Monthly Archives: October 2010

‘Tis The Season – A Call For Clothing and Donations

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A message from Dee M.:

It is that time of year again! I want to thank everyone that donated clothing or money last year for the disadvantaged children I work with.

Through my work with the Early Childhood Program, I encounter many children in our community who are in desperate need of clothing.

As winter approaches, the need increases. I need clothing for boys and girls, mainly sizes 12, 18, and 24 months.

Anyone wishing to help can contact me directly.

Please bring donations in gift bags with tags stating gender and size. Tags help me sort and distribute the clothing more easily.

Again, many thanks for whatever help you can provide.

Best,

Dee

Visit of Executive Director of BTI, Haiti

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The Episcopal Church of Haiti was established in 1861. The Diocese of Haiti runs the Bishop Tharp Institute (BTI) in Les Cayes, Haiti’s third largest city.

You are invited to join us for a briefing to be presented by The Rev. Kesner Ajax, Executive Director of The Bishop Tharp Institute (BTI), at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, November 21, immediately following the 9:30AM service.

Haiti’s higher education system was severely impacted by January’s earthquake. Twenty-eight of Haiti’s 32 major universities were completely destroyed and the four remaining universities were severely damaged.

The Executive Director will provide information on the multiple efforts among Episcopal dioceses and organizations, committed to the rebuilding of the Diocese of Haiti. The devastating earthquake destroyed some 85% of the institutions in the Diocese. Efforts are being coordinated by The Rt. Rev. Jean Zache Duracin, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, and are geared to put into effect a Diocese’s Master Plan for Recovery.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, through the Women’s Guild, has established a Fund to cover scholarships to the 2-year technical training program offered at the Bishop Tharp Institute. Thanks to the generous contribution of our parishioners, three scholarships were awarded for the academic period commencing on 6 September 2010.

Christian Life and Christian Death

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“Paul is in prison and has been abandoned by his friends and co-workers. He is facing his own mortality, even as he continues in his teaching to young Timothy. The events that have led Paul to this place in his life have been of his own choosing. It was not a case of poor Paul being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This portion of the letter shows a man at the end of his life finding meaning in a life lived for Christ Jesus. Hear his words again, “I am already on the point of being sacrificed. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith….” — Listen here, or download the MP3!

Hugs & Quiches For A Successful Fall Food Take Out!

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Our first attempt at the Fall Food Takeout was a smashing success! The sale raised over $1100 in just over 30 minutes!

Thanks to everyone for cooking and purchasing your friends’ dishes. HOWEVER, Julie E. got the feeling that several folks did not get the Quiches they were hoping for. We did not have that many to sell…. so here is Julie’s offer….

On November 7th, she will have Quiches available to those folks who wanted them IF YOU PRE-ORDER AND LET HER KNOW THIS WEEK – Cost: $12 ea.

They will be uncooked and frozen, so you will need to thaw them in the refrigerator and then bake. Please choose what you would like from the following: Quiche Lorraine, Ham & Cheese, and Broccoli Mushroom.

Please let her know if you were unable to participate in the Take Out and be sure to ORDER your Quiche this week. She will only take orders until 10/31 – and only by email or phone. She will not be at church on the 31st, so please let her know as soon as you can.

Again, thanks for all your support of the other FABULOUS food!

Promoting Outreach Through The Women’s Guild

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The Women’s Guild of St. Mark’s hosted two members of the Advocates for Homeless Teens, Dr. Lori Davis and Judy Smith, at their meeting of September 28, 2010.

The Advocate group has been appointed by the Mayor of Irving, with the task of recommending action which would lead to the provision of a safe and stable environment in which homeless teens can live while attending high school in Irving.

Homeless children are entitled to protection under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, the primary piece of federal legislation dealing with the education of youth experiencing homelessness in U.S. public schools. The term “homeless” applies to children sharing housing due to economic hardship or loss of housing; children living in motels or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations; or to children awaiting foster care placement.

While the city of Irving does not have emergency or transitional facilities to accommodate homeless teens yet, alarming statistics attest to the following facts:

  • Less than one in four homeless teens graduates from high school.
  • Over twenty percent of girls become pregnant.
  • One third of homeless children are forced into sexual exploitation within 48 hours.
  • More children are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Texas than in any other state.
  • Texas had 337,000 homeless children as of 2009. In 2008 a count found there were 1,273 homeless children on any given night in Dallas County and the numbers are growing.
  • Texas received the lowest ranking in the nation in a state report card on child homelessness.
  • Texas has no long-term planning to address homeless children
  • Homeless children are invisible.

IRVING FIGURES

In May 2010 at IISD there were 135 active homeless students in 9th-12th grade and 30 active homeless students in Winfree Academy Charter School. Last year, there were over 1000 homeless children in IISD schools.

Given the enormous task of dealing with the entire homeless population, the Advocates decided to focus on a smaller group – these homeless teens who were trying to stay in school.

POVERTY vs. POVERTY PLUS HOMELESSNESS

Studies have shown that homeless youth have a higher risk of academic failure than those students who live in dire poverty, but have stable housing. It was therefore obvious that housing was a critical problem.

PROBLEMS IN SCHOOL

Children living in homeless situations usually perform two to three years below grade level.

HOMELESS TEENS MORE LIKELY…

To experience physical abuse and low self-esteem, health problems and malnutrition, sleeping problems and low levels of language skills and learning disabilities attention deficit disorder, and developmental delays.

To exhibit anxiety, withdrawal, depression, restlessness, hyperactivity, aggressive behavior, inappropriate acting out and immature motor behavior.

Attendees were apprised of the services being provided to homeless teens under the Pass Program (Program for Assisting Students in School), and of plans for establishing group housing for boys, initially, in Irving. The consensus was reached that this was an issue worthy of support under St. Mark’s Outreach Program.

All Scripture Is Inspired By God

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“As the Gospel opens up today, we see Jesus instructing the disciples in the art of persistence seamlessly joined to the subject of prayer. Kind of odd that the disciples would need a lesson in persistence and prayer at this stage of things. Now we may assume that only contemporary, and non-religious people would have problems with these things, but Jesus knew better…” — Listen here, or download the MP3!

Fall Parish Update

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Fall Festival
Last Saturday we were hosts to Captain Hope’s Kids for our Fall Festival.  As you may remember last year, we had plans for a large number of kids to be our guests but many were too ill to come.  We did not have that trouble this year.  The Bodybuilding crew worked like trojans, the parish responded to the call for help – even friends of the parish were in force.  I counted no less than 43 plus our own kids thrown in for good measure.  We had games, food, face painting, bags for the TONS of candy and prizes given to the children.  The crew needed to sponsor an event like this is large.  The adults have to be willing to submit to Safe Church, set aside time in their busy schedules, and then be open to having a conversation with children who are in less than idyllic situations.  Thanks to all who came, supported, worked, and prayed – each one of you truly brought the Kingdom of God down to earth.

Vestry/Delegate Elections
In a previous Parish Update, I informed that St. Mark’s has made some significant upgrades to our Bylaws.  Bylaws are those rules and procedures that the parish leadership agree to follow.   I encourage you to review the Bylaws to understand how we conduct the business of our parish.  The Bylaws are on our website and also a printed copy is posted on the vestry bulliten board in our Parish Hall.

One area of modification is our Vestry/Delegate election process.  We have returned to ask those running for elected office to complete a very short form (Addendum I of our Bylaws).  This Application For Vestry/Delegate Nominee Consideration allows the candidate to communicate directly with those who will be casting votes.  We returned to these forms because the parish wanted more information from the candidates about their vision for St. Mark’s than just the few words that were spoken right before the elections at our Annual Meeting.  This form, once completed, will be given to the Nominating Committee by the candidate for processing, printing and distribution to the parish before our Annual Meeting on Sunday January 23, 2011.

This year’s Nominating Committee is composed of outgoing Vestry members Kathy Whitgrove and Vicki Redden along with Tootsie Morton as the unelected representative from our congregation.  As in previous years, this committee continues to exercise broad authority in shaping the Vestry of the following year.

Two weeks ago, I asked the congregation to begin to pray about serving at the Vestry level.  There is plenty of time to continue in your prayerful deliberations but the forms must  be received by the Nominating Committee by January 2, 2011, three weeks before the elections on January 23, 2011.  This gives our office time to gather the information, assure the qualifications are met and then print early enough so all will have a chance to review the information and decide who will lead our parish.

This will be a critical election in my opinion.  We continue in our ministries, we are seeing new faces in our congregation but we do need to do more in asking people to try St. Mark’s.  This is fast becoming the most presenting issue to be addressed by our parish.

Sunday School
Sunday School continues to be a bright spot for us.  The Sunday School teachers are now in the second unit of the catechism, “Believe In The Creed”.  There will be a Sunday School meeting soon to begin discussing the goings on in Christmastide.  I am so grateful for all who participate in this important ministry to our children.

St. Mark’s Fall Take Out
The Women of St. Mark’s is having their Fall Take Out on Sunday October 24.  Proceeds from the sale of quiche, meat pies, side dishes, dessert pies, and other baked goods will go to the Women of St. Mark’s outreach ministries.  Please mark your calendars and come  hungry and ready to support their efforts.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact me or a member of the Vestry.

May God bless you and St. Mark’s,
Fr. Greg

UPDATE: Would you please bake some pies?

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UPDATE: Please let Julie E. know if you would like to help with some cooking at the church on the following dates:

Monday, 10/18 – 10 to 2
Tuesday, 10/19 – 10 to 2
Thursday, 10/21 – 10 to 2
Friday, 10/22 – 10 to 2

You are welcome to come and cook your own dishes or help Julie with some soups, casseroles, cookies, etc.

Sunday the 24th, Julie will need several folks to help sell the items and help clean up after the sale.

Thanks so much for your support!!!

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The Saint Mark’s Women’s group is planning a Fall Food Takeout event to be held Sunday, October 24th. This event will be similar to the Country Kitchen, but will enable customers to take food home rather than dine in the Parish Hall.

In order to make this event as successful as possible, we have two requests:

  • Would you please make some pies — quiches, meat pies, side dishes and/or other goods that we could sell on Sunday the 24th? Please make things that freeze well and that can be put in dishes that do not need to be returned. If we have left overs, we will keep the items for sale the following Sunday.
  • Would you please tell your friends and neighbors to come by from 11 to 1 to buy some great home baked goods? We will have flyers available by this coming Sunday.

 

Julie E. will be at the Church most of the week prior to the sale on the 24th to cook, bake, and freeze in preparation for the event and she encourages others to join her. Please contact Julie directly with any questions you may have.

Fall Esprit Diocesan Magazine Now Available Online

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A letter from Bret Williams, Missioner for Communications, Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, regarding the fall issue of Esprit magazine:

I am pleased to announce that the October edition of Esprit is ready and available online. Here is the direct link to the online magazine: http://content.yudu.com/A1pbo0/Esprit/

You may also access this via the homepage of the Diocesan site at http://www.dallasdiocese.org

We are also in the process of delivering hard copies to your church. We are delivering fewer hard copies this quarter based on the digital availability of the publication. Therefore, we are asking that you include this link in your email communications to your congregation, or forward this link to the Esprit directly to your members in a separate email. Thank you for your help in the distribution of our Diocesan magazine, we hope you enjoy this edition.

Also, please feel free to help us promote our Diocesan iPad/iPhone app “EDOD Mobile.” This edition of Esprit is currently available through this app as well.