THE MARKINGS. MISSION: To share the love of Jesus with and through the people of Talbot County and beyond.

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1 THE MARKINGS MISSION: To share the love of Jesus with and through the people of Talbot County and beyond. ST. MARK S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 100 PEACHBLOSSOM ROAD, EASTON, MD SEPTEMBER 2017 Will you share your address with us? If you have an address and it is not registered with us or if your address has changed, would you please share it with us by ing churchoffice@stmarkseaston.org. We are sending this and future issues to those of you with addresses if you have so requested. If you are interested in receiving your issues by and have not yet requested, please contact the church office. Our Vision: St. Mark s Church will inspire people of all ages through acts of love and service to know Jesus Christ. A NOTE FROM OUR PASTOR Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Martin Luther King, Jr. On August 17 th, The General Commission on Religion and Race of The United Methodist Church released this statement: "We are deeply troubled by the hatred and violence thinly cloaked by American rights of free speech and freedom of assembly. We call for an end to this perversion of justice and power that perpetuates terror, racism, and intimidation which is antithetical to the gospel and to the American vision of freedom and justice for all. "Free speech and the ability to protest, while the right of every American, should not be used to terrorize, intimidate, or incite violence. As Christians and United Methodists we believe in the right of all people to thrive as individuals undergirded by a society of laws rooted in our common humanity, our common good, in short - in the love and justice of God. "... We call on all United Methodists, indeed all people of faith and good conscience, to join in the spirit of our common humanity to be people of power rooted in love and to put that love into action in every community, to stand as allies for justice, neither sentimental nor anemic but resolute in the knowledge that all people are created equal. As your pastor, I wholeheartedly agree with this statement and I also believe that we, as Christian brothers and sisters are called to seek justice and to speak out when we see oppression and violence. Part of our baptismal covenant as United Methodists asks, Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?" We are called into covenant with God and with one another to fight racism, to stand in the gap for those who are marginalized in our world, and to ultimately shine the light of Christ into the darkness so that God s kingdom may rule here on earth. Lord, in your mercy Amen. Pastor Missy Last Worship in the Park, Sunday, September 3rd at 9:45 Sunday School & 9:30 worship to resume, Sunday, September 10th Dr. Bill s 50th Anniversary, Sunday, September 17th at the 11:00 am service

2 PAGE 2 THE MARKINGS SEPTEMBER 2017 PRAISES AND THANKSGIVING Ted & Pat Lewers, 700 Port Street., #548, on their 58th wedding anniversary, Sept. 6. Bette & Frank Meyerle, 7545 Easton Club Drive, on their 50th wedding anniversary, Sept 9. Audrey Brown, 700 Port Street, #4106, on her birthday, Sept. 17. Wade & Janice Dudrow, 47 Londonderry Drive, on their 60th wedding anniversary, Sept. 28. GIFTS TO THE GLORY OF GOD IN MEMORY OF Jim Henry by James & Manetta Pusey. THANK YOU I want to thank everyone for their cards, flowers, food & also their prayers & visits. All of the above was greatly appreciated. Please keep me in your prayers. May God Bless you all. Sincerely, Phyllis Carroll Dear St. Mark s Scholarship & Church members: I cannot thank St. Mark s enough for the recent scholarship you provided me. Providing me with a scholarship means the world to me. Over my whole life I feel as if you have all seen me grow from a little toddler running around VBS to a dedicated member of the St. Mark s community. I can honestly say without St. Mark s and the dedication of the members have to support me as a Christian, I would be a different person. Whether is was ushering once a month or helping out with the sound system or even going on a mission trips with flow youth, I feel the act of services have benefited my faith. Now I will be heading off to college this fall attending my final year at St. Mary s College of MD> I will always call St. Mark s my home. I will stop by for Christmas & Easter services and some services once schools gets out and I will always be in touch. These next few years will be exciting for the church community, a lot of good changes are happening. Many thanks for your continued support. God Bless, Conner Dorbin THANK YOU Continued St. Mark s Scholarship Committee, Thank you so much for choosing me to receive a scholarship this year. I feel so honored to be apart of the St. Mark s community and appreciate the support you have given me in my educational endeavors. Thank you so much! Brooke Christensen LET US PRAY FOR Bayleigh Chase, Marvel Hall Audrey Woolston, Gloria Lindquist Atria Senior Living Harry Jordan Talbot Hospice Sara Baynard Bayleigh Chase Gardens Lois Dabbert, Don Casson, Ted Lewers, Elva Eareckson Homestead Manor Lee Walker Envoy of Denton Eudora Fischer Lakeside Dave Stavely Cadia Rehabilitation Susan Horning AT HOME Sonny Granger Dan Pritchett JoSue Simpson Dan Whitzel Chuck & Pat Moon Ruby Carter Phyllis Carroll Cathy Tull SERVING IN THE MILITARY Staff Sgt. Harold S. Brice/USMC CPL Sarah Jane Royer Golden/USMC P.O. 1st Class Gary B. Granger, Jr./Navy 1st Lieutenant Jacob Shores/ U.S. Army OUR GLOBAL MISSIONS Wings of Caring, Central Congo Paul Lee Webster, Mujila Falls Ag Centre Zambia Africa University, Zimbabwe Mulungwishi Seminary scholarship Lifetime Wells International, Kenny Wood Six Special U.M. Sundays African Leadership Resources, Rev. Labala

3 PAGE 3 THE MARKINGS SEPTEMBER 2017 Holiday Food Baskets for St. Mark s Village The brown bags to be filled for the Thanksgiving & Christmas holiday baskets will be placed in 2 area of the Gathering Space on Sunday, September 10th. Please grab one & return the bag with the items listed. We need them no later than Sunday, November 12th. The residents of St. Mark s Village look forward to receiving a basket. Thank you, Lee Royer, Missions Committee Marion Jackson and Bob Lawrence will conduct our Fall 2017 Wesley-Yater Bible Study, star ng Sunday September 10th, 2017 in the St. Marks Chapel. Sessions will run through November 19th, which is the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Class me is 9:30 AM un l 10:30 AM. Biblical subject ma0er will be covered as in the past. We will begin with a closure on Paul's Book of Romans, and then proceed into Paul's First Le0er to the Corinthians. There is no homework, although a0endees some mes read ahead for weekly chapter coverage. Everybody is welcome, a0endance will not be taken, and individual par cipa on in commentary, ques ons and answering is encouraged. The Wesley-Yater classes have been ongoing for many years, and we all enjoy the biblical theological history repartee. For further informa on you can call Marion ( ) or Bob ( ). Blessings to All. Wesley-Yater Sunday School Information Tabitha Circle Sets Potluck Meeting for September The Tabitha Circle is excited to set Wednesday, September 13 as its first meeting date for the coming year. To kick off the year, the group will meet at the home of Jane Wilson at 7577 Easton Club Drive in Easton for a cookout. Everyone should bring a potluck dish or a dessert and the Wilson s will provide the main dish. The group will make several important decisions for the year, including next year s meeting dates, the Tabitha Circle s annual donation to mission work, and explore the circle s future focus. We welcome everyone to return for a fun year of spiritual growth, fellowship and friendship! To RSVP for the September 13 meeting, call Jane Wilson at or jane@ewtrucks.com. Share the gift of Hospitality! Having the congregation come together between services in the Gathering Area for light snacks and coffee has been a wonderful time of Fellowship at St. Mark s. Let s continue this tradition in the fall! The coffee will be prepared; we need snacks and servers. In order to get more people involved, there will be a sign-up sheet in the Gathering Area starting September 10 th. Guidelines will also be available. It s fun and easy. Please talk to some friends and come together to cover a Sunday or two. If you have any questions, (or you are ready to sign up now!) please contact me via kmiller@stmarkseaston.org or leave me a phone message at ext. 308

4 PAGE 4 THE MARKINGS SEPTEMBER 2017 United Methodist Women Circle Meetings for September Deborah Circle Tuesday, September 5, 9:30 am Home of Judy Lawrence Ruth Circle Tuesday, September 5, 10 am Bayleigh Chase Mary Circle September 5, 10 am Home of Janice Dudrow Sarah Circle Tuesday, September 12, 7 pm Home of Jane Sullivan Tabitha Circle Wednesday, September 13, 6:30 pm Home of Jane Wilson

5 PAGE 5 THE MARKINGS SEPTEMBER 2017 Music Notes Welcome back to all of the St. Marks musicians! If you are not in a group and would like to join one or more of our choirs, please know that you will always be warmly welcomed. We have wonderful opportunities for you to share your talent and look forward to seeing you! Chancel Choir will resume rehearsals on Thursday, September 7 at 6:30pm. We will begin preparing a selection for the special 50 th anniversary celebration for Dr. Bill Wharton, which will be presented on Sunday, September 17 th at the 11am service. ****Anyone who would like to sing at this special event is invited to attend our rehearsals on the 7 th and the 14 th. The Overtones, our handbell choir, will begin rehearsals on Tuesday, Sept. 19 th, with our first presentation at the 8:15 service on October 8 th. Jubilee Choir will rehearse on Sunday, September 24th at 7:30 am. Our first presentation will be that day at the 8:15am service in the chapel. The St. Marks Concert Series is becoming finalized, with a couple more slots to fill. Dr. Wharton will present his annual organ recital on Oct. 22nd at 3pm, featuring and celebrating music influenced by the Reformation begun by Martin Luther in The Mid Shore Community Band, will play delightful holiday selections following our Christmas Dinner at 6:30pm on Dec. 3rd. Also scheduled is the biennial Chesapeake Chamber Competition on April 8 th, which will feature a group chosen from the event s finalists. The St. Mark s and Friends Americana concert date will be set in early Please plan to attend all or any of these programs. They are free of charge and are always wonderful performances. Special Music opportunities are available and I am always looking for people willing to share their artistic talents. Please contact me if you would like to present something for our very appreciative congregations. Penny Renoll, Music Director, can be reached at: Music Office (410) , ext. 306 Cell (570) musicdirector@stmarkseaston.org

6 PAGE 6 THE MARKINGS SEPTEMBER 2017 DINNER FOR EIGHT!! The Connection and Outreach Committee is pleased to announce the "resurrection" of the former Divine Dining program within St. Mark's! This will be a great opportunity to make new friends, visit with old friends, & get to know people, perhaps from another service that you might otherwise not have a chance to meet! This is for couples, singles, families--- we hope everyone in the Church will participate!! The sign-up sheets will be in the Gathering area for the 8:15 & 11:00 services, & will be passed around at the Park Worship through the end of August. Please complete with your name, address, phone number & address if you have one. Also <VERY IMPORTANT> Please let us know if you have any food allergies! You will be notified of your group the first week of September, & you will be provided with contact info. There will be a group "Captain" designated, & they will take care of talking to the others to set up your first dinner ---subsequent dinners for the next 3 months will be planned at that first dinner. Our first Dinner for 8 group will be for September, October, November & December. The groups can choose to the various homes, go out for dinner, or a combination of both---it's whatever that group of 8 would like to do! This is such a fun activity, & we hope EVERY- ONE will participate! Don't forget to sign up on your way out, or as the signup sheet is passed around---please contact Jane (410) if you have any questions or comments! St. Mark s United Methodist Church United Methodist Men The United Methodist Men of St. Mark s United Methodist Church meet the second Tuesday of every month, except July at 6:30 pm at the Church. Our monthly agenda includes bible study and ways in which we can serve our Church membership and our adjoining community. All men in the Church are considered members and we look forward to serving the needs of all men. We will meet again on Tuesday, September 12th. It is with a sad heart that we praise God for our past president Brad Powers and his wife Shari on their recent move from our church and community to be near their son and their grandchildren in Georgia. Brad was instrumental in the formation of our UM Men at St. Mark s, serving as our first president and was a driving force for us to be involved in the Waterfowl Festival with his recipe for Rockfish Corn Chowder. We know God has called both he and Shari to service in their new community and we wish him God s speed and health as he answers His call to love and serve him. The Peninsula/Delaware Conference annual men s meeting at Camp Pecometh will be on Saturday, September 9 th from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The topic is Discipleship and Evangelism. The cost is $40.00 and includes two meals. More information will be coming out shortly from the district office. We have submitted out application for food service during the Waterfowl Festival in November. Our famous Rockfish Corn Chowder will once again be the highlight of the kitchen. We will need help making this happen so please mark November 9 12 on your calendars to work the festival. If you are a man of faith and want to help us in our mission of serving Christ and others, we would love to have you join us. Send me an to earecksonr@yahoo.com and I will put you on our list. You don t have to attend our meetings to be involved. We are active and alive for Christ. Come and be a part of our group. Grace and Peace to you! TO HELP MEN GROW IN CHRIST, SO OTHERS MAY KNOW CHRIST

7 PAGE 7 THE MARKINGS SEPTEMBER 2017 A Local Mission Partner of St. Mark s Church A LOCAL MISSION PARTNER OF ST. MARK S CHURCH MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF THE EASTERN SHORE Educating for Understanding and Advocating for Awareness The Mental Health Association of the Eastern Shore (MHAES) began in Talbot County in It was originally formed to support the patients who were being discharged from psychiatric institutions and coming home to live with their families in the community. As times have changed the delivery of mental health care, we have changed our mission accordingly. Currently, we are the only organization whose sole purpose is mental and behavioral health education, with the goal of promoting understanding of mental health issues, decreasing stigma surrounding these issues, and helping to facilitate early treatment for individuals experiencing a mental health disorder before it reaches a long term or crisis stage. We have been a mission partner of St. Mark s for many years. Our variety of programs address mental/ behavioral health across the lifespan. The Early Learning Series is an interactive musical performance that helps young children understand their own emotional health. Healthy New Moms is a public education campaign designed to help new mothers identify the signs and symptoms of post-partum depression and to advocate for universal screenings from their health providers. Mental Health First Aid is an 8 hour training that teaches the signs and symptoms of the most common mental health problems, where and when to get help, and what type of help has been shown to be most effective. There are five modules available in which we have certified instructors: Adult, Young Adult, Youth, Veterans and the Elderly. Our Veterans Assistance Fund provides emergency financial assistance to veterans in need who are waiting for their VA benefits to take effect. The Regional Training Collaborative provides workforce trainings and education programs for the community on behavioral health topics. We also host the Shore Training Collaborative Calendar on our website. MHAES is a strategic partner with the Eastern Shore School Mental Health Coalition. This Coalition is working to develop a rural regional model of school-based behavioral health services that shares knowledge and resources leading to improved academic outcomes for children, an engaged family support system and a school climate where all students succeed. This year we launched On-line Mental Health Screenings on our website and links to local Behavioral Health Resources. The screenings are free, private and anonymous and are intended to help people learn about their own mental health. For more information please visit our website at or call the office at

8 PAGE 8 THE MARKINGS SEPTEMBER 2017 YOUTH GROUP NEWS Appalachia Service Project Join us at the 9:30 service on September 17 to hear from our ASP team that served Louisa, Kentucky this summer. Are you interested in making a difference in Summer 2018? We will be having a meeting for parents, youth, and adults at 1:00 that same day in the youth room and would LOVE to see you there! Help St. Mark s Make a Difference in the Life of a Dorchester County Resident! Chesapeake Housing Mission helped 61 families over the lower shore make needed repairs to their homes in 2016 and they have recently expanded their reach to Dorchester County. St. Mark s has signed up to complete a project on Saturday, September 30, 2017 and WE NEED YOU! CHM puts together one day construction projects designed for all ages and levels of experience to make a difference. Please let Brooke know if you are interested in joining us! SUNDAY SCHOOL This year s Sunday School theme is Catch-Up with Jesus and all students will sit with their families at the beginning of the 9:30 service. There will be a short children s devotional, then students will go to their Sunday School classrooms. This will give our youth a chance to experience & participate in Sanctuary worship with their families.lettuce praise and relish Him! Slip and Slide Kickball Party! Have you missed Youth Group?? Me too! We are having a Back to Youth Group party on Saturday, September 9, 2017 from 2:00p-4:00p. The main event will be a Slip and Slide Kickball game so be sure to bring clothes/bathing suits you don t care about. A towel and change of clothes would also be a great idea. If you have friends that you have been thinking about inviting to youth group this would be a great event to come to!

9 PAGE 9 THE MARKINGS SEPTEMBER 2017 St. Mark's Connection & Outreach team recently hosted a community-wide CPR/AED/First-Aid training session. Covered were most forms of first-aid, instruction & practice on how to use an Automated Electric Defibrillator, CPR for adults and infants. The session was facilitated by Nationally-certified instructor and Anne Arundel County Firefighter/EMT, Justin Ray assisted by his wife Meghan who's also a trained instructor. 15 people attended the free training including three St. Mark's Church staff members and three St. Mark's Preschool staff members. In lieu of compensation, Justin & Meghan asked that a collection be taken and sent to the National Firefighter's Fund. We are truly grateful to Justin & Meghan for sacrificing an entire Saturday to provide this extensive training. Disciple III: Remember Who You Are Organization of a Disciple III: Remember Who You Are class is under way. Remember Who You Are is part three of the four-phase Disciple Bible study. Disciple III is a 33-week (32 lessons and an orientation) in-depth study that spends its first 16 lessons examining the Old Testament prophets. The second 16 lessons focus on the 13 letters generally attributed to Paul. Several themes weave their way through the study: the call to remember, the call to repentance, the need for renewed vision, and the place of community. The prophets and Paul are continually calling hearers and readers back to their God and to a sense of who they are as a people set apart. The class is scheduled to begin on September 14 and run through May Classes will meet on Thursday evenings. Breaks are scheduled at Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year s and at Easter. Participants can expect to spend 20 to 30 minutes per day reading the assigned scriptures and study manual materials in preparation for the weekly 2 to 2 ½ -hour meetings. They will need a Bible, a study manual, a writing instrument, and paper for notes. We currently have a core group of individuals working their way through the Disciple studies. However, we would encourage and welcome new classmates. Further information may be obtained from Richard at or at thebillmans@gmail.com Fast Track through Disciple 1 Fast Track, part of the Disciple family of Bible studies, provides a great option for busy people (and snow birds!) who seek to gain a better understanding of the Bible and want to GROW as disciples. Fast Track will meet for a total of 24 weeks, 12 weeks in the Fall studying the Old Testament and 12 weeks in the Spring studying the New Testament. This is a great way to get an overall picture of God s Word for us today and there is no greater investment you can make than growing deeper in God s wisdom and understanding. You will spend time during the week reading Scripture along with a study manual and then participate in a weekly meeting where we ll watch a video together and discuss what we ve learned throughout the week. Our meetings will begin on Tuesday, September 19th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. and will go until early November. We will take December, January and February off and begin again March-May. Please sign up in the entry way of the church or me at mrekitzke@stmarkseaston.org. I look forward to starting this Fast Track journey with you soon! Invite your spouse, your neighbor, or a friend to join us!

10 PAGE 9 THE MARKINGS SEPTEMBER 2017 DR. BILL WHARTON The 50 th anniversary of anything....a marriage, a birth, or a job.... usually brings an opportunity for reflection. Dr. Bill has certainly found this to be true, and he has shared some of his reflections with us. When Bill returned to the Eastern Shore with Bachelor s and Master s degrees in music and church music, he wasn t sure where that training would lead him. Helping his father with his veterinary practice in Centreville was definitely not his dream job! So, one day he called St. Mark's and asked if he could stop by and play the Tellers organ that had been installed while he was away at college. Pastor Davis reluctantly allowed this and, upon hearing Bill play, quickly realized that this young man was what the church needed and offered him the job as organist. Bill accepted, and here we are 50 years later. Bill is quick to admit that it has not always been easy; after all, he has worked under 8 Pastors and many, many Music Directors... and remained longer than any of them. One story which has been often told is about the Sunday in the early 70s that Bill decided to play modern electronic organ music for his parts of the service. He realizes now that 15 minutes of that was probably 14 minutes too much. A stunned Rev. Davis was only able to respond by saying Let us pray. Fortunately, Rev. Davis left on vacation for a week and by the time he returned, had cooled down enough to allow Bill to remain on staff. Some of Bill s fondest memories are the Thursday night outdoor concerts on the church steps that he and Mary Bell Callahan organized, attracting musicians and audience from the community. His Abendmusiken programs (over 100 of them) were also opportunities for local musicians to gather and present excellent music to the community. Bill s favorite times in the life of the church have been Christmas and Easter services with the liturgy and beautiful music of the seasons. During much of Bill s tenure, St. Mark's was known as a center of musical excellence, due in large measure to his commitment to doing his very best at all times and trying to draw the best out of the musicians committed to working with him. For the first 40 years Dr. Bill served St. Mark's, he was rarely seen, because he and the organ were literally in a pit at the rear of the chancel area. Ten years ago, St. Mark's members and friends donated $40,000 in honor of his 40 th anniversary to revoice the reeds, digitize the organ console, and make the console moveable. What a wonderful change that was! Not only can we now watch Dr. Bill play, but the versatility of the organ has allowed him to present music and concerts that he would not have been able to do previously. Even though Dr. Bill also spent 35 years in the classrooms of Talbot County Schools and Chesapeake College, he sees himself first and foremost as a church musician. He sees music as an essential part of the worship experience in helping to set the mood through a medium without words, lifting Scripture through sung words, and helping the flow of the worship experience. His goal is to not get in the way of worship, but help make it a finer experience. Indeed, our worship services for the past 50 years have been finer because of his dedication and God-given talent. Aren t we fortunate that Bill was permitted to try out our organ that day 50 years ago? Dr. Bill, we are so grateful that you have blessed us all these years with your prodigious talent and dedication to enhancing our worship experience. We are especially glad you are still enjoying what you do each Sunday and are not planning to retire. We ll do this again in another 10 years! REMINDER: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 is DR BILL WHARTON DAY. Please join us at the 11:00 service and in the Gathering Area afterwards. You may send your donations to our Love Gift for Dr. Bill to St. Mark's, with Dr. Bill s 50 th Anniversary in the memo line. Also, cards and notes of appreciation may be brought on the 17 th or dropped by the church office.

11 PAGE 11 THE MARKINGS SEPTEMBER 2017 September 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Ladies Circle 1 2 Meetings on Page Communion Sunday Last park service Church Office Closed 6:30p Chancel Choir :30a worship & Sunday school resumes 6:30p Overtones 1p Prayer Shawl 6:30 Disciple 3 6:30p Chancel Choir Dr. Bill s 50th At 11a 6:30p Overtones 6:30p UMM 6:30 Disciple 1 Markings deadline 6:30 Disciple 3 6:30p Chancel Choir :30a Jubilee Choir 6:30p Overtones Markings mailed 6:30 p Trustees 6:30 Disciple 1 6:30 Disciple 3 6:30p Chancel Choir Weekly Fall Schedule SUNDAY 8:15am Worship Chapel 9:30 am Worship Sanctuary 9:30 am Sunday School for all ages 11:00 am Worship Services Sanctuary TUESDAY 6:30 p Overtones WEDNESDAY 10:30am Prayer Group in chapel THURSDAY 7:00 pm Chancel Choir

12 PAGE 12 THE MARKINGS SEPTEMBER 2017 St. Mark s United Methodist Church 100 Peachblossom Road Easton, MD RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Staff Rev. Missy Rekitzke, Pastor Rev. Gary L. Moore, Minister of Visitation Dale Whitzel, Director of Christian Ed Sarah Ewing, Pre-School Director Penny Renoll, Director of Music Dr. William F. Wharton, Organist David Cherry, 9:30 Music Director Brooke Christensen, 9:30 Worship Leader & Youth Director Karen Reed, Church Administrator Christina Kinnimon, Bookkeeper Bill Gunther, Building Superintendent Phone: Fax: churchoffice@stmarkseaston.org NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID EASTON, MD PERMIT NO. 239 Help for victims of Hurricane Harvey from UMCOR: As you have witnessed on TV, much of southern Texas and parts of Louisiana have been devasted by Hurricane Harvey. Please be in prayer for those whose lives have been impacted by this disaster. If you would like to do something to support the work of UMCOR as it responds to this and other disasters in the US, I encourage you to help financially at this time. Please write your check to St. Mark s with UMCOR US Disaster Response/Texas in the memo line. Thank you for giving from your heart so that others may know that we care! Congratulations to our Scholarship Committee Receipts for 2017! Left to right: Jen Eames, Scholarship Chair, Geneva Foster, Gabriella Costagliola, second row: Conner Dorbin, Austin Turner, Brendan Wazniak & Pastor Missy Rekitzke.