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I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."
Psalm 122:1
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Genesis 1:1
"This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalms 118:24
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And he shall direct your paths."
Proverbs 3:5
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Rector's Study
"AS A FATHER CARES FOR HIS CHILDREN"
As I’ve thought about my newsletter essay for the past several days, the well-being of our parish community has been deeply in my prayers. This has caused me to want to write about the special relationship a priest has with his people. Of course, my thinking has been influenced by the wonderful occasion of Fr. Hough’s ordination to the Sacred Priesthood. What a glorious celebration that was! And how inspiring were the contributions so many of you made to enable this happy occasion in our parish life!
But my thoughts were not so much about that celebration or even of the joy of having a new and very gifted priest to serve God and his people in this place alongside of me. Rather, my thoughts were centered on reflecting on how important to me those of you who make up St. Mark’s Church have become. After twelve years (and remember what a mystical number 12 is biblically), when I think on or pray over my priesthood, it is always with you in my heart and mind.
The only way I know to speak of this spiritual reality is to consider the spiritual fatherhood that is the mark of Christian priesthood. St. Paul expressed the notion well to his spiritual children in Corinth : “I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15). By the proclamation of the gospel as your pastor and preacher and teacher, you have come to know me and I to know you. Through the grace of Christ revealed therein, I have come to experience a father’s affection and care as well as the authority to guide you as my spiritual children.
We are living in very challenging and often stressful time. Sometimes the notion of being responsible for your care is intimidating. But just when I begin to feel anxious or worried, it seems that the Lord inspires one or another of you to speak to me a word of encouragement or a word of faith, and my soul is refreshed.
Issues being confronted in the worldwide Anglican Communion place pressures on our diocese and all of our congregations as well as being cause of particular concern for our bishop and the clergy. Yet week-by-week and day-by-day, we, here at St. Mark’s Church, come into the presence of our Lord and God in Word and Sacrament and find our spirits renewed. Great things are happening here, by God’s grace; and I am confident that together we will not only face all challenges and difficulties, but that we will also find many reasons to rejoice as we continue to grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Timothy P. Perkins  , SSC
Previous Issues:
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
Summer 2006
June 2006
Lent 2006
Advent 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
Summer 2004
Easter 2004
Lent 2004
February 2004
Epiphany 2004
Advent 2003
Easter 2003
Lent 2003
February 2003
Epiphany 2003
October 2002
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