremond,

Julia Ferguson, Aina Gutierrez,

Kathy Hart, Deane Johnson,

Hardy Murphy, Chris Schultze

and Dan Whitmore  

vestry@stmarksevanston.org

Have news to contribute to the eLion? Send it to elion@stmarksevanston.org