St. Marks United
The Visitor
August
2006
From the Senior Pastor
The Rev. Dr. John E. Manzo
August, 2006
In less than a month, New Albany/Floyd County Schools will be in session. Time flies.
Interesting things are taking place at St. Marks United Church of Christ.
We had our
So, lots going on.
We had our congregational meeting in June concerning the bank building.
The congregation voted to keep the building and pursue the process of tearing the building down. In doing so we turned down a $250,000.00 for the building.
I have several observations on this:
First, my sermon that day, which I’m including in this issue of The Visitor, was about being charitable and civil to one another, most especially in the midst of the debate.
I was very heartened by the meeting in terms of how it was carried out.
Allan Hoffer did an outstanding job conducting the meeting. There were clear ground rules, posted throughout the meeting. People from both sides of the debate were given ample opportunity to make their points, and people made their points with civility and charity towards others. People had an opportunity to speak, be heard, and share their thoughts. There was ample information for people to make informed decisions, and the vote was a secret ballot to assure no intimidation in how people would vote. As a meeting it was well done and I was quite pleased by the process.
The vote has consequences. (Consequences are, by the way, not bad things, just things. Poor health habits may have consequences of giving us bad health; good habits may have consequences of giving us good health.)
Here are some of the consequences for better or worse.
First, we have to do a capital campaign sooner rather than later. And it has to be a major one. My biggest issue with the purchase of the bank building, an event which took place before I was here, is that we should have done a capital campaign back then. I’ll say this gently, it was a pastoral error at that time, but it was something that should have been done. As a result, we have always had an expenditure of unraised money. Not a good thing.
The capital campaign needs to be major because we have major needs.
Our air conditioning system
in both buildings needs work, but most especially in the
Our Sanctuary needs a new roof.
We need a major revamping of our sound system.
Our Sanctuary, especially up front ceiling, needs to be painted.
We need an accessible rest room in the education building.
We have a whole host of maintenance issues given in the Entheos report which are still ahead of us. Many people view capital campaigns as ‘new buildings’ but most of the time they are for maintenance. We need to maintain our current buildings----and they need major work----and soon.
This was mentioned during the meeting as a need----and it is a need, to be sure.
Secondly, there is a
challenge of property. One thing many folks in downtown
However, having said this, we are accumulating property and in all our ‘tearing down’ we have never ‘put something up.’ If you ever saw the movie, Field of Dreams, the premise was, ‘if you build it they will come.’ Maybe.
But, ponder this, no one has ever said, “If you tear it down, they will come.” Our property is not used as
much or even as well as perhaps we ought to use it.
Lest anyone says I’m
saying this in opposition to tearing down the bank building, I’m not. But I’m
hoping that we can put something in that space which serves St. Marks and
downtown
This is and will be an ongoing challenge for us.
Thirdly, and most importantly is a people issue.
The conversations about the bank building and the meeting brought out a great deal of emotion, much of it raw. People felt strongly. When people feel strongly it is difficult to ‘let go’ of those strong feelings even after a decision is made. This takes place most especially when people disagree with the decision.
Many people felt strongly about this issue on both sides of the debate. Our congregational heritage has, at its core, a democratic foundation. Everyone can speak and everyone can vote. The good news is that a decision is made and someone wins. The bad news is that a decision is made and someone loses.
The thing with churches is that people win and lose and that is sometimes not a great thing. The fact that people ‘lose’ is, in church, often painful. To believe and feel strongly, and then to ‘lose’ often can be devastating to individual on so many levels. To be quite honest, ‘losing’ in church almost seems like an oxymoron.
It’s really important for us, coming off of this debate, to realize that pain and anger are still present. It’s up to all of us to help heal that. When people in our midst are hurting in any way, it’s up to each of us to help heal that pain.
Let’s try.
In the coming months information will be coming out on our progress. Alan Mason chairs the committee which is overseeing the demolition of the bank building. A committee is in the process of being formed and they will update the congregation as things progress. Hopefully all will go well and smoothly.
We have a lot of challenges ahead of us. Let’s meet them!
Rev. Dr. John E. Manzo
Senior Pastor
Our August
Worship
Schedule
Sunday, August 6
Scripture: Acts 4:1-12
Sermon Title: How to Deal with a Hopeful Message
9:00 am CLASSIC WORSHIP
with the Sacrament of Holy Communion
10:10 am Sunday School for all ages
11:15 am CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP
with the Sacrament of Holy Communion
Sunday, August 13
Scripture: Acts 4:13-22
Sermon Title: How Can We Keep from Speaking?
9:00 am CLASSIC WORSHIP
10:10 am Sunday School for all ages
11:15 am CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP
with the Sacrament of Holy Communion
Sunday, August 20
Rev. Lori Lewis is preaching
9:00 am CLASSIC WORSHIP
10:10 am Sunday School for all ages
11:15 am CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP
with the Sacrament of Holy Communion
Sunday, August 27
Scripture: Acts 4:23-31
Sermon Title: Speak Boldly and Forget the Stick9:00 am CLASSIC WORSHIP
10:10 am Sunday School for all ages
11:15 am CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP
with the Sacrament of Holy Communion
Well, the Williamsburg Trip is in planned.
Here’s the agenda:
Trip to
Monday, October 2nd
Travel to
Tuesday, October 3rd
Tour Colonial
Supper at Christiana Campbell’s Colonial Tavern
Wednesday, October 4th
Tour
Thursday, October 5th
Tour
Friday, October 6th
Return Home
Costs:
Hotel Reservations:
Hampton Inn, Colonial Williamburg, 3 nights, includes breakfast
One night on the road, TBD
350.00 Per Room
160.00 Bus, Free Enterprise, 55 passenger bus (we’ll have 40ish) with really fine accommodations on the bus. Much better than last year
55.00 Total
admission fee for
30.00 Dinner at Christiana Campbell’s
11.00 Admission
to
606.00 Total, per person, one person per room
832.00 Per couple, or double occupancy.
Cost includes:
All Hotel accommodations, breakfast Tuesday - Friday
Admission to
Tuesday night supper
Admission to
Bus
Doesn’t include:
Any lunches
Supper any day except Tuesday
Alcoholic beverages, any extras
If you would like to come:
By July 15th 50.00 deposit per person
By August 1st 303.00 per individual (includes deposit)
416.00 per couple (includes deposit)
By September 1st Final Payment
If you want to come, please call Dr. Manzo!
Love Is...
Rev. Dr. John E. Manzo
Text: 1 Corinthians 13
Sermon from June 25, 2006
Love is...
People speak about love all the time.
Most movies usually get around to having a love story in them. Most novels do as well. The self-help section of most bookstores generally inspire us to either love better or teach us to find someone who will love us.
We use the word love in such a variety of ways.
We meet someone and fall in love and love them for our entire lives.
We love our children. We love our parents.
We love chocolate ice cream. We love sports. We love our favorite teams.
We love God. We love our friends. We love our neighbors as ourselves.
We use the word love a lot and mean a whole lot of different things by it.
Classically, the most poetic and best known statement on love is 1 Corinthians 13. If you’ve ever been to a wedding, you’ve probably heard it. It is the classic scripture for weddings. Sometimes there’s the joke that 9 out of every 10 wedding planners prefer 1 Corinthians 13 to any other passage in the Bible.
It really isn’t a passage that was written for weddings, but when you read these words:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
When you read these words and have ever been married or partnered or known someone who is or has been married, you know that these words are pretty good advice to couples.
What the passage most specifically is about, however, is about conduct in the church. How we treat each other in these hallowed walls.
Paul
is writing to the church at
There were divisions on social status; they had rich and poor people.
There
were divisions on how holy people were. There was a strong charismatic
community in
There
were divisions on morality.
The
church at
And
they wrote to
The specific word Paul used was the word agape. 1 Corinthians, like the rest of the New Testament was written in ancient Greek and the Greeks had three words for love. Eros, romantic love, philia, the love of friends, and agape.
Agape is defined in many ways. Some say it means ‘unconditional love.’
Sort of.
Some will say it means to be charitable towards others.
Sort of.
Some call it the lowest, most basic foundational form of love; some call it the highest form of love.
Many have thought that this word represents divine, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, thoughtful love.
It is a profound love and respect of one’s neighbor, no matter what. No matter what. It is treating one another with profound dignity and respect...always. No matter what.
If you look around the room and can find a person who you would least like to spend time with, and please don’t share who that is, agape means that you need to treat that person with profound dignity and respect.
And Paul actually specifies that it is a mature kind of love. Agape is not for the weak, not for the immature, not for the childish. It is adult love, adults treating each other with profound dignity and respect.
By now you’ve been sitting here listening to the sermon and, no doubt a question has crossed your mind.
What does this have to do with the bank building?
In a word, nothing.
To be quite honest, I don’t care what we do about the bank building. If people vote to sell. Fine. If people vote to keep it. Fine. Years ago when I studied to go into the ministry worrying about what we did with empty buildings on church property was nothing I was terribly interested in learning about, worrying about, or spending that much time on. I’ve changed in a lot of ways over the years, but that hasn’t changed. I truly don’t care what we decide today. I won’t even cast a vote.
To be quite honest, I wonder if we wanted to have a discussion today on how to learn more about Jesus, and how to feed the hungry in our community, and care for those in need, if we’d have nearly as much excitement as we do in discussing the bank building.
But I digress.
I do care about something deeply.
In conversations in the church people get excited. People get passionate. People get worked up. Sometimes people get excited. Sometimes people get angry.
Sometimes in churches, people get passionate, worked up, excited, and angry and they begin talking. And sometimes we begin talking not to people but at people. We talk to make our points----and forget to listen.
We speak, and we don’t weigh the words carefully. We don’t treat each other with profound love and respect.
Sometimes it is easy to say things that are not kind.
Sometimes it is easy to say things which do not reflect patience with others.
Sometimes it is easy to say things that are rude.
Sometimes it is easy to say things that are self-seeking.
Sometimes it is easy to say things which come out of easy anger.
Sometimes it is easy to say things which reflect keeping a record of wrongs.
Sometimes it is easy to say things which work to destroy the integrity of another person.
But,
So, here is what I want us to do today.
First, please practice true agape love towards one another. Express your point of view, but if you cannot do it with patience and kindness, and feel you have no choice but to be rude and debasing towards another, please choose not to share. St. Marks Church has many great qualities, but sometimes one of our less than stellar qualities is the fact that sometimes people have a habit of hauling off at each other. I have rarely encountered this in churches----sometimes I understand it because this church has endured, in its history, some great hardship and pain----but hauling off at each other is, frankly, intolerable. Let’s get over it.
Secondly, Paul makes a point to discuss maturity in this passage.
Sometimes being an adult is overrated. I just wanted to say that.
Being an adult, so often, is over-rated.
When I was a child people didn’t expect much from me. Whatever little I did, I was praised for. Now people expect a lot more than that.
When I was a child I could let my emotions run amuck.
If I was very happy and excited did something stupid or said something foolish it was excused because I was young and just got carried away.
When I was angry and said something crass or hurtful I was excused because I was young and didn’t know any better.
If I behaved badly because I didn’t get my way it was excused because I was young and no one expected better behavior than that.
Something happened along the way, however. I got older. Then I hit middle age. Then I ended up being eligible for AARP. Now that I am an adult it is presumed that I know better.
Whenever we come together as a church to discuss and decide things, it is an adult activity. It requires maturity; the kind of maturity Paul speaks of. And maturity, for a Christian, is listening and treating one another with profound respect.
Thirdly, please recognize that the greatest spiritual gift God has given us is this gift of agape love, an ability, a profound desire even, to treat each other with profound graciousness, dignity and respect. Nothing reflects our faith more than when we are loving; and nothing shows a gap in our souls more than when we are not.
I’ve decided to end where Paul begins. Paul begins my saying that if we say the words, but do not have love, we are no more than making noise.
Today, as we gather, what we decide is what we decide. I’m neutral and frankly can live with either choice.
But how we decide it means a lot to me. How we treat one another means everything.
If we treat one another with dignity and respect, we will have made an honorable decision and that will be a good thing and we will bring honor unto each other, unto this church, and unto God.
But if we treat one another with derision, without charity, without respect, whatever decision we make, will bring dishonor to each other, dishonor to this church, and dishonor, ultimately to God.
So, whenever you speak, weight what you choose to say and ask yourself one question: Am I bringing honor or dishonor to God?
And choose your words according.
Within
The
Family
Memorials and Donations in June
FLOWER FUND:
In honor of Bill and Sharon Maetschke, and their service to ministries of St. Marks,
by Laura and Mark McDonald.
In honor of the successful Adoption of Owen Alexander by his parents Marie and Patrick and in honor of the tender loving care and emotional support from my St. Marks Faith Family,
by his Birth Mother, Lynda Arkwright.
SENIORS FUND:
In Celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the Ordination of Lori Lewis and in support of the particular focus of her ministry, her parents - Earl and Pat Miller - have made a contribution to the St. Marks’ Seniors Fund. Through her continued life and ministry may God still speak.
In honor of our
parents/grandparents (
by Kyle, Susan, Patrick and Emily Ridout.
By St. Marks Fitness Flock
BULLETIN SPONSORSHIP:
In honor of Jim and Harvey Buescher’s 42nd wedding anniversary, which they celebrated on June 14, 2006,
by Charles Barrett and Mary Ann Braden.
Weddings
CONGRATULATIONS AND GOD’S BLESSINGS TO:
Jason Jenkins and Natalee Douthat who were married in our sanctuary on July 15, 2006.
Jonathan Rollen and Erin Hall who were married in our sanctuary on July 22, 2006.
A Special Thank You!
A special thank you to Louise Milton for making the replacement clothes for the Cross, lectern, and pulpit. They are beautiful.
President’s Message
Summer is in the throes of creating hot spells for us.
Things seem rather typical. Hot days, warm nights, attendance a bit down on
Sundays with folks gone on vacation. As you have heard, the A/C in the
Vacation Bible School is gearing up, and by time of this printing, should be completed. Thanks to those of you (especially Cindy and Mike) who put in such time and effort to make that a worthwhile endeavor for our youth and other youth in the area.
The
We have been told that a demolition permit should be forthcoming in the near future, so will await further news on that front in another month or two.
Here is an idea. With the heat comes the possibility of “burnout”. You have heard of the 80/20 rule in most organizations in which 20% of the members do 80% of the work. That applies in churches, as well. As you look around, please notice who you see doing work at St. Marks on a regular basis. Is it typically the same faces? Do the workers include you? Have you volunteered to assist in an area of interest? VBS? Substitute teaching a youth class for a week or two? Clothes Closet? Pulling weeds? Making a visit? Finishing a 1-year term on Council? St. Marks has needs which aren’t being met.
One church has had success with promoting “One-Hour Heroes”. It is a focus on asking each and every member to make a One-Hour commitment each week to help the church. Think of the dramatic results we could see if one hour per week were added to the St. Marks volunteer work force x 60-80-100 new faces. In dropping off my daughter at a local church camp this week, I was struck by the number of volunteers working to provide valet parking (8-10 persons), to work registration tables, to show campers where to bunk, to lug cold water jugs around for sweaty parents and kids, and to drive tractor wagons to the cabins, etc. So many church members were there together, in the 90+ degree heat, but all with smiles and all with a purpose, however small. It was really a celebration and a fellowship time, rather than mere drudgery.
Can you become a “One-Hour Hero”? Of course you can! Can dozens of us? Of course we can! Just ask around to find something to do. Or start a committee for a project which needs to be done. Let’s help each other through the heat of the summer to avoid burnout and get into cooler seasons to come. We’ll make it with God’s help if we work together.
In Christ,
Allan
July 11, 2006
Present: Rev. John Manzo, Rev. Lori Lewis, Allan Hoffer, Nick Cortolillo, Steve Hiatt, Tammy Voigt, Bill Fleming, Skip Piotrski, Mark Kersey, Martha Streckfus, Jane Milton, Charlie Bush, Scott Auspland
Absent: Allison Brewer, Ellen Reising, Dave Byers, Amy Schiedewitz, John Brengle, Bob Forste, Jay Schiedewitz, Tony Wells, Cathy Cronin, Dana Wright
Guests: Rob Boes, Gary Plummer, Brenda Hiatt
The meeting was opened by President Allan Hoffer at 7:09 p.m. Rev. Lori Lewis gave the devotional.
Allan noted that there would be no voting tonight, as we are two short of a quorum.
The trustees introduced Rob Boes
with Boes Heating & Air Conditioning, who
explained that our current air conditioning system is 40 years old and needs to
be replaced. Equipment cost alone will be $24,000 to $25,000. With labor, the
cost to replace is estimated at $30,000 to $40,000. He provides a one year
warranty on his work. The manufacturer provides a 20 year warranty on a new unit
and a two year warranty on a reconditioned one. Units in each room are
relatively new, but need to be flushed and cleaned. For an annual $1500 fee,
Mr. Boes would handle the maintenance and offer us
priority service if we need a service call. Bill Fleming and Mr. Boes are attending a
Minutes from last month’s meeting and the Treasurer’s Report were dispensed with due to lack of a quorum.
Elder’s Report: None
Trustee’s Report: Scott Auspland
said that
Deacon’s Report: None
Youth Report: None
Christian Ed: Tammy Voigt is having trouble recruiting
summer Sunday School teachers. Mark Kersey volunteered
to handle communion for Jane Milton so she can help teach.
President Elect: No report
President: No report
Permit/Bank Demolition Committee: Steve Hiatt reported that they will be attending a Historical Society meeting this Thursday.
Old Business: None
New Business: Allan Hoffer noted that Alan Mason is forming a committee to pursue the political process of demolishing the bank building. He also said he received complaints about the distribution of flyers concerning church business during the worship service. In the future, he requests that these type items be published in the Visitor or sent out in an email or church wide mailing. Ushers will be asked to collect any flyers until the start of the business meeting. Reverend Manzo and Reverend Lewis will also screen all requests to speak during the service to make sure the topic is worship related and not business related. This would include such topics as bank building updates or air conditioner repair, for instance.
The meeting was adjourned by President Allan Hoffer at 8:04 p.m. Dr. Manzo closed the meeting with a prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Hiatt (for Dana Wright)
Council Secretary
Beyond Our Walls
We know that the church does not exist for itself, just as Jesus didn’t live for himself. Our mission is to love, include, serve, teach, heal and help others. We do this close to home with our Soup Kitchen and Clothes Closet and in the many ways that so many members reach out to people in need.
Here is a story that reminds us that the church is bigger than St. Marks, that it is good and healthy to be part of a denomination – the United Church of Christ – and part of the church of Jesus Christ that spans the globe in witness and mission.
Some good news about being part
of the
Collecting drinkable water can be a daunting task
in rural areas of
The communities have named their wells, “Loving
People,” for the generous care of so many, and have numbered them “Loving
People Well 1, Loving People Well 2” and so on. Word of the wells has spread,
and now new villages seek assistance in building wells. To date, more than
fifty wells have been built. While some of the villages have local churches,
Christianity is still a minority religion in
Let us pray
that we continue to discover ways to express generous love
for people every day.
Good News Good News Good News Good News Good News Good News
Prepared by the Rev. Earl D. Miller, member of St. Marks United Church of Christ
Senior Adult
News
From Lori:
Dear Friends,
Here are some thoughts from Ann Weems, Searching For Shalom. A little food for thought these summer days. . . . .
GOD’S HOLY PEOPLE
“Here we are, you and I,
called to be God’s Holy People.
You say you’re not the holy type,
but I’m not talking about holier-than-thou.
I’m not talking about religious ritual,
and the last thing I mean is self-righteousness!
Jesus chastised the self-righteous,
the ones who spent their days doing religious things,
the ones who spent so much time in religious ritual
that they didn’t have time for tenderheartedness.
I’m not talking about them;
I’m talking about us.
I’m talking about paying attention
to the things Jesus taught people,
ordinary people, people like you, people like me. . .
Look at the disciples: ordinary people
called to follow,
called to be God’s Holy People,
called to live in this world with tender hearts.
Live holy lives. .. .impossible?
Is anything impossible to God?
That old woman Sarah thought it impossible
to have a child. . . .
The lepers thought it impossible
to be healed. ..
The disciples thought it impossible
to feed five thousand with two loaves and five fishes. . .Mary and Martha thought it impossible
that their brother Lazarus was alive. . .
The lame thought it impossible to walk. . .
The blind thought it impossible to see. . .
Here we are, ordinary people,
called to be the Holy People of God.
If you have eyes to see and ears to hear,
see and hear God’s holiness in your life.”
Now here is the schedule for the next few months. I hope you can come!
AUGUST - On Friday, August 25 we will travel by church van and cars to The Galt House to see “Carl Hurley’s Calvalcade of Comedy”. Tickets have already been purchased. We will meet at the church at 8:15 a.m.
SEPTEMBER
- There will be no trip in September. The August trip, the trip to
OCTOBER
- We will be going on our first overnight retreat! We will travel to
The retreat will focus on private, centering prayer and we will have The Rev. Dr. Vennard Walter lead us. Ven is a U.C.C. pastor and pastoral counselor. We will take plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of God’s good creation, give you an opportunity to visit with friends, enjoy wonderful food, and engage in some Bible study.
The cost is $99.00 per person and that includes one room for one night (2 people to a room with 2 king size beds), 4 meals, the use of a conference room for our group and a continuous snack bar.
Please sign up and pay your money to the church office no later than October 2.
More next month. . . .
Blessings,
Lori
Parish Nurse Notes
I
would like to take this opportunity in this Visitor to provide you with
some information about blood pressure checks at St. Marks. Due to our church
normally having two services with Sunday School in
between the services, it is difficult to find a time which is convenient for
everyone to do the blood pressure checks. When I started the Parish Nurse
Program here at St. Marks last October, checking blood pressure was one of the
screenings that I wanted to do on a regular basis. We (the other nurses in our
congregation and I) thought that possibly offering blood pressure screenings
each time there was one unified service would work well, given that there are
usually at least 6 of these each year. However, this does not always seem to
work as well as we had hoped, especially when the unified service precedes a
congregational meeting which runs long. I would like to hear from anyone with
thoughts or suggestions as to scheduling blood pressure screenings at St.
Marks. The Fitness Flock is a group of dedicated church members who report to
the
Stay well and cool the remainder of this very hot summer. Remember to drink plenty of water and to keep well hydrated.
Martha Streckfus, R.N.
St. Marks UCC Parish Nurse
Road Grace
The mother of one of my students called recently to let me know her 11-year-old wanted to continue his drum lessons. For a while, Adrick had been considering quitting lessons because he didn't like "the long drive" to get to the lesson. ”Maybe there is something I can do to make Adrick's drive more interesting”, I thought. Perhaps I could record some "drum stuff" or find some appropriate drum material to read. I could even find him some music that features drums to listen to on the way to and from lessons. Maybe that would help improve his frame of mind on the way to lessons! (I'm sure Mom and Dad will love it, too!) To make a long story short - it worked!
Now - how about the rest of you - the ones that I don't see for a drum or guitar lesson! How's your ride? Did you notice the title of this article? I don't want you to miss it. We all know what "Road Rage" is. The concept "Road Grace" is the answer to Road Rage. It's the W.W.J.D. of the highways and byways. It's cutting the other guy some slack when you're in as big of a hurry as he is. It's being aware and sensitive to the other driver who has no idea what "Road Grace" is - or any other kind of grace for that matter. It's improving your frame of mind on the way to wherever it is you are going. Now that we know what "Road Grace" is - the next question is how do we get there?
Road Grace (or any other type) doesn't just happen. We have to make some changes. First, we acknowledge God's power in our life and ask for it continually throughout our day! But we can also do a few other things. Specifically, what do you have playing in your vehicle while you are driving? Talk radio? Those "Golden Oldies"? The latest country music? All of these MIGHT BE O.K., but if you're going to make a serious effort to prepare yourself to give Road Grace, "nine out of ten Christians" recommend the format known as Christian radio. Preset your FM dial to 88.5, 88.9, 94.7 and/or 105.9. There are also some great Christian Talk Radio stations! Or, invest in some Christian CD's or download some Christian music into your ipod! However you do it, there is no substitute for "setting your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2)
Traveling on the road is a great time in our day for Peter's admonishment in I Peter 1:13 to "gird your minds for action, be self-controlled, and fix your minds completely on the grace to be brought to you . . ."
So... the next time you turn on the radio or CD or tape (or ipod) in your car (and hopefully anywhere else) put it to the P48 Test. (That's Philippians 4:8.) Make sure what you're listening to is really true, really honorable, really right, really pure and let your mind dwell on things with those characteristics. When you do, you'll be much better prepared to participate in Road Grace!
Looking up together,
Paul Turner, Contemporary Worship Coordinator
(812) 989-6604.
Repair Affair 2006
This year
the St. Marks Team outdid themselves for the 2006 Repair Affair, sponsored
by the New Directions Housing Corporation. We were called on to do a big job
this year, and we stepped up and said ‘yes”. The Broy
home in
The day was a great one. We worked hard, has lots of Christian fellowship, and we were able to spend time getting to know Mr. Broy and his family. If you have never participated in a Repair Affair d