Church Family News
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 24 at 10:15AM

It is Christ the King Sunday and we are thankful for having a gentle and just leader for our lives.

We will celebrate a service of thanksgiving for all that God had done through us and through our congregation of St. Mark.

You are invited to bring food for the Blue Ridge Food Pantry that we will place in baskets at the entrance of the sanctuary.

Let us be thankful and share God's bounty with our community. You are welcome to bring fall decoration and help Christina Osheim make our altar and sanctuary festive.

If you would like to help decorate or have some fall decoration or pumpkins to share, just let the office know.














ST. MARK PRESCHOOL NEWS

The children are really enjoying the new mud kitchen, designed and built by an SMLP parent volunteer!
HAPPY 100 FRIEDA GIBSON

Frieda celebrated her birthday in Richmond, with her family. She is our oldest church member and one of our charter member.

Pastor Viktoria and Laurene was happy to deliver a special hand made birthday card made by Laurene and signed by our congregation.

She was happy to receive flowers and special brownies made by Phyllis.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRIEDA!
NEW ST. MARK BIKE RACKS

Thank you for the UVA student group (LUMIN) pictured here who donated them.

Also a BIG thank you to Roy and Lewis who installed them.

May it provide for our own needs, and encourage us to care for others and for our beautiful creation.  

Let these bike racks remind us of the road that we are taking with Christ and the hills and valleys that we take on together.

We pray for God's protective presence in our lives and all lives who travel and stop on their way at our church. May they feel the welcome and blessing they receive here. May they never feel alone out on the open road.
Poinsettia
POINSETTIA SIGN UP IS HERE!

You can find the sign up sheet in the hallway by the office, or you can sign up online by clicking on the red button below.

Please fill out the form to order poinsettias for Christmas Service!

The price is $15 for each flower and you can donate one in honor or memory of someone you love.

The deadline is currently December 16th.

These flowers will make our Christmas service special and remind us of the love we have for others.

CLICK BELOW FOR ON LINE ORDERS!
SUPPORT ST. MARK WITH AMAZON
Did you know that
when you shop for the holidays at
  smile.amazon.com/ch/59-3113153 ,
AmazonSmile donates to St. Mark Lutheran Church? It cost nothing to you but St. Mark will receive money to its mission.
HABITAT MEETING

Pastor Viktoria and I represented St. Mark and our Social Ministry Committee at Habitat's "Building Faith Breakfast". We were impressed to see about 40 faith communities in this area listed as being at the meeting; Christians, Muslims and Jews. We learned that although Habitat builds physical homes, they realize that it's just as important to build communities" of neighbors who share a common neighborhood, common concerns and a common future. We were inspired by the story of a local grandmother caring for three children who couldn't qualify for Habitat's zero-interest mortgage program BUT thanks to their "Pathways to Housing" program, went from being homeless to finding housing, a better paying job, and is on the path to qualify for the Habitat mortgage program. We learned that Charlottesville has an acute affordable housing shortage, in part due to "urban development" that leveled African American neighborhoods 50 years ago. The City has found that there's a need for 4,000 additional affordable dwellings; a shortfall of 20% of the population! We learned that 85% of households earning less than $20,000 per year spend at least 30% of take-home income on housing. Habitat has purchased, and is transitioning, the large Southold trailer park to resident-owned housing, which is wonderful, but we also learned that the need remains urgent. Habitat's slogan is "Advocate, Volunteer, Donate." Our committee donates to Habitat for Humanity from the parking lot revenue, among other recipients. Rich Leahy, Chair of Social Committee
ST. MARK
WOMEN RETREAT!

Let the office or Pastor Viktoria know if you are interested going. We would car pool together.

Wild Women Wine and Craft Retreat, December 6-8
Join us for a weekend of fellowship and renewal! Feel free to bring a book, your latest crafting project, and your favorite snacks/drinks to share. We'll share some of our favorites too - transportation is provided to a local winery, and we'll lead the group in a craft. (Craft details TBD - stay tuned)​ Retreat cost includes modern-rustic lodging, scratch-made meals, and transportation to a local winery. For more information and to register click below:
WOMEN'S BOOK CLUB NEWS
The Women's Bookclub will meet November 25th , Monday, at 7:00pm in the church library to discuss author Toni Morrison.
All the women of the church are invited to get any book by Toni Morrison and read it before the 25th. On that night we will discuss the author in general through her books. What themes she covered, what were the different subjects and how she may have worked a theme into that book, etc. Come all and join us!
Synod and ELCA News
  Annual State ECUMENICAL LARCUM Conference  
LARCUM (Lutheran/Anglican/Roman Catholic/United Methodist) Conference being held in Virginia Beach, Virginia at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on  Friday and Saturday, November 22 and 23, 2019 . Fr. James Loughran, SA, Director of the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute will present the historical development of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the challenges to the modern day movement and practical ways in which local ecumenical communities can celebrate this year’s theme  “They Showed Unusual Kindness” .Please visit  www.virginialarcum.org  to learn more. Registration fee is $35 and includes a box lunch - registration closes November 8, 2019. Online Registration is now OPEN at www.virginialarcum.org
Click below for the program. PROGRAM OF THE ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE
Clunky Questions about LGBQITA+
(from  ReconcilingWorks.org ) : In our work, we often hear people with good intentions feel they aren’t able to ask questions about what it means to be LGBTQ because they are afraid of offending someone or they don’t have the right words with which to ask. If this sounds familiar, or if your faith community is interested in how to better support LGBTQ Lutherans, then  the “Clunky Questions” series   is for you.

Racial Equity Tools Glossary
(from  RacialEquityTools.org ):  Racial Equity Tools  is a website designed to support individuals and groups working to achieve racial equity. This site offers tools, research, tips, curricula and ideas for people who want to increase their own understanding and to help those working toward justice at every level – in systems, organizations, communities and the culture at large.

The glossary linked here reminds us of the importance of words and strives to provide some "shared understanding, particularly when using the most common terms. In this way, the quality of dialogue and discourse on race can be enhanced."
Community News
COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER
We invite you and your family to our  Community Thanksgiving Dinner  to gather together with people of different backgrounds to celebrate community, promote awareness and understanding, and share fellowship. The program will be held on  Saturday, November 16th at 5 pm  at the  Event Hall  located at 1024 Carrington Place. 

Dinner will include a variety of appetizers, salads, entrees, and desserts. Registration is free and required. Any donations will benefit  PACEM , a grassroots organization that coordinates space and volunteers to provide shelter for individuals in our community who are homeless.
Join us for this annual community holiday dinner. Please feel free to share this invitation with your friends. Please  RSVP  at  Eventbrite   or by emailing to  cville@rumiforum.org . Best regards, Rumi Forum Charlottesville
Coming to the Table
Saturday, November 9, 2 to 4 pm, Trinity Episcopal Church, 1118 Preston Ave.
Learn to practice a dialogue process that promotes honest and constructive conversation process to share our experiences on race and practice listening deeply to each other.  RSVP to Kathy Spaar   if you will attend.
 
Region Ten Hosts Community Convening Conference & Open Table
Wednesday, November 13, 10 am to 3 pm, at Region Ten, 500 Old Lynchburg Rd. Learn how congregations and organizations use the  Open Table   model to create community and transformation through relationships with individuals and families who are homeless, experiencing poverty, or other life challenges. Region Ten is convening businesses and other private sectors in the community for the purpose of serving more kids and families. For more information  click here  and RSVP to   Ellen Shifflett , Region Ten CSB.
MINISTRY OF WORSHIP AND MUSIC
  • THANK YOU FOR YOUR MINISTRY OF WORSHIP.
  • SCHEDULE IS BELOW.
  • IF YOU CANNOT BE HERE TO SERVE PLEASE SCHEDULE SOMEONE ELSE IN YOUR PLACE.
  • IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SERVE, PLEASE LET THE OFFICE KNOW.
Sunday November 17
Welcome: Marco Escobar             
Greeter:  Charlotte Owen
Ushers:  Tom & Caroline Hecmanczuk
Crucifer/Acolyte/Chalice: Andrew Roache & Howard Imhoff
Assisting Minister:  Nano Masters
Children Moment:  Tony Marbury
Lector:  Kara McClurken
Cantor:  Sylvie Bon-Harper
Altar Guild: Jessica Ney-Grimm
Nursery: Madeleine Jones
Snack:  Carolyn Rader & Heidi Ernst Jones
Coffee/Clean up:  Charlotte Owen & Kara McClurken
Counters:  Christa Escobar & Constance Johnson
Sunday November 24
Welcome: Tom Hecmanczuk             
Greeter: 
Ushers:  Lewis & Crosby Horton
Crucifer/Acolyte/Chalice: Mia Marin & Alice McKenna
Assisting Minister:  Helen Ida Moyer
Children Moment:  Tom Hecmanczuk
Lector:  Pat Dwiggins
Cantor:  Helen Ida Moyer
Altar Guild: Elaine Oakey
Nursery: Amanda Nelsen
Snack:  Margi Roache & David Zentmyer
Coffee/Clean up:   Gail Milligan & Caroline Hecmanczuk
Counters:  Pat Dwiggins & Mark Giesecke
St. Mark Lutheran Church (ELCA) of Charlottesville, VA
(434) 293-3311 |  www.stmarklutheran.org