The Bridge
        
The weekly newsletter of St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows                  
   November 9 , 2016 
        
 
Sunday Worship      
8:30am-Blended
9:45am-Contemporary
11:00am-Traditional
 
 
To hear podcast recordings of our Sunday Sermons
Click Here
St. Mark's Staff
Pastors
Phil Rue, Visitation
Staff
Ingelaurie Lisher, Youth and Family
Music Ministry
Contemporary Music Ministry
Manager of Finance and Operations
Office Coordinator
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Just Shopping

Just Shopping is an Internet Fundraising Program at St. Mark's. It's part of a three-tiered plan to eliminate our building debt by 2023. On-line purchase made through our website with affiliate companies helps pay off our building loan. Thank you for your support and please share this internet shopping opportunity with your family and friends! For more information, click here to visit our website. 


 

 
       Contact Us  
St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows

6730 N. 17th St.
Tacoma, WA 98406

Office: 253-752-4966
Preschool: 253-752-4929
Join our mailing list.
A Message From Our Pastors

We all woke up with pretty intense feelings and emotions today, based on our personal responses to the outcome of the election. No matter what is in your own heart and mind, there are some important things that each one of us can do. We can start by being kind and gracious to everyone we meet. As the days progress, we can keep on doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with our God. And, we can pray that the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, will keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. May God's blessing be with all of us in the United States of America as we continue this journey together!

Wednesday Night Church Night Tonight!

5:00pm Little Angels Choir (CR)
5:15pm Dinner: 
Chicken/Veggie Tortilla Soup and Salad, Suggested Donation $5
5:30pm Joyful Noise Choir (CR)
6:00pm Praise Team Rehearsal (S)
6:00m Jubilation Choir, grades 3-5 (CR)
6:15pm Holy Moly (YR)
6:15pm Midweek Renewal (PCC)
7:30pm Prayer Service (PC)

Childcare is provided from 5-8pm for children up to 5 years of age while parents attend meetings, Bible Study and worship.

Interfaith Bible Study  this Thursday at St. Luke's Episcopal Church at  7:00pm

You are invited to join members of Temple Beth El, Bethany Presbyterian Church, and St. Luke's Episcopal Church on  November 10 for a look at Bible stories and prophetic witness related to the challenging process of choosing and then living with leaders in our ever-changing world. 
This week, Pastor Sarah Wiles of Bethany Presbyterian Church will lead a study of Jeremiah and other Old Testament prophets who spoke God's word to those who were chosen to lead and to the people who lived under their rule. St. Luke's Episcopal Church is located at 3615 North Gove Street in Tacoma. 

Peace in Action!

Peace in Action! - Greater Tacoma Peace Prize Refugee Project

At the 2016 Laureate Recognition Banquet on September 22nd, the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize launched a project (with Lutheran Community Services) called "Peace in Action!" in order to support refugees in our area. Guests at the banquet gave generously. We ask that you join them. With your support, we want to raise funds - by December First - for as many "Kitchen Restart Kits" as possible for refugees settling in our area.

Join us in celebrating the 130th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty (which was dedicated on Oct. 28, 1886) by honoring what it stands for. Just go to the GTPP website for further information and to make a contribution.  www.tacomapeaceprize.org
A donation of $200 will buy the necessary items for one  Kitchen Restart Kit. A donation of any amount will help.

Contact Janet Ruud if you would like more information or if you would like to join the "Kit Assembly Party" (tentatively set for December 9) and help us put together the kits. ( Janet Ruud 253-564-2832 ruudj1norw@aol.com)

Adopt a Member of A Family for Christmas

If you are adopting a member or two from one of our families in need, this is what to do:
 
1.Take a colored symbol (paper ornament) from the tree.  Sign your name and phone number on the matching symbol underneath.  Place the symbol with your name on it in the manila envelope for our records.
 

2. PLEASE WRAP TWO SEPARATE GIFTS!!!   Place the number from your symbol on both gifts to insure the right person gets them both.  We will put name tags on the packages before we deliver them.  

 

3. RETURN your wrapped and numbered gifts to St. Mark's by Sunday, December 11.   They can be placed under the Christmas tree.  

 
Questions???? Celesta Smith 272-8391,  Judy Droubay 759-6720, or Mary Jo Holum 752-3304
              
You can make a difference.
 
Thank you for caring and sharing.

Family Housing Network

St Mark's will be hosting families from the Family Housing Network the week of 
December 31 to January 6, 2017 .   Helpers are needed to work various jobs to support the families during their stay.  Please stop by the FHN tables  on Sunday  morning to sign up to help us as we provide meals, housing, and hospitality for these families.    A table for signing up to help will be available on Sundays,  November 13
, 20, and 27.

Make Your Shopping Dollars Go Further

If you shop on Amazon for the holidays, please consider designating St. Mark's (or your other favorite charity) to receive the money Amazon donates from each purchase. Login through www.smile.amazon.com and type in "St. Mark's Lutheran by The Narrows" to select our church. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same prices, selection and shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization. 

Women of St. Mark's Bazaar, Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who helped with and came to the Women of St. Mark's Holiday Bazaar!  Thank you to everyone who came out to make lefse, created crafts to sell,  donated their time for set up and running the bazaar, running the breakfast and lunch sales, and the multitudes of other ways people bring this beloved event to life.  

The Bazaar brought in $9,600!  Which will go to project within the church and in the world at large.  

Fair Trade Holiday Bazaar

November 27 and December 4,  8:30am-12:00pm in the Parish Commons
Stop by and start your Christmas shopping for beautifully handcrafted items made by artisans and farmers worldwide!  This season merchandise is from Ecuador, Egypt, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Bangladesh, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Philippines,  Uganda, & Vietnam!     St Mark's orders merchandise from  SERRV, a non-profit, who creates long-term connections with artisans and farmers. By purchasing Fair Trade items we create change by empowering womensending more children to school, & protecting the environment by providing support to artisans and farmers worldwide through the purchase of their products! For questions, contact Susan Newsom or Catherine Terrill.
 
Come see...
  • Festive ornaments, Nativity scenes and Christmas décor 
  • Handcrafted jewelry, woven baskets, colorful scarfs and back again, leather wallet stocking stuffers 
  • Chocolates, teas, coffees, soups, oils and spices from Ghana, Israel, Nepal, South Africa, USA

Refugee Support Team Needs

The Refugee Support Team is asking for household items to set up an apartment for our Ugandan refugee family in anticipation of their move to an apartment soon. 

Please, see the refugee support table  on Sunday  and check out the need for both home furnishing and smaller household items. If you have gently used or new items you can donate, simply pick up the card with the item listed and then bring the donations to church on Sunday, November 13. Thank you for this important welcoming act. It is truly appreciated.

St. Mark's Preschool Harvest Festival
St. Mark's Preschool will be celebrating Fall with a Harvest Festival on Thursday, November 10 5:30-7:30pm.  Preschool children will sing, dinner will be served (suggested donation is $5/person), and there will be several activities for families to do together.  Please sign up in the Narthex if you'd like to join us.  Questions, contact Anne Zimmerman (253) 752-4929.

Lutheran Community Services
LCS needs additional volunteers to work as mentors, to provide short-term housing, and to provide weekday transportation.  Information and volunteer forms are available at the table in the Narthex. 

LWR and Nativity House Needs
Lutheran World Relief needs: bars of soap and hand towels.  Contact Randi Holland

 

Nativity House needs: warm, slightly used men's jackets. Contact Cathryn Cummings


 

Children and Youth Faith Formation

Children's Faith Formation-9:45-10:45am in the CFC

5-12th grade Faith Formation-Sunday mornings
  • 5/6th grade class with Irv Stahlnecker and Mary Olsen in Teal Room-Parables
  • 7/8th grade Confirmation with Bruce and Carl in youth Room-Luther's Small Catechism
  • 9-12th grade in the Fireside Room with Clara
 
SR ALYVE (9-12th grade) Pie Making Event!  Wednesday November 23rd 12:00-3:00 p.m. at the church. Cost: $5.00 per person. Sign up on the Youth Board by Nov. 16th if you are attending. Lunch is provided.
 
Coming up...2017 and beyond!
  • Synod Youth Gathering (grades 7-10)-Feb. 3-5th Cost: $120.00 per person. Sign up with a $60.00 deposit by Jan. 8th if you are attending.
  • May Holden Village Youth Weekends are back! For youth grades 9-12th. We are looking at May 19-21 as our 1st choice weekend or May 26-28 2nd choice(Friday super early AM-Sunday late PM). See the Youth Board for more info. 
  • June 19-25 Luther 500 Festival--we have 2 spots left in a double room. This is a cross-generational trip, so youth attend with a parent/guardian. Cost: approx. $1200.00 per person (includes hotel lodging, 2 meals a day, admission to sites/museums, etc. and tour transportation) airfare to Germany separate.
  • July 6-9th (10-12th grade completed) Servant Trip--Cost TBA. Stevenson WA
  • July 15-22 (6-9th grade completed plus a High school option--info coming soon on that one) Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp Service Week. 
Registration materials for the 2 service opportunities will be available by Sun. November 13th on the youth board.


 
Adult Faith Formation

Adult Forum-Sundays 9:45am in the Parish Commons Classroom
The Adult Forum provides opportunities to reflect on Christian faith in light of current events and the daily decisions we need to make. Topics vary, leadership is shared, and the conversation is lively.

Adult Class- Sundays 11am in the Parish Commons Classroom
November 13-20, "What Christ's prayers teach us about God" 
Jesus' prayers reveal his hopes and desires for our relationship with God.  Together we will study his prayers, as found in the gospels, and discuss their wisdom for us today. 


Wednesday Midweek Renewal;  6:15pm in the PCC
Devotional Classics-Join us as we read and reflect on some classic devotional writers in the Christian tradition.  This week:  Thomas Merton
 
Tuesday "Fully Alive" Bible Study; 5:15pm in the Fireside Room
led by Sherry Maiura

Women's Bible Study; 9:30 am in the Parish Commons Classroom
Will be studying the Book of Acts.  For more information contact Ida Hagen, 253-759-0569 ( idaputs@gmail.com)

Noon Wednesday Text Study Luncheon in the Parish Commons Classroom
 Gather for lunch and conversation and study around the texts that will be heard in worship the following Sunday.  Conversation will be guided by the pastor who will be preaching, and by the insights and questions of the group. 
Peace Community Center- Thank you!

 

Dear St. Mark's Friends, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for your continuous support of our kids and ministry.  Our students and this community truly benefit from your prayers and generosity.  Much obliged, Gerdon

 

Dear St. Mark's Friends, Thank you so much for your loving and generous support for Hilltop Kids!  We are so blessed to share this community and ministry with you.  Thank you, Ruth
 

Have an item for the bridge?
Send it to communications@smlutheran.org by 8am on Tuesday. All items will be run for 2 weeks prior to the relevant date and will be edited for length. Don't forget to send your member notes and news!