The Messenger of St. Mark's | Advent | December 18, 2020
St. Mark's Pastoral Emergency Phone Line: 505-800-2422.
NEWS & EVENTS
FOR VIRTUAL WORSHIP/CLASSES/PRAYERS: For a complete listing and schedule of our online / in-person offerings available, please visit our website: https://www.stmarksabq.org/online
or click on the button below:
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Saint Mark's Mission & Outreach
This Sunday: Parish Christmas Photo!
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We are going to take a "Parish Christmas Photo" immediately following this Sunday's service by taking a screenshot of gallery view on Zoom at approx.10:45 a.m. (passcode is: liturgy). Wear your "Christmas Best," set up in front of Xmas Tree/Advent Wreath/Holiday Background of your choice. 
Your Help is Wanted for Christmas Eve Carols
When we asked members of St. Mark's what they loved most about Christmas Eve at St. Mark's, many members said, "Singing together with everyone!" We are doing our best to create experiences of "singing together" while physically separated this Christmas Season. We hope you'll join us:

Singers (of all ages):
Needed to help us record "hymns with harmony" for Christmas and Epiphany over the next several weeks. Sheet music, audio recordings of accompaniment AND parts, and recording details here. Join us for group recording sessions Sundays (12/13, 12/20, 12/27) at 11 a.m. in Mother Sylvia's Zoom Room (Meeting ID 510-932-1315) and/or pre-record your part at your convenience and send it to Sylvia in advance of the group session.  

All Members (whether or not you think you "can sing"):
Dress up in your Christmas best, gather in front of your Christmas Tree or Advent Wreath, and join us immediately following the Sunday Service THIS Sunday, 12/20 (10:30 a.m.) in St. Mark's Zoom Room to help us record "Joy to the World" and "O Come All Ye Faithful"--so that we can all see and hear the whole St. Mark's family together on Christmas Eve!
Christmas Eve & Beyond at St. Mark's
CHRISTMAS EVE AT ST. MARK’S

12:00-2:00 p.m. Christmas *Private Prayer (please note the time and details change!)
Drop by the church between 12-2 p.m. and spend time in private prayer in the church. *If Health Restrictions permit it, registration will be required.
 
4:00 p.m. Special Musical Prelude Begins on Zoom
Meeting ID: 892 5529 6605
Passcode: Holy
The Musical Prelude for our Christmas Eve Liturgy begins at 4:00 p.m., featuring musical offerings from our organist, St. Mark's Voices & Friends, and the choir members of St. Mark's.  

5:00 p.m. St. Mark's Christmas Eve Liturgy Begins on Zoom 
Meeting ID: 892 5529 6605
Passcode: Holy
This year, St. Mark's will celebrate a single Christmas Eve on Zoom. The Proclamation of the Nativity Gospel will take the form of a simple pageant performed by children and other members of St. Mark's. Join us as we sing, pray, and listen together as the Christ Child is born once more among us.  

6:00 p.m. Christmas "Coffee Hour" on Zoom and *Luminaria Setup in the Fish Garden
Meeting ID: 892 5529 6605
Passcode: Holy
When the Christmas Eve liturgy ends, our celebration continues! Stay on Zoom for a special "Christmas Coffee" hour and a time of sharing! Show us your Christmas trees and crèches. We invite you to come ready to share the story of a special ornament or Christmas tradition in your home. Or *head over to the church and meet in the Fish Garden to help set out and light luminarias. *If Health Restrictions permit it, registration will be required.

7:00 p.m. Candle Lighting & Christmas Blessing (Silent Night) 
Meeting ID: 892 5529 6605
Passcode: Holy
At 7:00 p.m. we'll all gather on Zoom & *in the Fish Garden to conclude our Christmas Eve Liturgy together. We’ll enjoy the glow of luminarias at church and candles at home. We’ll sing “Silent Night” together and receive a final Christmas Blessing. *If Health Restrictions permit it, registration will be required.

SCHEDULE FOR CHRISTMAS/CHRISTMASTIDE
 
Friday, December 25th, 7-8 p.m. – Christmas Day Carol Sing
Hosted by Team Miller-Mutia
Zoom Meeting ID: 510 932 1315
You may pick up a photocopied caroling book and hymnal packet outside St. Mark’s (on the table near the West Entrance).  

Wednesday, December 30th, 7-8 p.m. – The 6th Day of Christmas Carol Sing
Hosted by Team Hardy-Martin
Zoom Meeting ID: 510 932 1315
You may pick up a photocopied caroling book and hymnal packet outside St. Mark’s (on the table near the West Entrance).  

Tuesday, January 5th, 7-8 p.m. – “12th Night”/Eve of the Epiphany Carol Sing
Hosted by Team McLaren
Zoom Meeting ID: 510 932 1315
You may pick up a photocopied caroling book and hymnal packet outside St. Mark’s (on the table near the West Entrance).  
St. Martin's Hopeworks Breakfast
St Mark's is happy to announce our Breakfast at Hopeworks schedule for 2021. An easy way to remember our Sundays: The 2nd Sunday of odd-numbered months.

Our next breakfast is Sunday, January 10.

We need the following help:

  • Money to purchase the meal. You may contribute financially by specifying "Hopeworks" on your contribution to St Marks - check or here via PayPal.


  • Help deliver and serve food on Sunday morning. We meet at the church at 7:00 AM and we are done by 10:00 AM.  Please contact Joan Camera - via email - if you can help on Sunday, January 10th, for the entire time or just an hour.  
St. Mark's Annual Rosary & Remembrance
Monday, December 21st, 7:00 p.m.
December 21st is the Winter Solstice, the "longest night" of the year and the turning point after which the light begins to return. As we prepare for the Christmas Holidays and a New Year, we take this opportunity to pause, to remember those members of the extended St. Mark's Family who have died in this past year, and to gather in support of those who are courageously making their way through the "long night" of grief and bereavement. All are welcome to join us online for a simple, informal time of prayer and sharing. You are encouraged to light a candle at home, and to bring a photo of a loved one you have lost this year, as well as a short memory, story, reading or song to share. We will begin and end our gathering with and Anglican "Rosary for Resurrection."  
Link to Join Zoom:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5109321315
Meeting ID: 510-932-1315 
St. Martin's Hopeworks Breakfast Casserole Preparations
We will once again be preparing breakfast casseroles for St. Martin's Hopeworks on Saturday morning, January 9th, in St. Mark's kitchen. For the casseroles we need 4-loaves of bread, 8-pounds of ground pork sausage, 8-pounds of frozen chopped mild green chile, 8-pounds of grated cheddar, 4-large onions diced, 3-gallons of whole milk and 20-dozen eggs. If you can donate any of the needed ingredients, would like to contribute financially, and/or would like to help prepare the casseroles, please contact Jo Ann Swinson at 505-265-3339 or 505-803-6403. Thank you for your continued support of this ministry.
Winter Clothing Needed for HopeWorks
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We are looking for assistance from St. Mark's parishioners in gathering winter clothing for St. Martin's HopeWorks clients. Our Business Manager, Bruce Roach, will consolidate donations and transport them to the St. Martin's HopeWorks site for distribution on December 22.

Items needed are:
  • Winter coats and jackets
  • Hoodies and sweatshirts
  • Socks
  • Gloves
  • Knit caps

Note: Sizes should run larger (M to XL), and the Male:Female gender split runs approximately 12:1.

Please contact Bruce Roach 919-576-4042 (call or text) or by email if you are able to make a clothing donation for HopeWorks.
Vestry / Delegate Individuals Needed
Three vestry positions open up each January at St. Mark's, as well as one delegate position - all will be elected at our annual Parish Meeting (Sunday, Jan. 31). Please prayerfully consider whether your time and talent could be best used in the guiding, collaborative spirit of our vestry or as our representative to the Diocese of the Rio Grande at Convention. Nomination forms are available here.
 
All ministry Annual Report information must be submitted to Jennifer Lind via email (by Monday, January 18th).
GIVE TO ST. MARK'S
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All are welcome to give and/or pledge to St. Mark's by mail (St. Mark's has a secure mailbox and is checked regularly): 431 Richmond Place NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106
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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.).
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You may give an Electronic Offering, donate to the Congregational Relief Fund, or make a Pledge payment to St. Mark's - securely via PayPal® - anytime.
DIOCESE & BEYOND
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's 2020 Christmas Message
Racial Justice & Reconciliation Event: Wintertalk
The NM Conference of Churches is presenting an important opportunity for growth and conversation, as we continue to work towards greater racial justice and reconciliation, particularly as it pertains to The Church in New Mexico. The event is entirely online, January 8-9 (see the full flyer here). 
Email submissions should be sent (via email) to the Communications Coordinator by 2:00 p.m. each Thursday for inclusion on Friday 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
© 2020