Here is the news of the week:

• This Sunday is Vacation Bible School Sunday!  Our 10am service will be held at Storrs Congregational Church as children from both parishes will tell the story of water and baptism in Bible.  Children have been working all week on stories and songs to tell, making fantastic creations representing Bible stories and children grades 5 and up have been going to the Click Kitchen in Willimantic where they helped in the kitchen, veggie garden and orchard. 
  
  
• The 8am service will be held at St. Mark's as usual. 
  
  
• This is also Covenant Soup Kitchen Sunday.  If you are interested in helping to prepare bag lunches, please reach out to Joan Doiron or Sondra Boyer for more information.
  
  
• Next Saturday is WAIM's Steeple Chase Bike Tour.  If you are interested in participating here is the link to sign up:  steeplechasebiketour.org
  
  
• On Sunday, September 23, Bishop Ahrens will lead the worship at services.  If you wish to be baptized, confirmed or received during the service, please let Rev. Brian know.  He will be offering two preparatory classes:  Sunday, September 16 from 12-1:30pm or Wednesday, September 19 at 7pm.
  
  
• All current Eucharistic Ministers and those wishing to be licensed to participate in this meaningful ministry are asked to attend a training/refresher session with Rev. Brian on Saturday, September 22 at 9am. 
  
  
• A new campus ministry will start when UConn resumes--there will be a Sunday night Campus Communion and Dinner every Sunday that UConn is in session, starting on Sunday, August 28.  Janet Belval is coordinating the dinners and welcomes help from those interested in campus ministry.  The first dinner will be a BBQ outside at the front of the church. 
  
  
• Another new campus ministry this fall is the initial gathering of the Progressive Christian Fellowship which will meet on Tuesday evenings at St. Mark's. Coming soon will be a calendar of events that the Campus Ministry Committee is putting together.  Much of the focus will be on social justice.    Many thanks to Janet Belval, Matt Ouellette, Jared Henderson and Rev. Brian for all their efforts to make this group a reality.
  
  
• Rev. Brian will be away next week as the Chaplain in Residence at Camp Washington.  He will be available for pastoral emergencies.   

There is still no update on the opening of the driveway.  Please continue to use the driveway by St. Thomas.

The audio for the Aug. 5, 2018 10 am Sunday service:

• Welcoming remarks and highlighting of announcements by Rev. Sara J. Anderson
• 2 Readings:  Exodus 16:2-4,9-15, Ephesians 4:1-16 (Amanda Hanzlik)
• Gospel:  John 6:24-35 (Rev. Sara J. Anderson)
• Sermon (Rev. Sara J. Anderson)

Aug. 2, 2018
Here is the news of the week:

• There is still time to sign up for Vacation Bible School which is next week from 9-12:30pm at Storrs Congregational Church.  Please use this link to register  tinyurl.com/2018StorrsVBS.
• And on Sunday, August 12 the 10am service will be a joint service with Storrs Congregational and the VBS kids at Storrs Congregational.  There will be at 8am service here at St. Mark's.
• Who is the weeding angel?  Thank you to whoever weeded the back patio.  After last week's rain, it was so necessary.
• The Organ Rededication Concert announced for September 28 has been postponed due to a scheduling conflicts for the organist.  A new date will be announced soon.  
• It is time to make a new schedule for Sunday Ministers--readers, intercessors, chalice bearers, ushers, readers, coffee hour hosts and flowers.  If you would like to participate in one of these ministries, please let the office know.  
• WAIM's benefit concert at the new Shaboo Stage is on Saturday, August 4.  Tickets can be purchased with this link:  

           https://tickets.beerfests.com/event/shabooreunions

• A new campus ministry will start when UConn resumes--there will be a Sunday night Campus Communion and Dinner every Sunday that UConn is in session, starting on Sunday, August 28.  Janet Belval is coordinating the dinners and welcomes help from those interested in campus ministry.  The first dinner will be a BBQ outside at the front of the church.  
• Another new campus ministry this fall is the initial gathering of the Progressive Christian Fellowship which will meet on Tuesday evenings at St. Mark's. Coming soon will be  a calendar of events that the Campus Ministry Committee is putting together.  Much of the focus will be on social justice.    Many thanks to Janet Belval, Matt Ouellette, Jared Henderson and Rev. Brian for all their efforts to make this group a reality.  
• The office received word this week of the death of Philip Issacson, who served as organist of both St Mark's and St. Thomas concurrently in the 1990's.  A talented church musician since his early teens, he died in Vermont and is survived by his wife, two children and three grandchildren. 
• Rev. Brian is on vacation until August 8.  Many thanks to Rev. Sara Anderson who will preside at both services this Sunday.  Ben Brockman will be available for pastoral emergencies while Rev. Brian is away.  
• Monday Meditations is cancelled for Monday, August 6.  
• There will be a memorial service for Kendall Rhee at St. Mark's on Sunday, August 12 at 3pm.  Rev. Ron Kolanowski will preside.  

Best wishes, Linda

Dear Friends:

The summer lull continues but there is progress on the construction on North Eagleville.  While the driveway remains closed, many areas of the road have seen the cessation of construction and temporary pavement is in place. Some of the fencing has been removed. 

Here are some updates:

• Due to vacation schedules, this Sunday's 10 am service will not be a Children's Service.  It will be a regular Rite ll service but a few Sunday Ministers were not scheduled.  At the 10am service both a chalice and a reader are needed.  Please let the office know if you can serve.
• The Last Sunday Offering for July collected on Sunday will go to support WAIM's Steeplechase Bike Race to support Perception Programs--for those suffering from addiction and mental health challenges. 
• On Sunday, August 12, the 10am service will be held at Storrs Congregational Church as part of the celebration of Vacation Bible School.  Please come to support the children and youth of the parish as they lead worship that Sunday.  The 8am service will take place at St. Mark's as regularly scheduled. 
• It is not too late to register children for VBS:  tinyurl/2018StorrsVBS.
• The Shaboo Stage in Willimantic is almost ready for its first concerts.  WAIM is hosting a Led Zeppelin tribute band on Saturday, August 4..  Proceeds benefit the WAIM,  the No Freeze Shelter and Covenant Soup Kitchen.  Tickets and information is available at:   https://tickets.beerfests.com/event/shabooreunion 
• Looking towards the fall, organist Charlie Houmard has received a grant from the American Guild of Organists to initiate an organ concert series.  The first event has been scheduled for Friday, September 28. This will be a organ rededication concert and reception. Ezequiel Menéndez, Director of Music at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford and Louis Hanzlik, trumpet,will be the guest artists.  More concerts are planned through the academic year.  Details and more information will be available soon.  Please mark your calendars!

Best wishes, Linda

The audio from the 10 am service on July 22, 2018, the 9th Sunday after Pentecost:

• Welcoming remarks and highlighting of announcements by Rev. Brian Blayer
• 1st Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-6 (Mark Healey)
• Psalm 23 (Mark Healey)
• 2nd Reading: Ephesians 2:11-22 (Mark Healey)
• Gospel:  Mark 6:1-13 (Rev. Brian Blayer)
• Sermon (Rev. Brian Blayer)

The audio for the July 15, 2018 10 am Sunday service:
Welcoming remarks and highlighting of announcements by Rev. Brian Blayer
Gospel:  Mark 6:1-13 (Rev. Brian Blayer)
Sermon (Rev. Brian Blayer)