The Grapevine St. Mark's Episcopal Church

Transcription

1 The Grapevine St. Mark's Episcopal Church January 2019 A Note from Nancy January 2019 Happy New Year once again! Every January, I pray that the coming year will be full of hope, light and joy, that there will be fewer wars, less extreme weather and more love throughout the world. I know this is a tall order but I also have faith that God will help to make these things happen. Please notice that I am not expecting God to do all this alone. I pray that God will help us to make this a better world because it won t happen if we just stand by and watch. We have to follow Christ s example and love God above anything and anyone else and love our neighbor as we are loved by Christ. This year we are being challenged by our bishop to find ways to make a real difference in the Johnstown area. Yes, we are known for our animal welfare ministry and the community helps us to feed the many pets with monetary and food donations. It has become a community ministry. But what else can we do to make a difference? Is there something we can do to help reduce the opioid crisis? Is there something we can do that will use our awesome building during the week when it stands mostly empty? How do we encourage people to come worship with us and truly spread the Good News of Jesus Christ? The Vestry will be meeting in retreat Saturday, January 12 th to talk about these concerns and will present some ideas at the special parish meeting January 27 th. But the Vestry cannot do anything without the approval and assistance from the rest of the congregation. Please mull over your ideas for meeting the bishop s challenge and come to the parish meeting Sunday, January 27 th. There will be only one service that weekend so everyone from all three services can get together for fellowship and discussion. Please make every effort to come and participate in this very important meeting. We need your ideas, as well as your approval and prayers. Let us make 2019 a very special year in the history of St. Mark s. St. Mark's Episcopal Church 335 Locust Street Johnstown, PA stmarks@atlanticbbn.net Web site www. saintmarksjohnstown.com Our Staff: Priest: Rev. Nancy L. Threadgill Verger: Cindy Leap Organist: Dolly Lopresti Treasurer: Pam Hysong Secretary: Joanne McKinley Sexton: Nikki Forsythe The Vestry: Senior Warden: Lisa Loncella Junior Warden: Adam Sprankle Secretary: Lyssa Nickle-Madden Treasurer: Pam Hysong 2019 Lyssa Nickle-Madden 2020 Kitty Batrus Heidi Buchan Adam Sprankle Penn Whitlow 2020 Courtney Foreman Lisa Bell-Loncella Donovan Pendell Douglas Zawiskie Peace, In Christ, Mother Nancy Please remember St. Mark s Church in your will.

2 PLEASE SAVE THE DATE!!!! Sunday, January Only one service that weekend at 10:00 AM Potluck and special annual meeting to follow. Please make every effort to come. We will: look at the 2019 budget, vote on amount to be taken from the endowment this year, and make plans for increasing our imprint on the Johnstown community

3 FROM THE ECW LADIES AND PASTORAL CARE Thank you to everyone who donated shampoo, toothpaste and brushes for the Family Kitchen Christmas Baskets. Also, many thanks to everyone who took time to bake and donate cookies for their Christmas Party. A special thank you to Angie Herbein for taking care of collecting all of the items for Saturday s Kitchen and to Jack for helping Angie to distribute all of the shampoo, cookies, and Christmas Bags to the Kitchen. A special thank you to Louise Mead who volunteered to collect, prepare and deliver the Christmas Stockings to the Torrence State Hospital, and special thanks to everyone who donated items to fill those stockings. Because of Louise s efforts we can continue this tradition. Thank you to everyone who donated turkeys for Thanksgiving. We were able to assist 15 families with a Turkey Dinner. Thank you to everyone who donated winter clothing and blankets for the needy. We will still collect hats, gloves, and blankets to hand out during the winter months. Without your continued support we would not be able to continue this Ministry. Also at this time we would like to send a special thank you to Dr. William and Mrs. Maryanne Marchl for their continued support. The Altar Votives and Pew Candles were donated by the Marchl s. They also made a monetary donation to help defray the costs of the Thanksgiving baskets. Although the Marchls live in Pittsburgh, (Maryanne is a former Mallinson) they still regard St. Mark s as their home.

4 From the Diocesan Social Justice and Outreach Committee January. 4, 2019 Here is an important project for the New Year. Plastic in the oceans kills over a million sea birds, 100,000 marine mammals, and countless fish every year, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Plastic chemicals can be absorbed in our bodies 93 per cent of Americans age six or older test positive for BPA, which can cause cancer and birth defects, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Our tap water and bottled water are both loaded with microplastics. Following up on the Diocesan Convention resolution which recommends that each parish encourage its parishioners to recycle, reuse and reduce their uses of water, electricity, gasoline and other fossil fuels, and plastics, which are polluting the ocean, the Social Justice and Outreach Committee encourages all parishes in the diocese to take part in the Single Use Plastics Challenge, to reduce reliance on single use plastics such as plastic grocery bags and Styrofoam cups and plates. We are collaborating on this project known as the What s SUP Challenge and expected to continue for the next few months--with committees of the Pittsburgh Friends Meeting House and the First Unitarian Church, and perhaps other organization to come. We encourage all members of the diocese to help plan at a kickoff event beginning at 1:30 at the Friends Meeting House, 4836 Ellsworth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, on Sunday, January 20 th. This event will involve education about the dangers of plastics and possibilities for alternatives, forming teams of people pursuing similar goals, watching the movie Bag It together, and refreshments. In future months we hope to tour a recycling facility and learn the limitations of recycling, share our successes and what we re all learning, and hold a SUP-less supper to celebrate. Spread this information in your parish and if you are interested, whether you can or cannot attend on the 20 th, contact me. Thank you! Marianne Novy (mnovy@pitt.edu) Diocesan Social Justice and Outreach Committee Submitted by Amy Whitlow

5 Soup and Study Mondays 6:00-8:00 PM The Soup & Study Group is taking a break for the next few months. We will meet again during Lent. Coffee Shop Bible Study We meet at The Mill House Café at the corner of Diamond Blvd. and Luzerne Street in Old Westmont. This charming little coffee house is bright, cozy, and friendly. The sandwiches, soups, and yummy baked goods are very tempting. Drop in any Tuesday morning at 10 for coffee or tea, study, & fellowship. We read and discuss the lessons for the next Sunday s service. Copies of the Synthesis CE Lectionary Study Guide are available for anyone in the parish hall. To receive notices, please contact Adam Sprankle at awsprankle@gmail.com

6 No January Anniversaries Happy January Birthdays Name Date Name Date Greg Karlick 14 Magnus Rogers 27 Alli Benton Kintner 14 Amber Howarth 29 Stephen Balamuta 15 Michelle Shawley 30 Martha Pavlo 18 Connie Mayer 31 Tamra Howarth Kenneth Leap Richard Mayer If we have forgotten your Birthday or Anniversary, please let us know. Call the office with your Information ( ) or e mail us at stmarks@atlanticbbn.net. Thanks, Joanne

7 Fuel & Snow Removal During the next few months, the extra collection for the First Sunday of the Month will help defray the cost of our heating and snow removal.. BUILDING CAMPAIGN The Extra Collection for the Second Sunday of the month will help defray the cost of our numerous work projects throughout the Church. VESTRY REREAT Saturday, January 12th 9:00 am Finance Meeting Wednesday January 9th 1:00 pm Vestry Meeting Sunday January 13th After the 10:00 am Service SPECIAL PARISH MEETING Sunday, January 27, 2019 After the 10:00 am Service Rwandan Orphan All families of the church are encouraged to donate $1.00 on the third Sunday of each month (Jan. 20th) for Josiane, our Rwandan orphan. Please be sure to mark your donation separately for her. Pastoral Care All families of the church are encouraged to donate one dollar on the fourth Sunday of each month (Jan. 27th ) for our Pastoral Care. Please be sure to mark your donation separately for Pastoral Care.

8 St. Mark s Episcopal Church 335 Locust Street Johnstown, Pa stmarks@atlanticbbn.net ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL We have come to the end of another year at St. Mark s Pet Food Ministry and our Pet Food Pantry is thriving due to the many, many generous contributions that have been given to us throughout the past year and especially in the last 6 weeks. We are so grateful to those of you who continue to support our Pet Food Pantry. During December, we assisted 147 Families (24 new families), with 19 emergency walk ins during the month. We were able to feed 220 dogs, 15 puppies, 408 cats, and 52 kittens. Our total distribution for December: Dog and Cat Food 1916 lbs dog 996 lbs cat Dog and Cat Can Food 233 cans dog 374 cans cat All cats and kittens were given an additional bag of treats and toys. The bags were made by our volunteers Cynthia Greig, Bonnie Murray, and Erin Pavic. Total Distribution January through December: Dry Food Dogs 13,840 lbs Cats 9,334 lbs Wet Food Dogs 3,009 cans Cats 2,729 cans We are proud and grateful for all of our volunteers who continue to help us. If you have a few hours a month that you would like to help at the Pet Food Pantry, please give us a call. Pantry will be open January 15th through 17th from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Please call Cynthia Greig at or Joanne at the Office Thank you for your support.

9 CELEBRATE JOHNSTOWN Celebrate Johnstown ushered in the New Year. The weather was cold and rainy, but everyone who attended had a great time Thank you to everyone who volunteered and to so many of you who donated refreshments CHURCH ENVELOPES The 2019 Church envelopes and the 2019 Pledge Records will be available be available in the Church Hall after the weekend services PLEDGE CARDS Please take a few moments to fill our your 2019 Pledge Cards. This will enable us to better prepare a 2019 Budget. As always thank you for your generosity.

10 SPECIAL PARISH MEETING Sunday, January 27, 2019 Following the 10:00 am Service Congregational Approval for Balancing the Budget All Parishioners are encouraged to attend!

11 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Satruday January 10:00 am Bible Study ma Mill House Café 12:00 Holy Eucharist 7:15 pm Unity Coalition 6:30 pm Choir Practice 5:00 pm Holy Eucharist II :30 am Holy Eucharist II 9:00 am 10:00 am Bible Study 12:00 Holy Eucharist 9:00 am Vestry Retreat 10:00 am Holy Eucharist II Love+Teach+Heal Academy Mill House Café 1:00 pm Finance Meeting 5:00 pm Holy Eucharist I 6:30 pm Choir Practice 7:15 pm Boy Scouts 7:00 pm Allied Artists :30 am Holy Eucharist I 10:00 am Bible Study 9:30-12:30 Pet Food 9:30 am to 12:30 pm 10:00 am Holy Eucharist II 7:15 pm Boy Scouts Mill House Café 12:00 Holy Eucharist PET FOOD PANTRY Vestry Meeting 9:30 am - 12:30 pm 6:00 pm Put People First 5:00 pm Holy Eucharist II PET FOOD PANTRY 6:30 pm Choir Practice :30 am Holy Eucharist II 10:00 am Bible Study 10:00 am Holy Eucharist II 7:15 pm Boy Scouts Mill House Café 12:00 Holy Eucharist No 5:00pm Service 6:30 pm Community 6:30 pm Choir Practice Common Prayer :00 am Bible Study 12:00 Holy Eucharist 10:00 am Holy Eucharist II 7:15 pm Boy Scouts Mill House Café 6:30 pm Choir Practice Special Parish Meeting 1/7 9:00 am Love + Teach + Heal Academy 1/12 9:00 am Vestry Retreat 1/9 Holy Eucharist 1/13 Vestry Meeting Healing Service 1/20 6:30 pm Community Common Prayer 1/27 SPECIAL ANNUAL MEETING WITH POTLUCK LUNCHEON

12 Lay Ministers Acolytes Altar Guild Ushers Coffee Hour January 5th 5:00 pm C. Foreman (L) Herbeins January 6th 7:30 am V. Joyce (L) Available Available Open January 6th 10:00 am B. Horner (L) D. Horner C. Adams January 12th 5:00 pm L. Loncella (L) Herbeins V. Joyce (L) Available Available Open January 13th 10:00 am A. Sprankle (L) A. Whitlow January 19th 5:00 pm L. Loncella (L) Herbeins January 20th 7:30 am V. Joyce (L) Available Available Open January 20th 10:00 am P. Hysong (L) L. Loncella no 5:00 pm Herbeins no 7:30 am Available Potluck Available Luncheon January 27th 10:00 am A. Sprankle (L) K. Batrus