St Mark's Church in Durango Colorado
  • Home
  • Connect
  • What We Do
    • Worship Services
    • Adult Studies & Learning
    • Kids/Youth Programs
    • Choir & Music
    • Ministries & Fellowship
  • Who We Are
    • About the Episcopal Church
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Our Story
    • Living History of St. Mark's
    • St. Mark's Library
    • The Pipe Organ
    • Staff
    • Leadership
    • Committees
    • What Others Say
  • Give
  • Events & More
    • Annual Meeting
    • Calendar
  • Worship Services and News
    • Bulletin
    • St Mark's YouTube Worship Services
    • Weekly E-News Letter

Welcome New Rector Debbie Shew

10/5/2016

 
The St. Mark’s Vestry is pleased to announce its call to a new rector, The Reverend Debra (Debbie) Metzgar Shew. The announcement was made to the parish during Sunday services, May 22, 2016, that Mtr. Debbie will be joining St. Mark’s on July 1, 2016, and will begin leading worship services on Sunday, July 10, 2016. 
    The Rector Search Committee found Mtr. Debbie to have a passion for pastoral care, stewardship, and outreach. In her application, Debbie writes, “My passion is helping others make vital connections between their daily lives and their lives of faith, fostering an ever-deepening offering to God of their whole selves, through an ever-deepening engagement with the whole of the world around them.”
    Debbie most recently served as Interim Rector at St. Mathew’s Episcopal Church in Snellville, GA. Prior to serving at St. Mathew’s, Debbie served as Interim Rector at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, New Haven, CT, served eight years as the Canon for Community Ministries for the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, served as Vicar and Director of Emmaus House, Atlanta, and served as Assistant Rector at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church, Atlanta. 
    The Search Committee and the Vestry recognized and appreciated Debbie’s rich educational background and activities, her interest in and knowledge of social justice, her leadership in youth and children programs, her strong convictions regarding pastoral care, and her commitment to build an encouraging and supportive church structure. 
    Debbie completed her theological studies at The General Theological Seminary, New York, 1991-1994, and was ordained in 1994 in the Diocese of Atlanta. She also has a M.Ed. from Georgia State University and a Certificate in Christian Counseling from the Psychological Studies Institute, Atlanta.
    Debbie and her family currently reside in Atlanta, GA.  She is married to David, a Presbyterian pastoral counselor in private practice, and they have four (4) children.  Their youngest son, Charlie, will be a senior next year at Ft. Lewis College, while their youngest daughter, Hannah, will be attending high school in Durango as a freshman. Debbie’s interests outside of church include walking, gardening, spending time with family, and photography.
    The St. Mark’s Vestry will host a welcome party for Rev. Debbie and her family following the 10:30am service on July 10th.  Please join the Vestry and the Search Committee as we celebrate the beginning of the Rev. Debbie Shew’s leadership at St. Mark’s.

Pray and Recruit

10/15/2015

 
St. Mark’s Search for a new rector is officially public! The Rev. Lou Blanchard, Canon Missioner to the Bishop’s office, has announced the open position at St. Mark’s at a meeting of leaders from other Dioceses across the US.  She will post the portfolio (job description and narrative) and the profile (the longer, more informative document about our church) to the national church this week.
 
As the Search Committee prepares for reviewing resumes and interviewing candidates, we ask you to pray. Now is the time we ask God to open the ears, minds and hearts of potential candidates to our call, and we ask God to move them to act.
 
Under the maxim that God helps those who help themselves, we also encourage you to recruit candidates who might be interested.  Many priests find a new church by word of mouth, not by a listing on the national jobs-available list. Speak with priests you know and ask if they know of possible candidates.  If you know someone directly, ask them if they are interested.
 
The information you will need is:
  1. St. Mark’s is looking for an ordained Episcopal priest for a full-time position, starting in mid-2016.
  2. The portfolio (job description) will be posted on the Diocese of Colorado website.
  3. The profile can be accessed on the front page of St. Mark’s website.
  4. All applications must go to the Rev. Lou Blanchard, Canon Missioner, Diocese of Colorado. LBlanchard@ColoradoDiocese.org
  5. Applications will be received until November 25, 2016.
The Search Committee extends a sincere thank you to the 35+ people who reviewed, commented, edited, and proof-read the profile and portfolio. Your assistance and support was needed and appreciated.

Ellen 

Search Committee Update

9/12/2015

 
Picture
The Search Committee is moving steadily forward with the writing of the profile and the portfolio, greatly aided by the discussions that happen during coffee hour each week.  We plan to publish the profile and portfolio for the congregation to read and discuss on Tuesday, September 22 as a link from the e-bulletin.  We will also provide printed copies at the church office.  We have planned several times for parishioners to meet with the Search Committee to provide feedback and to discuss what is in the documents.  We need the congregation to validate what we are saying before we send it to the diocese to be published.  Here are the discussion group times:
  • Sunday, September 27, join us for group discussions in the parish hall after both the 8:45 am and 11:00 am services.
  • Saturday, October 3 , at 10:00 am to 12:00 noon join us in St. Mark’s Parish Hall for all or part of this group discussion.
  • Wednesday, October 7, at 10:00 am to 12:00 noon join us in St. Mark’s Parish Hall for all or part of this group discussion.

contact the 
search committee
by clicking here
In the meantime, we need help!

For the eight questions that form the portfolio, St. Mark’s will provide answers to candidates and the candidates will answer the same questions in the resume they provide to us. 
Here is this week's question:  
 
How do you (St. Mark’s) engage in pastoral care for those beyond your (St. Mark’s) worshiping community?
We look forward to hearing your responses on Sunday at the Search Committee table.
 
Thanks, 
 
Ellen

Senior Warden Report

5/20/2015

 
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

Interim Rector to begin July 1

5/4/2015

 
Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that “for everything there is a season.”  I am very pleased to announce that on July 1, 2015, St. Mark’s begins a new season as it enters a time of intentional interim ministry led by the Rev. Dr. Lin Lilley.
PictureThe Rev. Dr. Lin Lilley
Lin was ordained in the Diocese of the Rio Grande in 2011, and then completed additional certification in transitional (interim) ministry. For the past two years she has served as interim Priest-in-Charge and Campus Ministry Chaplain of St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Albuquerque. In addition to her work in the parish, Lin has served in the Diocese of the Rio Grande in various positions including three years as chair of the Commission on Ministry.

Prior to ordination, Lin had a 35-year career as a trial consultant. Her PhD is in communication, and for several years Lin taught university speech classes and trained secondary speech teachers. She is single but proud of three step-children and 10 grand children who all live in Iowa.

We look forward to welcoming Lin to our church family. Additional information regarding the detailsand planning for Lin’s arrival will be forthcoming. Please keep Lin in your prayers as she begins her journey to St. Mark’s.

Blessings, 
Jessica Cox
Sr. Warden
<<Previous

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    July 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015

    Categories

    All
    Book Of Common Prayer
    Books
    Children & Youth
    Church Events
    Church History
    Columbarium
    Committees
    Creation Theology
    Election
    Fellowship
    Forgiveness
    Hebrews
    Jesus
    Leadership
    Lent
    Mark
    Ministries
    Music
    Nonviolence
    Nursery
    Outreach
    Policies
    Prayer
    Rector Search
    Sermons
    Service Opportunities
    Social Justice
    Staff
    Stewardship
    St. Francis
    Tradition
    Vestry

    Events

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter!

* indicates required
Email Format

All Are Welcome Here

Picture
Picture

910 East 3rd Ave.,
Durango, CO 81301

(970) 247-1129
stmarksdgo@gmail.com
after hours emergency (970) 403-4106
Office Hours:  Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
LOG IN