Monday Morning Musings

          Come Holy Spirit!  We celebrated Pentecost indoors as the storm Saturday was ominous.  I hope none of you were affected.  We pray for so many in our state: in Mountain View, Ash Flat, Damascus, Earle, and now Stuttgart that were devastated by tornadoes. We have been lucky here, thank God.  Speaking of thanking God, I hope you have been using your little blue box for the United Thank Offering.  (You can pick one up at church.)  Send your UTO donation to us.  All monies are used for outreach ministry in the USA and abroad.

          Next Sunday we will honor our seniors.  Five will graduate from the EfM (Education for Ministry) program during the service..  This is a time intensive theological program and we are so proud of Janice Kroeter, Carol Hinck, Claire Nix, Polly BIshop, and Jo Ann Steed.  After the 10:30AM HE these will be joined by the HS seniors and families in a reception.  These include Robert Steed, Logan Peeler, Ross Smith and Rachel GIlliam.  I apologize to Rachel and her family for leaving her name off in the Missive!  I'm so proud that Rachel was recently baptized!

          I'm sad to announce that Kitty Thompson has resigned as secretary, effective the end of May.  Kitty came out of retirement to do this but now is ready to retire again to enjoy her family.  I personally cannot tell you what a joy it has been having her in the office.  Alas, I am now looking for a new secretary.  Do you know of anyone who might be interested?  It's a half-time job that doesn't pay a lot who does the weekly bulletin and monthly newsletter, keeps up the parish directory, and needs to have  proficiency on the computer.  Call me if interested.

          Please sign your children/grandchildren up for Vacation Bible School June 16-19.  Also we need YOUR help as teachers, helpers, musicians, snack bringers, ETC. 

          I'll be going to McPherson for Kairos next month and need two things from you.  One is your prayers!  Please sign up to pray for the team and those 30 prisoners who will go through the weekend with us, that their hearts will be open to Christ.  Also I need to bring 50 dozen cookies as we take them into the prison to all 800 prisoners.  They cannot be homemade but do purchase the better ones.  They just have to have a store or bakery seal on them.  There's a basket in St. Martha's Hall to collect them.

          Joseph Murphy Jr and Melissa Newberry will be married at our 10:30 AM Holy Eucharist on Sunday June 1.  They will both be confirmed the next week.  Plan to come celebrate this occasion.  There will be a reception after in the parish hall and you are all invited.

          The Bishop will be here for his annual visit and confirmation on Sunday June 8.  If you wish to be confirmed and have attended the classes, please come at 4 PM on May 25 for final instructions. 

          Walt Brunkhorst's wound is almost healed.  He's been in bed for weeks however so is weak. Keep praying for his recovery. Is anyone else sick in the parish? 

          I will begin today Centering Prayer in the chapel Monday thru Thursday at 4:30 PM followed by Evening Prayer at 5 PM.  Prayerfully consider joining me!  In Christ's love, Mother Jo Ann+

Suggested Readings

Centering Prayer
          Do you want to pray better?  Throughout Christian history people have yearned to communicate with God.  The practice of prayer and meditation is well rooted in the Christian tradition.  Centering prayer combines Eastern Christian spiritual exercises with a spirituality for today's world.  We will learn to relax for prayer, how to listen and be directed by God, how to handle distractions in prayer.  If you are interested in this please let Mother Jo Ann know and we will together find a time that is best for all. 

          Make your summer time not only a time for vacationing from the ordinary but a time to reconnect to God and the Church!

Sermons

Latest Sermons
5-4-08[John17(1-11)]
5-11-08[John20(19-23)]

April Sermons
4-6-08[Luke24(13-35)]
4-13-08[John10(1-10)]
4-20-08[John14(1-14)]
4-27-08[Mark16(15-20)]

Easter Sunday's Sermon
3-23-08[John20(1-18)]

Holy Week Sermons
3-22-08[Matt28(1-10)]
3-21-08[John18-19]
3-20-08[John13(1-35)]

Sermon Archive

Past Sermons of 2008

     Febrary 2008
  Date         Verse
2-3-08[Matt17(1-9)]
2-17-08[John3(1-17)]

     January 2008
  Date         Verse
1-27-08[Matt4(12-23)]

Want more sermons?
The St. Mark's Sermon Archive is coming soon..