We are inviting everyone who worships at St. Mark's to enjoy a time of growth and renewal with others in a small group that will meet four times in Lent and four times again in Easter. We are calling these Growth Groups because they will give us a way to grow in faith, grow in friendship, and grow as stewards of all God's gifts. The groups will meet weekly, starting in mid-February, with a two-week break around Holy Week and Easter. Like the Faith Journey groups that many of you remember, Growth Groups will provide a similar opportunity to hear each other's stories, explore questions of faith, build relationships, hear scripture together, and listen for God's call.

 

To sign up for a Growth Group, please click on this link and choose the day and time that works for you:   www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0E48ADAC22A5FC1-stmarks 

 

An interest meeting to learn more about St. Mark's 2016 annual mission trip to Tijuana, Mexico will be held Sunday, February 14th  from  12:00 - 1:00pm  (Fireside Rm.). The trip, which includes building several small homes for families and offering VBS activities for neighborhood children, will take place this year from June 17th  -June 25th. Please contact one of the trip co-leaders, Melanie Summerour ( [email protected])  or Sarah Moore (253/752-0554), if you are unable to make this interest meeting but would like to go this year or if you would like to learn more. 

At the semi-annual meeting of the congregation on January 31, our pastors extended an invitation to all members to join a   Growth Group   during Lent and Easter this year. In keeping with our theme "Let All Creation Praise!", these small groups of 8-12 people will give us a way to   grow in faith, grow in friendship, and grow as stewards of God's gifts . The groups will meet weekly, starting in late-February, with a two-week break around Holy Week and Easter. Like the Faith Journey groups that many of you remember, Growth Groups will provide a similar opportunity to   hear each other's stories, explore questions of faith, build relationships, hear scripture together, and listen for God's call.   

You can still join a Growth Group!  Click on this link for times and locations: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0E48ADAC22A5FC1-stmarks

So why is Lent a good time to talk about "growth"?  How are faith, friendship and stewardship related to growth?  What kind of growth are called to seek?

Consider this well-known passage from Psalm 51 that has been used for centuries in Christian liturgies:  "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.   Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit." 

Many of us who grew up in liturgical traditions have read and sung these words often, especially during Lent.  We recognize these words as a prayer request for a new beginning in our spiritual lives. Every Lent we are reminded to turn again to God who cleans hearts and restores spirits.

Faith, friendship and stewardship are the same spiritual practice:  TRUST in a God who created us and who continually re-creates us with a "willing spirit."   In love and gratitude, we respond by loving God, caring for others, and sharing with God and neighbor the "fruits" of our re-creation. 

Growth Groups in Lent present terrific opportunities for us to "re-create" with one another!

 

Thank you to the 22 people who signed up to volunteer at the local NW FISH Food Bank at Mason Methodist Church in the Proctor District!  Our February dates are filled and there are only a couple of openings for our late March date.

St Mark's joins Bethany Presbyterian, First Christian, Mason Methodist, and Redeemer and Zion Lutheran Churches in providing eight volunteers every six weeks to work with experienced volunteers to give food bank clients a shopping experience.  Rather than receiving a grocery bag filled ahead of time, the clients move from station to station and choose food items they and their families will eat.  The choices are guided by family size.

The NW Tacoma Food Bank serves around 1,200 families each month.  In 2015, they had over 47,000 individual visits.  Their mission is to provide food for people in need with compassion, dignity and respect.

Mary Olsen has agreed to represent St. Mark's on their Steering Committee and schedule volunteers from St Mark's.  She can be reached at [email protected] or 253 752 2844.

 

We have three annual events, the Spring Luncheon or Tea, the Fall Bazaar and the Advent Brunch. We would love to have your input.

We are beginning to plan our Spring Luncheon to be held April 23, 2016 and are currently considering a Salad and Desert Potluck. We are exploring the idea of a spring gardening theme. Please send your ideas to Barbara Meyers at [email protected] or call Barbara at 253-756-9352.

St. Mark's Preschool will be accepting registration packets for the 2016-2017 school year beginning February 15th. Classes are available for children ages 2.5-6 years old.  To get more information and/or a registration packet, visit the preschool's website, www.smlutheran.org/preschool or contact Anne Zimmerman (253) 752-4929 M-F 8:30-2:00.

Lutheran World Relief is looking for both soap and baby socks for their layette kits.  For more information please contact Randi Holland at [email protected] or by calling (253) 905-5693. 

This year our congregational/community reading selection is Brian D. McLaren's, "Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha and Mohammed Cross the Road?-Christian Identity in a Multi-Faith World" (2012, Jericho Press). Discussion groups (for the second half of the book) will be announced soon. Sponsored by the Adult Faith Formation Team. Questions? Contact Mary Jo Larsen ([email protected]).