At St. Mark’s, we have so much to be grateful for. Our new priest, Columba Salamony, has energized our parish and our spirits so much more than we could have expected. As many have watched flowers and gardens wilt and struggle through the drought of the summer, only to be revitalized by the rains of the last weeks, so has our parish. We don’t know how much we might have been doing activities by rote, but Columba’s spirit has revitalized us like the rains on the gardens.
Our activities and engagements, both inside and outside the church building, are rejuvenating after the long months of Covid. The diocese has recently authorized a return to the common cup. Prior to Covid, the tradition was always to receive bread and wine. As we returned to in person service, we enjoyed the bread, but the wine was not shared. We are so grateful to be able to return to the traditions of the past. In person meetings at the church are happening on a daily basis. Wednesday morning Bible Study, Thursday Morning Communications Committee, Meetings about Acceptance, Belonging and Community, and Vestry meetings are all happening with great joy. Those Vestry members who found themselves extending their time on the Vestry because of the pandemic are looking forward to a new slate of vestry members to take their place.
In the spirit of thanksgiving, our Annual Turkey dinner, one of our largest fundraisers, will take place Sept. 21. It is now too late to preorder for this event, but not too early to look forward to preordering next year!
We are so grateful for the activity and the life that we are sharing with one another at St. Mark’s. We welcome you to join us on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. for our Sunday Service, or at any of our other upcoming events. Please contact our office at 315-536-3955 for more information.
• Rector’s Bible Study – Every Wednesday at 11 a.m.
• Compline – Every Wednesday at 8 p.m.
• Welcoming of New Members – Sept. 18 • Vestry Meeting – Sept. 18
• Nursing Home Hymn Singa-long – Sept. 18
• Turkey Dinner Fundraiser – Sept. 21
• Nursing Home Service – Oct. 2
• Community Prayer Service – Oct. 4
• Blessing of the Animals – Oct. 9
• Second Sunday Stone Soup Supper – Oct. 9
• Acceptance, Belonging and Community Series, A discussion of LGBTQ+ issues – Oct.11, Oct. 18, Oct. 25, and Nov. 1
• Nursing Home Hymn Singa-long – Oct. 16
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Witnesses Knocking on Doors Again – Jehovah’s Witnesses resumed their trademark door-to-door ministry beginning September 1 when a two-and-half-year suspension of the work was officially lifted, just in time to begin a global campaign featuring a new interactive Bible study program.
The decision to resume their door-to-door ministry marks the complete restoration of all pre-pandemic in-person activities for the 1.3 million Jehovah’s Witnesses in the 13,000 congregations in the United States. Houses of worship (called Kingdom Halls) were reopened April 1, witnessing in public places resumed May 31 and in-person conventions are once again being planned for 2023.
Local congregants in Penn Yan are “thrilled and excited” to return to their door-to-door ministry. The suspension of the public ministry was a proactive response by the organization to keep communities and congregants safe.
“We believe that the early decision to shut down all in-person activities for more than two years has saved many lives,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “We’re now ready and eager to reconnect with our neighbors once again – person to person, face to face. It’s not the only way that we preach, but it has historically been the most effective way to deliver our message of comfort and hope.”
The move coincides with a global campaign to distribute a new interactive Bible study program available in hundreds of languages at no cost. Released in late 2020, the interactive study platform combines text, video, illustrations and digital worksheets to help learners of all ages.
“This new study program is designed to match the learning needs of the 21st-century student,” said Hendriks. “We’re excited to begin sharing it with our neighbors as we return to making personal visits.”
For more information about Jehovah’s Witnesses, their history, beliefs and activities, visit their official website, jw.org, with content available in more than 1,000 languages.