Each year at Lent, several Durango churches collaborate on weekly Lenten services. Each service begins at 6:00 p.m., and is followed by a soup supper supplied by the hosting church.  Please join us! 

• February 17    Christ the King Lutheran Church
• February 24    First Presbyterian Church
• March 2           St. Columba Catholic Church
• March 9           Christ the King Lutheran Church
• March 16         First United Methodist Church 

​On Good Friday, St. Mark’s will host the noon ecumenical service.

May 18th Vestry Meeting
The Vestry met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, May 18.  

• 3rd Avenue Arts Steve Kiely presented a 3rd Avenue Arts update to include the organization’s background/history, near-term directions, long-term directions and planning for the continued relationship with St. Mark’s. Scott Hagler will continue to serve as the Executive Director of 3rd Avenue Arts. 
• Financial Reporting  Moni Grushkin provided the monthly Financial Update to the Vestry.  The report is posted in the Parish Hall for St. Mark’s member review.  The external auditor is not able to complete our external audit until the end of June or first part of July.  The Vestry and the Finance Committee agreed to go forward with the scheduling of the audit in June/July when the auditor is available. 
• LED Lighting (LED) Project Ted Carr forwarded to the Vestry information regarding the project to convert all St. Mark’s lighting to LED.  LEDs have many advantages over incandescent light sources including lower energy consumption, longer lifetime, improved physical robustness, smaller size and faster switching. Ted is working with the Vestry on the planning for converting the lights throughout the building.  Please look for further information regarding progress and fund raising for the LED Project. 
• Landscaping Bob Cox forwarded to the Vestry information regarding the planning and pricing for the grounds upkeep and landscaping.  Azteca Landscape is the new contractor replacing Joe Choquette Lawn & Garden.  Joe has left the Durango area and we wish him well in his retirement in Arizona. 
• Outreach Flags Lynne Murison is working with Albert Halverstadt to determine the best options for displaying the Outreach Flags in the Parish Hall.  Lynne’s efforts will provide us all with more information regarding the incredible ministries and support found in the various Outreach programs.
• Music Program Interim Planning The Vestry discussed early planning for the music program in the coming months following Scott Hagler’s departure.  The Vestry considered options for putting together a group of parishioners to organize and support Sunday Services music during the coming months.  In addition, a Task Force will be created to lead the search for a new Music Director.  The Task Force will work in coordination with the Vestry.  Further updates will be forthcoming in the near future. 
• New Rector Search Committee Scott Wallace, Vestry Representative on the Search Committee, shared the plans for the Search Committee to have their first official meeting tentatively set for May 25th.  The committee will also be meeting with Bishop O’Neill, Canon Missioner Blanchard and the Vestry on June 8, 2015.
• Columbarium Proposal On behalf of the Building and Grounds Committee, Ted Carr and Bob Cox presented a proposal related to the ongoing maintenance and planning for the St. Mark’s Columbarium.  The Vestry will review and consider the proposal in preparation for a formal presentation by Bob and Ted during the June 15th Vestry meeting.  

The April Vestry Minutes are posted on the Parish Hall Communications Board for parishioner review.

Blessings,
Jessica Cox
Sr. Warden

The volunteers who serve on committees and handle various ministries at St. Mark's are the life blood and the engine of the church. Because of the size of our congregation and budget, we rely on volunteers. They are the ones who donate the "man-hours" that ensure everything gets done - from making coffee, to handing out bulletins, to setting up the altar, to serving at Manna Soup Kitchen, to planting in the garden, to reading lessons during services, to providing Sunday School..... need I go on?

Like other types of non-profit organizations, we may have an advantage when it comes to finding volunteers. Patricia Lotich of Smart Church Management wrote:

At the same time, "church" is comprised of people - people who perhaps have families, jobs, hobbies, responsibilities....LIVES. Today's world is demanding, to say the least, and sometimes sending out the request for help feels like releasing a balloon with no helium. 

Call it "spring fever", "burnout", or just "life", but right now, St. Mark's has a shortage of helping hands for the many jobs that need to be covered in providing our Sunday services. Aside from clergy, it takes about seven (7) volunteers to cover a typical 8:45 a.m. service and about a dozen (12) for the 11:00 a.m. service, including coffee hour after each. In her recent report, our Sr. Warden, Jessica Cox wrote:

Would you like to join in the ‘family fun’? An added bonus of the volunteer experience is getting to know other members in the church community. Maybe it would be less work and more fun than you think. Just sayin'.

Contact Joan in the church office to find out more.

The Boyers’ son, Dan Keen, and family lost their Bayfield home in December. Since then, they have been living in a hotel with their baby and 2 elementary-age girls on the weekends. They are looking for a temporary home for the next 3-4 months while their home is rebuilt. The insurance company will pay rent for them. Should anyone know of or have an apartment or house available, please contact Joyce Boyer at 970-946-3779 or boyertalkin@gmail.com.