Christ Has Risen, Alleluia!
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THE COLLECT
O
God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.
Amen.
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Mother's Day
&
Pink Carnation Sunday
This Sunday, the last Sunday of the Easter Season, we will celebrate those
who are mothers and those who are mother figures for us and others. God gave us the example of unconditional love in the outpouring of God's self in the person of God's Son, Jesus. As a sign of our appreciation and care, all women in the Parish will be given a pink carnation.
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Blessings of Lift Every Voice & Sing Hymnals
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This Sunday, we will also bless the 243 new hymnals,
Lift Every Voice and Sing
, a much appreciated project spearheaded by Healing Racism Ministry and accomplished in record time. We will bless the hymnals, give thanks to all those who donated toward them, distribute them and then sing a hymn from this new important worship resource.
See you on Sunday!
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR SENIOR WARDEN
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1st of the Month Sunday Tours
at St. Mark's
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What to know more about the Episcopal Church?
St. Mark's is part of the Diocese of Western Michigan which is part of the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church can be found in a number of countries. The Episcopal Church is part of the world-wide Anglican Communion. The word, "Episcopal", comes from the Latin word,
episcopus,
which means 'overseer' or bishop as we interpret it. There is a bishop of the Diocese of Western Michigan, and there is a Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. The National Church's offices are in New York City. In our Tradition, priests and bishops are elected and not appointed. The Archbishop of Canterbury is our Archbishop. The Episcopal Church is part of the world-wide Anglican Communion which falls under the Archbishop of Canterbury's oversight.
Want to know more about the broader Church of which we are a part? Please, see this link:
Episcopal News Service
Blessings! ~
Christian+
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Here is a picture of the Explore and Soar reading club that we support at Holy Spirit. They have just celebrated their 10th year and expect to run again in the Fall with a grant from the Whittemore Foundation. A challenging part to that will mean fundraising to make their budget. We have supported them in the past and hope we can continue. I have been a volunteer since it began, and the teachers and program are excellent. So many 2nd and 3rd graders have been given the gift of reading and so much fun to watch them present their “book of choice” at the closing celebration.
Mother Sue York
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Parking for Sunday Services
- Street Parking is available on Pearl, Ionia, Lyon, Fountain and other streets near the Church.
- Parking is available in the Parish’s lot, the upper level of the GRCC building on the corner of Division and Lyon (access from Lyon) and the Ellis Parking Lot at 210 Ionia just west of Lyon Street.
- For the Ellis Lot - Please, pick up an exit ticket from an Usher, a Greeter or at the Front Desk of the Parish House. Parking is free. A green ticket is required to accompany the parking ticket and to exit the lot.
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St. Philip's would like to invite St. Mark's to their Mother's Day Tea on Saturday, May12th from 2pm-4pm. ALL are welcome.
558 Henry Ave., SE
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St. Mark’s is happy to be helping the Kent County Diaper Drive efforts again this year. It is fitting that we will begin helping Moms and their babies on Mother’s Day.
Please, bring a box of diapers to church on Sunday, May 13th or any Sunday thereafter in May.
St. Mark’s Outreach will match the number of diapers we raise with a monetary pledge as well. Any size is needed with the largest need being 4-6. So help us “Keep Em’ Covered” and bring in a box of diapers!
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William Krueger
The father of Shawn Krueger, William Krueger, passed away in the early morning of Thursday, May 10. William now rests in peace. May perpetual light shine upon him, and may the Krueger family be comforted.
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Spring Wednesdays at St. Mark’s
Next Wednesday, we will offer an adult Christian formation in the Parish Hall:
Potluck Supper at 6:00;
Presentation and discussion at 6:30;
Compline (Night prayer) at 7:30 or thereafter.
Our next presenter, Jane Stidolph, Director of Children’s Christian Formation will explore the national Church’s programs of Safeguarding God’s Children and Safeguarding God’s People. She is certified as a trainer in Safeguarding and is working with the Parish and the Diocese to provide resources and trainings. Her session will be enlightening for all parishioners, as we work to provide a safe and secure environment for all those who come to the Parish. A flier for the seven-week Series is on the resource table, and sign-up sheets are at the Welcome Desk for the potluck offerings. Please, plan to be with us for this spring’s series.
Many thanks
~
+Christian
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Pentecost Sunday and Baptisms May 20th
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JOIN US FOR PENTECOST SUNDAY!
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On Sunday, May 20, we will celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples following the Ascension of Jesus. It is a festival Sunday, one of the more important celebrations in the life of the Church and also considered to be the Birthday of the Church. The reading from the Acts of the Apostles will be read in English as well as numerous other languages. If you can offer a language, please sign-up at the Welcome Desk or contact Fr. Christian or Margaret Stretton. On that day, we will baptize four little ones into the Christian Tradition:
- Raymond Patrick Kerkorian-Reese
- Danielle Leigh Kerkorian-Reese
A
lso
in celebration, Parish Life Ministry is hosting an ice cream social after the 10:30 Service, and we will have festive cakes for our newly baptized and all of us as well.
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A Creation Care Project In Children’s Formation, we have embarked on a stewardship journey of God's creation and our call to care for it. It is important to present these concepts to our children and youth and even more important to give them the means and inspiration to act upon their ideas. The youth of this parish know the south lawn, the St. Mary’s Garden, is an often overlooked area and have received permission to re-imagine and transform this space. Our older youth are busy researching and sketching their vision for the Garden. They are excited to create this sacred green space for their church community, but we are in need of your help. We would like to form the Creation Care Ministry and invite interested individuals to join us in transforming our south lawn. We need gardening enthusiasts to help with design and planting. We are excited to begin.
Join us!
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On Sunday, May 20, at 5:00, the St. Mark’s Choir and guest musicians will present a concert called “Singing our Faith,” a celebration of the workings of faith in our lives through music. There will be music by Vivaldi, Elgar, Koetsier, Mozart, Bach, and Moore. Guest musicians include a string ensemble of members of the Grand Rapids Symphony and horn player Paul Austin. Please come and join us!
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Ministry Opportunities
- Lectors/Intersessors training - May 19, 9:30 am - All readers are invited to this retreat and workshop whether you are a seasoned reader or just wish to join this ministry. The theology of proclamation will be discussed and passages from Scripture will be used for practice in church. Come, Join us!
- All Ministries Calendar Meeting will be held on May 24th at 6:30 pm. All ministries are asked to send a representative to the meeting. We will look at the calendars for the summer and the fall.
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Sustaining St. Mark’s Ministry in 2018
Thanks to all who sustain our ministry together at St. Mark’s with pledges and offerings. We have pledged
$425,550
toward our common life in 2018. Last week, we received
$10,498
contributions in
pledges and offerings.
R
eceived YTD
Needed
Difference
YTD Contributions:
$ 265,165 $ 220,022 $ 45,143
A reminder that we gratefully received 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.) Want more details about the Parish’s giving or finances? Please email questions to Finance Manager, Pam Stevenson
pams@stmarksgr.org
or our Treasurer, Sharon Buursma
sbuursma@msn.com
.
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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
(Library, 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.
Explorations and Renewal in Christ
(St. Mary's Chapel) June 3rd at 12:15pm.
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Assisting Worship This Sunday
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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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