MERRY CHRISTMAS
FROM ST. MARK'S!
May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the Magi, and the peace of the Christ child.
St. Mark's offices will be closed Monday & Tuesday December 25-26 in observance of the Christmas holiday.
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THE COLLECT
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
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Sunday, December 24th
Advent IV
8am Spoken Eucharist
10:30am Choral Eucharist
Christmas Eve Services
5pm Family Eucharist with Children's Pageant (Prelude at 4:45pm)
10pm Festival Eucharist with Choir & Brass (Prelude at 9:45pm)
No Christmas Day Service
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St. Mark’s to Host Diocesan Epiphany and Confirmation Service
Please plan to join us for this wonderful worship opportunity to celebrate the Epiphany on the Feast of the Epiphany as we host the Diocesan Confirmation Service on January 6 at 11:00 a.m. Several parishioners from St. Mark’s will participate in being confirmed or reaffirming their faith. Pleasejoin us to celebrate their commitment at the celebration and the luncheon to follow. All are welcome!
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Model of St. Mark’s at Meijer Gardens
If you have not seen the beautiful rendering of St. Mark’s before, please, consider going to Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park to see the Christmas exhibit. This beautiful model of St. Mark’s is stunning and is nestled in the traditional display with other GR landmarks. The Christmas trees with decorations from around the world are also just beautiful. Whether a single or family event, a trip during this holiday season would be well worth it. ~ Christian+
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2018 OFFERING ENVELOPES
are available on the table in the Gathering area. Thanks again to all who have made their 2018 pledges. If you haven’t filled out a pledge card, and would like to do so, there are some available on the
Welcome
desk and R
esource
table in the Parish Hall.
If you would like offering envelopes please contact
Pam Stevenson,
Finance Manager .
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"A JAZZY NOEL"
Featuring Noel Webley & Jazzy Friends
At St. Philip's Episcopal Church
Saturday, December 30th
3:00pm-Jazz Interlude
3:20pm-Worship Service
Coffee Hour Following
ALL are welcome!
Goodwill Offering
550 Henry Ave., SE (Corner of Henry & Sherman)
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616-451-9865
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KITCHEN CLEAN UP DAY
Many hands make light work! The hope is to give our much used kitchen a complete cleaning.
Please jump in to help on January 13 at 9:00am.
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St. Mark’s Wall Calendar
Free wall calendars are available for you on the resource table in the north transcept. These calendars include the dates for the Principal Feasts, Holy Days, Days of Special Devotion and Reqiem Eucharist.
The book of common Prayer guides the usage for each entry in this Ordo Kalendar.
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News of our Journey Together
Journey to Generosity Update
We've received 140 pledges so far this stewardship season. With so many new parishioners, we believe that we have the potential of 240 possible pledges for our life together. We have received pledges of $399,810 toward our goal of $400,000 which we very much need to get close to a balanced budget for 2018. We are very grateful to all of us who have made a pledge and strongly encourage more of us to consider and make a pledge for our ministry in 2018. Please, pray
that more and more of us will consider and pledge for 2018. A reminder that pledge cards are in all the pews and at both entrances to the church. God calls us to give of ourselves, our time, our skills and our treasure (monetary gifts) as part of our journey in following Jesus. May God continue to bless us for all the gifts we have
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SAVE THE DATE
January 7, 2018 purchase Sudanese Doughnuts at the social hour for a fundraising event, stay tuned for more information.
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Addtional coat racks are available by the entrance to the Sanctuary
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This Wednesday will begin four weeks of studying the book
Being Christian
by former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. Copies of the book are available at the front desk of the Parish House. Our Wednesdays will begin with a potluck at 6:00, presentation and discussion at 7:30 and Evening Prayer to follow. All are welcome.
Please contact Jane Stidolph, our Director of Christian formation if childcare is needed.
Jane Stidolph
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LENTEN DEVOTIONAL
Although it seems early to think about Lent, the devotions for our combined Lenten devotional are due in less than one month. A clipboard is available on the Welcome desk for sign up and to pick the scripture you desire. Please consider being a part of this meaningful ministry.
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Devotional Book Group
Are you interested in reading interesting books & thinking and talking about your spiritual journey? Join the Devotional Book Group. We meet on
Sundays from 9:15-10:15 a.m. in the Canterbury Room
. We are just beginning Richard Rohr's
The Naked Now
. Our next book will be
The Heart of Christianity
by Marcus Borg. If you are interested in either book or learning more about our group, contact Laura Kozminski (
laurakozminski@gmail.com
)
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Healing Racism Ministry Notes:
Please plan to join us for a discussion of Richard Rothstein’s
The Color of Law
which details how federal housing policies in the 1940s and '50s mandated segregation and undermined the ability of black families to own homes and build wealth. The discussion will take place at 7:00 pm. on November 30th. (239 pages including Frequently Asked Questions).
Words to ponder:
Equity and equality are two strategies we can use in an effort to produce fairness. Equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful. Equality is treating everyone the same. Equality aims to promote fairness, but it can only work if everyone starts from the same place and needs the same help.
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Trinity Institute 2018: Values in Action
February 2-3, 2018
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We all want to create a better world—and that requires action and connection. Discerning shared values is crucial to forming powerful partnerships and moving forward with courageous intention. Explore how you and your community can set a collaborative course at Values in Action, a Trinity Institute conference designed to help you get grounded and connected so you can get going.
This year’s conference features leading activists, theologians, authors, and experts on how to integrate core values into strategic and effective action, including the Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church; Michelle Alexander, author of
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
, and Pádraig Ó Tuama, poet, theologian, and mediator.
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MORE WAYS TO GIVE TO ST. MARK'S
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Why not shop and donate to St. Mark's all at the same time! Amazon Smile is when customers shop on AmazonSmile (
link to smile amazon
).
Amazon Smile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers.
Please earmark St. Mark's as your charitable organization. We can be found under the organization name of:
St Marks Episcopal Church - Grand Rapids, MI.
As the saying goes " A little money goes along way!"
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An easy way to be generous
Please return completed form to our Finance Manager
,
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"Soup's On For All"
Service Opportunity
Our youth have enjoyed serving at this fundraiser for God's Kitchen the last few years and event organizers are eager to have our group volunteer at this coming January's event. The date for this year's event is Monday, January 29th, in the evening, at The B.O.B. Our help would be needed from approximately 6:30 pm- 9 pm and this would also include a meal for each volunteer. Please let Jeff Brown know very soon, if your child would like to help, as it greatly helps with planning and/or if you need a permission slip.
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In recognition of the Holiday, Oasis will break until January 10.
If you are unable to make it in time for dinner, you can always join us just for the program hour. St. Andrew's is at 1025 Three Mile Rd NE, between Plainfield and Fuller.
Dinner is offered beginning at 5:45 p.m., and programming for all ages, youngest to adult, runs from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
If you should need nursery care available during Oasis, please call St. Andrew's at 616-361-7887 by Tuesday.
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Childcare at Special Events
Do you wish to come to a church event which requires childcare? If the event does not designate that childcare is provided, arrangements may be made to have your children looked after. Please contact
Jane Stidolph, Director of Christian Formation
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Join us on Sundays for
Faith Formation
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9:15am—
Childcare
(Nursery, lower level) available for infants - kindergarten
Children's Choir Rehearsal
(upstairs children's chapel) for 1st-6th graders. No audition, all are welcome.
We Make the Road by Walking
(upstairs Youth Room) for High School - Adult. Overview of the whole Bible, organized around the traditional church year.
Devotional Book Group
(Canterbury Room, main floor) for adults. Exploring faith and spiritual practices.
10:30am—
Childcare
(Nursery, lower level) available for infants - 2 years
Preschool/kindergarten
(Activity Center, lower level) chapel and formation for ages 2 through kindergarten.
Elementary
(Main classroom, upstairs) chapel and formation for 1st through 4th grades.
Middle
(Youth Room, upstairs) formation for 5th through 8th grades.
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Assisting Worship This Sunday
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A copy of the Assisting Minister Schedule, through January, is now available at the Parish Office Coordinators desk. If you are unable to serve in the
role listed, or if the above information is incorrect, please contact the coordinator of your ministry (listed below), or the office. Also, if you feel called to any of these ministries, you are encouraged to speak to the coordinator or Father Christian.
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The names of those in need of prayer will remain on this list for two months, and then will be removed. If after that time, you wish to continue having them held in prayer, please contact the
Church Office
.
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Sustaining St. Mark’s Ministry in 2017
Thanks to all as we sustain our ministry together at St. Mark’s with pledges and offerings. We have pledged
$337,974
toward our common life in 2017. Last week, we received
$ 7,798
in contributions in pledges and offerings.
Contributions Received YTD
Needed YTD
Difference
$506,770
$565,800 $ -59,030
A reminder that we gratefully receive pledges at any time throughout the year. Pledge cards and envelopes are available on the resource table in the church, which can be given as cash, check, or direct deposit. Direct Deposit from your checking account may be set up with the financial manager for whatever frequency you desire (weekly, monthly, annually for pledges or one time gifts).
Want more details about the Parish’s giving or finances? Please email questions to Finance Manager,
Pam Stevenson
or our Treasurer,
Sharon Buursma
.
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Have you noticed the
GREEN
collection box on the welcome desk?
When you bring in your SpartanNash receipts you are helping the Meals on Wheels program of West Michigan (MOWWM). For every $150,000 in receipts collected, MOWWM receives $1,000 in aid. This provides 200 meals to seniors in our community.
For more information on MOWWM,
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Retail Stores:
Family Fare
D&W
Forest Hills Foods
ValuLand
VG’s
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Donations for Altar Flowers
Flowers add beauty to the sacred spaces of our church. They are a gift to God and all those that attend our Sunday worship services. A contribution to our Flower Fund is a meaningful way to honor and remember a loved one. It is also tax deductible. If you are interested in making a donation to our Flower Fund, here's how it works:
- Write your name on the desired Sunday on our flower form and on our Flower Calendar (located at the Welcome Desk Bulletin Board)
- Dedication for Altar Flowers will be listed in the Church Bulletin
- Please make checks payable to St. Mark's Episcopal Church and indicate "Altar Flowers" on the memo line.
Please note: there are no flowers during Lent; special collections are taken for Christmas and Easter.
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Morning Prayer at St. Marks
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My House Shall be Called a House of Prayer
Parishioners are always welcome to pray in the Church whenever the Parish Office is open:
Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Morning Prayer booklets are available in the Canterbury Room for private prayer, Monday through Friday. The booklet is an adaptation of Morning Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer and Mission St. Clare.
Please come to the Parish Hall for entrance to the Church.
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If you are new to St. Mark's, we're delighted to have you here. We invite you to make an appointment with Fr. Christian, so he can welcome and learn more about you! Also, please consider making a pledge, a gift of your financial resources, as part of your commitment to our life together and the ministry of the Parish. All who call St. Mark's their 'Parish Home' are enthusiastically encouraged to give of ourselves, our time, our talents and our monetary resources in support of our mission to serve God and God's people at St. Mark's. Pledge envelopes are available from Pam Stevenson, our financial manager. Contact her at
pams@stmarksgr.org
or call her at 456-1684, ext. 21.
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St. Mark's Episcopal Church
134 N. Division Avenue
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Office#: 616-456-1684
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