St. Mark's News & Events for Sept. 28, 2008

Greetings to all of you!

As we begin to embrace the Fall season, we look forward to more activity being generated as the cooler season comes upon us. Keep an eye out for more education programs for adults and children to enhance our knowledge and understanding of God. You will be seeing in the bulletin and in brochures information about the educational opportunities being offered here at St. Mark, and I know these studies will be dynamic and entertaining. During Lent, we will be experiencing for the first time a multi-generational mission that families will just adore! Stay tuned for more information as the times get closer.

In November we will be having our annual St. Mark Golf tournament. This year Mike Alstott, retired player from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will be on hand playing in our tournament! Again, details are forthcoming so plan on playing in our tournament this year and get to meet this amazing guy! There will also be a “Beat the Priest” hole in which you will be playing against yours truly to see who can get it closer to the pin on the green. Be forewarned, I have lots of tricks up my sleeve that you couldn’t even imagine! So come and try your luck!

Well, that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God had given us in each other.

Peace, Fr. David

St. Mark's News & Events for Sept. 14, 2008

Greetings to all of you!

Last week I finally got to the golf course and despite the nice day, my game was all over the place. I have been keeping my clubs in the garage and to my horror there were cobwebs on the irons. I should have taken that as an omen since I hit every kind of shot imaginable. All I have to show for it is a blister on my finger and sore bones all over my body. I didn’t realize turning 50 this year would be so dramatic! Anyway, at least I played with some great golfers from our parish and they served us well.

This is a great time of year for sports fans as the college and professional football season starts, and the baseball playoff season gets underway. It seems like there will be an extra load of couch potatoes during the next few months, and I’m sure some of the spouses will be in a cranky mood. However, we have some wonderful adult education courses going to be taught, and I hope you will take advantage of some of those. Who knows, it may even rub off on your couch potato spouse! Anyway, good luck to all the teams, especially the Rays, Giants, and Bucs!

Well, that is all for now. I hope you continue to continue to enjoy the gift that God has given us in each other!

Peace, Fr. David

St. Mark's News & Events for Sept, 7, 2008

Greetings to all of you!

Last week I had the pleasure of traveling to Boston, Massachusetts to get away from the heat of Florida, but also I wanted to take the historical tour of which Boston is well known. I had been reading a book called the “Mayflower” so this tour was especially exciting for me as I tried to picture the early settlers and their struggles to make it in the New World. The weather was outstanding and I was able to visit the graves of our early ancestors who made America what it is today. There was even a “ghost tour” that was available which visited famous sights like where the Boston Strangler committed his crimes and other cemeteries that appear to be haunted. I was a little curious about going and I was all set to board the bus but at the last minute I got too scared and decided to have a brownie sundae instead. At least it wouldn’t give me nightmares!

This past Thursday night members of all the subcommittees of the Steering Committee met to get a view of the elevations of our new Church. Architect, Alberto Portela, did a great job of explaining the height elevations and the structure of what the outside of the Church will look like. I think everyone was pleased about the design and I sensed much positive energy and excitement in the look of the new Church. Now comes the detail part in which we need to pick colors and design patterns for inside and outside of the Church. Being decorating-challenged, I would rather do brain surgery! Anyway, those of you who have the knack for all of that and who would like to serve on either the Art and Environment or the Building Committees should notify the office and we will make sure to use your input. Keep praying for the success of this endeavor because I know God is hearing your prayers.

Well that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God had given us in each other.

Peace, Fr. David