...G E T S E T... G O!!

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1 The Newsletter of Saint Mark s Parish January G E T S E T... G O!! From the Rector In our new home, we can see the San Gabriel Mountains from our master bedroom. We are a stone s throw from the Midwick Gate entrance to Eaton Canyon, and when I open my eyes each day, I feel engulfed by those amazing giants rising above us. We have opted not to put up any sort of window treatment on the large sliding glass doors that provide this beautiful view. What this means is that sunrise determines the hour of our rising, whether we need to be up that early or not. I could see this as a problem, I suppose, the light as an intruder on any day when sleeping in would be possible. But I will not waiver in my commitment to leave the view unobscured. I have come to welcome the coming of the light. I am already attached to the ritual of watching the mountains emerge from the darkness and come more and more sharply into view each morning. I love watching them change color, and waiting to see what shade the sky will decide to be on any given day. We celebrate the season of Epiphany each year in January. Christ, who is our Light, shines for the whole world, not just for us. It has been my practice in Epiphany to bring with me the alertness of Advent, and to continue to pay close attention to all the places the Light of Christ is radiating in the faces and actions of loved ones, in our congregation, in our community, and beyond, and to point it out when I see it. Adding to that practice, I look for ways to participate in spreading the Light of Christ. Annie Dillard says, I cannot cause light. The most I can do is to put myself in the path of its beam. It is Christ s Light, not mine, but I can allow myself to be a window through which it shines. In this Epiphany season, I encourage you to seek the Light of Christ, and to help to give others un-obscured access to its rays. Faithfully, Pr. Carri

2 Door of Hope Dinner The January date is January 2. Craft Day, Saturday, January 5 Please join us for a leisurely day of working on personal prayer books, scrap-booking, and other paper crafts in the from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Movie Night Fearless The next adventure in movie watching will be Fearless with Jeff Bridges on Saturday, January 12, at 6:30 p.m. in the. Come and enjoy the film and Nathan Schroeder s commentary on it. Bring movie-watching treats to share. If child care is needed, please call the church office for a reservation at Epiphany Party: Sunday, January 6 The Sunday School teachers and Pr. Carri invite you to attend their annual Epiphany Party on Sunday, January 6 at 6 p.m. in the Community Hall. Especially designed for young children and their parents, all are welcome to join as we feast on King Cake and learn more about the Feast of the Epiphany. Endowment Quote: "Consider the work of God by including Saint Mark's Parish in your Will or your Trust." Gospel of St. Mark Part III Fr. Colin Brown will continue his study of the Gospel of St. Mark for three Sundays, January 6, 13, 20, at 9:15 a.m. in the. Mark s Gospel was originally written, in accordance with the literary forms of Mark s day, as a tragic epic in five acts with a prologue and an epilogue. It was intended to be declaimed at meetings of the church (probably in Rome), at the celebration of baptism and the Eucharist. What saves the story from being a tragedy is the epilogue with its message of hope and renewal through the resurrection of Jesus. Bad Weather Shelter This year we have one date when Saint Mark's is responsible to operate the Bad Weather Shelter for ECPAC January 18. You can sign up now. Please call Blanton Bartlett ( ) or Jim Morse ( ) to sign-up. There is a restriction on the number of volunteers we can have. Kids have to be at least in the 6th grade. Journey to Haiti Our relationship with the people of Ste. Marguerite s Church and School will take another step forward in February when 5 travelers from Saint Mark s head to Haiti for a week of learning, making new friends, and discovering the joys, sorrows, and challenges of our partners in faith. I ll be part of the group that includes parish member Chris Zarow, teacher Paul Johnson, school parents Roz Oliver and Celeste Liversidge, as well as 3 teachers from Saint Mark s, Southborough, MA (our new partners in this partnership), and two experienced Episcopal guides, Serena Beeks and Roger Bowen. We leave late night on January 31 st, arrive in Port-au- Prince the next day, and drive first to the coast and then to the mountains to spend several days in the company of Pere Wisnel de Jardin, our partner priest. We ll go to church with him at one of his 10 (!) churches and then hike up to Ste. Marguerite s to begin meeting the staff and students, join in assorted celebrations, and spend the night sleeping in a classroom. More meeting and learning the next day, then back down the mountains to explore more of Haiti, finally returning home on February 7. We know that our hearts and minds will be full and our souls renewed; we ll be excited to share our experiences with the people of Saint Mark s and to continue planning how this relationship of mutual growth and support can continue to deepen. ~Mo. Betsy A Thank You Letter from the Partnership Program with the Diocese of Haiti: Dear brothers and sisters, It is with great honor and pleasure that I am writing you today, on behalf of the coordination of the Partnership Program of the Diocese of Haiti. As I think about the past year with the Partnership Program, I am overcome with gratitude to you as our partners for having a huge hand in making this year as successful and wonderful as it was. I cannot begin to express how thankful I and everyone here are for all of your continued love and support. You have shown us how important our mission is to you, and how much we mean to you in many ways. We have thoroughly enjoyed your visits, and there are not words for how thankful we are for your support with tuition for the students, the support in the feeding program, the healthcare, and not to mention all the thoughts and prayers we know you are sending each day. As we close out 2012, and move into the next year, we are so filled with hope and excitement. We cannot wait to see how God uses all of us together to change lives in Haiti in the coming year. I wish you and your families the very merriest of Christmases and a Happy and Blessed New Year! Rev. Dr. Kesner Ajax

3 CENTERING SATURDAY Saturday, January 26, 2013 Get away for a morning mini-retreat of Centering Prayer We will enjoy time for contemplative prayer with meditative walks in between, private journaling and Lectio Divina, closing with the Holy Eucharist Free Will Offering Refreshments will be provided 8:30 Arrival and registration 9:00 12:30 Retreat morning Saint Mark s Episcopal Church, 1014 E. Altadena Dr., Altadena Questions: ************** ANNUAL MEETING: SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2013, NOON The Annual Meeting of Saint Mark s Parish is Sunday, January 27, following the 10:30 a.m. service. All members and friends of Saint Mark s Parish are invited to attend the meeting to see where we ve been in mission and ministry during the past year and where we are going in the year to come. Annual Meeting elects new Vestry members and delegates to Diocesan Convention; receives the Stewardship, Treasurer s, and Rector s reports; recognizes retiring Vestry members; and celebrates the mission and ministry of the Parish. All members 16 years and older who regularly attend the worship of the parish are eligible to vote at the meeting and are encouraged to attend and participate. Childcare is available. Reminder: All Ministry Leaders should look in the mail or their for a request for an update on the 2012 activities of their ministry that will be included in the Annual Report.

4 Saint Mark s Winter Festival, December 1 st, Noon to 4:00 p.m. It was an amazing and crazy day. Snow sledding in the Saint Mark s parking lot? A giant Polarbear slide in the basketball court? Crafts, books, cookies, wreaths, liquid spirits, and, of course, confetti eggs. So much more even a bit of rain. The event netted over $18, for the church and school communities. Everyone had a wonderful time and helped Saint Mark s at the same time. Thank you to the following church members who helped make the Saint Mark s Winter Festival so successful. Maggie Young and Laura Thompson, Chairs Accounting: Charlotte Matthews, Nancy Rothwell, Stephen Hooper-Rosebrook, Terri Jones, Betty Butler, Taki Lague, Marcia Anderson Ticket Counters: Lynn Marini, Beth Owen, Karen Sessions, Anne Browne, Heather and Doug Jolly Ticket Collectors: Taki Lague and Ingrid Goodman Wreath Decorators: Ann Osaki, Christina Thom, Marti Farley, Marianne Wright, Jean Loberg, Robin and Savannah Ross, Joanne Morse, Susan Westcott Flyer Assembly: Roberta Goodman, Charlotte Matthews, Becky Cafferata and Marianne Wright Media Booth: Louise Carnevale, Sophie Grindon, Marianne Wright, Kathy Talton-Wilson, Mary Eddy, Jane and Jeff Dillingham, Matt Wright, Jacob and Rhys McKinney, Susan and Natalie Alker Alternative Christmas Market: Zachary Abbott, Janis Rosebrook, Jannette Allen, Melissa Schaper, Christina Thom Rothwell s Tavern: George Rothwell, Jim Morse, Landy Johnson, David Woodley, Marion Schmitz, Zachary Abbott, Reynolds Cafferata Gift Wrapping: Rose West, Kim Watkins, Susan Westcott Youth Group: Lucy Grindon, Sophie Carnevale, Sophie Grindon, Kendal Kully, Jacob McKinney, Daniel Partida, Leo Neat, Russell Sobota, Emily Wright, Andrew Hooper-Rosebrook, Evy Molebash, Corah Forrester, Ryan Schroeder, Charlie Carnevale Handmade Craft Booth: Becky Cafferata, Kathi Snodgrass, Sarah Montes, Sarah Hilbert, Henry Cafferata, and Reynolds Cafferata Church members headed the following: Opportunity Drawing Seth Bass Wine Bar George Rothwell Craft Boutique Becky Cafferata Media Booth Louise Carnavale and Marianne Wright Accounting Charlotte Matthews and Nancy Rothwell Youth Group Maria Horner Scouts Alan Yovanovich and Armand Montiel Alternative Christmas Market Zachary Abbott Gift Wrapping Rose West Children s Boutique Dawn Mann Vendor Boutique Julie Marin Confetti Eggs LeeAnn Bechthold Holiday Clothing Dawn Mann Cookie Exchange Sherry Kully Warming Hut JoLynn Battany Bounce Houses/Lazer Tag Susanne Leddy

5 January 1 January 2 January 5 January 6 January 7, 14, 28 January 8 Mark Your Calendars New Year s Day Office closed No Bible Study or Lectio Divina Door of Hope, 6:00 p.m. Craft Day, 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Epiphany January 9, 16, 23, 30 January 12 January 13 January 16 January 18 January 20 January 21 January 26 Daughters of the King Meeting 8:45 a.m., St. Mark, Act 3, part 1 9:15 10:15 a.m., Epiphany Party, 6:00 p.m. Centering Prayer, 10:00 a.m. Women s Soup, 6:30 p.m. Lectio Divina, 5:30 p.m. Movie Night Fearless 6:30 p.m., St. Mark, Act 3, part 2, 9:15 10:15 a.m. Saint Mark s Choristers sing 10:30 a.m. service Cub Pack Meeting, 3:00 5:00 p.m. Vestry Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Bad Weather Shelter Gospel Music Sunday St. Mark, Act 3, part 3; 9:15 10:15 a.m. Brown library Potluck Coffee Hour after the 10:30 service Martin Luther King Day Office closed Centering Saturday 8:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. January 27 Sharing Stories, 9:15 10:15 a.m. Annual Meeting, Noon Looking Ahead February 2 Craft Day, 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. February 3 February 9 February 12 February 13 Movable Feasts Casserole Making 10:00 a.m., Saint Mark s Choristers sing 10:30 a.m. service Leadership Meeting, 8:00 a.m. Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m., Ash Wednesday, Noon and 7:00 p.m. Distribution of Ashes and Holy Eucharist February 17, 24 Sacred Music in Lent 9:15 10:15 a.m. February 20, 27 Lenten Soup Supper and Study 6:30 p.m., ********** Surrounded by Toys Volunteers from Saint Mark's Church were amazed when they walked into the church on Thursday morning - had Santa visited Saint Mark's early? No, the students and faculty at Saint Mark's School had brought toys Tuesday chapel, ready to share with needy children in the Pasadena area. Over 250 toys were gathered and distributed to the following locations: Door of Hope - a non-profit, faith-based organization whose mission is to equip homeless families to rebuild their lives. Since 1985, they have been providing transitional housing and a restoration program especially designed for homeless families with children. Hillsides - celebrating its 100th anniversary, and an institution of the Episcopal Diocese, its mission is to create safe places for children, strengthen families, provide special education; and advocate for children s rights. This Southern California non-profit creates safe places for children in its residential treatment program. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office in Altadena. Thank you to Marianne Wright, Kathy Talton Wilson, Stephanie McKinney, Taki Lague, Lisa Sylvester, and Diana Schroeder for helping to distribute the toys, and the Saint Mark's Student Council for sorting them.

6 2013 Sunday, January 6, 2013: Epiphany Church Office. 8:45 a.m. Daughters of the King Mtg, * 9:00 a.m. FAMILY SERVICE: The Rev. Carri Patterson, preaching Nursery care available. Snacks after service 9:15 a.m. St. Mark s, Act 3, part 1, Saint Mark s Choir sings. Sunday school for preschool through 6th grade. Nursery care available. Coffee Hour immediately following the service. 11:45 a.m. Jr. DOK meeting, 6:00 p.m. Epiphany Party, Sunday, January 20, 2013: Second Sunday after the Epiphany The Rev. Sylvia Sweeney, preaching Church Office. * 9:00 a.m. FAMILY SERVICE: Nursery care available. Snacks after service 9:15 a.m. St. Mark s, Act 3, part 3, Baptism The Rev. Sylvia Sweeney, preaching Saint Mark s Choir sings. Sunday school for preschool through 6th grade. Nursery care available. Potluck Coffee Hour immediately following the service. 12:30 p.m. Youth Group, Sunday, January 13, 2013: First Sunday after the Epiphany Church Office. * 9:00 a.m. FAMILY SERVICE Nursery care available. Snacks after service 9:00 a.m. Altar Guild Mtg, Rector s Office 9:15 a.m. St. Mark s, Act 3, part 2, Saint Mark s Choristers sing. Sunday school for preschool and Kindergarten only. Nursery care available. Coffee Hour immediately following the service in the. 12:15 p.m. Youth Group, 3:00 p.m. Cub Pack Meeting, CMH Sunday, January 27: Third Sunday after the Epiphany Church Office * 9:00 a.m. FAMILY SERVICE Nursery care available. Snacks after service. 9:15 a.m. Shared Stories, Saint Mark s Choir sings. Sunday school for preschool through 6th grade. Nursery care available. Coffee Hour immediately following the service in the. 12:00 p.m. Annual Meeting,