An Anniversary A Celebration - Fr. Bryan Beveridge - My Worship Times ...
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St Mark's Episcopal Church
Big Timber
Summer Newsletter 2021
Issue 2 / Volume 2
An Anniversary ~ A Celebration IN THIS ISSUE
Fr. Bryan Beveridge An Anniversary ~
~ A Celebration
Dear Friends of St. Mark's, Big Timber
The first ever service in St Mark's was held on the 16th of February 1896, and Why The Wall?
the time is fast approaching when we will gather in Big Timber to celebrate
the 125th Anniversary of St. Mark's Church. The weekend of August 21 & 22
will see us gathering for food, fellowship and worship. We will be offering an Another Place,
historical display showing past images and stories, as well as more recent ... Another Time
happenings within the faith and fellowship of St. Mark's. I believe it is good
when God's people gather to give thanks for God's sustaining Spirit and God's
presence amongst us these past 125+ years. Parish News & Events
It is the 125th working group's hope that you will come ready to renew your
connections with those people with whom you journeyed in faith and From Fr. Bryan's Desk:
fellowship these years past. We hope that you will also find time to tell us, The 7 Sacred Teachings
perhaps in written form, what St. Mark's has meant to your life's journey in
faith. I hope it will be an enlivening and exciting time as you reconnect with
those whom you have not been in contact for a time. It is good to remember A "Thank You"
how wonderful things were and the joy that was shared as a community of
faith pulled together to achieve its God given mission.
St Mark's Information
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An Anniversary ~ A Celebration ... continued
While it is good to reminisce and reconnect, it is as important to look ahead. To use some of our collective
energies to ponder and reflect on where God would have us journey and who God would have us reach in the
years ahead. As a part of that enterprise, I am including the following hymn in our Order of Service for
Worship on Sunday, Aug. 22nd. Bishop Marty Stebbins, our Diocesan Bishop will be with us that weekend
listening, learning, and yearning with us as we celebrate and anticipate our future.
So, in anticipation, and in hope that the words of this hymn will challenge you as they do me, I am including
them here. Please read through the hymn. Take some time to pause and let the words resonate within you.
Offer some prayer for those who gather week by week that we might grow in our understanding of God's
Mission for St. Mark's as we enter the next 125+ years. In Christ, Fr. Bryan+
What is our Mission?
1. What is our mission in this place, our vision for these days?
Our homes alive with love for God, our cities filled with praise!
The church a true community to serve our neighborhood;
friends gathered round by Jesus Christ at work, for all, for good.
2. To welcome everyone in need, with free, affirming care;
to hear God's word, to teach God's truth, God's justice find and share:
to send, and to be sent ourselves and look for opening doors along the street,
or nationwide, or far beyond our shores.
3. To build in partnership with Christ, to pray 'Your Kingdom come',
that he who changed us at his cross will heal this place, our home.
O Holy Spirit, move our hearts; mend us and make us one,
in beautiful variety our heaven on earth begun!
Text: Christopher Idle Music: Kingsfold (tune found at H292)
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Why the Wall? The HSR was delivered in September 2020 and, to cut a
very long story short, much work was identified as
The Editor necessary. In addition to the stonework, stained glass
Some of you may have wondered why the Cover Image and concrete wall, amongst other issues identified, were
is of a boring old wall. Well, that is the point, it is old, the need to upgrade the electrics and instability of
126 years old to be precise. foundations and floor supports in the crawlspace.
The ravages of time, weather, wind and water have The costs involved were large, and much discussion
taken their toll and, despite patching here and there ensued. It was decided to first undertake the essential
over the years, the stonework has reached the point and urgent work that threatened the structure of the
where it needs some radical restorative surgery. Two Church. Over the Winter, the electrics were upgraded,
years ago a parishioner undertook a survey that and in early April a contract was let with Benchmark
demonstrated the need for a holistic assessment of the Masonry of Lewistown for making safe the crawlspace
entire fabric of St Mark's ~~ stained glass and some of deficiencies, renovating the first two courses of
the woodwork also needed attention, and the concrete stonework and restoring the concrete retaining wall.
retaining wall was cracked and allowing water in.
St Mark's is on the National Register of Historic Places,
so any work must be sensitive to that status. After a
recommendation from the Montana State Historic
Preservation Officer, Ken Sievert an eminent historical
architect was contracted to produce a Historic
Structures Report.
You may have seen these guys at work over the past
month, they have been doing an outstanding job, and
will be finished by the time this Newsletter is
distributed. On the next page are some examples.
However, and it is a big however, this is only the
beginning. Thus far, we have dug into the reserves and
met the costs to date of almost $85,000. To complete
renovation of the remaining stonework, rebuild the
stained glass windows and complete the other
outstanding items will cost at least twice that sum.
Please support this beautiful building and its many
years of worship, fellowship and service by first joining
us at the 125th Anniversary Celebrations highlighted in
'Parish News and Events'.
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Another Place, Another Time ...
... but still St Mark's
My Dear Parishioners and Friends,
During the period of nine years there have been many, many changes in this parish and
among our neighbors, only a few friends remain who helped, encouraged and blest us in the
beginning of our efforts. As the years pass by, therefore, we need to make surer the old ties,
and secure new friends. It should be the desire of all of us to "lengthen the cords and
strengthen the stakes," but this is quite impossible unless we earnestly make, as time flows
on, a fuller consecration of friendship to the service of each friend and well wisher - yea,
even to the stranger among us, whom we know not.
The Reverend Leonard Christler had a checkered history, but he was indefatigable
in his drive, from its groundbreaking in 1908 until the first services in 1915, to build St Mark's Church in Havre.
Bishop Marty has been following our progress with interest, and drew my attention to this 1916 letter from the
Rev. Christler to his parishioners. It still rings true today, and reminds us that it is not just about stones and
mortar ...
... but here is more of ours:
Image of St Mark's, Havre ~ Carol Lynn Hutchins
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COME AND SHARE IN THE CELEBRATION!
St. Mark’s 125th Anniversary
August 21 & 22, 2021
Schedule of Events
Saturday August 21st
4:00pm – 6:00pm
Dallman Hall open for viewing historical displays.
Happy Hour and gathering. No-host happy hour with
Circle T Brewery serving wine and beer.
6:00pm: Dinner
Brian Engle’s prize-winning meat:
Parish News & Events Strip Loin, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans,
Compiled by Sarah Gregie & dessert
Program to follow:
Sharing our remembrances of St. Mark’s and our
The Office
hopes and dreams for its future.
The church office is open, stop by and see the
remodel. Fr. Bryan Beveridge will be in the office Sunday August 22nd
Tuesday and Thursday 9:00am 'til noon. Sarah will 10:30am
be in the office Monday, Wednesday and Friday Church with Bishop Marty and visiting Clergy.
8:30am 'til 11:00am. Brunch to follow church, and you all know what good
Please drop by! cooks the Episcopal women are.
Come and enjoy!
Summer hours may vary. Sarah will be away from
the 16th to 26th of July. Please contact a mermber of Price:
Vestry for urgent enquiries. $45.00 for the weekend.
$35.00 for Saturday night dinner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
$12.00 for Sunday Brunch
Children: 10 and under: ½ price
Need Somewhere to Gather?
If you are looking for a place to gather for your Silent Auction
meeting, yoga, book group or other event, Dallman We will have a Silent Auction with items you will
Hall is now available for use. For the time being, want to buy:
Vestry asks that masks be worn, surfaces be wiped Jessica Zemsky print of the church
down with disinfectant wipes (provided) and all used Barbara Van Cleve print
chairs be sprayed with disinfectant (provided). This A beautiful Quilt
will help ensure we provide a safe and comfortable These are just a few of the items & there will be many,
meeting place. many more,
If interested, please contact the office 932-5712 or at RSVP by July 30, 2021
officeofstmarks@gmail.com. After the 30th we will open ticket sales to all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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From Fr. Bryan's Desk
Fr. Bryan Beveridge
"As I write this, on June 21st, it is Indigenous People's Day in Canada. This is a day designed to bring a special
focus on the challenges, history and past treatment of our First Nations in Canada. While the historical context
is different in these United States, I believe that time spent reflecting on the first peoples of both of our
countries and how we share the same space might be in order.
In the Anglican Diocese of Calgary where I am 'canonically resident' we live, work and worship on the traditional
territory of the Blood, Siksika, Stoney and Piikani peoples of the Blackfeet Confederacy. Here in Sweet Grass
County, we live, work and worship in the traditional territory of the Apsáalooke people (Crow – Children of the
Large Beaked Bird).
As people engage in deeper conversations with first nations peoples, they are discovering places of intersection
between Indigenous and Christian belief. The Seven Sacred Teachings is such an intersection. How we might
understand the world and life together:
To cherish knowledge is to know Wisdom.
To know Love is to know peace.
To honour all of creation is to have Respect.
Bravery is to face the foe with integrity.
Honesty also means 'righteousness', be honest first with yourself - in word and action.
Humility is to know yourself as a sacred part of Creation.
Truth is to know all these things. *
Finally, this prayer for our journey together with Jesus to the 'other side'.
Creator God,
from you every family in heaven and earth takes its name.
You have rooted and grounded us
in your covenant love,
and empowered us by your Spirit
to speak the truth in love,
and to walk in your way towards justice and wholeness.
Mercifully grant that your people,
journeying together in partnership,
may be strengthened and guided
to help one another to grow into the full stature of Christ,
who is our light and our life. Amen
* Thanks to Bishop Andrew Asbil of Toronto for sharing this teaching.
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A Thank You ...
... from the Girl Scout Brownie Troop
Girl Scout Brownie Troop 2101 would like to say thank you for allowing us to
meet in Dallman Hall this year. The space is the perfect size for the girls' projects. This year the girls are working
on earning the following badges:
What it means to be a good friend
The Wonderful World of Water
Learning to Paint
Plus they sold over 4,000 boxes of
First Aid
cookies, Big Timber sure loves
their Girl Scout cookies.
This month the girls will be hosting a pizza and cookie party for the fire department as a Thank You for
everything they do for our community. We are proud of what these girls do and Thank You for providing us with
the space to do it.
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ST MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
BIG TIMBER
PO Box 626, 207 W. 4th Avenue,
Big Timber, MT 59011.
officeofstmarks@gmail.com
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We, the family of St Mark’s, are a diverse group of Christians seeking a deeper, loving
relationship with God and each other through prayer, worship, study, fellowship and
ministry to our community.
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Services
We are now gathering in St Mark's Church for worship each Sunday at 10:30am, with
fellowship and coffee thereafter in Dallman Hall. As of the 4th of July, as well as the
Host, the Common Cup will be offered at Holy Communion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please consider joining us, we would love to see you.
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