of St. Mark s-on-the-hill

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1 of St. Mark s-on-the-hill 1620 REISTERSTOWN RD PIKESVILLE, MD PHONE: FAX: WEB: August 2007 FROM THE PRIEST-IN-CHARGE We know who we really are as we look at ourselves and how we relate to others. This is true for Church Denominations as well as for individual persons. If we are really going to know and understand our Christian faith as Episcopalians, we are going to have to know what our own Denomination teaches and is. Ecumenical talks of all kinds have been going on within the Christian Church for some time now. They are meant to help denominations appreciate each other and possibly find a unity and unite where possible. This particular article has been provoked by a recent reiteration by Pope Benedict XVI who as at this time underscored that teaching of the Roman Catholic Church that it alone is the true faith. For Episcopalians and Anglicans it means that our Holy Orders of Bishops, Priest and Deacons are not valid or real according to the Roman Catholic Church. According to that Church, we have lost the Apostolic Succession of these for various reason which have long been disputed by us, of course, and has proven not to be the case in the eyes of the rest of the Christian world which would say we have that the Apostolic tradition as we understand it and as it has been from virtually the beginning of the Christian Church. This does make things difficult in our ecumenical relations with the Roman Catholic Church but both that Church and ours are committed to continue our ecumenical relations and search for unity. On a much more positive note, we have been for a while now in a state of what is called intercommunion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This means that their clergy and ours may celebrate the Eucharist and even serve in each others Churches. They have in that matter accepted ordination of their Bishops now by ours which are in the Apostolic Succession. This is to say that we recognize fully the ministry of their clergy as they do of ours. Our denomination has also been in a state of intercommunion with certain other denominations such as the Polish National Catholic (not Roman Catholic) Church and the Philippine Independent Church. While not in a state of intercommunion with the great Continues of Page 2. In this Months Voice Senior Wardens Report Page 2 Celebrating Father & Mrs. Dunning Pages 3-7 Committee Reports Page 8 Announcements Page 9 I weave a silence onto my lips, I weave a silence into my mind, I weave a silence into my heart, I close my eyes to attractions, I close my ears to distractions, I close my heart to temptations; Calm me O Lord as you stilled the storm. Still me Lord, keep me from harm. Let all the tumult within me cease. Enfold me, Lord, in your peace. Celtic Prayer

2 Eastern Orthodox Churches such as the Greek Orthodox and the Russian Orthodox Churches, we do recognize them as having valid bishops, Priests and Deacons as they do of us. We know ourselves best as a denomination as we relate to other Churches of the Christian world. In order to do this we need to know well what our denomination teaches. I hope you will take advantage of every opportunity you can to increase you knowledge and understanding of what it is to be an Episcopalian. The Rev. William M. Dunning August s Calendar SUNDAY 9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II SUMMER SCHEDULE JUNE 3rd - SEPT. 2nd MONDAY 7 pm: Baltimore Folk Music Society TUESDAY From the Desk of the Senior Warden: Change is inevitable, and we knew it was coming. I am even certain it is for the best as St. Mark s will continue to show love, kindness, and forgiveness. But even understanding all of this, it s hard. And, for me, the hardest part of this change is saying good-bye to Bill and Peggy Dunning. Individually and as a community, we have been blessed with their patience, kindness, and fabulous sense of humor. They have guided our community as we have grown to become larger, stronger, and more prepared to be a witness of Christ. Throughout this edition of the Voice, many of our parishioners will share their sentiments for Bill and Peggy, but it is almost impossible to truly express the depth of the gratitude and appreciation we feel. Thank you Bill and Peggy for the wonderful years at St. Marks. WEDNESDAY August 1st & 15th Bible Study 7:00 pm - Carolyn W. House. THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY August Birthdays Sincerely and in peace, Audrey Aug. 2 Aug. 3 Aug. 4 Aug. 8 Aug. 31 Christine Billingslea Robin Quarles-Reed William Medley Nancy Lerner James Rea Page 2

3 Celebrating the Ministry of Father and Mrs. Dunning Dear Father Dunning and Peggy, The congregation at St. Mark's was blessed to have you and your lovely wife Peggy. Under your guidance, St. Mark's received good Pastoral care and direction. As a result of your leadership the congregation remained spiritually strong and increased it's membership. Because of you, St. Mark's has a hopeful future. Your leadership will truly be missed. In Christ's Peace, Dennis Shipley He has been a steadfast minister to our needs, listening to concerns we share with him and following through with grace whenever told of a situation needing his attention. By calmly leading worship, preaching sermons we need to hear, singing the liturgy beautifully and keeping a cheerful attitude, Father Dunning has shown us the best of what it means to be a pastor to his flock. Thanksgiving for the witness you and Peggy have made in supporting St. Mark's on the Hill in every way. Blessings to you both, Carolyn Workman It has been a pleasure knowing both of you, Rev. Dunning and Mrs. Dunning during these past 3 years. Thank you Rev. Dunning for standing by St. Mark's during these three years, and also for your love and concern that you have expressed to the parish in numerous ways. May God bless you and Mrs. Dunning and I wish you both a restful and relaxing retirement. Isa Thomas We will be very sad to see the Dunnings depart. By action and attitude, Fr. Dunning and his wife communicate a dedication to the St.Mark's-on-the-Hill congregation that will make their image linger, glowingly, for a long, long time. The Dunnings are friendly, patient, responsive to personal need, appreciative of altar guild efforts, and delighted with coffee hour food and chatter. Most important, they always think in terms of applying Christianity to everyday life. Religion is not just Sunday recitations. Sermons are timely, and prayers are geared to a complex, diverse society threatened by violence in various forms. Peggy appears regularly at church despite the discomfort of severe "shingles". Her wisdom and humor are memorable. Fr. Dunning, despite chronic back pain, visits newborns and house-or-hospital-bound parishioners, bringing communion and/or good cheer to those members of the church family in special need. As they embark on a new "retirement" may Bill and Peggy relax in their Lutherville garden, enjoying the view and a gentle breeze, discussing issues of the day, nibbling chocolates, and remembering how much they are loved and respected by all of us. Earl and Pat Mittleman Page 3

4 Dear Bill and Peggy, There have been times when you reminded me of my brother s, studied takes that can sometime glide into sly whimsy. And you of my father s first sister who leaned toward my Uncle Pete like she was really the one holding him up, and all the while this kept him smiling. These were just thoughts that occurred to me occasionally. We ve had some rough seas here and you brought us to shore, gently and carefully. Thanks also for the phone calls, get wells and especially the visits. Hope we can stay connected somehow. I know I ll miss you both. Howard Quinn Dear Father Dunning, Thank you for your spiritual guidance and leadership at St. Marks, we wish you best wishes of luck and happiness for the future! Sincerely, William Medley & family I will certainly miss Father Dunning and Peggy. They have been very active participants in St. Mark's activities and a welcome sight in the church every Sunday morning. You can see the stabilizing influence of Father Dunning when you look around and see the "new" congregants who have visited and continued to attend St. Mark's. I wish them all the best and hope they come back and visit! Sincerely, Francine Boothe When we came back to the church Rev. Dunning welcomed us with opens arms. Within the time that I have gotten to know him, I have found that he is a very compassionate warm hearted person who gives his all to the church and every other thing he does. I personally have to thank him because he wrote a letter of recommendation for me on behalf of the church when I needed it to pursue my hopes of attending West Point the Unites States Military Academy. When people do this type of thing for you on the drop of a dime you know that they truly care for you and your wellbeing. His caring spirit is what I will miss the most. I hope that you have a Fruitful Life after St. Marks on-the-hill and that you and your wife Peggy remain blessed for the rest of your lives. Chisom Odunze Reverend Dunning was a great rector for this church. He is very dedicated and was always there during church events and Saturday church cleanups. Mrs. Dunning has also contributed a lot to the church over these years and all of it was a great help. I will miss the way he has done all the services and his kindness to all parish members. During coffee hour he is always there to meet and greet all who come by. Both of them will be surely missed at St. Marks on the Hill and I hope they may visit time to time. Nnaemeka Odunze Page 4

5 The St. Mark's on the Hill Episcopal Church Sunday School Group would like to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to you for your initiative in starting this Sunday School and your untiring support for the program. Thank you for being there for us, for sending out our letters and for encouraging us. We would greatly miss your charming smile and your warm personality. Thanks to Peggy for sharing you with us. We wish you God's blessings as you return to retirement once again. Please remember us in your prayers as we would remember you in ours. Best Wishes, Your Sunday School Bunch. I first met Father Dunning a/k/a Bill Dunning on September 24 th, 2004 when we had lunch together. Father Shields had appointed me to the position of Senior Warden at the annual meeting of our Parish in April of that year. Father Shields left for Japan to serve as Interim Rector. The Diocese had sent Father Perry Smith to replace Father Shields and after receiving notice from Father Smith that he would no longer continue to serve after September 24 th, I called the Diocese to discuss any recommendation for a new Priest to serve in our Parish and was directed to look at the web site of the Diocese to determine who was available as a replacement for Father Smith. After reviewing the web site, I called Bill Dunning and the lunch followed on September 24 th. How do I remember it was September 24 th? Bill Dunning sent me a thank you letter, which was a surprise since I had not previously received a thank you letter from any other Rector or Priest. Bill began his tenure on the First Sunday in October 2004 while ill to the point where he had to sit in a chair to deliver his sermon. It was not until after the service that I learned of his illness. He came when most other Priests would have called to cancel. This was my first glimpse of the dedication of Bill Dunning who I had the honor of serving as his Senior Warden for most all of his three years at our Parish. Bill and Peggy soon became good friends that I will cherish the rest of my days. Bill began doing Pastoral visits in October of 2004 and has continued to make such visits without fail to the present day. He gave me guidance and encouragement in my position as Senior Warden. I have never heard him speak ill of any individual or be critical of anyone. Bill not only attended all Vestry Meetings giving his guidance and encouragement but would come to help with the work at the Parish on work Saturdays. He helped form the Men s Club. He formed the Confirmation class and I joined through him and was confirmed along with others at St. Timothy s in I can think of nothing that was ever requested of Bill during his time with us that he did not do with a willing heart. Bill acted as my mentor and guide during the past three years which made my job as Senior Warden much less of a burden. Bill gave our Parish the stability needed in his time here to move us forward and which increased our membership. To those of you who may have watched on TV the show entitled The Golden Girls I will close with the theme song for that show. Thank you for being a Friend May the Peace of the Lord be with Bill and Peggy all the rest of their days. Bob Nead Page 5

6 My Most Reverend Father Dunning, My utmost gratitude and appreciation to a servant of God who has made my membership at St. Mark s on-the- Hill Episcopal Church a home for me and my family. Father Dunning, you re truly a genuine and humane Reverend. I thank you for giving my children the chance to participate in your weekly services. Most members will admit that more than ever before, we have a happy church family now at St. Mark s on-the-hill. I want to personally thank you for your special prayers for me through these trying times in my life. My wife and I most graciously thank you for the opportunity to renew our faith in Christ and for our children s confirmation in Father Dunning, you have made me happy since I returned to St. Marks. Your presence and your leadership made me look forward to coming to church every Sunday and I hope to continue with the same spirit after you are gone. I will miss you and Peggy whom I share a February Birthday with. As you leave us, we look forward to your visits at your convenience. Please, always remember me and my family in your prayers as we would remember you in ours. I will remain your brother in Christ, Joseph N. Odunze What was Bob Nead thinking? That was what Virna and I wondered on the first day that Father Dunning came to our Church. It seemed like he had to be followed around by someone with a chair! He eve had to sit for the sermon. Well as it turned out his back was out and he was in pain. We were lucky to have him there at all. Father Dunning us our idea of a real Priest. He visits the sick, cares about the welfare of the congregation and has a wonderful ability to remember names. He has a great sense of humor and if there is a problem, he has a way of getting to the core of it. He and Peggy have be a delightful addition to our congregation and we wish them well where ever they go. It would be wonderful if they could continue to worship as part of our congregation. Virna and Guy Tracey Our lives have been enriched for knowing Father Dunning and his wife, Mrs. Peggy Dunning. Mrs. Dunning s warm presence is felt everywhere. My grandson, Kasheem, looked forward to come to church on Sundays so he could get a big hug from her. A gentle presence with a true gift for sharing the Word of God is how we see Father Dunning and Mrs. Dunning. God s richest blessing on both of you. Dear Father Dunning and Peggy; The Allison Family Ken, Kasheem & Orinthia It has been a great pleasure and privilege getting to know you and gaining you as a friend. Thanks so very much for all of the wonderful things you have done for our parish. Your spiritual guidance, support and kindness have been very gratifying. I have been touched by your leadership. You have really become a part of St. Mark's family and you certainly will be missed. Please stay in touch. God's Blessings and Love LaFrance Muldrow Page 6

7 To say the two of you will be missed is an understatement. Little did the parish know when the two of you arrive three years ago what a dynamic couple we were receiving. I don t know that I ll ever meet a Priest more compassionate, understanding and dedicated as Father Dunning nor someone more supportive and loving as Peggy. The two of you are such a perfect match for our parish that many parishioners have expressed their hope you would make St. Mark s your home parish or at least visit us often. And I wholeheartedly share that sentiment. Father Dunning, you have meant a lot to myself and Nicole over the past three years. It was under your instruction that the two of us were confirmed. It was you who comforted us and Nicole s father during his decline and passing. And it was you who married us. I remember our first marriage counseling session in which you expressed concern that a new Rector would be chosen and we would have to choose who would perform the wedding. Without hesitation we told you we wanted you to perform the ceremony. Little did we know then that you d not only still be at St. Mark s for our wedding but also an additional year, one month shy of our first wedding anniversary! It will be hard on September 9th to say goodbye. You are not just our Priest, you are our friend and a member of the St. Mark s family. In friendship, Joe Zollickoffer Saying goodbye to Father Dunning is really difficult. I shall miss his thought provoking and instructive sermons. I feel blessed to have had him as my minister these past years. He and his wife have shown us what a true minister and his family should be. Father Dunning always made me feel that he knew me as an individual and appreciated my efforts. I do hope that he and his wife will visit St. Marks often. I pray that God continues to bless Father Dunning and his wife in their new life. Madeline Forrest Fr. Dunning, It has been about three years since I started coming to St. Marks, and you have been the only priest I have known. The first month or so I attended services you called me Noel instead of Nicole, but you have it right now. When asked to write something about you, the first thing that came to mind was how you ministered to my father and family while he was sick and in his passing. When my father was ill, and you went to see him, he told me how much it meant to him to talk to you. For the first time in a very long time, my father who was not a church going person, actually said that when he got better he wanted to come to our church. When my father passed away, you were welcoming to my Jewish family to St. Marks. But not only have you help my family, you have helped guide me on throughout my spiritual journey; from confirmation, to my marriage. I appreciate everything that you and Mrs. Dunning have done for the St. Marks community. So thank you for not only learning my name, but helping me grow spiritually here at St. Marks. Nicole Zollickoffer Page 7

8 Finance Committee Report JUNE 2007 Income Expenses $9, JUNE $76, $10, JANUARY - JUNE Events Committee Written by Joe Zollickoffer, Chair $71, Our Second Annual Bull Roast on June 30th went off with out a hitch. Thanks go out to Frank Owens who arrived at St. Mark s at 2:30 AM to begin preparing and cooking the delicious meat. Thanks also to the many parishioners who helped to make this event a success. We were able to raise over $900 in profit for the parish. Our annual Crab Feast on September 8th is our next event. This years crab feast will be extra special in that parishioners will be able to meet our new Rector, The Rev. Adrien Dawson. In celebration, the Events Committee is offering a $5.00 discount on all tickets purchased by August 19th. Those who get their tickets on or before August 19th will receive them for $35 instead of $40 for general admission and $15 instead of $20 for children 5 to 12 in age. Take advantage of this offer as it will expire on August 20th and there will be no exceptions made. Tickets can be purchased every Sunday up to September 2nd from either Virna Tracey or Nicole Zollickoffer. Please see the enclosed flyer for additional information. HUMOR FROM THE BIBLE Submitted by Isa Thomas Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married Ruth? A. Ruthless. Q. What do they call pastors in Germany? A. German Shepherds. Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible? A. Noah He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation. Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible? A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet. Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible? A. (i)jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a "FURY". (ii) David's "TRIUMPH" was heard throughout the land. (iii) Also, probably a HONDA, because the apostles were all in one "Accord". Q.. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible? A. Samson. He brought the house down. Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden? A. Your mother ate us out of house and home. Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible? A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once. Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy? A. The area around Jordan. The banks were always overflowing. Q. Who is the greatest babysitter mentioned in the Bible? A. David. He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep. Q. Which Bible character had no parents? A. Joshua, son of Nun. Q. Why didn't they play cards on the Ark? A. Because Noah was standing on the deck. (Groan...) Did you know your bible stories? Page 8

9 From a Strictly Mathematical Viewpoint: Submitted by Carolyn Workman What Equals 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been in situations where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 101%? What equals 100% in life?. Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these Questions: If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Is represented as: Then: H-A-R-D-W-O- R- K = 98% and K-N-O-W-L-E- D-G-E = 96% But, A-T-T-I-T-U- D-E = 100% AND, look how far the love of God will take you L-O-V-E- O-F -G-O-D = 101% Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that: While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Love of God that will put you over the top! Men s Club There will be no Men s Club Meeting during the month of August. Announcements Choir Begins in September The St. Mark's Choir will reconvene on Sunday, September 9. All persons are welcome to join. If you are interested in singing with the Choir, please be at St. Marks on Sunday, September 9 at 9:00 (service will be at 10:00). We will be wearing robes, making music, and leading the parish in a joyful noise! If you have questions, please contact Nelda Clelland at Gift for the Dunnings Anyone interested in contributing toward a gift for Father and Mrs. Dunning, please contact Becca Workman at In the Midst of Chaos Finding God, discover the presence of God in the midst of your crazy family life! August 24th-26th at the Bishop Claggett Center dkener@bishopclaggett.org Page 9

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11 Editor Joe Zollickoffer Folders Virna & Guy Tracey Deadline for the September edition is August 19, or place your articles in the Voice mail slot in the Narthex. Writers, Cartoonists Commentators and Critics! We invite you to submit materials to be published in the Voice. We are collecting stories, humor, book or movie reviews, family news-anything that will make our newsletter a fuller expression of the diversity of our parish community. Letters to the editor, questions about church history, architecture, liturgy or theology, social issues of peace and justice, outreach and mission, personal experiences of faith-even responses to sermons-we would welcome your participation. Our relationship goes beyond the confines of our membership too, so there are many opportunities to share ideas, advertise events and stimulate dialogue. Join us! Materials may be submitted via at stmarksvoice@yahoo.com or place in the voice mail slot in the Narthex under the bell tower. St. Mark s on-the-hill 1620 Reisterstown Road Pikesville, MD 21208