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FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Living Well with All Your Strength
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"The psalm appointed for this. . .Sunday contains important words about gratitude:
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever.
And let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices,
and tell of his deeds with songs of joy (Psalm 107:1,22).
A regular practice of feeling and expressing gratitude strengthens one's spiritual, emotional, relational, and physical wellness. Reflect on all that you are grateful for in your life. Express your gratitude either by writing it down, discussing it with another, or expressing it directly to someone for whom you are thankful."
- Reflection for March 19 in Living Well Through Lent: Practicing Resilience
with All Our Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind
**copies of this Lenten meditation booklet can be ordered here:
www.livingcompass.org/view-products.html.
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Worship
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In the baptismal covenant, we are asked, "Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?" and we respond, "I will, with God's help."
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| Fourth Sunday in Lent: Numbers 21:4-9; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21 "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" - John 3:17 |
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This Sunday's Lay Ministers
Thank you to the following parishioners for sharing their time and talent with the congregation this week. If you would like to become involved, please contact Pastor Debra at 847-732-9564 or [email protected].
- Lectors: Anne Heinz & Byron Scott
- Eucharistic Ministers: Motoko Maegawa & Ted Richardson
- Acolytes: Mickey Loewenstein, Tyler Maegawa-Goeser, Elia Basha
- Altar Guild: Pat Bent & Beth Johnson
- Vestry Persons of the Day: Motoko Maegawa & Lori Goede
- Ushers: Fred Lewis, Susan Lewis, Lisa Montgomery
- Coffee Hour Snacks: Last names beginning with
J - N
- Welcoming New Worshipers: All the People of St. Mark's
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Christian Formation
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Lifelong Christian faith formation is important for lifelong growth in the knowledge, service and love of God as followers of Christ. Regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey, no matter what season of life you are in, you are invited to enter into a prayerful of continuous learning.
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 Children's Formation On Sunday mornings from 9:30 - 10:15, children (ages 3 - 12) are invited to take part in small groups that include Bible reading and response through arts and crafts, games, and other activities. There are three classes and this week's leaders are: Patty Acha / Kendra Johnson (ages 3 - 5), Anne Heinz / Daisy Kishler (ages 6 - 8), John Lucadamo / Lori Goede (ages 9 - 11). |
Wellness for Parents - Sunday Mornings, 9:15 - 10:15 - March 15 and 22
There is no greater joy, challenge, or responsibility in this life than that of being a parent. But, with all there is to do as parents, finding time for self-care can be difficult. Parents and families are pulled in many different directions. Because of this, it is more important than ever for parents to have a compass to help them find their way and to keep themselves and their families heading in a positive direction.
Join Pastor Debra and Beth Johnson, St. Mark's Congregational Wellness Advocates on this Lenten journey toward Wellness.
Childcare will be available from 9:15 a.m. until Sunday School starts at 9:30. Children will join their parents at 10:15 a.m. for worship.
For more information, pamphlets are available in the parlor or you can contact Beth at [email protected]or Debra at [email protected].
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Building Healthy Relationships - Tuesday Evenings, 6:00 - 8:00 - March 17 and 24
Few things affect the quality of our lives more than the quality of our relationships. Our relationships are always under construction, and it is good to learn and re-learn what it means to support, love, and communicate with others in healthy ways. This four-week program provides an opportunity to explore together some new skills that can improve the relationships in our lives, in our families, at work, or in the community.
Join Lisa Montgomery and Andrea Nowack, St. Mark's Congregational Wellness Advocates on this Lenten journey toward Wellness. Each evening will begin with a simple supper of soup and bread (6 - 6:45) followed by small groups focused on building healthy relationships (6:45 - 8:00). Please feel free to come for the small groups at 6:45 even if you can't make it in time for dinner.
For more information, pamphlets are available in the parlor or you can contact Lisa at [email protected] or Andrea at [email protected].
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Fellowship
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Where are you today? Lonely and afraid? Joyful and confident? Somewhere in between? Wherever you are in your journey of faith, know that there is a place for you here, companionship for the journey in this community gathered.
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Third Sunday Food Drive: A Year's Worth of Jam!
 On the third Sunday of each month, St. Mark's will collect non-perishable food items to be shared with local food pantries. On Sunday March 15, the Interfaith Action of Evanston's Hospitality Center at St. Mark's is our recipient. They have asked us to provide them with a 3-month supply of jam. Each month they go through 4 large jars of grape jelly, 4 large jars of any other kind of jam or jelly. We would like to collect at least 12 large jars of grape jelly and 12 large jars of other jams or jellies. Please bring your jars and bottles with you to church. The big red shopping cart will be waiting for you at the back of the sanctuary.
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?? Music Night??
If it's Wednesday Night it's Music Night at St. Mark's! Who will be the composer of the month? What will be the instrument of the fortnight? Will there be a quote of the week? Come and find out! Associate for Music Ministries, David Plank, leads "Music Night." People with any level of musical background-even those with no music experience-are welcome to come upstairs to the choir room on Wednesday night from 6:00-7:30. Younger children, starting at age five, are welcome to join with all ages from 6:00-6:30. Youth and adults can come (or continue) from 6:30-7:30. Please contact David with any questions you may have at
[email protected].
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This Week at Saint Mark's
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| Wednesday, March 11 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Lunch, St. Mark's 6:00 p.m. Music Night, Choir Room 7:00 p.m. Evanston Creative Writing Meet-up, Library 8:00 p.m. Evanston English Country Dancers, Cunningham Hall Thursday, March 12 7:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room Saturday, March 14 12 Noon Bowling Day, Brunswick Zone, Niles Sunday, March 15 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Lady Chapel 9:15 a.m. Wellness for Parents Group, Bethlehem Chapel 9:30 a.m. Children's Formation, Classrooms 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music, Sanctuary 12 Noon Hand Bell Choir Rehearsal, Balcony Monday, March 16 7:00 p.m. Vestry Meeting, Bethlehem Chapel Tuesday, March 17 6:00 p.m. Building Healthy Relationships' Dinner and Program, Bethlehem Chapel 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Lunch Packing, St. Matthew's 7:30 p.m. InterPlay Class, Cunningham Hall Wednesday, March 18 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Lunch, St. Mark's 6:00 p.m. Music Night, Choir Room |
| March 2 Natasha Oussenko March 4 Miranda Whitmore, Bernard Rocca IV, Kirk Lucadamo March 6 Lynn Carver, Hector Cortes March 7 Margaret Scott, Bernadette Lettner March 8 Virginia Beatty March 9 Sarah Francis March 12 Gunnar Lewis, Marion Macbeth, Calvin Whitmore March 16 Deane Johnson, Madeleine Yanaga March 17 Addison Benz March 18 Cynthia Garrels March 19 Charles Sagan March 23 Lisa Davis March 24 Michael Arrington March 27 Lynette Murphy, London Lytle
March 31
Gabriel Howard, Wayne Smith
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March 26
Andrew and
Sandra Howard
March 27
Alex and Holly Gallegos
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 Bowling Day!
Everyone is invited to come bowl with us at Brunswick Bowling in Niles on Saturday, March 14 from 12-2. Cost is $15 per person for bowling and shoes. Bring extra money for snacks, if you'd like. Checks can be made out to St. Mark's Church. If you are unable to attend for financial reasons, please see Pastor Debra in confidence. Please RSVP to the event by emailing Jacqui Zeng at [email protected] or by calling her at 847-903-0102.
SMAC - St. Mark's Youth Group Members, We will be sure to designate a lane or two just for you! So, tell your friends and plan to join us.
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Social Justice & Outreach Opportunities
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St. Mark's continues its commitment to our community through its many social justice and outreach activities. Following are ways in which you can get involved with the St. Mark's community in helping to create a better world.
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|  Wednesday Lunch Program Has Launched! Lunches are being packed on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. in Cunningham Hall. Lunches are being served on Wednesdays (volunteers are asked to arrive by 10:45 and stay until 1 p.m.). If you're interested in volunteering, please sign-up here:
For more information, contact Community Engagement Coordinator, Jacqui Zeng at [email protected]. |
Social Media and St. Mark's 
If you have your mobile device it would be good if you put it on silent when in worship. But if anything in Sunday's service - a prayer, reading, hymn or the sermon-moves you, please feel free to tweet it or post it to Facebook #StMarkEvanston. While you're at it, "check-in" with us on Foursquare!
St. Mark's website has up-to-date information on all that's new at St. Mark's - including a current calendar of events - check it out at http://www.stmarksevanston.org. Also, we are on Facebook and Twitter! Find us at http://www.facebook.com/StMarkEvanston and follow us @StMarkEvanston.
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Ice
Please remember that with fluctuations in temperature, icy patches can appear despite after even a small amount of precipitation. Please use great care when driving and walking. And, if you notice a particularly icy area, please notify an usher on Sunday or, during the week, let a staff member know.
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In The Community
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God calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Loving finds all of its meaning in relationship. The following are opportunities to be in relationship with one another and with the community of Evanston.
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Adult InterPlay Group 
InterPlay is an easy to learn creative process that invites adult participants to express themselves through storytelling, movement and vocalization. Through well-established methods of play participants can simply have fun. They can also discover new things about themselves and others. InterPlayers across the world are celebrating its 25th birthday this year. You can be part of the party! No Prior Experience is Necessary. This class meets every Tuesday night in Cunningham Hall. The cost is $5 per session. Contact: Christina Ernst (847)899-5329.
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 Evanston English Country Dance Group
This group meets every other Wednesday in Cunningham Hall. All dances are taught and prompted. We learn English Country dances devised from pre-1650 to the present. Jane Austin would recongize much of the dancing we do. Once a month, we have live music performed by Putting on Aires; the other Wednesdays, the music is from an extensive CD collection. You are welcome to come with or without a partner. Wear comfortable shoes (the type you would use to walk a mile) and casual clothing. We ask for a $5 ($3 for students) admittance fee to cover the rent and to buy music for the band. For further information, contact Tom Senior 847-606-8704, [email protected].
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 Evanston Creative Writing Meetup
If you like to write and want a supportive environment in which to write, join us! Each week, a member volunteers to provide writing prompts to spark our creativity. It can be a first line, an object, a picture, a situation. For about 10-15 minutes we write and if we feel like sharing we read our creation aloud. This is not a critique group - only positive feedback is encouraged. We usually fit in 3-4 prompts in an evening. Member ages range from young adults to octagenarians. You do not have to be a serious or professional writer to participate. For more information go to http://www.meetup.com/Evanston-Creative-Writing-Group/. The group meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month in the Old Library at St. Mark's.
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Parish Prayer List
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If you would like your loved ones added to (or removed from) the prayer list, please send an e-mail to [email protected]. Thank you.
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| We bid your prayers for:
Helen Baker, Veronica Braithwaite, John Burnham, Tony Campise, Karen Cornelius, Kendric Das, Bob Easton, Hal Griffith, Mary Hair, Lola Himrod, Charlie and Judy Kopp, Grace Lettner, Kathy Lettner, Ayden Lettner, Ann Lettner, Phyllis Lyons, Jake Morris, Mary O'Dowd, Jan and Jeri Offutt, Joan Barr Smith, Danny White, Char Wiss, Carol Albertson, Carol Beatty, Robert Cain, Patricia Gosling, Dave and Jan Gurniak, Andre King, Allison King, Marc King, OJ Mabwa, Garrett Moody, Scott Moody, Tricia Moody, Tim and his family, Jill Vannatta, Richard Walsh.
We pray for the people in: the Diocese of Southeast Mexico and in the Diocese of Renk. |
Stay Connected
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Soup and Bread for Tuesdays in March