Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING JANUARY 29, 2017

INCLUDING

REPORTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED

DECEMBER 31, 2016

Presented by:

The Rector, Wardens and Vestry of Saint Mark’s Parish, Altadena

Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church 1014 E. Altadena Drive, Altadena, CA

Telephone: (626) 798-6747

Facsimile: (626) 798-4884

Website: www.saintmarksaltadena.org

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church – Altadena, CA

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Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church

Annual Parish Meeting

JANUARY 29, 2017

and Reports for the year ended

December 31, 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Meeting Agenda 5

Saint Mark’s Church Mission Statement 5

II. Saint Mark’s Church Leadership and Parish Staff 6

Saint Mark’s Parish Ministries 7

III. Minutes from the prior Annual Meeting, January 31, 2016 9

IV. Reports:

Rector 11

Vestry Report:

Senior and Junior Wardens 13

Treasurer’s Report 15

2016 Budget at End-of-Year, 2017 Budget 17

V. Saint Mark’s Ministry Councils: 23

A. WELCOME AND FELLOWSHIP COUNCIL

1. Coffee Hour 23

2. Community Camp 24

3. Community Healing Conversations 24

4. Men’s Fellowship 24

5. Newcomers 25

6. Women’s Soup Supper 25

B. WORSHIP COUNCIL

7. Acolytes 26

8. Altar Guild 26

9. Eucharistic Ministers 27

10. Healing Prayer Ministers 28

11. Intercessors 28

12. Lectors 28

13. Music 29

a. Choir 29

b. Choristers 30

c. 9:00 a.m. Service Music 32

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

14. Special Liturgies 33

15. Ushers 34

C. FORMATION COUNCIL

16. Adult Education and Formation 34

a. Centering Prayer 36

b. Daughter of the King (DOK) 36

c. Education for Ministry (EfM) 37

d. Lectio Divina 38

e. Wednesday Bible Study 38

f. Women’s Retreat 39

17. Children, Youth and Family 39

a. Christmas Pageant 39

b. Nursery 39

c. Sunday School 39

d. Youth Group Alumni Outreach 40

e. Youth Group 40

D. SERVICE COUNCIL

18. Outreach 41

a. ACTS Food Pantry 42

b. Bad Weather Shelter 42

c. Christmas Trees 42

d. CROP Walk 43

e. Door of Hope 43

f. Haiti Partnership 43

g. Holy Family Services 45

h. Scouts 46

i. December Toy Ingathering 48

j. Pastoral Care 48

k. Moveable Feasts 48

E. ADMINSTRATION AND FINANCE COUNCIL

19. Buildings and Grounds/Joint Operations 49

20. Endowment 50

21. Joint Fundraising 41

22. Joint Master Plan Task Force 53

23. Leadership Development 54

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

24. Stewardship 54

25. Tellers 55

F. SAINT MARK’S SCHOOL 56

School Board of Trustees and School Staff 56

Head of School 57

School Chaplain 59

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Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church

ANNUAL MEETING

Sunday, JANUARY 29, 2017

10:30 a.m. in the Community Hall

AGENDA

Opening Prayer The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon

Appointment of Clerk and Tellers*

Minutes of Previous Annual Meeting (1.31.16)

Election of Vestry Members and Convention Delegates

Eligibility to vote Reynolds Cafferata, Chancellor

Introduction and Nomination of Vestry Candidates

The Year in Review and the Days Ahead The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon

Traci Cecconello, Junior Warden

Treasurer’s Report for 2016 Joanna Scott

2016 Stewardship Report Joanna Scott

Presentation of 2017 Budget Joanna Scott

Recognitions The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon

Dismissal The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon

*Tellers to be appointed if needed. The Clerk of the Vestry will serve as Secretary of the Annual Meeting.

MISSION STATEMENT

Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church welcomes all into our community of faith as we grow in

Christ’s love through lives of worship, learning, service and fellowship.

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Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church

2016 Church Leadership

PARISH STAFF

The Reverend Carri Patterson Grindon, Rector

The Reverend Betsy Hooper-Rosebrook, Associate Rector

The Reverend Colin Brown, Ph.D., D.D., The Reverend Pete Berry

The Reverend Joseph A. Lane, D.Min., and The Very Reverend Sylvia Sweeney, Ph.D.,

Assisting

Dr. Lisa Sylvester, Music Director Mark Robson, M.M., Organist

Kara Morgan, M.M., Choristers Director David Key, 9:00 a.m. Musician

Lee Ann Bechthold, Bookkeeper Joanne Morse, Office Administrator & Publisher

Lisa Auyong, Office Administrator Dulce Hernandez, Sunday Sexton

Karen Kikkawa, Web-Sexton Parker Garrett, Children, Youth and Family Ministries Director

Reynolds Cafferata, Chancellor

VESTRY

The Reverend Carri Patterson Grindon, Rector

Bruce Linsenmayer, Senior Warden (’18) Diane Carey-Schmitz (’17)

Traci Cecconello, Junior Warden (’18) John Green (’18)

Joanna Scott, Treasurer Marti Farley, unexpired term (‘17)

Jannette Allen, Clerk of the Vestry Paul McKinney (‘18)

Jane Sobota, School Board Representative Bill Owen, (’19)

Kara Ramirez (‘18)

Robert Ross (‘17)

Nathan Schroeder (‘19)

CONVENTION

Delegates: Terri Jones (’16), Bruce Linsenmayer (’18)

Marianne Wright (’18), Keith West (’18)

Alternates: Ted Bailey (’18), Parker Garrett (’18),

Joanne Morse (’18), Janis Rosebrook (’18)

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Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church

2016 Parish Ministries

Acolytes Parker Garrett

Altar Guild Nadine Hegamin

Auction Heather Jolly

Bible Study

The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon

Buildings and Grounds/Joint Facilities

Paul McKinney/Marianne Wright

Centering Prayer Robin Ross

Chaplain (school)

The Rev. Betsy Hooper-Rosebrook

Children, Youth and Family Ministries

Parker Garrett

Christmas Trees Tom Horner

Community Camp Tom Horner,

Maria Horner

Community Healing Conversations

Bob Ross

Dad’s Night Out Doug Jolly

Daughters of the King Beth Owen

Education For Ministry Maria Horner,

Erik Forrester

Eucharistic Ministers (EMs)

Bruce Linsenmayer

Endowment Robert Ross

Fall Fair Rayann Scolnick,

Heather Jolly (Liaison)

Haiti Committee Alicia Maddox

Healing Prayer Ministers

The Rev. Betsy Hooper-Rosebrook

Holy Family Services Marianne Wright

Hospitality/Coffee Hour Robin Ross

Intercessors

The Rev. Betsy-Hooper-Rosebrook

Leadership Development Tom Horner

Formation Terri Jones

Joint Master Plan Task Force Matt Wright

Lectio Divina

The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon

Lectors The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon

Lenten Soup Suppers

The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon

Men’s Fellowship Bruce Linsenmayer

Outreach

Altadena Food Pantry Anne Browne …

Door of Hope George Rothwell

Haiti Partnership Alicia Porcello

Moveable Feasts Mickey Block

Music Programs Dr. Lisa Sylvester

Saint Mark’s Choir Dr. Lisa Sylvester

Choristers Kara Morgan

Instruments Lisa Sylvester

9:00 a.m. Service David Key

Newcomers Rose West

Nursery Scheduling Parker Garrett

Parent Education Maria Horner,

Parker Garrett

Pastoral Care Team John Green

Saint Mark’s School Jennifer Foley Tolbert

Scouts

Boy Scouts

Craig Snodgrass, Scoutmaster

Cub Scouts Shaley Brooks

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Special Liturgies

The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon,

The Rev. Betsy Hooper-Rosebrook

Stewardship Ministry Team Marti Farley

Tellers Bill Owen William Owen

Ushers Keith West

Wedding Coordinator Lisa Auyong

Women’s Soup Supper

Betty Butler, Dorsey League

Youth Group Parker Garrett

Other Annual Events

Maundy Thursday Agapé Supper

Altar Guild

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

Men’s Fellowship

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Rector’s Report

“God saw everything that he made, and indeed, it was very good….And on the seventh day God

finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he

had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the

work that he had done in creation.”

Genesis 1:31, 2:2&3

In the wee hours of a Sunday morning a year ago, I was getting on a plane in Chicago with my

family in hopes of returning to L.A. in time to be here for our Annual Meeting. We had spent the

weekend with our dear friends whose 19 year old son had died as the result of an accident involving

a collision with a drunk driver. Sam’s funeral was on Saturday, so when I arrived back at Saint

Mark’s on Sunday, my broken heart was brimful, and my mind and body jet-lagged. Before I left for

Chicago, Tom Horner and Diane Carey-Schmitz (our 2015 wardens), along with Mother Betsy and

other members of our staff, had worked hard to persuade me to let go of trying to be present at the

meeting. In compassion for my family, and with assurances that all would go forward smoothly

without me, they made their case. When I chose against their better judgement to return for our

gathering, it had nothing to do with a lack of trust in the exceptional leaders in our church, or any

sense that I was indispensable to the proceedings or the parishioners. It was because I knew that

when I walked into the Community Hall, God would be powerfully, palpably present in the words

and work and faces of the beautiful Saint Mark’s Community. I came home to stand on the solid

ground of God’s love made so very real in you. It was the right decision.

God draws us into relationship with one another, and binds us together for the work of Love. That

work takes on many forms at Saint Mark’s, and in the pages of this Annual Report, you’ll read all

about it. Joanne Morse works diligently each January, goading our leaders to write down our parish

Love stories. It is Sabbath work, this practice of getting it all down on paper, and then coming

together to remember and celebrate how God has used us for Love in the year just past, before we

give ourselves to helping shape the narrative of Love in the year ahead. After a period of intense

creativity and extraordinary productivity, God stopped, took a long, slow look over the results of all

that effort, and saw that it was very good. God spent a whole day resting and reflecting before rolling

up God’s sleeves again to bring more beauty into being. As I take Sabbath time to leaf through the

pages of our report and the memories of my heart, here are a few of my favorite moments from the

2016 Saint Mark’s Love story:

The St. Louis Coffee Hour extravaganza; Bob Ross’ MLK sermon; another wonderful trip to Haiti,

and the wonderful visit and engagement with our new partner priest, Pere Reginald here with us; the

inauguration of our Community Healing conversations, with special visits to us from Avis Ridley

Thomas and Capt. Vicky Stuckey; our first ever joint school and youth group Gospel Choir; the

election of our Bishop Coadjutor, The Rev. John Taylor; Matt Wright and Celinda Pearson’s Grapes

of Wrath book study series; the first full year of the leadership of Jenn Tolbert, with all the strength

and grace she is bringing to our community; the weddings of two women raised up at Saint Mark’s,

Jordana Kincey and Maura Schmitz; our youth and adult Confirmations; the initiation of Practice

the Tithe, and all the incredibly faithful generosity of our community; our first 2 Sunday morning

Contemplative Eucharists; our 2nd round of baptisms at Community Camp, where we welcomed into

the household of God Kendall, Kayson, and Caius Simmonds; the Christmas morning preaching of

Colin Brown, and the baptisms of Chase and Liam Regan, and their mother Allison; a second very

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Rector’s Report

successful year of Summer Adventure Camp; our fantastic Season of Gratitude mosaic of the faces

of our neighbors. As you look back across the landscape of our year together, what do you see?

Near the end of 2016, another occasion of loss and grief for my family, the loss of Al’s father, kept

me away from our Consecration Sunday. Once again, I was urged by our leaders to let go and not to

worry. And again, what was hardest about being way was not any anxiety that things wouldn’t go

well. I was able to be present in Atlanta and North Carolina knowing the Saint Mark’s morning

would be glorious, and her people generous. And of course, it was, and you were. I was only sad not

to be able to celebrate with you. What a precious gift it is to belong to such a body as this one. And

what a gift it will be to share joys and sorrows and all the work of Love God has for us in the year

ahead!

Faithfully,

~Carri+

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Saint Mark’s Parish

Vestry Reports

Senior and Junior Wardens' Report In preparing for this report, Bruce and I reviewed the minutes of the 2016 Vestry meetings.

Bruce quoted Lewis and Clark’s exclamation, “Oh! The joy!”, after having travelled

a long, hard journey, then finally seeing the Pacific Ocean. Looking back on this last year, and what

our faithful community has accomplished, “Oh! The joy!” seems just as fitting for us. Bruce and I

are delighted to tell you that Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church is looking great! This is really no

surprise since our congregation is made up of extraordinary, talented, caring and generous people

who love our church and the people who make up our community of faith.

Our Strategic Plan, Called to Be More, was lived into as we moved forward in Faith in the light of

Christ. In faith we began 2016 with a nearly $50,000 deficit budget and ended the year with a

$600.00 deficit. Thanks be to God for each one of you and your continued commitment to our parish

and ministries through pledges, service and your many talents.

Highlights:

This congregation stepped forward in faith a few years ago and hired a director to build our Youth

Ministry. As you look around the church campus, it is apparent that under the leadership of

Children, Youth and Family Director, Parker Garrett, the ministry has grown. Our second year of

Summer Adventure Camp was a hit and well attended. The Youth Group activities have drawn in

our young parishioners and their friends, so the ministry was expanded to serve the varied interests

of both our tweens and teens. We appreciate the hard work of Parker, and all of the parents and

volunteers who made these programs possible. Our youth are the lifeline of Saint Mark’s Church.

Our Ministry of Music is in great shape. In 2016, Lisa Sylvester was officially hired as Music

Director. She brought on board, our exceptional organist, Mark Robeson. Lisa has enriched and

enlivened our worship music, from our very own Saint Mark’s Choir to the inclusion of guest

vocalists and musicians. The voice and guitar of David Key enhances our 9 o’clock service. Our

ever expanding choristers, under the direction of Kara Morgan, have been a joy in worship. We have

so much to be thankful for - Lisa, Kara, Mark and David!

Outreach continues to do a remarkable job extending ministries to the greater community through

commitments with Saint Marguerite in Haiti, Friends In Deed, Altadena Churches Together Serving

(ACTS), Door of Hope, the Bad Weather Shelter, Union Station 5th Sundays, and more. Again,

many thanks to you, Saint Mark’s, for continued faith and giving.

Our partnership with Head of School, Jenn Foley Tolber,t has been a true pleasure. We are thankful

for her faith and leadership. After our recent Vestry and Board of Trustees Retreat, we look forward

to bringing our shared vision for the future of the Saint Mark’s Community to fruition together.

The Vestry is already hard at work in 2017. Together, we will continue to step out in faith,

responding to the call of the Holy Spirit through Pastor Carri’s appeal that we Love our Neighbor.

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Saint Mark’s Parish

Vestry Reports

Wardens’ Report (continued)

We are grateful for the prayerful and thoughtful leadership of our priests, Carri and Betsy. Not only

do they preach Love our Neighbor to us every Sunday, they model this for us daily in their wise

leadership, and their gentle pastoral care. As you know, Carri and Betsy work tirelessly, and have

touched so many lives - whether they be for a regular parishioner or a former member from long ago.

When one of us calls, Carri and Betsy answer without hesitation or reservation. We are also thankful

for Carri’s family: Al, Lucy and Sophie; and Betsy’s family: Tom, Andrew and Stephen. We

appreciate their patience and for sustaining Carri and Betsy in their dedication to support this

community.

Bruce and I also want to acknowledge that 2016 marked the 20th anniversary of Carri’s ordination!

To our amazing staff and Vestry, and the entire Saint Mark’s Community, thank you. We appreciate

who you are and all that you do!

Respectfully submitted,

~Bruce Linsenmayer,

~Sr. Warden

~Traci Cecconello,

~Jr. Warden

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Treasurer’s Report

2016 Year-End

For 2016 there was a budgeted deficit of $53,580. However we finished the year with a deficit of

only $670, so our financial position ended up being $52,910 better than expected.

Total pledge income received during 2016 was $369,467, compared to a budget of $343,921.

Pledges of $5,580 were received after the 2016 budget was published. Unfulfilled pledge

commitments totaled $8,295, offset by contributions from others who exceeded their pledge

commitments by $28,261.

Practice the Tithe brought in unbudgeted income of $6,054.

Holiday contributions were $2,519 above budget, the Fall Festival and Spring Auction netted

$2,216 more than budget, and Open plate was $4,250 below budget.

Overall, income exceeded budget by $42,229 and represents 80% of the positive variance for the

year.

Expenses were $10,680 less than projected. Staff costs were over budget by $4,410 primarily due

to under-budgeted healthcare costs. There were savings in direct overhead of $16,652. In

September 2016 our Joint Operations agreement with the school was renewed and revised, and a

new Use Fee reimbursement led to additional savings of $14,487. There were also savings of

$3,287 due to renewal of insurance at lower rates than budgeted. Program Activities were

under-spent by $3,131.

We fulfilled our 12% Mission Share pledge payment of $48,111 as well as our commitments to

ECPAC and CDSP. The 12% Mission Share for 2016 is also fully accrued, and is $5,173 above

budget, reflecting the higher income level for 2016.

2017 Budget

Budgeted income is based on 2017 pledges received to date, and open plate and holiday

contributions based on past historical trends. Pledges received to date are $366,324, which is

$16,823 higher than last year’s pledges.

Expenses have been estimated based on the past history, including any known upcoming

changes. There is a 2% cost of living increase for staff with more than one year’s service, and we

maintain our 12% Mission Share commitment, equal to $45,690.

As a result of the revised Joint Operations agreement with the school, while the church

community will continue to actively participate in the Fall Festival and Spring Auction, we will

no longer share 50% of the net proceeds of these events. The School House Rent and Overhead

Allocation will also cease. These four items will be replaced by a Use Fee reimbursement from

the school equal to $82,000 in 2017. This amounts to a positive addition to the bottom line of

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Treasurer’s Report

$14,100, and also represents a known flow of funds that is not subject to the uncertainties of joint

fundraising.

This year we are presenting a budget with an anticipated deficit of $34,352. The Vestry approved

this budget after taking the following factors into account:

-The budgeted 2017 deficit is at a lower level than the budgets of 2016 and 2015, and reflects

an increased level of pledge income.

-We have maintained a strong balance sheet, with approximately $1million of unrestricted

reserves, and liquid assets of approximately $0.9m million.

-During the period from 2010-2016, instead of the anticipated deficits we added net surpluses

totaling $109k to reserves, whilst still funding a 12% Mission Share and supporting staff salaries

and our many program activities.

Thank you to all in our community for your generosity and your continuing spiritual and

financial commitment to Saint Mark's.

~Joanna Scott

~Treasurer

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Saint Mark’s Parish

Ministry Councils

The ministries of Saint Mark’s Parish are organized into five broad areas or Councils. These

councils are inspired by our Mission Statement, and act to support and sustain the ministries and

programs of the parish. The councils are: Welcome and Fellowship, Worship, Learning and

Formation, Service, and Administration and Finance.

WELCOME AND FELLOWSHIP COUNCIL

1. Coffee Hour/Hospitality

The 7:45 a.m. Coffee Hour was initiated many years ago by parishioner Ruth Geibel, and continues

to this day by Nancy Rothwell. Breakfast treats and beverages are set out in the workroom/kitchen

of the church office, following the early service. The coffee, food, and fellowship begins around

8:30 a.m., and typically lasts until the start of the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service. Those served include

the 7:45 a.m. congregation, plus Clergy, Altar Guild meeting attendees, Adult Education

participants, Nursery caregivers, arriving Choir members and Ushers and EMs and Acolytes, along

with other visitors to the church office. Joanne Morse acts as the backup when necessary. David

Key faithfully contributes tangerines from his trees during the winter months, and other parishioners

frequently share the excess bounty from their gardens throughout the year.

The 9:00 a.m. Family Service has a rotating list of parishioners who provide coffee, punch and

snacks scheduled by Mo. Betsy.

The Coffee Hour after the 10:30 a.m. service is lunch provided by volunteers who have made a

commitment on a particular Sunday. These are individuals or groups of families, Ministries or

Vestry members. Dulce Hernandez sets the Community Hall up for the hospitality after the 10:30

a.m. service.

The Hospitality Committee would like to thank everyone who contributed to coffee hours in 2016,

with special thanks going to the individual sponsors. With your help, we were successful in making

Saint Mark’s a welcoming place!

If you are interested in doing a coffee hour, being a serving volunteer, or sponsoring a coffee hour by

donating money or food, please contact Joanne Morse in the church office or sign up at

http://www.signupgenius.com/index.cfm?go=s.signupform.

~Robin Ross

~Hospitality Chair

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Saint Mark’s Parish

Ministry Councils

2. Community Camp

For the past 13 years, members of the Saint Mark’s community have spent Memorial Day weekend

on Catalina Island. Together, we swim, kayak, hike, sing, play, climb, scale the ropes course and

have a great time being together. The weekend provides an incredible opportunity for church

families to spend time together! If you’ve never attended Community Camp, 2017 is a great time to

join us. If you’re worried about “camping,” please know that this is not a “pitch a tent and cook over

an open fire” kind of weekend. Families live in cabins, sleep on bunkbeds with mattresses, and feast

on amazing meals prepared by our camp’s kitchen staff. There are plenty of activities to keep

everyone busy…or plenty of time to rest and relax if that’s your preference. Mark your calendars for

May 27-29, 2017. More information will be available in March.

~Maria and Tom Horner

~Co-Directors

3. Community Healing Conversations

This past year, members of St. Mark’s launched a conversation group on the matter of healing, race,

and inclusion in our community and the broader global community. Several of our congregants were

troubled by the divisive rhetoric that emanated from the Presidential election campaign, with

community-police tensions and shootings across the nation as the backdrop. The operative question

for the group: how can our welcoming and inclusive community of St. Mark’s contribute to the

broader community as a force for our spiritual values of healing, reconciliation, and inclusion.

Towards that end, the group hosted three small group discussions including topics of racism and

bigotry, engaged the Founding Director of the community reconciliation group Days of Dialogue,

and welcomed the commander of our Altadena Sheriff’s station on the issue of community and

police relations. Spurred on by the recent visit by interfaith advocate Jihad Turk, the recent Rev.

James Lawson sermon, and engagement of St. Mark’s Youth Group members, the groundwork has

been laid for more concerted and purposeful action in the year to come.

~Bob Ross

4. Men’s Fellowship

The Men’s Fellowship at Saint Mark’s supports our parish events, sponsors projects and participates

in activities that enhance the life of our church and school. In 2016 the men helped our Parish Youth

host the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. All funds received from this event went to support the

Youth Group.

The 2016 year end Men’s Fellowship account report shows that $680.00 had been received in

income. The equity account has a balance of $492.15. The combined value is a balance of $1,172.15.

$750.00 of this will be given to the ACTS ~ Altadena Food Pantry. Men’s Fellowship funding

comes from gifts and birthday offerings to the Men’s Fellowship, plus surplus breakfast funds.

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Saint Mark’s Parish

Ministry Councils

Saint Mark's Men's Fellowship meets for breakfast at Fox's Restaurant on Wednesday mornings at

7:00 a.m. and all men of the parish are invited to attend.

~Bruce Linsenmayer

~Treasurer

5. Newcomers

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without

knowing it.”

Hebrews 13:2

The purpose of the Newcomer/Hospitality Committee is to welcome and encourage newcomers to

experience Christ’s love and ultimately a home in Saint Mark’s community.

We initially do this by inviting them to join us in fellowship at the coffee hour and engaging them in

conversation, always remembering to respect where they are in the moment. Our ushers are vital to

this process as they are the first to meet and greet our visitors.

Connecting our newcomers with those in the congregation with whom they have things in common

is an important step. We intend to do these things naturally, but we want to be more intentional

about this in the future. Working with ushers to complete the circle and make the newcomer

experience at Saint Mark’s a positive experience is essential. Our loving community will do the rest.

Biannual newcomer meetings will facilitate a deeper understanding of our mission and commitment,

while giving those attending the opportunity to consider their membership in our community.

We know we can count on all of you to make this ministry a success! AND, when asked to

participate, please say YES!

~Rose West

~Newcomer Chair

~Robin Ross

~Hospitality Chair

6. Women’s Soup Supper

Women's Soup is a group which gathers once a month to share a meal. As we make closer personal

connections, we also act as support for each other. As we care, pray for and uplift each other, we

demonstrate what our church is about. As a group of women, we support various church projects,

such as supplying extra funding for the ACTS Food Pantry, the Haiti Partnership, and we also gave

to Bloy House. Women's Soup also provides meals, transportation and hand-holding for others. We

work to nourish each other and our faith.

~ Elizabeth Butler

~Coordinator

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Saint Mark’s Parish

Ministry Councils

WORSHIP COUNCIL

7. Acolytes

Saint Mark's is blessed with an active acolyte program at each of our three Sunday services. Being

an acolyte is a wonderful opportunity for the youth of Saint Mark's to serve God and the church.

This year we had eight graduates of the acolyte program: Emily Wright, Jake McCann, Jacob

McKinney, Ian Bartlett, Ryan Schroeder, Nick Bass, Aidan Montiel, and Issac Momsen.

This year we have 4 acolytes serving at the 7:45 service, 7 at the 9:00 service, and four teams of 5

acolytes at the 10:30 a.m. service. The acolytes bring a special and valued contribution to each

service.

All families in the congregation with children who will be in the 6th grade in September, 2017, will

receive information about the acolyte program in the Spring. All children 6th grade and above are

invited to be acolytes.

If you want to know more about the acolytes, please call email Parker Garrett

at cyf@saintmarksaltadena.org.

~Parker Garrett

~CYF Director

8. Altar Guild

The Altar Guild is a quiet, behind-the-scenes group who enjoy looking after the linens, candles,

silver and brass that play a big part in the Christian rituals of the church. Trimming candles,

arranging flowers, changing Altar frontals, laundering linens, preparing the Sanctuary for each

service, and decorating the church for special holidays, i.e. Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, and

hosting the Maundy Thursday Agapé Supper, are all part of the work they do. The group meets once

a month on the 2nd Sunday morning, except through the summer.

A lucrative task that the guild organizes is the ordering and selling of the Christmas greens to parish

members and Saint Mark’s school families. With this added money, the Altar Guild is able to

purchase necessary supplies, refinish damaged silver and brass, and replace damaged chasuables.

The Guild also donates Christmas greens/poinsettia for the Auction.

With contributions from the congregation in honor of loved ones, we purchased a new upright stand

for the Advent wreath, which also serves for the Paschal candle.

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Saint Mark’s Parish

Ministry Councils

Altar Guild (continued)

The Altar Guild is a friendly group and would welcome new members into their midst with open

arms. Our members include Joan Painter, Tom Hooper-Rosebrook, Diana deNoyelles, Ann Waddell,

Robin Ross, Beth Owen, Nadine Hegamin, Ann Schofield-Osaki, Christina Thom, Marti Farley,

Marsha Reed, John Green and Eric Thom. We welcomed two new members, Rachel Rehwald-

Merriam and Melissa Schaper. Honorary members are Jim Morse and members of the Youth Group

who do heavy lifting. We thank them for their cheerful participation. Stephen Hooper-Rosebrook

kindly removed the large Christmas wreathes on the pillars in the church. As a trained fire-fighter,

he was well equipped to handle the tall ladder with no fear.

Our emeritus members are Roberta Goodman, Charlotte Mathews, and Sue Peace. They may no

longer have duties, but continue to come to meetings and provide us with good ideas and inspiration.

Tom Hooper-Rosebrook retired at the end of the year after 17 years of faithful service, but he said he

is available for special events.

Please contact Nadine Hegamin (626-798-5026) or Joanne Morse (626-798-5487) for more

information.

~ Nadine Hegamin

~Director

9. Eucharistic Ministers (EMs)

The theological foundation for our lay Eucharistic Ministry is the belief that a church is not a

community of lay people gathered around a minister, but a community of many ministers gathered

around God. At Saint Mark’s Eucharistic Ministers are lay people who have received specialized

training and have been licensed by the bishop to assist the clergy at the Eucharistic table. Our EMs

serve at the Eucharist and fully participate at all of our services. This licensed ministry, within the

Diocese of Los Angeles, requires that the EM be a confirmed adult communicant in good standing.

Saint Mark's Eucharistic Minister's are: George Rothwell, Don Kincey, Bruce Linsenmayer, Celinda

Pearson, Reynolds Cafferata, Tom Rosebrook, Jannette Allen, Chris Yoder, Rose Dale, Matt

Wright, Terri Jones, Karen Sessions, Lisa Hilger, Ruben Cárdenas, Parker Garrett and David Key.

Retiring Eucharistic Ministers in 2016 were Lynn Marini and Seth Bass.

Thanks be to God for all of them and their service to all of us.

~Bruce Linsenmayer

~EM Coordinator

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10. Healing Prayer Ministers

At the 10:30 a.m. service, trained lay ministers are available to pray during communion with those

who have a special concern, thanksgiving, or need for healing in their life or the lives of those they

love. They rejoice in the opportunity to claim the scriptural promise, “Where two or three are

gathered in My name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20) as they share the worries, sorrows,

and joys of members of the congregation. We give thanks for those who in 2016 have shared our

joys, fears, and sorrows through this ministry: Betty Butler, Juanita Wade, Debra Johnson, Roberta

Goodman.

~Mo. Betsy

11. Intercessors

Thanks to those who serve as Intercessors, leading the Prayers of the People in our worship at the

7:45 and 10:30 a.m. services. They are: Desiree Alvarado Cardenas, Ted Bailey, Roberta Goodman,

John Green, Terri Jones, David Key, Lynn Marini, Joanne Morse, and Adam Schroeder. We're

especially grateful for the service of Kay Van Valkenburgh, who is retiring after many years as an

intercessor, and to Janet Banks who is beginning this ministry. At the 9:00 a.m. service, many

families take turns reading the lesson and leading the prayers.

~Mo. Betsy

12. Lectors

For all of 2016, we have been blessed by the preparation and proclamation of God’s Word by our

lectors at our 10:30 Eucharist each Sunday morning. Their faithfulness enlivens and deepens our

hearing of the scriptures. I am grateful for those who continue in this ministry: Valerie Barth, Al

Grindon, Connie Majeau, Erik Forrester, Jill McDowell, Debbie DeCaro, Sherrie Melinat, Traci

Cecconello, Chris Zarow, Kendall Simmonds, Jake Rutt and Betty Butler.

~Pr. Carri

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13. Music

Saint Mark’s Adult Choir

In 2016 the Choirs and Music Staff of Saint Mark’s were quite active in providing a variety

of musical offerings within our services and a few outside events.

One very significant development in the Spring of 2016 was having our interim organist, Mark

Robson, become our permanent organist. The Saint Mark’s Community has been extremely blessed

by his talent as we experience his musical offerings of organ voluntaries, accompanying the choir

and congregation in service music and his generous gift to the community at Christmas time with

“Musical Tidings of Comfort and Joy”. I am continually inspired by and appreciative of his

partnership with me in Music Ministry at Saint Mark’s.

Some highlights include the return visit of Cantor Mark Saltzman on the First Sunday in Lent. His

musical contributions inspired all of us on that solemn Sunday.

On Easter our Choristers lead beautifully during the 9:00 a.m. worship on Easter Sunday, and in our

11:15 a.m. service we were blessed with the addition of a trumpet soloist, Bryce Schmidt.

On Sunday May 17, we had a wonderful event in the afternoon – a concert entitled ‘Music from

Saint Mark’s’ in which our Choristers, Adult Choir, organist Mark Robson, Chorister Director Kara

Morgan, and myself all presented highlights from the year’s musical offerings. It was a joyous event

that celebrated the many ways in which we make music here at Saint Mark’s. We intend to make this

a yearly tradition!

In the summer we had a variety of “subsets” from our Choir present anthems and lead singing in

various services along with some guest soloists, including oboist Catherine Del Russo. On August

14, we were uplifted by the children who participated in SAC (Summer Adventure Camp) as they

presented the musical “It’s Cool in the Furnace” which they had worked on in the previous week.

The month of August, I led the Adult Education hour with a sing-a-long each week in conjunction

with Summer Choir, giving an opportunity to folks who might not otherwise sing in a choir to

participate in group singing – whether it was just in the sing-along time or also in the Summer Choir

within the 10:30 service.

In September, the Adult Choir had its second annual “Choir Retreat”. We had some fun and

fellowship, were enlightened by our guest clinician, Lynn Helding, one of my colleagues at USC,

and of course, sang through several anthems that we would be preparing throughout the year.

Another significant “addition” introduced on Consecration Sunday were our new Choir Robes! A

BIG shout-out to Rose West for all of her assistance in handling the details of sizing, ordering and

distributing!!! We now have stoles to match the liturgical seasons- very exciting!!!

The main components of our church music department includes two choirs: Saint Mark’s Adult Choir

and Saint Mark’s Choristers under the excellent direction of Kara Morgan. Saint Mark’s Adult Choir

sings three Sundays a month and the Choristers sing once a month on the second Sunday.

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Music (continued)

Both choirs enhance the worship with sung psalms, mass settings and anthems of varying styles. In

particular, both choirs provided inspiring musical contributions during Advent and Christmas Eve

services.

We have also been blessed by guest musicians in several services this year; they include Gabrielle

Thompson, soprano for Labor Day Sunday; Eileen Holt, flutist; and Paul Baker, harpist for

Christmas. Our music is also enhanced on a regular basis by our “house percussionist” Erik

Forrester.

Our church is blessed with many talented musicians that offer their gifts for all of us and for the

glory of God. If you enjoy singing please think about joining Saint Mark’s Choir. There is NO

AUDITION!!

SAINT MARK’S CHOIR

Janette Allen, Gini Berry, Pete Berry, Diane Carey-Schmitz, Rosalyn Fleischer, Al Grindon, Terri

Jones, Danielle Neddo, Bill Owen, Sue Peace, Mark Poynter, Tim Sanders, Nathan Schroeder,

Elsie Strong, Ann Waddell, Juanita Wade, Kim Watkins, Rose West, Chris Yoder.

~Lisa Sylvester

~Music Director

Choristers

It is now my fourth year as Chorister Director and I am immensely satisfied to see the Saint Mark's

Choristers strengthening and deepening upon its solid foundation. Our membership continues to

remain strong. Many of large Jr. Chorister group from last season graduated into the Sr. Chorister

program which has led to our strongest and largest Sr. Chorister roster yet (16 singers). Our Jr.

Chorister membership is lower than last year (10 singers). I will do my best to spread the word a

little more exuberantly at the start of next season so as to be sure to continue to recruit new singers

to the program. Attendance for both groups remains strong as singers and parents alike commit to

our weekly rehearsals and monthly services.

The Junior Choristers rehearse from 3:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Wednesdays. My primary goals with

these younger singers (Kindergarten through 1st grade) are to develop intonation, basic vocal

technique, healthy posture and an understanding of how our anthems fit within the context of the

liturgical church year. Last year I implemented solfeggio (sight reading that uses syllables and hand

signals) with the Junior Choristers and am pleased to report that they are able to accurately replicate

any combination of the syllables “do, re, mi, fa, sol”. Though we continue to work on improving

intonation, the Junior Choristers are already able to perform unison anthems with strong vocal

production and joyful expression. The Junior Choristers have also successfully collaborated with the

Senior Choristers in singing 2 part anthems and rounds.

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Music (continued)

The Senior Choristers (2nd grade through 6th grade) rehearse from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on

Wednesdays. At our weekly rehearsals we study music theory, solfeggio, vocal technique and the

role our music plays within the church's ministry and worship. I decided this year to discontinue the

use of the Royal School of Church Music “Voice For Life” curriculum. I received feedback from

several parents that the reading level and theory level required by the light blue level was too

advanced for 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade reading levels. I also was struggling to find enough time to both

teach the curriculum and sufficiently prepare the choristers for their monthly services. Instead of

giving each chorister their own workbook to take home, I am integrating music theory into many of

our chorister rehearsals, covering such topics as musical notation, rhythmic notation and key

signatures. At the end of the year the choristers can still be awarded a medal and ribbon to be worn

with their choir robe if they are able to prove to me orally that they have grasped the concepts

presented in class. This year I have chosen two Head Choristers: Jonah Schroeder and Martin

Anderson. As Head Choristers, Martin and Jonah help with such tasks as distributing and collecting

folders and serve as a behavioral leader for all of the Choristers. The Senior Choristers are now able

to sing two part anthems with excellent intonation and projection. The group is divided into two

groups: the "core" group (which sings the melody in most cases) and the "descanters" (who sing the

high descants in our anthems). Both the Junior Choristers and the Senior Choristers have done a

fabulous job leading worship at our Sunday Children's Worship Services this fall as well as our

Christmas Eve Pageant. We are looking forward to singing at the Saint Mark's Easter service and our

end of the year Chorister Concert on June 3, 2017, at 4:00 p.m.

We continue to hold monthly “Choir Dinners”, always on the Wednesday prior to our monthly

Chorister Sunday. Two different choir parents host the dinner each month and prepare enough food

for all of our Choristers and their families, about 35 people. This past month we combined our

January Choir Dinner with the Epiphany Party. It was a joyful gathering of both Chorister families

and parish families.

The Choristers performed their annual Chorister Concert on Sunday, May 21, 2016. This concert

was a benefit for our Haiti partnership and was shared with the Saint Marks Adult Choir. The

Choristers performed various anthems from their 2015-2016 season. The Choristers performed

wonderfully and the concert was very well received.

Because of my summer travel plans, I did not direct last year’s VBS musical, though I know many

choristers took part in the production and that it was a wonderful success.

For the first time the Choristers sang at the Saint Marks Fall Festival on October 1, 2016. It was a

lovely, informal performance for which we sang one of our Haitian anthems.

The Choristers were delighted to sing an invocation for the Gospel choir concert that took place at

Saint Mark’s on Nov. 12, 2016. The concert was a benefit for our Haiti partnership and we were

thrilled to have our partner priest Père Reginald in attendance.

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Music (continued)

I am pleased to announce that for the first time the Choristers will be joining in the annual parish

retreat on Catalina Island (May 27 through May 29, 2017). I will be encouraging all chorister

families to sign up for the parish retreat. The choristers will help lead worship at the Sunday

morning service on Catalina Island.

I am so pleased by the progress both the Junior and Senior Choristers have been able to achieve over

the course of my three and a half years as Choristers Director. I truly look forward to the musical

adventures before us!

~Kara Morgan

~Choristers Director

9:00 a.m. Service Music

Our aim is to draw children and their families into real comfort with the form and content of the

Episcopal liturgy with genuine worship and praise.

The hymns we sing at this service are selected the same way as the hymns for the 10:30 service, with

careful attention to the Lectionary readings appointed. The chief difference is that our focus is on

songs whose theology is accessible to children. Our sources are the standard hymn books: Hymnal

1982; Lift Every Voice and Sing; and Wonder, Love and Praise, especially hymns familiar from

school chapel, with additional sources (covered under copyright license agreements) and some of my

own offerings which we print for the congregation. Since my background is in traditional music we

have a variety of instrumentation: various types of guitars, banjo, autoharp, dulcimer and most

recently Lutes and Bowed Psaltery. A collection which, in my opinion, offer not only variety of

sounds but also texture to the various hymns, much as the variety of stops available on the organ are

used. Percussion instruments (mostly played by the children on the occasional rousing closing

hymn) are a joyful addition to this service offerings.

I have been able to identify other people with musical talents in the congregation. Some have

contributed and others I hope to include in special musical offerings in future. We also hope to be

blessed with special offerings from the Choristers in the coming year.

I am grateful to Lisa Sylvester for her contributions to music for this service.

~David Key

~9:00 a.m. Music Leader

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14. Special Liturgies

Though Sunday morning worship is our primary way of coming together as the Body of Christ, we

offer other ways to worship each year. In 2016, we continued some creative and wonderful traditions

that have helped shape our community.

One of those, the alternative Lessons and Carols for Good Friday, a Terri Jones original, brought us

together to hear and ponder the Cross of Christ in the words of a wide range of faithful voices. In

music, poetry and prose, we listened to the suffering and the redemption in Christ’s self-offering.

Each year this service provides a way for our community to be stirred to greater gratitude and

understanding for the Cross. One of graces of this gathering is the opportunity for each person

present to be a reader of one of the texts, entering fully into the experience or wisdom provided in it.

This year’s Passion of Christ on Palm/Passion Sunday was brought to life by an intergenerational

team of parishioners at the 7:45 and 10:30 services. David Key, Rovi Samoa and Nic Arnzen moved

us with their powerful and thoughtful representation of this most holy story. For the 3rd year in a

row, the community followed the hearing of the Passion with a long meditative silence. The Cross

was experienced differently late in the morning on Good Friday through our annual Experiential

Stations of the Cross. Many in our parish, including a host of families with children of all ages, have

come to think of this service as a tradition not to be missed.

Our 8th annual Blue Christmas Service, a gentle and warm way for those suffering losses of any kind

to enter the holidays wrapped in comfort and hope, was another gift to our worshipping life.

Parishioners and friends of parishioners, along with neighbors and strangers, found their way to this

service, and were cared for and drawn into the Love of God in a unique way.

We were blessed again in our Season of Gratitude this year by the preaching of lay members of our

parish and school. Zanita Kelly (Head of our Upper School), Quinton Wilson, and Desiree Alvarado

were inspired and inspiring in their witness to us. Following their witness, we were greatly blessed

with a visit and the preaching of Pere Reginald Valliere, our partner priest in Haiti. Our resident

visionaries, Bob Schaper and Nathan Schroeder, again produced a slow transformation of Jaws with

photographs of our neighbors provided by our congregants. These faces became a beautiful mural

reminding us of God’s call to us to give with love to those around us. With original prayers by Terri

Jones, an opening collect created by our current EfM group under the guidance of Stewardship Chair

Marti Farley, and a Consecration Sunday sermon by guest preacher, The Rev. Rex McDaniel, our

lives as stewards were challenged and strengthened.

~Pr. Carri

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15. Ushers

Saint Mark's Ushers continue to greet the congregation enthusiastically, and to assist with the offering

and Eucharist at all services every Sunday, and on Christmas and Easter. The ushers play a particularly important role during the high-attendance services, such as Christmas Eve and Easter.

Thank you to the ushers who served during 2016: Zachary Abbott, John Green, Craig Snodgrass, Keith

West, Kay Van Valkenburgh, Beth Owen, Jim Morse, Jill McDowell, Karen Rogers, Eric and Christina

Thom, Mary Moffitt and Trudi Anderson, and the dedicated families at the 9:00 a.m. service.

Gerald Somerville has retired and we thank him for his faithful service.

If you feel this might be a calling for you, please call the church office 626-798-6747.

~Keith West

Co-ordinator

FORMATION COUNCIL

Formation is the lifelong process of giving our faith and our knowledge and love of God. It includes

intellectual learning as well as whatever spiritual practices we embrace to deepen our relationships

with God and our neighbors; and due to differences of temperament, circumstances and

opportunities, it will be a little different for each Christian. One generation’s challenges may be non-

issues for their predecessors or their descendants.

The times and culture in which we live have a lot to do with the spiritual and ethical challenges with

which we grapple. Whatever they are, our tools for approaching understanding them are pretty much

the same. We read, we pray, we study; we talk, we tell stories, we listen. We open ourselves to God

and to one another, and also to those whose stories are different, and in whom we have a harder time

recognizing common bonds. As Christians we are called to be and to build and to live in and as

community, and to offer hospitality to any who seek or need it. 2016 was a particularly difficult year,

and we were fortunate that our primary lectionary text for Sunday mornings was Luke’s gospel with

Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan. Through its lens, we grapple throughout the year with the basic

questions: who is my neighbor, and how do I stand with him or serve him? What is her story, and

how does it resonate in mine?

Bob Ross led a Vestry-sponsored series of Healing Conversations, which permitted participants to

share and to learn from one another’s experiences of difference – ethnic, racial, and otherwise – and

to explore how Saint Mark’s can help its members and others be better neighbors to one another in

contentious times. Guest speakers for two of these Saturday morning conversations included Vicky

Stuckey, the recently-appointed Commander at the Altadena Sheriff Station; and Avis Ridley

Thomas, who, since 1992 L.A. uprisings, has trained a team of facilitators to lead community

dialogues about racism, policing, and other topics of concern. (Ms. Ridley Thomas was

accompanied by her husband, L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas, formerly an L.A. City

Council member and leader of the L.A. office of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.)

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Formation (continued)

We began Lent with what has become a biennial Lenten Installation in the Community Hall. This

year’s experience drew all ages into a playful celebration of God’s creation, and for the Wednesdays

in Lent we were led by Bill Owen, Erik Forrester, Andy Thompson and Terri Jones in taking delight

in all God has made through music, science, and poetry. Our Saturday neighborhood walks, our

Sunday morning Sabbath series (with leadership from George Rothwell, Mark Saltzman, Robin

Ross and Terri Jones), and our I AM Sunday evening series for youth and their parents, were all

ways of drawing nearer to God through God’s marvelous works.

Over the summer, we invited members of the congregation to reflect and write on the theme “Who Is

My Neighbor?” A small group gathered in August over a picnic supper to share their stories. Others

watched the classic film “A Raisin in the Sun” and then discussed what has changed in race relations

in the fifty years since the film was released.

During the Season of Gratitude, Stewardship Chair Marti Farley, Nathan Schroeder, and Bob

Schaper instigated a “Who Is My Neighbor?” photographic installation in the church, to which many

congregants contributed.

On Sunday mornings in the Brown Library:

Matt Wright and Celinda Pearson led a compelling study of The Grapes of Wrath in

Epiphany, as a prism form discussing contemporary issues of refugees, immigration, and

migration.

Various facilitators reached beyond their own ethnic or cultural traditions to present stories,

poems, or articles that spoke to them and were by authors from other traditions.

In July we offered lectionary Bible Study, and in August Lisa Sylvester led all willing

participants through a ‘learn it today, sing it today’ summer choir program.

In September, speakers, including Tom Rosebrook Valerie Barth, Rose West, and Dave and

Julie Dutra talked about discovering or embracing a ‘new thing’ in their lives.

Teams of teens and adults interviewed one another á la Story Corps during the Season of

Gratitude.

In Advent, Sylvia Sweeney and Pete Berry led programs called, “Why We Do What We Do”,

exploring aspects of and answering questions about Episcopal worship and spiritual practice.

Throughout the year, inspired, dedicated leaders continued to guide a whole menu of small group

Formation activities: Centering Prayer, led by Robin Ross, Wednesday morning Bible Study, led by

Pastor Carri and Roberta Goodman; Lectio Divina, led by Connie Majeau; EfM, led by Erik

Forrester and Maria Horner; the annual Women’s Retreat; and the monthly writing as a spiritual

exercise group, led by Pastor Carri and Terri Jones.

Our thanks to everyone who presented or facilitated, and all who participated.

Formation Council:

Terri Jones, Chair; The Rev,. Pete Berry, Elizabeth Butler, Roberta Goodman, The Rev. Joseph

Lane, Melissa Schaper, Lisa Sylvester, The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon.

~Terri Jones

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16. Adult Education and Formation

Centering Prayer

But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in

secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6:6

Saint Mark’s celebrates another year of Centering Prayer which is offered on Monday mornings

from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. in the Brown Library. Our practice continues to be enriched by viewing

DVD teachings from Fr. Thomas Keating, participating in Lectio Divina, as well as other practices

that support the Contemplative Life Program.

Centering Saturday's, a four hour morning retreat, is held quarterly and on occasion facilitated by guest

practitioners. It is important to note that anyone interested in participating in or learning more

about Centering Prayer is welcome. Having done the practice before is not a prerequisite and

attendance is open to the community at large.

I am happy to say that this year our group has grown and there are several new individuals who are

now attending on a regular basis who are from other church communities. Please join us when you

are able. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome!

I remain honored to be part of this beautiful community and look forward to seeing it

continued growth.

Blessings,

~Robin Ross

~Facilitator

Daughters of the King (DOK)

We currently have 17 members and are always eager to welcome any woman 17 years

and older who is called to prayer and service. Feel free to visit the National Website for more

information regarding the National Prayer Order www.dok-national.org

Chapter meetings are held on the fourth Saturday of the month at 10:00 AM in a member’s home..

Feel free to visit our church website (www.saintmarksaltadena.org) for updates and other

information.

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DOK (continued)

We received over 388 prayer requests in 2016. Lynn Marini is responsible for maintaining the prayer

list which is confidential. Any member or clergy may post requests to the group. Beth Owen serves

as the treasurer for the group.

Respectfully submitted,

Lynn Marini

“We are all called to be mothers of God…for God is constantly needing to be born.” Meister Eckhart

Education for Ministry (EfM)

Would you treasure….

…. a time to search for connections between God, Faith and our world today?

… eye-opening and sometimes provocative conversation?

… deep reflection on Scripture in community?

… exploring your spiritual self and writing your spiritual autobiography?

… intellectual conversations with more questions than answers?

(spoken by current EfM members)

Would you like to discover where your faith meets the needs of your church, your community

and the world?

Education for Ministry invites you to bring forth your unique gifts for a personal ministry as you

uncover them in the study of the Old Testament, New Testament, Church History (at least the first

3,000 years!) and foundational principles of theology and philosophy. Through these lenses EfM

guides its learners toward claiming and developing their ministry gifts for their community.

Saint Mark’s has offered EfM for nearly three decades. The 4 year program is renewable each year

and we meet for 2 hours on Monday nights for about 9 months of the year. The program was created

and is administered by the Episcopal School of Theology of the University of the South in Sewanee,

Tennessee. Four years ago the program underwent a massive curriculum-overhaul which, while

keeping the scriptural content intact – updated and refocused its guidance toward discovering and

forming personal ministries. The changes have made the program even more relevant and effective

for us today.

Current members are Joanne Morse and Marti Farley in year 4, Parker Garrett and Paula Walker in

year 3, Mike Bechthold and Tom Rosebrook in year 2 and Rachel Rehwald-Merriam, Jill McDowell

and Marianne Wright in year 1.

Our mentors are Maria Horner and Erik Forrester.

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EfM (continued)

There are no tests or papers to write, just reading assignments and insightful discussions,

conversations and activities which emerge from the Bible, our texts and wonderful auxiliary books

and materials which EfM provides.

This year on Saturday February 25 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., EfM will host its first

Retreat/Workshop - an Epiphany gift to our entire community! Mark your calendars!

Please feel free to contact any of the mentors or members for information about EfM. It is not too

early to consider enrolling for Fall 2017!

~Erik Forrester

~Mentor

Lectio Divina

Wednesdays at 5:30 in the Church

For the first half of 2016, our Lectio Divina group gathered for silence and contemplation with a

scripture passage each week. With leadership from Connie Majeau, the faithful listened deeply for

the wisdom and love of God speaking through God’s Word. Meeting in the chancel of the church,

the group entered into a space prepared for stillness, and gathering around the flame of a candle,

ready to welcome the stirrings of the Spirit and the tender love of God. For the last months of 2016,

and until further notice, Lectio has gone on hiatus, with hopes that it will return to our community in

new forms in the year ahead.

~Pr. Carri

Wednesday Bible Study

This year’s Wednesday Bible Study has taken us on a wonderful and circuitous journey through the

scriptures. Much of our year has been spent in the various epistles of the Apostle Paul. Our

conversation is always lively, always enriching, and often transformative. I am always glad to gather

with this group, whose faith is palpable and whose insights and candor are such a blessing. I am

especially grateful for the leadership so often provided there by Roberta Goodman.

~Pr. Carri

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Women’s Retreat

Pr. Carri

About 25 of the women of Saint Mark’s and their friends spent the first rainy weekend in March in

the Verdugo hills at Camp Bob Waldorf on the Max Straus Campus. We chose this more rustic

retreat center as a change of pace, and it inspired our theme of “Into the Woods.” For some of us, that

meant delving into the work of fairy tales for metaphors for our life journey, and for others it meant

re-connecting with the natural world. Bible study, worship, various group and solo activities, crafting,

journaling, a quiet span for meditation, and lots of food and laughter have become the standard

features of these renewing times away. Everybody pitched in one way or another, but the team and the

folks who helped it happen included Pastor Carri, Mo. Betsy, Betty Butler, Terri Jones, Roz

Fleischer, Rose West, Beth Owen, Christina Thom, Julie Dutra, Jannette Allen, and Taki Lague. And

special thanks to Rachel Rehwald-Merriam for the grapefruit and Dave Dutra (who did not attend) for

the amazing cookies.

The 2017 retreat will be at Max Straus again, from Friday afternoon, March 31, through noon on

April 2. Our theme is “Soul Food.” Make plans to come!

~Terri Jones

16. Children, Youth and Family

Christmas Pageant The annual Christmas pageant continues to be an effective and successful way for children and

youth to engage in Christmas worship here at Saint Mark's. We had over 50 children and youth

participate in the pageant during the 5:00 p.m. service on Christmas Eve. One particularly exciting

aspect of this program is that it continues to bring members of all three Sunday morning

congregations together, as well as school families involved in our chorister program. We continue to

use the script adapted from scripture by Pastor Carri.

Nursery Held in the preschool class downstairs, our nursery care room is staffed by skilled childcare

providers and a youth assistant every Sunday. Our nursery frees parents to enjoy the worship service,

knowing their children are safe and secure. Olivia Browne, a Saint Mark's school alum and student

at PCC, oversees the nursery each Sunday. Sunday School Sunday School continues to thrive under the system we adapted last year. Sunday School meets in

the Community Hall from 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. The program, adapted from Living the Good

News, includes two parts. Part One is from 10:00 - 10:30. At 10:30, participants will have a light

snack and time of transition as new children arrive and others depart. Part Two takes place

from 10:45 - 11:15. Both parts focus on the same scripture and lesson, but in fun and unique ways.

We encourage families to come for the full hour and fifteen minute program; however, we welcome

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Sunday School (continued)

participants to come for either part. All children ages 3-5th grade are invited to participate. Our

teachers this year are Heather Jolly, Jill Bergeron, Ray Samoa, Nic Arnzen, Allison Regan, and a

group of senior high youth led by Parker Garrett.

Summer Adventure Camp

Saint Mark’s had an amazing second year of Summer Adventure Camp in 2016. 12 youth volunteers

and 6 adults coordinated a week long day camp for over 30 children. Actor, director, and parishioner

Nic Arnzen worked with Lisa Silvester and Pastor Carri to help the children put on a production of

“It’s Cool in the Furnace.” Heather Jolly lead the Arts and Crafts rotation, Nancy Rothwell was in

charge of check-in, and Parker Garrett ran our outdoor activities rotation and supervised the youth

volunteers. We are excited to see this program continue to grow, and we look forward to another fun

and exciting Summer Adventure Camp July 31- Aug 4, 2017.

Youth Group Alumni Outreach

Our group of college students continues to grow! We have multiple programs in place to keep our

young people connected to the Saint Mark’s community.

Prayer Partners – Each of our 23 college-aged students was assigned a volunteer Prayer

Partner from the congregation. These Prayer Partners are keeping our college students in

their regular prayers, and many of the college students are praying for their Partners as well!

Care Packages – In October, parents of the college students gathered to create and send care

packages to our students. Each family brought items to build the packages. Enthusiasm for

the event was high, so a second gathering has been scheduled for February.

Christmas Party – For the third year, we hosted a Christmas Party for all youth group alumni,

including those who have already graduated from college.

~Maria Horner

Youth Group

The Saint Mark's Youth Group continued to thrive in 2016. After hearing from many families about

scheduling conflicts on Sunday evenings, we moved youth group to Sunday afternoons from 12-

1:30pm. We have seen an increase in overall participation and consistency since making this

adjustment. As in previous years, the Youth Group provided service to the Saint Mark's community. They

continue to run the Easter Egg Hunt and the Christingle-making party. They also provide scheduled

childcare during the Memorial Day trip to Catalina Island, and volunteer at the annual Fall

fundraiser.

This summer, we took advantage of the metro and used it to explore different parts of the city. We

went to Grand Central Market/ DTLA, Little Tokyo, and Santa Monica. Quinton Wilson was our

first youth to participate in the LA City Pilgrimage, a program through the diocese that puts youth in

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Youth Group (continued)

face-to-face contact with homeless men and women around Los Angeles while teaching them about

poverty in our city and asking them to live out their faith in service. Quinton served as a deanery

representative at convention this year; and Hannah Sabota represented Saint Mark’s as a volunteer.

Parker Garrett is a new member of the PGYM committee at the diocese and hopes this will be the

start of increased diocesan involvement for our youth group.

The Saint Mark’s Youth Group is working with the youth at Church of our Savoir in San Gabriel to

bring a youth-led Laundry Love chapter to Pasadena in 2017. We are working to secure a location,

and will have updates soon. This is in response to a clear desire of youth and their parents to put

youth in direct contact with those in need and provide regular, meaningful opportunities for service

and learning. Our Youth Group leaders are: Kevin Killgore, Maria Horner, Stephen Hooper Rosebrook, Trecia

Simmons, and Parker Garrett.

~Parker Garrett

SERVICE COUNCIL

17. Outreach

The Outreach Committee finds ways for Saint Mark's parishioners to reach out into the community

and share the love of Christ. We support existing ministries, including Saint Mark's partnership with

Ste. Margurite in Latournelle, Haiti, and the support of local organizations including Friends in Deed

and ACTS as part of our goal to consider the needs of those in our local and international

community. If you feel that God has put on your heart this kind of work, contact us.

The Saint Mark’s Outreach ministries held an “Outreach Sunday” event in September. Designed to

increase awareness of St. Marks’ outreach programs and to promote interest and support, the event

featured displays and informational hand-outs. Ministry leaders were at each display to talk about

their programs. Parishioners enjoyed sampling foods representative of each ministry. In addition to

volunteering to be part of the programs, parishioners made generous contributions of food and

monetary donations.

Upcoming Outreach Events:

Ongoing--Coins and Cans

Bring coins for Haiti and canned food for the ACTS food pantry to church (all services)

Contact: Stephanie McKinney

email: smkinne@sbcglobal.net

Feb. 3rd--Door of Hope Dinner

Contact: George Rothwell

email: gcr001@sbcglobal.net

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Outreach (continued)

Feb. 20-- ACTS Food Pantry 10:00-12:00

Contact: Anne Browne

email: thetomten@hotmail.com

ACTS Food Pantry

The Altadena Congregations Serving Together (ACTS) Food Pantry was established in 2000 and is

run by six local churches: Altadena Baptist Church, Altadena Community Church, Christ the

Shepherd Lutheran Church, Community Life Fellowship, Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, and

Westminster Presbyterian Church. The ACTS Food Pantry is located at Altadena Community

Church and is open every Saturday from ten to noon. Each church is responsible for shopping for

their ''meal' and staffing the pantry one Saturday a month.

The 2016 Saint Mark's Volunteers were Anne Browne, James Morse, Jane and Jeff Dillingham,

Dorsey League, Nadine Hegamin, Melissa Schaper, Mary Moffitt, and the Schroeder family. We

thank them all for their gift of time and support.

The church's contributions were $1362.50. This included $422.50 from the Church Mouse sale,

Jannette Allen, and Women's Soup. We also received wonderful small donations, both financial and

canned goods from our giving congregation.

Thank you to ALL who have so generously given to the food pantry. We gave out 30-35 bags per

week and the need continues in our community.

~Anne Browne

~Coordinator and Advisor for the ACTS Food Pantry Bad Weather Shelter

We did not participate in the Bad Weather Shelter in 2016 due to warmer weather on our scheduled

day. We will work on January 27th, 2017, if weather permits. We have 17 people signed up to help with

sides, dessert, and necessary supplies. The Dad’s group is taking on the main course this year. Saint

Mark’s has a reputation for cooking great and not-so-ordinary meals. This year the Dad’s group, the

Youth Group, and supervising adults will be there to serve those in need. Christmas Trees

Saint Mark’s Christmas Trees sold 153 Christmas Trees this year, including 30 trees donated to local

families through the Pasadena Police Activities League. The total is 6 more trees than we sold last

year. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped unload the truck, move the trees from the street to the

parking lot and help distribute the trees on Saturday. Special thanks to our Delivery teams who made

quick work of our deliveries this year. If you’d like to help next year please contact Tom Horner.

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Trees (continued)

Your Christmas Tree Ministry Team of Tom Horner, Mike Bechtold, Diane Carey-Schmitz, Jane

Sobota and Paul McKinney thank you for supporting Friends in Deed with your purchase. We hope

to present Friends in Deed with a $6000 check this year.

~Tom Horner

CROP Walk

This year, 20 members of Saint Mark’s participated in the annual CROP Hunger Walk. Our team

walked 5 kilometers and raised over $1,500 as a community to help fight hunger in the Pasadena

area.

Door of Hope

On the first Wednesday of each month, Saint Mark's supports the Door of Hope, a Pasadena shelter

for families in transition. Volunteers from Saint Mark's plan and prepare an evening meal, bring the

meal to the Door of Hope at 6:00 p.m., and have dinner with the 30-35 residents. Please contact

George Rothwell at least 2 days in advance if you would like to participate on the first Wednesday of

a month.

~George Rothwell

Haiti Partnership

2016 was an exciting year for the Haiti Partnership. It has been a year of growth and challenges. We

have been able to find new opportunities for our friends in Latournelle, but also seen progress

eroded by the hurricane. Our relationship with the community and faith continue to grow as we

deepen our relationship and strive to provide meaningful support for our partners.

Travel

Four travelers. Pastor Carri, Stephanie McKinney, Kara Morgan and Lauren Markle, traveled to

Haiti from February 25th - March 3rd, 2016. During the visit, they helped launch a new microcredit

program to support business enterprise in Latournelle, celebrated the United Thank Offering wherein

Haitian women raised funds to aid communities in need, and visited Latournelle to engage with our

partners. In March, the travelers presented a summary of their trip during church service and during

community coffee. Following is a story from the trip:

At one point during the trip we asked, "Imagine you are given $100 million to use in Haiti. What do

you do with it?" While we discussed our thoughts, our friend Emmanuel joined us at the table.

Emmanuel is one of our guides during our trip. He is a law student in Port-au-Prince and is

working to fight injustice at the heart of Haiti's political systems. We turned to Emmanuel and asked

him how he would use $100 million to help his country. Emmanuel asks if he could have a few

minutes and excuses himself from the table. Twenty minutes later he returned with two full

handwritten pages detailing a five point plan of how he would use this money to help restore his

country. The highest priorities in his plan were unemployment and education. As we read all of the

details of Emmanuel's inspiring, beautiful, comprehensive plan, I can't help but reflect on the fact

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Haiti (continued)

that our partnership shares Emmanuel's top priorities. At the heart of the microcredit program is

the hope that it will generate meaningful employment among the families who live on the mountain

in Latournelle, which will in turn enable families to pay the tuition fees for their children's

education, further strengthening our partner school, St. Marguérite, in educating the children of

Latournelle. – Kara Morgan

Kara Morgan, Pastor Carri and Liz McCollough, a language teacher from St. Mark's Southborough,

MA, continue to reach out to our partners through monthly Skype conversations. These help us to

know the needs and stories of our friends between visits.

Fundraising

The Haiti partnership continues an annual fundraising goal of $12,000. We organized several

exciting and successful fundraising activities in 2016. We continue to collect Coins and Cans as a

means of generating small, but consistent donations. The Hike for Haiti was held on Saturday, May

14th and we raised over $2,745. The Hike for Howlands on Memorial Weekend on Catalina Island

raised $1,915. A document shredding event was held in September by Paula Walker and Betty

Butler, all funds were donated to the partnership and raised $1,700. Pere Reginald’s visit, the Haiti

dinner and the gospel concert also raised $11,540.

A newly formed group of parent volunteers for Haiti Outreach was formed of interested Saint

Mark’s School parents. They will continue to support fundraisers throughout 2017.

By the end of the year, the partnership distributed a total of $11,303 supporting three main

programs: $2,500 supporting the hot lunch program, $3,500 supporting teacher’s salaries and $8,453

supporting a new micro credit program. A total of $6602 was raised for hurricane Relief which went

to Latournelle and Jeremie.

The Coins and Cans program raised approximately $4,579 in coins for Haiti and many ‘cans and

more’ have gone to the ACTS Food Pantry. Out of this program expenses are paid, such as travel for

Pere Reginald’s visit, Kara Morgan’s Skype charges, and some expenses for the trip to Haiti.

Hurricane Matthew

A devastating hurricane made landfall in Haiti on October. Although there was widespread

devastation, there was no loss of life in Latournelle or St. Matieu (Pere Reginald’s home parish).

In Latournelle, there was some damage to the church of St. Marguerites (which was a temporary

unfinished structure that took the place of the church that was destroyed in the 2010 earthquake) and

to the old school of St. Marguerites. Although the school was reopened in just a few weeks, there

was substantial loss of property and damage to most crops/gardens. Through our partnership we sent

seeds to help replant gardens and designated some funds raised during Pere Reginald’s visit for

hurricane relief.

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Haiti (continued)

New Microcredit Program

In 2016, we helped launch a microcredit program to support the community of Latournelle. Over the

course of about five years, Saint Mark’s will assist in the funding of as many as 225 micro-loans of

about $180 each. Any person who has children enrolled in our partner school St. Marguerite's in

Latournelle can apply to receive a micro-loan to start a business. Upon approval, the micro-loan is

dispensed and is to be paid back over the course of nine months. Recipients also receive support

from trained administrators, whose salaries are paid through our support. As the loans are repaid, the

money will go towards a community cooperative bank. At the end of our five year commitment the

community cooperative should be entirely self-sustaining and able to administer micro-loans without

any further investment. During 2016, 15 loans were made to local families. To date, all are being

repaid on time. Pere Reginald’s Visit

We were pleased to host Pere Reginald in early November. He led three services at Saint Mark’s

Church on Sunday, November 13th and visited classrooms, chapel and student groups during the

week.

For the first time, a Gospel Choir Concert fundraiser was held that same evening. With support

from the church and the school, students and the choir members “raised the roof” with stirring

gospel songs in both Creole and English. $11,540 was raised to support the partnership. A

successful fundraiser was held at the Liversidge’s home with over 100 in attendance to hear

informally from Pere Reginald and enjoy fellowship and food with individual supporters.

~Alicia Porcello

Holy Family Services

Saint Mark’s has again this year joined other churches in the Diocese in supporting Holy Family

Services through their Parish Partners program. A dinner was hosted by Board President Marianne

Wright on November 8th at her home in Altadena. The Women contributed over $600 towards Saint

Mark’s participation as a Parish Partner. By contributing to Holy Family Services, Saint Mark’s

helps to build families through adoption and foster care. Holy Family Services, an Institution of the

Diocese of Los Angeles, is a full-service agency that places children in loving homes without regard

to age, race, religion, gender, marital status or gender preference. The annual auction event was held

in May, and there were many Saint Mark’s parishioners there to help spur on the bidding and enjoy

the atmosphere at the home of Bishop Jon and Mary Bruno. Saint Mark’s volunteers also helped

with event set-up and volunteered on the afternoon of the event. We are especially grateful to Saint

Mark’s Troop 1, who helped us with many aspects of the event on that day. Parish members Marti

Farley and Marianne Wright are members of the Board of Directors and parish member Janis

Rosebrook was elected to the Board of Directors at the Diocesan Convention in December. As HFS

continues in its 67th year of service to the greater Los Angeles area, it continues to build its outreach

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Holy Family (continued)

program to all members of our community. If you would like to volunteer your services by helping

with or attending one of our fundraising activities, please contact Board members Marianne, Marti,

or Janis.

~Marianne Wright

~Board President, Holy Family Services

Scouts

Boy Scout Troop 1

Troop 1 remains ever so grateful to Saint Mark's Church for its continued sponsorship of our Charter

with the Boy Scouts of America. We’re pleased to provide this report for the year-end 2016:

Weekend highlights of Troop Calendar included shooting in Mojave desert, winter sports at

Mammoth, several Angeles Forest hikes & campouts, including “bike-packing” into nearby Glenn

Campground, camp-hosting Pack 1 Webelos at Joshua Tree, and year-end gala at the Rose Parade.

And, of course, our regular training of Scoutcraft, leadership, first aid & advanced life support and

(always!) backpacking.

Troop 1 balanced its vigorous outdoor program with cheerful service to the community. Among this

years’ service projects: assisting Pasadena Heritage as tour docents, planting Arbor Day trees for

City of Pasadena, distributing flyers for a Pasadena Playhouse drive, and an Episcopal double-duty-

day assisting both the Hike-4-Haiti and Holy Family Adoption Fundraiser. Here in Altadena, our

Scouts assisted the Library with two book-sales and again provided help to Saint Mark’s with

cleanups after Shrove Tuesday and the Country Fair.

Summer, 2016, featured two High-Adventure activities: circumnavigating Catalina Island as well as

a tour into the Eastern Sierra - a 52-mile backpacking expedition along the Benson Lake Loop above

Bridgeport into Northeast Yosemite. These in addition to a weeklong Summer Camp at Lake

Arrowhead’s Forest Lawn Scout Reservation.

Want to know more? Please call Craig Snodgrass at (626) 688-6523.

~Craig Snodgrass

~Scoutmaster, Troop 1

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Scouts (continued)

Cub Scouts, Pack 1

Saint Mark's Church sponsors Cub Scout Pack 1, a family program designed for boys who are in the

first through fifth grades (or from 6 to 11 years of age). Scouts, parents, and leaders work together to

achieve the primary purposes of Cub Scouting, including character development, spiritual growth,

good citizenship, and personal achievement ̶ all through fun and age-appropriate activities. All our

activities are designed to foster teamwork between the scout and his parent/guardian, who is known

as the ‘Akela’ in the scouting program, as they work together to complete the various

achievements/experiences that are required to matriculate through each of the five years. Cub

Scouts prepares our boys for the next step in the scouting program, should the scout so choose,

which is the Boys Scouts of America, for boys in 6th through 12th grades.

Cub Scout Pack 1 is comprised of families from Saint Mark’s Church, Saint Mark’s School and the

local community. The number of families from schools outside of Saint Mark’s continues to grow

and we see that growth as a reflection of our inclusive approach and commitment to a quality

program. During the past year the pack has organized a spring weekend trip to the San Bernardino

Mountains where we enjoyed many fun activities at Camp Wasewagen, including an incredible

ropes course and family fun for everyone. We especially enjoyed their forest friendly gas operated

campfire. The pack’s older scouts went camping at the Trask Scout Reservation in Monrovia last

Fall and our younger scouts had a great time camping with their families on the Saint Mark’s field.

This March we head to Camp Emerald Bay, a Boy Scout camp on Catalina Island for our family

camping weekend. Our den leaders have led the scouts on visits to local police and fire stations, and

hikes into the mountains above Altadena. We continue to show our scouts the community and how

we can help make it a better place for all of us. Our annual program also includes building and

racing Pinewood Derby cars, launching rockets, and going rock climbing at an indoor facility in

Arcadia.

The pack remains committed to teaching public responsibility through service projects and charity.

We help support scouting in the San Gabriel Valley by donating annually to our local Friends of

Scouting organization. A portion of the proceeds from the annual popcorn fundraiser go directly to

our local council and benefit all scouts in our community.

Popcorn revenue fuels our program by subsidizing program fees and giving financial aid for event

participation on a need basis. We are thankful to be part of such a strong community. The leaders for

Pack 1 are all volunteers and help make our program the best in the San Gabriel Valley and top in

the nation.

~Shaley Brooks

~Pack 1 Cubmaster

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December Toy Ingathering

Toys were collected at school chapel on December 13th and sorted for distribution on the 14th .

Thank you everyone who donated a toy for a needy child for Christmas. This year there were a

significant number of books donated to the ingathering through the school book sale. Sixty children

at the Door of Hope received both a toy and a book appropriate to their age. The Altadena Sheriff’s

Station and Holy Family Services, Adoption & Foster Care also received books and toys from the

collection. Thank you to Anne Browne and Nancy Rothwell who brought packing boxes, and Mary

Eddy, Nancy Rothwell, and Marianne Wright who sorted and delivered the toys.

~Marianne Wright

Pastoral Care

The pastoral care team, consisting of Pastor Carri and Mother Betsy, supported by a few parish

members, visited the homebound, chronically ill, hospitalized, and those in crisis this past year.

They were able to deliver many prayer shawls (thanks to the prolific knitting of Terri Jones) and hot

meals (thanks to Mickey Block and the Moveable Feast crew) along with comfort, communion, and

prayer. This past year there was a prayer partner for every classroom and teacher at the school, and

36 teens, many from our own parish, went through a heart screening coordinated by Susan and

Darrell Carr in memory of their son, Justin. Lastly, our prayer ministers continue to be available to

parishioners following the 10:30 service, and the Daughters of the King maintain a prayer list and

ongoing prayer ministry.

~Debbie DeCaro

Moveable Feasts

Moveable Feasts provides frozen dinners to school and church families, or for friends of the church

in need of a little TLC and a hot meal. We were able to provide about two dozen meals in 2016.

During 2017, we will get together several times to make certain we have freshly frozen dinners

available at all times. A recipe card will be included with each meal that includes a prayer from

Saint Mark’s Parish.

~Mickey Block

~Coordinator

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ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE COUNCIL

18. Buildings and Grounds/Joint Operations

The Joint Operations Committee (JOC) is a committee of 3 church members (including the Rector)

and 3 school representatives (including the Head of School) who meet as needed during the year to

ensure the health, safety and upkeep of shared facilities on the Saint Mark's campus. Thank you to

church members Marianne Wright (chair), Erik Forrester, and The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon

(Rector), and to school representatives Franklyn Shen, Dan Wachtel, and Jennifer Tolbert (Head of

School). This key committee deals with both emergency and long range planning issues on campus,

and is a key committee for communications between church and school. The committee meet three

times during 2016, in January, May and October, to address common campus issues. JOC reports

were sent to the Saint Mark’s Vestry periodically for their review and update.

One of the main tasks this year was to update the documents that guide the Joint Operations

Committee. The Joint Operations Agreement is reviewed every 5 years, and Exhibit A, a more

flexible document, is reviewed every year. Under the direction of an ad hoc committee of the Vestry,

the most significant changes in the review of the JOA and Exhibit A this year was the elimination of

the rental of the School House building by the school from the church (previous Rectory - and now

fully incorporated in the Saint Mark’s school campus), elimination of the church’s participation in

the funds raised at the fall and spring fundraising events, and elimination of a miscellaneous

overhead fee paid to the church by the school. In place of those income streams, the school now

participates in a campus “use fee” to be paid monthly to the church. The church will continue to

jointly sponsor the fall festival event, and continue to support spring fundraising efforts by the

school. The documents were approved by the Vestry and the School Boards at their October and

November meetings.

Joint Operations Committee work on the Saint Mark’s campus included the following major

projects:

- Painting of the north side of the School House was completed by Scott Penn, Partnership

Painting.

- Replacement of Meeting House roof and gutters was completed in June by Rivas Roofing

- After consultation with numerous sources, the general consensus is that the Sequoia in front of

schoolhouse needed to be removed. This decision was punctuated by concerns raised by the fire

department on a Sunday while responding to a fire alarm call, where they voiced their thoughts

about the state of the tree. Tree removal and summer campus tree trimming was completed in June.

- The parking lot crack seal, seal coating and striping was completed in August.

- Episcopal Sign on Altadena Driveway replaced during the summer. Thank you Mo. Betsy and

Bruce Linsenmayer.

Special Thanks:

A huge thank you to Joanne Morse and the Saint Mark’s office, who make all those calls to

plumbers, locksmiths, and electricians when emergencies crop up - and wait for them to show up!!!

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JOC (continued)

Many thanks to the our Boy Scout Troop 1 who scheduled some of their August meetings off

campus so that campus work could be scheduled efficiently, without accounting for Tuesday night

Meeting House use. This has made it much easier on the school staff to schedule work, and prevents

conflicts with the scouts.

The JOC is monitoring the aging infrastructure of the Saint Mark’s campus, but we often aren’t able

to predict where the next sign of age will appear. We recognize the diligence of the staff at both the

Church and the School, who are able to react to emergencies quickly, and a group of trusted vendors

we are able to call on to help quickly rectify issues.

~Marianne Wright

~Chair

19. Endowment

The Endowment Committee continues its education program to create the tools necessary to plan

your Will or Living Trust. Our agenda is basically an enduring anti-procrastination awareness

program. We will continue offering seminars, brochures and articles on Planned Giving at Saint

Mark’s, to protect and benefit the future of your family. Just remember when creating your Trust or

Will, how important Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church is to you and future generations!

~ Robert Ross

~Endowment Chair

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20. Joint Fundraising

Auction and Fall Festival

Spring Auction “Set Sail” Theme

April 23, 2016

Location: Saint Mark’s Campus

Parents as Pirates, a Pastor Pizza Party, and a Pasadena Package complete with Police Helicopter

ride (thank you, Paul McKinney) and a Quadcopter Drone!

The Saint Mark’s Campus was rocking and rolling on Saturday night, April 23rd, as we “cruised”

through the evening at our Annual Auction “Set Sail.”

The evening, held on the Saint Mark’s Campus, started out in Dunlap Courtyard for cocktails and

silent auction bidding, and continued down at the tented basketball court, for dinner, dancing and

live auction. Bidders battled on live items that included a Napa Valley package, A Day at the Santa

Anita Race Track, and a Big Bear House, plus a very successful paddle raise for teacher

development.

Revenue: $84,669

Expenses: $40,246

Net: $44,423, which was split equally between the school and the church ($22,211.50)

Additional $20,000 raised for the school during the paddle raise; designated for professional

development for teachers

Thank you to the following leaders and community partners for this successful event!

Chairs: Jennifer Kennedy & Jennifer Lee

Committee Chairs: Heather Christensen, Susan Ropp and Rayann Scolnick

Church Volunteers: Marianne Wright, Nancy Rothwell, Heather Jolly and Karen Sessions

Church volunteers who worked the “night of” by checking in and out those attending, and staffing

the computers: Sherry Wheelock, Nancy Rothwell and Terri Jones who prepared and worked the

computers for the evening; Sophie Grindon, Corah Forrester, Parker Garrett, Valerie Barth, Joanne

Morse and Jane Sobota who checked guests in for the evening; and Lisa Sylvester who coordinated

the spotters ( additionally Diane Carrey Schmitz) at the Live Auction. Youth Group members who

were extremely helpful and energetic throughout the evening include high schoolers Sophie

Grindon, and Corah Forrester, and junior highers Hanna Sobota, Quinton Wilson and Stuart

Sessions.

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Joint Fundraising(continued)

2016 Fall Fest – Harvest Pumpkin Theme

October 1, 2016, 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Free Admission

Opportunity Drawings, Sponsorships

Highlights: confetti eggs, music and dancing, raffle prizes, chili cook-off, laser tag, food, prizes,

kid’s crafts, used book booth, used sports equipment, recycled costume booth, baked treats, and

more fun

-Raised $19,800 for the school

-New later time worked well for families

-Served as a welcome back event for community (in lieu of Back to School picnic)

Thank you to the following leaders and community partners for this successful event!

Chairs: Rayann Scolnick and Susan Ropp

Church Volunteers: Marianne Wright, Heather Jolly, Karen Sessions, and Nancy Rothwell

~Heather Jolly

~Church Liaison

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21 Joint Master Plan Taskforce

Culminating an 18 month long search, Saint Mark’s Joint Master Plan Task Force has

recommended retaining the architectural firm Harley, Ellis, Devereaux to begin work on a

comprehensive master plan.

Following a period of consultation and discernment with the Saint Mark’s community, this plan will

transform our church and school campus to meet the evolving needs of worship and education over the

next twenty years. A master plan is a legal document widely used to provide a guide for land use,

infrastructure upgrades, space planning, and new construction in housing, commercial, civic,

educational, and mixed-use developments.

Active work on the new master plan is expected to take approximately six months before being

submitted to Los Angeles County for approval.

John Dale, FAIA, Saint Mark’s Parish member, and principal at Harley Ellis Devereaux, will lead the

HED team. Some of John’s recent projects include Mothers’ Club Family Learning Center, in

Pasadena; as well as master plans and design for Flintridge Preparatory School in La Canada, and

Waldorf School in Altadena. Saint Mark’s parishioners may also be familiar with John’s beautiful work

on the campus of the Episcopal Church Of Our Savior, in San Gabriel.

We have also retained the services of Matthew Krappman, Principal of San Gabriel Development, to

serve as Saint Mark’s owner’s representative. Matthew brings two decades of experience as a

construction project manager to his work on our behalf. He will be our point person with architects,

engineers, and contractors as we begin this exciting new chapter in the life of our parish.

The members of Saint Mark’s Joint Master Plan Task Force are:

Dr. Armen Dikranian, member, Saint Mark’s School Board of Trustees

Ann Grimmett, Chief Financial Officer, Saint Mark’s School

Juliette Harrhy, Chair, Saint Mark’s School Board of Trustees

Maria Horner, member, Saint Mark’s School Board of Trustees

Kelly Mancuso, Lower School Director, Saint Mark’s School

Irene Mason, Advancement Director, Saint Mark’s School

The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon, Rector, Saint Mark’s Parish

Diane Carey-Schmitz, Vestry member, Saint Mark’s Church; vestry representative, Saint Mark’s

School Board of Trustees

Nathan Schroeder, Vestry member, Saint Mark’s Church

Jennifer Foley Tolbert, Head, Saint Mark’s School

Marianne Wright, Chair, Saint Mark’s Joint Operations Committee

Matt Wright, member, Saint Mark’s Church; Chair, Saint Mark’s Joint Master Plan Task Force

~Matt Wright

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22. Leadership Development

The Leadership Development Ministry serves several purposes in the Saint Mark’s community. In

addition to presenting nominations for Vestry, Delegate and volunteer positions, we also support the

leaders of Saint Mark’s Ministries through education, inspiration and fellowship. We held two

Leadership Summits in 2016.

The current members of the Leadership Development Ministry are Tom Horner, chair, Pastor Carri

Patterson Grindon, Stephanie McKinney, Joanne Morse, Craig Snodgrass, Blanton Bartlett, Linda

Bass and Erik Forrester.

~Tom Horner

23. Stewardship

Abundance – This expresses my feelings about the members of Saint Mark’s Parish. Our

Stewardship campaign for 2017 was very successful. We have 122 members who have pledged.

There are 10 new pledges and 56 increased pledges. More than $366,000 has been pledged for 2017.

This will enable us to continue our many outreach programs including our Haiti Partnership, ACTS

Food Pantry, Union Station lunches, and Bad Weather Shelter. We are blessed to have the funds for

salaries for our rector and associate priest, choir director, organist, a 9:00 a.m. musician, a chorister

director, and our office staff. We are also able to fulfill our “Mission Share” obligation – 12 % of

our annual budget – to the Diocese of Los Angeles. The Vestry and the Stewardship Committee want to thank everyone who continues to embrace our

mission and strategic plan, “Call to be More”, through your 2017 pledge. We are very excited about

the programs that we will be able to undertake as a result of your pledges. I would like to thank the Stewardship Committee – Pastor Carri, Roberta Goodman, and Robin

Ross. Special thanks go to Bob Schaper, Nathan Schroeder, Terri Jones, Betty Butler, and Diane

Carey-Schmitz for creating our “Neighbor Love” art project. It was beautiful way for us to give

thanks to God, week by week, for tiny and tremendous blessings. Additionally, our Education for

Ministry (EfM) group crafted a Collect of Thanksgiving for our Season of Gratitude. I also want to

thank the members who shared stories of gratitude – Lisa Sylvester and Erik Forrester, Mary and

Blanton Bartlett, Nic Arnzen and Ray Samoa, and Diane Carey-Schmitz.

I especially thank our lay preachers who gave their testimonials during the Season of Gratitude – Dr.

Zanita Kelly, Saint Mark’s Upper School Head; Quinton Wilson from our youth group; and Desiree

Alvarado, a faithful long-time member. We were thrilled to welcome out partner priest Pere

Reginald Valliere from Haiti who joined us on Sunday, November 13, to preach the gospel. A

special thank you goes to The Rev. Rex McDaniel who, on Consecration Sunday, shared his

morning with us and blessed us with his faithful words. His presence was comforting since Carri

was with her family in Atlanta because of the unexpected death of her father-in-law.

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Saint Mark’s Parish

Ministry Councils

Stewardship (continued)

Consecration Sunday was such a joy to have all three congregations together as we once again

committed our treasure and our hearts to God.

~Marti Farley

~Chair

24. Tellers

Saint Mark's Tellers continued their faithful service in 2016, analyzing the offering each Sunday

after the 10:30 a.m. service and preparing two-page reports for Lee Ann Bechthold and the other

office staff. We assign a pair of tellers to one Sunday each month, so it is not a burdensome chore.

This year our tellers included Anne Browne, Bob Bowdoin, Taki Lague, Carol Peters, Ruben

Cardenas and most of the Owen family. If you'd like to take part in this small but important ministry,

please see me. I'm particularly looking for people who are willing to help on the second, fourth and

fifth Sundays of the month.

Carol Peters has retired and Roberta Goodman has been added.

Meanwhile, there are some things which all of us can do to make our tellers' job easier. If you have

made a pledge, please use one of your offering envelopes! It's much quicker that way: the tellers and

the bookkeeper can simply use the envelope number. If you are designating your gift for

some specific purpose, please write that on the memo line of your check. If you're giving cash and

would like to receive credit for it, your best bet is to use one of the envelopes in the pews and put your

name on the envelope. By doing these things consistently, you'll make our lives a lot easier and Lee

Ann's work more reliable.

Finally, thank you all for your continued financial support.

~Bill Owen

~Head Teller

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Saint Mark’s Parish

SAINT MARK'S SCHOOL

SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Juliette Harrhy, Board Chair Stephen Andriuzzo

Diane Carey Schmitz, Vestry Representative Richard Chino

Armen Dikranian Julianna Edwards

The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon, Rector Maria Horner

Syma Iqbal Doug Jolly

Nada Jones Bruce Linsenmayer

Celeste Liversidge Vanessa Meyer

Ed Ramirez William Schleifer

Joanna Scott Jane Sobota

Dhari Thein

Jennifer Foley Tolbert, Head of School

SCHOOL STAFF Jennifer Foley Tolbert, Head of School

Mrs. Suset Chaney, Director of Communications

Mrs. Ann Grimmett, Chief Financial Officer

Mrs. Zanita Gwin, Upper School Head

Mr. Tim Ruiz, Director of Information Technology

Mrs. Kelly Mancuso, Lower School Head

Mrs. Janel Umfress, Educational Specialist; Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, Educational Specialist

Mr. Franklyn Shen, Business Manager

Mrs. Julie Toyama, Assistant Head of Axillary Services, Physical Education Teacher

The Rev. Betsy Hooper-Rosebrook, Chaplain

Mr. Dan Wachtel, Director of Facilities and Campus Safety

Ms. Adena Navasartian, Assistant to the Head of School

Mrs. Pamela White, Administrative Assistant

Mrs. Sandee Hiyake, Advancement Assistant; Mrs. Lisa Cole, Bookkeeper;

Ms. Tonya Russell, Office Clerk; Karen Martin, Library Assistant

Ms. Sally Yingling, Receptionist; Mr. Adolpho Anaya, Groundskeeper;

Mr. Roberto Hernandez, Custodian; Ms. Dulce Hernandez, Custodian

Grace Chung, Chapel Organist

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Saint Mark’s Parish

Ministry Councils

Dear Saint Mark’s Families and Friends,

Greetings from Saint Mark’s School! Time is moving quickly, and it is hard to believe that I have

been on the job for a year and a half; 568 days to be exact. It has been an exciting start to the 2016-

2017 school year, and there are lots of good things happening. Allow me to share a few highlights:

Annual Fund: We set an ambitious goal for this year’s Annual Fund- to get 100% participation in

100 days. I am pleased to announce and subsequently thank the Vestry for helping us reach 100%

participation in our Annual Fund for the 6th year in a row! This is virtually unprecedented, and when

you add the fact that we did it in 100 days, it sets our school apart from the rest. Meeting this goal

positions the school well for our budget planning, our upcoming accreditation, our standing with

foundations, and for the future plans we have. To me, this speaks to the love, dedication, and

longstanding and ongoing commitment this community has for Saint Mark’s School and our

children.

Gospel Choir: In an effort to continue to nurture our church/school relationship and support our

joint partnership with Ste. Marguerite in Haiti, we formed our first ever Saint Mark’s Gospel Choir.

Generously sponsored by several parishioners, we assembled youth group members and third

through sixth grade students who practiced for five consecutive Saturdays, culminating into a

beautiful and inspiring benefit concert. While we didn’t know it at the time, it was just what our

community needed at that moment. With a full band, 20 students, and a full house of people,

our Gospel Choir came together and filled the church with music, hope, and joy. It was a powerful,

unifying experience for everyone who was present. We hope to continue this new tradition in the

future.

Parent Education: The School launched a new Parent Education series last year, and we furthered

our program this year by creating a brand and philosophy. Postcards with the spring offerings are

available in the church office. We continue to welcome parishioners to join us for all of our events.

Accreditation: Good schools are always engaged in the process of self-examination and evaluation.

To that end, I am excited to announce that we are launching into a formal self-study as part of our

upcoming Accreditation, a process that will provide an opportunity for a comprehensive review of

our program. The process is both a self-study and a peer-review of our entire operations and

program, and it enables schools to develop clearly defined goals based on the School’s mission and

philosophy and plans to accomplish these goals. The process will yield a set of commendations and

recommendations for us to implement for the future.

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Saint Mark’s Parish

Ministry Councils

School (continued)

Master Plan: In order to continue to deliver a strong program, we must continue to ensure that our

facilities meet the needs of our students and reflect current teaching and learning practices. To that

end, we have formed a Joint Master planning committee that has been meeting and planning for over

a year, made up of board and church members and administrators, to lead us through a master

planning process. We are in the final stages of selecting an architect who will help us develop our

master plan. The process will involve input from the entire community - parents, teachers, students

and our church community - to both assess and re-imagine our current spaces as well as dream about

and plan new spaces for the future.

Master Schedule: Last spring we formed a faculty committee to examine our master schedule.

Equipped with educational research and information from our peer schools, the committee set about

creating a schedule that would best meet the needs of our students. We will be rolling out a new

master schedule in the fall of 2017. Key benefits include additional instructional minutes, longer

blocks of time for math and language arts, and fewer transitions. The new schedule will have a

positive impact for all students across the school.

School Theme for 2016-2017: This year our theme has been “True North.” Each faculty member

received a compass as a symbol and reminder of where north lies. For us and for our work in

schools, true north represents our students. As we steer through change and as we steward new

initiatives and projects, “true north” - our students - is always at the center of our thinking.

I am grateful for your prayers and ongoing support of our School and families. We look forward to a

strong finish to the school year!

Thank you for your continued partnership,

~Jennifer Foley Tolbert

~Head of School

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Saint Mark’s Parish

School Chaplaincy Report

School Chaplain’s Report

As chaplain at Saint Mark’s School, my most visible ministry is planning and leading chapel for the

elementary classes every Tuesday and Thursday, and for the preschool classes twice a month. Chapel

services focus on teaching the children about God's love for them and about our calling to share that

love through our words and actions. I also introduce topics about the Bible, the Church and the

Christian year, prayer, respect for other religious traditions, and moral/ethical challenges.

Our joint school and parish Coins (for the lunch program at Ste. Marguerite in Haiti) & Cans (for the

ACTS food pantry across the street) outreach has also played a role in chapel; we have periodic food

drives and encourage students to bring coins whenever possible. The student service group HELP

spearheaded a hugely successful collection of pencils and chalk to go to Ste. Marguerite in February,

and in November a letter writing/drawing project for our partners. The group that went to Haiti in

February reported back in a variety of ways, strengthening the connection our students feel with their

counterparts in Latournelle; it was especially exciting for us to see pictures of the new school

buildings at Ste. Marguerite. A talented group of parish members has created several seasonal

installations in the sanctuary, which engage students’ senses in new ways and invite their curiosity

and reflection. We continued to use the outdoor classroom for worship a few times during the year, a

beautiful and welcoming space that invites us to rejoice in God’s creation.

Grace Chung continues for a fourth year as chapel organist; she brings to our worship her gifts and

passion for encouraging children to explore and rejoice in music, as well as a rare opportunity for

young people to consistently hear organ music of a high caliber. I'm thankful for the assistance, as

well, of guest preachers: Bishop Mary Glasspool, Pastor Carri Patterson Grindon, Mrs. Jennifer

Foley Tolbert (Head of School), Associate Head of School Dr. Zanita Kelly (whose doctoral degree

we celebrated in May), and each class in turn, as well as Fr. Sarkis Petoyan of St. Gregory Armenian

Church, Saint Mark’s Church youth minister Ms Parker Garrett, members of the team who traveled

to our partner school & church in Latournelle, Haiti, and a variety of other guests. Pere Reginald

Valliere, priest at Ste. Marguerite, received a warm welcome when he visited in chapel and in

classrooms in November; the 5th & 6th grade HELP students went to each grade in advance of his

visit to teach about Haiti.

To encourage leadership development, all grades rotate the jobs of crucifer, acolytes, reader, prayer

leader, ushers, and bell ringer. We continued a practice begun a year ago of having 3rd grade

students sitting in chapel with the kindergartners, providing an opportunity for the older children to

be role models and to teach skills such as reading from a hymnal—an exceedingly complex

process!—and following along in a bulletin.

In addition to leading chapel, I also participate in classroom and all-school activities, plan special

events, lead students in blessing their classrooms, and initiate opportunities for further contact with

students in various settings. I occasionally visit classrooms at the request of teachers to engage

particular topics.

I have the privilege of being pastor, priest, friend, guide, and listener for the 350 children in the

school, their families, and the school staff. Before, during, and after school I'm easily found for

casual conversations, as well as more formal contact on the phone or by appointment, on topics

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Saint Mark’s Parish

School Chaplaincy Report

School Chaplain’s Report (continued)

ranging from faith to parenting, relationships to current events. This ministry is primarily one of

outreach to and care for the Saint Mark's School community, though from time to time these

relationships do lead families to Saint Mark's Church. In all that I do as chaplain I aim to

communicate faith in a relationship with the Lord, and to offer each person the reminder that she or

he is a beloved child of God.

~The Rev. Betsy Hooper-Rosebrook

~Chaplain

61

~ The 2016 Annual Meeting Report was compiled

by Joanne Morse, Parish Office Administrator

(626) 798-6747 or

church@saintmarksaltadena.org.

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Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church Vestry Ballot

Vestry

__________ Mary Eddy (appointee)

__________ Marti Farley

__________ David Key

__________ Ray Samoa

Diocesan Delegates

__________ Reynolds Cafferata

__________