10 January 2024
If 2022 was the year we spent rebuilding from the pandemic, 2023 is the year in which we can see what the “new normal” is. 2023 is our new reality, and that has brought a smaller, leaner church, but also a more dedicated church.
I must begin by thanking the Vestry and the staff for their continued dedication to St. Mark’s. Our wardens, Michel Reavis and Jesse Wilson, along with the entire Vestry, have provided strong leadership and guidance for the parish. Our treasurers, Michael Ida and Jeanne DeCosta, give incredible amounts of time managing the finances. Our Choirmaster, Mike Dupre, has provided a steady hand for the choir this past year amidst various challenges, and the addition of Katherine Crosier as our Organist has been a true blessing.
I must also thank the parish for my sabbatical this past spring. I have now been your rector for fifteen years, but this was the first sabbatical I was able to take. The pandemic in 2020 foiled plans for a sabbatical, and prior to that the church was not in a financial position for me to schedule one. Most of the sabbatical was spent abroad in Greece, Turkey, and England, and the support from the congregation and Vestry for this endeavor was remarkable. We must thank Father Anthony Hutchinson and Father Douglas Fenton, as well as my father, Pastor James Lillie, for their service at the altar while I was away. According to diocesan policy, clergy are to take a sabbatical every three years, but this is a goal most churches and clergy are not able to accomplish.
Reflecting upon 2023, it has been a year of quietly doing the necessary work that needs to be completed. We continue to care for the property in various ways that often go unnoticed. Railings must be painted, trees must be trimmed, sprinklers must be maintained, carpets must be cleaned, vestments must be repaired, fences must be mended, and windows must be repaired or replaced.
Meanwhile, Sunday school lessons must be prepared weekly, liturgy leaflets must be proofed and duplicated, acolytes must be recruited and trained, choirs must be rehearsed, mass must be celebrated each day, and offices must be prayed. Visits are made to hospitals, and people are buried while others seek the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Confession, and Marriage.
This year saw the death and relocation of many beloved parishioners, and the church still mourns their absence. Simultaneously, new connections have been made with the preschool, and this Christmas we enjoyed a wonderful Christmas gathering in the church with the pre-kindergarten class and their families. Newcomers continue to grace our worship, becoming new disciples with a fresh energy for Jesus Christ and his holy Catholic Church.
We continue to strengthen our Anglo-Catholic identity. Solemn Masses are faithfully celebrated on high holy days, masses are celebrated every day of the week, and we are moving beyond a model of mere Sunday morning membership to a faithful discipleship that infuses faith in all parts of our lives.
Holy Week and Easter were a particular triumph this year. In addition to faithfully executing the full Triduum, as has always been the case at St. Mark’s, all three Tenebraes of the Triduum were chanted publicly, and the response was strong and positive from the acolytes, musicians, and worshippers.
This past year we enjoyed several excellent formation opportunities. Two different extended Bible Studies on the Gospel of Matthew were offered by Dr. Randall Furushima, and the response and attendance was excellent. During Lent our class on the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist and Holy Week also drew ample attendance. This past December another group faithfully gathered to study Advent themes in liturgy and scripture. As we look to 2024, our focus will continue to offer seminars so that the parish may further understand and inculcate our Anglo-Catholic identity. These sessions will be offered on select Sunday evenings after Vespers and Benediction, beginning in January and continuing through the spring.
Even though we have much to celebrate, we do have some challenges that are arising. I have been willing to celebrate three masses each weekend, but most clergy would not be as willing, especially if they have children or overly-demanding family members. The reality is that with our current numbers, we only need one mass each Sunday – maybe two masses if one was on Saturday evening or Sunday evening. We probably do not need two masses on Sunday mornings, but I do enjoy celebrated both the Low Mass and the High Mass each week, so I have chosen to keep both masses for now.
The ceremonial and music of our High Mass is something I cherish every week, and the quiet early morning Low Mass has its own unique beauty. Most of our Episcopal churches have done away with their early morning masses. I am not advocating this, but I am merely describing the new realities in our sister churches. This way of thinking can be a bit depressing, and it is not helpful regarding parish growth. My hope is that we will grow further into our current worship schedule, rather than do the tiresome contraction we see at some churches. Decline is boring.
In closing, I want to encourage all of us not to take St. Mark’s for granted. Being that much of the congregation has been a part of this church for decades, it can be easy to become lethargic or indifferent to the ministries of our church. The reality is that St. Mark’s is extremely special. Most churches do not offer near the amount of ministry opportunities that we do, especially when you consider our small and dedication staff and committed volunteers. Our passion for worship and formation are what keep us from decreasing, or even closing, as is the case with other churches. St. Mark’s is a gem within Christianity, and our beloved church needs all of us to do our part. Let’s pray that in 2024 we will continue to build strength upon strength, growing more and more into the full stature of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Father Paul Lillie +
