Saint Mark's News & Eventshttp://www.saintmarksphiladelphia.org/news/en-US2008-08-07T20:24:57ZSquarespace Site Server v5.0.0 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Rector's Letter regarding the Bishop's trialhttp://www.saintmarksphiladelphia.org/news/2008/6/29/rectors-letter-regarding-the-bishops-trial.htmlSean Mullen2008-06-29T17:54:25Z28 June 2008

Dear Friends in Christ,

As you probably know by now, our bishop, Charles Bennison, has recently faced charges before an ecclesiastical court that he failed to respond properly when he discovered, more than 30 years ago, that his brother was involved in a relationship with an under-age girl in the parish where Bishop Bennison was then rector; his brother was the paid youth minister of the parish. A second accusation is that Bishop Bennison continued to conceal his knowledge of his brother’s behavior over the ensuing years at times when it might have been appropriate to divulge that knowledge. This past week a church court decided on both charges that our bishop had engaged in “conduct unbecoming” a member of the clergy.

This decision does not mark the end of this very unhappy chapter in our diocese’s life and the lives of all those involved in the case. Another hearing will be held before a sentence is handed down. Then the bishop has an opportunity to appeal the court’s decision, which he has said he will do. We have several months to go before the matter will finally be settled for the church.

The sadness, disappointment, and frustration in this diocese seem to be accumulating with many layers. The fact of abuse in the church – no matter how distant in time – is a painful reality that is not so distant, perhaps, for other victims in other places. We are diminished as a church without a functional bishop, even though we have become accustomed to coping with dysfunction.

At Saint Mark’s our daily pattern of life – often kept by only a half dozen souls at a given mass, a dozen at another, and a handful or so at the daily offices – bears witness to our commitment to prayer and to the need of every person for forgiveness. In the years that I have been praying daily in this parish church it has become clearer and clearer to me that Christ’s ministry of healing, forgiveness, peace, and reconciliation is often wrought silently and secretly when we show up to pray, sometimes out of nothing but a sense of obligation. The church needs the witness of such a pattern of prayer as much as ever today. It is a vitally important response to the turmoil we find ourselves in when we look beyond the parish bounds.

Christ is known here at Saint Mark’s, and it is only a simple statement of faith to say that he knows us, too. When we remember that he said that he came not for the righteous but for sinners, it may become clear to us why he is known here, and why he knows us. And we may rejoice that in knowing and being known by Christ we affix our hopes to his promise that in him all things are made new. God knows we need it!

Faithfully,

(The Rev.) Sean E. Mullen
Rector

]]>New Curate Appointedhttp://www.saintmarksphiladelphia.org/news/2008/6/16/new-curate-appointed.htmlSean Mullen2008-06-16T19:28:49ZDeacon Paul Francke concluded his service as Curate on Sunday, June 15. He returns to West Virginia with the prayers and affection of the parish.

The Reverend Andrew Ashcroft has been called to take up the position of Curate. Andrew, his wife Jennye and their six-month-old daughter Esme will be moving to Philadelphia from New York City over the summer. Andrew's first Sunday will be August 24. Andrew is a recent graduate of the General Theological Seminary in New York. Before completeing his theological studies he worked as a carpenter, among other things. We look forward to welcoming Andrew and his family in August.

]]>ONE campaign to end global povertyhttp://www.saintmarksphiladelphia.org/news/2008/5/25/one-campaign-to-end-global-poverty.htmlSean Mullen2008-05-25T11:02:58ZEvery person can make a differennce in the lives of those struggling with poverty and hunger across the globe. Saint Mark's joins with the ONE campaign to help make a difference. Click this link to learn more about the Millenium Development Goals and to find out how you can help!

]]>Relief for Victims of Natural Disastershttp://www.saintmarksphiladelphia.org/news/2008/5/7/relief-for-victims-of-natural-disasters.htmlSean Mullen2008-05-07T14:39:34ZA special collection was taken on Sunday May 11 for conributions to relief for the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma. As a result, Saint Mark's has sent more than $1,600 to the Emergency Relief Fund of Episcopal Relief and Development, the international aid agency of the Episcopal Church. ER-D is working with the Anglican Church of Burma to get emergency funds where they are most needed.

The Emergency Relief Fund will now be drawn on to assist with relief for the victims of the devastating earthquake in China. ER-D is also involved in the response to tornadoes in the Mid-west and South-eastern US.

Contributions to all of these relief efforts can be made at any time through the ER-D website: er-d.org.

ER-D's established partnership enable them to get help where it is needed. Their work is a crucial witness to the Gospel and to our church's care for our neighbors, be they near or far.

]]>A Master Plan for Saint Mark'shttp://www.saintmarksphiladelphia.org/news/2008/5/7/a-master-plan-for-saint-marks.htmlSean Mullen2008-05-07T13:30:29ZAt a special meeting on May 1st the Vestry of Saint Mark's received the recommendation of the Buildings & Property Committee to engage John Milner Architects of Chadd's Ford, PA to produces a Master Plan that will include an historic preservation plan and a space utilization plan for all three buildings on the property. The goals established last year by the Strategic Planning Group were to
• preserve and enhance the beauty and structural integrity of this National Historic Landmark for future generations.
• ensure that the ministries of Saint Mark’s are carried out in a modern, safe, and secure physical plant.

The B&P Committee met with the architects on May 6 to begin to discuss the method of formulating a Master Plan. In addition to a complete survey of the existing conditions of all our buildings, their structural and mechanical systems, the architects will conduct meetings and interviews with various groups and leaders of ministries within the parish to determine how best to use space that is currently underutilized and re-configure space that could work better to enable our mission. The entire parish can expect to hear a good deal about this process in the coming months. We expect to finalize a Master Plan by some time late in 2008 so that we can then begin a discussion about doing the work that needs to be done and paying for it.

]]>Saint Mark's Adopts Mission, Vision & Values Statementshttp://www.saintmarksphiladelphia.org/news/2008/4/7/saint-marks-adopts-mission-vision-values-statements.htmlSean Mullen2008-04-07T19:52:34ZAfter engaging in a process of prayer, discussion, and consultation with the entire Parish, the Vestry recently adopted a mission statement for Saint Mark's. The leadership of the parish sees this as an important early step in strategically planning for the challenges and opportunities the parish faces in the coming years. In addition to the mission statement, the Vestry also adopted vision and values statements. These steps are taken with the conviction that the health and welfare of the parish are linked to a clear articulation and shared understanding of our mission, vision, and values.

Mission Statement
Saint Mark’s is a community

that gathers in faith,

serves in love

and proclaims hope,

through Jesus Christ.

Vision Statement
Saint Mark’s is a welcoming church that seeks to grow

through spiritual nourishment, evangelism and outreach,

bearing witness in the Anglo-Catholic tradition

to God’s grace in Philadelphia and the wider church.

Values Statement
Saint Mark’s is a loving community that values:
•   reverent sacramental worship
•   gracious hospitality
•   generous outreach
•   comprehensive Christian formation

The Vestry met in September 2007 to discuss draft versions of all these statements, and to pray about the mission of the parish. Those drafts were circulated by mail to the entire Parish with notice of three opportunities to provide feedback in open forums throughout the Fall. In due course, a fourth session for parish feedback was scheduled to accommadate as many voices and ideas as we could. At a second retreat in January 2008 the Vestry reviewed the feedback collected from the parish and spent time in prayer again to make changes as seemed approriate to reflect the mind of the parish at large as well as the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we were able to discern it. Together, the Vestry and clergy agreed to the final versions of these statements and pledged to continue to engage in a process of strategic planning to enable the growth and impact of the ministries of Saint Mark's.]]>Parish Calendar 2007-2008http://www.saintmarksphiladelphia.org/news/2007/9/4/parish-calendar-2007-2008.htmlSean Mullen2007-09-04T20:15:21ZSaint Mark’s is a community of prayer, worship, learning and fellowship, among other things. We are a community of open doors, welcoming many into our midst, and hoping that many new members will join us in our spiritual pilgrimage with God. This calendar lays out a significant portion of our liturgical and special program offerings for the year, but by no means does it include everything that’s happening at Saint Mark’s. Much more information – especially about Christian Education and Formation for children and adults - will be found by contacting the Parish Office or by consulting our website. We hope this calendar will help you see at a glance some of what’s happening in our Parish and will make it easier for you to participate as much as you are able.

The calendar can be found here.

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