Sometimes all sorts of parish events converge at the same time, and this is certainly the case in the coming weeks. Many programs which our parishioners have requested are happening soon, and we hope people will take advantage of all these opportunities. We are fortunate at St. Mark's to be able to offer the programs that we do. Many churches are struggling just to have Sunday worship consistently. St. Mark's is a blessed church indeed!

I am happy to announce that this Sunday for the Rector's Forum on Palestine and Israel, Canon Brian Grieves will be with us. I just invited him over the phone, and he has accepted. Father Grieves is no stranger to St. Mark's, and he has a wealth of information when it comes to the Holy Land. I met Father Grieves for the first time when I was serving in Jerusalem at St. George's Anglican Cathedral, and we have remained friends ever since. Who ever knew that both of us would be living in Hawai'i? Prior to coming to the Islands, Father Grieves was the Peace and Justice Officer for the Episcopal Church. He and I will lead the forum after high mass this Sunday. Come join us at 11:30 am and bring a dish to share as the forum is also a potluck. Those who are interested in our parish pilgrimage to the Holy Land in June of 2016 should definitely attend the forum.

Next Thursday we have the first of two evenings devoted to our Fall Book Study on Father Michael Lapsley's book, Redeeming the Past. A couple of weeks ago I mentioned the story of Father Michael Lapsley in my sermon - of how he was the victim of a letter bomb in the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa, and of how he took this experience to devote his life to healing and reconciliation. The Queen Emma Outreach Guild has wanted to explore "the healing of memories" for quite some time, especially after Father George Lee shared some of his thoughts on the topic with our outreach guild. The church still has copies of the book for purchase, and it is available online from booksellers.

On Sunday, September 28 we have our Discernment Dinner for our capital campaign process. Much has been said about this already, for we hope many will come and dream together about the future of St. Mark's. We want everyone's ideas and hopes for our church. The evening will end with beautiful worship as only St. Mark's can do - candlelight compline and benediction employing chant, incense, candles, adoration, readings and more. The evening begins at 4:30 pm and will end by 7:30 pm.

If you have not been to Foodland yet to give on behalf of St. Mark's, do not delay. The opportunity to grow your money ends with the month of September. Our code is 77875. Even if you do not shop at Foodland, all you have to do is go to the counter and make your donation. You do need a maka'i card, and if you do not have one, it is easy to obtain one. Our treasurer recently checked our donation status. We are having a slow start, but we are also confident that our people will make a winning dash at the end of the month as in the past, so start dashing now.

Amidst all of this, you can get your Flu Shot this Sunday. Our church seems to be a full-service shop! And if this was not enough, come join us on Saturday, October 4 at 10:00 am - we bless pets too!

Father Paul Lillie+