Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING JANUARY 31, 2016

INCLUDING

REPORTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015

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

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Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church Annual Parish Meeting JANUARY 31, 2016 and Reports for the year ended December 31, 2015

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 26, 2014 9

IV. Reports: Rector 11 Vestry Report: Senior and Junior Wardens 13 Treasurer’s Report 14 2015 Budget at End-of-Year, 2016 Budget 16

V. Saint Mark’s Ministry Councils: 22

A. WELCOME AND FELLOWSHIP COUNCIL 1. Coffee Hour 22 2. Community Camp 23 3. Men’s Fellowship 23 4. Newcomers 23 5. Women’s Soup Supper 24

B. WORSHIP COUNCIL 6. Acolytes 25 7. Altar Guild 25 8. Eucharistic Ministers 26 9. Healing Prayer Ministers 27 10. Intercessors 27 11. Lectors 27 12. Music 28 a. Choir 28 b. Choristers 29 c. 9:00 a.m. Service Music 31

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

13. Special Liturgies 32 14. Ushers 33

C. FORMATION COUNCIL 33 15. Adult Education and Formation a. Centering Prayer 34 b. Daughter of the King (DOK) 35 c. Education for Ministry (EfM) 35 d. Lectio Divina 36 e. Saturday Night Movie 37 f. Wednesday Bible Study 37 g. Women’s Retreat 37 16. Children, Youth and Family 38 a. Christmas Pageant 38 b. Nursery 38 c. Sunday School 38 d. Youth Group Alumni Outreach 39 e. Youth Group 39

D. SERVICE COUNCIL 17. Outreach 40 a. ACTS Food Pantry 40 b. Bad Weather Shelter 41 c. Christmas Trees 41 d. CROP Walk 41 e. Door of Hope 41 f. Haiti Partnership 42 g. Holy Family Services 43 h. Scouts 43 i. December Toy Ingathering 45 j. Pastoral Care 45 k. Moveable Feasts 45

E. ADMINSTRATION AND FINANCE COUNCIL 18. Archiving 46 19. Buildings and Grounds/Joint Operations 46 20. Endowment 48 21. Joint Fundraising 48 22. Leadership Development 50

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

23. Stewardship 50 24. Tellers 51

F. SAINT MARK’S SCHOOL School Board of Trustees and School Staff 52 Head of School 53 School Chaplain 54

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Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church ANNUAL MEETING Sunday, JANUARY 31, 2016 12:00 p.m. in the Community Hall

AGENDA

Opening Prayer The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon

Appointment of Clerk and Tellers*

Minutes of Previous Annual Meeting (1.25.15)

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 Diane Carey-Schmitz, Tom Horner, Wardens

Treasurer’s Report for 2015 Joanna Scott

2015 Stewardship Report Joanna Scott

Presentation of 2016 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 2015 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

Lisa Sylvester, Music Director Sae Wan Yang , Organist (Jan. – Nov.)

Mark Robson, Interim Organist (Nov. – Dec.) Kara Morgan, Choristers

David Key, 9:00 a.m. Musician Lee Ann Bechthold, Bookkeeper

Joanne Morse, Office Administrator & Publisher Lisa Auyong, Office Administrator

Conner Poynter, Sunday Sexton Karen Kikkawa, Web-Sexton

Parker Garrett, Children, Youth and Family Ministries Director Reynolds Cafferata, Chancellor

VESTRY

The Reverend Carri Patterson Grindon, Rector

Diane Carey-Schmitz, Senior Warden (‘17) Traci Cecconello (‘18) Tom Horner, Junior Warden (‘16) John Green (’18) Joanna Scott, Treasurer (‘16) Bruce Linsenmayer (‘18) Jannette Allen, Clerk of the Vestry Paul McKinney (‘18) Jane Sobota, School Board Representative Bill Owen, Unexpired term (‘16)

Kara Ramirez (‘18)

Robert Ross (‘17)

Nathan Schroeder (‘16) Karen Sessions (‘17)

CONVENTION

Delegates: Zachary Abbott (‘15), Marianne Wright (‘15), Terri Jones (‘16), Bruce Linsenmayer (‘15) unexpired term

Alternates: Robin Ross (‘15), David Key (‘15)

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Joanne Morse (‘17), Keith West (‘17) Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church 2015 Parish Ministries

Acolytes Parker Garrett Intercessors Altar Guild Nadine Hegamin The Rev. Betsy-Hooper-Rosebrook Archiving John Green Leadership Development Tom Horner Auction Heather Jolly Formation Terri Jones

Bible Study Lectio Divina The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon Buildings and Grounds/Joint Facilities Lectors The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon Paul McKinney/Marianne Wright Lenten Soup Suppers Centering Prayer Robin Ross The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon

Chaplain (school) Men’s Fellowship Bruce Linsenmayer The Rev. Betsy Hooper-Rosebrook Saturday Night Movie Nathan Schroeder Children, Youth and Family Ministries Parker Garrett Outreach Altadena Food Pantry Anne Browne … Christmas Trees Tom Horner Door of Hope George Rothwell Community Camp Tom Horner, Maria Horner Haiti Partnership Chris Zarow, Daughters of the King Beth Owen Alicia Maddox Education For Ministry Maria Horner, Moveable Feasts Marti Farley Erik Forrester Music Programs Lisa Sylvester

Eucharistic Ministers (EMs) Saint Mark’s Choir Lisa Sylvester Bruce Linsenmayer Choristers Kara Morgan Endowment Robert Ross Instruments Lisa Sylvester Fall Fair Rayann Scolnick, Heather Jolly (Liaison) 9:00 a.m. Service David Key Family Fridays in Lent Parker Garrett Newcomers Rose West

Haiti Committee Chris Zarow/ Nursery Scheduling Parker Garrett Alicia Maddox Parent Education Maria Horner, Parker Garrett Healing Prayer Ministers The Rev. Betsy Hooper-Rosebrook Pastoral Care Team John Green

Holy Family Services Marianne Wright Saint Mark’s School Jennifer Foley Tolbert Hospitality/Coffee Hour Robin Ross Scouts

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Boy Scouts Craig Snodgrass, Scoutmaster Cub Scouts Shaley Brooks 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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Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church Annual Parish Meeting Minutes January 25, 2015

Opening Prayer and Greeting of Peace The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon opened the annual meeting with prayer at 12:20 p.m. immediately following the “coffee hour” luncheon hosted by the vestry. Kim Pollard, Lynn Walker, Martha Hogan, and Kitty Waddell were remembered in prayer. Reynolds Cafferata confirmed we had a quorum.

Appointment of Clerk and Tellers  Jannette Allen appointed as Clerk for the Annual Parish Meeting.  Rose West, Betty Butler, Jane Sobota, and Christine Thom volunteered to serve as Tellers if needed.

Minutes of Previous Annual Meeting (1-26-14) Correction: None. Lynne Marini made a motion, seconded by Christina Thom, to accept the minutes. The motion passed unanimously.

Election of Vestry Members and Convention Delegates - Reynolds Cafferata, Chancellor  Eligibility to vote –candidates must be at least 16 years old and confirmed, and attended church within the last sixty days; OR at least 16 years old, baptized, and pledged/contributed during the last 60 days.  Introduction and Nomination of Vestry Candidates – Karen Ramirez filled Lisa Sylvester’s incomplete term. Paul McKinney has been off one year from the vestry. John Green usually attends the 7:45 a.m. service. Traci Cecconello is a school parent and a reader. Lynn Marini made a motion, seconded by John Dale, to accept the slate by acclamation. Motion passed unanimously. Slate accepted. Bill Owen made a motion, seconded by Terri Jones, to close the nominations. Motion passed unanimously.  Alternates to Convention nominations –Bruce Linsenmayer made motion to accept the nomination of Joanne Morse and Keith West as convention delegates and to close nominations. The motion was seconded by Jill McDowell. The motion passed unanimously

Rector’s Review of 2015 Pastor Carri began her review with a quote from Acts 2:46-47 as included in the written report. Recognized as new participants: Conner Poynter as sexton, Parker Garret, Sae Wan Yang, Lisa Sylvester, Kara Morgan, and Jennifer Foley Tolbert.

Parker Garret noted the start of the 5th and 6th Grade Sunday School, fundraisers for Haiti (puzzle piece donations), and Summer Vacation Bible School.

Lisa Sylvester thanked Sae Wan Yang for joining Saint Marks. Lisa promised more to come. Sae Wan had laryngitis, but promised to be in the daily bread series.

Pastor Carri thanked Tim Jones, Ken & Karen Kikkawa, and Mother Betsy for their work setting up the website with Mother Betsy overseeing. Remember to LIKE us on Facebook. New website 9

collaboration on design and functionality, events, schedules, sermons, some GoPro from Tom Horner. We hope to do on-line donations for Haiti via Amazon (using a secure site).

Some have left long-term ministries: Bob & Diane Killgore (celebrated one Sunday), and Mark Poynter (replaced by his son Conner Poynter). New: Nadine Hegamin, Altar Guild director (taking over from Susan Westcott). Maria Horner, retired from CYF (receiving standing ovation for continuing work with youth). Anne Waddell thanked Tom Horner for his support of Maria and the Catalina Camp program. Noted: 100-year anniversary of Boy scouts - Mr. Yovanovich will retire this year after 25 years – Craig Snodgrass will take over. Bishop Mary Glasspool visited Mother’s day, July 29 confirmation on the 40th anniversary of Women’s Ordination. Coming in 2015: joint facilities work led by John Dale, will create a master plan with the school; minor re-purpose via Field of Gratitude (remembering the crèche with the “Oscar-award winning” backdrop; planned party for Doreen Oleson’s retirement as Head Of School; joining Jamie Hamilton of St. Barnabas on a trip to see the movie Selma as a way to build relationships. At the last vestry meeting Zachary Abbot said that his highlight for the past year was that he heard the good news preached and left wanting to share it. Pastor Carri declared that we are bound to take it out to invite others – not just share with those who walk in the door. Invitation: think about how we can go and tell this good new and invite others to do the same.

Thanks: Stewardship Committee, EFM mentors, Set designers: Bob Schaper and Nathan Schrader, Sunday School Teachers, Church staff. Goodbye to three vestry members: Lars Momsen (photographer for many of the website pictures), Desiree Cardenas, and Zachary Abbot.

Senior and Junior Warden Reports – Tom Horner and Diane Carey-Schmitz Diane read from the posted report.

Treasurer’s Report for 20143 – Joanna Scott Joanna reported that we ended the year in the black and referred to her posted report. Noted: pledges were up due to several members contributing more than they pledged (making up for those who did not fulfill their pledge), the auction receipts were more than budgeted, expenses were down due to some vacancies bringing salary expenses down, and maintenance was up due to office refurbishment. We went over the amount budgeted for the website, but can expect to save $1,000 every year from now on. We paid our 13% Mission Share.

2015 Stewardship Report Presentation of 2015 Budget Joanna reported that the budget includes 134 pledges. Anticipating a deficit, the committee has held expenses at the 2014 rate. Expenses will include additional staff of the new CYF director and an organist. Our current financial health is very strong. We are in the early stage of growth. Jane made a motion to accept the 2015 treasurer’s report, Desiree Cardenas seconded. William Owen commented “very well done”. The motion passed unanimously.

Mother Betsy thanked Pastor Carri for her humor and leadership. Lynn Marini after noting that the Clergy appreciation day was not celebrated on the recorded date, but that we wanted to celebrate Mother Betsy and Pastor Carri as the best priests, led the parish in a prayer.

Pastor Carri closed the meeting at 1:23 p.m. with a prayer for the spirit of generosity.

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Rector’s Report

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8 & 9

It took our weekly Wednesday Bible Study the better part of a year to complete the journey through the Acts of the Apostles. During the summer of 2015, we took a few detours to visit the letters of Paul written to the communities about which we’d heard in Acts. And when we finally completed our Acts adventure, we returned to Paul’s letter to the Philippians. This has long been one my favorites. It’s the one a small group of us memorized in my high school youth group so that, between the 12 of us, we could speak it aloud from start to finish. We did so one Sunday evening in the home of our pastor, gathered in his living room by candlelight. It’s hard to capture the sweetness and the thrill of hearing the whole letter this way. Somehow hearing it in the mouths of our friends, and depending on one another to make it complete, made us hang on every word. My section of the letter was Chapter 4, verses 4 through 9. I still believe I was given the best verses of all. These verses live in my proverbial hip pocket, and I pull them out on a regular basis. They were read at my father’s funeral, and every time they appear in the lectionary, I embrace them again as an old, treasured, trusted friend.

Every year we gather as the Saint Mark’s Community as one year ends and another begins. For the weeks preceding this gathering, the faithful Joanne Morse collects from our parish leaders accounts of the ministry we’ve done together, and puts it all in a book for us. It is a record of life well lived by the grace of God. It tells the stories of our work and play, our learning and love. When we write down and then review our life in faith each year, we are doing what Paul commended the church at Philippi to do. Your Vestry and Rector did our own version of thinking about all that was true and honorable, just and pure, pleasing and commendable, excellent and worthy of praise at our Vestry meeting this month. I name here the resulting catalogue of 2015 causes for celebration. I add these observations to the rest of the reports found in these pages.

Think about these things (presented to you in no particular order): the triumph of Barbara Ebert’s production of The Magic Flute offered in our Community Hall; Nathan Schroeder’s monthly movie nights which fostered fellowship; our annual Holy Saturday work day with such strong and willing servanthood from so many; Parker’s presence and leadership, and the ability through her to offer for the first time summer programs for our youth, and a Vacation Bible School in the summer; the rich conversations and connections made through the Via Media series this fall; Jenn Tolbert’s arrival as our new Head of School, her joyful Installation at the church, and the strength and grace of her leadership among us already; Five new babies born into our church community, and the vibrant presence of young families in our life; increasing diversity of all kinds in our membership, and all the gifts that brings to us; our first Youth Trip to Haiti; this year’s Season of Gratitude – its preachers, and the outrageously beautiful mosaic that grew into a picture of who we are and what happens when we offer our gifts to the community; the enrichment of Erik Forrester’s exploration with us of musical settings of Christ’s Passion through the season of Lent; all the beautiful music and leadership offered by Kara Morgan and our Choristers; moments in our liturgy of gathering close around one among us in need of healing; Lisa Sylvester’s creative and skilled leadership of our

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Rector’s Report

choir and all our music ministry, and the beautiful musicianship and friendship of both SaeWan Yang and now Marc Robson; original pieces beautifully performed by the Aca-fellas!, the 2015 MLK Sunday celebration and the voice of Octavia; the gentle comfort of our Blue Christmas service, and the joy of Marc’s concert later that evening; the Great Litany and First Lent with our favorite cantor Mark Salzman; Debbie DeCaro’s Prodigal Son adult ed class in Lent; our new Vestry Person of the Day presence on Sundays at all 3 services, with its heightened visibility and accessibility of our Vestry; the wisdom and courage of Reynold’s Cafferata at this year’s Diocesan Convention; the breathtaking way the community rallied around one of us with an important and on- going transportation need, and the general way this branch of the Body responds quickly and cheerfully when something needs doing or someone needs help; the health of our collaborative church and school Joint Master Plan Committee; the graceful and celebratory ways we thanked Doreen in her last year here for all of her leadership, including the successful establishment of an Endowment for the school, begun in her honor.

I know there are so many more personal and public moments not highlighted here. I hope as you read this year’s report, you will spend time doing what Paul encourages us to do. And in the year ahead, we will continue together to “keep on doing” all that God calls us to do. God’s peace be with you in 2016!

Faithfully, ~Carri+

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Saint Mark’s Parish Vestry Reports

Senior and Junior Wardens' Report

It is such a joy to be a part of this parish. Our members continue to step out in faith and to challenge those of us on the Vestry to do the same. We continue to grow as new members join us and we have much to be grateful for and to celebrate.

Our Children, Youth and Families Ministry continues to grow. Director Parker Garrett has now been with us for almost a year and a half. Her enthusiasm is contagious and brings a great energy to these programs. We saw members of our Youth Group travel to Haiti to meet our partners at Ste. Marguerite’s and to listen to them share that experience with us. This summer we held our first Vacation Bible School, which was a great success and we’re looking forward to this coming summer’s VBS. Our Sunday School Program has been revamped to include children from both our 9:00 and 10:30 families. We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of Parker and all the volunteers who have made these programs work.

Our music ministry is vibrant and growing. The Chorister program under the leadership of Kara Morgan is getting better every month. Our Choristers have added so much to our worship and we are grateful for their dedication. After serving as our Interim Music Director, Lisa Sylvester accepted the position of Music Director. We said goodbye to our organist, Sae Wan Yang, when she accepted a call to another congregation. We sent her off with our best wishes and prayers for her continued ministry. We are pleased to have Mark Robeson back as our interim organist. We are grateful to Lisa, Kara, Sae Wan, and Mark for enhancing our worship experience.

Last June we celebrated Doreen Oleson’s retirement after serving for 25 years as Head of Saint Mark’s School. Our new Head of School, Jenn Foley Tolbert joined us at the beginning of July and we celebrated her new ministry with her installation this fall. We were so pleased to have her join us as our preacher on Consecration Sunday. We are grateful for her faith and witness and look forward to our partnership with her and the school.

Throughout Saint Mark’s we are grateful for your response to the call of the Holy Spirit. You have given generously of your time, talent, and treasure. The many ways the people of Saint Mark's have risen to embrace the call to ministry, not only within our own congregation, but to the greater community and the world shows us that we all have much to celebrate.

We are grateful for the prayerful and thoughtful leadership of our priests. Not only do they preach this to us every Sunday, they model this for us daily in their wise leadership, and their gentle pastoral care.

Together, this year we will continue to step out in faith, responding to the call of the Holy Spirit.

Respectfully submitted by, ~Diane Carey-Schmitz and Tom Horner

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Treasurer’s Report

2015 Year-End

For 2015 there was a budgeted deficit of $37,056. Although we finished the year with our financial position being $28,486 better than expected, we still ended with a deficit of $8,571.

Total pledge income received during 2015 was $353,485, compared to a budget of $351,483. Unfulfilled pledge commitments totaled $11,286 offset by contributions from others who exceeded their pledge commitments.

Open Plate and Holiday and contributions were under budget by $5,372. The income from the Fall Festival was close to budget, and the Spring Auction exceeded budget $4,965. Additionally, 2014 pledge payments of $8,410 were received in 2015.

Overall, income exceeded budget by $17,732 and represents 62% of the positive variance for the year.

Expenses were $10,754 less than projected. This was primarily due to Insurance cost savings of $6,266 due to a change in insurance provider, and underspending in Program Activities budgets which led to net savings of $2,863.

We fulfilled our 12% Mission Share pledge payment of $46,190 as well as our commitments to ECPAC and CDSP.

2016 Budget

Our budgeted income is based on 2016 pledges received to date, conservative estimates for the Fall Festival and Spring Auction, and open plate and holiday contributions based on past historical trends. For 2016, pledges received to date are $343,921, which is $9,012 lower than last year’s pledges. Total Income budgeted for 2016 is $30,722 less 2015 actual income.

Expenses have been estimated based on the past three-year history, including any known upcoming changes. There is a 2% cost of living increase for parish staff with more than one year’s service, and we maintain our 12% Mission Share commitment, equal to $46,967. Total budgeted expenses end up being $14,287 (3%) higher than 2015.

This year we are presenting a budget with an anticipated deficit of $53,580. The Vestry approved this budget after taking the following factors into account:

-We have a very strong balance sheet, with approximately $1million of unrestricted reserves, and liquid assets of approximately $0.9m million.

-During the period from 2011-2015, instead of the anticipated deficits we were able to add surpluses totaling $110,109 to reserves (net of the reduction is reserves due to the 2015 deficit). This happened during a period when we have fully funded a 12% Mission Share every year since 2011, and covered the addition of a full time CYF staff member and an organist since 2014.

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Treasurer’s Report

-We are still in a period of growth and transition, where in line with our community’s wishes, we have expanded our children and youth ministry programs, as well as many other programs within the parish. Growth in monetary terms has not happened as fast as we have hoped, however we have seen growth in church membership and involvement, and now the task ahead is to convert that into growth in pledge income, which will eventually bring us to a balanced operating budget.

For these reasons, the Vestry was able to step out in faith for yet another year.

I am deeply grateful for 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 and DOK 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. Mark and Christy Poynter set 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 2014, 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 www.signupgenius.com/go/9040F44A8AD22A02-coffee

~Robin Ross ~Hospitality Chair

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Saint Mark’s Parish Ministry Councils

2. Community Camp

For the past 12 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, 2016 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 28-30, 2016. More information will be available in March.

~Maria and Tom Horner ~Co-Directors

3. 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 2015 the men hosted the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. The $400.00 received from this event went to the Altadena Food Pantry. The men also supported our sister church and school, Ste. Marguerite's in Haiti, by preparing the post Hike for Haiti pancake breakfast. This December the Men gave another $600.00 to the Altadena Food Pantry. Men’s Fellowship funding comes from gifts and birthday offerings to the Men’s Fellowship plus surplus breakfast funds and by hosting the annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper.

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

4. 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.

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Saint Mark’s Parish Ministry Councils

Newcomers (continued

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 had our first newcomer reception on January 19 in 2014 and we have scheduled the one on February 1, 2015. 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

5. 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

6. 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 four graduates of the acolyte program: Alex Gonzalez, Lucy Grindon, Caolan John, and Nick Horner.

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, 2016, 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 [email protected].

~Parker Garrett ~CYF Director

7. 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. An 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 positioned the large Christmas wreathes on the pillars in the church. As a newly graduated 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.

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

~ Nadine Hegamin ~Director

8. 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, Lynn Marini, Karen Sessions, Lisa Hilger, Seth Bass, Ruben Cárdenas and Parker Garrett.

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

~Bruce Linsenmayer ~EM Coordinator

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9…… 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. Many thanks to our volunteers in 2015 for their dedication to this ministry: Betty Butler, Denise Momsen, Juanita Wade, Debra Johnson, Roberta Goodman.

~Mo. Betsy

10. 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, Adam Schroeder, and Kay Van Valkenburgh. At the 9:00 a.m. service, many families take turns reading the lesson and leading the prayers.

~Mo. Betsy

11. Lectors

In the fall of 2014, we added a distinct ministry of Lector to our 10:30 service on Sunday mornings. For all of 2015 we have been blessed by the preparation and proclamation of God’s Word by these servants. Their faithfulness enriches our worship life, and helps us to hear the Word of God in fresh ways. Thank you to our Lector team: 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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12. Music

Saint Mark’s Adult Choir

In 2015 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. Some highlights include the 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 gift of solos by young soprano, Jenna Mefford, one of my students from USC. 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 Sae Wan Yang, 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 Trudi Anderson and Isaak Momsen. On the first Sunday of August we were uplifted by the children who participated in VBS as they presented a musical 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 first “Choir Retreat”. We had some fun and fellowship, had guests Kara Morgan and John Duykers lead vocal production workshops with the women and men respectively, and, of course, sang through several anthems that we would be preparing during the year.

Mid-way through the Fall we had an unexpected departure of our organist Sae Wan Yang. Sae Wan took a call to return to a church where she had previously served in order to help them in a time of significant transition. Her last Sunday with us was November 1 – All Saint’s Sunday. Coming in on short notice to fill this need, my dear friend and esteemed colleague, Mark Robson has blessed us with his extraordinary gifts as organist and pianist for our 10:30 service. In addition to taking over organist duties for the Sundays since November 8, he generously offered a Christmas organ recital featuring compositions including Christmas musical themes, from a wide variety of composers, including himself! He was joined by Catherine del Russo on English Horn for a couple of the selections. It was a Christmas gift to our entire Saint Mark’s Community.

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. 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. 28

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Music (continued)

We have also been blessed by guest musicians in several services this year; they include Alec Milstein, bassist for Consecration Sunday, Eve-Eileen Holt, flutist and Paul Baker, harpist for Christmas. Our music is also enhanced on a regular basis by our “house percussionist” Erik Forrester.

I want to give special thanks to Roz Fleischer for her yearly hosting of our annual Choir Christmas Party which was quite the event! Thanks also go to Rose West, for assigning and maintaining the choir robes.

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, Bill Owen, Sue Peace, Mark Poynter, Nathan Schroeder, Elsie Strong, Ann Waddell, Juanita Wade, Kim Watkins, Rose West, Chris Yoder

~Lisa Sylvester ~Music Director

Choristers

It is now my third 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 increase--we now have 15 Junior Choristers and 13 Senior Choristers. Our attendance has also significantly improved 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. This year I have implemented solfeggio (sight reading that uses syllables and hand signals) with the Junior Choristers and am pleased to see that they are already 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.

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

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Music (continued) role our music plays within the church's ministry and worship. We are still members of the Royal School of Church Music and follow the RSCM curriculum “Voice For Life.” Each chorister has been given a light blue “Voice For Life” music theory workbook which covers such topics as musical notation, rhythmic notation and key signatures. As each singer completes a level of the Voice for Life program, they are awarded a medal and ribbon to be worn with their choir robe. So far four singers have earned their light blue medal: Jonah Schroeder, Sophia Thompson, Matilda Scott and Sarah Muller. This year I have chosen one Head Choristers: Anthony Whalen. As Head Chorister, Anthony helps with such tasks as 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.

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 3, 2015. This concert was a benefit for the Saint Marks Music Program and included an anthem performed by the St. Marks Senior Choir. The Choristers performed various anthems from their 2014-2015 season. The Choristers performed wonderfully and the concert was very well received.

As a part of the 2015 pilot VBS program, I directed the musical “By the Sea”. The musical was inspired by the Choristers Guild musical “By the Sea” by Mary Nelson Keithahn. Several Choristers performed the lead roles in this musical. The musical featured improvisations by the VBS participants which were created in response to the bible stories studied each day of VBS. The music for this musical was learned and rehearsed daily during the VBS week. The full musical was performed on the Sunday morning following the week of VBS. The children did a fabulous job preparing the music with such a short rehearsal period and the performance was very well received.

I am so pleased by the progress both the Junior and Senior Choristers have been able to achieve over the course of my two and a half years as Choristers Director. I truly look forward to the musical adventures before us!

~Kara Morgan ~Choristers Director

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Music (continued)

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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13. 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 2015, as in years past, we’ve found creative ways to praise God and pray together.

This year’s alternative Lessons and Carols for Good Friday, a Terri Jones original, was refreshed by engaging the community in advance in the selection of readings. Many of those who chose readings also spoke them in the liturgy, and as always, the faithful gathered were moved by the readings, and by God’s self-offering expressed in them and in the music we made together.

This year’s Passion of Christ on Palm/Passion Sunday was brought to life by an all teenage group at both our 7:45 and 10:30 services. While this is always a powerful act of worship, this year’s actors captivated our congregation more wholly than ever, and deepened our devotion. For the 2nd 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 7th 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.

Our Season of Gratitude this year featured another amazing group of lay preachers. Roz Fleischer, John Green, Kara Morgan and Pete Carlson shared their faith and witness with us with eloquence, depth and a little bit of singing! Our dynamic artistic duo, Bob Schaper and Nathan Schroeder, took a suggestion from our Leadership Development Team, invited our participation, and created a hanging mosaic of our gifts that slowly came together into one beautiful portrait on our church. With original prayers by Terri Jones, an opening collect by our current EfM group, and a Consecration Sunday blessed by the preaching of our new Head of School, Jenn Tolbert, our lives as stewards gained strength through our worship.

~Pr. Carri

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14. 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 2015: Gerald Somerville, Craig Snodgrass, Keith West, Kay Van Valkenburgh, Beth Owen, Chris McCann, 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. John Green has, thankfully, acted as a substitute for the 7:45 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 a term for the lifelong process of growing our faith along with our knowledge and love of God. It includes intellectual learning as well as whatever each of us does to build our relationship with God, and because each relationship with God changes over time, so may our spiritual practice change.

Remembering 2015’s menu of adult formation activities at Saint Mark’s makes the Formation Council overwhelmingly grateful for all the people who shared their gifts and then experiences of faithful living with us. Under our umbrella many ongoing programs occur thanks to inspired and dedicated leaders: Centering Prayer led by Robin Ross, Wednesday Bible Study led by Pastor Carri and Roberta Goodman, Lectio Divina led by Connie Majeau, EfM led by Erik Forrester and Maria Horner, Movie Nights led by Nathan Schroeder, Women’s Retreat with a whole team of leaders, and the Writing group led by Pastor Carri and Terri Jones.

In addition, the Formation Council programs Sunday morning Adult Education activities, mostly in the Brown Library, Wednesdays in Lent and the occasional Special Project. Sunday morning programs included an Epiphany series “Our Daily Bread,” in which a dozen members of the community shared what feeds their faith, and how they “feed” others; a Lenten book study of Henri Nouwen’s The Return of the Prodigal Son, led by Debbie DeCaro; an early summer series of TED Talks presented by members of the congregation; and a late summer pick up choir series, led by Lisa Sylvester. From September through November, The Rev. Joseph Lane organized a team including Tom Rosebrook, John Green and Nic Arnzen to lead us through the Episcopal Via Media discussion series, and we rounded out Sunday mornings in Advent and Christmas with presentations and discussions of some of our favorite ‘Stories of the Season,” including those of Anne Browne, Parker Garrett, and Pastor Carri.

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Formation (continued)

On Wednesday Nights in Lent, Erik Forrester guided us through an extraordinary series of reflections on musical settings of the Passion Gospels, and we were nourished by soup suppers donated by many willing hands.

In January and March, we joined friends from St. Barnabas, Pasadena, to consider race relations through the prism of two films, Selma and Lincoln.

In April, Edward Beckett and parker Garrett guided a combined group of youth and adults in painting a series of Stations of the Resurrection. In June, Al Grindon led a group on a wonderful tour of the Norton Simon Museum, which helped deepen our appreciation of Eastern and Western religious art.

To everyone who presented and to all those who participated, you blessed us with your presence, and inspired us with your faith. Let us know what will help you in your lives in Christ.

The formation Council : Terri Jones, Chair; The Rev. Pete Berry; Roberta Goodman; The Rev. Joseph Lane; Lisa Sylvester; and The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon.

~Terri Jone

15. 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!

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Centering Prayer (continued)

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 15 members and are always eager to welcome any woman 17 years and up 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 first Sunday 8:45 a.m. in the Rector’s Office. Feel free to visit our church website (www.saintmarksaltadena.org) for updates and other information.

We received over 440 prayer requests in 2015. Lynn Marini has taken over the prayer list beginning January 1, 2016.

~Beth Owen ~Treasurer

Education for Ministry (EfM)

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 3 decades. The 4 year program is renewable each year and we meet 2 hours on Monday nights for about nine 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. Three years ago the program underwent a massive curriculum-overhaul which, while keeping the Scriptural content intact - updated and refocused its guidance toward discovering and 35

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EfM (continued) forming personal ministries. The changes have made the program even more relevant and effective for us today.

Long-time and faithful mentors: Gini Berry, Terri Jones and Diane Carey-Schmitz are taking sabbaticals and newly-minted mentors Maria Horner and Erik Forrester have stepped into the mentor-ship roles.

Current members are Mike Bechthold in Year One, Parker Garrett and Paula Walker in Year Two, Marti Farley, Joanne Morse, and Sherrie and Bill Melinat in Year Three.

There are no tests or papers to write, just reading assignments and insightful discussions, conversations and activities which emerge from the Bible, texts and wonderful auxiliary books and materials that EfM provides.

Please feel free to contact any of the mentors or members for information about EfM. It is not too early to think about enrolling for Fall 2016! own contemporary experience. Conversations are lively; insights are plentiful, and our new books and lessons are engaging.

There are no papers to write or exams to take: each week the group discusses shared reading assignments in the Bible and other texts to consider how the material relates to our own contemporary experience. Conversations are lively; insights are plentiful, and our new books and lessons are engaging.

We’ll enroll new and continuing students over the summer. If you’d like to know more about EfM, please talk to any of the mentors.

~Erik Forrester

Lectio Divina

Wednesdays at 5:30 in the Church

Each Wednesday evening a group gathers for the practice of Lectio Divina. With leadership from Connie Majeau, we pray the scriptures by listening ever deeper to their call to us. Midway through the year, we moved from the Brown Library to the chancel of the church. Entering into a space prepared for stillness, and gathering around the flame of a candle, we welcomed the stirrings of the Spirit and felt the tender love of God.

~Pr. Carri

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Saturday Night Movies

Every first Saturday of the month we gathered to share our favorite snacks and to enjoy compelling movies followed by fellowship and conversation. This past year we saw among other films: The Sting, Snow Walker, The Way, and also a special evening with our own Pete Berry, who led us in a viewing of The Matrix, with its many references to Gnostic Christianity. Movie night has been a wonderful opportunity to share compelling stories with the community of friends and fellow film lovers.

Movie night will be going on hiatus for the foreseeable future as teaching opportunities take more of my Saturdays.

~Nathan Schroeder ~Facilitator

Wednesday Bible Study

As predicted in last year’s report, our Wednesday Bible Study was still on our journey through the Acts of the Apostles deep into 2015. In fact, it wasn’t until after the summer that we finished our study of Acts. Next we spent time with Paul’s letter to the Philippians, and then returned to an exploration of the Hebrew Scripture texts and the Psalms found in the coming weeks’ lectionary readings. I am always glad to gather with this faithful group, and am especially grateful for the leadership so often provided there by Roberta Goodman.

~Pr. Carri

Women’s Retreat Pr. Carri In 2015, twenty-five Saint Mark’s women went on retreat in April, a month or two later than in recent years, and our retreat theme took an Easter turn. Affirming that “almost all of us at one time or another experience needing to let go of something in order to move forward in God’[s love and freedom’” we spent a weekend in individual reflections and group activities to help us let go of whatever might be standing between each of us and resurrection life. We drew heavily on the forgiveness and reconciliation work of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter Mpho, and no two of us had exactly the same retreat. Once again the gracious hospitality of the Cathedral Center afforded us many options: walks around Echo park lake or the labyrinth we p[laced in the courtyard; craft activities, journaling, meditation, group discussion and lots of food and laughter. We really “Let It Go.”

Many thanks to the team and the folks who helped make it happen: Pastor Carri, Mo. Betsy, Betty Butler, TJ, Roz Fleischer, Rose West, Melissa Schaper, Lynn Marini, Beth Owen, Christina Thom and Diane Carey-Schmitz.

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Women’s Retreat (continued)

In 2016, we’ll be retreating at Camp Bob Waldorf on the Max Straus Campus, in the Verdugo Hills, where we took our first Women’s Retreat ten years ago. In keeping with the more rustic setting, our theme will be “Into the Woods”. Registration materials are available now, so sign up and plan to join us Friday evening, March 4 through noon on March 6.

~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. 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

We have made some big changes in the Sunday School program this 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 participants to come for either part. All children ages 3-5th grade are invited to participate. Our teachers this year are Heather Jolly, Anne Browne, Ray Samoa, Nic Arnzen, Kathy Talton Wilson, Allison Regan, and a group of senior high youth led by Parker Garrett.

We are also excited to have several special events each year. In addition to our annual Epiphany party, our Sunday School teachers helped plan and execute a successful first annual Vacation Bible School last summer. They will also be taking on an activity for children during our annual Shrove Tuesday pancake supper.

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Youth Group Alumni Outreach

With a growing number of youth group alumni, many new programs were started this year to keep our young people connected to the Saint Mark’s community.  Prayer Partners – Each of our 15 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, including boxes of See’s Candy, socks from the Haiti Partnership, study supplies, and lots of other treats.  Christmas Party – For the second 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 2015. 6th-12th graders are invited to join us on Sunday evenings from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. for conversation, lessons, games, and activities. We currently have about 20 regular youth group attendees, with an average attendance of 16.

Saint Mark's sent our first group of youth to visit our friends and partners at Ste. Marguerite's in La Tournelle, Haiti. Nick Bass, Jacob McKinney, Jacob Bechtold, Nick Horner, and Saint Mark's School alum Miranda Johnson spent one week sharing meals, worshiping with, and getting to know our friends in La Tournelle. Betsy Hooper-Rosebrook, Shannon Espino, Paul Johnson, Kevin Killgore, and Parker Garrett also traveled with the group.

This year, we added a monthly program for parents of youth that takes place on the first Sunday of each month. Families gather for dinner together to start off the night. Maria Horner and Pastor Carri lead parents in an engaging and fun discussion while their children attend Youth Group. Childcare is provided for younger siblings.

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.

Our youth group leaders are: Kevin Killgore, Johnna Paredes, Maria Horner, and Parker Garrett.

~Parker Garrett

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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's 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.

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: [email protected]

Feb. 3rd--Door of Hope Dinner Contact: George Rothwell email: [email protected]

Feb. 20-- ACTS Food Pantry 10:00-12:00 Contact: Anne Browne email: [email protected]

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, Westminster Presbyterian Church and Saint Mark’s Episcopal 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 staffing the pantry one Saturday a month. The 2015 Saint Mark’s Volunteers: Anne Browne, James Morse, Jane and Jeff Dillingham, Dorsey League, Nadine Hegamin, Melissa Schaper, and Mary Moffitt. The Schroeder family has joined the staff. Tom and Nick Horner and Jennifer, Anya and Mara Lum worked the early part of the year and have retired. We thank them for their service.

The church's contributions were $431.00, mainly from Jannette Allen and the Women’s Soup, while Men’s Fellowship donated $1,018.00 for the year. We gave out 30-35 bags per week.

Thanks to ALL that donated to the Food Pantry financially and with food.

~Anne Browne ~Coordinator and Advisor for the ACTS Food Pantry

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Saint Mark’s Parish Ministry Councils

Bad Weather Shelter

We did not participate in the Bad Weather Shelter in 2015 due to warmer weather last winter. We will work on February 5, 2016 as our chosen date. There are sign-ups to help purchase and cook side dishes and George Rothwell has agreed to make the main dish. Saint Mark’s has a reputation for cooking great and not-so-ordinary meals. This year the Vestry and our Bad Weather Committee of Parker Garrett, Blanton Bartlett, Chris Zarow and Jim Morse will be there to serve those in need.

Christmas Trees

Saint Mark’s Christmas Trees sold 147 Christmas Trees this year. It was 15 more trees than we sold previously in one year. 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 $4000 check this 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.

~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 25-30 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

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Saint Mark’s Parish Ministry Council

Haiti Partnership

Three broad categories comprised the activities of 2015. These are travel, fundraising and governance.

Travel: In March of 2015, four Haiti Partnership Committee members and four youth from Saint Mark's, Altadena, traveled to Latournelle, Haiti. Prior to the visit the youth established pen-pals with their Haitian counterparts. During the visit, the Americans met and interacted with the children of Latournelle and the students, faculty and staff of Ste. Marguerite. During an evening meeting with the school administrators and community leaders, the concerns for the community of better access to water, access to electricity, especially in the evenings, and help with teacher salaries were discussed.

In the future, high school students from St. Mark's Youth Group will travel to Haiti every three years. Adults and college-age students will travel in the intervening two years.

Kara Morgan, Chris Zarow and Liz McCollough, a language teacher from St. Mark's Southborough, MA, have continued the monthly conversations via Skype with Leoreus Laventure, Ste. Marguerite's principal and Pere Reginald, our partner priest in Haiti. This has been an efficient way to gauge progress and learn of new needs.

Fundraising: We organized several raising activities in 2015. The Hike for Haiti and a post-hike pancake breakfast was held on Saturday, May 2. Other fund raising events included Hike to Howlands and Women's Soup. Smaller fund raising events to support youth travelers in 2015 are ongoing. Coins and Cans is continuing and has been a successful means of generating small, but consistent, donations.

By the end of the year, the Haiti Partnership settled on a more realistic annual fundraising goal of $12,000. Overall, the partnership raised $12,502 with $7,800 supporting the hot lunch program and $4,702 supporting teacher salaries. Funds are also set aside to support a goat project in the coming years.

In May, there was a change of leadership for the Haiti Partnership. A steering committee met over the summer to define the governance structure and other aspects of the Ministry. The new governance structure maintains a mix of members representing both the church and the school. Members work on specific committees including travel, fundraising, communications, social media and engagement with the Saint Mark's school and students. We will maintain a fundraising goal of $10,000 - $12,000 annually to support the needs expressed by our partners in Haiti. The top two requests remain teacher salaries and the hot lunch program.

Potential initiatives for 2016 include helping the community of Latournelle launch a micro credit program under the guidance of Episcopal Relief and Development in New York and Micro Credit Haiti in Port au Prince. The goal is to help local families generate an income and thereby afford tuition for their children at Ste. Marguerite.

~Chris Zarow, ~Alicia Maddox 42

Saint Mark’s Parish Ministry Councils

Holy Family Services

Saint Mark's has again this year joined other churches in the Diocese in supporting Holy Family Services. 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. As HFS continues in its 66th year of service to the greater Los Angeles area, it continues to build its outreach 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 or Marti.

~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 2015: Weekend highlights of Troop Calendar included shooting in Mojave desert, winter sports at Mammoth, several Angeles Forest hikes & campouts, camp-hosting Pack 1 Webelos at Trestles Beach, overnighting at the Miramar Air Show, tours of the USS Iowa and La Brea Tarpits, 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, assisting Altadena Rotary and American Legion with two patriotic events, 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. And of course our annual Andrew Blackwood Memorial Blood Drive where we recorded 59 pints of blood – again the most productive off-campus blood drive in the City of Hope’s annual calendar.

Summer, 2015, featured two High-Adventure tours: a 2-week backpacking trek to New Mexico’s Philmont Scout Ranch and a 35 mile expedition over the 11,600 ft. Sierra divide in Sequoia. These in addition to a weeklong Summer Camp at Mission Bay’s Fiesta Island.

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Saint Mark’s Parish Ministry Councils

Scouts (continued)

Early in the year the church joined us in celebrating a heartfelt tribute to Allan Yovanovich upon his transition to Scoutmaster Emeritus. We’re fortunate and delighted Allan is continuing an active role on our Troop Committee and I’m personally thankful for his continued mentorship.

Want to know more? Please call Craig Snodgrass at (626) 688-6523. ~Craig Snodgrass ~Scoutmaster, Troop 1

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. Over the past few years, we have seen our number of non-Saint Mark’s families 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 Catalina Island where we enjoyed many fun activities at Catalina Island Camps, including kayaking and a super fun campfire. The pack also went camping at the Trask Scout Reservation in Monrovia last Fall. This is our 2nd year to go to Camp Trask in October and we intend to make this an annual event. This spring we head to Camp Wasewagen in the mountains near Redlands for our family camping weekend. Our den leaders have led the scouts on visits to local police and fire stations, and trips on the Gold Line. 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. For the 2nd year in a row Pack 1 collected food for the Friends in Deed food pantry at our December pack meeting. We also continue to support the Andrew Blackwood Blood Drive held by Troop 1 and 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

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Saint Mark’s Parish Ministry Councils

Scouts continued 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

December Toy Ingathering

Toys were collected at school chapel on December 10th. Thank you everyone who donated a toy for a needy child for Christmas. Toys were distributed to Door of Hope, and the Altadena Sheriff's Station Thank you to Anne Browne who brought packing boxes, and Taki Lague, and Marianne Wright who sorted and/or delivered the toys.

~Marianne Wright

Pastoral Care

Members of the Saint Mark’s Pastoral Care Ministry met with the clergy in April 2015 to articulate a vision for the ministry and to set a strategic focus for it. The needs of the home-bound, those with chronic conditions, those who are hospitalized, and those experiencing a crisis in their lives were identified. Mother Betsy developed an automated reporting system to enable the ministry to track its activities and to help in identifying other areas of need and/or emphasis.

Lay members of the Pastoral Care Ministry are Debbie DeCaro, Marti Farley, Roberta Goodman, John Green, Joseph Lane, Lynn Marini, Robin Ross, and Melissa Schaper.

~John Green

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 more than 30 meals (enough to feed 120 people) in 2015. During 2016, 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.

~Marti Farley ~Coordinator

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Saint Mark’s Parish Ministry Councils

ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE COUNCIL

18. Archiving

To recognize and document the rich history of Saint Mark’s as represented in memorial inscriptions located throughout the church, Joanne Morse, John Green and Lars Momsen conducted an inventory of the stained glass windows; hymn and prayer books; chalices, cruets, vases and other silver and brass ware; plaques; and other items. A comprehensive list, with photographs, was developed showing those remembered as well as their benefactors. The list resides in the church office. It will be updated periodically.

~John Green

19. 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 Dr. Doreen Oleson 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 2015, in February, May and September, to address common campus issues. JOC reports were sent to the Saint Mark’s Vestry for their review in February, July, August and October.

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

In the Community Hall, the restroom countertops were reinforced, and shelves and broom storage were added to kitchen and storage area. Arched window on western wall were repaired, along with the front door and adjacent light. In the CMH kitchen, the refrigerator, freezer and dishwasher all had repair work in 2015, thank you to Joanne Morse for coordinating. An outlet in Music Room was added to accommodate the new keyboard. Electrical breakers that serve kitchen outlets were upgraded to accommodate multiple use of appliances. Termite droppings were identified in music room and Good Shepard window with localized treatment occurring in October. CMH patio doors and kitchen door closure issues were repaired.

In the Church Office/Preschool, plumbing issues with the air conditioning units and overflow pipes had work completed on both the air units in the church and church offices. The water heater for Preschool/Church Offices was replaced.

An additional hand rail down the middle of the steps from the church to the CMH was added. Thank you Bruce Linsenmayer and Paul McKinney.

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Saint Mark’s Parish Ministry Councils

JOC (continued)

A Backflow Device in front of the church was stolen and subsequently replaced. Thank you to the quick action of Joanne Morse, Dan Wachtel, Mo. Betsy, Lisa Auyong and J&D Plumbing. Thankfully, the thieves turned off the water before they took the pipes, but as far as we can tell, it was removed sometime between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Now that’s gutsy! To the tune of $2,856!!!!!!! Replacement device is not copper, so intrinsic value is no longer an issue. Our insurance deduction is now $5,000 – so no claim was made.

At the School House (former rectory) windows cracked by gardening accidents were replaced during the winter. Renovation of the School House interior to accommodate new Head of School were completed over the summer. Dr. Olsen apprised the Vestry of proposed changes, as required in Section 10, Tenant Improvements, of the Lease Agreement for the School House between Saint Mark’s Church and School. The school elected to incur all costs related to the improvements. No major structural changes were proposed. Thank you to Sally Yingling, school receptionist, who has been working diligently to continue to deep water the drought stressed sequoia in front of the school house.

Campus wide, in anticipation of an El Nino weather year, gutters on shared buildings were cleaned and repaired. Annual campus-wide tree trimming was completed by New Image including the large Deodars around School House. So. Cal Edison did some additional trimming of Deodars that they were concerned with around electrical lines. Campus-wide padlocks were changed out in the fall. The JOC is recommending the re-roof of the Meeting House. Significant leaking and gutter issues are pushing this project, in anticipation of a wet winter. A re-roof hopefully would assure another good 5 to 10 years on the building. Our current roofer, Rivas, no longer recommends patching. A re- roof is currently schedule for Easter Break, 2016.

Special Thanks: A huge thank you to Joanne Morse and GEM Plumbing, who after 2 years of a mystery pipe noise in the church office/preschool building, on December 23rd no less, found the problem and rectified it. It was a simple fix, and the fog horn noise that has plagued the building for the past 2 years is gone!

Thank you to Vestry member and Jr. Warden Tom Horner who continued to work with Franklyn Shen at Saint Mark’s School and committee in reviewing current insurance coverage for church and school. This year the insurance follow-up included church valuables including pews, bells, music library, etc., should these items be damaged or destroyed.

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.

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Saint Mark’s Parish Ministry Councils

JOC continued

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 who we are able to call on to help quickly rectify issues.

~Marianne Wright ~Chair

20. 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

21. Joint Fundraising

Auction and Fall Festival

25th Annual Studio 54 Gala Spring Auction 2015 April 25, 6-11:30pm Oakmont Country Club

Live auction, dinner, disco dancing, Tribute to Dr. Oleson Cost to attend: $100/person

Income: $103,730 Expenses: $47,117 (Paddle raise for Haiti: $6,900) Net: $49,713 split equally between the school and church Exceeded goal of $40K!

Live Auction Highlights: Mammoth Escape, Exclusive Baseline Club Dodger Game, Luxury Vegas Weekend, Lakefront vacation in Tahoe, Private Party for 50, Big Bear Escape, Santa Anita Racetrack Insider Experience and a week in Cape Cod

Thank you to the chairs Sandra Duval and Jericca Gutierrez and their team for all the hard work and success of the event!

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Saint Mark’s Parish Ministry Councils

Fundraising (continued)

2015 Fall Fest ~ Fall Pumpkin Harvest Theme October 24, 12-4pm

Cost to attend: FREE Cash or tickets for games, booth activities, food, drinks

Income $32,439.94 (2014 income: $34,474.00) Expenses: $13,670.44 (2014 expenses: $17,551.27) Net: $12,870.00 split equally between school and church (2014 net $20,137.00 much lower than previous year, due to dramatically lower presale tickets and sponsorships) While we made a little less money this year, the overall feel and experience at the fair surpassed our expectations and we have received an enormous amount of positive feedback confirming this. Below you will find some bullet points highlighting the pros, cons, and things to think about for next year. Celebrations: -Created a wonderful harvest community building experience for the neighborhood, families and friends of the Saint Mark’s community - Stream lined the fair and reduced the overall cost from previous year - Reduced the number of booths that not only reduced some of our overall cost but reduce the number of volunteers needed to run the fair

Challenges: - Presale and sponsorships were down dramatically this year (possibly due to golf tournament happening the same month) - We lost one or two traditional booths (profitable) due to lack of participation (i.e. Craft Booth)

Things to consider for next year: - Adding back a few booths to give a little more variety to the fair, depending on the level of participation - Date selection in regard to other events at the school - Ways to increase presales and sponsorships -Open the fair to the general population to raise more money? - Look at which booths were profitable; new booth ideas for next year? - Ways to encourage more participation from the church and the school

Thank you to Rayann Scolnick for chairing this year’s Fall Fest and her team for all the time and effort into making this year’s event a success!

~Heather Jolly ~Church Liaison

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Saint Mark’s Parish Ministry Councils

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 three Leadership Summits in 2015. We have two Leadership Summits planned for 2016 Spring. Saturday April 9 for calendaring with our Fall date to be determined.

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. We will have two new members each year, so if you are interested in our ministry contact Pastor Carri or Tom.

~Tom Horner

23…..Stewardship

Abundance – This expresses my feelings about the members of Saint Mark’s Parish. Our Stewardship campaign for 2016 was very successful. We have 133 members who have pledged. There are 18 new pledges and 38 increased pledges. Almost $344,000 has been pledged for 2016. 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 2016 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 and Nathan Schroeder for creating our “Saint Marks” mosaic that was revealed to us each week during the Stewardship season. It was beautiful way for us to give thanks to God, week by week, for tiny and tremendous blessings. Terri Jones and Betty Butler created a special Prayers of the People, and 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 their testimonials of gratitude – Rosalyn Fleischer, John Green, Kara Morgan, and Pete Carlson. A special thank you goes to Jennifer Foley Tolbert who, on Consecration Sunday, shared her morning with us and blessed us with her gracious presence and faithful words. 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 50

Saint Mark’s Parish Ministry Councils

24….Tellers

Saint Mark's Tellers continued their faithful service in 2015, 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.

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 Celeste Liversidge Vanessa Meyer Ed Ramirez William Schleifer Joanna Scott Karen Sessions, Vestry Representative Jane Sobota Bishop Chester Talton Dhari Thein Jennifer Foley Tolbert, Head of School

SCHOOL STAFF Jennifer Foley Tolbert, Head of School Mrs. Alice Chou Hause, Director of Communications and Marketing Mrs. Ann Grimmett, Chief Financial Officer Mrs. Zanita Gwin, Upper School Head Mr. Rick Harris, Assistant Head of Innovation and Technology Mrs. Kelly Mancuso, Lower School Head Mrs. Janel Umfress, Educational Specialist; Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, Educational Specialist Mr. Franklyn Shen, Business Manager Mrs. Joscelle Shen, Assistant Head Enrollment Management Mrs. Julie Toyama, Assistant Head of Auxilary Services The Rev. Betsy Hooper-Rosebrook, Chaplain Mr. Dan Wachtel, Director of Facilities and Campus 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 Ms. Sally Yingling, Receptionist; Mr. Adolpho Anaya, Groundskeeper; Mr. Roberto Hernandez, Custodian; Ms. Dulce Hernandez, Custodian Grace Chung, Chapel Organist (September – December)

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Saint Mark’s Parish Ministry Councils

SAINT MARK’S SCHOOL 2015 REPORT

Dear Saint Mark’s Families and Friends,

I began my work at Saint Mark’s School on July 1st, and I have been overwhelmed by the love and welcoming spirit that the entire community has extended to me. From the beautiful Installation orchestrated by Saint Mark’s Church to parent coffees and various school events, I feel right at home. I am grateful to Dr. Doreen Oleson who led Saint Mark’s so well for 25 years. I am blessed to have inherited a wonderful school, and I am honored to build on her strong legacy. I am most appreciative of the partnership between the Church and School in joining hands to help educate and raise up the children of Saint Mark’s.

We have had a wonderful start to the 2015-2016 School year. Our admissions numbers are up, our programs are thriving, and our fundraising numbers are on target. So far 100% of our staff, board and vestry members have given to our Annual Fund, and our parent participation is growing. In addition, we were selected as one of three independent schools in the Los Angeles area to receive a huge financial assistance contribution from the California Community Foundation-based Dream Fund for Young Scholars to assist families who needed assistance.

This year our theme has been “Seeing with New Eyes.” With a new Head of School, we are taking advantage of the opportunity to review our programs and school operations. Among other things, we are examining our curriculum and master schedule to ensure that we are best supporting teaching and learning in our classrooms; we are reviewing our publications and materials to ensure that we have the right tools in place to communicate effectively with current and prospective families; we are updating our Emergency Preparedness plans and procedures; and we are readying for our accreditation that will occur in the 2017-2018 school year. The School has launched a new Parent Education series this year, and we continue to welcome parishioners to join us for all of our events.

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

The departure of Doreen Oleson in June and the arrival in July of Jennifer Foley Tolbert as Saint Mark’s new head of school gave 2015 a particular sense of excitement. As a combined church and school community, we delighted in gathering for a service of installation for Mrs. Tolbert in October, in which she committed herself to this ministry and the congregation offered prayers for her, her family, and the school, and presented gifts symbolizing her many roles as head of school.

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’s 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 group that went to Haiti in March reported back in a variety of ways, strengthening the connection our students feel with their counterparts in Latournelle. 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. The new outdoor classroom offered a different venue for our worship in the fall, though a chapel planned there in the spring was rained out…a rare and welcome event! This beautiful and welcoming space invites us to rejoice in God’s creation.

We welcomed back Grace Chung for her second year as chapel organist and all celebrated in May when she received her doctorate from USC in Piano Performance. She has brought to our worship her gifts and passion for encouraging children to explore and rejoice in music. I'm thankful for the assistance as well of guest preachers: Bishop Mary Glasspool, Pastor Carri Patterson Grindon, Dr. Doreen Oleson and Mrs. Jennifer Foley Tolbert (Heads of School), Mrs. Zanita Gwin (Associate Head), each class in turn, former School Board Chair Mrs. Maria Horner, 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.

To encourage leadership development, all grades rotate the jobs of crucifer, acolytes, reader, prayer leader, ushers, and bell ringer. This year, for the first time, 3rd grade students have begun 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

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Saint Mark’s Parish School Chaplaincy Report

School Chaplain’s Report continued particular topics; two of the most engaging in 2015 were a discussion with 4th graders about whether Junipero Serra should be made a saint and with 2nd graders about what it’s like to be in school at Ste. Marguerite’s in Haiti.

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 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

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~ The 2015 Annual Meeting Report was compiled by Joanne Morse, Parish Office Administrator (626) 798-6747 or [email protected].

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Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church Vestry Ballot

Vestry

______Valerie Barth

______Debbie DeCaro

______William Owen

______Nathan Schroeder

Diocesan Delegates

______Bruce Linsenmayer

______Marianne Wright

______Keith West

Diocesan Alternate Delegates

______Ted Bailey

______Parker Garrett

______Janis Rosebrook

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