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Building Relationships
A church is a unique entity. In some ways, it is like a business - we have annual meetings, budgets, committees. In fact, we can learn a great deal from the business world about managing our churches. But the nature of church is much different from that of a business. In most businesses, something is being sold or traded - financial services, new gadgets, expertise, and the like. The Church, on the other hand, is not selling anything. The Church is about the work of building relationships, relationships that are rooted in the unconditional love that God has for every individual. For this reason, one of th  e first and most obvious gifts we can offer to another person is the gift of a relationship. A gift of relationship that asks nothing in return. A gift that values the other as a beloved child of God.
I've mentioned that the vestry will begin a practice of meeting with members of St. Mark's to learn more about you. The purpose of these meetings is simple: we want to get to know you. The goal is that simple. We are not meeting with you to ask you to join a committee. We are meeting with you simply to know you - to build relationship.
Over the summer, I've begun making these sorts of conversations a regular part of my ministry. In addition to meetings with several parishioners, I've met with other community leaders - educators, politicians, and not-for-profit directors. I've held these meeting not because I need something (no committee to join, no donation to solicit) but simply to get to know the community in which I worship, work, and live.
Recently, I've invited St. Mark's newest staff member to do the same - to reach out to parishioners over a cup of coffee or tea to just get to know you. Especially for our staff, who do not see parishioners on Sunday mornings, this is a way to get connected, to build meaningful relationships which, I believe, will ultimately strengthen our congregation. So, if you get a call from Coty, our new Administrative Assistant, from me or from a member of the vestry in the weeks or months ahead, I hope you'll take the time to say "yes"" to having a conversation. It is Holy work. It is God's work. It is the work of the Church.
-Pastor Debra
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| Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, August 17
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Tenth Sunday after Pentecost: Genesis 45:1-15; Romans 11:1-32, Matthew 15:10-28
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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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Beach-a-Palooza with all Churches Potluck Picnic
 "Oh, how good and pleasant it is, when brethren live together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1). So begins the Psalm appointed for this Sunday -August 17- when the Four Episcopal Churches of Evanston will come together once again at Hamilton Street and the lakefront. The morning will kick-off with worship at 10 a.m. (The Rev. Jeanette De Friest of St. Luke's will preach; The Rev. Charlie de Kay of St. Matthew's will preside) and will continue with a fabulous picnic (St. Andrew's is providing the meat and we are asked to bring side dishes - click here to sign-up: http://bit.ly/LakefrontLemo). In addition to the picnic there will be games for the kids coordinated by St. Mark's very own Liz McElhatton. It is going to be another great day and we hope everyone will come and take part.
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Composition Competition
It is St. Mark's Episcopal Church's 150th year as a  congregation! We are inviting entries for a Composition Competition. We will be choosing one selection from the entries to be used during a church service as part of our celebration. The winner will receive a prize of $500 and their composition will be performed at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Evanston, IL. For complete competition rules go to http://www.stmarksevanston.org/150anniversary/
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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].
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Where I Worshiped on My Summer Vacation ...
During the summer, we hope that everyone at St. Mark's will take one Sunday to worship somewhere else. You heard right - we want you to not come to St. Mark's for one Sunday this summer and attend another church's worship. But, here's the catch - we want you to be a Greeter Spy. We have developed a "Greeters' Spy Sheet" which is available on our website at https://bit.ly/GreetersSpySheet or in this Sunday's bulletin! Use the Greeter Spy Sheet as a tool for your visit. After worship, complete the form and return it along with a copy of the visited congregation's bulletin or welcome brochures (or both) to St. Mark's. You can either give these to any member of the vestry, to Pastor Debra or to the volunteer office at the church. We'll use the data we collect to identify some best greeting practices  (and perhaps some warnings about the worst!).
We hope children will participate too! Invite your child(ren) to provide their input on the Greeter Spy Sheet and/or have them take some photos - or draw a picture - of the congregation you worshipped in. Photos can be sent via e-mail to [email protected] (make sure they are clearly labeled by city and state and who any people are in the photo). Drawings can be returned along with the Spy Sheet and church bulletins. We hope everyone will take part!
What's more, Coty is in the process of creating a new display of "Where We Worshipped On Our Summer Vacations" complete with push pin locations, photos and more!
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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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150th Anniversary Blood Drive
Help us give 150 pints of blood to LifeSource! Schedule an appointment at LifeSource (2436 Main Street, Evanston) at your convenience by calling 877-543-3768. Be sure to let them know you are giving on behalf of St. Mark's Episcopal Church - give them our code: 057G (zero, five, seven, g) - so that your donation is counted toward our goal. Also, LifeSource will be at St. Mark's - Sun. Oct. 26th in Cunningham Hall, please plan on giving that day as well! For more information contact Donna Richardson at 847-677-0701 or [email protected].
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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, August 13
7:15 p.m.
Evanston String Quartet Rehearsal,
Sanctuary
Thursday, August 14
5:30 p.m.
Evanston Jr. Wildkit Cheerleader Practice,
Cunningham Hall or Front Lawn
Saturday, August 16
9:00 a.m.
Worship Life Team Meeting,
Parlor
Sunday, August 17
8:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist - Traditional,
Lady Chapel
10:00 a.m.
Beach-a-Palooza IV
Worship and Picnic
Lakefront
Monday, August 18
7:00 p.m.
Vestry Meeting,
Bethlehem Chapel
Tuesday, August 19
7:00 p.m.
SMAC: S'Mores and More,
Fire Pit near Evanston Lighthouse
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August 1
Anne Lettner
Maggie Johnson
Lucy Consiglio
August 3
John "Jake" Morris
August 4
Andrea Nowack
August 5
Nathan Waller
Eliana Greene
August 6
Jack Heinz
August 10
Edie Molumby
Matthew Yanaga
Sebastian Urbanowski
August 12
Fred Lewis
August 13
Joanna Greene
Lynn Erickson
Blair Lele
August 16
Andrew Shultze
Jackson Benz
August 19
Sherri Crawford
Eva Sondgeroth
August 21
Kate Johnson
August 24
Hal Griffith
Casmir Szczepaniak
Melinda Heindel
Rachel McElhatton
August 27
Bob Easton
August 28
Kristine Offutt
August 29
Clark Alexander
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August 2
Donald and Mary Koss
August 3
Judson and Gabrielle Brooks
August 5
David Baker and Cath Carpenter
Patrick and Emily Furlong
August 8
Milner and Dale Seifert
August 10
Bob and Rima Lockwood
August 20
Luke Urbanowski and Lisa Liang
August 22
Bill and Judi Mueller
August 27
William "Skip" and Holly Benz
August 29
Deane and Beth Johnson
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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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SMAC: S'mores and More
For all youth entering 6th through 12th grade... an evening of chatting, roasting marshmallows, laughing and brainstorming about cool things we can do this year will take place on Wednesday, August 20 from 7-9 p.m. at the fire pit near the Evanston lighthouse. By the way, "SMAC" stands for St. Mark's Adventurous Christians and was decided upon as our temporary name by those who attended our Andy's Custard Gathering in June. We can talk about continuing with that name or going with something else when we get together. For more information, contact Pastor Debra at [email protected] or Deane Johnson at [email protected].
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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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Confirm not Conform Open House on August 24
St. Matthew's and St. Mark's will once again be offering the Confirm not Conform (CnC) confirmation program for youth. This program is for all young persons who are 13 or 14 years old when the program begins this fall. Confirm not Conform is focused on helping young people ask tough questions and search out the answers. Through innovative sessions, mentor relationships, service opportunities, overnight retreats, and the challenge to do a whole lot more than just learn a few facts, CnC lets youth take real responsibility for understanding their faith and its power. When they do - when they see the church and faith as something that truly belongs to them - it can build bonds that last. At the end of the two-year program, as a sign of their ability to take charge of their own spiritual life, each youth chooses whether or not to be confirmed. All participants, whatever their decisions, are honored in a special service dedicated to their work, exploration, and discoveries. We'd like to invite you to a special CnC Information Session which will be held on Sunday, August 24 at 6:15pm at St. Matthew's, 2120 Lincoln Street. This will be your opportunity to hear about the program and to ask questions. You can also find out more about the program at www.confirmnotconform.com.
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Children's Sunday School
Sunday School resumes on Sunday, September 7 at 9:30 a.m. We will once again have three (3) classrooms: ages 3-5, ages 6-8, ages 9-12 and nursery care will be available for younger children.
If you would like to teach or be a classroom assistant, please get in touch with Pastor Debra at [email protected]. There are opportunities for weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly participation as well as occasional needs for substitutes or help for special projects. Get involved in the lives of St. Mark's children. You'll learn a lot!
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Gift Shop Holiday SaleInterested in helping produce a Gift Shop Holiday Sale at St. Mark's the Sunday before Thanksgiving? If so, contact Lola Himrod at [email protected] or (847) 864-7815. The sale will include holiday items and some books and media with other offerings to be determined. Lola needs both persons (one or two) who will co-lead this project and others who can give a few hours. It is anticipated that possible involvement could include 2 planning meetings, publicity, a day of setting up the sale, working the sale, and cleaning up. Both men and women are welcome.
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Staff Vacation Notices
Pastor Debra returns from vacation tomorrow. In the meantime Fr. Charlie de Kay is covering for any pastoral emergencies that arise. Fr. Charlie can be reached at 630-862-5701.
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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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How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place Photography Exhibit
The beauty and vibrancy of Chicago's historic St. James Cathedral and its congregation reveal themselves in How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place, an exhibit of photographs by Kevin Nance. Completed in 1857 and now the home church of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, St. James is known for its art glass windows, its ornate stenciling and its elegantly carved woodwork, all of which are captured here. Also featured in the images is St. James's diverse congregation, which is shown in worship, contemplation, and service to the community. The photographs will be displayed in Kyle's Place gallery in St. James Commons as well as in the Cathedral nave. St. James Commons, 65 E. Huron Street, Chicago is open 8:30 a.m-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and during Cathedral services throughout the week. For more information, visit www.saintjamescathedral.org. The exhibit runs through August 15, 2014.
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Parish Prayer List
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If you would like your loved ones added to (or deleted from) the prayer list at any time, please send an e-mail to [email protected]. Thank you.
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We bid your prayers for: Helen Baker, Louise Behrends, Ellen and Tom Bergman, Veronica Braithwaite, John Burnham, Karen Cornelius, Kendric Das, Bob Easton, Lynn Erickson, Caroline Frowe, Mary Hair, Charlie and Judy Kopp, Ann Lettner, Ayden Lettner, Grace Lettner, Kathy Lettner, Sadie Mysen, Mary O'Dowd, Jan and Jeri Offutt, Joan Barr Smith, Carol Albertson, Anne and Andrew, Bill and Patti Armstrong, Carol Beatty, Dorothy Clarke, Ward Clarke, Jim and Cathy Dillman, Darrell Huddleston, Father Leo, Katie Iles, Yvonne Johns, Judy, Fredericka Kaider, OJ Mabwa, Janet Mack, Anne McDaniel, Mary Joyce Menzies, Garrett Moody, Quinn Moody, Reece Moody, Scott Moody, Tricia Moody, Ean and Neale Smith, Marcia Summers, Tim and his family, Carlo Trovato, Jill Vannattam, Blanca White, Jordan White, Miriam Witmer, Christopher Witmer, Jonathan Witmer, Tess Zegan.
We pray for those who have died: Dr. Robert S. Behrends, parishioner.
We pray for the people in: the Diocese of Southeast Mexico and in the Diocese of Renk.
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