“The Grace of God has come, bringing salvation to all” (Titus 2:11).
Worship:
St. Marks is a very traditional church utilizing the Book of Common Prayer and music primarily from the 1982 Hymnal. Some music is chosen from the LEVAS II and the Celebration Hymnal. The Holy Eucharist is the focal point of our worship and was administered on Sunday at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a. m. each week except for March 20th when the 10:00a.m. worship service was moved to 2:00 p.m. for the Celebration of New Ministry. A Healing Prayer Service with Holy Eucharist was held each week except for 4 times when the Rector was either on vacation, attending the Clergy Conference, or at Kanuga Retreat Conference Center in North Carolina.
Evening Healing Prayer services were held from January through the second week of Easter. On the 3rd Wednesday of each month a healing Prayer Service with the administration of the Holy Eucharist was held at Cross Roads Rehabilitation Center. The regular attendees are multi-denominational, including, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics and Lutherans. In 2011 we reintroduced a Lenten Evangelism/Mission service each Wednesday Evening, and a 3-hour Good Friday Service. We also added a special Holy Saturday Service for those who prepare the sanctuary for worship each week. We maintained the tradition of observing two penitential seasons Lent and Advent. In addition, we continue to show the diversity and richness of the Book of Common Prayer by utilizing all six Eucharistic prayers and many of the designated Prayers of the People.
Pastoral Care
I have joined the Heart of Florida Chaplains Group and the Heart of Florida Community of Christian Churches. The first group focuses on the spiritual well-being of persons who are patients in the hospital, and the second organization focuses on Praise and Acts of Service throughout Haines City. The Parish Pastoral Care is paramount to my understanding of mission field work. My mantra is: None who calls St. Mark’s their home Church should be forgotten. With that in mind, several people were trained to serve the sick and shut-ins and administer the blessed elements on those visits. Worship bulletins are mailed out to persons who are not able to attend communal worship on service days. Members of the congregation and I have made several visits to people who are not sick, but because of work-schedule may be unable to attend service. Such visits are usually a combination of Bible study, prayer, and the administration of the Holy Eucharist.
Teaching:
Last January, I conducted a teaching series for Lay Eucharistic Ministers, Lay Eucharistic Visitors, and Worship Leaders. This produced a cadre of ministers who have augmented the visiting ministry in a profound way; as a result, people are visited on a regular basis. As we continue, I am hoping to step-up in the area of the Ministry of Presence. This will teach those ministers what Job’s friends did for seven days when he had his unexpected struggles—they showed up and kept silent. Later in the year I conducted a work-shop for those who worked at the Altar each week. This was a sharing of ideas and customs which several of the attendees had employed at different churches. We picked the best practices and combined them with the customs at St. Mark’s and we are well on our way to a smoother flow at the altar each week. During the month of August, we conducted a Forum of Youth and a Youth Forum, this was in connection and conjunction with the Lamb of God Lutheran Church.
During the summer I conducted a Bible Study—taking a look at the Historical Books of the Bible—Joshua to 11 Chronicles. We will follow that pattern of teaching as we will be looking next at the life and teachings of Abraham.
In February 2012, thirty one (31) persons will set sail for a 4-day Teaching, Mission and Fellowship trip. This is part of the Bishop’s initiative for congregations to make a cross-cultural Mission Trip. On board, we will commence a teaching series on the differences and similarities of the Anglican Church and the Episcopal Church. In the summer we will commence a teaching on Abraham—the sojourner
Special Events
Several events were introduced to the church in 2011.
· The Red and White Valentine’s Day Ball. This was a fun evening with a flavor of the holiday with dinner and dancing. Doug and Michele.
· Hat’s on to the Ladies—a Hat Show with an up-scale tea party developed and designed by Lady Genevieve.
· Rector’s Mother’s Day Luncheon—honored three ladies from the congregation.
· Casual Sunday (End of Summer Bar-B-Q, (last Sunday in August) designed and developed by Gene and Rick.
· Rector’s Anniversary Luncheon. Designed by Terry and Lorraine.
· Youth Service at Cross Roads Rehabilitation Center. Designed by Deacon Nancy.
· Joint Ascension Day Service at The Lamb of God Lutheran church at the invitation of Pastor Joe Conner.
· Vestry and Staff Fellowship Dinner, at the invitation of Lady Genevieve.
Administration
Our office hours have changed to streamline the work to obtain more productivity with more concentration. The office is closed on Monday, Tuesday is a quiet day, and is open 10:00a to 2:00p Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We asked that notices for the bulletin for the upcoming Sunday be received in the office no later than the Tuesday prior to the Sunday service. The service bulletin has improved significantly, but continues to be a weekly work in progress.
Buildings
The Canons of the Church specifically indicate that the use of the buildings is under the control of the Rector. The worship space continues to be a challenge as we continue to experience increased attendance at our 10:00a worship services. God has placed before us what He has in mind for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church to accommodate those who are here and those who are coming. We will build a new sanctuary.
Sharing and making room for the children is a priority and we need to understand that our children mirror our behavior. If we are selfish and uncaring, they will be also. We are the persons we are today because someone cared enough about each of us to be sure we had a place in the home, on the playground, in the school, and at church. Brushing our children and placing people’s discards ahead of them is unwise and unconscionable, but that seem to resonate with me quite differently from others who can help make the correct decision for the sake of our children. I believe the area downstairs can be shared with the youth, but the wisdom of that idea still awaits some illumination on the part of many.
Parochial Statistics
2010 2011
Increase in membership from previous year: 17 32
Decrease in membership from previous year: 4 8
Active baptized members 200 224
Communicants in good standing 76 87
Active person not registered as Episcopalians 11 18
Average Sunday Attendance 103 133
Easter Sunday 154 185
Youth 9 19
Pledging Units 49 57
Private Communion 29 43
Personal
On a personal note, last May, Genevieve and I purchased a home in Haines City and relocated from St. Cloud. This move enabled us to extend hospitality to many church members and to respond to telephone calls and hospitals in the area in a more timely fashion. However, it is to be noted that my parish extends from St. Cloud to Lakeland and from Orlando to Bartow. This wide expansive area calls for long trips and careful planning to maximize the use of gasoline and minimize the wear and tear on the physical body.
Most of the parishioners have been welcomed guest in our home and as we understand the ministry to which God has called us; Genevieve plans to have several groups over for tea or a chat as often as possible. Our immediate neighbors have been most welcoming which has added a measure of comfort in our new surroundings.
Looking Ahead
As we look towards the future, we see the hand of God in every aspect of growth and development at St. Mark’. Each week, we observe how people are blessed with joy from their worship experience and how the expressions inform us that God’s church is enriching their lives. In the Spring we will consecrate The Reverend Gregory Brewer as our new bishop. I do not foresee any major changes in the way we conduct business in the Diocese, but as your Rector let me assure you that I stand ready to work with the bishop for the building up of God’s kingdom. Currently I serve on five Diocesan commissions, but my service is at the pleasure of the Bishop. Not sure that I will continue on those boards, but as I mentioned above, I will cooperate with our bishop.
This year we will welcome The Reverend Margaret Hayes who will be installed here as a Deacon on January 15, 2012. Deacon Margaret will be a strong additional asset to our Clergy Team. Her presence and work will help to bolster the pastoral care unit and the philosophy “No one who calls St. Marks their home church must be forgotten.” We plan to maintain the traditional worship-style of services, both on Sunday and during the week.
It is our hope to increase the visits to the Cross Roads Rehabilitation Center from the third Wednesday in the month to the first and third Wednesday of each month. We believe that the more active we become the more joy we will bring to those who are bereft of joy.
With those things in mind, we continue to pursue the vision that God has placed before us for the building of a new sanctuary to make space for our ever increasing number of worshippers. To make that happen there are several teams which must be developed for the proper outcome of the project. We already have a design team. We will need a Fund-Raising Team: Capital Campaign Team: Documents and bidding Team: Communication Team: Construction Team: Furnishing Team and a Music Instrument Team:
The design team began its work a month ago and is well on its way to producing the changes suggested and agreed upon. We will move forward, and compile your input into a transactional mode—moving from words with a practical rendering of what we will build. We hope to post this rendering by the end of February 2012.
We are thankful to the City Officials for their cooperation in making it possible for us to utilize the land we now have without regard to the stringent requirements of the existing regulation on parking. With God’s help we will break ground on the southwest corner of the property on October 21, 2012 to commence the start of a new building at 102 N 9th Street Haines City. There are lots to be done between now and then. Some will be easier to accomplish than others, but we believe with prayer and Christian cooperation we will surmount each potential obstacle.
As we move forward, let us continue to trust God with our hopes and fears. Let us continue to ask God to crystallize the vision he has placed before us. Let us understand that God stands ready to give us what we need. He said, ask it and it will be given. This is a promise of the Gospel. This is the promise and scripture reminds us that nothing is impossible with God.
I have asked the Vestry to be in prayer at noon each day even if it is for just two minutes. We need to raise our voices to God in unison and ask for a clear path to the vision and mission God has placed before us. We need to pray that hearts will be turned towards what God has set before us. We need to pray for the strength to focus and be encouraged to properly handle the things of God. Let the following congregational prayer be our private prayer also.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, send your Holy Spirit to guide and direct your church as we look to the future with the true understanding of the revelation of your promises. Give the leadership the right thinking speaking and actions, that we in turn may encourage the entire congregation to the richness of your bountiful goodness, so that your Name may be glorified in all we do, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. May God bless us all.
