We are a Stephen Ministry congregation Christian Care, Compassion,
Listening — when you need it most.
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Worship Schedule
8:30 AM English Worship Service
9:46 AM The 9:46 Crowd
10:00 AM English Worship Service
11:05 AM Sunday School combined English/Spanish
12:00 PM Spanish Worship Service
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Message from Pastor Triolo
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Give thanks to the Lord for God is good!
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
I’ve heard it said, “Give a good Thanksgiving.” That is a most appropriate phrase. What do you have to be thankful for? As you sit before your meal on Thanksgiving Day, whether alone or surrounded by others, what and whom will you remember? I’ll remember that though life brings with it many joys and sorrows, countless hills and valleys, there is one who is always at our side: our loving God making the journey with us.
I’m looking forward to visiting with family and seeing for the first time our new nephew. And I’ll treasure the memories of those who once would have joined us but now sit around that great banquet table in God’s eternal home. And I’ll look forward to continuing the thanks on Sunday as we celebrate the Eucharist (which means Thanksgiving).
Give a good thanksgiving!
+ Pastor Albert
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REFORMATION REVERBERATIONS
Soli Deo Gloria!
This Sunday is the last Sunday of the church year, the feast of Christ the King. It is also the last in a series of sermons on the "Five Solas" of the Reformation. The Hymn of the Day is, appropriately,
Soli Deo Gloria
by Marty Haugen (Holden Evening Prayer), a hymn addressed to God the Father for all the blessings of this life, for the Word and Sacraments, for witnesses to the Gospel, for music, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus, "best gift divine." The last stanza is a universal song of praise invoking "every culture and style and key," in which we, but a fraction of the "billion voices," join in the "one great song."
At the other end of the spectrum, we sing the final stanzas of "Salvation unto Us Has Come," by Paul Speratus, Luther's colleague, who assisted him in compiling the first Lutheran hymnal. To end this church year, in which we observed the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, it seems fitting to end communion with praise and prayer, words that are nearly 500 years old, but the message timeless. The penultimate stanza is a doxology (hymn to the Trinity). The last stanza is a paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer, ending in
Amen
. (There was a time, as many of you may remember, when nearly all of our hymns ended with Amen.)
Soli Deo Gloria!
--
Glory to God Alone!
-- is a familiar refrain to church musicians. J. S. Bach, whose music we hear often, often wrote these words at the top of his musical compositions. In some cases he wrote
Jesu, juva (J.J.)
--
Jesus, Help
-- because he knew who he was glorifying and from whom he received his gifts. Putting these words to the paper with pen and ink was a humble act by a man of faith, sometimes called "the fifth evangelist" (following Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). So this Sunday's service contains music from the time of the Reformation all the way to the present (though its roots reach much farther back into the past). It is our doxology, our Amen, and the continual song of the Church Universal.
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What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word stewardship? Money? Pledge cards? What about LOVE. Stewardship of God’s love is a year-round guide to stewardship.
Below is the Stewardship Committee’s education action plan for 2018. If you’d like to help the stewardship committee with the rollout of any particular month’s action plan, please contact
Bob Akers
.
Stewardship Education Action Plan for 2018
January: Congregational Time and Talent Pledge
February: Buy Nothing Challenge
March: Congregational meal to share mission priorities of the church
April: Day of service
May: Noisy Offering – spare change collection
June: Money and values conversation
July: Ice Cream Social and discussion on what our congregation could do if we received $1,000,000 or 10 times that?
August: Reimagining the offering and Commissioning of Vocations worship service
September: Miracle Sunday
October: Fall Commitment Campaign
November: Celebrate God’s Abundance
December: Reimagining the Offering
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Some have expressed confusion with the pledge form mailed to you with the recent stewardship letter. Documenting your pledge of financial giving to the church for 2018 helps the Finance Committee gain confidence that committed and consistent giving will support their budget for the operating income for the coming year.
Thank you to those who have already returned your pledge form. If you haven’t returned your pledge, please either mail it to the church at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 5800 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22150, or place it in the offering plate. We will have a special presentation of pledges during the services on
Sunday, December 3rd.
If you have misplaced your pledge form, we will have additional copies in the narthex, or we can mail or email you one upon request. Please contact the church office or Bob Akers (
Akersfam@verizon.net
). Thank you for your generous stewardship of God’s resources.
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ELCA World Hunger Appeal - 4th Quarter Benevolence contributions can help address hunger in our neighborhood and around the world. Approximately 75% of ELCA World Hunger funds are spent internationally and 25% are spent domestically. ELCA World Hunger provides for those who are homeless or living in poverty by providing access to food, clothing, shelter, medical supplies and care, and other basic needs. Won't you please give generously?
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St. Mark’s Congregation Fall Meeting
November 19, 2017
Our Fall Congregation Meeting began with noisy fellowship over a meal served by the Youth of St. Mark’s, who are raising funds for the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering to be held in Houston.
Pastor Varinia opened the meeting with prayer. The first order of business was presentation of new candidates for Council (three-year term) and the Nominating Committee (one-year term). Nominees for Council were Cheryl Dwyer, Paul Palm, Rodney Pendleton, and Kerri Westburg. The candidates for Nominating Committee were Hugh Linnemann and Trudy Stellar. As there were no additional nominations, the slate of nominees was declared elected by acclamation.
A request was made for volunteers to attend the Metro DC Synod Assembly to be held at Lord of Life Lutheran Church on June 16, 2018. St. Mark’s can send up to five voting attendees as well as the rostered staff. Please talk with the Pastors or Paul Palm if you are interested in being a voting attendee.
Treasurer Steve Carlson presented the Proposed 2018 Budget. There has been a significant decrease in giving during 2017, and a deficit of approximately $9,000 is expected. As a result, the Council and Finance Committee put together a balanced budget for 2018 that is austere. An amendment was made to give a 1% cost-of-living salary increase to rostered staff. A majority approved that amendment. The Council proposed a second amendment that would give Council authority to make a 2% cost-of-living increase to 2018 salary and benefits if giving income in November and December of 2017 exceeded $150,000. This amendment was approved.
Bob Akers, Chair of the Stewardship Committee, encouraged members to return their 2018 Pledge Cards as a sign of their enthusiasm and commitment. He invited the congregation to offer suggestions for how we can best utilize our time, talents, and treasures at St. Mark’s. A handout entitled “Stewardship Education Action Plan for 2018” was distributed. It listed monthly activities that will focus on some aspect of giving in the new year.
Pastor Triolo spoke about the New Connections Campaign. How can we engage others and build relationships?
On January 27, 2018, St. Mark’s will host “The Isaac Ishmael Initiative.” This group seeks to build relationships between Muslims, Jews, and Christians.
Pastor Triolo asked the congregation to consider how we see St. Mark’s. Much is based on our individual perspectives. Beginning early next year, we will hold Town Hall Meetings to encourage congregational conversations about who we are as a congregation and where we want to focus our energy and resources in the short and long term.
An Action Grant from Thrivent provided funds for the up-front costs of the meal. All donations by the congregation ($1,200) will help with the cost of sending the youth and their adult chaperones to the Youth Gathering in Houston in 2018.
Pastor Albert led the closing prayer.
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Did You Get Your Copy?
For those members who did not get a copy of the Reformation 500 commemorative booklet on Reformation Sunday, contact Chris Michaelsen at
pianoroom@aol.com
by November 30, 2017. The committee ordered enough booklets to give one per family unit, so quantities are limited!
Chris also has copies of the 500
th
Anniversary edition of Luther’s Small Catechism. If you did not get your family’s copy, please contact him.
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Military Packages Collection: Sunday, November 26, 2017
Yes, we will be sending packages to deployed members of the military this month. If you have any leftover Halloween candy that needs a good home, safely out of your sight, we can take care of those for you! It is now cold enough that chocolates can again be sent. Thanks to your interest, we now have several names of recipients. We are sending to two deployed people, both suggested by Dwight Ogle: Justin Lawrence and Brandon Nichols.
What they might want or need? They haven’t expressed any particular things they’d like, so your usual wonderful items will be great.
Thank you for your always-generous support!
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“The O Antiphons of Advent” A Choir Cantata
Sunday, December 3
rd
during the 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM services
(9:46 Crowd will not meet on December 3
rd
)
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Mid-Week “Holden Evening Prayer”
Wednesdays December 6
th
, 13
th
, and 20
th
at 7:30 PM
Preceded by a soup supper at 6:30 PM
Vigil for the Virgin of Guadalupe
Sunday, December 10th at 11:00 PM
“Be Near Me, Lord Jesus”
A Christmas Pageant
Sunday, December 17
th
at 11:15 AM
Las Posadas: Worship, Pageant, & Party
Friday, December 22
nd
beginning at 5:00 PM
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“Star of Wonder” An Epiphany Pageant
Sunday, January 7
th
at 11:00 AM Bilingual Service
(will still have 8:30 AM Worship)
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Save the Date -
Click on event for more information.
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- December 2, 2017, 8:00 AM until Noon
- December 10, 2017 by 10:00 AM
- January 28-February 4, 2018
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Congregational Meeting Dinner Youth Fundraiser
Thank you to all who came and supported our youth, who are going to the ELCA Youth Gathering 2018. We were blessed by your gracious gifts, putting $1,200 towards our trip! Also, a big thank you to Paul Palm for sponsoring our Lutheran Thrivent Action Team that funded our meal!
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Left to Right: Stephanie Ogle, Michael Bianchetta. Benjamin Dalton, Lauren Meiser, David Mendez, Jessica Sheridan, Julia Bogstad, Joseph Triolo. Not Pictured and helping in Nursery: Joy Weekly & Nils Herfindahl. Also, a huge thank you to Marla Bianchetta and Diane Meiser for helping lead in the kitchen!
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2017 White House Ornament Sale
The St. Mark’s Youth are selling 2017 White House ornaments October 15 through December 17 to help fund the 2018 National Youth Gathering in Houston, Texas. The 2017 ornament honors the life and legacy of the 32
nd
President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1933–1945), and his remarkable journey to restore the faith of the American people. Please visit the table in the Narthex and help support our Youth programs.
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Just in time for Christmas Shopping!
Attention Amazon Shoppers!
There is a new way to support the ministry of St. Mark’s as you shop on-line. Simply make your purchases at AmazonSmile, a website that offers the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com, with one notable difference: the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to St. Mark’s. Most of funds generated through AmazonSmile will support the ongoing work of the church; 10% will be directed to Boy Scout Troop 881 in return for bringing this opportunity to our attention. It couldn’t be easier to get started. Just use this link to declare St. Mark’s as your charity of choice:
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/54-0625293
. Then be sure to go to
smile.amazon.com
for your future shopping needs. Happy shopping!
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Communion Cards.
Please don’t forget to fill out a communion card each time you
worship
. Cards are located in the pew racks. If your address has changed, you can include that information so the church office can update your records. In addition, use of the card allows the church office to enter your communion and attendance in the official church records. Thank you.
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Article Deadline
We need YOUR help! In order that ALL OF US receive the necessary documents for This Week, The Messenger, and the website, please send all articles you wish to have published
no later than 5:00 PM on the Tuesday
before the Sunday you wish for the articles to appear. Send those articles to
communications@stmarks-elca.org
.
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Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)
Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
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