This weekend is going to be a blast here at St. Mark’s by-the-Lake. This weekend we celebrate together the joy of having completed our renovations and expansion as dedicate our new space to the glory of God for work and service in our time. There is more than one opportunity this weekend to come and celebrate with us:

A Dedication Concert: – Tonight at 7:30 PM (doors open at 7 PM) we have a near sold our concert in our church. Our Choir has been rehashing nonstop and have put together a great evening of both sacred and fun music. Maya Angelou is credited with saying, "A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song." Our lives are really about the song. We need to celebrate the gift of music more often. The church was gifted with a beautiful Clavinova from Dr. Wayne Paprosky. Our very skilled and talented Director of Church Music Andrea Morosin has been giving it a great workout with the choir these past few weeks as they ready themselves for this concert. Our choir ‘has a song!’ We have a very gifted group of singers who with the clever and masterful direction of Andrea, bring music to a place of prayer. Tonight you have an opportunity to soak in that great gift – take advantage of it. There are still a few tickets available but we are going to have a very full house. While tickets will be available at the door, If you want to come I would suggest calling the church office to pick up tickets in advance – it will assure you of a ticket and it will assist us getting everyone on and seated in a timely fashion. At $15 it is a great evening out with wonderful music. I might also suggest coming early as seats are first come, first serve.

Our second and MAIN EVENT – is our Mass of Rededication. We are pleased that Bishop Bennett will be with us as rededicate our space and dedicate our new space and new furnishings to God’s glory. On Saturday at 4 PM you have an opportunity to join in a liturgy that we do not get to do so often anymore – the setting apart of new space for ministry. Too often we are gathering to deconsecrate as we close churches. In Windsor, all too many people in the Catholic Church have had to gather to say farewell to their parish family. In fact, the ‘new pews’ at St. Mark’s by-the-Lake are from the former St. Anne’s Church in Walkerville. We are so proud of our building and its completion. But more than that we are so proud of the people of this parish they have accomplished. Thomas Kempis said "The loftier the building, the deeper must the foundation be laid." I believe that this building is laid on a very firm foundation of love and hope as proclaimed by a community of openness and respect.

Our third event speaks to nature of church itself – we will gather on Sunday morning at 8 AM and again at 10:30 AM. We will express our love for Jesus and for God’s people in prayer, in song, and ritual as we come together for our weekly Eucharistic feast. It will gain be an opportunity for s to give thanks for the dedication of our new church space.

So plan on being with us this weekend – we will be here and we will be celebrating –

We would love to see you