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This Week at St. Mark's September 22, 2016
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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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Bike the Ridge
and Blessing of the Bicycles- On Sunday, September 25, Ridge Avenue will be closed in front of the church for Bike the Ridge. This means there will be no access to our front driveway. As in past years, the City of Evanston has provided us with a limited number of parking permits that will allow parishioners to park on Grove Street between Ridge and Oak Avenues west of the marked tow zone until 2 p.m. These spaces will be on a first come first serve basis so please only request a parking permit if you are unable to walk a couple of blocks to church. You can pick up your permit from Natalie in the church office today from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
While the parking is more of a challenge that day, we have a great opportunity to be with our neighbors in the community. Ride your bike, greet passers-by, and get yourself and your bike blessed in front of St. Mark's at 10 a.m. or at 12 noon. If you would like to help with Bike the Ridge, click here to sign up!
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Choral Evensong for the Feast of All Saints:
November 6 is a long way off, but rehearsals have begun for the Choral Evensong that will take place that night. ALL are welcome to join in singing for Evensong - you do not need to be a member of the choir. Come and learn some beautiful music including Herbert Murrill's Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis and Mozart's Mass in D. Rehearsals take place on Thursday evenings in the choir room from 7:30 - 8:15 p.m. If you have questions, speak with David Plank,
music@stmarksevanston.org or
(402) 650-9266
Hand Bell Choir
The Ringing Resumes! - St. Mark's hand bell choir rehearses Sundays from noon until 12:30 under the direction of David Plank. New ringers (ages 5 and up) are welcome to join at any time! For more information, contact David at music@stmarksevanston.org
New Acolytes-
With our return to 10:30 services in the church, we invite anyone who is interested in the acolyte ministry to speak with Bruce Gaede on a Sunday morning or call him at 847-274-0541. Worshipers of all ages are welcome to consider serving as an acolyte. We ask only that children be old enough to sit through the service by themselves. The first commitment is to try a Sunday as a torchbearer (one of the two acolytes who carry the candles) with a 15-20 minute training session the Sunday before. The new acolyte will be paired with an experienced acolyte who will coach them through their duties. Then we'll have a chance to talk about the experience to see if this is a good ministry for you! We generally schedule acolytes one Sunday a month.
Worship Life Ministry Team Retreat
- On Wednesday, October 5 from 7 - 9:30 p.m., you are invited to join in a "big picture" planning retreat for the Sundays of Advent through the Sundays after Epiphany (November 13, 2016 - February 26, 2017). No particular "expertise" is needed; however, a desire to learn more about why we do what we do and an openness to trying things outside your comfort zone are especially helpful. If you would like to attend, please e-mail Pastor Debra at
rector@stmarksevanston.org
so that pre-retreat materials can be sent to you.
Pastoral Intern Commissioning Chapel:
Scott Lybrand and other Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary students who are completing internships (field education assignments) this year, will be commissioned at a special chapel service on September 28 at 4:00 p.m. in the Chapel of the Unnamed Faithful at the seminary which is located at 2121 Sheridan Road, Evanston. This is an important opportunity for us to affirm and support our intern within the larger seminary context. If you are available to attend, you are most welcome to do so!
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This Sunday's Lay Ministers-
Thank you to these parishioners for sharing their time and talent with the congregation this week. If you would like to be involved, contact Pastor Debra at rector@stmarksevanston.org.
- Altar Guild: Tony Campise, Beth Johnson
- Flower Guild: Dorothy Laudati
- Lector: Maryallen Estes, Andy Howard
- Ushers: John Fitts, Alison Walsh, Rich Forst, Tacia Johnson
- Lay Eucharistic Visitor: Allison Ashley
- Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Aina Gutierrez, Edie Molumby, Lynette Murphy
- Acolytes: Eva Sondgeroth, Bruce Gaede, Asher Sondgeroth
- Coffee Hour Snacks: S-Z
- Vestry Persons of the Day: Luke Urbanowski
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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 life of continuous learning.
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No Sunday School on September 25:
So that our youngest members can enjoy biking on Ridge Avenue between the worship services, there will be no Sunday School. For those who do not want to bike or who want a break from biking, we hope you will join us in front of St. Mark's to invite people who are stopping to add their prayers to the Prayer Tree that you made in Sunday School last week! Also, be sure to be in front of the church at 10 a.m. or at 12 noon for a special blessing for you and your bike!
2016 Church School Year-
We are trying an all new format this year with children ages 3 - 12 gathering together at 9:30 a.m. for prayer, music and Biblical story telling. We will continue until 10:15 a.m. with a variety of activities that are related to the story of the day. If you would like to help out on Sunday mornings, contact Pastor Debra, rector@stmarksevanston.org.
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Pilgrim's Journey: The Lord's Prayer-
Join in on Sunday mornings October 2, October 16, November 6, and November 20 from 9-10:15 a.m. Long ago when Christians were first learning about the faith, people would prepare for baptism as adults over two or three years. The final part of their journey would be in the season of Lent, preparing for baptism at Easter. During the final part of the journey the bishop would teach them about some of the greatest treasures of the Christian faith. One of the most important was the prayer we know as The Lord's Prayer. In this class for new Christians and any who want a refresher will explore the Lord's Prayer as a gateway to the Christian gospel, a guide to our own prayers, and a way of deepening our relationship with God. You are encouraged to attend all sessions; however, you are welcome to join us at any time.
Confirm not Conform
- A reminder to CnC students and their families: you are invited to worship at St. Matthew's for their patronal feast day on Sunday, September 25. Worship begins at 10:30 a.m.
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Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15; 1 Timothy 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, abides under the shadow of the Almighty." - Psalm 91:1
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Thursday, Sept. 22
7:30 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room
Saturday, Sept. 24
2:30 p.m.
Garden Committee meeting, Bethlehem Chapel
Sunday, Sept. 25
8:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist, Lady Chapel
9:00 a.m.
Adult Formation, Old Library
9:00 a.m.
Bike the Ridge
9:30 a.m.
Children's Formation, Downstairs Classrooms
Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room
10:30 a.m.
Holy Eucharist, Sanctuary
12 noon
Handbell choir rehearsal, Sanctuary
Tuesday, Sept. 27
6:00 p.m.
Lunch packing, Kitchen
Wednesday, Sept. 28
6:45 a.m.
AA meeting, Bethlehem Chapel
11:00 a.m.
Wednesday lunch program, Cunningham Hall
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September 3
Dale Seifert
September 7
Alice Lele
Austin Suvari
Jack Suvari
September 11
Sarah Lettner
September 13
Karen Cornelius
September 14
Wesley Urbanowski
September 15
Michael Schoen
September 17
Mary O'Dowd
September 18
Compton Chase-Lansdale
Peter Dangremond
September 20
Gerald Offutt
September 21
Rebekah Lettner
September 22
Debra Bullock
September 24
Alex Gallegos
September 26
Sile Greene
Peter Heinz
September 27
David Baker
September 28
Catherine Rocca
Rachel Easton
Nadia Oussenko
September 29
Jim Carver
September 30
Patricia Bent
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September 2
Cas & Dorothy Szczepaniak
September 8
Jake & Nonie Morris
Dave & Lola Himrod
September 10
Jim & Lynn Carver
September 24
Doug Sondgeroth & Aina Gutierrez
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The Gardens Committee, which oversees the landscape around the church, will be meeting on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 2:30 in Bethlehem Chapel at St.
Mark's. Anyone who wishes to attend is welcome. For more information call Lola Himrod at 847-864-7815. The meeting will last no more than 60-90 minutes.
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Going Where the Youth Are: Being Church
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The Church is wherever God's people are gathered and for our youth that is often not at St. Mark's - the building - because they are involved in so many extra-curricular activities. Imagine the positive message we might share with our young people by Being Church where they are - at the ice rink, on the baseball diamond, at the debate club, at their concert. Let's show up and cheer for our young people. Let's Be Church Where the Youth Are! Take pictures, congratulate often, and remind our young people that they too are Being the Church wherever they are! If you have events to add on behalf of your young person, email Pastor Debra at rector@stmarksevanston.org
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Saturday, Oct. 1 - Sunday, Oct. 2
Jack and Austin at Great Oaks Qualifier in Wayzata, MN
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Social Justice & Outreach Opportunities
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St. Mark's continues its commitment to our community through its many social justice and outreach activities. Following are ways in which you can get involved with the St. Mark's community in helping to create a better world.
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Stuff the Bus Food Drive:
COPE (Caring Outreach by Parents in Evanston) is holding their Annual Stuff the Bus Food Drive and St. Mark's will serve as the food-sorting site. Volunteers are needed on Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15. If you are able to help for a 2-hour shift, please click here and sign up!
Overnight Shelter Supervisor and Volunteers Needed:
Interfaith Action of Evanston will be opening an overnight shelter this year when the temperature reaches 15 degrees. Six faith communities in the downtown area have agreed to host. If you are interested in becoming an overnight shelter supervisor, please contact Sue Murphy for a job description and details (
ia@interfaithactionofevanston.org
). If you would like to volunteer one or more nights this winter - as a set-up volunteer (8pm - 9:30 pm), as an overnight volunteer (9pm - 7am) or as a clean-up volunteer (6 am-7am), email Sue Murphy (
ia@interfaithactionofevanston.org
) for more information and plan to attend a training session at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1004 Greenwood Street, Evanston from 7pm-8:30pm on any one of the following dates: October 27, November 1, November 7, December 6. St. Mark's is a member of Interfaith Action of Evanston.
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Midweek Lunch: Come and join us!
There are two weekly opportunities to serve our neighbors who struggle with hunger and homelessness. Every Tuesday from 6:00-6:30 pm, lunches are packed in the kitchen here at St. Mark's, and every Wednesday lunch is served at 11 a.m. On Wednesday volunteers are asked to arrive by 10:00 a.m. and stay until 12:30 p.m. Questions? Contact John Lucadamo at lucadamj@gmail.com. To sign-up to volunteer, please click these links:
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Understanding and Analyzing Systemic Racism Training - In July, Pastor Debra, Liz McElhatton and Andrea Nowack attended the Chicago ROAR / Diocese of Chicago Antiracism Commission's 2 1/2 day training in Hyde Park. The cost was just $75 and the information shared and conversations had were priceless. We hope you will consider taking this training when it is next offered - October 20 - 22. To learn more and to register,
click here.
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New Staff Member at St. Mark's-
On Tuesday, October 4, we will welcome Katie Kuriyama as our Associate for Community Engagement. This part-time position (15 hours per week) was created by the vestry to
- Cultivate and deepen relationships with mission and ministry partners in Evanston
- Recruit and develop lay volunteers for direct action, advocacy and community engagement including (but not limited to) St. Mark's participation in events like Bike the Ridge, CROP Walk, YWCA Stand Against Racism, and the monthly food and sock drive for local pantries and Interfaith Action of Evanston
We will be sending out a bit more information about Katie in the days ahead!
Staff Schedules
- With the addition of Pastoral Intern, Scott Lybrand, and with our Associate for Music Ministries, David Plank, starting graduate school, we thought it might be helpful to share the staff schedule with everyone to make it easier to reach us during the week. Once Katie Kuriyama, Associate for Community Engagement, is on board in early October we will update the schedule to include her regular hours.
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Pledge payments have fallen  behind- Please help, if you are able, by bringing your giving up to date (pledge payments can be mailed directly to St. Mark's, Attn. Treasurer, 1509 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201). And, if you are particularly grateful for something that has happened in your life or the life of a loved one recently, you can show your gratitude with an additional one-time gift to St. Mark's. To make this even easier, you can make your gift through PayPal today. Go to our website and click the DONATE button in the right-hand column. There is a place in PayPal for you to add a note so that Pastor Debra can prepare a note of acknowledgement and thanksgiving!
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In The Community
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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.
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Women Hold Up Half the Sky
Exhibit Opening, September 25 at 2 p.m.
Thank you to Lynette Murphy for bringing this important exhibition and related programming to our attention. Women Hold Up Half the Sky exhibit is at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center (9603 Woods Drive, Skokie) beginning September 25 and identifies one of the central moral challenges of the 21st century - full equality for the world's women. It is inspired by the book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, by Pulitzer-prize winning authors, Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Like the bestselling book, the exhibition features ordinary women who have accomplished extraordinary things. It challenges visitors to open their eyes, minds, hearts, and most of all, to take action to improve women and girls' lives locally and worldwide. This Sunday, September 25 from 2 - 3 p.m. there will be an opening event featuring Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan who has long advocated in state government for women's safety. This program is free to the public but reservations are required.
Teen Program: BeYOUtiful Strength on October 9 at 1:30 p.m.
as part of the Women Hold Up Half the Sky exhibit at the Illinois Holocaust Museum.
Girls around the world face social, cultural, and societal challenges that include issues of health, violence, and inequity. Teen girls are invited to explore how together they can use their voices to lead, think, inspire, and create change. Mothers and guardians are also invited to attend with their daughters. This program is free to the public but reservations are required.
The Hunting Ground on October 20 at 6:30 p.m.
as part of the Women Hold Up Half the Sky exhibit at the Illinois Holocaust Museum. The award-winning documentary, The Hunting Ground, unveils a compelling view of sexual assault on college campuses and the legal hurdles female students face to find justice. Panelists will share how college women should practice safety, how they can assess if their college is prepared to support victims of assault, and identify strategies to decrease incidences. Featuring: Wendy Dickson, Domestic Violence Training and Prevention Director at YWCA Evanston/North Shore; and representatives from the Center for Awareness, Response, and Education at Northwestern University.
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"Having the Talk" about Race and Making Change: The PTA Council of
Evanston/Skokie presents its third-annual, four-part series: "Navigating Real Life Diversity with Our Kids: Communicating and Acting with Awareness and Bravery." The first part o
f the series will take place on Tuesday, September 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Evanston Public Library. The series explores the urgency of frequent dialogue around race, identity, and difference with the
youngest of children to adults, as well as strategies families can use to directly address inequity in their schools and communities.
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 Super Soccer Stars Indoor Soccer for Children Ages 1 through 8 will take place at St. Mark's every Saturday afternoon through December in Cunningham Hall. Super Soccer Star's goal is to teach soccer skills in a fun, non-competitive, educational environment. Their philosophy is to use soccer to nurture, to build self-confidence, and to develop teamwork in every class. For more information and to enroll your young person call 312-477-5877 or visit
chi.supersoccerstars.com
Evanston Creative Writing Group
meets at St. Mark's on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month in the library at St. Mark's from 7 - 9 p.m. The group is a creative prompt group designed to get you on the page and start the creative juices flowing. All are welcome - from those who are serious about writing to those who use the time offered to blow off some creative steam!
Tai Chi Chuan
is an ancient Chinese martial art that promotes well-being through a
series of slow, relaxing movements. The Human Process teaches the Yang style short form each Saturday morning at St. Mark's in Cunningham Hall. To sign up, contact The Human Process at 847-556-6040.
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Parish Prayer List
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The prayer list will be refreshed for the month of October (and is at the beginning of each month). If you would like your loved ones to remain on the prayer list for October or would like names added at any time, please send an email to Pastor Debra at rector@stmarksevanston.org.
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We bid your prayers for:
Bob Barr, Astley Bent, Veronica Braithwaite, John Burnham,
Tony Campise, Karen Cornelius, Bob Easton, Lynn Erickson, Hal Griffith, Charlie and Judy Kopp, Grace Lettner, Kathy Lettner, Ayden Lettner, Ann Lettner, Donald McCrea,
Anne Meyers, Jake Morris, Mary O'Dowd, Jan and Jeri Offutt, Donna Richardson, Sarah Sutcliffe, Casmir Szczepaniak, Char Wiss, Ronnie Witt IV, Carol Albertson, Betty Augustinos, Lucy Augustinos, Carol Beatty, Margaret Beatty, Martha Burns, Joseph Compton, Chisara Conception, David Cresap, Faye Delandro, Olivia Heiting
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Jay Johnson, Katie Iles, Alaf Kwayana, OJ Mabwa,
Maribel Marcy,
Pat Martin, Carl & Lindy Messier, Connie Montgomery
, Marshall Pregnall
,
Rosemary Radford Ruether & Herc Ruether, Amelia Schmidt, Terri Shepard, Tim and his family, Clifford & Byrdie Tucker,
Jay Urbanowski,
Richard Walsh, Juanita White, Julie Whitmore,
Whitney, Nick, Lily, and Charlie
We bid prayers for: our Confirm not Conform students and their families and all the parishioners at St. Matthew's as they celebrate their patronal feast day this Sunday.
We pray for those who have died: Helen Snow, friend of Mike and Tacia Johnson; T.T., a transgender woman killed in Chicago
We pray for the people in the Diocese of Southeast Mexico and the Diocese of Renk |
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