THE COLLECT
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
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Jeanine De Bique and Rebecca Pacheco in Recital
March 18 at 5pm
Recognized as an artist of "dramatic presence and versatility" (Washington Post) Trinidadian soprano Jeanne De Bique possesses "genuine star quality, a voice of exceptional beauty" (New York Amsterdam News). She recently thrilled Grand Rapids audiences with her exquisite performances as soprano soloist in the Brahm's Requiem and the Grand Rapids Bach Festival with the Grand Rapids Symphony.
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Holy Week Retreat March 24
9:30 am to 11:30 am: Please consider this contemplation time to prepare for Holy Week and Easter. A sign up sheet for this time together is found on the Welcome Desk.
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March for our Lives: The horrific mass shooting in Parkland, Florida last month left our country reeling with grief — and now millions of Americans across the country are standing together, ready to take action. Led by the courageous students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, on March 24, the kids and families of March For Our Lives will take to the streets nationwide and in Washington D.C. We're marching to demand that our lives and safety become a priority, and that we end gun violence in our schools and communities
.
The March in Grand Rapids will take place at Rosa Parks Circle and those who are interested my sign up at the Welcome Desk and meet in the foyer at 11:30 am to walk over together.
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Holy Week Rehearsal
March 24, 12:15-2:00: Acolytes and Assisting Ministers will have a rehearsal for Holy Week on Saturday, March 24, the day before Holy Week begins. All those involved in this ministry are encouraged to attend. The rehearsal will be from 12:15-2:00 with lunch provided by yours truly, sandwiches, beans and chips, Oh My! See you then!
~ Christian+
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Easter Flowers
If you would like to donate flowers for Easter Sunday in memory or honor of a loved one, please pick up an envelope on the Welcome Desk
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Lift Every Voice and Sing
The Healing Racism Ministry has organized the purchase of 220 copies of
Lift Every Voice and
Sing
, a hymnal that brings together hymns from the Episcopalian African American tradition. Individualized bookplates will indicate whether the hymnal was purchased in memory, in thanksgiving, or in honor of someone. Each hymnal is $20. Orders will be taken throughout Lent. If you would like to order please include payment with the completed form in the envelopes provided and place it in the collection plate.
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Lenten Prayer Requests
Prayer request cards are available during Lent on the Resource Tables. Please, feel free to fill-out a prayer request and place it in the basket on the Mediation Altar in the south transept. Ask God to hear your prayer and to be attentive the request which lives on at the Altar. You might decide to also light a votive candle, a living flame representing your prayer. ~
Fr. Christian+
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Lenten Wednesdays 2018
Please, join fellow parishioners and me for this final Wednesday in Lent from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Our series is a study of the book,
Holding Up Your Corner"
by the Rev. F. Willis Johnson. This Wednesday we will meet at St. Philip's. Our evening will begin with soup and bread at 6:00 p.m., and our program will begin at promptly at 6:30.
Books will be available tonight: $15/copy
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Nightwatch:
Gethsemane Watch: A Maundy Thursday Overnight: This will be an overnight event at St. Mark’s for both middle and high school youth. The evening will begin with the Maundy Thursday service for Holy Week, on March 29, and conclude the following morning. There will be prayer, meditation, learning, and other activities, and yes, we will sleep. It is open to middle and high school youth. Please RSVP by Wednesday the 28th of March. Breakfast and snacks will be included.
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Liturgical Arts Ministry
We have delighted in the new Lenten banners and are excited about the new Easter banners which are being crafted for the Easter Season. Hard work and dedication on the part of the new Liturgical Arts Ministry! Blessings and thanks to Michelle, Megan, Bea, Anne, Rebecca and Cat for their passion and ministry. Much appreciated!
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The Walk For Good Food The ACCESS Walk For Good Food on May 6: (formerly called the Hunger Walk) is fast approaching and will take place on Sunday, May 6th at 2:30 pm. We know that many of you enjoy a good walk with friends, so think about joining your friends from St. Mark’s to walk so that others may eat. ACCESS supports our Breakfast Cafe so having a good team to support their efforts to raise funds would be a kind thank you to them. Look soon for a link on our website that will allow you to register. We will also sign folks up after church during the month of April. Another way you may help is to consider a business sponsorship of this event. There are sponsorships at many levels. The $150.00 “Ground Breaker” level offers your business name recognition on the walk web page and on social media blasts. Our church office will have more information on sponsorship levels if you are interested. Thanks so much for your support of this event at any participation level that may work for you.
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All-Ministries Meeting, April 11, 7 – 9 pm: Our many ministries illustrate that God’s work happens through our hands. Major celebrations of the Parish will be enhanced if ministries work together. To that end, we have scheduled an All-Ministries Meeting for Thursday, April 11, 7 – 9 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Each Ministry of the Parish is asked to send one or two representatives who bring with them 1) the Ministry’s fall calendar 2) any big project that is planned that would benefit from collaboration with another ministry. Major upcoming celebrations include: Celebration Sunday, Sept. 9; Parish Picnic, Sept. 16; Parish Anniversary Celebration, Oct. 20 or 27; Bishop’s Visitation, Dec. 16. If you have any questions, please, see the All-Ministries Team: Fr. Christian, Catherine Frerichs, Jackie Taylor.
The meeting will be open to all parishioners who are interested in participating.
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We are excited to tell you about a new AmazonSmile promotion that will launch soon. Amazon is tripling the donation amount to 1.5% when customers make their first eligible smile.amazon.com purchase from March 12 - 31. This is a great opportunity to increase St Marks Episcopal Church's AmazonSmile donations by shopping at
smile.amazon.com
.
3x your impact! From March 12-31, Amazon is tripling the donation rate on your first smile.amazon.com purchase! Go to
smile.amazon.com/ch/38-1456054
and Amazon donates to St Marks
Episcopal Church.
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Sustaining St. Mark’s Ministry in 2018
Thanks to all who sustain our ministry together at St. Mark’s with pledges and offerings. We have pledged
$425,550
toward our common life in 2018. Last week, we received
$9,291
contributions in
pledges and offerings.
R
eceived YTD
Needed
Difference
YTD Contributions:
$ 163,902 $ 122,234 $ 41,668
A reminder that we gratefully received pledges at any time throughout the year. (Pledge cards and envelopes are available on the resource table in the church, which can be given as cash, check, or direct deposit.) Want more details about the Parish’s giving or finances? Please email questions to Finance Manager, Pam Stevenson
pams@stmarksgr.org
or our Treasurer, Sharon Buursma
sbuursma@msn.com
.
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Join us on Sundays for
Faith Formation
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9:15am—
Childcare
(Nursery, lower level) available for infants - kindergarten
Children's Choir Rehearsal
(upstairs children's chapel) for 1st-6th graders. No audition, all are welcome.
We Make the Road by Walking
(upstairs Youth Room) for High School - Adult. Overview of the whole Bible, organized around the traditional church year.
Devotional Book Group
(Canterbury Room, main floor) for adults. Exploring faith and spiritual practices.
10:30am—
Childcare
(Nursery, lower level) available for infants - 2 years
Preschool/kindergarten
(Activity Center, lower level) chapel and formation for ages 2 through kindergarten.
Elementary
(Main classroom, upstairs) chapel and formation for 1st through 4th grades.
Middle
(Youth Room, upstairs) formation for 5th through 8th grades.
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Assisting Worship This Sunday
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A copy of the Assisting Minister Schedule, through January, is now available at the Parish Office Coordinators desk. If you are unable to serve in the
role listed, or if the above information is incorrect, please contact the coordinator of your ministry (listed below), or the office. Also, if you feel called to any of these ministries, you are encouraged to speak to the coordinator or Father Christian.
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The names of those in need of prayer will remain on this list for two months, and then will be removed. If after that time, you wish to continue having them held in prayer, please contact the
Church Office
.
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St. Mark's Episcopal Church
134 N. Division Avenue
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Office#: 616-456-1684
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