The audio cuts for St. Mark's Chapel's 10 am family service on 03-24-19, the 4th Sunday in Lent. Both readers are Sunday School students.:

Recorded tracks:

Greeting, Announcements (Rev. Brian Blayer)

1st Reading:  Joshua 5:9-12 (Lucas Anderson)

Psalm:  Psalm 32 (Ethan Hanzlik)

2nd Reading:  2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (Lucas Anderson)

Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 (Rev. Brian Blayer)  

Sermon (Rev. Brian Blayer)

Dear Friends:

Here is the news of the week:

• Last Sunday Offering for March
    The Last Sunday Offering for March, collected on Sunday is dedicated to the Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic which provides food and access to basic services in an environment of care, love, support and safety to those individuals and families from the greater Windham community.   Thank you for your generosity.
• First Friday Noon Organ Recital
    The next First Friday Organ Recital will be on April 5  (The date in your Sunday bulletin is incorrect.)   Charlie Houmard invites you to bring a sandwich and a friend.
•  WAIM Work Day, April 6
     The biannual work day at WAIM is fast approaching. This is wonderful opportunity for families to work together and uplift members of local communities who need the support of WAIM for many basic items. Plan to meet at WAIM in Willimantic about 9am.  If you have any questions, please speak with Rev. Brian.
• Needed:  Readers for the Passion Gospel
    At both services on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, the reading of the Passion is part of the liturgy.  Several readers are needed for each service.  Please let the office know if you wish to read and a part will be assigned.
•  Easter Flowers
    At Easter, St. Mark’s is beautifully decorated in celebration of Christ’s resurrection. Tulips, daffodils and other spring flowers transform the church to celebrate this glorious morning. Donations toward the purchase of Easter flowers may be made in memory of departed friends and loved ones as well as in thanksgiving for special persons, events or occasions important to you.  Please return the blue form in the  bulletin to the office no later than Monday, April 15.
• Spring Training and Gathering in Berlin   Saturday, April 27   9AM-4PM
  Join other Episcopalians from across Connecticut for a day of fellowship, learning, prayer and fun.  All are welcome—from people in the pews and vestry members to parish leaders and staff.  There will be more than 35 workshops offered.  Lunch provided.  Please ask Linda to register you.
• Married 50 years or more?
  The Episcopal Church in Connecticut wants to celebrate this milestone with you and other Episcopalians.  There will be a celebration on May 19th at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford for all couples who reach this milestone in 2019.  Same sex couples who have been together for at least 50 years and are now married are also invited.  Please let the church office know if you would like an invitation to attend. 

Best wishes, Linda

Dear Friends:

The new Sunday Minister Schedule is being finalized but services for Palm Sunday and Holy Week will need more than the usual about of readers and servers.

Can you help?  Please let the office know.
 

• Palm Sunday and the reading of the Passion needs several readers at each service.
• Good Friday,  12 noon and 7pm, the Passion will again be read and  readers are needed. 
• Easter Vigil on Saturday at 7pm needs a thurifer and readers.  

And another call for volunteers:  the Sunday Campus Communion needs  cooks for the dinner following the 5pm service.  A simple supper is a wonderful way to connect with students and is a vital part of St. Mark's campus ministry.  About 12 people are in attendance. 

Best wishes, Linda

The audio cuts for St. Mark's Chapel's 10 am service on 03-24-19, the 3rd Sunday in Lent:

Recorded tracks:

1. Greeting, Announcements (Rev. Brian Blayer)
   
2. 1st Reading:  Exodus 3:1-5 (Mark Healey)
   
3. 2nd Reading:  1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (Mark Healey)
   
4. Gospel: Luke 13:1-9 (Rev. Brian Blayer)
   
5. Sermon (Rev. Brian Blayer)

Dear Friends:

Here is the news of the week:

• The Outreach Committee Needs Your Help!
  Covenant Soup Kitchen, serving love to so many in Willimantic, is asking for donations of food, baby supplies and feminine care products.  During Lent, can the parish fill the Covenant Donation Bin outside the kitchen with some of the following:  canned soup, pasta, beans, tuna, peanut butter, coffee, fruit juice, shampoo, soap, tooth brushes, plastic grocery bags, food storage bags, paper plates? It was overflowing last week.  Can you do it again? Thank you for your generosity.
• The Last Sunday Offering for March, collected next week, is designated to go to the Covenant Soup Kitchen.
• Looking for a new way to serve at St. Mark's?  The  next rota of Sunday ministers is almost ready but if you would like to try something new--reading or intercessing or doing the flowers or helping with ushering or coffee hour--please let the office know. 
• One way to serve is to be a reader of the Passion as part of the service  on Palm Sunday and /or Good Friday.  Please let the office know if you are available to "play" a role. 
• Married 50 years or more?
  The Episcopal Church in Connecticut wants to celebrate this milestone with you and other Episcopalians.  There will be a celebration on May 19th at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford for all couples who reach this milestone in 2019.  Same sex couples who have been together for at least 50 years and are now married are also invited.  Please let the church office know if you would like an invitation to attend. 
• At Easter, St. Mark's is beautifully decorated in celebration of Christ's resurrection.  Donations to the flowers made be made in memory of departed friends and loved ones as well as in thanksgiving for special persons or events important to you. Your Sunday bulletin has all the details.  
• The first Lenten Soup and Bread supper had great support and stimulating conversation.  A new discussion takes place next Wednesday at 6 and you are invited.
• Last call for new adult sized flip-flops for the residents at the Mercy Home and Shelter in Hartford.  This is a project of the School of Nursing Class of 2021 and there is a collection bin in the lower hallway.
  
  
  

Best wishes, Linda

In addition to the Gospel, Rev. Brian's sermon touched on St. Patrick (today being his feast day) and both readings.
Recorded tracks:

1. Greeting, Announcements (Rev. Brian Blayer)
2. 1st Reading:  Genesis 15:1-12,17-18 (Acey Neel)
3. 2nd Reading:  Philippians 3:17-4:1 (Acey Neel)
4. Gospel: Luke 13:31-35 (Rev. Brian Blayer)
5. Sermon (Rev. Brian Blayer)

There are two Lenten offerings this week:

• Kathy Pepin and Mary Jo Tryba invite you to join a discussion group
  ⁕⁕TOMORROW⁕⁕, Tuesday, March 19 from 2-3pm in Goodwin Hall. 
  The group will be reading short excerpts from the ”Daily Lenten Devotions” written by Henri Nouwen.  With small paper books, which are provided, the discussion will focus on  thoughts about the passages. This is a “low key” gathering where attendees can express their ideas and reflections to each other in a quiet, trusting ways.   Please join the conversation. 
• Planning to attend the Wednesday night soup and bread suppers? 
  The first one is THIS WEDNESDAY from 6-7:30. 
  ​To facilitate food preparations, please RSVP to the office. 

Best wishes, Linda

(Left-click the download link to download, right-click to view.)

Dear Friends:

Here is the news of the week:

• Episcopal Questions and Episcopal Answers
  As part of the Lenten offerings at St. Mark’s, there will be Wednesday evening soup and bread suppers and discussion of “Episcopal Questions, Episcopal Answers.”   Dates are March 20, 27 and April 3 from 6-7:30pm.  The book is available on Amazon Smile which returns a percentage of purchase price to St. Mark’s. Hosts are needed for the soup and bread suppers.  Please RSVP to the office if you plan to attend so there will be soup and bread for all.  Many thanks to Madison Day, Mary Jo Tryba, and Wei Zhang and John Bovay for hosting these suppers.
• WAIM Work Day, April 6   9am-12 noon
  The biannual St. Mark's Work Day at WAIM is fast approaching. This is wonderful opportunity for families to work together and  uplift  members of local communities who need the support of WAIM for many basic items. Plan to meet at WAIM in Willimantic about 9am.  If you have any questions, please speak with Rev. Brian.
• Saturday, April 27      Spring Training and Gathering in Berlin       9am-4pm
• Join other Episcopalians from across Connecticut for a day of fellowship, learning, prayer and fun.  All are welcome—from people in the pews and vestry members to parish leaders and staff.  There will be more than 35 workshops offered.  Lunch provided.  Please ask Linda to register you.
• Covenant Soup Kitchen, serving love to so many in Willimantic, is asking for donations of food, baby supplies and feminine care products.  During Lent, can the parish fill the Covenant Donation Bin outside the kitchen with some of the following:  canned soup, pasta, beans, tuna, peanut butter, coffee, fruit juice, shampoo, soap, tooth brushes, plastic grocery bags, food storage bags, paper plates? Thank you for your generosity.
  
• Campus Ministry News:
  • Flip Flop Drive:  The UConn School of Nursing, Class of 2021 is collecting new, adult size flip flops for the residents at the Mercy Housing and Shelter in Hartford.  There will be a collection box at St. Mark’s.  Dates for the collection are March 11-29.  Questions: Contact:  [email protected]   
  • UConn Spring Break Next Week:  And that means no 5PM Campus Communion and Dinner.  Rev. Brian is looking for a host for dinner on March 31.  Please let the office know if you are interested in this campus ministry.
  • Spring brings  many UConn a cappella concerts to St.. Mark's.  Please check out the upcoming concerts posted on the bulletin board in the hallway.  
    
    

Best wishes, Linda

The Rev. Bruce Steinway is a parishioner and retired Lutheran priest. He filled in for our pastor, Rev. Brian, who was away.

Because Rev. Bruce's microphone wasn't turned on, the quality of his recordings is relatively poor. I had to use the sound picked up by wall-mounted microphones that also pick up the ambient sounds of the space. I attempted to improve the clarity of his voice during editing with Audacity software (ver. 2.3.1).

Recorded tracks:

Announcements (Rev. Bruce Steinway)

1st Reading:  Deuteronomy 26:1-11 (Mark Healey)

2nd Reading:  Romans 10:8b-13 (Mark Healey)

Gospel: Luke 4:1-13 (Rev. Bruce Steinway)  

Sermon (Rev. Bruce Steinway)