A Franciscan Christmas Blessing for Justice & Peace

I've mentioned this blessing of St. Francis before.  Episcopal Suffragan Bishop of Diocese of SE Florida, retired, often uses a part of it in his closing blessing.  I've been fond of Bishop Said for many years. He's such a wonderful preacher and has had a big influence on my life.  St. Mark's was so blessed when we got down to the last 6 weeks before our new rector arrived last Spring and Bishop Frade asked Bishop Said if he would fill in.  Of course, that got me all excited because I'm such a big fan. 

Somebody posted it to an email group in it's entirely. May it bless you as much as it has me.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A Franciscan Christmas Blessing for Justice and Peace

May God bless you with discomfort...  at easy answers, hard hearts,  half-truths ,and superficial relationships.  May God bless you so that you may live  from deep within your heart  where God’s Spirit dwells.  May God bless you with anger...  at injustice, oppression,  and exploitation of people.  May God bless you so that you may  work for justice, freedom, and peace.  May God bless you with tears...  to shed for those who suffer from pain,  rejection, starvation and war.  May God bless you so that you  may reach out your hand  to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.  And may God bless you with  enough foolishness  to believe that you can make a difference  in this world, in your neighborhood,  so that you will courageously try  what you don't think you can do, but,  in Jesus Christ you'll have all the strength necessary.  May God bless you to fearlessly  speak out about injustice,  unjust laws, corrupt politicians,  unjust and cruel treatment of prisoners,  and senseless wars,  genocides, starvations, and poverty that is so pervasive.  May God bless you that you remember  we are all called  to continue God’s redemptive work  of love and healing  in God’s place, in and through God’s name,  in God’s Spirit, continually creating  and breathing new life and grace  into everything and everyone we touch.  Source: "Troubadour: A Missionary Magazine," published by the Franciscan Missionary Society, Liverpool, UK: Spring 2005.

Here We Come a Wassailling at St. Mark's Episcopal Church

Waissail is a contraction of the Old English toast, "wæs þu hæl, or "be thou hale!" (i.e., "be in good health").

In the old days in England, carolers would take their waisailling door to door, singing and sometimes rather tipsy and they wouldn't leave a resident's doorstep until they were given money to leave.

Last Sunday evening we celebrated our annual Wassail Party at St. Mark's. The Waissal is citris based and has no alcohol. The food was good, too!

November Integrity Meeting: Caring for the Earth

Integrity of the Palm Beaches had a great gathering Saturday night. Father Rasmus preached a great sermon.  The Thanksgiving potluck was great as was the opportunity to experience the fellowship with friends from our various congregations. 

After dinner,  Father Rasmus introduced the delegates from St. Andrew's and provided a report on the diocesan convention in Miami.

Deacon Pat gave a profoundly esoteric, but yet down to earth, dramatic presentation on caring for our environment through the lens of the Native American tradition.  Part Cherokee, Deacon Pat has studied Native American spirituality extensively for many years.

Regards,

Gordon

www.cafepress.com/fartotheleft 

Integrity of the Palm Beaches Resolution

Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida will meet on Nov 2nd and 3rd at our cathedral in Miami.

I'm looking forward to attending as a delegate and feel honored that St. Mark's elected me as a delegate.

Our leaders of Integrity of the Palm Beaches which meets at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Lake Worth have put together a resolution to be presented at the convention.

The resolution is posted below.

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Pictures of St. Mark's Episcopal Church members who are members of Integrity of the Palm Beaches:

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Resolution #7 Response to House of Bishops Meeting – September 2007 Whereas, we, the members of Integrity-Palm Beach, appreciate and wholeheartedly concur with the commitment of the House of Bishops in its recent meeting in New Orleans for "increasing the implementation of the listening process" with respect to matters relating to the full inclusion of gays and lesbians into the Anglican Communion, and with their "unequivocal and active commitment to the civil rights, safety, and dignity of gay and lesbian persons." Be it therefore resolved: That the Diocese of Southeast Florida demonstrate its commitment to implement the Bishops’ Statement that they "proclaim the Gospel that in Christ all God’s children, including gay and lesbian persons, are full and equal participants in the life of Christ’s Church" by: Urging the Archbishop of Canterbury to extend to the duly elected and consecrated Bishop of New Hampshire an invitation to full participation in the Lambeth Conference of 2008; Encouraging the Diocesan Deputies to the 2009 General Convention to work within the legislative process of General Convention to ensure the full and equal participation of gay and lesbian persons in all aspects of the Church’s ministry, including ordination as deacons, priests, and bishops; and Pursuing all means possible to create public liturgies to bless same-sex unions and establish the parameters within which such blessings may take place. Note: We thank Bishop Frade for his dedication to the inclusion process and look forward to his persistent support and leadership in seeking an end to the strife afflicting the Anglican Communion by continuing to proclaim loudly the Gospel message that all are equal in Christ. Submitted by Integrity-Palm Beach, the Rev. Paul A. Rasmus, and the Rev. B. Patricia Masterman

St. Mark's Episcopal Church Member Wins Chocolate and Wine Festival Drawing

The Annual Chocolate and Wine Extravaganza draws a lot of folks. Those who buy their tickets early get in. It paid off for Bruce, pictured here with Deacon Pat. Bruce won a lovely gift basket in the drawing.

St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Palm Beach Gardens welcomes Rev. Spencer Potter

On Sunday, July 15th,

St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Palm Beach Gardens, FL welcomed Rev. Spencer Potter as our new associate rector. 

WELCOME FATHER POTTER AND WIFE, ERIN!

A Franciscan Prayer

Bishop Suffragan (ret) John Said

Gordon and Bishop Said

Bishop Said confirmed me at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 10 years ago. He's been really great coming to the aid of our congregation in the last month of being without a rector for 3 years. He kept office hours at the church, lead an Adult Forum, provided pastoral needs, preached and was just wonderful. I've always liked Bishop Said. I consider the picture above taken two weeks ago, my 10 year anniversary of my confirmation.

Last Sunday, he closed the service with a beautiful prayer which I wanted to share with my readers:

May God bless you with discomfort ... at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger ... at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears ... to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough Holy foolishness ... to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done! Amen!

Farewell to Rev. Jeannie Part II Come to the Islands, Mon Part IV

Here are some more pictures from the great party. West Palm Beach TV News Anchor and St. Mark's member, John Favole and lovely wife Shannon, wife both dressed in white below seemed to be having a great time talking with Steve Whitney, our organist, and Maryly in the pretty blue dress. I love Maryle. I owe a debt of gratitude to her. It was Maryle, a retired scientist and President of Polk County Community College who found me better medical care. Maryle referred me to my neurologist, Dr. Brodie and away from Dr. Grumpy (TIC)! The Duke and Duchess with daughter Jennifer and hubby Ian are below as well as a great picture of Deacon Bob and friend, Keith Duke getting more food and immediately below the steel drummer.

Farewell to Rev. Jeannie Part II Come to the Islands, Mon Part III

The party included a magician/comedian, a steel drummer, parrots, cockatoos, torches, just about everything needed for an Island party.

Farewell to Rev. Jeannie Part II Come to the Islands, Mon

Rev. Martz's farewell continued on Sunday evening with her farewell party. It was only fitting that Rev. Jeannie, being an accomplished diver I tried to get the best pictures of the cake I could. One of our church member's,, Harry (pictured in the black flowered tropical shirt) is an architect. He baked the cake. Please note that every single shell and scallop on the cake and on the table around the cake are real cake not plastic decoration. Harry painstakingly used a variety of colors to make each shell look authentic. These are just a few of the many pictures I took.

Saying Goodbye to Pastor Jeannie Part I

21 of January, 2007 was Pastor Jeannie Martz's last Sunday at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Palm Beach Gardens, FL. I took my camera to church, but had a lot of difficulty taking pictures because my hand wasn't very steady and they were looking pretty blurred through the view finder. Rev. Jeannie's last words in her sermon were "a time to reap, a time to sow and a time to go," at which point I was trying to get the pictures through a sea of tears. Immediately when Jeannie said those words the congregation lept to their feet and applauded. Their wasn't a dry eye in the church.

It was also a time of healing, of coming together and having to accept the fact that it's been 3 years since we've had a full time Rector. Jannie had been Associate Rector at St. Mark's for 13 years. And the rules of TEC say that the Associate cannot become full time Rector in the same church as Associate. It was a hard pill to swallow for many of us. Father Cook comes to us from Minnesota in mid-February and we look forward to his arrival and wish Rev. Jeannie the best.

Later in the day, we had Rev. Jeannie's farewell party, "Come to the Islands, Mon" was the theme of the party. It was the best party in the 10 years I've been a member of St. Mark's. Rev. Jeannie left with some wonderful gifts including our cash gift of $13, 500. Yeah you get the point. We love her and everybody wanted to contribute something.