Annual Meeting Information Rooted in baptism, POSTMARK Growing in faith. Branching out into the Special Annual Meeting Edition world. January 2017 13 F Women in Touch Event St. Mark’s 120th Annual Meeting 14 Sa Miqra Weekend Sunday, January 22, 2017 Soup and Bread, Bridge Communities 11:45 am – 1:00 pm 15 Su Miqra Weekend All are welcome to attend the St. Mark’s annual meeting. Have Group Sunday School for K-5 lunch, meet new vestry members, thank those who are finishing 16 M Daughters of the King their terms and bid on cakes as part of fundraising for our One Day Drama Camp companion church in Mexico. Activities for children provided. 17 T Vestry Meeting Read more about this important event on page 2. 18 W Middle School Youth Group High School Youth Group 22 Su Annual Meeting and Cake Auction Cake Auction Children's Programming It’s the sweetest time of the year! Men and Women of St. Mark’s are 28 Sa Men's Group invited to bake cakes and other baked goods for: 29 Su Winter Farmers Market The Mexico Mission Trip Annual Cake Auction and Bake Sale Confirmand, Parent, Mentor Lunch SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 11:30 am in Mahon Hall. Choral Evensong Come prepared to bid on the confections and take home Save the Date in February a winner! Again this year, there will be a silent auction in 11 Sa Italian Night at the Opera addition to the live auction, AND many delicious baked 19 Su Group Sunday School for K-5 26 S Parents and Child Communion meeting goods of all sorts will be available on the bake sale table. Choral Evensong 28 T Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Adult Formation – January 2017 Social Media In the spirit of inquiry, we hope to learn more about our fellow Christian brothers and sisters in the January-April Adult Formation at Following St. Mark's on social media is a great 9:15. way to stay connected during the week. It is also a wonderful opportunity to connect with other pa- Date TOPIC rishioners and engage in conversation--we are all about building our community. Samantha Camp- January 16 Overview of Evangelical Christian Faiths en, Communications Coordinator, is happy to an- January 22 No adult Ed-Parish Meeting day swer questions about Facebook/Twitter/ January 29 What do we hope to gain from this series of dis- Instagram. Samantha Campen, cussions? [email protected]. Facebook: @stmarksglenellyn Twitter: @stmarksge Instagram: @stmarsge Cold outside? Warm up with soup, bread, and piano music by Attend Choral Evensong Kathryn Littlefield to benefit Bridge Communities on January 29, 6:00 pm Saturday January 14 at 5:00 pm. January 2017 Rev. George Smith, Rector [email protected], 630-858-1020 Ext. 222 Our 120th Annual Meeting Yes, you can have your cake and eat it, too! ministries will be printed in an annual report, On Sunday, January 22, St. Mark’s will hold which will be available at the meeting and al- th its 120 annual meeting at 11:45 am, so on the St. Mark’s web site (click on tab continuing a tradition that dates back to 1898 “Connect” at the top right of the web page). and the establishment of St. Mark’s as an The annual meeting is also an opportunity to Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn. thank those who are completing their terms of service on the vestry, as warden and in Annual meetings are held at all Episcopal other leadership roles. churches, typically in January. At St. Mark’s the annual meeting takes place in Mahon Hall Since 2007, the St. Mark’s annual meeting and begins with a buffet lunch. All are has included a live cake auction and a bake welcome and encouraged to attend, including sale as a fundraiser for our relationship with visitors, newcomers and children. Children are San Marcos, our companion church in Nigro- invited to stay for the entire meeting or mante, Mexico. We’ve had some amazing participate in special activities for them. cakes over the years, including an edible life- size lawnmower! So put on your creative The annual meeting is an opportunity to apron and whip up something spectacular – approve a slate of new vestry members and a don’t forget to bring your checkbook! new warden, get a picture of the church’s finances, and to ask questions and share The St. Mark’s annual meeting is an im- opinions. portant tradition and part of our life together as a community. I hope to see you there as This issue of the PostMark includes photos we give thanks for all that has happened in and bios of both new and returning vestry 2016 and as we look ahead to the promise of members, the incoming junior warden and a new year and the possibilities God has returning senior warden, youth waiting for us. representatives to the vestry, the clerk of the vestry, the chancellor to the vestry and Yours in Christ, delegates to the annual Diocesan convention. A full set of reports from committees and George+ 2 Annual Meeting Information St. Mark's 2017 Budget (vs 2016) 2016 Budget 2017 Budget Revenues Contributions Pledge payments 699,714 760,000 Open plate 68,000 68,000 Special collections 2,000 2,000 Fund raising events 5,000 5,000 Gifts to outreach 7,500 7,500 Prior year pledges 3,000 Other 19,600 19,600 St. Mark's Revenues 804,814 862,100 School Revenues Parents' Day Out 85,000 85,000 St. Marks Pre-School 93,000 161,278 St. Mark's Total Revenue 982,814 1,108,378 Expenses Clergy Payroll and benefits 244,983 251,544 Programs 25,700 25,700 Music Staff 64,985 70,313 Expenses 6,500 6,500 Administration Staff 37,681 38,999 Expenses 38,343 47,843 Building and Grounds Staff 20,454 20,454 Expenses 195,765 229,315 Childrens Ministries Staff 52,672 52,672 Expenses 7,020 7,520 Mission and Outreach 81,141 85,200 Spanish Language Services 12,000 12,000 Rectory Expenses 17,570 9,630 St. Mark's Expenses 804,814 857,690 School Expenses Parents' Day Out 85,000 85,000 St. Mark's Pre-School 93,000 161,278 St. Mark's Total Expenses 982,814 1,103,968 St. Mark's Net Total 0 4,410 Loan From Diocese - end of year# 543,916 530,000 (estimate) Building Mortgage Payable - end of year# 740,488 705,000 (estimate) Rectory Mortgagte Payable- end of year# 103,200 99,000 (estimate) 3 January 2017 Spanish Language Ministry P. Victor H. Conrado, Asóciate Rector [email protected], 630-858-1020 Ext. 226 (Candlemas Day) which occurs each year on February 2nd.The Día de Reyes: The Story of effigy of the baby Jesus, hidden inside the cake, represents an- Los Tres Reyes Magos other aspect of the holiday. The reason Jesus is 'hidden' inside the bread is to symbolize how in life, the Christ child's birth loca- tion also needed to remain secret, in order that his life be January the 6th is a special day in spared. The ruler of Jerusalem at the time, King Herod, had Mexico. Known as 'El Día de Reyes' (Three Kings Day), been appraised of the mystical signs that indicated the new and this holiday represents the height of the Christmas rightful King of Jerusalem was soon to be born. Herod's reaction season. The date marks the culmination of the twelve to these predictions was swift and horrible. He ordered his min- days of Christmas and commemorates the three wise ions to murder all male infants recently born in Bethlehem. How- men who traveled from afar, bearing gifts for the infant ever, as destiny would have it, Mary and Joseph found their baby Jesus. The children of Mexico look forward to this lodgings in a manger, not an inn. Herod's henchmen didn't think holiday as traditionally, gifts are exchanged on this date, to look for an infant in such a location. not on Christmas day. Another lovely custom associated with the Three Kings Day In Mexico and many other Latin American countries, holiday centers around the evening meal. Traditionally, the sup- Santa Claus doesn't hold the cachet that he does in the per served on this special day is delicious corn tamales accom- United States. Rather, it is the three wise men who are panied by hot chocolate. This makes for a perfectly quintessen- the bearers of gifts, who leave presents in or near the tial Mexican meal and one that is enjoyed by everyone in at- shoes of small children. The holiday is also known by tendance. the name of the Epiphany which dates back to the 4th century. A grand feast would be held on this day to Eventos Importantes honor the occasion of Jesus' baptism and to pay homage to the three wise men. en el mes de enero 2017 Many believe mysterious events preceded Jesus' birth Estudio Bíblico en San Marcos – Comenzando with perhaps the most notable being the appearance of en enero, tendremos dos momentos para estu- the Star of Bethlehem. This new star appeared in the diar en Evangelio de San Mateo: evening sky just prior to the arrival of Jesus. Three wise Lunes de 10:00 a.m. a 11:30 a.m. comenzando el lunes, men or Magi as they were then known, whose names 16 de enero. were Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar, traveled a far Miércoles de 7:00 p.m.