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This Week at St. Mark's
It's a New Year and a new look for our Newsletter.  We are hoping that this format will be easier for our mobile users to access and read.  We welcome your feedback. 

Also a reminder that if you have announcements for the newsletter or the bulletin, they must be sent to office@stmarksevanston.org no later than Tuesday at 12 noon.  We are also returning to a Wednesday morning delivery schedule. 
Faith, Formation and Fellowship 

A D.Min. Thesis and An Invitation to You -  Many of you know that I have been working on my Doctor of Ministry degree in Congregational Development at Bexley Seabury Seminary. Having completed all coursework, I am now in the research phase of the program. What is unique about the Doctor of Ministry program is that my research is based in my congregation and so, in some ways, WE are earning a Doctor of Ministry degree !  In the months ahead, I would like to invite you to take part in my research.

The focus of my study is creating a catechumenate-ready congregation here at St. Mark's.  Catechumenate is a word that refers to an ancient way of making disciples, of preparing individuals for baptism.  The catechumenate relies on the full participation of laypeople and clergy. My study sets out to describe and implement a process of readying St. Mark's to mentor new disciples through formation in the stories of our faith (scripture) and spiritual conversation (seeing the connections between daily life and baptismal living). Any member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church who is at least 16 years old is invited to be a participant in this study.
 
If you are interested in participating - or even just curious about what that would involve - I invite you to read and review the Informed Consent Form.  If, after reading, you decide you would like to participate, simply sign the form and I will get back in touch with you.  There are paper copies of the Consent Form available in the parlor.  Or, if you prefer, you can access it on line at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BaptismalIdentity
 
Thank you for your consideration - and thank you for helping me with my research!
 
- Pastor Debra+


Annual Campaign: We Are Bound Together in Christ  - This Sunday we kick-off our annual campaign with guest preacher Shay Craig, Bishop's Associate for Resource Development.  You should receive a letter and pledge card from the Stewardship Team in the mail sometime this week.  Extra pledge cards will be available in the church on Sunday.  Join us each Sunday as we highlight ministries that bind us together in Christ and as we prayerfully consider how we might continue to make and build community that celebrates God's bounty in a world that often speaks only of division and of scarcity.  The annual campaign pledge in gathering will take place on Sunday, January 29th.

This Sunday's Lay Ministers -- Thank you to the following parishioners for sharing their time and talent with the congregation this week. If you would like to become involved, please contact Pastor Debra at 847-732-9564 or rector@stmarksevanston.org.
  • Altar Guild: Sharon Friend, Evelyn Russell
  • Flower Guild: Michael Schoen
  • Ushers: John Lucadamo, Nancye Kirk, Doug Sondgeroth
  • Acolytes: Betsy Johnson, Neena Gaede, Kate Johnson
  • Lectors: Lori Goede, Ted Richardson
  • Eucharistic Ministers: Alison Walsh, Aina Gutierrez, Lynette Murphy
  • Eucharistic Visitor: Allison Ashley
  • Vestry Persons of the Day: Nancye Kirk, Motoko Maegawa
  • Coffee Hour Snacks: last names beginning G-L
Lector Coordinator: If you would like to be responsible for coordinating the readers for Sunday morning worship, please contact Pastor Debra at rector@stmarksevanston.org. What this entails is sending an email out to all lectors (list provided), recruiting new lectors, creating the schedule and sending out weekly reminders. Templates for all of these have already been created and can easily be shared. 
 
Choir Rehearsals resume this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The New Year is a GREAT time to join for a season! For more information, contact David Plank at music@stmarksevanston.org or just come to the choir room at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Handbell Choir rehearsals resume this Sunday at 12 p.m.  The New Year is a GREAT time to join for a season!  For more information, contact David Plank at music@stmarksevanston.org

Confirm not Conform will meet this Sunday, January 8 from 6:15 - 8 p.m. at St. Matthew's with mentors AND on Sunday, January 15 from 6:15 - 8 p.m. at St. Mark's without mentors. Thanks for being flexible as we worked to make-up our December snow cancellation!
 
Sunday School - If you would like to join the crew of volunteers who share the story for the day and/or coordinate the craft for the day, let Pastor Debra know, rector@stmarksevanston.org.  The easy-to-follow curriculum is provided and support is available!
 
Jubi-latte & Tea Deum with the Rector - On Friday, January 13 from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. (note thenew time)at Cupitol Coffee & Eatery, 812 Grove Street, Evanston, Pastor Debra will be available to treat you to your favorite coffee or tea drink and to enjoy a time of relaxation and fellowship.  No hidden agenda. Just a time to spend time together.  Jubilate is Latin for "Rejoice" and the Te Deum is a Hymn of Praise.
Outreach and Social Justice

Y.O.U. Youth to Host Community MLK Jr Event - Join Y.O.U. for its 11th annual Diverse Communities United (DCU) event on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day January 16 from 1:00-2:30 PM at ETHS Auditorium, 1600 Dodge Ave. The event will bring together youth from 11 Evanston and Skokie schools for performances that speak to MLK's vision and the youth-chosen theme "Defiance with Purpose." After the performance, join Y.O.U. for a reception and tour of its new building, 1911 Church St. The event is free, family-friendly, and open to all ages. In the words of one member of the youth-led DCU committee, "The youth voice matters, and we want you to hear it!" To attend with a group from St. Mark's, contact Katie Kuriyama at community@stmarksevanston.org.
 
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. For more information and to volunteer, contact John Lucadamo at lucadamj@gmail.com
 
Producemobile - Tuesday, January 10th and on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, Interfaith Action of Evanston teams up with the Greater Chicago Food Depository to bring free, fresh produce to our neighbors in need. The distribution takes place from 9:30 - 11: 30 at the Robert Crown Center.  Volunteers are needed from 8:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. If you are able to help out this month, you can sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080d4fafac2fab9-evanston3 .

Other Announcements

The 153rd Annual Meeting 
will take place on Sunday, January 22 immediately after worship in the sanctuary. There will be only one worship service that day at 9:30 a.m.  At the Annual Meeting, we will celebrate the accomplishments of the past year, thank outgoing vestry members, elect new vestry members, present the 2017 budget, and elect delegates to the Diocesan Convention.  If you would like to submit a report to be included in the written Annual Report, please send it to
office@stmarksevanston.org no later than Monday, January 12.  The slate of vestry nominees selected  by the Vestry Nominating Committee will be published on or before Sunday, January 15. 

Prayer List
If you have loved ones you would like added to the prayer list at any time, send an email to Pastor Debra at rector@stmarksevanston.org.
 
We bid your prayers for: Bob Barr, Louise Beem, Astley Bent, Veronica Braithwaite, John Burnham, Tony Campise, Genevieve Costello, Karen Cornelius, Adrianna Dangremond, Nicholas Easton, Rachel Easton, Caroline Frowe, Ann Lettner, Ayden Lettner, Charlie Lettner, Grace Lettner, Kathy Lettner, Donald McCrea, Anne Meyers, Bob Molumby, Jake Morris, Mary O'Dowd, Jan and Jeri Offutt, Casmir Szczepaniak, Char Wiss, Betty Augustinos, Lucy Augustinos, Jen and Patsy Becerra, Susan Murrell Castaneda, David Cresap, Marilyn Goede, Jay Johnson, OJ Mabwa, Ahmed Mahmoud, Carl and Lindy Messier, Reg Ryan, Herman Schrock, Kelly Wheeler Szczepaniak, Tim and his family.
 
We pray for: the people in  the Diocese of Southeast Mexico and the Diocese of Renk
 
January Birthdays 
Milner Seifert (1), Pat Furlong (4), Jay Hayes (4), Rima Lockwood (5), Garrit Dangremond (9), Carl Furlong (10), John Burnham (11), Soren Alexander (14), Susan Lewis (16), Patrick Nee (16), Andy Howard (17), Dave Himrod (18), David Forst (19), Beth Johnson (19), Charlie Kopp (19), James Lettner (21), Grace Lettner (22), Jonathan Greene (23), Will Suvari (25), Lindsay Chase-Lansdale (28), Byron Scott (28)

January Anniversaries
Chris and Andrew Schultze (1), Jack and Anne Heinz (14), Hardy and Lynette Murphy (25), Dick and Carolyn Brooks (27)

If we have missed your birthday or anniversary, please do let us know so we can correct the error. Send your name and date of birth to office@stmarksevanston.org.

Calendar of Events
For information about upcoming dates and events at St. Mark's, click here ( http://www.stmarksevanston.org/calendar-of-events/)

St. Mark's Episcopal Church | office@stmarksevanston.org | www.stmarksevanston.org
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