 |
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 have returned to a Wednesday morning delivery schedule.
|
|
Stewardship and the Annual Campaign
Each month in 2017 we will feature a ministry of St. Mark's where we can "count what counts" because we are Bound Together in Christ. If you have a ministry at St. Mark's where we can "cou
nt what counts" (lunches packed or served, pounds of produce distributed, hours of candles burned, number of notes sung!) contact Katie Kuriyama at community@stmarksevanston.org so we can assign you a month!
Counting What Counts:
During Advent and Christmas, St. Mark's collected 31 scarves, 66 pairs of mittens and gloves, 48 hats, and 31 pairs of socks for the men and women of the Interfaith Action of Evanston Hospitality Center and for the Evanston School Children's Clothing Association.
Annual Campaign: Bound Together in Christ
- If you have not received a letter and pledge card from the Stewardship Team, please contact us at stewardship@stmarksevanston.org so that we can figure out how you were missed. In the meantime, you will find extra pledge cards at the back of the church and in the parlor. A special thank you to those who have already pledged! We are at 21% of our goal to date. The annual campaign pledge in-gathering will take place on Sunday, January 29th.
But plan to j
oin 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. This year's Stewardship Team members are Aina Gutierrez, Ted Richardson, Debra Bullock, and Scott Lybrand with the support of the wardens and vestry of St. Mark's.
Noisy Collection This Sunday - as part of our Annual Campaign, Scott Lybrand will lead the children in a "noisy collection" during the Children's Message. . . please bring your loose change to worship! Thank you.
The 2016 Financial Books have been closed. Any monies received from this point forward will be credited to 2017 (e.g., pledge payments, memorial gifts, etc.). Thank you to Treasurer, Chris Schultze for doing this important work.
|
|
Faith, Formation and Fellowship
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: Pat Bent, Rachel Easton
- Flower Guild:Ellie Bergman
- Ushers: Fred Lewis, Susan Lewis, Lisa Montgomery
- Acolytes: Neena Gaede, Patrick Nee, Bruce Gaede
- Lectors: Byron Scott, Lola Himrod
- Eucharistic Ministers: Byron Scott, Lisa Montgomery, Ted Richardson
- Eucharistic Visitor: Ric Ashley
- Vestry Persons of the Day: Ted Richardson, Luke Urbanowski
- Coffee Hour Snacks: last names beginning M-S
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.
Confirm not Conform
will meet on Sunday, January 15 from 6:15 - 8 p.m. at St. Mark's in the SMAC room (basement)! See you there!
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!
Adult Forum: An Intro to Pastor Debra's Thesis -
On Sunday January 29 from 9:30 - 10:15 a.m. and again from 12:30 - 1:15 p.m. in Bethlehem Chapel, Pastor Debra will share some of the background of her thesis plans with any who are interested. This will also be a great opportunity to explore whether or not you might be called to participate in the study during Lent.What's this about?
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 cat
echumenate 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). If you are interested in participating - or even just curious about what that would involve - I invite you to come to the Adult Forum on January 29 at 9:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. to learn more. - Pastor Debra+
Pre-Lenten Parish Retreat Day:
On Saturday, February 4 from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Pastor Debra and Milner Seifert will lead a retreat to introduce our Lenten Journey to the Font. Together we will consider what are some of the biggest obstacles or challenges in today's world to following the way of Jesus? And how might we as a community Bound Together in Christ and as individuals use Lent as a time to face those obstacles/challenges? A continental breakfast will be available from 8:30 - 9 and the day's program will begin promptly at 9. Lunch will also be provided. There is no fee to attend. Please RSVP to rector@stmarksevanston.org by January 30 so we know how much breakfast and lunch to have on hand. We do not want anyone to miss out because of childcare needs; so, if you need childcare, please contact pastor Debra at 847-864-4806.
|
|
Outreach and Social Justice
Celebrate MLK Jr Day with St. Mark's & Y.O.U.!
*See new group meeting plan* Y.O.U. will host its 11th annual Diverse Communities United event on Monday, January 16th from 1:00 - 2:30 PM at ETHS (1600 Dodge)! This youth-led event will feature original songs, choreography, visual art, and dramatic performances by youth from 11 Evanston/Skokie school systems, followed by a reception at its new building (1911 Church). This event is free, family-friendly, and open to all ages. If you would like to meet a group from St. Mark's at the event, plan to meet inside Door #7 at ETHS at 12:45 PM. Easiest parking for this entrance is the ETHS lot on Dodge between Church and Lake. Cross Dodge and enter through Door #7. Dress warmly for the walk to the reception following the event. If you need to arrange a ride or have questions, contact Katie Kuriyama (community@stmarksevanston.org or 847-864-4806). A shout out to Aina Gutierrez for her instrumental work in helping Y.O.U. obtain a new youth center!
3rd Sunday Drive, This Week! - This Sunday, January 15th, our 3rd Sunday Food Drive will support the food pantry at Hemenway United Methodist Church. Please consider bringing nonperishable food items to church this week, and placing them in the bright red cart in the back of the church sanctuary.
ESCCA (Evanston School Children's Clothing Association) -
We're taking our donations to ESCCA this Friday! Thank you to everyone who shared the warmth of the season by contributing to the Mitten Tree. Now we have the opportunity to help sort our youth donations at ESCCA (Evanston School Children's Clothing Association), a local nonprofit that provides clothing for k-8th graders in need. We will meet at St. Mark's at 9 AM on Friday, January 13th, and plan to arrive at ESCCA's Clothing Center, located in the d65 administration building (1500 McDaniel Ave.) at 9:15 AM. We will sort clothing donations with a team from ESCCA until noon. If you plan to volunteer, need a ride, or have questions, please contact Katie (community@stmarksevanston.org or 847-864-4807). Since ESCCA provides clothing for k-8th graders, they request that volunteers be at least high school age.
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
lucadamj@gmail.com
Women's March on Chicago on January 21! Be a part of this global event, with more than 200 U.S. cities joining DC and 50 cities internationally marching with us. It will be an inspiring day of diverse people brought together by intersecting themes of women's rights, human rights, and social justice. Start time is 10am at Petrillo Bandshell in Grant Park. You can expect the route will be about a 1 mile walk on paved roads in the area around the Petrillo Band shell. Those not able to walk the route can optionally remain in the bandshell with music and others who are rally-ing. The march ends back at the bandshell. A group of Episcopalians committed to living out our baptismal promises to "strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being" will be traveling together. We will depart from St. Mark's on Saturday, January 21 at 7:30 a.m. We will walk to the Davis Street CTA station. Bring friends. Brings signs. #RespectDignityOfEveryHuman.
Interfaith Music & Storytelling Event, January 22nd
Join Interfaith Action of Evanston for an afternoon of interfaith music and storytelling. Listen and discover we are more alike than not. Saturday, January 22nd at 3 PM at Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (303 Dodge Ave., Evanston). Questions: Contact Sue Murphy (847-475-1150).
Coffee & Council -
Beginning January 23rd, St Mark's will practice living into its value of "being in place" by periodically attending City Council meetings as a group-even if nothing pressing is on the agenda. City Council meetings are informative and a great opportunity to learn more about "What's going on" in Evanston, which Christian ethicist H. Richard Neibuhr considered the critical ethical question. If you would like to attend, plan to meet at Coffee Lab (910 Noyes) at 6:30 PM for a time of fellowship, coffee! (of course), and to review the meeting agenda. At 7 PM, we will walk together .3 miles to the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center (2100 Ridge) for the meeting (about a 7 min. walk). Parking is available behind the Civic Center. Stay as long as you'd like! It's easy to leave before the meeting is over. Hope to see you there! Questions? Contact Katie (
community@stmarksevanston.org or 847-864-4806).
Meet Evanston's Candidates for Election - As preparation for Evanston's Municipal Election in April 2017, OPAL (Organization for Positive Action & Leadership), a local nonprofit committed to building an equitable Evanston, is hosting candidate forums over three days this month to provide residents with the opportunity to meet, learn about, and question candidates. Each evening will begin with a Candidate Meet 'n Greet from 5:15-5:45p followed by the forum from 6-8p. On January 24 OPAL will partner with the Evanston NAACP to host an Education Forum: District 65 candidates from 6-7p & District 202 candidates from 7-8p. On January 26: Mayoral Candidates from 6-7p and Wards 1, 6, & 8 following from 7-8p. On January 31: Ward 5 candidates from 6-6:45p and Wards 3, 9 and City Clerk Candidates from 6:45p-8p. All forums will be held at Foster Theater located in Family Focus (2100 Dewey). Look for paper handouts of this information on the center parlor table at church the next two Sundays.
Faceless: Performance & Interfaith Discussion - Award winning playwright Selina Fillinger's "riveting and timely new drama" Faceless is making its world premiere at Northlight Theatre (9501 Skokie Blvd). Join Interfaith Action of Evanston for the performance, followed by a discussion with panelists: Rabbi Andrea London (Beth Emet the Free Synagoge), Muhammad Salduzzaman (Dar-us-sunnah Masjid Community Center), Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors (Second Baptist Church), and Birch Burghardt (IAE), moderator. Performance at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Panel discussion immediately following. Special Ticket Discount: $10 off per ticket with promo code: INTERFAITH. Student prices also available. For Tickets call 847-673-6300 or visit northlight.org.
|
|
Other Announcements
The 153rd Annual Meeting of St. Mark's Episcopal Church
will take place one week from Sunday on January 22 immediately after worship in the sanctuary. There will be only one worship service that Sunday 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.
The deadline for written reports is today! Please send reports to office@stmarksevanston.org; they must be submitted as a .doc, .docx, or .txt file (no pdfs). Photos are especially encouraged.
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, Joan and Sherwin, Jay Johnson, OJ Mabwa, Ahmed Mahmoud, Carl and Lindy Messier, Reg Ryan, Herman Schrock, Stephanie Short,
Kelly Wheeler Szczepaniak, Tim and his family.
We pray for those who have died:
Louise Barnett Szpara, aunt of Deane (Beth) Johnson and great aunt of Betsy and Kate Johnson
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
|
|
|
St. Mark's Episcopal Church |
office@stmarksevanston.org | www.stmarksevanston.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
