St Mark’s Anglican Church

Dear St. Mark’s family,

As I write this the leaves are beginning their glorious transformation of colour, a sure prelude to the onset of Fall and a reminder that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. In my daily scripture reading this morning I read Psalm 103 which contains that marvellous verse, “Praise the Lord 0 my soul and forget not all his benefits.” In the day-to-day scrum of living, how quickly and easily we can forget the benefits and blessings of God in our lives. Yet they are all around us. To praise the Lord for his benefits, acknowledges the active presence of God in our lives and unleashes our faith in God’s activity in the circumstances around us. So many people are fearful and anxious about life. To daily thank and praise the Lord for his blessings is one of the best antidotes I know for anxiety and will encourage our hearts. Try it right now. “Thank you God so much for. …. !”

There are few thing happening that I want to let you know about. Our Fall Parish Conference is October 16 - 18 with the theme Stepping Up and Reaching Out! Archbishop Douglas Hambidge will be teaching from Romans Chapter 12. It begins on the Friday night with a Harvest theme potluck supper at 6:30PM (Registration at 6:00PM) and music by a wonderful jazz quintet called Renaissance. There will be an interview, Larry King style, with the Archbishop.

We continue on Saturday from 8:45AM - 3:00PM with teaching and worship. Lunch will be provided. On Sunday, Denise Hambidge will be speaking about her recent trip to Bangladesh with the Primates World Relief and Development Fund and Archbishop Hambidge will preside. If you have not yet received a phone call or a registration form, please call the office to let us know, (604) 535-8841.

Our Stewardship campaign this year will pick up on the conference theme with Stepping Up in Faith and Reaching Out Through Giving. You will hear more about that from the Stewardship Committee.

On a different note, I want to announce that Michael Dirk is joining our musical worship team on the second Sunday of each month beginning with Harvest Sunday, October 11th. Michael is an outstanding organist who did his Master degree in organ music at Shepherd School of Music, Rice University, Houston, Texas. He recently played a concert to a full church at St. Mark’s and we had to nail the roof back down afterward! It is wonderful to have Michael on board.

If you like gospel music, my mother, Earleen Tanksley will be with us on Sunday evening October 25th at 7:00PM for a Gospel Hymn Sing. There will be songs from the choir as well as the St. Mark’s Men’s Quartet recently christened, The Marksmen. This evening will be a lot of fun and we believe wonderful worship as well.

One other thing to mark on your calender and that is November 1st, 4:30PM at Christ Church Cathedral, when Nancy Dexter will receive from the bishop the Award of the Diocese of New Westminster. Nancy was put forward by the Parish Council and accepted by the diocese to receive this award in recognition for many years of outstanding service in the parish and in the diocese. Well done Nancy. I want to encourage us attend this service and support Nancy in this great honour.

That’s all for now. You are always in my thoughts and prayers! See you on Sunday.

Your servant in Christ,

The Rev. Craig Tanksley
Rector