Churchill Downs Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy Ministry

Here is the video which was shown last Sunday during the presentation of our St. Mark youth about their Louisville worktrip.

Mexican Chicken

This recipe was served at 1981 Congregational Dinner.  I prepared the recipe and served it for dinner before taking it to the Congregational Dinner.  I was very surprised to see my 2 year old child ripping the food out of her mouth.  Later, I found out there was a difference between green chilis and jalapenos.  Do you have a St. Mark recipe story to share?  Send it to me or put it in the Communications mail box.  Enjoy this recipe from "Taste the Best---25 Years"

Taking Care of Ourselves--Taking Care of Others

For the second year, our congregation formed the St. Mark Miles to walk or ran the Miles Against Melanoma 5K race on June 8 in Chesterfield. All of these folks have been incorporating exercise into their life’s normal routines. Therefore, they were ready and willing to cover the 3.1 miles of this event’s course. The registration fees are used to educate people, promote research, and aid patients economically as they deal with this deadly disease

This year’s participants were: Bertha L, Lisa M, Joan M, Dick W, Aaron C, Nina C, Rebecca P, Norm S, Jan and Dan B, Victoria S, Ron and Shirley G, Brian S, Greg and Missy R, Josh R, Dina B, Patrick B, Mike and Marilyn McM (not pictured). Additional people made financial contributions.

Hand Lotion

At St. Mark Presbyterian's Daughters of God Luncheon, our "favors" were small tubs of hand lotion prepared by the Fellowship Committee.  Before anyone put it on their salads, Sally announced that it was hand cream which with a good sense of smell, anyone could tell (it smelled like original Jergen's lotion---almond like).  Sally also told us the ingredients:

Homemade Hand Cream:

16 oz. baby lotion
8 oz. Vaseline
8 oz. Vitamin E Cream

Mix with electric mixer til  it resembles icing. Then, put it in pump bottles, empty plastic or glass containers.  This recipe comes from this web-site.

If you were unable to come to the luncheon and wondered why so many St. Mark women have smooth hands, whip up a batch for yourself---just be sure to put it in a container which you are re-using to join the spirit of the day.  Click here to see photos from the luncheon.

Mound Ridge Camp Video

Mound Ridge: The Story (Click link to the left)
Here is a new video about the past, present and future of our beloved church camp. You may need to pump up the volume.  Enjoy!

Fairest Lord Jesus

Your eyes will see the King in His beauty.  Isaiah 33:17

St. Mark Presbyterian Church

Amy Shelton's favorite hymn from her childhood is "Fairest Lord Jesus".  She says it was her mother's favorite and the first song she learned the harmony for while growing up in Ohio.

According to Robert J. Morgan in his book Then Sings My Soul, this German hymn is a mystery:  "It first appeared in 1677 in a Jesuit hymnbook titled Muenster Gesangbuch, but the text of the hymn was in existence at least fifteen years earlier, for it has been found in a manuscript dating back to 1662."

Tiny Vegetables Recipe

This recipe, prepared by Jean S., was served at The Daughter's of God Luncheon at St. Mark Presbyterian.  She got the recipe from Boots and Sally from the Heavenly Delights Cookbook

2 cans shoe peg corn, drained and rinsed
1 can tender peas, drained
1 can French green beans, drained and rinsed and chopped small
1 cup diced red onion
1 cup diced celery
1 diced green pepper (could use red for color)

I use a mini food processor to do the chopping

Dressing
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2cup apple or wine vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
Bring all ingredients to a boil to dissolve sugar.  Pour over vegetables.  Refrigerate several hours.  Keeps for several days.

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou My Vision, O Lord of my heart

This wonderful hymn has always been a favorite of mine, the words and the tune. 

Several years ago we visited St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and were privileged to stay for the Evensong service.  We tourists heard an explanation of the service, then were ushered to the main “quire” for the mostly musical service.   While seated in the well-worn red padded pews with dim lamps, I had visions of Charles and Diana’s wedding years ago and imagined all the magnificent choirs sitting there.  

While this was an Anglican service, I joyfully recognized the last hymn in the service, but with different lyrics to “Be Thou My Vision”.  I was overcome with wonder and awe at being in this beautiful cathedral and singing with other visiting Christians one of my favorite hymns.  It must have been the older English version, Lord of All Hopefulness.  I later learned this originated as an Old Irish hymn using text from the 6th century.

While hymns have interesting histories, our experiences and memories are often linked to them forever.   Praise be to God.   

Nancy Sutch, 2013

Press Release for "The Reverend Doctor Steve Ranney"

The Reverend Steve Ranney, pastor and head of staff at St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Ballwin, MO, received his Doctor of Ministry Degree from the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago on Saturday, May 11.  McCormick is one of eleven theological institutions associated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). 

Ranney has served as the head of staff at St. Mark for the past six years, coming to St. Mark in 2007 from Grace Presbyterian Church in Centennial, Colorado, where he was Associate Pastor.  Steve, who grew up in Chicago, celebrated this special event with his wife Kim Skilling (also a Presbyterian Minister), daughter Chaney,  sons John and Tim, and other family members.    

 

     A special reception to celebrate Pastor Ranney’s significant achievement and continuing ministry is planned for Sunday morning, June 9, following the 10:30 AM service at St. Mark.  In May of 2012, St. Mark Presbyterian Church celebrated 50 years of worship and service in the Ballwin community.

St. Mark is located at 601 Claymont. For more information, please contact the church office at (636) 394-2233.

www.discoverstmark.org

Late Spring Gardens Part II

 The front of our church has several landscaped seating areas which are memorials to church members.
"Peace on Earth,
Good Will to Men"

We also have many lovely areas, planted and maintained by a wonderful group of ladies and gentlemen.  Even the median areas in the parking lot are comforting and bring joy.

Wonderful Grace of Jesus

Jon Huizenga recalls:

This song doesn't make me cry, but does put a lump in my throat.  I grew up in the Danforth Reformed Church in Danforth, IL, a small church made up mostly of Dutch people who liked to sing, and sing at full volume.  This congregation was musically inclined and when this hymn was on the Sunday schedule, ties were loosened, fans were unfolded and handkerchiefs were brought out.  Four parts were always sung and by the time the song was over, everyone was out of breath and full of sweat.  This song always reminds me of the Danforth Reformed Church and get my heart racing.

For the words and musical accompaniment, Click here.