The Grapevine St. Mark's Episcopal Church

St. Mark's Episcopal Church 335 Locust Street

Johnstown, PA 15901 814-535-6797

Email: stmarks@atlanticbbn.net

Web site www. saintmarksjohnstown.com

Our Staff: Priest: Rev. Nancy L. Threadgill Verger: Cindy Leap Organist: Dolly Lopresti Treasurer: Pam Hysong Secretary: Joanne McKinley Sexton: Nikki Forsythe

The Vestry:

Senior Warden: Lisa Loncella Junior Warden: Adam Sprankle Secretary: Lyssa Nickle-Madden

Treasurer: Pam Hysong

2019 Lyssa Nickle-Madden

2020 Kitty Batrus

Heidi Buchan Adam Sprankle Penn Whitlow

2020 Courtney Foreman Lisa Bell-Loncella Donovan Pendell Douglas Zawiskie

Please remember St. Mark’s Church in your will.

A Note from Nancy – January 2019

Happy New Year once again! Every January, I pray that

the coming year will be full of hope, light and joy, that there will

be fewer wars, less extreme weather and more love throughout

the world. I know this is a tall order but I also have faith that God

will help to make these things happen. Please notice that I am not

expecting God to do all this alone. I pray that God will help us to

make this a better world because it won’t happen if we just stand

by and watch. We have to follow Christ’s example and love God

above anything and anyone else and love our neighbor as we are

loved by Christ.

This year we are being challenged by our bishop to find

ways to make a real difference in the Johnstown area. Yes, we

are known for our animal welfare ministry and the community

helps us to feed the many pets with monetary and food donations.

It has become a community ministry. But what else can we do to

make a difference? Is there something we can do to help reduce

the opioid crisis? Is there something we can do that will use our

awesome building during the week when it stands mostly empty?

How do we encourage people to come worship with us and truly

spread the Good News of Jesus Christ?

The Vestry will be meeting in retreat Saturday, January

12th to talk about these concerns and will present some ideas at

the special parish meeting January 27th. But the Vestry cannot do

anything without the approval and assistance from the rest of the

congregation. Please mull over your ideas for meeting the

bishop’s challenge and come to the parish meeting Sunday, Janu-

ary 27th. There will be only one service that weekend so every-

one from all three services can get together for fellowship and

discussion. Please make every effort to come and participate in

this very important meeting. We need your ideas, as well as your

approval and prayers.

Let us make 2019 a very special year in the history of St.

Mark’s.

Peace, In Christ,

Mother Nancy

January 2019

PLEASE SAVE THE

DATE!!!!

Sunday, January 27. 2019

Only one service that weekend – at

10:00 AM

Potluck and special annual meeting to

follow.

Please make every effort to come.

We will:

look at the 2019 budget,

vote on amount to be taken from the

endowment this year,

and

make plans for increasing our imprint on

the Johnstown community

FROM THE ECW LADIES AND PASTORAL CARE

Thank you to everyone who donated shampoo, toothpaste and brushes for the Family Kitchen Christmas Baskets. Also, many thanks to everyone who took time to bake and donate cookies for their Christmas Party. A special “thank you” to Angie Herbein for taking care of collecting all of the items for Saturday’s Kitchen and to Jack for helping Angie to distribute all of the shampoo, cookies, and Christmas Bags to the Kitchen. A special “thank you” to Louise Mead who volunteered to collect, prepare and deliver the Christmas Stockings to the Torrence State Hospital, and special thanks to everyone who donated items to fill those stockings. Because of Louise’s efforts we can continue this tradition. Thank you to everyone who donated turkeys for Thanksgiving. We were able to assist 15 families with a Turkey Dinner. Thank you to everyone who donated winter clothing and blankets for the needy. We will still collect hats, gloves, and blankets to hand out during the winter months.

Without your continued support we would not be able to continue this Ministry. Also at this time we would like to send a “special thank you” to Dr. William and Mrs. Maryanne Marchl for their continued support. The Altar Votives and Pew Candles were donated by the Marchl’s. They also made a monetary donation to help defray the costs of the Thanksgiving baskets. Although the Marchls live in Pittsburgh, (Maryanne is a former Mallinson) they still regard St. Mark ’s as their home.

From the Diocesan Social Justice and Outreach Committee January. 4, 2019

Here is an important project for the New Year. Plastic in the oceans kills over a million sea birds, 100,000 marine mammals, and countless fish every year, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Plastic chemicals can be absorbed in our bodies – 93 per cent of Americans age six or older test positive for BPA, which can cause cancer and birth defects, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Our tap water and bottled water are both loaded with microplastics. Following up on the Diocesan Convention resolution which recommends that “each parish encourage its parishioners to recycle, reuse and reduce their uses of water, electricity, gasoline and other fossil fuels, and plastics, which are polluting the ocean,” the Social Justice and Outreach Committee encourages all parishes in the diocese to take part in the Single Use Plastics Challenge, to reduce reliance on single use plastics such as plastic grocery bags and Styrofoam cups and plates.

We are collaborating on this project—known as the What’s SUP Challenge and expected to continue for the next few months--with committees of the Pittsburgh Friends Meeting House and the First Unitarian Church, and perhaps other organization to come. We encourage all members of the diocese to help plan at a kickoff event beginning at 1:30 at the Friends Meeting House, 4836 Ellsworth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, on Sunday, January 20th. This event will involve education about the dangers of plastics and possibilities for alternatives, forming teams of people pursuing similar goals, watching the movie “Bag It” together, and refreshments. In future months we hope to tour a recycling facility and learn the limitations of recycling, share our successes and what we’re all learning, and hold a SUP-less supper to celebrate.

Spread this information in your parish and if you are interested, whether you can or cannot attend on the 20th, contact me. Thank you!

Marianne Novy (mnovy@pitt.edu)

Diocesan Social Justice and Outreach Committee

Submitted by Amy Whitlow

Soup and Study Mondays 6:00 - 8:00 PM

The Soup & Study Group is taking a break for the next few months. We will meet again during Lent.

Coffee Shop Bible Study

We meet at The Mill House Café at the corner

of Diamond Blvd. and Luzerne Street in Old Westmont. This charming little coffee house is

bright, cozy, and friendly. The sandwiches, soups, and yummy baked goods are very tempting.

Drop in any Tuesday morning at 10 for coffee or tea, study, & fellowship. We read and discuss the lessons for the next Sunday’s service. Copies of the Synthesis CE Lectionary Study Guide are available for anyone in the parish hall.

To receive e-mail notices, please contact Adam Sprankle at

awsprankle@gmail.com

No January Anniversaries

Name Date Name Date

Greg Karlick 14 Magnus Rogers 27

Alli Benton Kintner 14 Amber Howarth 29

Stephen Balamuta 15 Michelle Shawley 30

Martha Pavlo 18 Connie Mayer 31

Tamra Howarth Kenneth Leap Richard Mayer

22 22 27

Happy January Birthdays

If we have forgotten your Birthday or Anniversary, please let us know. Call the office with your

Information (535-6797) or e mail us at stmarks@atlanticbbn.net.

Thanks, Joanne

Pastoral Care All families of the church are encouraged to donate one dollar on the fourth Sun-day of each month (Jan. 27th ) for our Pastoral Care. Please be sure to mark your donation separately for Pastoral Care.

Finance Meeting

Wednesday

January 9th

1:00 pm

Vestry Meeting

Sunday January 13th

After the 10:00 am Service

Fuel & Snow Removal

During the next few months, the extra collection for the First Sunday of the Month will help defray the cost of our heating and snow removal.

Rwandan Orphan All families of the church are encour-aged to donate $1.00 on the third Sunday of each month (Jan. 20th) for Josiane, our Rwandan orphan. Please be sure to mark your donation separately for her.

.

BUILDING CAMPAIGN The Extra Collection for the Second Sunday of the month will help defray the cost of our numerous work projects throughout the Church.

SPECIAL PARISH MEETING Sunday, January 27, 2019 After the 10:00 am Service

VESTRY REREAT Saturday, January 12th 9:00 am

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church 335 Locust Street

Johnstown, Pa. 15901 814-535-6797

stmarks@atlanticbbn.net

ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL We have come to the end of another year at St. Mark’s Pet Food Ministry and our Pet Food Pantry is thriving due to the many, many generous contributions that have been given to us throughout the past year and especially in the last 6 weeks. We are so grateful to those of you who continue to support our Pet Food Pantry. During December, we assisted 147 Families (24 new families), with 19 emergency walk ins during the month. We were able to feed 220 dogs, 15 puppies, 408 cats, and 52 kittens. Our total distribution for December: Dog and Cat Food 1916 lbs dog 996 lbs cat Dog and Cat Can Food 233 cans dog 374 cans cat All cats and kittens were given an additional bag of treats and toys. The bags were made by our volunteers– Cynthia Greig, Bonnie Murray, and Erin Pavic. Total Distribution January through December: Dry Food Dogs 13,840 lbs Cats 9,334 lbs Wet Food Dogs 3,009 cans Cats 2,729 cans We are proud and grateful for all of our volunteers who continue to help us. If you have a few hours a month that you would like to help at the Pet Food Pantry, please give us a call. Pantry will be open January 15th through 17th from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Please call Cynthia Greig at 255-2504 or Joanne at the Office. 535-6797. Thank you for your support.

CELEBRATE JOHNSTOWN Celebrate Johnstown ushered in the New Year. The weather was cold and rainy, but everyone who attended had a great time Thank you to everyone who volunteered and to so many of you who donated refreshments.

2019 CHURCH ENVELOPES The 2019 Church envelopes and the 2019 Pledge Records will be available be available in the Church Hall after the weekend services.

2019 PLEDGE CARDS

Please take a few moments to fill our your 2019 Pledge Cards. This will enable us to better prepare a 2019 Budget. As always thank you for your generosity.

SPECIAL PARISH

MEETING

Sunday, January 27, 2019

Following the 10:00 am Service

Congregational Approval for Balancing the Budget

All Parishioners are encouraged to attend!

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Satruday

1 2 3 4 5

January 10:00 am Bible Study

ma Mill House Café 12:00 Holy Eucharist 7:15 pm Unity Coalition

6:30 pm Choir Practice 5:00 pm Holy Eucharist II

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

7:30 am Holy Eucharist II 9:00 am 10:00 am Bible Study 12:00 Holy Eucharist 9:00 am Vestry Retreat

10:00 am Holy Eucharist II Love+Teach+Heal Academy Mill House Café 1:00 pm Finance Meeting 5:00 pm Holy Eucharist I

6:30 pm Choir Practice

7:15 pm Boy Scouts 7:00 pm Allied Artists

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

7:30 am Holy Eucharist I 10:00 am Bible Study 9:30 -12:30 Pet Food 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

10:00 am Holy Eucharist II 7:15 pm Boy Scouts Mill House Café 12:00 Holy Eucharist PET FOOD PANTRY

Vestry Meeting 9:30 am - 12:30 pm 6:00 pm Put People First 5:00 pm Holy Eucharist II

PET FOOD PANTRY 6:30 pm Choir Practice

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

7:30 am Holy Eucharist II 10:00 am Bible Study

10:00 am Holy Eucharist II 7:15 pm Boy Scouts Mill House Café 12:00 Holy Eucharist No 5:00pm Service

6:30 pm Community 6:30 pm Choir Practice

Common Prayer

27 28 29 30 31

10:00 am Bible Study 12:00 Holy Eucharist

10:00 am Holy Eucharist II 7:15 pm Boy Scouts Mill House Café 6:30 pm Choir Practice

Special Parish

Meeting

1/7 9:00 am Love + Teach + Heal Academy

1/12 9:00 am Vestry Retreat 1/9 Holy Eucharist

1/13 Vestry Meeting Healing Service

1/20 6:30 pm Community Common Prayer

1/27 SPECIAL ANNUAL MEETING WITH POTLUCK LUNCHEON

Lay Ministers Acolytes Altar Guild Ushers Coffee Hour

January 5th 5:00 pm C. Foreman (L)

Herbeins

January 6th 7:30 am V. Joyce (L) Available

Available Open

January 6th 10:00 am B. Horner (L) D. Horner

C. Adams

January 12th 5:00 pm L. Loncella (L)

Herbeins

V. Joyce (L)

Available Available Open

January 13th 10:00 am A. Sprankle (L) A. Whitlow

January 19th 5:00 pm L. Loncella (L)

Herbeins

January 20th 7:30 am V. Joyce (L)

Available Available Open

January 20th 10:00 am P. Hysong (L) L. Loncella

no 5:00 pm

Herbeins

no 7:30 am Available Potluck

Available Luncheon

January 27th 10:00 am A. Sprankle (L) K. Batrus