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	January 2009 Calendar   St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Mystic, Connecticut

Most events are held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 15 Pearl Street, Mystic, CT 06355. Events held at other locations are emphasized by this font. Holy days and most secular holidays are noted this way. 2 Christmas, for example, means the 2^nd Sunday of Christmas.

Daily or weekly events, such as Morning Prayer, the Holy Eucharist at StoneRidge, are described in detail on the Description & Schedule Page, along with some monthly events such as the Healing Service.

In January there are two important meetings that will have a large impact on the future of St. Mark's Parish. The Budget Hearing on the 18^th gave everyone a chance to hear about the 2009 annual budget, ask questions, and express opinions before the budget was adopted by the Vestry.

At the Annual Parish Meeting on January 25^th Officers and Vestry members will be elected and reports from 2008 will be given. The Annual Parish Meeting is very important. All members of the Parish are urged to attend.

The 2009 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity began on January 18^th and ended on the 25^th. On the 23^rd the Mystic Area Ecumenical Council sponsored a potluck supper at St. Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Church on Fort Hill in Groton.

Church School to Mystic Manor - Saturday January 3 at 10:00 AM

For the past six years, on the first Saturday of each month a group of St. Mark's Church School teachers, their children and grandchildren, and many of the children from the Church School and their parents visit the residents of Mystic Manor.

We do a seasonal craft, which usually consists of a drawing that we color and decorate with flowers, stickers, etc. Two or three times a year we have a party at Mystic Manor, to which we bring cookies and cupcakes. Mark Wydler plays his guitar and leads us all in song. Fr. Mark Santucci gives much comfort and cheer to all.

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Budget Forum - Sunday, January 18 following the 10 o'clock worship service

A budget hearing will take place on Sunday, January 18^th following the 10 AM worship service to enable everyone to see the draft budget for 2009, ask questions, and make comments before the Vestry adopts a final budget on January 20^th for presentation to the Annual Meeting on January 25^th.

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MAEC Potluck Supper - Friday, January 23 at 6:00 PM

Sponsored by the Mystic Area Ecumenical Council.

A potluck supper in observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be held on Friday, January 23^rd at 6 PM at St. Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Church (external Site), 69 Groton Long Point Road, Groton, CT. The Church, which we usually call "St. Mary's", is atop Fort Hill, and very easy to find. The 2009 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins on January 18^th and ends on the 25^th.

Please bring a main dish or side dish to the dinner which continues the series begun at St. Mark's several years ago. Dessert and beverages will be provided.

A short program will follow the dinner. Come and enjoy the good food and fellowship with members of other Mystic area congregations.

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Annual Meeting - Sunday, January 25 following the 10 o'clock worship service

A week after the Budget Forum, St. Mark's Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 25 following the 10 o'clock worship service. Join us as we elect officers and vestry members, hear reports from 2008, and look ahead to our mission and ministry in the coming year.

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Theology Sandwiched In - Tuesday, January 27 at 12:30 PM

The book for January is The Shack by William P. Young.

The Shack has been getting phenomenal word of mouth and is now a best seller. Another author said "The path to God is paved with questions - sometimes frightening and deeply painful ones. While reading The Shack I realized the questions unfolding in this captivating novel were questions I was carrying deep within me. True freedom is born from facing those things we feel we don't have the courage or strength to face. The beauty of this book is not that it supplies the reader with easy answers to grueling questions, but that it invites you to come in close to a God of mercy and love, in whom we find hope and healing." Much about The Shack is available at WWW.TheShackBook.Com (external Site).

Remember to ask for your reading group discount at Bank Square Books (external Site). Our discussion will be on Tuesday, January 27 at 12:30 PM.

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Seabury Deanery Meeting - Tuesday, January 27 at 7:00 PM

January's meeting will be at St. David's Church in Gales Ferry (external Site).

Seabury Deanery is an affiliation of Episcopal Churches in Southeastern Connecticut. Member churches include St. Mark's Church in Mystic, Calvary Church in Stonington (external Site), St. James Church in New London (external Site), St. John's Church in Niantic (external Site), St. James Church in Poquetanuck (external Site), St. David's Church in Gales Ferry (external Site), Grace Church in Yantic (external Site), and Christ Episcopal Church in Norwich (external Site).

"The Diocese [of Connecticut] is divided into 14 geographic units called deaneries, each with an elected dean, sub-dean, secretary and treasurer. These were established decades ago as a way to improve communication and encourage collaborative ministry, and replaced an older model of archdeaconries."

"The diocesan bishop views the deanery system as a helpful way to gather clergy and parishes regionally. Confirmations are held on a deanery basis, and bishops meet with each deanery's clergy on a regular basis. Elected lay delegates to convention serve as delegates to their deanery as well."

(The two quoted paragraphs are from the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut Web Site (external Site).

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Mardi Gras Party - Saturday February 21^st

Celebrate Mardi Gras at St. Mark's! Details will follow on the February 2009 Calendar.

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 25^th

Lent continues for 46 days, concluding on Saturday the 11^th of April. The six Sundays are not counted as part of Lent's 40 days because each Sunday is a feast day, a "mini-Easter" celebrating Jesus's resurrection and His victory over sin and death.

Each year St. Mark's Church plans special programs and events during the Lenten season. On Fridays we walk the Way of the Cross, a simple and moving Lenten remembrance of Jesus's journey to the cross. On Wednesdays we gather for Lenten Dinners, simple suppers followed by programs.

St. Mark's Episcopal Church 15 Pearl Street Mystic, CT 06355 (860) 572-9549

Version 1.3 F 24 January 2009