| Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 20
|
|
Easter Sunday: Acts 10:34-43, Colossians 3:1-4, Matthew 28:1-10
On this day the LORD has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24
|
|
St. Mark's Weekend: April 25 - 27
| |
We are now just a little over a week 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 18, 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
|
 |
|
|
Worship
| |
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."
|
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.
- 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., traditional spoken service and 10:30 a.m., featuring congregational hymns, music offered by St. Mark's Choir, Hand Bell Choir, and, special guests, Eclettico String Quartet followed by St. Mark's Annual Easter Egg Hunt!
|
|
This Week'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].
Maundy Thursday
- Acolyte: Bruce Gaede
- Altar Guild: Trish Barr, Rachel Easton, Char Wiss
- Bread Bakers and Bulletin Cover Design: Leela Gaede, Neena Gaede, Betsy Johnson, Kate Johnson, Liz McElhatton, Owen McElhatton, Rachel McElhatton, Patrick Nee, Andrea Nowack, Asher Sondgeroth, Elsa Sondgeroth, Eva Sondgeroth
- Flower Guild: Dale Seifert
- Lay Eucharistic Minister: Liz McElhatton
- Lectors: Carol Martin, Joanna Greene
- Ushers: John Lucadamo, Nancye Kirk
Good Friday, 7:30 p.m.
- Lectors: David Plank, Aina Gutierrez
- Passion Readers: Chris Schultze, Dan Whitmore, Doug Sondgeroth, Joanna Greene, Andy Howard, Aina Gutierrez
- Ushers: Doug Sondgeroth, Rich Forst
- Vestry Persons of the Day: Aina Gutierrez, Rima Lockwood
Easter Vigil
- Acolytes: Clark Alexander, Mickey Loewenstein, Bruce Geade, Andrea Nowack, Tyler Maegawa-Goeser
- Altar Guild: Evelyn Russell, Beth Johnson, Dorothy Laudati
- Flower Guild: Virginia Beatty, Dorothy Laudati, Dale Seifert, Michael Schoen
- Lay Eucharistic Minister: Byron Scott
- Storytellers and Lectors: Lisa Montgomery, Carol Martin ,Andy Howard, Byron Scott, Dan Whitmore, Rachel Easton, Christ Schultze
- Ushers: Lisa Montgomery
- Vestry Persons of the Day: Bruce Gaede, John Lucadamo
Easter Sunday
- Acolytes: Abigail Seifert, Rachel McElhatton, Betsy Johnson
- Altar Guild: Pat Bent, Louise Behrends, Trish Barr
- Coffee Hour: Last Names beginning with J - Z
- Lay Eucharistic Ministers: John Baker, Tori Gallegos, Lynette Murphy, Milner Seifert
- Lectors: Cas Szczepaniak, Dorothy Szczepaniak
- Vestry Persons of the Day: Clark Alexander, Dale Seifert
- Ushers: Susan Lewis, Fred Lewis, Lisa Montgomery
- Welcoming First-Time Worshipers: All the people of St. Mark's
|
|
Wednesday Eucharist Coming to a Close
Today, April 16, is the final midweek Eucharist. 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.
|
|
|
|
This Week at Saint Mark's
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, April 16
12:15 p.m.
Holy Eucharist and BYO Lunch, Lady Chapel and Parlor
Thursday, April 17
Maunday Thursday
7:30 p.m.
Worship with Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar
Friday, April 18
Good Friday
12:00 p.m.
Worship with Communion from the Reserved Sacrament
7:30 p.m.
Worship with Veneration of the Cross
Saturday, April 19
Holy Saturday /
Easter Vigil
9:00 a.m.
Holy Saturday Worship, Parlor
9:15 a.m.
Decorating the Sanctuary for Easter, Sanctuary
8:00 p.m.
The Great Vigil of Easter with the Lighting of the New Fire
Sunday, April 20
Easter Day
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
11:45 a.m.
Annual Easter Egg Hunt!
Monday, April 21
7:00 p.m.
Vestry Meeting, Library
Wednesday, April 23 8:00 p.m.
Evanston English Country Dancers, Cunningham Hall
|
|
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
|
|
April 10
Clark and Nasim Alexander
April 19
Gary and Elizabeth McElhatton
April 30
Milind and Blair Lele
|
April 26
Michael Schoen and Nathan Waller
|
|
|
|
|
Social Justice & Outreach Opportunities
|
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.
|
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.
|
|
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!
|
|
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
|
|
Fellowship
| |
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.
|
|
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].
|
|
Christian Formation
| |
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
Children's Formation on Easter Sunday
This year we WILL have Sunday School on Easter Sunday beginning at 9:30 a.m. upstairs in Cunningham Hall. This day offers an opportunity for our children to remember the story of the Resurrection - the foundational story of our faith. For some this may the first time they have heard the Easter story; for others, the story is becoming richer in each retelling. We pray that all participants in this Sunday's Children's Formation will experience both the mystery and the wonder of this sacred story. Thank you to this week's teachers and assistants: Liz McElhatton, Dale Seifert, Holly Benz, and John Lucadamo.
|
|
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!
|
|
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.
|
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.
|
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/
|
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!
|
|
In the Community
| |
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.
|
|
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]
|
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/.
|
|
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.
|
|
Parish Prayer List
|
If you would like your loved ones to be added to (or removed from), please send an e-mail to [email protected]. Thank you.
|
|
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, Edith Molumby, 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, Scott, Garrett, Quinn and Reece 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.
|
|
|
|
|
