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St. Mark's Episcopal Church
June 2008
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Greetings!

Family Promise:
St. Mark's Says "Yes" to Helping Needy Families


Dear Friends,

Summer is here and a new outreach ministry is almost in full bloom. St. Mark's is joining 12 other parishes to organize a ministry with homeless families. The churches in Dalton are forming a network called "Family Promise." Each parish will take turns hosting the families (no more than 14 people) at its church for one week at a time. St. Mark's will host the families for four non-consecutive weeks a year. During our host week, we provide rooms (where the families will sleep), evening meals, and two parishioners to spend the night at the church. A great aspect of Family Promise is that there is something for everyone in the parish to do. Volunteers can cook, serve, play with children, help with homework, spend the night at the church, or mentor a parent looking for a job.

The network will have a day center, a van, and a social worker to help the families find jobs and ultimately a permanent place to live. The social worker will carefully screen each family that enters the program to assure that the families we help will be courteous guests in our church and eager to transition into a permanent job and home. No families with issues of addiction or mental illness will be allowed into the program.

The plans for family promise have been in the works for a year. Last fall our vestry said "Yes" to the invitation to be a part of the network. The start-up goal is September 2008.

For more information about the program, come to the next organizational meeting on Monday, June 2 at 6:00 p.m. in the St. Mark's parish hall or contact Mary Squires, our vestry person for outreach.

Visit the Jerusalem Marketplace during Vacation Bible School.

June 9-12, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon.

Our theme this year is Easter! Join us as we meet the resurrected Jesus in the garden, on the road, and by the sea. VBS is for children ages 3 years old through rising 4th graders. Older children and youth are invited to help. Children from the community are invited. Please ask your neighbors, friends, or grandchildren to join us. To sign up, contact the church office.
Instead of 2nd Sunday potlucks in June and July, we're having 2nd Sunday breakfasts prepared by a few of our men. They are planning on making sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits; juice and coffee will be available as well. Dates are June 8th and July 13th, and breakfast will be served from about 8:45 to 9:45. If you attend the 8:00 service, plan to stay for breakfast, and if you attend the 10:00 service, come early for a great meal and a chance to mingle with the "8:00ers."
The Outreach ministries of St. Mark's are grateful for your donations of food and personal care items, but there are additional ways to help. You may make a tax- deductible donation by writing a check to St. Mark's and noting the name of the ministry (e.g., DEO Clinic or food pantry) in the memo line. The ministries will receive your assistance, and you don't have to go shopping or bring heavy bags to church! You might also wish to volunteer to work at the DEO Clinic or the pantry, and, of course, your prayers are always needed. Thank you for supporting our Outreach ministries in any of these ways!

DEO CLINIC: Please remember our DEO Clinic clients as you travel this summer; they need travel-size toothpaste, deodorant, shaving cream, shampoo, and conditioner. Place donated items in the DEO bin near the church office. Thank you!

FOOD PANTRY: In May our food pantry assisted 17 households (31 adults and 25 children) and we are seeing more people each month. We are low on the following items: peanut butter, jelly, canned soup, vegetables, and fruit; cereal; and nonfat dry milk. Keep the food pantry (and those less fortunate) in mind as you shop.

FAMILY PROMISE: The next Family Promise meeting will be Monday, June 2 at 6:00 p.m. in St. Mark's parish hall. Join us to learn about this program which provides shelter, meals, counseling, and hospitality to homeless families. First-timers are always welcome!
Former St. Mark's Choir member Adrin Akins will give a voice recital here at St. Mark's on Sunday, June 29th at 4:00, along with his accompanist, Carrie Allen. He left the choir two years ago for graduate school at UGA, were he has just completed a Masters in Music Therapy and Voice. Come hear what he's been working on! He'll perform works by Schubert, Bach, Handel, and many others. Adrin is a countertenor, which is a male who is specially trained to sing in the alto range (and higher). This type of voice is a very unique gift, and we are very lucky that Adrin is retuning to share it with us. Please make plans to attend this wonderful concert.
From the Vestry:

Pledge and plate receipts through April were 31% of our annual budget, keeping us close to our estimate of 33% for April year to date. The timing of collections and the month of year can also affect this ratio. As an example, the dog days of summer are less active for collections than the holidays, which occur toward year's end. Our financial secretary and the vestry appreciate the timeliness of your response. Have a great summer!

Bob Haverland, Stewardship and Finance Committee
SUMMER CHURCH SECRETARY'S SCHEDULE - Beginning June 1, the secretary's hours will change to 9:00 am - 12:00 noon on Mondays and Wednesdays. The office will be closed on Fridays.
Thank you St. Mark's for your generous support of our youth. We raised over $4000 this winter and spring. The youth will use this money for their mission trip to Washington, D.C. July 20-27. Besides serving the hungry and offering educational opportunities to poor children, we will tour the National Cathedral, the White House, and visit the Episcopal Policy Network, the Episcopal Church's presence on Capitol Hill. If your youth is interested in joining us, please contact Elizabeth at the church, as soon as possible.

The word on the street is that the Abraham Walk was enjoyed by all. Pictured are Tom Minor, Rob Cowan, Shiraz "Sam" Hamir, and Dean Taylor.

Dean was very excited to spend Easter Sunday in Eufala with his mother and family.
While the Rector is on sabbatical, the Rev. Elizabeth Roles, Assistant to the Rector, will be the 'priest-in- charge.' All pastoral needs should go directly to her. Your gracious understanding of the necessity of these arrangements is greatly appreciated. She can be contacted at the church (706.278.8857) or on her cell (706.537.8908).
BIRTHS
Caleb Thomas Ryan, grandson of Martha and Rick Jackson, was born May 5, 2008 in Chattanooga.
Alex Ryan Hefner, grandson of Deloris and Richard Cunningham, was born on May 9 in Dalton.


DEATHS
Roy Sewell, Peggy Cantrell's father and Brooke Halverson's grandfather, died on May 9, 2008.
Henry G. Lance, Grady Lance's father, died in Dalton on May 19, 2008.

Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord:
And let light perpetual shine upon them.
May their souls, and the souls of all the departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Please click HERE to view the church calendar.

Mark your Calendars now with these upcoming dates:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17 - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19 - Parish Retreat at Amicalola. Details coming soon!
March 6-8, 2009 - Women's Retreat at St. Mary's Retreat Center
PRAYER LIST

Members of St. Mark's Community Who Need Your Prayers:

Geneva and Marion Albertson, Alicia Alderman, Peter Andersen and family, Robb Andersen Family, Joan & Paul Anderson, Stan Applegate, Ruth Baker, David Blackburn, Idawee Bowen, Charlotte Bryant, Betty Carlson, Carey Craig, Bill Dawkins, Tom Fisher, Melba Greene, Jane Harrell, Bud Hawkins, John and Cathy Houser, Yvonne Howalt, Nick Hull, Janet Johnson, Bob Johnston, Phyllis Jordan and family, Tanc and Joan Lidderdale, Celia Looper, Rick Martin, Alicia Kemp McCormick, Troy Moses, Alice Oosterhoudt, Patsy Rains, Cindie Robinson, George Ross, Caroline Ryman, Doris Shoemaker, Glenn Smail, Kathryn Smith, Carol Taylor, Lo Veasey, Suzanne Ward, Virginia Weaver, Connie Woodward.

PASTORAL CARE

The St. Mark's Pastoral Care Committee would appreciate your assistance with updating the church staff of any pastoral needs among our congregation. During regular business hours, please contact the church office at 706.278.8857. For after-hours needs, please contact one of the people listed below (contact in the order listed): Elizabeth Roles, Priest-in-Charge (cell: 706.537.8908), Chris Stearns, Senior Warden (home: 706.278.4837), Cindy Sarratt, Vestry-Pastoral Care (home: 706.278.6097).

PRAYER CHAIN

The St. Mark's Prayer Chain continues to actively serve the prayer needs of our parish community. If you have a prayer request, contact the prayer chain leader, Barbara Yarbrough (226-4147).
JUNE BIRTHDAYS

1. Mike Andersen, Bee Maybank, Carey Craig, Laureane Urbain
2. Bernadette Smith
3. Linda Brammer
4. Kim Littell, Meg Phinney
6. Caroline Burchfield, Charles Callaway, Charlotte Morrison
7. Jackie Hawkins, Bryan Williams, Rebecca Waldrop
8. Helen Crawford, Lauren Oxford
11. Charlotte Bryant
12. Christina Fleming, Don Hayes, Jr., Marianne Urbain, Sophia Creswell
13. Paul Bradley, Kailyn Wright, Ellie Hayes
14. Tami Cook
15. Mark Mahvi, Jr., Bryleigh Frazier
16. Wiley Adkins
18. Joan Lidderdale, June Sparks, Ty Ross, Marquita Dooley
19. Martha Jackson
21. Bill Weaver, Alex Reisz
23. Judy Reed Pressley, Dena Haverland
24. Art Sutton
26. Sherry Cochran, Lea Hicks
27. George Ross
29. Sally Little, Diana Williams


JUNE ANNIVERSARIES

4. George and Hope Mosley
5. Don and Brenda Hoffmeyer
7. Judy and Ralph Pressley
10. Mack and Jean Corbin, David and Beth Blackburn
15. Rob and Twilla Gouffon
16. John and Jackie Boykin, Steve and Cindy Sarratt, Gary and Jodi Keeble, Ty and Jennifer Ross
19. Bob and Gwen Manly, Martha and Troy Moses
20. Dana and Carolyn Hawkins
21. Dick and Mary Geraci
23. Peter and Meg Smith
25. George and Alicia McCormick
26. Mike and Meredith Andersen
27. Gary and Sandra Keeble
29. Fred and Emily Ward, Will and Cheryl Creswell

We hope you enjoyed the June edition of The Banner. Feel free to contact the church office if you're having trouble with this email newsletter.

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St. Mark's Episcopal Church