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| Sunday Worship |
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8:30 a.m. Blended
9:45 a.m. Contemporary
11:00 a.m. Traditional
To hear podcast recordings of our Sunday Sermons
Click Here
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| St. Mark's Staff |
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Pastors
Staff
Music Ministry
Contemporary Music Ministry
Manager of Finance and Operations
Office Coordinator
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| Contact Us |
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St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows
6730 N. 17th St.
Tacoma, WA 98406
Office: 253-752-4966
Preschool: 253-752-4929
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Bishop Jaech's Announcement that Pastor Shjerven Will Serve as the New Associate Bishop
Dear Leaders and Members of the Southwestern Washington Synod,
I am pleased to announce that The Rev. Rebecca Shjerven will serve as the new Bishop's Associate of the Southwestern Washington Synod. In the ELCA, the Bishop's Associate is appointed by the Bishop. Pastor Shjerven will begin her ministry on September 1, 2019, following the retirement of our current Bishop's Associate, Pastor Kim Latterell.
As Bishop's Associate, Pastor Shjerven will provide leadership in four key areas: (1) Shepherding congregations in transition, most often supporting them in a call process for a new leader; (2) Working with the Synod's Candidacy process for people who desire to serve the church as a pastor or deacon; (3) Placing and supporting seminary interns in our Synod; and (4) Providing leadership for our Synod's new Program for Strengthening Active Lay Ministry (PSALM).
Pastor Shjerven received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Deaf Education from Augustana College and taught at the Northwest School for Hearing-Impaired Children in Seattle, 1984-1988. She then entered Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN, and received her Master of Divinity Degree in 1992. Pastor Shjerven has served calls at Peninsula Lutheran, Gig Harbor (1992-96), Zion Lutheran, Kent (1996-2001), Bethlehem Lutheran, Tacoma (2001-2008) and St. Mark's by The Narrows, Tacoma (2008-present). With her experience in both education and pastoral ministry, Pastor Shjerven brings many excellent gifts to her new call as Bishop's Associate.
Peace and blessings to you!
Bishop Rick Jaech
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Weekly Giving Update
We are in the final weeks of this fiscal year! Please join us, as you are able, in finishing on a financially strong note. Thank you.
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May 2019 - General Ministry Fund Financial Update
Offerings for May were $3,554 above budget ($84,487 versus budgeted offerings of $80,933). Fiscal year-to-date (FYTD), we are now $39,821 below budgeted offerings of $964,859, but 3.4% above last year's actual offerings over the same time period.
Expenses for May were $3,283 below budget, spending $86,917 versus a budgeted $90,200. FYTD, we are $33,654 below budgeted expenses of $970,267. As a reminder on drivers... Within the Ministry Teams/Benevolence line item, Ministry Teams are under budget for the year by $5,914. This is driven in part by certain events that we chose not to host (e.g., National Night Out and guest musicians); budgeted audiovisual work in the sanctuary that ended up not being needed; and strong FYTD donations to offset meal costs. Within Facilities/Administration, Administration is under for the year by $12,241. More than half of this budget-relative savings is from our "new" copy contract, combined with changes to our bulletin. Staff is under budget by $8,101. Nearly $5K of this savings has accumulated since January, due to lower-than-budgeted benefits costs.
The bottom line for May is that we spent $1,918 more than we brought in versus our projection to spend $9,017 more than we brought in. This puts us $7,099 ahead of budget for the month. On a FYTD basis, we are now $3,409 behind budget on a net basis (i.e., looking at total inflows and outflows). We have spent $6,067 more than we have brought in versus a projection to spend $2,658 more than we brought in at this point in the fiscal year.
Feel free to contact Jennifer Droubay or Mike McKeller in the Church office with any questions. Thank you.
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Fiscal Year-End Giving
As fiscal year (FY) 2018-2019 draws to a close, we want to be very deliberate to ensure your offerings are directed as you intend them to be. There are three specific things that will help make sure your gifts are applied correctly:
1. Please indicate to
which fiscal year
your gift should be applied (either FY18-19 ending June 30th or FY19-20 beginning July 1st). While this obviously does not affect anything from a tax perspective, if you pledged, it does determine to which pledge the gift is applied. If you do not specify a fiscal year, your gift will be applied according to when it was dated (for a check), when it was charged (for a credit card), or when it was received (for cash).
2. Please indicate for
what purpose
(e.g., general offering, mortgage retirement) your gift is intended. There are many families who have graciously pledged to both causes and our Financial Recording Secretary needs your assistance to ensure your offering is used as you intend.
3. Finally, if you receive giving envelopes, please try to use these envelopes for your gift whenever possible. It makes it easier for our weekly counters and helps us make sure we acknowledge the correct giver, direct the gift to the correct fund, and record the gift in the correct FY.
Thank you for your faithful support of the ministry and mission of St. Mark's. Feel free to contact Pat Buck or Jennifer Droubay in the Church office (253-752-4966) with any questions.
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Marimba Registration - Still Space Left!
Lots of you have signed up for our Marimba offerings! There is still some space left, so if you or your kids would like to be part of this exciting musical ministry, you can register with Linda McKeller or Katie Cootsona in the church office during regular weekday hours. The opportunities include:
- Saturday, July 27: Adult Marimba Workshop - Morning (10 a.m.) or afternoon (2 p.m.) session for two and a half hours. Come learn the basics of African marimba traditions and enjoy being part of incredible music with guest artist Jeff Brahe. Zero experience needed! Cost: $30.
- August 19 - 23: Youth Marimba Camp - 9 a.m. - noon, Monday through Friday. 3rd to 12th graders will experience sessions on playing marimba, African drumming, and African dance, all working toward a performance at the end of the week to put all three together. Cost: $50 for the entire week.
Contact Cooper Sherry with questions.
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Backpack Program Thank You and Update
A HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who have so faithfully helped with the St. Mark's Food Backpack Program. Because of you and your support our program is sustainable!!!!!!
Our last bag filling was on Tuesday the 18th. We filled 60 bags for DeLong Elementary and 6 for Sherman elementary. We will continue to welcome food and money through the summer. Food can be placed in the container by the office door marked Backpacks, and money can be put in the offering baskets at church, or left in the office. PLEASE be sure to designate the gift for the backpack program.
We continue to look for GRANTS and ACTION TEAM money from Thrivant. Questions can be directed to Jean Steingrebe at
jcsteingrebe@gmail.com or through the church office.
Once again think you for your wonderful support and gifts, your Backpack Team.
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Summer Third Quarter Events
We welcome those of you age 50 - 75 ish to
join in feasting and fellowship with St. Mark's brothers and sisters.
Saturday, June 29, potluck at 5:30 p.m. at Salmon Beach. Please email Lori Clark
oregonlhc@gmail.com
for directions, food ideas, gate code, and parking instructions.
Tuesday, August 20, at 5:30 p.m. Happy Hour Dinner at the Ram, 3001 Ruston Way. Optional
4:30 pm meet in front of the Ram to walk or bike along Ruston Way before dinner.
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Walking for Wellness
Walking for Wellness: Wednesdays during the summer!
3:00 p.m. meet at the Art Center garden to walk with friends at TLRC.
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Grief Support Group Meeting Canceled
Grief group is canceled for Wednesday, to be rescheduled later this summer.
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Children and Youth Faith Formation
Youth Summer Fundraiser 2019: P
arents and youth if you are interested in helping plan our summer music and youth fundraiser, Saturday, August 24, you are invited to a brief planning meeting on Sunday, June 30 at 11 a.m. in the Parish Commons Classroom.
Planning ahead...Summer 2020 & 2021
- Western States Youth Gathering Thousand Oaks CA-June 25-29, 2020 for youth grades 9-12(2019-2020 school year) Cost: $600.00 per person. $100.00 deposit and registration due Oct. 13, 2019-more information coming out in August.
- ELCA Youth Gathering Minneapolis MN-June 29-July 3, 2021 (with a couple travel days thrown in). For 9-12thgrade students (completed 9th grade year 2021 to 2021 HS graduates-this means current 7-9th graders are eligible to attend this triennial. Our 1st interest meeting will be Jan. 2020-but you can start fundraising NOW.
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Travel Adventure VBS 2019
Travel Adventure 2019
Monday, August 5 - Friday, August 9, 2019
9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Children age 4 years old - entering 5th Grade (Fall of 2019) are invited to join us for our 2nd Travel Adventure VBS! This epic African adventure engages the whole herd. At Roar, kids explore God's goodness and celebrate a ferocious faith that powers them through this wild life.
Fees:
Church & Preschool Members:
1st child $25 & each additional child $20
Non Members:
1st child $35 & each additional child $30
Registration and payment can be made online here OR by check or cash via mail or offering plate.
This fee helps provide healthy snacks, craft supplies, and a variety of fun activities during the week.
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Adult Faith Formation
Sunday Adult Faith Formation
9:45 a.m.
Adult Forum
11:00 a.m.
Crossways Bible Study
Wednesday Adult Faith Formation
Morning Bible Study:
The 9:15 a.m. Wednesday morning Bible study will resume in the fall.
Noon Text Study Luncheon, Parish Commons Classroom: Come for this lively discussion of the texts for the upcoming Sunday, hosted by the preacher.
Lydia Circle will be taking a break for the summer. We will resume in September.
Fully Alive Bible Study will resume in the fall.
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June 22 Care of Creation Hike Details
The Care of Creation hike on
Saturday, June 22, will be at Rampart Ridge, near the Nisqually River entrance to Mount Rainier National Park. (See hike details below.)
Please meet at the church at
8 a.m. Bring water, good footwear, sun glasses, cream, lunch, bug repellent, camera, etc. We'll stop at the Nepalese restaurant after the hike for refreshments.
Please notify Tom Hulst at
thulst@live.com or 253-460-2683 if you plan to go--and can be one of the carpool drivers.
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St. Mark's Care of Creation 2019 Hiking and Camping Schedule
Please hold these dates on your spring and summer calendars:
- June 22 Day hike, Rampart Ridge
- July 19 Day hike, Sunrise or Sheeplake area, 8 a.m. at church
- August 1-3 Family Camping at Staircase near Lake Cushman
- September 6 or 7 Day hike, TBD
Also, if you are planning a trip to Holden Village this summer and would like others at St. Mark's to know so you can coordinate your trip planning please email Tom Hulst at thulst@live.com.
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St. Mark's Preschool is Enrolling for the 2019-2020 School Year!
St. Mark's Preschool is enrolling for the 2019-2020 school year! There are spaces available in our PreK class! Please contact Katie Jones for more information at 253-752-4929.
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Moral Voices, Moral Choices
The Peace and Justice Committee at St. Mark's invites us all to use our moral voices to advocate for justice in the following areas: food, housing, creation, and immigration. We are also invited to make moral choices in our personal behavior that impact these areas.
Please read
here about how zoning regulations impact housing affordability, especially here in Pierce County. Think about why you prefer single-family housing neighborhoods if you do, and what the cost is to the larger community. If you prefer more density, now is the time to talk to your friends and neighbors about its advantages and what people may have to be willing to give up to achieve it. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this topic.
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Church Office Hours
The church office is open
Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-noon, 1:00-4:00 p.m
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Sunday from 9:30-11:00 a.m.
*The door to the office is locked during preschool hours (8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.); please knock or ring the doorbell and someone will let you in promptly!
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| Have an item for The Bridge?
Send it to communications@smlutheran.org by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. All items will run for two weeks prior to the relevant date, and will be edited for length. Don't forget to send your member notes and news!
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