Pride Kickoff and Recognizing Lifetime Achievers

A very busy Sunday at St. Mark’s and beyond. We kicked off #lgbtqpride month with the flag raising after service. Today in church school we talked what it means and who it honors, which tied into our lesson on blessings.

What does it mean to be blessed and what can we do to give blessings to others. The children felt that their siblings, homes, schools, and parents were all blessings. They also agreed that they could feed the hungry, share their homes with those in need, share their toys, give a hug, pray, and show their love and support during Pride Month as a way of giving blessings to others! We wrote down many blessings to have and to give and put them in our Blessings Bag!

Later in the day, two longtime St. Markers, Elaine Coleman and Debbie Stegmann, were honored for their decades of service at the David A. Hegg Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Church of the Saviour in Denville.

Elaine Coleman is a living example of Christian love and selflessness. In her 45+ years at St. Mark’s, her service as an usher, welcoming members and visitors alike, is just one of the many ways Elaine serves the congregation. A past Vestry member, active “Green Team” member and Building & Grounds, she is always ready to help and shepherd projects from beginning to end. A long-time member of the Newcomer’s Committee, she is the perfect welcoming presence with her beautiful smile and infectious laugh. Serving others is in her blood. St. Mark’s is ever grateful that her family settled in Teaneck.

A lifelong member of St. Mark’s, Debbie Stegmann shares her many gifts generously. Debbie is caring, hard-working, quick to welcome newcomers and share her joyous humor. She has been an active member of the Buildings & Grounds Committee for many years and now chairs the committee. Debbie has been involved in major projects and renovations—also washing windows in the Rectory when workers had finished! Twice she bailed out basement flooding, and recently painted a stained ceiling. As a Garden Guild member, Debbie weeds, prunes, and mulches to keep our property beautiful and welcoming. St. Mark’s is most grateful for Debbie!

And in the evening, the Most Rev. Sean Rowe, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, celebrated a Pride Eucharist at our headquarters in New York that was livestreamed across the country, with a sermon via video link by the Rev. Dr. Cameron Partridge, the first trans person ever to preach at the “national” Cathedral Church of St. Peter & St. Paul in Washington.

We are grateful for a whole day of blessings!