A reminder that if you have announcements for the newsletter or the bulletin, they must be sent to Katie at community@stmarksevanston.org no later than Tuesday at 12 noon.
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Stewardship
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 the month of February, St. Mark's parishioners collected 166 bags of chips, 13 gallons of juice, and 10 boxes of snacks for the Wednesday lunch program. Thank you all for your generous contributions.
Come and See Campaign-- In last week's gospel story, the woman at the well invited her whole village to come and see Jesus. Over and over, "come and see" is an invitation to see God at work. And God is at work in and through St. Mark's! If you do not have a "come and see" brochure, extras are available in the parlor and at the back of the sanctuary. This is your opportunity to help us Grow the Church by committing to inviting one friend to one event at St. Mark's in the next 12 months. Of course, you are always welcome to invite more!
Commitment cards can be mailed to St. Mark's (attn: Katie Kuriyama) or placed in the offering plate. Thank you for your commitment to St. Mark's, and for your participation in this important invitation.
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Faith, Formation and Fellowship
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. - Psalm 23:1
This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday in Lent and the appointed readings are
1 Samuel 16:1-13;
Psalm 23;
Ephesians 5:8-14; and
John 9:1-41. We invite you to take some time this week to read them in advance so that they can speak to you throughout the week. If you don't have a Bible nearby, you can find the passages at this website:
www.lectionarypage.net
Lent
In this, the church's holy spring,
we ask you, O God, to renew us.
With a gentle breath,
blow from our lives
the dust of sin,
and make us your people again.
Lift us from guilt,
and shame, and regret,
to repair all we've broken,
and give us the gift of repentance.
With the lengthening days,
stretch our hearts, too,
to be ready for your risen life;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
- Susan K. Bock, "Lent" © 2008
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: Julia Ferguson, Beth Johnson, Betsy Johnson
- Ushers: John Fitts, Tacia Johnson, Alison Walsh
- Acolytes: Bruce Gaede, Neena Gaede, Kate Johnson
- Lectors: Mike Johnson, Aina Gutierrez
- Eucharistic Ministers: Andrea Nowack, Ted Richardson, Deane Johnson
- Eucharistic Visitor: Ric Ashley
- Vestry Persons of the Day: Ted Richardson, Deane Johnson
- Coffee Hour Snacks: Last Names beginning with T through Z
Lectors Needed --
Do you worship at the 8 a.m. service regularly - or even from time to time? Do you enjoy reading the scriptures? If you answer yes and are willing to be scheduled to read at the 8 a.m. service on the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Sunday of the month - or even less frequently - please let Pastor Debra know. Our reader pool has gotten a bit smaller in recent months.
Easter Flowers -
One of the most beautiful ways in which we mark the difference between the season of Lent and the joyous celebration of the Feast of the Resurrection is in the way we adorn our sanctuary. All are invited to help us create a festive display by contributing money toward St. Mark's Altar Guild Flower Fund. This fund is used both to adorn the sanctuary with flowers and to maintain the landscaping at St. Mark's. Contributions may be given in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving or honor of someone special. The requested minimum donation is $20 per name. Please make checks payable to St. Mark's Episcopal Church and indicate "Easter Flowers" in the memo line or place cash in an envelope clearly marked Easter Flowers. Forms are available in the parlor. You can place the forms and payment in the offering plate or in Pastor Debra's mailbox in the hallway. If you prefer to pay by credit card, you can go to our website, click the "Donate" tab and follow the instructions on PayPal. Requests to remember or honor loved ones in this way, must be in to the church no later than Wednesday, April 5.
Easter Preparations -- If you would like to help prepare the sanctuary for our celebrations of the resurrection, you are invited to gather in the parlor at St. Mark's on Saturday, April 15 at 9 a.m. We will set out the Easter flowers, prepare candles for the vigil, polish brass, decorate the parlor for our coffee hours and receptions and more! There is always something for everyone to do! All ages are welcome!
Vacation Bible School for children ages 3 - 12 will take place March 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at St. Mark's. There will be singing, silly games, bread-baking, worship and more. There's still time to register! For information and/or to register your child/ren, please contact Scott Zaucha, intern@stmarksevanston.org.
Listening Below the Noise at St. James the Less -- Interior anxiety, worry, concern and fear steal our peace and paralyze our sense of hope. Perhaps more now than ever Christians must practice listening be-low the surface of our mind for the deeper wisdom of the Spirit. St. Paul invited the early Christians into the mind of Christ. When our thoughts are bathed in the spiritual heart we become the peace of Christ and we are astounded by God's use for us. On Saturday, April 8 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. the Rev. Lisa Senuta will lead enriching practices of holy listening using a variety of contemplative practices. St. James the Less Episcopal Church (550 Sunset Ridge Rd. Northfield IL 60093) Register through the office - virginia@stjamestheless.org. Cost: $15, (pay at the Quiet Day)
Preparing for the Paschal Feast -- On Tuesday in Holy Week, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., all members of the diocese are invited to gather at St. James Commons and St. James Cathedral for a time of preparation for the celebrations of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Great Vigil of Easter. The half-day retreat is offered as a time of refreshment and reflection and will begin with prayer and meditation, include a celebration of the Eucharist with the blessing of chrism and conclude with a simple lunch of soup, salad and bread (optional for those who can stay.) The Ven. David Painter will serve as guest preacher and, during the Eucharist, chrism will be blessed for use in congregations. To register, go to:
http://bit.ly/PaschalFeastPrep. There is a $10 fee to attend.
St. Mark's is having a Book Fair!
Looking for that perfect Easter gift for your kids or grandkids? Stop by our Book Fair in the Parlor each Sunday morning and shop award-winning Bibles, books, and videos for kids. Save up to 50% PLUS free shipping on all titles. The Book Fair, sponsored by Sparkhouse Family, is designed to help us instill an open-hearted, transformational, lifelong Christian faith in our children at every age and stage. Payment for ordered books must be made in advance with cash or check payable to St. Mark's (memo: bookfair). For credit card payment option, please speak with Pastor Debra; a surcharge will apply.
Going Where the Youth Are: Being Church
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, please email Pastor Debra, rector@stmarksevanston.org
Tyler is the Assistant Technical Director for USC's School of Dramatic Arts production of Evita which runs the weekends of March 30th and April 6th. If you can't get to southern California to see the show, you can send a note of encouragement to Tyler Maegawa-Goeser, Arts & Humanities Residential College, 920 W. 37th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90007 or email to tcmg98@gmail.com.
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Outreach and Social Justice
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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. For more information and to volunteer, contact John Lucadamo
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Circle facilitator Susan Rex will lead this Sunday's forum
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Social Justice Forum Series Continues--
Join us this Sunday, March 26 at 9:30 a.m. (Bethlehem Chapel) as community leader Susan Rex presents on Restorative Justice & Circle Process.
She will be discussing her work with restorative justice programs in Evanston and with Holy Family Ministries (partner in Episcopal Charities) in Chicago. Susan Rex has been a volunteer with the Evanston Police Department's restorative justice program for nonviolent youth offenders since 2009, as well as a circle facilitator with District 65's sharing circle program. She has also trained teachers and staff in circle techniques at Holy Family School in Chicago's North Lawndale community and is an advisor to the Peace Exchange, training young Chicago leaders who are committed to peace and nonviolence in their communities. Susan is on the board of Peaceable Cities Evanston and is a former board member of the Citizen Police Academy alumni association. A resident of Evanston for over 20 years, Susan is a member of Holy Comforter Church in Kenilworth, where her husband Sandy serves as deacon. Together, they own RMI Midwest, a land valuation company, whose clients include rail road companies, government entities, and American Indian tribes.
Future Forums Include -
Associate for Community Engagement Katie Kuriyama on Jesus' Third Way: An Introduction on April 2.
Coffee & Council, March 27 --
The next Coffee & Council is Monday, March 27th. We will meet at Coffee Lab (910 Noyes) at 6:30 PM for warm beverages, and then walk together to the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center (2100 Ridge) for the City Council meeting. Free parking is available behind the Civic Center. All are invited to this time of fellowship and civic engagement. For more information or questions about handicap accessibility, contact Katie Kuriyama at
community@stmarksevanston.org
or 847-864-4806.
In the Community
Understanding and Analyzing Systemic Racism workshop will be held on April 20 - 22 at Oakton Community College in Skokie, Illinois. This is a unique opportunity for St. Mark's as most of the trainings have taken place in Hyde Park. If you have questions about what to expect, contact Pastor Debra, Liz McElhatton, Andrea Nowack, or Katie Kuriyama who have all attended the workshop within the past year. The most recent workshop filled up quickly (over 60 attendees!); so, please register early. Registration is now open, and you can learn more and register online
at
http://bit.ly/ChicagoROAR.
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Other Announcements
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, Caroline Frowe, Ann Lettner, Ayden Lettner, Charlie Lettner, Grace Lettner, Kathy Lettner, John Lucadamo, Donald McCrea, Bob Molumby, Jake Morris, Mary O'Dowd, Jan and Jeri Offutt, Casmir Szczepaniak, Danny White, Fareedun Ansari, Betty Augustinos, Lucy Augustinos, Paul Basenberg, Susan Murrell Castaneda, Marilyn Goede, Katie Iles, Joan and Sherwin, Jay Johnson, OJ Mabwa, Ahmed Mahmoud, Carl and Lindy Messier, Jim Riley and his family, Reg Ryan, Herman Schrock, Delores Sykes Hicks, Kelly Wheeler Szczepaniak, Tim and his family, Dorothy Waller.
We pray for the people in
the Diocese of Southeast Mexico and the Diocese of Renk
March Birthdays
-Natasha Oussenko (2), Kirk Lucadamo (4), Bernard Rocca IV (4), Miranda Whitmore (4), Katherine Heinz (5), Lynn Carver (6), Hector Cortes (6), Bernadette Lettner (7), Virginia Beatty (8), Sarah Francis (9), Marion Macbeth (12), Calvin Whitmore (12), Deane Johnson (16), Madeleine Yanaga (16), Addison Benz (17), Cynthia Garrels (18), Charles Sagan (19), Lisa Davis (23), Michael Arrington (24), Ryan Benz (25), London Lytle (27), Lynette Murphy (27), Henry Babbitt (30), Gabriel Howard (31)
March Anniversaries - Andy and Sandra Howard (26)
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
rector@stmarksevanston.org
Nametags During Lent-- Please wear your nametags this season for the guest speakers and visitors who will be at St. Mark's. It's welcoming! And helps us all converse and connect. If you need a nametag, please contact Katie (community@stmarksevanston.org)
Super Soccer Stars
Spring Session at St. Mark's begins April 1. Enrollment is open now! For more information and to register, go to http://www.supersoccerstars.com. This is indoor soccer with classes for children as young as 12 months and as old as 8!
April Fools! Songs of Mirth and Merriment!
Get into the spirit of April Fools' Day with a surprising, whimsical, and humorous take on choral fare. Have you ever attended a concert that was slow and somber, song after song? This isn't it! CCC brings you back from the darkness and serenity of winter by embracing the lighter side of a wide range of choral music. Enjoy the work of acclaimed composers Eric Whitacre, Aaron Copland, and William Billings and celebrate the creative, the unusual, the childlike, the mirthful, and the clever with us this spring. Saturday, April 1, 7:30 p.m. at St. Mark's. Tickets are available online at http://www.chicagochamberchoir.org/tickets.
Evanston English Country Dancers meet in Cunningham Hall on alternate Wednesday evenings beginning at 8 p.m. All dances are taught and prompted and include English Country dances devised from pre - 1650 to the present. Once a month, live music is performed by Putting on Aires; other Wednesdays, the music is from an extensive CD collection. Please come with or without a partner. Wear comfortable shoes (the type you would use to walk a mile) and casual clothing. The fee is $5 ($3 for students). Upcoming dates include: March 22, April 9, and April 19. For more information, contact Tom Senior at 847-606-8704 or ChicagoECD@yahoo.com.
Evanston Creative Writing Group
meets in Bethlehem Chapel on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 7 - 9 p.m. Do you like to write? Do you like to be creative but find it challenging sometimes to put yourself on the page? Do you enjoy receiving challenging prompts that spur your creativity? The Evanston Creative Writing group is a creative prompt group designed to get you on the page and start the creative juices flowing. This is not a critique group. We offer positive comments on what our authors create, understanding that the writing generated within our group is rough or "first-draft". We accept all members, from those who are serious about writing to those who use the time offered to blow off some creative steam. We welcome you, and hope you will join us soon. Bring a notebook/pen or a computer on which to write - that's all you need!
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