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
|
|
Message from Pastor Albert
|
|
Why go to Church?
A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday.
He wrote: "I've gone for 30 years now, and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons, but for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time, the preachers and priests are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."
This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column.
Much to the delight of the editor, it went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:
"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.
“But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.
“Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"
When you are DOWN to nothing, God is UP to something!
Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible!
Thank God for our physical and our spiritual nourishment!
Yours in the Trinity,
+ Pastor Albert
|
|
Dear Fellow St. Mark’s Members,
Meeting on Monday April 9th, the Church Council considered the following items:
· Increased attendance at the 9:46 AM and 11:06 AM adult Bible classes has indicated an interest in a core study of the scriptures. In a series of lectures, we are lead through all the books of the Bible with thought-provoking teaching about threads of meaning throughout.
· Council will meet in a retreat on April 28th during which we will review the material originating with the town hall meetings. We will also begin review of the current worship schedule in regard to a schedule for next fall.
· Council decided to continue the current worship schedule through the summer: 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM, and 12:00 PM.
· St. Mark’s has been approached to host a program—MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)—to be led by Stephanie Ogle.
· The Spring Congregation program meeting is scheduled for May 20th. If you have an interest in a special program, let a council member know about it.
God Bless,
Paul Palm, Council President
|
|
Handbell Concert
The St. Mark's congregation is invited to a handbell concert this Sunday, April 22 at 4:00 PM at St. John's United Methodist Church. The St. Mark's Handbell Choir will be participating in a mass performance with four other area handbell ensembles, under the direction of internationally known composer and clinician, Cynthia Dobrinski. An ice cream social will be held prior to the concert at 3:00 PM.
|
|
Thank You Note from the Taylors
April 11, 2018
Dear Friends of the Friends & Family Chamber Orchestra & Choir,
and very dear friends of ours,
We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to our final performance at St. Mark’s, on Sunday, April 29, 2018 at 4:30 PM. The orchestra and choir are preparing a most enjoyable concert for you! As usual, this concert is free, so bring all your friends! We will be “passing the plate” (in true Lutheran tradition!), the beneficiary this time being our own St. Mark’s Music Program, which we Taylors have loved and supported for the past 42+ years!
The music at St. Mark’s is, to borrow a phrase from the kids, “totally awesome!” We thank Bob Webb and former music directors; the Chancel Choir, past and present; the vocal soloists; Chris Michaelsen on the organ; the bell choirs; the children’s choirs; and all the incredible instrumentalists, for continually enriching our spirits and lifting up our faith through music. We thank our colleague and dear friend, Karen Randall, for directing the Friends & Family Chamber Choir, and for all of her contributions to the music at St. Mark’s. Finally, we thank Pr. Triolo for his love of and hearty participation in the musical life here. Very few churches have music programs as strong, inspirational, and beautiful as St. Mark’s.
Special kudos, thanks, and love to the women of St. Mark’s Quilts & More, who have baked many cookies and cheerfully served refreshments at all of our concerts, so welcoming to both performers and audiences.
We will be moving shortly. . . not very far, just to Bristow, VA, which is closer to our kids and grandkids. It is just far enough away that we will be looking for another church home for us and another performance venue for the Friends & Family Orchestra. We will be in touch once future concert details have been settled, because we want to see you next year. Thanks again for all your enthusiastic support over the years.
With love and appreciation,
Wayne & Ginny Taylor
|
|
Children’s Church Adult Volunteers Needed
During the 10:00 AM worship service throughout the school year, the children are dismissed from the Children’s Sermon to go downstairs and attend their own Children’s Church service.
Just like their parents upstairs, their service includes prayer, singing, and a Bible-based lesson. Children are reunited with their parents in time for communion. All ages are welcome.
We invite members of our congregation to grow closer to God by spreading the “Good News” to God’s youngest. We currently need adults to either teach or assist beginning this
September
2018
. Volunteers are scheduled to help one Sunday (the same Sunday) each month.
If you are interested in helping with this ministry, please contact Cathy Snider at
csnider4@verizon.net
or 703-455-5395.
|
|
The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program offered by Fairfax County, at our Church, ended last Saturday, April 14
th
. We want to congratulate the following brethren of St. Mark’s who completed the six weeks program.
|
|
Contemporary Worship Music Team
Pr. Albert and Debbie Griffes are looking to start a music ensemble to offer contemporary Christian music at St. Mark’s during our Sunday morning services. This would not replace our current liturgy but add to it. They will be reading through music on Thursday evenings at 6:00 PM. All who are interested are welcome to join them. Until this becomes a regular event, interested persons are encouraged to contact either Pr. Albert or Debbie before heading to the church to confirm the rehearsal is happening. Pr. Albert’s email address is
atriolo@stmarks-elca.org
.
|
|
Can you help us prepare a meal on Tuesday nights?
Many don’t realize it, but St. Mark’s hosts a county-led Nurturing Parenting Class every Tuesday evening from 4:00 PM-7:00 PM. The Life Center and WELCA have been able to provide two warm meals a month for the parents and children, but the WELCA team is not able to continue. We are looking for individuals and/or teams to help us provide a simple meal on a Tuesday evening at 6:30 PM.
Why does the class rely on us for meals? Up until a few years ago, the county provided funding for meals, but funds have been reduced. The organizers are forced to juggle between providing a meal and funding the instructors. Our ability to help provide a meal eases the strain and allows for more support from the county—the more support we get, the more classes they can offer, so they can strengthen families in our communities and prevent child abuse and neglect.
More about the Nurturing Parenting Class. The class is run by the county and uses the Blue room, Green room, and Fellowship Hall each Tuesday throughout the year. Families are referred to the county through a variety of ways: An expectant mother can refer herself. A friend who took a class may refer a parent/friend. A parent who is having difficulty raising/communicating with a child may just go online and register. A family may see a flier and may just want to take the class just because it looks appealing and suits their needs. Fairfax County Courts may refer a family due to Children’s Protective Services involvement, a custody battle, Foster Care & Adoption involvement, or maybe parental rights may be at risk. Lawyers make referrals to the class for co-parenting, custody battles, and divorce situations. Mental Health therapists make referral to the class for troubled parent-child relationships. School Social Workers make referrals to the class due to a child’s disclosure of information regarding child mal-treatment, child’s behavior in school, or simply cultural differences in raising children pertaining to country of origin or cultural background (acculturation to the USA). The Community Services Board may refer a family with a child with special needs, ADD, ADHD, Asperger, and like illnesses. Alcohol and Drug Services may refer a parent who has drug issues and is being treated for such but needs assistance in the parenting area. There are so many types of referrals: some are mandated, some are recommended, and some are self-referred.
Please contact Al Van Nostrand in person or via email at
avannost@gmail.com
if you think you can help. We generally prepare the meal and the instructors serve it and clean up afterwards. That said, the class welcomes any of us to join them for the meal for discussions and fellowship.
|
|
Military Packages Collection: Sunday, April 29
We are still waiting for the specific name and address of our end-of-April recipient, but your wonderful packages will be for another deployed group of folks
.
You always come through with wonderful items, whether home-baked goodies, snacks, or supplies/toiletries—they are always grateful for the great items you provide, and the love and caring that our packages represent. Thank you very much for your consistent and generous support for this project.
|
|
Women of St. Mark’s are invited to the
Spring WELCA Open House
Where: Fellowship Hall
When: Sunday, April 29, 2018
Time: 11:00 AM
Gather for coffee, refreshments, and fellowship. Enjoy an hour together. Come learn about the many projects that WELCA supports during the year both in our area and worldwide. We would love to have you join us in supporting these important projects.
The WELCA Project for May is “in-Kind gifts” of
Toiletries
for the Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, which will be collected at this meeting and at the WELCA SWO Convention, May 5, 2018. Suggested
Toiletries
are toilet paper, Kleenex (boxes), shampoo (regular size), conditioner (regular size), soap, deodorant, toothpaste (regular size), toothbrushes, brush/comb, aspirin, razors, and feminine products.
|
|
Thank you to all who supported our Youth at the Town Hall Fundraiser Meal!
We raised almost $700 toward going to the ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston, TX this summer.
|
|
Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Kenya Wallace, Craig Meiser, Lauren Meiser, Diane Meiser, Janice Barnes, Michael Bianchetta, Aleah Perry, Nils Herfindahl, Joseph Triolo, Joy Weekly, Kara Barnes, Corey Perry, Stephanie and Liam Ogle, Miriam Avila, Nayla Avila, Marla Bianchetta, Harriet Latta, and Esther Herfindahl, not pictured: Erland Herfindahl
|
|
Save the Date (click on picture for info)
|
|
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.
|
|
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
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|