THE COLLECT
G
racious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
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Reminder to set your clocks ahead one hour
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Acolyte/Assisting Ministers training
March 10, 9:15-11:30 Why a training? Acolyte, cross bearers, chalicers, vergers and torch bearers need to be able to as prayerful as possible in worship. When we are trained apart from just before a Service, then, we are much more confident in what we are doing and much more able to fully enter in to worship. This is especially true for youth and children, as we want them to feel as confident as possible exercising their ministry at worship. Our time together will be being with breakfast at 9:15 provided by Mother Sue and then to training. Please, mark your calendar. If you would like to participate in this important ministry, please, join us on that day. We would love to have more of us serving God and God's people 'at the Altar'. Blessings and thanks. ~
Christian+ and Margaret
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Lunch Bunch is a group of young(ish) St. Markians who enjoy eating together. Join us March 11th after the 10:30 service. We'll go to Palace of India and enjoy their delicious buffet. Childcare IS available. Kids will eat pizza, watch a movie and play downstairs. Please RSVP for kids if you can so we can order pizza (
laurakozminski@gmail.com
). Hope to see you there.
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Explorations and Renewal in Christ
This group will explore the Christian Tradition, what it means to be an Episcopalian and what our Traditions teaches. These sessions are open to everyone and will prepare parishioners who wish to be confirmed or received or to reaffirm their faith for an upcoming Service with the Bishop. The next meeting will be Sunday March 11 from 12:10 pm to 1:10 pm in the St. Mary’s Chapel. If you are interested in being part of this discussion, please, sign-up at the Welcome Desk with your best contact information and availability.
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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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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 each 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 next Wednesday we will meet at St. Mark'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:
It is time to ask who might be able to join us on this journey. After our Maundy Thursday service on March 29, our youth will begin a time of reflection, prayer, meals together and will sleep overnight in the church. We need volunteers and mentors to be with the kids during our program, help to make supper, sleep over with a group of teens (the absolutely hardest job!) and help host breakfast the next day (Jennifer Giannini will be our cook for the morning!). Please contact Kathy ASAP if you feel led to help us in this important event! You may call her at the church office or
email her
. Thank you so much for supporting the youth of All Saints Parish!
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Bread Bakers Guild and Liturgical Arts Ministry
Over the past year and more recently, we added two more dynamic ministries to our Directory of Ministries at St. Mark's. The Bread Bakers Guild began shortly after my arrival and the Liturgical Arts Ministry has completed the beautiful Lenten banners for the Sanctuary. That Ministry is now preparing Easter Season banners and will also go to work on replacing the curtain (dossal) in the Chapel which we recently added. If you have interest in either Ministry, please, let us know, and we'll connect you right away! Blessings to those involved in these new and creative ministries at St. Mark's.
~ Christian+
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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
$7,809
contributions in
pledges and offerings.
R
eceived YTD
Needed
Difference
YTD Contributions:
$ 148,388 $ 97,787 $ 50,601
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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