Why St. Mark's?
Posted on by Fred Crowley
From Fred Crowley, chair of the Parish Life Team
I was asked to share how I came to St. Mark’s and why I have chosen to stay:
How did I get to St. Marks?
By way of Mickie Jones, assisting with a community dinner, along with Beth and many others. From then on Mickie would call, tell me what was happening and when she needed me.
I could not say no,
I had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with Mickie, Mandy, Beth and Marlene.
In 2015 When Beth and Marlene got married, I was asked to be there and help. I was not about to miss out on all that fun.
The truth is, I enjoyed you all so much that I wanted to be here.
I had never been in a church where they served alcohol. Everything here was new to me, and I’m still catching on.
Not to mention, Father David, Malinda and many others just kept saying, you just need to join our church at each event.
What makes me stay at St. Mark’s and drive the distance each week.
Simply put, each of you….
I’m so grateful for our clergy, Father David, Buck - who has hugged me every time he has seen me, Sarah, Dorothy, and now our beloved Father Benjamin.
On the day George Floyd was murdered, I received a call from Mickie that morning with nothing but empathy and concern for me, and
then a call from Father David, after our conversation. I felt comforted.
I had two of my friends call me, but no one from my previous church.
I was comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time. Because I was having conversations about issues that were normally only discussed within my home. Especially not with anyone of a different race.
I was scared, angry and hurting.
It was clear God was telling me something, and a change was needed.
Listening to many of you, like Karen, Howard, Malinda and others especially those in our J&A group. I feel like since there are real conversations on the issues here and that there will be change.
You all have made a difference, and you are making a difference in the lives that you touch.
And I grateful to be here and be a part of anything that St Mark’s is involved in.
The love and empathy, each of you have for others is what makes St. Marks the unique place that it is. It is the agape love that you all display here and outside of the walls of St. Mark’s that keeps St. Mark’s special.
Thank you.
Fred