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STEWARDSHIP LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP

In writing this morning, it occurs to me that I don't have much to do other than to pass on messages from the Apostles Peter and Paul.

Peter's first letter to churches in Asia Minor provides:

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.

But how to serve, and with what gifts? Paul has an answer to that when he wrote to believers in Rome:

We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Written nearly 2,000 years ago, these messages remain contemporary, relevant, and powerful for us. Each one of us has some ability or talent that we can contribute to support St. Mark and its missions. Some teach Sunday school or serve in the nursery. Some organize food drives, shelter homeless women in the winter, or represent St. Mark at community events. Some ensure that our services run smoothly, support worship with music, or care for our physical space. Some arrange our after-service coffee and snacks, make soup for our Lenten suppers, or cook or bring dishes for our Easter brunches and Annual Meetings.

In the spirit of the current cinematic fixation on comic book heroes, everyone has a Super-Power they can use for Good and for God. What's yours?

Please consider prayerfully what you are able to contribute to St. Mark this year. Then complete and return the pledge drive card you received in the mail.

In Peace,

Alice McKenna

Vice President, Mission Council

SUBMIT HERE YOUR PLEDGE OF SUPPORT

THIS SUNDAY!!

FIESTA LATINA

(A Hispanic Festival)

October 13 right after church

JOIN US FOR LUNCH in the school yard

Enjoy a fun afternoon of FELLOWSHIP

Celebrating some of the wonderful diversity in our land

By having some tacos or taco salad, making Venezuelan arepas,

Singing the folk song “De colores”, Dancing a bit of salsa and merengue

Playing games and Breaking a piñata filled with candies!

Free Will Donation will be given to

Lutheran International Refugee Services

Please SIGN UP as to what you would like to bring

for the tacos, taco salad or piñata

Please also bring a Lawn Chair and possibly your own cup, plate

and silverware, Though some will be provided as needed.

PRESCHOOL COMMITTEE NEED

Looking for New Preschool Committee Members. After many years of service as chair and co-chair of the Preschool Committee, Patty Marbury is stepping off the committee, and we are looking for new members to fill this important leadership role.

If you have an interest in this ministry, please let Pastor Viktoria or Lois Shepherd ( lois@loisshepherd.net ) know. No particular background experience is required.

We thank Patty for her many years of wise leadership and dedication!

Lois Shepherd, Co-Chair

FEEDING CONFIRMANDS

Every Sunday evening before Pastor Viktoria feeds the faith of our Confirmation class, she feeds them dinner.

Would you like to help by providing their meal? If so, please go to this Signup Genius link .

Dinner is for 9 people and needs to be delivered by 5:00 p.m. to the church kitchen. (Note that one kid is a vegetarian). Contact Heidi Jones with questions ( ernstwrite@yahoo.com or 434 979 1777).

PRAYER STUDY - ST. MARK

To come together to learn and grow in prayer, individually and collectively. We will meet from 1PM to 2:30PM each Monday for the next 8 weeks. (Sept 23-Nov 11). Come Join us.

We are reading: Henry Nouwen: The Only Necessary Thing.

We will begin with a short prayer and a sharing of highs and lows. Then we will spend about an hour in a discussion of the readings. Please read the designated chapters prior to the meeting. As you read we suggest you look for/ note your thoughts about the readings.

During the last 15 minutes we will close in shared prayer.

10/14 Chapters 7 and 8 Discipline ; Unceasing Prayer

10/21 Chapters 9 and 10. Community; Action and Intercession

10/28 Chapters 11 and 12 Forgiveness; Hinderances

11/4 Chapters 13 and 14 Eucharist; Death and Eternal Life

11/11 Summary

For more information contact:

Laurel McClurken laurel.mcclurken@gmail.com

Linda Roberts wwrlnr@comcast.net

EVERY SECOND MONDAY

You are invited!

Our Beer and Hymns

Trinity Pub on the Corner, 7pm to 8 pm.

All ages are welcome. We meet the second Monday of each month, same time and place. Bring your friends to experience this Lutheran tradition. We will have a great time!

Synod and ELCA News

A Call for Dignity and Respect in Politics

Recently, Bishop Eaton added her name to a Statement of Support titled "Golden Rule 2020: A Call for Dignity and Respect in Politics." This project was developed through a convening hosted by the National Institute for Civil Discourse in Washington, D.C. earlier this year.

Churches have an important role to play in helping to heal America, and we hope and pray that local congregations will be active in efforts to increase understanding and bridge divisions in our country between now and the 2020 election.

To this end, we encourage Christians of different political views, to come together on Sunday, November 3, 2019--exactly one year before the 2020 election--to participate in Golden Rule 2020: A Call for Dignity and Respect in Politics. On that day, we invite congregations and individuals to do two things:

Pray for the healing of the divisions in our country, and
Promote the use of the Golden Rule in our own political discussions and election activities in 2020 Learn more and read the full statement.

Lost and Found Youth Event

If you are interested, let the pastor know.

is our annual weekend retreat for youth in 7th and 8th grade and their adult advisors. We have Large Group gatherings that consist of singing, energy, comedy, worship and a presentation on our event theme. After each Large Group gathering each person is part of a Small Group made up of about 8 youth and a couple adult leaders where participants will get to know other Lutheran youth from Virginia and discuss life, faith and other topics that arise throughout the weekend. On Saturday afternoon there is large chunk of Free Time during which we will also hold out annual Talent Show. In the evenings you will relax in your Cottage and talk with other youth and adults from your congregation and other congregations about how the weekend is going.

For more information on Lost and Found and

to register for the event, click here .

Climate Crisis and the Bible

Just in time for the U.N.’s Climate Action Summit as well as the climate strikes planned all over the world, here’s a brief, action-packed overview of what the Bible has to say about the climate crisis, from Genesis to Revelation.

Message on racism and white supremacy

On Sept. 13, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton issued a statement regarding actions the 2019 Churchwide Assembly took to address “the deadly power of racism and white supremacy.” The actions included offering a public apology titled “Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent,” adopting a resolution condemning white supremacy and adopting a resolution to establish June 17 as “Emanuel 9 Day of Repentance.” Eaton said, “Standing equally under the judgment and promise of the gospel, we, as a church, can recognize the overt and covert ways that a culture of white supremacy denies full humanity to all people, and we can work to dismantle it.”

Read the statement .

L ook for an update to Global Mission social media

As we bring a close to Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA, we’re transitioning to new ways of lifting up the ministries of our global companions. We will continue to support the same critical ministries and lift up the stories of global engagement and the work of our companions under the name: “Global Mission.” Starting Oct. 15, you’ll notice that our Facebook , Twitter and Instagram pages will transition to the new “ELCA Global Mission” name and a new link. Follow us now to keep up with the latest updates! After the transition, you can find us under the name “ELCA Global Mission.” Check back next month for the updated social media links.

Annual State ECUMENICAL LARCUM Conference

being held in Virginia Beach, Virginia at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Friday and Saturday, November 22 and 23, 2019. Please note this is a week earlier than usual .

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

...“as we gather annually throughout the world to pray for the unity of Christians we are reminded of the importance of need for “unusual kindness” in the dialogue that leads to growth in unity. We do this in a world where separation and division hinder the quest for Christian Unity. “... Fr. James Loughran, SA. Click below for the program. PROGRAM OF THE ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE

WE ARE ONE HUMAN FAMILY

“ On Nov. 9, 2019 , the world will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. As we look back to remember this important moment in human history, we are reminded that there is much work to be done to tear down the walls that divide us today. … My friends, I encourage you, your congregations and your communities to join together in proclaiming this truth — that we are one human family.”

— The Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director for Global Mission

Join us for a FREE, 2-day course featuring Victor Vieth called “When Faith Hurts".

This course deals with the intersection of child abuse and faith communities. Held on November 12-13, 2019 from 8:30 Am to 5:00 PM at Lexington Presbyterian Church. Topics include:

When Faith Hurts
When Child Abuse Hits Home: Corporal Punishment, the Law and the Faith Community
Understanding the Impact of Trauma on Children
Recognizing and Responding to Sexual Offenses Committed by Children, addressing emotional and spiritual injuries, care in action: a collaboration between faith and child protective communities, responding to allegations of child abuse within a congregation

To register for this event, click here . For an informational flyer click here . For more information about the speaker, click here .

“We Are Church, We Are Called”

In 2019 and 2020, the ELCA is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the church’s decision to ordain women, the 40th anniversary of the ordination of women of color and the 10th anniversary of the church’s decision to remove barriers to ministry for persons in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous same-gender relationships. Congregations are encouraged to recognize and honor these anniversaries throughout the year. Resources, including Bible studies, banners, worship materials and more, are available. Read more about the anniversaries and download resources.

Theological Touchstones for Disagreeing in the Body of Christ

This article was published on October 1 in the Journal of Lutheran Ethics. Given some of the conversations happening in our Synod and across the ELCA, it would seem that congregations in our midst are not immune to differences of opinion among God's saints. Whether we are viewing congregational finances, times of transition, or theological or societal questions, these theological touchstones might be helpful in framing Christian dialogue.

The authors -- Amy Carr and Christine Helmer -- offer three touchstones in particular, rooted in Word and sacrament. From our confessional position where "for the true unity of the church it is enough to agree concerning the teaching of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments," the authors point us toward:

remembering our baptismal adoption as the covenantal framework for all ecclesial disagreement.
in communing at the Lord’s Table, eschatological trust infuses our current grappling with enduring conflicts.
mindfulness about two orienting tendencies that take turns animating many expressions of sin: presumption of our own righteousness on one hand, and on the other, despair of divine mercy and of creation’s goodness