St. Mark's Episcopal Church | Evanston
Being in Place - Growing in Faith - Living from the Center
The eLion
All of us at St. Mark’s share a commitment to our faith and to our community, and we welcome visitors regardless of religious background, race, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Everyone is welcome here.
COVID-19:
A Faithful Response
 
Last week, Pastor Debra sent out guidelines as to changes to our worship gatherings as it pertains to passing the peace and sharing communion. Those guidelines will continue to inform our worship and are listed here so you can review them (for the full letter, click here ):

  • Hand sanitizer will continue to be used

  • Intinction (dipping the bread into the chalice) will no longer be an option; if you do not want to drink from the cup (perhaps a good idea during this heightened time of uncertainty) know that communion is received in full by the bread alone.

  • We will suspend our use of grape juice but remember that communion is received in full by the bread alone.

  • Please avoid shaking hands at the Peace and instead wave, bow, or offer a peace sign. Our earlier practice of bumping elbows will be suspended as the COVID-19 virus can live on surfaces for up to two weeks.

  • Please, stay home if you are sick, and we commit to pray for you. 

In addition, beginning this Sunday we will:

  • Remove the water from the baptismal font

  • Place the offering plates at each entrance / exit (they will not be passed nor will they be carried up to the altar)

  • Serve only juice and coffee during coffee hour. Please do not bring snacks to share

  • St. Mark's is suspending in-person gatherings of greater than 10 people, with the exception of Sunday morning worship.

These additional changes are as a result of the Bishop's communication that was sent to church leaders on March 11. You can read the Bishop's letter by clicking here.

As more information and guidelines are provided by the CDC and/or our Bishop, additional changes may occur.

Another item that is new since last Sunday is the following from the CDC:

For those who are at higher risk of becoming very sick from COVID-19 including
  • Older adults
  • People who have serious chronic medical conditions like:
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Lung disease
the CDC now recommends that you avoid crowds, including worship gatherings , and avoid all non-essential travel including plane trips, and especially avoid embarking on cruise ships.

If you choose to stay home from worship and would like a telephone conversation and time of prayer with Pastor Debra, please contact her at 847-732-9564 or rector@stmarksevanston.org and be assured that, in the interim, you will be carried in the prayers of the St. Mark's community.
For the first time, ALL the Episcopal Church's in Evanston
are joining together as one team: 
 
"EPISCOPALIAN'S UNITED AGAINST HATE!"
 
Early bird registration is open now until March 15th.
Please register under our united banner and help us make a difference in fighting hate in our community.
 
This Weekend
Texts for March 15, 2020

Exodus 17:1-7
Psalm 95:1-7
Romans 5:1-11
John 4:5-42

O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our Salvation
- Psalm 95:1

Lay Ministers for Sunday, March 15, 2020

Eucharistic Ministers: Beth Johnson, Lynette Murphy
Lectors: Nancye Kirk (8am); Cas Szczepaniak, Dorothy Szczepaniak (10:30am)
Acolytes: Malaysia Jackson, Lydia Pappas, Kate Johnson
Altar Guild: Pat Bent, Rachel Easton
Ushers: Susan Lewis, Lisa Montgomery
Coffee Hour Host: Debra Bullock
Coffee Hour Snacks: Last names beginning with M - S
Vestry Persons of the Day: Liz McElhatton, Betsy Johnson
Worship & Formation
Weekly Online Prayer and Reflection Group: Pastor Debra hosts an online video conference at 12 noon each Friday in Lent . To join the video conference, go to https://zoom.us/j/7465059615 (the first time you use the link you will be asked to download free software so you'll want to do this in advance). During this time we will pray together, read a reflection for the day and share our thoughts on the day's reflection question.Reflections will come from Living Well Through Lent 2020: Practicing Courage with All Your Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind (copies are available in the Parlor, or you can read it online by going to LivingCompass.org/Lent .
Creation Care Adult Education Forum: Looking for a Lenten practice or meditation? Concerned about the modern ecological crisis? Pastoral Intern, Carter Schram, will be leading two adult education forums to talk about the concept of creation care and our response as Christians. Explore the theological motivation behind environmental justice and learn more about what the Episcopal Church and St. Mark’s are doing to help. We will gather 3/15 and 3/22 at 9:15am in Bethlehem Chapel. All are welcome to attend and add value to our conversations.

Newcomer Series: Are you new to the Episcopal Church or new to St. Mark’s? Or maybe you’ve been coming for a while but want to know what it means to be a “member” of this thing called Church. Whatever your story, wherever you are on your journey in faith, you are invited to join Pastor Debra on Sunday mornings from 9:15 – 10 a.m. through March 29. If you have any questions, please email Pastor Debra at rector@stmarksevanston.org .
Easter Flowers: One of the most beautiful ways in which we mark the difference between the season of Lent and the joyous celebration of the Feast of the Resurrection is in the way we adorn our sanctuary. All are invited to help us create a festive display by contributing money toward Easter flowers. These contributions may be given in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving or honor of someone special. The requested minimum donation is $20 per name. Please make checks payable to St. Mark's Episcopal Church and indicate "Easter Flowers" in the memo line or place cash in an envelope clearly marked Easter Flowers. Forms are available in the parlor or by emailing rector@stmarksevanston.org . Requests to remember or honor loved ones in this way, must be in to the church office no later than Monday, April 6
Staying Connected
During the COVID-19 outbreak and in keeping with the CDC's request that we practice responsible social distancing, St. Mark's is suspending in-person gatherings of greater than 10 people, with the exception of Sunday morning worship for at least the next few weeks.

Choir Member of the Month: Joanna Greene is St. Mark’s Choir Member of the Month! Joanna has been singing in the St. Mark’s Choir for 30+ years and loves the beautiful sounds we produce and the enjoyment and appreciation she sees on the faces of the St. Mark’s congregation. If you see Joanna, let her know how much we appreciate her willingness to serve as a leader of worship in our Parish Choir. Thank you, Joanna!
Who Are We? Where Are We? And How Can We Find One Another? It’s time once again to update the Church Directory! You will find a copy in the parlor or you can click on a copy right here! On Sunday morning, please take a moment to check your information – spelling of name, children’s names, address, phone, email, etc. If there are changes - or if you are not listed! - simply write the changes or add yourself to the directory in the Parlor OR send an email to rector@stmarksevanston.org and we will make the necessary changes to the database. In Eastertide we will print copies of the new directory for everyone. Thank you for your help in keeping our data up to date!
Jubi-latte and Tea Deum will be on hiatus until further notice.

Coffee Hour Hosts are needed each Sunday morning to ensure that members and first time worshipers alike are greeted with our famous hospitality after worship. This ministry entails brewing fresh coffee and setting out juice. Then, once folks are heading out, we ask that you make sure cups are in the dishwasher and coffee pots are rinsed. There are many folks who can help you and answer questions on Sunday if you get stuck. But we need your help! There is a sign-up sheet in the Parlor with several open dates for March and April. Please help us ensure that our hospitality remains one of the things our first time worshipers talk about.

Episcopal Church Women Conference: Join us Saturday, April 18 at the Cathedral for the Episcopal Church Women 135th Annual Conference (Men and Children are welcome) 9 am -3 pm.  This year’s theme is “Creation Care: Paths to Sustainability” and will feature a panel of representatives (including Allison Ashley, representing St Marks ) from around the diocese to discuss sustainability projects done since the 2010 launch of the Bishop’s Task Force on Sustainability. Rev. John Christ will present a “Stations of Creation”, Rev. Anna Broadbent will deliver the homily and Bishop Lee will celebrate the eucharist. For more information and to register, visit https://www.ecwchicago.org/education/ Contact Allison Ashley at creation@stmarksevanston.org if you would like to carpool.

Office Hours and Announcement Deadline: Paula Cosby, Administrative Assistant is in the office each Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The deadline for all announcements for the eLion and bulletin is Tuesday at 12 noon. Thank you.

 Vestry: Did you know that the most recent Vestry Meeting minutes and the treasurer's reports are always posted on the bulletin board outside of the volunteer office? The minutes can also be viewed online by clicking   this link!
Social Justice & Outreach
3rd Sunday Juice & Sock Collection: Our next collection takes place on Sunday, March 15th. Please place jugs of apple or cranberry juice and new socks in the red shopping cart at the back of the sanctuary. Thank you!

Bring Your Home's Compost to St. Mark's! :   If you don’t have access to City Compost pick-up you can now bring your compostables to St. Mark’s. Our composting program is up and running so individual households are invited to participate. A suggested donation of $10 each month is requested. The funds will enable the St. Mark’s program to be self-supporting. For details please contact Allison Ashley at creation@stmarksevanston.org or Chris Schultze at chris.schultze@comcast.net

Sandwich-Makers and Lunch Servers Wanted: Every week St. Mark’s and St. Matthew’s serve lunch to between 50 and 70 guests in Cunningham Hall AND, you can get involved by helping to make those lunches on Tuesday evenings! Sandwich-making takes place on the 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th , and (when it exists) 5 th  Tuesday of each month in the kitchen from 6 – 6:30 p.m. but we need your help. If you can spend 30 minutes even once in a while, we could use your help. In addition, especially during the summer weeks, additional help is needed on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. to set up, serve, and clean-up lunch. Sign up is easy:

·     Tuesday sandwich making -  http://tinyurl.com/y3xwbcda
·     Wednesday Lunch -  https://tinyurl.com/wedlch

If you have any questions, please contact Donna Richardson at 847-712-0705 or  dlynnrich322@gmail.com.
Pastoral Care Notes
Prayer List
Names remain on the prayer list for 5 weeks (2 weeks for those who have died).
  
We bid your prayers for: Veronica Braithwaite, Carolyn Brooks, Dick Brooks, Mary Pat Buckley, Gerritt Dangremond, John Fitts, Caroline Frowe, Charlie Lettner, Grace Lettner, Paul Lettner, Katherine Tyson McCrea, Jan and Jeri Offutt, Kate Lewis, OJ Mabwa, Tom and Renee Holmgren, Janon Furlong, Mary Lew Finster, Barbara Flynn, Rick Artwick, Demetrie Augustinos, Michael Collins, Kathleen Cook, Pat Ryan, David and Donnie Cresap, Lynn Kissell, Ahmed Mahmoud, Holly Nelson-Johnson, Herb Reese, Lisa Smith, Brian Styron, Monica Ralston, Mary Lew Finster, Barbara Flynn

We pray for those who have died: Albert (Ace) Simmons, beloved godfather of Lisa Montgomery,
Cyndy Peterson Starr, former member of St, Dunstan's Choir

Birthdays
Marion Macbeth (3/12)
Calvin Whitmore (3/12)
Westley Hodges (3/14)
Deane Johnson (3/16)
Addison Benz (3/17)


If we have missed your birthday or anniversary, or if you have a name you would like added to the prayer list (or removed from the list) please send an email to Paula at office@stmarksevanston.org