01.21.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:18 pm by robinbiffle
Jesus, Savior in times of storm,
when the waters of the deep are broken up
and all the landmarks crumble before our eyes,
come to our aid and hold us up.
Support the people of Haiti at this time
lest they sink in hopelessness and despair.
Empower those who are responding to their need;
uphold the bereaved in their grief;
and let your light shine in the present darkness
to lead us all to the city securely built on your love;
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Courtesy of Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation)
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01.20.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 1:27 pm by robinbiffle
“Lord, in your mercy, send your grace beyond bounds upon our sisters and brothers in Haiti. Enable us to do your work of relieving their misery.”
Because of its many decades of presence in Haiti, The Episcopal Church and her Episcopal Relief & Development were able to respond at once after last week’s quake. TEC continues to post updates, especially at The Episcopal Life’s site: http://www.episcopal-life.org/ and on a new page at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/haiti.php.
Please consider some of the following about the Diocese of Haiti and its people as we continue in our prayers and giving for the relief and rebuilding of this land in turmoil.
The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti is part of The Episcopal Church. Its website (in French, but translatable by Google) is http://www.egliseepiscopaledhaiti.org/. It was because of the presence of the Episcopal church in places outside the U.S., that in a recent General Convention, we changed our name from the “Episcopal Church in the United States of America, to “The Episcopal Church.”
With about 100,000 members Haiti is the largest and fastest-growing Diocese in The Episcopal Church. http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/2008 Table of Statistics of the Episcopal Church.pdf.
According to The Episcopal Church Annual, there are about 115 congregations and communities of faith in the Diocese of Haiti. According to the Haiti’s Diocesan website, the church there is served by about 40 priests. By comparison, The Diocese of Spokane (in which we are located) has about 7,000 members in 41 congregations and is served by more than 70 priests (some parochial, some providing “supply” and other special services).
The Bishop of Haiti The Rt. Rev. Zache Duracin was left homeless in the quake. His wife was injured. He has been offered the opportunity to leave Haiti for respite in the U.S. but has chosen to stay. He is living in a “tent city” with others whose homes were destroyed.
In Haiti, the Episcopal Church operates more than 200 Episcopal schools with more than 6000 students. http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/2008 Table of Statistics of the Episcopal Church.pdf.
According to a news article in Episcopal Life, TEC also operates “medical clinics; a renowned philharmonic orchestra and children’s choir based at the cathedral; agricultural, reforestation and other development projects and micro-financing efforts run in part with help from ERD; peace and reconciliation work, including the Desmond Tutu Center for Reconciliation and Peace and non-violence training provided by Episcopal Peace Fellowship (EPF).” (Source: http://ecusa.anglican.org/79901_118410_ENG_HTM.htm)
Donations can be made by check to St. Mark’s (Memo line: Haiti), at 111 S. Jefferson, Moscow, ID 83843. We are sending a check to ERD weekly. Last week alone we send $842.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
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01.11.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 1:41 pm by robinbiffle
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Miles after his baptism wearing his baptismal scarf.
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Tami and daughter Katelyn
Is there any other kind!?? We baptized Katelyn Ainsley (one month old) and Miles Brendan (four years old)! Joy! Cynthia Mika knit Katelyn’s baptismal coverlet and Teresa Uhle knit Miles’ baptismal scarf and a memento for him to keep under his pillow.
If you would like to know more about baptism–”full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church”–are interested in being baptized, or know someone else who might be, please talk with Mother Robin. In The Episcopal Church, baptisms are celebrated at any age! The next apt occasion for baptism will be during the Great Vigil of Easter–St. Mark’s Easter Day Sunrise Service–on April 4. Now is the time to start preparing!
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01.04.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 3:15 pm by robinbiffle
We have two celebrations of the Holy Eucharist on the Feast of the Epiphany, Wednesday January 6: a simple service at 12:10 pm (you’ll be back at work or school by 1 pm); the second at 5:30 pm. Please join us!
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01.01.10
Posted in Uncategorized at 11:21 am by robinbiffle
Our prayer is for 2010 to be a blessed, rich, fruitful year for all–a year marked by the passion and compassion that Jesus modeled for us.
This week at St. Mark’s we celebrate The Epiphany with Holy Eucharist at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome at this table. This feast is followed by a Parish Feast of the meat-and-potatoes kind:–cost $15 for adults, $7 for children. Call the church office SOON to make a reservation. All are welcome.
We mark the end of Christmastide with food and fellowship–and nurture of mind and spirit! After the Holy Days/holidays of Christmas, we resume our current classes: Confirmation (Monday at 6 p.m.); Celtic Spirituality (Tuesday at 7 p.m.); and the Sacred Art of Listening (in progress, Thursday at 6 p.m.).
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12.20.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:40 pm by kentonbird
St. Mark’s invites all to worship with us, especially those who don’t have a church home but have a sense that this may be the time to find a faith community. Particularly at Christmas—as we invite Christ into our lives again—we extend that welcome to each of you.
Wednesday, December 23 – Mid-week Holy Eucharist, 12:10 p.m.
Thursday, December 24—Christmas Eve
4:30 p.m. —Service of music and carols
5:00 p.m. —Family service of Holy Eucharist
10:30 p.m.—Christmas Vigil with music and carols
11:00 p.m.—Festal Eucharist (Christ’s Mass)
Friday, December 25—Christmas Day — Holy Eucharist, 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, December 26 – The Feast of St. Stephen, Holy Eucharist, 12:10 p.m.
Sunday, December 27— First Sunday after Christmas, Holy Eucharist, 9:30 a.m.
Monday, December 28— The Feast of St. John (transferred), Holy Eucharist, 12:10 p.m.
Tuesday, December 29— Holy Innocents, Holy Eucharist, 12:10 p.m.
Wednesday, December 30— Mid-week Holy Eucharist, 12:10 p.m.
Friday, January 1 – The Feast of the Holy Name, Holy Eucharist, 12:10 p.m.
Sunday, January 3 – Second Sunday after Christmas, Holy Eucharist, 9:30 a.m.
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12.18.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 1:42 pm by kentonbird
Blessed Advent, all,
I invite you to join with me in the Advent Conspiracy!
This international group of folks exists (thanks to the internet) for the sole (soul) purpose of under-mining the “holiday shopping season” consumerism, with reign of God compassion. There is lots of info at http://www.adventconspiracy.org/. The group is not itself an activist organization, but serves as catalyst and information exchange. Lots of good ideas and resources!
The conspiracy was organized in 2006 by five non-denominational pastors who encouraged their congregations to spend Advent this way: “Worship fully, spend less, give more and love all.” No money comes to or through Advent Conspiracy—those who wish to donate are asked to decide where and how to “give more” to those who have little.
“Conspirators” shift the Christmas gift-giving focus to gifts of relationships and service, instead of giving material items—giving “presence” instead of “presents.” The Conspiracy suggests that those who want to share their material wealth consider giving it to development of sustainable water resources for sis-ters and brothers who don’t have access to clean water. Serendipity!—considering that our Diocesan focus this year is “living water.” St. Mark’s Parish already gave almost $2000 to ERD for development of wells—what a gift!
As we consider alternative giving—giving life-sustaining gifts to those in need instead of giving more to those who have more than enough—it is prudent to consider how charitable organizations steward their own resources. By means of comparison, I researched three popular groups: Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD); Living Water International; and the Heifer Project. ERD stands up very well, indeed! You can check out these and others at Charity Navigator, http://www.charitynavigator.org/.
Our catechism defines the roles of each order of ministry. Lay people, bishops, priests and deacons all have different roles in the church and the liturgy, but first and foremost for each order is to “represent Christ and his Church” in the world (BCP 855-856). How shall we do that this Advent? As people in our community look at us individually and as a community gath-ered in Christ’s name, how will they see us behaving in a way that declares that we “are marked as Christ’s own for-ever” (BCP, 308)? How shall we demonstrate that we are those who minister to “the least” of Jesus’ sisters and brothers? How shall we show that we are servants of God, not of mammon? How shall we prepare to welcome Christ into our lives anew?
Welcome, sister and brother conspirators! “Prepare ye the way of the Lord!”
Robin+
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12.10.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 7:28 pm by robinbiffle
And Advent is the perfect season to do it! Just as we Christians are waking up to the coming of the Christ, this page, we hope–as we yawn, stretch, and rub our eyes–is also coming to life. Stay tuned!
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10.01.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:08 am by kentonbird
St. Mark’s will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi with a Blessing of the Animals during its service at 9:30 a.m. Sunday (Oct. 4.) The Children’s Choir, under the direction of William Wharton, will perform a bluegrass anthem, “All God’s Critters Got a Place in the Choir.”
“The service celebrates of the whole of God’s creation, as we honor Francis, the patron saint of animals, nature and the environment,” said the Rev. Robin Biffle, rector of St. Mark’s. “Many churches invite families to bring pets for blessing to symbolize how we value all God’s creatures, and how we cherish the web of creation.”
Members of the congregation and visitors are invited to bring a donation of pet food, toys, cat litter, etc., for donation to the Moscow Food Bank or Latah County Humane Society. The loose plate offering will be used to purchase pet food for the two organizations. Last year, almost $200 worth of pet food was donated.
At St. Mark’s, small animals should be kept in carriers or cages; dogs should be leashed. Arrangements for home blessing of animals that would not do well in the animal-rich environment of the church may be made by contacting the church office at 208-882-2022. St. Mark’s is located at 111 S. Jefferson, across from the Moscow-Latah Public Library.
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06.02.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:40 am by kentonbird
A sea of red shirts, dresses and ballons on St. Mark's lawn.
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