We are a Stephen Ministry congregation Christian Care, Compassion,
Listening — when you need it most.
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Worship Schedule
8:30 AM English Worship Service
9:46 AM The 9:46 Crowd
10:00 AM English Worship Service
11:05 AM Sunday School combined English/Spanish
12:00 PM Spanish Worship Service
Please note that there will be no nursery on Sunday, December 24 and Sunday, December 31. Regular nursery care will resume on Sunday, January 7. Thanks to all the nursery volunteers who have given of their time to help care for our youngest members.
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Message from Pastor Triolo
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Dear Friends in Christ,
I haven’t written about our Tuesday evening and Thursday morning journey through the book of Acts in awhile, but it certainly has continued. We are currently in about chapter 22 and should finish some time in January or February. It’s never too late to join us! Every week we have excellent conversations.
In our past few sessions, we read about Paul’s return to Jerusalem and his arrest at the temple. It was interesting to see yet another way that Paul tried to meet his audience where they were in order to preach the Gospel. Remember, when speaking to Jews in diaspora (those not living in Judea but gentile lands), Paul introduced Jesus by explaining how Jesus fulfilled the promises of the Jewish Bible (our Old Testament). Then, when speaking to Gentiles in Athens, Paul didn’t even mention the name of Jesus in his first conversation! Instead, he quoted their own poets and highlighted their faith, evidenced by their statue to “an unknown god.”
When Paul returned to Jerusalem, he attended the temple with two other Christian-Jews who were completing a fast. Paul paid their offering and also went through his own rite of purification at the temple. Paul was a Jew and never ceased to be. He took seriously the customs of his life in Judaism and he was hoping (I think he was expecting) to connect with others through these customs. When the people began to question and even attack him for his conversion to the Way (that is, Christianity), Paul tried to connect with them by explaining that he too once persecuted the Way. He seemed to expect that they would believe his testimony and convert also. It didn’t work out that way. Paul was arrested and ultimately sent to Rome for a trial.
Does Paul’s story
en
courage you? Does it
dis
courage you? Everywhere he went he did his best to meet people where they were. He spoke their language, he worked alongside them in their day-to-day jobs, and he explained the Gospel from within their own cultures. He did the very things we say we ought to do today. Yet everywhere he went, some believed and others didn’t. In some places his presence was celebrated and in others people tried to kill him.
During this Holy Day season, we are likely to find ourselves among people of many different customs and beliefs. Whether it is family, friends, or people at the mall, we will converse over a variety of topics. Are there ways in these conversations that we might talk about the meaning for this season? What might those conversations looks like? Maybe you will talk about childhood traditions and what they meant for your own faith development. Maybe you’ll encourage someone to join you at St. Mark’s on Christmas Eve to experience the mystery of God’s incarnation through music and candlelight. Whatever you say, some people will not respond positively, but for those who do, the joy of Christmas can change their lives forever.
In Christ,
Pastor Albert
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Congregation Council
St. Mark's Council began its 2018 session by welcoming the newly elected members. With introductions, fellowship, and orientation, new and continuing members reviewed duties and requirements for the year. This photo is of the new Council.
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Front row: Faustino Flores, Cris Potter, Cheryl Dwyer, Pastor Varinia, Kerri Westburg, Bob Akers, Bev Clemsen; Back row: Mike Hardy, Rodney Pendleton, Pastor Albert, Paul Palm, Juan Argueta, Ivan Eby
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The current inclement weather policy was discussed with a focus on following Fairfax County School System closure guidance. We acknowledged that the guidance is appropriate for weekday closures but may need some flexibility on weekends. Prompted by this past weekend's weather and the busy schedule for activities at St. Mark's that were canceled, a review will be made of insurance requirements and the possibility of allowing activities to go on as scheduled.
A request from
Via de Christo
to use Church facilities on January 20, 2018 was presented for Council action.
Via de Christo
is a Lutheran organization that the Pastors learned about at a Metro DC Synod Fairfax conference meeting last spring. The group presents retreats for spiritual renewal and growth. This meeting will begin with a board meeting and then a reunion of past participants. Council agreed to invite
VDC
to use our facilities for a nominal fee.
Council officers elected for the new year 2018 are: President - Paul Palm; Vice President - Ivan Eby; and Secretary - Cris Potter.
God’s Blessings to all.
Paul Palm, President
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The Northern Virginia Chorale “Messiah" performance has been rescheduled for Sunday, December 17 at 3:00 PM at St. Mark’s. We have a special offer for St. Mark’s members. Please sign your name at the will call table and you will receive a free ticket to the concert. We hope to see you Sunday afternoon, and please bring a friend!
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G
ive More Hope
Give more hope to children.
Give more hope to the homeless.
Give more hope to those who seek work.
Give more hope to those who need sustenance.
Give more hope to those who need medical or dental care.
Give more hope to those who want to improve their daily lives.
Gifts of Hope Available in the Narthex in December!
Attention Christmas shoppers! Gifts of Hope is your opportunity to purchase unique gifts that honor Christ’s birth and benefit our Synod’s social ministry organizations and foreign companion synods. Gifts of Hope will be available in the Narthex between 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM on December 3, 10, and 17. Pick up a catalog today so you can share it with your family and consider the possibilities for honoring each other and our God with these alternatives to commercial gifts. There are gifts for every pocketbook!
If you have friends or family outside this Synod’s congregations who might be interested in purchasing Gifts of Hope through the mail, please direct them to
http://www.giftsofhopedc.org/
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ELCA World Hunger
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. – Matthew 25:35. God richly provides for daily bread — the earth can produce enough food for everyone. Yet, many of our sisters and brothers still go hungry. St. Mark's 4th quarter benevolence supports the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. Your gifts help to support innovative solutions that fight hunger and poverty in nearly 60 countries around the world, including the United States.
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USHER VOLUNTEERS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE
Volunteers are needed to usher at the 5:30 PM and 8:00 PM
Christmas Eve Services. No usher experience is necessary.
You can volunteer using the sign up sheet on the narthex counter
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Mid-Week “Holden Evening Prayer”
Wednesdays December 6
th
, 13
th
, and 20
th
at 7:30 PM
Preceded by a soup supper at 6:30 PM
“Be Near Me, Lord Jesus”
A Christmas Pageant
Sunday, December 17
th
at 11:15 AM
Las Posadas: Worship, Pageant, & Party
Friday, December 22
nd
beginning at 7:00 PM
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Christmas Eve Worship Services
1:00 PM Holy Communion Service in Spanish
5:30 PM, Holy Communion Service
with Message and Music for Children
and Candlelight ceremony for all
8:00 PM, Traditional Holy Communion Service
with Chancel Choir, Sacred Music and Candlelight Ceremony
Prelude Music beginning at 7:30 PM
December 31, 2017
Holy Communion with Christmas Lessons & Carols, 10:00 AM
In English
Holy Communion, 12:00 PM
In Spanish
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“Star of Wonder” An Epiphany Pageant
Sunday, January 7
th
at 11:00 AM Bilingual Service
(will still have 8:30 AM Worship)
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The St. Mark's Montessori Christmas program will be held on
Friday, December 15th
at 10:00 AM
in the church sanctuary. You are invited to join this special celebration as the children sing songs dressed as angels, shepherds, and kings. They will also bring gifts to present to ECHO for children in need.
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Thank You From ECHO
Thanks to all members who contributed to ECHO's Thanksgiving and Christmas meals program. ECHO provided over 380 Thanksgiving meals and 200 Christmas meals. At this point, all clients have been covered - thanks to the generosity of St. Mark's members and other individuals, businesses, and congregations.
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Un-decorate the Tree for Hypothermia
Please check out the table trees in the narthex and take an ornament or two. Bring the item printed on the ornament back to the narthex and set it by trees. Thank you for your participation!
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*** LAST SUNDAY FOR BUYING WHITE HOUSE ORNAMENTS! ***
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NO Youth Group or Confirmation this week…
Please participate or attend Christmas Pageant!
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Save the Date -
Click on event for more information.
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Promoting Shalom among Muslims and Jews
Click
HERE
For more information. And
HERE
to purchase tickets.
- January 28-February 4, 2018
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Communion Cards.
Please don’t forget to fill out a communion card each time you
worship
. Cards are located in the pew racks. If your address has changed, you can include that information so the church office can update your records. In addition, use of the card allows the church office to enter your communion and attendance in the official church records. Thank you.
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Article Deadline
We need YOUR help! In order that ALL OF US receive the necessary documents for This Week, The Messenger, and the website, please send all articles you wish to have published
no later than 5:00 PM on the Tuesday
before the Sunday you wish for the articles to appear. Send those articles to
communications@stmarks-elca.org
.
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