Author Archive: Church Mouse

Basic Butter Cookies

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INGREDIENTS

1 cup butter
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

DIRECTIONS

Cream butter until fluffy, adding sugar gradually. Add egg and vanilla. Beat well.

Sift flour, soda, salt, and cream of tartar. Blend into creamed mixture; mix well. Chill for 1 hour.

Roll out on floured surface and cut out cookies.

Bake in 400 degree F oven until light brown.

If your are going to use a cookie press, do not chill.

Recipe adapted from Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church Women’s Cookbook, 1996.
Contributed by Wende B.

Do you have a favorite recipe from one of the Saint Mark’s cookbooks? Tell us about it! Leave a comment…

Aggression (Oatmeal) Cookies

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INGREDIENTS

3 cups packed brown sugar
3 cups butter or 1/2 butter and 1/2 margarine
6 cups oatmeal (1 box)
1 tablespoon baking soda
3 cups sifted flour

DIRECTIONS

Mix with your hands until well blended. (This is where the aggression comes in. You will need to squeeze all the ingredients together to blend.)

Roll out small balls and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Press each ball down with the bottom of a glass which has been buttered and dipped in granulated sugar. You may have to twist the glass slightly when lifting to avoid sticking to the flattened cookie dough.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes or until light brown. Allow to cool slightly on the cookie sheet before removing. Makes 14 dozen. Freezes well.

Recipe adapted from Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church Women’s Cookbook, 1996.
Contributed by Jane G.

Do you have a favorite recipe from one of the Saint Mark’s cookbooks? Tell us about it! Leave a comment…

Call For Supplies – Help Make The 2010 VBS A Success! UPDATE

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***** UPDATE *****

Thanks to each of you who have donated supplies for the 2010 ReNew VBS. We still need a few things, however. Please see the list of items below.

The August 9 start date is fast approaching. Anything on the list that you can contribute would be much appreciated!

*********************

The start of our 2010 ReNew Vacation Bible School is fast approaching, but we need your help to make it a success!

The theme of this year’s curriculum is “ReNew: The Parable of the Sower,” and we need the following supplies in order to make this learning experience as rich and meaningful for our children as possible:

Seed Packets Bold colored construction paper
Glitter paints Butcher paper
Magnifying glasses Stamping ink
Globes Material scraps
Magazines with pictures of plants 2×4 pegboard (can be larger)
Projector with transparencies Vegetables stamps
Books on pollution Clothing to make a detective costume

Please contact Anne Cordell directly if you can provide any of the above as soon as possible. This way we’ll be sure to have enough of each item to go around and can avoid duplicates. Please call the Parish Office at (972) 253-7124 if you need Anne’s contact information.

Stars, Stripes, and Saint Mark’s

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Saint Mark’s participated in Irving’s Independence Day Parade which was held on Saturday, July 3rd this year. Floats were decorated to represent events in American history.

The float for Saint Mark’s featured posters depicting rights accorded to each citizen, aspirations of some of America’s great leaders, and the contributions of immigrants in enriching the fabric of America.

The children on the float reflected a “rainbow” of ethnic groups which make up America’s melting pot.

Despite the rain, the parade and the day were a huge success!

Check out these photos of the day:

Mother’s Day Diaper Drive: It Was A Dusey!

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A big thank you to everyone who contributed diapers and wipes, as well as money to buy diapers and wipes, to the Mother’s Day Diaper Drive.

We collected an AMAZING 2,435 diapers and over 8,000 wipes, weighing well over 300 pounds! To put this in perspective, the average baby will use about 4,700 diapers in the first two years, so your generosity provided almost the equivalent amount. WOW!

The donation was divided equally between Irving Cares and Brighter Tomorrows, who kept asking if their allotment was really all for them! Your gifts will make a huge impact on an untold number of families who use the services of these two organization. Thank you again for your continued support of the Body Building Committee. We could not do this ministry without the active, ongoing support of this parish!

Children’s Chapel Service – An Introduction To Our Liturgy

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“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14

A few short words on the Children’s Chapel Service that is such an integral part of the early childhood Christian Education curriculum at Saint Mark’s.

Here, the children experience the same Liturgy of the Word, albeit shortened, as we have in the church proper. In general, we open with a collect, read several lines of the day’s psalm, read the Gospel story, have a question/discussion-based homily, create a “prayer card,” discuss the cards, and confess our sins. When there is extra time we practice our formal prayers or sing songs related to the day’s lesson.

We will continue to keep you informed. Please feel free to ask questions and provide feedback. We encourage you to visit with us at Chapel this summer!

2010 Vacation Bible School Registration Is Open!

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Are your kids ready to grow in faith, have fun, and change the world?

Please join us for Saint Mark’s Children’s Ministry VBS this summer. This year’s program is ReNew-The Green VBS — an environmentally-focused vacation bible school that will inspire both kids and adults to grow in faith, have fun, and change the world as they practice stewardship of God’s creation. It’s gonna be a great “green” summer!

Children can participate in three age groups: Preschool, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary.

Preschoolers will have their own activity site where they will learn the Parable of the Sower and explore creation through free play and activities oriented around the self and the community.

Lower and Upper Elementary will alternate between various activities highlighting what each person can do to grow in faith and care for creation. Planned activities enable participants to encounter the part of creation we call community and recognize God at work in our relationships with one another.

ReNew is about hope, opportunity, and service. Kids and congregations lead the way as stewards of the earth.

A light supper will be provided before classes.

Register your children and grandchildren for the 2010 ReNew Vacation Bible School at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church today! All children between the ages of 3 and 14 are invited to grow in faith as they play, learn, sing, and work to RENEW our congregation and community.

DATES: Mon., August 9 – Fri., August 13
TIME: 5:30pm – 8:30pm

VBS Registration Form Download

Download and fill out a registration form for each child who wishes to attend. Return completed forms to the Parish Office, attention Noralyn Pickens/Anne Cordel or to Noralyn/Anne directly: 2010 ReNew Vacation Bible School at Saint Mark’s