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Saint Mark's Messenger Beaver Dam, Wisconsin Joann Ellis, Editor September 2020

MORNING REFLECTION (August 3, 2020) *From: Glenn McDonald is the Director of Mission Integration for the Ascension Ministry

Service Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, a role in which he serves as the workplace mission

leader for 1,000 associates in the healthcare industry. Glenn is an ordained Presbyterian

minister, has 33 years of congregational leadership experience, and is the author of ten books

on discipleship and spiritual formation. He and his wife are the parents of four grown children

and enjoy living on a small farm.

Who's the greatest hero in American literature? Author and scholar Elliot Engel believes we shouldn’t be surprised to discover it’s a black slave. But what should amaze us is that this heroic character was invented by a white Southerner in 1885 – just 20 years after the end of the Civil War.

The Southerner (whose parents were from Virginia and Kentucky) was Mark Twain. The character, from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is named Jim. Twain is widely regarded as the father of two American literary innovations. First, characters in Twain novels actually talked like real Americans – complete with twangs, ain’t’s, and y’all’s – instead of sounding like stuffy Londoners. Second, his books were actually funny. It’s hard to believe, but for about 250 years – from 1620 to 1870 – “serious literature” in our country meant the reader should never encounter a reason to crack a smile. Huckleberry Finn is the story of two runaways: Jim the fugitive slave and his friend Huck, the white son of a raging alcoholic father who had attempted to kill him.

It landed on the American literary scene with a thud. Nobody bought the book. People spread the word that its characters were loathsome. Louisa May Alcott of Massachusetts, famous for her book Little Women, was basically the Oprah Winfrey of her day. If she liked a book, everyone had to have it. Alcott got through about half of Huckleberry Finn before deciding she couldn’t bear another word. She wrote what became an infamous letter to the author: “Dear Mr. Twain. I have tried to read your novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. But I find the characters and incidents in this book so low, so common, so vulgar, and so dirty that I say to you, Mr. Twain, that if you can’t write a better book for our young people than Huckleberry Finn, I suggest you don’t write anything in the future.” This was not the kind of publicity Twain had been hoping for. But Louisa May Alcott didn’t stop there. She spearheaded legislation in her home state that

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banned Huckleberry Finn from public libraries because of its “dirty incidents.” Now, this was exactly the kind of publicity Twain had been hoping for. Twain promptly took out ads across the country in which he proclaimed that his latest book had been banned in Massachusetts “for all of its dirty incidents.” Sales immediately skyrocketed. People couldn’t wait to read whatever it was that made Louisa May Alcott so anxious. Readers never found any dirty incidents, because there weren’t any. But they did discover the uplifting story of a young boy with a tender conscience, one who was told he was risking going to hell to save his friend Jim. The novel ultimately became so famous that Twain was a celebrity for the rest of his life. As Engel reports, he occasionally received notes like this one: “Dear Mr. Twain, I liked your book, but did you realize that you made the hero of your book – the most kind, decent, loving person in your novel – the black slave, Jim? You can’t make a black person the hero of a novel! What do blacks have to do with good society?” Twain always gave the same answer: “The reason I made the black slave Jim the greatest character in Huckleberry Finn is because since blacks are not taken into good society, they are the only persons in this country who have not been warped and ruined by the good society of which they are not a part.” Then he added: “Because blacks aren’t good enough to be taken into good society, they have to be foolish enough to live by the dictates of Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount. "They foolishly think that the last shall one day be the first. And because they are so ill-treated by white society today, not only must they survive by any means they can, but they survive today with a dignity that most white people cannot even imagine.”

This summer we find ourselves in the midst of our nation's ongoing struggle to determine whose lives really matter, and why. Mark Twain voiced his convictions 135 years ago: Those who are seeking great character, great hearts, and great lives will be well served if they are utterly colorblind.*

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Treasurer’s update ~ Fred Ellis ~ July 2020:

Total Income: $50,129.49

Total Expenses: $50,462.56

DEFICIT - $ 333.06

Scrip Profit for the Month of JULY 2020 is: $74.00

Labor Day specials through Scrip. Kwik Trip is offering 9% return (normally 4%).

Some scrip cards are refillable online at Great Lakes Scrip. Want to learn more??

Contact Joann Ellis @ jojoellis52@gmail.com or call 920-319-6694.

Want to earn money for St. Mark’s

when you shop on Amazon?? Enter this into your browser and it automatically brings you to AMAZON

SMILE and shows St. Mark’s as who you want your donation given to:

http://smile.amazon.com/ch/39-1786900

PRAY FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE SERVICE

Dennis Adams, John Bahler, Mark Fritsche (deployed), Barry Hilbert,

Joshua Kent, Brian Lampert (deployed), Christopher Schoebel, Steven

Strubbe, and Trevor who just joined the Army (3/19).

Lord, keep our servicemen and women safe, whether they serve at

home or overseas. Hold them in your loving hands and protect

them as they protect us. Amen. (If you have updates to this listing of our service men and women, please give me any additions,

corrections or persons to remove because their service time has ended. jojoellis52@gmail.com )

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GETTING TO KNOW OUR PARISHIONER ~

DAVID GENEREAUX I was humbled by your request, while I am still ‘compos mentis’ I will

attempt to answer your questions:

1. Are you a cradle Episcopalian? Or how did you find the Episcopal

faith? - I was born in Wilmington, Delaware and baptized/confirmed at

Christ Church Christiana Hundred (however to this day, there are rumors my

parents fetched me from a basket floating down the Brandywine River). Sang

in the children’s choir until my voice broke while singing a solo then, as previously told at

my first St. Mark’s service, had a VERY short career as an acolyte due to untimely

consumption of leftover wine.

2. How long have you lived in the area? Donna and I moved here in 1981. However, for

the first three years I traveled on an international marketing assignment 10 months of the

year throughout 51 countries. Still get confused about Spring and Center streets.

3. Where else have you lived? - We lived in Fort Wayne, IN, Nashville, TN and

Anaheim, CA prior to arrival here in 1981.

4. What brought you to St. Mark's and what do you like about St. Mark's? - For some

time, I was planning to donate my angel (purchased from Washington National

Cathedral). When introduced to Father Oscar I immediately knew St. Mark’s would be the

best home for the Angel (Tranquility) and myself. The atmosphere and congregation are SO

WELCOMING I immediately FELT at home! I had several deep discussions with Father

Oscar who boosted my psychological equilibrium due to the loss of Donna three years

ago. It was fun to work with Father Oscar in planning & delivering the talk about how the

Washington National Cathedral was built. I was pleased to donate a new large projection

screen (sits in its case under one of the front pews) to project the talk. We have begun a

records project which is an on-going affair - keeps my mind active! Most significantly,

when Oscar announced his departure, many factors coincided to result in the painting of a

family portrait by the oldest son of my long-time good Ethiopian friends, receiving it just-in-

time over the Internet, getting the image resized and printed on canvas by Staples special

Services, and David Drexler applying his EXPERTISE to stretch the canvas onto an inner

frame then use his compound-cut skills to make the outer frame. Monday evening, July 19,

2020, Jim Merrill, David Drexler and I will happily present the Rozo family portrait to

(a semi-shanghaied) Father Oscar. What a wonderful time, via Zoom, to share Father

Oscar’s departure “Good Bye” from St. Mark’s. He has been so personally wonderful to

everyone!

5. What are some of your hobbies or pastimes? - Organizing things is one of my favorite

things to do. Facilitating my grandson’s budding career as a First Responder ranks right up

there. Also, international travel, riding trains, jigsaw puzzles, compiling a Genereaux family

history (Three Remarkable Achievers).

6. Anything else you care to share? - Nothing special about me, but I have had a unique

life experience and feel so welcomed by my fellow-Parishioners

Respectfully submitted, David Genereaux

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Around the Parish-Address Update:

I have heard that Rev. Liz Tester’s father passed away. Anyone who would

like to send a Sympathy Card or letter of condolences may do so at:

321 N. Cedar St. Lincolnton, NC 28092

Barb Conley’s son, Sue Kuhn and Linda Streiff’s brother passed away also. Josh’s gall bladder surgery went well 8/26/2020. Keep them all in your prayers.

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS, BAPTISMAL ANNIVERSARIES AND

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (If your Birthday, Baptismal

Anniversary or Wedding Anniversary is not listed, please fill out a

green update form and turn into the office. The form is located on

the Narthex Table. Please do come for a blessing on the Sunday

even if your special date is not listed. Please let us know also if your

name is spelled in-correctly or your special day is missing, we try

hard to keep everything correct.

Birthdays

1 Breanne Van Loo

2 Kirah Rose Kopmeyer

3 Fred Ellis

14 Johnny Harmon

17 Jean Neste

21 Andy Wesener

24 Robin Peters

25 Michael Thompson

29 Steve Helmer

Baptismal Anniversaries

7 Aaron Polensky

13 Fred Ellis

14 Carter Scott Merwin

15 Shannon Wesener

21 Gayle Elbert

24 Robin Peters

Wedding Anniversaries

3 Jerry & Marie Frank

7 Ricky & Joni Nehls Polensky

Records Improvement Project-on hold The process has begun and we got a good start to the Project before COVID-19 changed our lives. Once we are allowed to gather again our project with continue and move forward.

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BRAT STAND

Friday, August 21st.

Marsha Horne, Linda Zamzow

and Joann Ellis manned the brat

stand.

Jerry Frank, Bob Zamzow, Fred Ellis,

and Bob Horne manned the grills.

Diners included, Dave & Cori

Drexler, Ken Peters, Millie Garside,

Vanda Wiegert and Mary Morgan,

who also relieved the sellers. Thanks

for all your help, we netted $438.76.

Ten percent of this will be donated to the Dodge County Food Pantry.

St. Mark’s Annual Cookie Walk - Next Planned Fundraiser

In this time of COVID-19 when so much of what is usual is being cancelled or

changed, we begin to plan for our cookie sale. We don't want to cancel the sale but

neither can we have a church full of people close together handling cookies. Our cookie

leaders have decided to offer a set selection of our best sellers to be boxed and sold at a

set amount. Buyers will pre-order the boxes from pictures on our web site and pick them

up from the circle drive. We are going through our list of cookies from other sales to

determine which to offer. Each of us will choose which cookies we are willing to bake so

we have enough to offer buyers. As we work out the details more information will be

provided. Questions can be addressed to Meredith Harmon

at mereoncemore@gmail.com. L.Z.

Let the Baking Begin!!! Millie Garside wrote, I made three double batches of angels today. Now the hard part begins. Phase 1 Mix,---Phase 2 Bake, Phase 3 brush on glaze, Phase 4 paint 5. Repeat with new shape

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September 2020 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 5

Breanne Van

Loo

Kira Rose

Kopmeyer

Fred Ellis

Jerry & Marie

Frank

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

9:00 am St

Marks ZOOM

Coffee Hr.

10:00 am SEE

St. Mark’s Web

Page for

Service Links

Aaron Polensky

Ricky & Joni

Nehls Polensky

Book Club 7:00 pm

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

9:00 am St

Marks ZOOM

Coffee Hr.

10:00 am SEE

St. Mark’s Web

Page for

Service Links

Fred Ellis

Johnny

Harmon Carter

Scott Merwin

Shannon

Wesener

Jean Neste

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

9:00 am St

Marks ZOOM

Coffee Hr.

10:00 am SEE

St. Mark’s Web

Page for

Service Links

Andy Wesener

Gayle Elbert

Book Club 7:00 pm Robin Peters Robin Peters

Michael

Thompson

27 28 29 30

9:00 am St

Marks ZOOM

Coffee Hr.

10:00 am SEE

St. Mark’s Web

Page for

Service Links

Steve Helmer NOTE: WE DON’T KNOW WHEN OUR

REGULAR SUNDAY SERVICES WILL BE HELD

OR IF ANY OF OUR SPECIAL EVENTS WILL BE

ABLE TO BE HELD BUT THE BIRTHDAYS,

BAPTISMAL ANNIVERSARIES AND WEDDING

ANNIVERSARIES CAN STILL BE CELEBRATED!

Please call one another!!

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ANOTHER BRAIN TEASER HOW MANY CAN YOU FIND?

There are 30 books of the Bible in this paragraph. Can you find them? This is a most remarkable puzzle. It was found by a gentleman in an airplane seat pocket on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, keeping him occupied for hours. He enjoyed it so much, he passed it on to some friends...One friend from Illinois worked on this while fishing from his john boat. Another friend studied it while playing his banjo, Elaine Taylor, a columnist friend, was so intrigued by it she mentioned it in her weekly newspaper column. Another friend judges the job of solving this puzzle so involving, she brews a cup of tea to help her nerves. There will

be some names that are really easy to spot. That's a fact. Some people, however, will soon find themselves in a jam, especially since the book names are not necessarily capitalized. Truthfully, from answers we get, we are forced to admit it usually takes a minister or a scholar to see some of them at the worst. Research has shown that something in our genes is responsible for the difficulty we have in seeing the books in this paragraph. During a recent fund-raising event, which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta Phi lemonade booth set a new record. The local paper, The Chronicle, surveyed over 200 patrons who reported that this puzzle was one of the most difficult they had ever seen. As Daniel Humana humbly puts it, "The books are all right here in plain view hidden from sight." Those able to find all of them will hear great lamentations from those who have to be shown. One revelation that may help is that books like Timothy and Samuel may occur without their numbers.Also, keep in mind, that punctuation and spaces in the middle are normal. A chipper attitude will help you compete really well against those who claim to know the answers. Remember, there is no need for a mad exodus. There really are 30 books of the Bible lurking somewhere in this paragraph waiting to be found. God Bless.

(Note: Osee appears in the King James Version translation (often listed as KJV) of Romans 9:25 as a variant spelling of

Hosea. -- Howard Culbertson)

New Church Directory

I am currently working on a new church directory. If you

haven’t looked at your entry that I sent about a week or so

ago, please do so to make sure I haven’t made a typo.

I would like to be able to print these out and mail them or

have them available at the church for anyone who would

like them. Please let me know your preference.

Your Newsletter Editor

Joann Ellis

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Vestry Meeting Minutes

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

July 22, 2020

Via ZOOM

Members present: Chris Merrill, Erin Weirough, Jody Langfeldt, Linda Zamzow, Joann Ellis

Also present: James Merrill – Sr. Warden, Fred Ellis – Treasurer, Dave Drexler – Co-Jr. Warden,

joined later. Members absent: Ken Peters – Co – Jr. Warden

1. Meeting opened at 7:03 pm with a devotion by Joann Ellis from the Book of Common Prayer.

2. Approval of June 2020 Vestry meeting minutes – Motion by Joann E and seconded by Linda Z

to approve the June meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried.

3. Treasurer’s Report – Fred reviewed the Balance Sheet first. As of June 30, 2020, there is

$10,441.88 in the checkbook. This amount includes the PPP grant. The Profit and Loss Budget

vs Actual, shows we are behind in Pledges, Giver of Record, and Loose Offering. Rector’s

compensation is caught up and pension will be half the amount due to his leaving. Received last

bill from St. Paul’s for Oscar’s health insurance. Heat lights and water are under our budgeted

amount. The auditor contacted Fred E that our audit is done. Unsure how much the cost is.

Should have the results by August. It was pointed that there was an error in the newsletter about

the PayPal account access. It should be St. Mark with no “s”. Linda Z asked for the Treasurer’s

Report to be accepted.

4. Old Business –

A. T-shirt update – still on hold.

B. Record project – still on hold.

C. Retirement gifts – Barb Panzer was an amount equal to the Sundays from Mar to June plus

vacation dates, certificate and letter of appreciation for her service, $100 Piggly Wiggly

Scrip gift card and flowers. This amount was taken out of line item 259.9 Coffee. Fr.

Oscar’s gifts included the David Genereaux portrait, a $150 Visa gift card and a letter of

appreciation for his service. Joann E stated she received enough electronic votes from

Vestry members for the amount given to Barb. A thank you to Dave Drexler for the

beautiful frame for the portrait.

D. Meredith’s Discernment Letter – Was sent to and received by the Diocese.

E. Meredith’s Seminary Support (Annual Seminary Support) – Joann is working on this

request and received an email from Ian Burch at the Diocesan Office, that it may be possible

to use some of our annual seminary support money for Meredith’s support.

F. Audit – See Treasurer’s Report.

G. Quarantine Book Club – Being held every 2 weeks on the 2nd and 4th Thursday at 7pm.

Meredith will send reminders.

H. Zoom Coffee Hours – These are held at 9 am on Sundays before the Diocesan service.

I. The coffee hour on 8/9 will be from another Zoom site.

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5. New Business

A. Junior Warden’s Report –

a. James Merrill reporting that the front of the niche for Judy Tischer is being sent to the

company for engraving.

b. Outside work getting done by various folks.

c. Mold was noticed on the carpet in the chapel. The furnace was set so that the fan runs

all the time.

d. A dehumidifier will also be set up.

B. Other Committee Reports – None

C. Return to Worship Committee –

a. Our request to hold an outside service on 7/19 was refused on 7/15. The Diocese is

requiring permission to hold outside services.

b. Need to fill out Reopen checklist which was returned to us from the Diocesan

committee. No one seems to have the checklist from the Diocese. All the churches that

had opened or held outside services in the Diocese, have closed again. Question raised

about cleaning the church. A company out of Oshkosh or Appleton, Top to Bottom,

gave an estimate of $650 to do the walls, fog the carpet, pews and restrooms.

c. It appears that Kevin Luebke is functioning as chairperson for our Reopen committee.

James M will talk to Kevin.

D. Other New Business –

a. Outreach Designee for 2020 – Discussion held regarding the choice of an agency to

support with our outreach money from the brat stand on 8/21. The Rechek’s brat stand

is open again. Motion by Jody L and seconded by Joann E to designate outreach

money from the brat stand to Dodge County Food Pantry at St. Vincent de Paul.

Motion carried. It was discussed to consider PAVE for the next fundraiser.

b. Meeting with Peggy Bean from the Diocesan office about a rector search next steps

7/21 – Peggy sent information to James M. There are currently no candidates to

interview. We will need to put together an electronic survey document about what we

are looking for. Discussion about reaching out to local priest to do pastoral care if

needed.

c. Forming a search committee – now that Fr. Oscar is gone we can begin to form our

search committee. If people are interested in being on the search committee let James

M know.

d. Website/Weekly E-news have PayPal now – The newsletter had the wrong PayPal

address. The correction was sent.

e. Weekly E-News – is this something we want to continue? Meredith Harmon will be

asked if she would be interested in continuing this communication tool. It was felt

that wherever we can make ourselves known, we should. There is also grant funding

for electronic equipment. The electronic group made up of James M, James C, Kit M

should investigate grant requirements and needs of the parish.

f. Evening Prayer and Compline – Do we want to continue to hold these services with

Fr. Dunlop and St. Paul’s Watertown. It was decided that we wanted to continue

Evening Prayer on Sunday with Fr. Dunlop. Not so sure about Compline on

Wednesday night. James M will check with Kit M about webpages.

g. Diocesan Special Convention – This was held on 7/16 for the purpose to approve use

of electronic methods for the October Diocesan convention. Delegates are Meredith

Harmon, Lindsey Cleary, Chris Merrill, Linda Zamzow and alternates are Fred Ellis,

Joann Ellis, Vanda Wiegert and Jody Langfeldt. Apparentl, Meredith and Linda tried

to access the special convention but were unsuccessful.

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h. How to provide pastoral care to older parishioners (65+) during the pandemic – Libbie

Kacuba, Deb Kuenzi and Joann Ellis were names sent to the Diocesan office to fill

this role. According to survey sent out by the Return to Worship committee, 22 people

have internet access and 3 do not.

i. Zoom Membership ($15/mo.) – A membership can let us meet as long as we need

without getting bumped off. If you pay for a full year, there is a slight price break. It

would be set up for the rector’s email. PPP funds could be used to pay for this. Fred

E will contact.

j. Church phone (James M has it) – is everyone ok with James having it? No problems

voiced. James did say that come Sept. we will need to purchase more time for the

church phone.

k. August brat stand – we are planning to go head with this. It is scheduled for 8/21.

People will be needed to help.

l. Music for St. Mark’s –

i. Conner Klavakoski recorded music for services or hymns $50 per service (5

hymns). Has done recording for other churches.

ii. Kevin Luebke – Violin solo

iii. Others who play musical instruments – John Harmon plays the organ. Unsure who

else.

E. Fundraising – Scrip Update – June profit was $68.23. Have not need to purchase Rechek

scrip.

F. Next meeting – August 19 at 7 pm by Zoom.

G. Motion to adjourn – Motion by Joann Ellis to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Jody Langfeldt, Clerk

Hello everyone!

We decided that once a month is just too danged long to wait to talk about stuff. So, here’s the scoop: We’re going for a twice a month meeting. The second and fourth Thursday nights.

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www.stmark-beaverdam.org Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee

http://www.diomil.org

Newsletter Editor, Joann Ellis

jojoellis52@gmail.com

To be a safe and welcoming worshipping

community supported by faith in Christ

through sacramental life, holy scripture and

prayers.

We welcome, support and nourish the diversity

in all people and treat

everyone with dignity and respect.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

P. O. Box 126

700 East Mill Street

Beaver Dam, WI 53916