| Palm Sunday, with the Reading of the Passion
Sunday, April 13
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Texts for Palm Sunday: Zechariah 9:9-12, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 21:1-11 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." - Zechariah 9:9 |
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St. Mark's Weekend Coming the Last Weekend this Month
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We are now just a matter of a few weeks away from St. Mark's Weekend, which includes a Gala Dinner on Friday, April 25th and St. Mark's Day on Sunday, April 27th. Invitations to our Gala were mailed last month and we are anticipating an enjoyable evening of delicious food, good fellowship and fun at the Evanston Golf Club. Please make sure you've returned your invitation acknowledgment card no later than April 11, 2014.
Following our Gala, we are also looking forward with anticipation to St. Mark's Day on Sunday, April 27th. Chicago Bishop Jeffrey Lee will be presiding at our 9:30 a.m. service that morning. (There will only be one service that day). We are expecting many dignitaries, public officials and guests at our service, including members of St. Matthew's and St. Luke's Churches who will be joining in our milestone celebration. After the service a reception will be held upstairs in Cunningham Hall.
Please be aware that we are anticipating a large turnout that day and the main sanctuary will be full so we ask our members to car pool and use the downtown City of Evanston Garage at 1800 Maple Avenue. From the garage, it's just a few blocks walk to the church. We are keeping our fingers crossed for warm, dry weather that day.
Recently, we were proud to receive three proclamations from state and local government entities recognizing this special anniversary in our history. Governor Pat Quinn issued a proclamation on behalf of the State of Illinois, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle issued a proclamation for the County and the mayor and City Council of Evanston will issue a proclamation this month on behalf of the city. We will display these proclamations at the reception.
April, while perhaps the most significant month for anniversary events, will not end our yearlong celebration. We have events scheduled in May, July and in the fall. We will keep you updated on our calendar of events so you can plan and save key dates accordingly.
- Anniversary Sesquicentennial Steering Committee
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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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This Sunday's Lay Ministers
Thank you to the following individuals for bringing their best gifts to God in ministries at St. Mark's. If you would like to become involved, please contact Pastor Debra at 847-732-9564 or [email protected].
- Altar Guild: Evelyn Russell, Sharon Friend
- Ushers: John Lucadamo, Nancye Kirk, Doug Sondgeroth
- Lectors: Adrianna Dangremond, Carol Martin
- Acolytes: Bruce Gaede, Clark Alexander, Rachel McElhatton
- Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Milner Seifert, Lynette Murphy
- Vestry Persons of the Day: Bruce Gaede, John Lucadamo
- Flower Guild: Michael Schoen, Dorothy Laudati
- Snacks for Coffee Hour: Last Names beginning with D - I
- Welcoming First-Time Worshipers: All the people of St. Mark's
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Holy Week and Easter Worship Schedule
"Holy Week is the center of the Paschal celebration. . . . the triumphal entry, the last supper, the crucifixion, the burial, and the resurrection." Together, the services of Holy Week and Easter are the Christian Church's "annual commemoration of the unity of Christ's death and resurrection." - Leonel L. Mitchell Praying Shapes Believing: A Theological Commentary on The Book of Common Prayer, p. 22.
- Palm Sunday with the Reading of the Passion, April 13 - 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. - both services will begin with a procession into the sanctuary from the front courtyard along Ridge Avenue, weather permitting
- Maundy Thursday, April 17 - 7:30 p.m.
- Good Friday, April 18 - 12 noon (with communion from the reserve sacrament) and 7:30 p.m. (with veneration of the cross)
- The Great Vigil of Easter, Saturday, April 19 - 8:00 p.m. - with the lighting of the new fire in the front courtyard along Ridge Avenue
- Easter Day, Sunday, April 20 - 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - followed by St. Mark's Annual Easter Egg Hunt!
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Easter Flowers
One of the most beautiful ways in which we mark the difference between the season of Lent and the joyous celebration of the Feast of the Resurrection is in the way we adorn our sanctuary. All are invited to help us create a festive display by contributing money toward Easter  flowers. These contributions may be given in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving or honor of someone special. The requested minimum donation is $20 per name. Please make checks payable to St. Mark's Episcopal Church and indicate "Easter Flowers" in the memo line or place cash in an envelope clearly marked Easter Flowers. Forms are available in the Parlor or can be sent to you by contacting Patty in the church office at 847-864-4806. Requests to remember or honor loved ones in this way, must be in to the church office no later than Monday, April 14.
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Wednesday Eucharist Coming to a Close
Wednesday's 12:15 p.m. Eucharist, a 30-minute break in our busy weeks will be offered through Wednesday, April 16. Now that a monthly Eucharist is celebrated at The King Home, on the first Thursday of each month and at Presbyterian Homes on the third Thursday of each month, attendance at this mid-week service has dwindled.
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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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Second Friday Dinner
The St. Mark's Second Friday Dinner will take place this Friday, April 11th at the Red Lobster, 3301 W. Touhy, Lincolnwood. We will meet at the restaurant at 6:15 p.m. All members and friends of St. Mark's - and persons of all ages - are invited. Rides can be arranged. If you plan to come, please notify Dick and Carolyn Brooks (email [email protected] or 847-424-8422telephone 847-424-8422.
Easter Preparations
We invite everyone to gather at 9 a.m. in the Parlor on Saturday, April 19th for a brief prayer service and then to prepare the sanctuary for our celebration of Easter. We will be setting out the plants and flowers, preparing candles, linens, and setting up for communion. We always have a lot of fun . . . there are always donuts and coffee . . . and there is always room for you!
Fourth of July Parade Ministry Team
Would you be able to help make flags and more for the Evanston 4th of July parade?  We are looking for a team of kids and adults to take part.
To get involved contact Deane at [email protected] or Liz at [email protected].
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Social Justice & Outreach Opportunities
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St. Mark's continues its commitment to young people through its many social justice and outreach opportunities. Each Sunday we pray, "Bring newness and change to our streets, O God, that we might commit ourselves to our young people and address the epidemic of gun violence which plagues our communities, our country, and the world. Awake, O Streets, rise from death!" Following are a list of ways in which you can get involved with the St. Mark's community in helping to create a better world.
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Curt's Caf�
Everyone in the St. Mark's community is encouraged to enjoy coffee, sandwiches and more at Curt's Caf�, 2922 Central Street, Evanston. Curt's Caf� is a non-profit organization that provides training in food service and life skills for at-risk youth in Evanston.
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This Week at Saint Mark's
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Wednesday, April 9
10:00 a.m.
Memorial Service for Vera Czerlinski, Sanctuary
12:15 p.m.
Holy Eucharist and
BYO Lunch,
Lady Chapel and Parlor
7:15 p.m.
150th Anniversary Steering Committee Meeting, Bethlehem Chapel
8:00 p.m.
Evanston English Country Dancers, Cunningham Hall
Thursday, April 10
10:30 a.m.
Holy Eucharist, Presbyterian Homes (note the change of date)
1:00 p.m.
Children's Lenten Retreat: This Bread & This Cup, Cunningham Hall
7:30 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal,
Choir Room
Friday, April 11
6:15 p.m.
Second Friday Dinner, Location: Red Lobster
Saturday, April 12
10:00 a.m.
Palm Sunday Passion Reading Rehearsal, Sanctuary
Sunday, April 13 - Palm Sunday with the Reading of the Passion 8:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist Traditional,
Lady Chapel
9:30 a.m.
Children's Formation, Classrooms
10:30 a.m.
Holy Eucharist with Music,
Sanctuary
12:00 noon
Hand Bell Choir Rehearsal,
Balcony
Tuesday, April 15
Pastor Debra Out of Office Attending Diocesan Lenten Quiet Day for Clergy
Wednesday, April 16
12:15 p.m.
Holy Eucharist and
BYO Lunch,
Lady Chapel and Parlor
7:30 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room
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April 1 William Miller
April 5 Sandra Howard
April 6 Belinda Chandler, Elizabeth McElhatton
April 7
Ellen Bergman, Stephon Frost, Collin Miller
April 9 Caroline Frowe, Dan Whitmore
April 10
Bob Barr
April 11
Holly Yanaga, Kendra Johnson
April 16 Jeremy Greene
April 18 Samuel Najem
April 20
Owen Baker
April 23 Timothy Blue
April 28 Richard Brooks, Holly Benz
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April 10
Clark and Nasim Alexander
April 19
Gary and Elizabeth McElhatton
April 30
Milind and Blair Lele
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April 26
Michael Schoen and Nathan Waller
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Third Sunday Food Drive: Interfaith Action Hospital Center at St. Mark's
On the third Sunday of each month, St. Mark's collects non-perishable food items to be shared with local food pantries or other agencies. This month's recipient is Interfaith Action of Evanston's Hospitality Center housed here at St. Mark's. Because they are not a food pantry per se, but rather provide light breakfast to guests five days a week, year-round, they have requested the following items only: peanut butter, jelly, coffee (already ground), creamer, and hot chocolate. On Easter Sunday, April 20, please bring your items with you to church. The big red shopping cart will be waiting for you at the back of the sanctuary. Let's see if we can fill the cart!
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Stand Against Racism
For the third year in a row, St. Mark's will be joining YWCA's across the nation in the Stand Against Racism. If you are in the area on Friday, April 25 from 12:45 to 1:00 p.m., we invite you to come to St. Mark's and join us on the west side of Ridge Avenue as we stand with the YWCA against racism and discrimination of any kind and recommit ourselves to a lifetime of promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people in our community and in the world. You can learn more at StandAgainstRacism.org
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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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Stations of the Cross
A self-guided Stations of the Cross is available for your Lenten devotions now through Good Friday in Bethlehem Chapel. The stations feature the art work of sculptor Dorothy Ralph Gager and the meditations of The Rev. Glyn Lorraine Ruppe-Melnyk. Bethlehem Chapel is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and on Sunday mornings from 7:30 a.m. to Noon.
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This Sunday in Children's Formation
Palm Sunday offers an opportunity for our children to gather together to explore some of the challenges faced by Jesus and the disciples during the days leading up to Jesus' death. Thank you to this week's teachers: Anne Heinz, Lori Goede, Liz McElhatton.
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Staff Vacation: Zubaira and Mohammad
Zubaira will be on vacation from May 4 through May 25 and Mohammad will be away on May 18 and May 25. As a result, on these Sundays we are looking for one to two people to assist with nursery care (at least one must have completed Level One of Keeping God's People Safe trainingand one or two people to assist with coffee hour preparations. If you are able to help out, please contact Pastor Debra at 847-732-9564 or [email protected]. Thank you!
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 Girl Scout Cookies Did you not get your fill of cookies this year? Abigail Seifert's troop has more than 30 boxes of Tagalongs� left, as well as some Do-si-dos�. If you are interested, send an email to [email protected]. The cost is $4 per box. |
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Parking
Please remember that the parking spaces in our circle drive are reserved on Sunday mornings and for church events (e.g., receptions, weddings, funerals, etc.) for those persons with a disability placard on their vehicle. We have had multiple incidents recently of parishioners unable to attend services because no parking was available in these spaces.
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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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Come, See, Listen: Journey to the Holy Land
December 26, 2014 - January 8, 2015
It is difficult to understand the full impact of the Israeli Occupation of the Palestinian people without traveling to the Holy Land ourselves. The Diocesan Peace and Justice Committee has organized a trip to the Holy Land to help us to better understand the complexities of the history and of the conflict between the Palestinian people and Israel. We will visit the sites where Jesus lived and died and from which Christianity developed its traditions. We will meet with religious leaders from all three faiths, as well as community organizers, members of the United Nations and government organizations in order to gain a different perspective and perhaps leave us with greater questions to pose to our own leaders in the United States about our involvement and responsibility in this conflict. The cost of the trip, including airfare, will be $2580-2680/person, double occupancy not including insurance and one meal/day. Two $500 scholarships are available for young adult participants. Deadline for registration ($500.00 deposit) is September 15, 2014. Members of the diocese familiar with Israel/Palestine and knowledgeable about the conflict are available to speak to your church. Contact Rev. Anthony Vaccaro, M.D. [email protected]. For more information about the trip including the itinerary go to: http://www.saintjamescathedral.org/outreach-and-missions/social-causes/trip-to-palestine-israel/
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Camp Chicago! - Priority Deadline is May 23rd
It may not feel like summer outside, but it is time to start thinking about summer camp! The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago is once again offering three camp sessions for children and youth ages 7 to 17 from June 22 to July 11, 2014. Camp sessions are held at Camp Stronghold in Oregon, Illinois. Online registration is now open and can be accessed through the diocesan website, www.episcopalchicago.org. Pastor Debra has copies of required camp registration forms. If you'd like to learn more about Camp Chicago! come talk to Pastor Debra. And, you don't have to be an Episcopalian to attend - so feel free to invite your friends from school!
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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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Spring Fling 2014
Howard Area Community Center (HACC), which has been a primary social service resource for residents of Chicago's far north side since its founding in 1967, will hold its major annual fundraiser, Spring Fling 2014, on Friday, April 11, 2014 at Valley Lo Club in Glenview. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, contact Margaret Wenzel at 773.262.6622x244 or [email protected] or visit www.howardarea.org/donate/spring-fling-fundraiser.
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The House I Live In
The Unitarian Church of Evanston's Prisons and Restorative Justice team is proud to present a screening of the film The House I Live In. This film brings home the reasons behind both the intense overcrowding of prisons and why they are so disproportionately filled with people of color. The free showing will be at 7 pm Wednesday April 23, followed by a brief discussion, at UCE, 1330 Ridge Avenue, Evanston. There will also be snacks. For more information contact Dale Griffin at [email protected] From a PBS description of the movie:
 For the past 40 years, the war on drugs has resulted in more than 45 million arrests, $1 trillion dollars in government spending, and America's ignominious role as the world's largest jailer. Yet for all that, drugs are cheaper and more available than ever. The House I Live In captures heart-wrenching, illuminating stories of those on the front lines - from the dealer to the grieving mother, the narcotics officer to the senator, the inmate to the federal judge - and offers a penetrating look at the profound human rights implications of America's longest war.
There is a growing recognition among those on all sides that the war on drugs is a failure. At a time of heightened fiscal instability, the drug war is also seen as economically unsustainable. Even in Texas, legislators are pulling back from financing more prisons, and considering alternatives. At this pivotal moment, the film promotes public awareness of the problem while encouraging new and innovative pathways to domestic drug policy reform. It may help shape our own efforts to make a dent on this national disgrace.
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HARMONY, HOPE & HEALING'S 2014 GOSPEL CELEBRATION
Join the HHH Ensemble on Sunday, April 27 th from 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. at Pazzo's at Three Eleven (311 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago), for their annual Gospel Celebration! This celebration includes a luncheon buffet, music, a silent auction, and a live "Fund the Mission Appeal." Reservations are $100 per person (or $65 per student) and all proceeds benefit Harmony, Hope & Healing. To learn more and to make a reservation go to www.harmonyhopeandhealing.org/.
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CHICAGO SYNTAGMA MUSICUM presents HARMONIA SACRA
This concert of sacred chamber music by Henry Purcell will be held in St. Mark's sanctuary on Sunday, May 11 at 3 p.m. The program features organ music and devotional songs from the 1688/93 collection Harmonia Sacra including An Evening Hymn, The Blessed Virgin's Expostulation, Lord What is Man; a Pentential Hymn, the Anthem My Song Shall be Always and the dramatic cantata Saul and the Witch at Endor. The performers are Kimberly Jones, soprano; Wayne Parham, tenor; and Andrew-Schultze, bass-baritone with Martine Benmann, cello; Svetlana Belsky, harpsichord; and Thomas Weisflog, organ. Suggested donation is $25 ($10 for students and seniors). . . and mother's, in Honor of Mother's Day, will be admitted free of charge.
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Parish Prayer List
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If you would like your loved ones to be added to (or removed from), please send an e-mail to [email protected]. Thank you.
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We bid your prayers for: Bob Behrends, Veronica Braithwaite, John Burnham, Karen Cornelius, Kendric Das, Bob Easton, Lynn Erickson, Caroline Frowe, Desmond Francis, Mary Hair, Charlie and Judy Kopp, Grace Lettner, Kathy Lettner, Sally Lufkin, Ayden Montgomery, Mary O'Dowd, Jan and Jeri Offutt, Joan Barr Smith, Carol Albertson, Einy Andersson, Carol Beatty, Dorothy Clarke, Jim and Cathy Dillman, William Henderson, Anny Heydeman, Darrell Huddleston, Katie Iles,Yvonne Johns, Fredericka Kaider, OJ Mabwa, Janet Mack,Anne McDaniel, Sandra Merrill, Tricia Moody, Jack Mundy, Bert and Anne Ott and their children, Bruce Seaton, Ean and Neale Smith, Marcia Summers, Tim and his family, Yvonne Theobald, Carlo Trovato, Jill Vannattam, Miriam Witmer, Christopher Witmer, Jonathan Witmer.
We pray for the repose of the souls of: Vera Czerlinski, mother of parishioner Jean Whitmore and grandmother of parishioner Calvin Whitmore.
We pray for the people in: the Diocese of Southeast Mexico and in the Diocese of Renk.
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