Saint Mark Presbyterian 
Church
 Weekly eNews
Zoom Worship 10am - prelude 9:50am
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
  • Bible reading:  Psalm 145: 8-14 Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30 
  • Sermon:  Knowing Jesus, Knowing God 
The office will be closed on Friday in honor of July 4th and Monday (vacation day for Christina)

COVID-19 Task Force Update
The COVID-19 Task Force continues to have regular virtual meetings to monitor any changes in local, state and federal guidelines. Our recommendations remain the same with virtual worship as the mainstay of our congregational activities along with various other virtual opportunities. Pastor Shelby is piloting a creative approach for youth ministry and we will report more once we have her feedback regarding this program. As always we wish all of you continued good health as we all apply the public health recommendations for protecting our family, friends, colleagues as well as ourselves. Hoping your modified July 4th celebrations are enjoyable and safe.

Sunday Worship
Sunday worship will take place over Zoom at 10:00 with a prelude beginning at 9:50. The bulletin and information to join the Zoom call will be sent out Saturday afternoon. 

Sharing worship information
We are glad to see so many friends and family from across the country joining us for worship! If there is someone you would like to receive the worship information (Zoom invitation and bulletin), please pass along their email to Christina ( office@saintmarkpresby.org ) so she can add them to the list. 
 
Mission Opportunity
We have an opportunity to prepare food for the Women's Shelter through InterFaith Works on JULY 22nd!  Sign up to contribute to the Sloppy Joe Feast  HERE. Contact  Ray Mountain ( rdm.mountain@verizon.net with questions. 

Bible Study July 6, 7:00 pm
The Bible study will continue on July 5 at 7:00 over Zoom . We will be studying Rachel Held Evan's book "Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water and Loving the Bible Again." Each week we will study a different story of scripture using her book. Rachel Held Evans was a gifted writer, speaker and teacher before she sadly passed away last year. 
This study will be led by the pastors. 
Link to learn more about book and to purchase here:  https://rachelheldevans.com/inspired
Here is more information about the book:
If the Bible isn't a science book, instruction manual, or position paper, then what is it? New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans invites readers on a journey of rediscovery as she explores the magic of the Bible, engaging the old, familiar stories in new ways that honor the past and enlighten the present.
Drawing upon recent scholarship and literary analysis, Evans creatively retells our favorite Bible stories, explaining their contexts and possible interpretations, and then connects these ancient stories to our present-day ones. Using her well-honed literary instincts and experience in both evangelical and mainline Protestant traditions, Evans discovers a way of understanding that avoids noncommittal liberalism on one hand and strident literalism on the other. 
*If purchasing the book is a hurdle for you, please let Pastor Shelby know and a book can be mailed to you!
                                            
The Session voted this last week to authorize formally an Anti-Racism Taskforce.
Though "taskforce" implies a temporary work group in response to a new issue, we know that racism is neither new, nor will it be "solved" quickly. But at a time when counties across the country are declaring racism a public health crisis, we recognize the immediate need to respond.

We have great latitude in discerning the work that we want to do as a group. Some members of the congregation have been discussing this already and have shared great ideas so far. Hopefully this group will discern ways that we can respond in the short-term and also find a place for anti-racism work to "live" permanently at Saint Mark -- how will we continue to respond beyond this current news cycle?

If you would be interested in serving on this taskforce or being kept in the loop on its work, please contact Emily Turek --  ekturek@gmail.com

Saint Mark Book Lovers group has decided on their reading list for 2020-21. 
In addition to our usual September - June schedule we are adding two books for this summer.  Click here  to see the full list and schedule.

In order to support our efforts to bring about racial justice, we are focusing our July 22 discussion on the book Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race, by Debby Irving.  It is her personal reflections on racism and white privilege. This book will be used as a vehicle to continue Saint Mark's discussion on, and actions to support, racial justice.  We invite all Saint Markers to join us in this discussion!  

Contact Phyllis Norrie ( phylnorrie@gmail.com ) for more information or with questions.

Directory Update
We are updating the directory. If you have any changes to your contact information that you would like to be updated please contact Christina at office@saintmarkpresby.org . Thank you.

Mission Ministry Giving
The Mission Ministry Team is trying out a new way of giving our funds and we'd love for you to join us!

Each month, the ministry team will vote for THREE organizations, from about 18, to which to allocate $500 each.  We hope you will also support these organizations in any way you can.

This month, we are supporting
   MANNA FOOD BANK -  https://www.mannafood.org/
   INTERFAITH WORKS -  https://www.iworksmc.org
   GREATER DC DIAPER BANK -  https://greaterdcdiaperbank.org

For the full list of organizations currently on our list, see attachment  here

Statement on Giving/Pledging
Wondering how to continue giving or paying your pledge for the next few weeks? With church  staff working remotely, using our on-line giving platform will insure your donation or payment  reaches us. Here's how to give or pay your pledge on line.
 
On Line 
From your computer, go to the Saint Mark website  and click on Give Now at the bottom of the    homepage. Under Donations, look for the box with the purpose for which you're donating.  If you're a giver who hasn't pledged and you're making your regular donation, enter the amount  in the General Fund  box. If you're a pledger paying your annual pledge, enter the amount in the  Pledge Payments Stewardship box
 
From you cell phone, if you don't yet have the Give Plus + phone app. go to the App. Store  to download the free Give Plus + phone app. After downloading the app, open and click onm church, select Saint Mark, then click to the Donations page, and look for the box with the  purpose for which you're donating. 
I f you're a giver who hasn't pledged, enter the amount you're giving in the General Fund box.
If you're a pledger, enter the amount you're paying in the Pledge Payments - Stewardship box
Any Questions ? Contact Dick Pavlin - pav3332@gmail.com.
 
By Check   
If you're just not up for on-line giving and want to pay by check you can send it by mail to the church.

In our prayers this week:
~ Prayers for the daughter of Jim and Barbara Caskey; Lt. Michelle Caskey Fore, M.D.      USN (and her husband Trey Fore) as she is deployed to Okinawa, Japan as a doctor      in Emergency Medicine.

~ For all of our friends and  family working in the health care industry and                              those  who  are essential personnel, working hard to keep us healthy, safe                          and fed at their own  risk.                

Our Core Values: Commitment, Community, Compassion, Hospitality, Mission &  Spiritual Growth

 

Saint Mark Presbyterian Church

10701 Old Georgetown Road

North Bethesda, Maryland 20852

www.saintmarkpresby.org

  

301-530-8141 Pastor Scott Wilson

301-530-8143 Associate Pastor Shelby Etheridge Harasty

301-530-8142 Office Administrator Christina Stefanelli

301-530-0600 Main Number