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The Banner
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
October 2007
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Greetings!

An Invitation from the Vestry and Rector

Your Vestry and I would like to invite you to consider these four statements that will frame the next four Sundays in our worship time together. They are the Stewardship Committee's responses to the question, Who are we as members of the Body of Christ at St. Mark's? They form, I think, a kind of "affirmation" of our life together as a parish, and each week, the sermon will focus on one of these affirmations:

· We are grateful
· We are responsible
· We are generous
· We are empowered to do God's Work

 To be grateful, responsible, generous, and empowered for ministry sums up what it means to live life in such a community of Christ as ours. Yes, that last affirmation (empowered to do God's work) focuses more directly on our 2008 budget, yet I would argue that the first three affirmations are actually even more important. For giving of one's time, talents and resources to the ministry of this church does not simply affect change in the world; it also changes us.

In taking stock of what God had given us, we become grateful. In considering our obligations to one another and to Christ's work in this "broken and sinful world," we become responsible. In creating a personal habit of giving, we become generous. And, of course, bit by bit, ministry by ministry, we become empowered, and our world is changed into the kind of world God created it to be.

See you Sunday morning!

Dean+

Meditation from the Rev. Barbara Crafton: From "Your Money or your Love":

It's a tool, money. It buys things we need in life, and the lack of it is terribly painful. But it can't take the place of life ... When money becomes anything beyond a tool, it grows monstrous, a sorcerer's apprentice that leads a person to places he wouldn't want to go if he were to stop and think about it.

The main reason for having money is to give it away ... It can be a powerful agent in the service of love. You can ease people's pain with it-not all of their pain, but some. You can save people's lives with it. You can use it to make the world more beautiful and more safe. You can learn the peculiar pleasure of saying No to yourself in order to say Yes to someone else's need, and you wonder why you never realized before how much fun that is.
Mark your calendars! On Friday, October 12 and Saturday, October 13 the new playground will be installed - by us. Under the supervision of Southern Playground, we are going to build a new playground for the children of St. Mark's. We need "people power", so all those interested in helping, please sign up in the church office, or contact Chris Stearns or Ellen Andersen for more information.

We are still accepting donations for the playground. At this time we are about 3/4 of the way towards our final goal of $34,000. Help leave a legacy for the kids!
"Where's The Beef?"
The annual St. Mark's Preschool Chili Supper on Nov. 2nd is just around the corner, and we need beef! It takes a whole lot of meat to make chili for the hundreds and hundreds of chili eaters. We are seeking parishoners interested in supporting the chili sale by donating funds toward the purchase of ground chuck. (No meat donations please - we purchase it fresh the day the chili is prepared.) Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. Make your checks out to St. Mark's Preschool and indicate in the Memo line "Chili Meat." And as always, thank you to everyone for your on- going support of our preschool.


We will celebrate St. Francis's feast day on Wednesday, October 10th at 6 p.m. Bring all your furry, feathered, and finned friends to be blessed. Rumor is that St. Francis, himself, may make an appearance. Wednesday night supper and children's choir are canceled that evening.
Bring the kids to Trick or Trunk on October 28th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Decorated trunks are needed as are volunteers to help with the games. Contact Nancy Nelson or Juli Hayes for more information.
Senior Citizen Trip to Rock Springs Farm --
Senior Citizens from St. Mark's and Royal Oaks are taking a field trip to Rock Springs Farm (home of friend's Jim and Nancy Bland) on Thursday, October 18. The bus will leave Royal Oaks at 10 a.m. Please RSVP to Elizabeth at St. Mark's.
Sunday, October 14th, 12:00 p.m.

Bring your favorite dish to share!
DEO
A DEO volunteer is needed for the second and third Thursdays of each month. Clinic hours are 5 - 6:30 at the new location downtown. Contact Phyllis Jordan, 706-275-0634 if interested in volunteering.

DEO volunteers will be recognized in church on November 4th. Join us for this special day!

Food Pantry Q&A
Q: What's up in the food pantry this month?
 A: Throughout the month of October we will continue our "Bring A Bag". Fill a bag(s) with the food items needed to feed a family of four, three daily meals, for five days.

Q: That's a whole lotta food! Can I just bring part of a bag?
A: Sure!! Additionally, as the weather cools and a chill is in the air, we are going to collect "Fall Food". When you think of fall think soup, chili, pasta and other food for families to enjoy as the weather cools. We need canned soups/chili, pasta, spaghetti sauce, soup crackers, warm instant cereals, boxed cereals, helper meals and canned fruit most of all. As always canned vegetables, mac and cheese and peanut butter are staples of our food pantry.

Q: What's on the list of food for complete bags, again?
A: The following is a complete list of what we need for each bag:

Tuna Helper - 1 box
2 cans of tuna
1 box spaghetti noodles (medium/ 1 lb minimum)
Large can of spaghetti sauce
1 lb bag of dried beans
1 can spam
2 bags/box of cornbread mix
10 0z can of chicken
Cream of chicken soup 1 can
Small pkg biscuit mix
12 0z can of roast beef with gravy
Beef stew seasoning mix
2 Large cans mixed vegetables
1 box mashed potato flakes
1 bag rice,1 jar jelly, 1 loaf of bread
3 cans vegetables any type, 1 box vanilla wafers or cookies
3 cans of fruit, 1 box breakfast cereal
42 oz. can of quick oats, 3 cans of soup any flavor
1 jar peanut butter, 2 boxes instant Jell-O

Thank you for your continued support of our food pantry. You are truly helping to feed the families and children of Whitfield County, and we continue to be a primary support for the clients of DOC-UP. Got more questions? Please see Tammy Rice-Rodriguez.
High School House Eucharist
The Urbains will host the October House Eucharist on the 14th at 5 p.m. Please RSVP to Elizabeth or the Urbains.

High School Confirmation Class starts on Oct. 21.
All High School students are invited to participate in a confirmation class that will meet on periodic Sunday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Confirmation Sunday will be January 27, 2008.

Middle School food drive
The Middle School youth will be holding a food drive in October. Look for their decorated bags after the services, take one home fill it with food for the food pantry, and bring it back to the church.
The plate receipts for August were $4,516.43 bringing the total plate receipts for 2007 to $36,379.19, which is 81.18% of the projected plate receipts for 2007. The pledge receipts for August were $27,650.18, with the total for the year-to-date through August being $190,346.52, which is 54.34% of the projected pledge receipts for 2007. At the end of August we should be at 66.67% of the projected budget amounts. Thank you for your contributions to St. Mark's. As you are well aware we depend on your contributions to keep the good work going.
The Daughters of the King will meet on Wed. October 3 at 4:30 p.m. in the Library. All ladies are invited to attend.
The annual Women's Retreat is planned for March 28- 30, 2008. Join the Women of St. Mark's at St. Mary's Retreat Center in Sewanee, TN. Our theme for the weekend will be Meditation and Health. Our speaker is Andrea Hopke, daughter of Marge Applegate and a wonderful resource on the topic. The weekend promises to be fun and relaxing, as well as, spiritual. Please contact Elizabeth if you think that you might be interested in attending.
BIRTHS
Aubrey Elise Blackburn, daughter of Ben and Terri Blackburn and granddaughter of David and Beth Blackburn, was born on August 31st in Dalton.

Nathan Brendan Plavich, son of Amanda and Brendan Plavich and grandson of John and Beverly Carmichael, was born on September 24th.


DEATHS
Mary Privee died on September 10th.
Tom Potts, David Potts' father, died on Sunday, September 16th.

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:
 Nov. 1 - All Saints Evensong, 7 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 2 - Preschool Chili Supper
Sun. Nov. 11 - St. Mark's Living Gift Market, Dalton Green, 2-5p.m.
Sun. Nov. 11 - 2nd Sunday Potluck
Sun. Nov. 18 - Annual Parish Meeting, Vestry Elections
Wed. Nov. 21 - Thanksgiving Service
Sun. Dec. 2 - Advent Wreath Making
Sat. Dec. 8 - Advent Quiet Day with Mary Logan
Sun. Dec. 9 - St. Nicholas Visit, Advent Dinner
Wed. Dec. 12 - Lessons and Carols
Sun. Dec. 23 - Christmas Pageant
Mon. Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve Services at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. (with Choral Prelude at 10:30 p.m.)
Tues. Dec. 25 - Christmas Day service at 10:00am
PRAYER LIST

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

Rosemary Adams, Geneva and Marion Albertson, Alicia Alderman, Peter Andersen and family, Robb Andersen, Paul Anderson, Stan Applegate, Ruth Baker, Matt Blackburn, Tom Blaylock, Idawee Bowen, Charlotte Bryant, Betty Carlson, Alma Casper, Jean Fendley Corbin, Carey Craig, Marie Dodd, Jim Greer, Jane Harrell, Cathy Houser, Yvonne Howalt, Janet Johnson, Phyllis Jordan and family, Brooks Lansing Sr., Julia Lansing, Tanc and Joan Lidderdale, Celia Looper, Alicia Kemp McCormick, Troy Moses, Alice Oosterhoudt, Patsy Rains, Cindie Robinson, Caroline Ryman, Doris Shoemaker, Glenn Smail, T'lene Tillotson, Lo Veasey, Suzanne Ward, Virginia Weaver.

PASTORAL CARE

The St. Mark's Pastoral Care Committee would appreciate your help in letting the church know of any pastoral needs among our congregation. During regular business hours, please call Laura Minor in the church office (278-8857) if there is a need and she will see that the proper person is contacted. For after hours needs, please contact one of the following persons at home in the following order: Dean Taylor, Rector (226-2345 home, 264-2345 cell); Elizabeth Roles, Asst. Rector (537-8908); Amy Parks, Parish Administrator (706-847-4799); Rick Powell, Sr. Warden (278-2041).

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).
OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS

1. Augusta Livingston, Jennifer Morrison
2. Jaxon Bagley
3. Kimberly Star
4. Mac Richmond
5. Hugh Kemp
6. Connie Woodward, Lo Veasey, Debora Buckner
8. Debbie Baker, Carol Blumenaus
9. Jim Gordon
11. Kathy Addington, Paul Alderman
12. Renee Robertson, Janet Johnson
13. Sue Boyd, Beth Blackburn
16. Sarah Jaconetti, Pat Sportiello
17. Beverly Sutton
18. Bethany Richmond
19. Kathy Wasson
20. T'Lene Tillotson
21. Andy Baker, Walter Arms, T.J. Hensley
22. Andy Richmond, Bob Livingston
23. Beverly Wright
25. Dean Taylor, Te Sarratt, Tracey Burke, Lee Martin
26. Tom Fisher, John Houser
27. Isabella Caggiano
28. Bob Williams, David Blackburn
29. Debbie Jenkines
30. Linda Britton, Brennan Thomason
31. Norma Palmer, David Phillips

OCTOBER ANNIVERSARIES

5. Mike & Rose Renfroe
7. Jon & Carol Blumenaus
10. Cookie & Tami Cook
11. Bob & Debbie Johnson
12. James & Sarah Holyer
13. Chris & Kirsty Elwell
17. Duane & Debbie Baker
18. Allen & Caroline Hall
20. Chris Stearns & Kathy West
28. Bill & Jackie Hawkins, Hugh & Ann Kemp

We hope you enjoyed the October 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