St. Mark's Episcopal Church - Mesa, AZ
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COVID-19 Info from Fr. G.

3/16/2020

 
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

As your priest I am concerned for everyone’s well being, both physically and spiritually. After prayerful consideration and consultation with my wardens, I am making the following temporary alterations to our worship services:
  1. Wednesday service including Stations of the Cross and Friday Lenten Program with Stations of the Cross will continue as scheduled.
  2. During Sunday services, please observe the following guidelines:
    1. Instead of passing the offertory plate from hand to hand, it will be placed on a table in the front of the sanctuary and parishioners may place their offerings directly in the plate.
    2. During the Peace please avoid handshakes, hugs, and other physical contact, instead please acknowledge the Peace will a loving word, thought or gesture.
    3. During communion, until further notice, I will administer only the Host as a full communion.
    4. ​During Lion’s Den, hand sanitizer will be available on a table near the serving table. I strongly encourage everyone to please use the sanitizer prior to selecting snacks or beverages. I am asking each ministry that hosts Lion’s Den to wipe down the tables with disinfectant that will be provided.
  3. Pastoral care team visits will occur only in parishioner’s homes. Only I will make visits to parishioners in assisted living or hospital facilities, that way I am the only one at risk, minimizing exposure to our church family.
  4. Temporarily, I would like to begrudgingly ask our members to avoid trips to the office during the week unless absolutely necessary. Please call ahead to make an appointment.
  5. For now the Food Pantry and MarkDowns Thrift Store will continue to operate as normally scheduled until further notice as we anticipate that there will be an increased need for these ministries as this pandemic continues. Those volunteers are asked to take reasonable precautions and additional cleaning measures.

I continue to urge everyone to stay home if they are not feeling well, to wash their hands regularly, cough or sneeze into their elbows, and all the other reasonable precautions. Have faith, pray constantly and for each other. God will get us through this difficult time, together.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Gerardo Brambila+

Helpful resources:
  • CDC updates and recommendations regarding COVID-19
  • The Episcopal Church's online resource page regarding COVID-19
  • Episcopal Relief & Development

Re“Mark”able News - 8 March 2020

3/9/2020

 
Today's Readings: Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17

Noticias Re"Mark"ados (anuncios en español)

Invest In Hope: Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” Genesis 12:1

The journey of Abraham to a new land is really the beginning of the Jewish-Christian story. Abraham’s willingness to step out in faith and persistence encourages us to do the same as we journey through this season of Lent.

Invest in Hope Matching Capital Campaign: We have a family in our parish that is willing to move their bequest forward from their deaths into 2020, where it will be sorely needed. But they would also like to have other parishioners participate. So they invite and challenge us to give to the campaign, and they will match our donations dollar for dollar, up to $50,000 on their part. Write "Match" in the memo line of your check to identify your contribution or if giving cash, place in a giving envelope found in the pews and write your name and “match” on the front.

Life Line Screening: A leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, is pleased to offer a preventive health event at St. Mark's Episcopal Church on 3/21/2020. Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems –see flyer in Narthex for more information. Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. There are three ways to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call toll-free 1-888-653-6441 or visit http://lifelinescreening.com/ communitycircle or text the word circle to 797979

Daughters of the King Shoe Drive: Members of the DOK are asking for gently worn or new women’s shoes (please no sandals, flip flops or heels) for women leaving prison as some have no shoes when they are released.

Altar Guild: Members of St. Mark’s, we need your help to carry out the tasks of the Altar Guild for all services (before and after mass). Please talk to Father Gerardo if you are willing to help. Thanks in advance!

MarkDowns Thrift Store Sales: Parishioner Sale on Sunday March 15 and March 22: everything 1/2 off! In addition, our thrift store will be holding a Spring Fling Sale on Thursday March 19 (9 am—1 pm), Friday March 20 (9 am—1 pm) and Saturday, March 21 (9 am-3 pm).

Upcoming Ministry Meetings:
  • Daughters of the King: March 11, 11 am
  • Altar Guild: March 21, 10 am
  • St. Mark’s Brotherhood: Rescheduled; date to be determined
  • Bishop’s Committee: Tuesday, March 24, 5:30 pm

Mark Your Calendars:
  • Laying on of Hands and Anointing with Oil, last Sunday of every month
  • Stations of the Cross: Wednesdays at 10 am with Lenten program to follow (bring a bag lunch); Fridays at 6pm beginning with Soup Supper and Lenten program, followed by the Stations of the Cross. Soup Supper Hosting Schedule:
    • March 13: Food Pantry
    • March 20: Cursillo and MarkDowns Thrift Store
    • March 27: St. Mark’s Singers/Pastoral Care
  • Cursillo Ultreya-CANCELLED
  • Life Line Screening, Saturday, March 21, 9 am-4 pm; info flyers in the Narthex
  • Sunday, April 5, Palm Sunday-regular service times; procession with Mesa Caledonian Pipe Band
  • Maundy Thursday, April 9, 7 pm-Foot washing and stripping of the altar
  • Good Friday, April 10: Stations of the Cross at 11:30 followed by service at 12 pm
  • Easter Sunday: 6 am Sunrise; 8 am Spanish; 10 am English
  • St. Mark’s Day-April 26-one bilingual service with potluck to follow 

Full announcements (pdf)

Re“Mark”able News - 1 March 2020

3/1/2020

 
PictureChrist in the Wilderness by Ivan Kramskoi [public domain]
Today's readings: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 

Noticias Re"Mark"ados (anuncios en español)

Invest In Hope: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him."  Matthew 4:10 
 
While being tempted by the devil, Jesus was encouraged to forget his purpose, forget his task, forget his God. But he didn’t. Instead he rededicated himself to God and to God’s service. We too are called to rededicate ourselves to God and to God’s service.  
 
Invest in Hope Matching Capital Campaign:  We have a family in our parish that is willing to move their bequest forward from their deaths into 2020, where it will be sorely needed. But they would also like to have other parishioners participate. So they invite and challenge us to give to the campaign, and they will match our donations dollar for dollar, up to $50,000 on their part. Write "Match" in the memo line of your check to identify your contribution or if giving cash, place in a giving envelope found in the pews and write your name and “match” on the front. 
 
Daughters of the King Shoe Drive:  Members of the DOK are asking for gently worn or new women’s shoes (please no sandals, flip flops or heels) for women leaving prison as some have no shoes when they are released.  
 
Altar Guild: Members of St. Mark’s, we need your help to carry out the tasks of the Altar Guild for all  services (before and after mass). Please talk to Father Gerardo if you are willing to help. Thanks in advance! 
 
Join Us for our Lenten Program:  On Wednesdays during Lent, we will begin with Stations of the Cross at 10 am, followed by the healing Eucharist as usual. After the service, there will be a Lenten Program and everyone is encouraged to bring a bag lunch.  On Fridays, we will 
begin with the Soup Supper at 6 pm in Knight Hall with Lenten Program during dinner, followed by Stations of the Cross inside the church.  
 
MarkDowns Thrift Store Spring Fling: Our thrift store will be holding a Spring Fling Sale on Thursday March 19 (9 am—1 pm), Friday March 20 (9 am—1pm) and Saturday, March 21 (9 am-3pm). 
 
Upcoming Ministry Meetings: 
  • Daughters of the King: March 11, 11 am
  • Altar Guild: March 21, 10 am
  • St. Mark’s Brotherhood: Rescheduled; date to be determined
  • Bishop’s Committee: Tuesday, March 24, 7 pm
 
Mark Your Calendars:
  • Laying on of Hands and Anointing with Oil, last Sunday of every month
  • Stations of the Cross: Wednesdays at 10 am with Lenten program to follow; Fridays at 6pm beginning with Soup Supper and Lenten program, followed by the Stations of the Cross.
  • Soup Supper Hosting Schedule:
    • March 6: Altar Guild/Daughters of the King/Ushers
    • March 13: Food Pantry
    • March 20: Cursillo and MarkDowns Thrift Store
    • March 27: St. Mark’s Singers/Pastoral Care
  • Cursillo Ultreya-CANCELLED
  • Life Line Screening, Saturday, March 21, 9 am-4 pm; info flyers available soon
  • Sunday, April 5, Palm Sunday-regular service times; procession with Mesa Caledonian Pipe Band
  • Maundy Thursday, April 9, 7 pm-Foot washing and stripping of the altar
  • Good Friday, April 10: Stations of the Cross at 11:30 followed by service at 12 pm
  • Easter Sunday: 6 am Sunrise; 8 am Spanish; 10 am English 

Full Announcements (pdf)

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  • Home
  • Worship
  • Announcements
    • Anuncios
  • Seeking and Learning
    • Baptism/Confirmation
  • Get Involved
    • Ministries
    • Food Pantry/Thrift Store
  • Calendar
  • About
    • Church Staff
  • Contact us
    • Giving