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 [email protected] . 

Hand Bell Choir
The Ringing Continues! - St. Mark's hand bell choir rehearses most Sundays from noon until 12:30 under the direction of David Plank. New ringers are welcome to join at any time! For more information or questions, contact David at [email protected]  

If you would like to honor or remember a loved one by dedicating altar flowers to them, a flower chart is available in the Parlor for Sundays through September 2016. The minimum suggested donation for one week is $25. Instructions for completing the form and envelopes for payment are next to the chart. Monies received are used for altar flowers and for landscaping around the church.

Waiting and Refreshment Wednesdays
Beginning tonight and continuing each Wednesday from 7 - 9 p.m. until Christmas, St. Mark's will open its doors for "Waiting and Refreshment Wednesdays." On these evenings the sanctuary will be open for quiet meditation, rooms will be set aside for book reading or crafting or playing non-electronic board games - things that in our hurry to "get one more thing done" often get set aside when, in fact, we might be better served when the world around us says DO MORE to make more time to DO LESS. We hope you will join us. Just come and be. Don't do. Don't come because you 'have to' or because you 'ought to' but because you want to in order to refresh yourself in response to the culture around you. Our hope is that with the expanded season of Advent, we may come to the celebration of Bethlehem with a clearer understanding of why we are embarking once again on the annual pilgrimage of the liturgical year.

This weekend retreat for all youth in Grades 6 - 12 will take place January 16 - 18 at Grace Episcopal Church in Oak Park.  The focus will be on the Bible - what's in it, why we should care, and how we should read it. During the retreat, the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation is read aloud in 72 hours! The reading is voluntary and participants take turns reading in shifts around the clock. In addition, MIQRA participants play wacky games, watch a movie, worship with fun and lively music. Participants will attend engaging workshops on various biblical topics and hear clergy speak about the Bible. Those who attend will also meet with a small group several times to make friends and talk about what they're discovering about the Bible through the event. To learn more and to register, click here.