THE

LION’S TALE
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
The Rev. Dr. Lydia Agnew Speller, Rector
4714 Clifton Ave
St Louis MO 63109
314/832-3588
www.saintmarks-stl.org

FEBRUARY 2010
SHROVE TUESDAY
FEBRUARY 16, 2010
At 6:00 p.m. we will have an
Intergenerational Shrove Tuesday/Ash
Wednesday 20 minute service. It will be
an opportunity to receive ashes in a
BISHOP’S VISITATION
liturgy that is accessible to all ages.
Pancakes will be provided before the Sunday, February 21st
service and after the service. (Note: At The First Sunday of Lent
this service the church will be darkened No 7: 30 a.m. service on this day.
and we will have laser lights, glitter, and Our bishop, the Rt. Rev. George Wayne Smith,
beauty.) will preach and preside. The bishop is the sign of
our unity in Christ and our link to larger church
PANCAKE SUPPER
5:00 –7:00 p.m. 9 a.m. Bishop’s Forum
Adults $4.00, Children $2.00
A chance to learn from the bishop about his vision
$12.00 max per family
for the diocese.
Kevin Tracy will be in charge of serving
up pancakes and all the trimmings.
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
“Shrove Tuesday” is the English version of
the custom Mardi Gras, a day of 11:30 a.m. Reception
indulgence before the self-denial of the
Lenten season.
Please bring an hors d’oeuvre or cookies for a
. ASH WEDNESDAY “pot luck” reception for our bishop.
FEBRUARY 17TH Kittie Golomski is coordinating the reception.
HOLY EUCHARIST &
IMPOSITION OF ASHES
NOON AND 7:30 P.M.
The Rev. Dan Smith, Canon to the Ordinary
will be the celebrant and preacher.

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 WHAT’S COMING UP?
FRIDAYS 10:30 A.M. Study Group
TUESDAY, FEB. 16TH Shrove Tuesday
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17TH Ash Wednesday
FRIDAY, FEB. 19TH Movie Night
SUNDAY, FEB. 21ST Bishop’s Visitation (see
p. 1)
SATURDAY, FEB. 27TH Hall Rentals
SUNDAY, FEB. 28TH St. Louis Fashion Doll
Club
Hymn Sing for Haiti,
4:00 pm., Sunday,
February 28th,
at Christ Church Cathedral
There will be singing from the hymnal that
Episcopalians here and in Haiti share.
Join us in singing for Haiti, and in praying
for Haiti. A free-will offering will be taken to
support the work of Episcopal Relief and
Development, currently on the ground in
Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Singing
will be lead by the Cathedral Choir, Canon
William Partridge, organist. John Stewart,
Director of Vocal Studies at Washington
University, and cathedral member, will
conduct. For more information on the Haiti
situation and Episcopal response, please
visit the Diocese of Missouri's website,
diocesemo.org.
New Line Theatre Group
The theatre group will again be using our
parish hall on Mondays, Tuesday and
Thursdays from 6-10 pm beginning on
Feb. 18th. Please keep this in mind when
planning any meetings.
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WEDNESDAY EVENING
LENT SERIES
“Countering Pharaoh’s Production-
Consumption Society Today”
Featuring Walter Brueggemann.
The 5 week series will begin on February
24th. We will meet in the parish hall at
6:30 and have a light supper. The class
will be led by the rector and by the Rev.
Susan Nanny.
ALSO. . . 2010 LENTEN MEDITATIONS
A booklet provided by Episcopal Relief &
Development “Healing Ourselves and a
Hurting World” will be available during
Lent at the back of church.
COMMUNITY GARDEN
We are accepting applications for people who
would like to be community gardeners.
Gardeners don’t need to be affiliated with this
or any church in any way. They need to be
committed to tending their bed and
cooperating with other gardeners in caring for
common areas of the garden. If you are
interested, please contact the Rev. Susan
Nanny, Kittie Golomski or call the parish
office.
THE NEXT FREE MOVIE
NIGHT is Friday, February
19th at 7:30 p.m. The movie
will be “Guys and Dolls”
with Marlon Brando, Jean
Simmons and Frank
Sinatra. In the parish hall.
Popcorn available. Invite all
your friends
 NOTES FROM THE JANUARY 14,
2010 VESTRY MEETING
FINANCIAL REPORT
The report for December 2009 was reviewed.
Monies increased the Organ/Art Fund due to the
exchange rate. The use of this will be discussed
later.
CLERGY CONCERNS
Lydia will be reading the General Ordination
Exams and then taking one week of vacation in
Feb. She will be reading the General Ordination
Exams in CT. from Feb. 8-12 and return on Feb.
20.
At the Annual Meeting on Jan. 24, we will honor
the young people who worked so hard at the flea
market. We will also elect new vestry members
and delegates.
The Bishop’s visit will be on Feb.21. There will
be no 7:30 service. There will be a parish meeting
with the Bishop at 9am. After the 10am service
and coffee hour, the vestry will have lunch with
the Bishop. We agreed that this will serve as the
Feb. vestry meeting.
MEMBER CONCERNS
Doug discussed fundraising and the flea market.
He proposed suggestions to reorganize the
schedule and storage.
OLD BUSINESS
Community Garden—Susan Nanny reported by
email that several grants have been submitted for
construction. Bids have been received for the
concrete patio. They hope to start building garden
beds in March.
Stewardship Final Report—John suggested that
the parish financial meeting should be earlier and
pledge cards sent out earlier.
Nominating Committee Final Report—Doug
reported on a complete slate of vestry and delegate
candidates.
Budget for 2010—The worksheet was reviewed,
amended and a deficit smaller that last year was
noted. We hope to make this up with an increase
in fundraising. Jeff made a motion to pass the
budget. This was seconded and the budget was
passed.
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REPORTS AND UPDATES
Kelly reported that the attendance at the move
nights has been “ok” but will reevaluate this
activity at the end of the schedule.
Organ committee—Barbara reported that plans are
moving along for the April concert.
Property update—The furnace has been fixed.
Someone from the Emil Frei Co. came to evaluate
the church windows.
A committee will decide on how to make the new
entrance welcoming. The new entrance doors are
open 15min before and after the 10am service.
Celeste is doing this now, but eventually the alter
guild will take charge.
The plaza area lights were discussed. John
suggested that a new property be formed to
evaluate the lights.
NOTES FROM THE ANNUAL
MEETING ON JANUARY 24, 2010
New Vestry Members are Mitchell Shelton, Margaret
Hvatum, Kevin Tracy and Rita Mauchenheimer for 3
yr terms. Convention Delegate is Ellen Jeffery.
Treasurer Sue Healey thanked the parish for their
faithfulness in returning pledges in 2009. We went
over the 2010 budget. Pledges, as well as expenses
will increase in 2010.
We hope the deficit of 10.33% will decrease with
fundraising.
Tom Simon thanked the parish and the fundraising
committee for great work through store cards and
events.
Rita Diekemper explained the endowment fund.
Investment income was better in 2009 in spite of
the volatility of the market. Organ/accessibility
payments are almost complete. Remaining of the
Proehl Fund is in Money Market Funds.
The rector presented thank you gifts to the young
people who worked so hard at the flea market and
also thanked the outgoing Vestry members.
Respectfully submitted by Barbara Macke

EVOLUTION SUNDAY
FEBRUARY 14TH
There is a growing movement
among religious congregations to
devote one Sunday per year to
promoting serious dialogue on
science and religion and to bearing
witness that many religious people
do not feel that the scientific theory
of evolution is incompatible with
religious faith. This is the fifth
year of this national project. The
Rev. Warren Crews will be the
celebrant and preacher.
NEW DIRECTORY AVAILABLE
Copies of the new directory (which also
contains the birthday list) are available at
the back of church.
Also if you did not get a copy of the Annual
Report from the Annual Meeting, there are
extra copies at the back of church.
TRANSITION CAFÉ –
AN UNEMPLOYMENT GROUP
Do you know anyone who is looking for
work or feeling discouraged about the
search? Join Susan Nanny and Beth
Pearson on Tuesdays from 9:00 -10:00
am. You’ll find practical help and have
the chance to talk about your feelings
with people who understand the struggle.
For the St. Mark’s Calendar, please visit our website www.saintmarks-stl.org and click on the
calendar tab.
REBUILD THE WALL AGAINST
HUNGER
Saturday, February 20th 5:30-10:30 pm
The Mahler Ballroom, 4915
Washington Ave
An Auction, Dinner and Dance sponsored
by Trinity Episcopal Church. Proceeds
will be used for the repair of the Trinity
community room that hosts the Food
Pantry, the Hot Lunch Program and the
Meals on Wheels Program. $35/person or
$300 for a table of ten. For more
information see the bulletin board in the
parish hall or trinityepiscopal.net. Let’s
try to put a St. Mark’s table together.
Reply by Feb. 10th.
LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE
The newly formed Landscape Committee
met for the first time in mid-January.
The goal of the committee is to produce
and implement a landscape plan for the
church properties. At our first meeting
we toured the grounds and made note of
curb appeal and design style to
complement the existing building. We
identified usage of areas and particular
bed placement. We are recording our
discussion points on the plot plan. At
the next meeting on February 14 we will
discuss priorities and specific plants.
Anyone interested in the making our
church buildings and grounds welcoming
and appealing to visitors and
parishioners is welcome to attend.
WEATHER NEWS: Please
check the office “call
notes” [832-3588] which
contains a menu for
events cancelled or
rescheduled because of
wintry weather. We will
try to keep the list updated during bad
weather