St. Mark's Episcopal Church News and Events September 19, 2021

St. Mark's Episcopal Church

The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Ministry Fair Sunday

September 12, 2021

At this time we are offering one worship Service at 10:30 from the St. Mark's Sanctuary through our Facebook page and YouTube Channel.

A copy of the Bulletin may be found on our website, in the button below

or on the Facebook page.

This Service will be also available in person with sign in registration and requested masks.

Bulletin for Sunday

Ministry Fair Sunday, September 19

Please, plan to join us on September 19 following the 10:30 Service to see the displays in the Parish Hall for opportunities to serve at St. Mark's. Representatives from various ministries will be present to answer any questions you might have about ministries at St. Mark's.

Please consider a volunteer opportunity at Plainsong Farm, a cooperating ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan, in Rockford on Wednesday September 22, from 5-7 p.m. Please fill out the attached form if you and/or your child plan to participate and bring it with you to the farm. Also, let me know if you and yours plan to attend, as I need to give a count to the farm staff prior to our time there.

Picnic Sunday, September 26 (weather-related alternate October 3)

An annual fun event following the 10:30 Service returns this year with a picnic at St. Mark's. Grilling will take place on John Savara's grill. Please bring lawn chairs and/or blankets for the lawn. Only a few tables will be set-up inside. Hot dogs, burgers, chips and other items will be served outside. Please, pray for good weather and also consider volunteering to be of assistance to Parish Life Ministry and the Staff for that fun event.

Collecting Hats and Gloves for our Neighbors to be distributed on October 2

Cold weather is coming and there is a need for warm hats and gloves among our guests and neighbors at St. Mark's weekly Breakfast Cafe. The Outreach Committee hopes to provide 80 pairs of hats and gloves to our Breakfast Cafe guests on Saturday, October 2. Please consider contributing to this effort by bringing new or gently used winter hats and gloves to church and placing them in the collection bin in the north transept. Donations to purchase these items will also be gratefully accepted. Checks should be made to St. Marks with "Oct. 2 Outreach" on the memo line.

Blessing of Animals, Sunday October 3: There will be a special blessing of pets at both Services in thanksgiving for the gifts pets are as our companions in life.

Lector/Intercessor Training

October 3rd

Please consider becoming a lector and intercessor for our Worship Services. We are offering a training/refresher course for our seasoned and newly interested parishioners on Sunday Oct. 3 following the 10:30 a.m. Worship Service in the Sanctuary.

Degage Farm to Table Event

You're invited to a Farm to Table Dinner on October 7 at the Fulton Street Market to support Degage’ Ministries

Degage’ Ministries is a major outreach partner with St. Mark’s. They are finishing a capital campaign to build a new addition to allow shelter space for women with young children, expand their meal service and workforce development trainings. Join the event hosts: Tom & Judy Freeman Walker and Kyle & Win Irwin, for Breaking Bread, an amazing gourmet meal prepared by 5 local chefs at the Fulton Street Market on Thursday, October 7th from 6:00-9:00pm. Each course of this meal will feature wine pairings by Amy Ruis of Aperitivo and Art of the Table. Tickets are $100 per person for this memorable experience. You can register at: give.classy.org/DegageBreakingBread

Degage Invitation

Lunch Bunch

Looking to connect socially with other members of the church? Join us for lunch following the 10:30 service on Sunday, Oct. 10th. We'll walk to a restaurant nearby. Childcare is provided (kids get a pizza lunch and are cared for by our nursery staff).

Anniversary Dinner Celebration October 17

Please, plan to be with your family of faith on October 17 from 5:15 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. for the celebration of 185 years of life together at the Kent Country Club. We will gather for fun, fellowship and dinner. The cost for a ticket will help defray the cost to the church which covers the food, the service and the gratuity for the servers. Tickets will be $30 for adults and $5 for children. Cocktail (non-alcoholic and alcoholic) time will be from 5:15 - 6:00 with the program and dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m.

~ The 185 Anniversary Celebration Committee

Needed: Gently used business attire: In October, In the Image is hosting a Life Enrichment Fair with the goal "Dress for Success" - helping those trying to enter the workforce with appropriate clothing for job interviews and work. If you have clean suits, dress shirts, blouses or dress slacks you could donate, you can drop them off at In The Image, 4255 Kalamazoo Ave SE or call Nancy or Michael Dodge at 616-245-7492 to arrange pick up or an exchange on Sundays at church. Also feel free to call Nancy or Michael if you have questions.

Our multi-organization group is ready for YOU to join us to make a positive difference in Grand Rapids! Mark your calendar NOW for Thursday, October 28, for "Together We Rise" and stop by our table at St. Mark's ministry fair on Sunday to get all the details about the work of West Michigan Community Organizing. We look forward to talking to you!

Sunday Children's Opportunities

During the 10:30 Service, opportunities for children are offered in the Lower Level of the Parish House. Please plan to be with us, parishioners of all ages!

For more information and to volunteer to be of assistance, please contact Laura Kozminski, Director of Children's Formation at laurakozminski@gmail.com

Flowers for Sunday Services

Flowers beautify the sacred spaces of our church and are a gift to God and those who attend. If you wish to honor or remember a loved one or acknowledge an Anniversary by donating flowers, you may pick up a form on the welcome desk and return it to the church office. There is also a signup sheet so that you may pick a Sunday Service for your donation.

Dismantling Racism Ministry Blog

As we approach the Labor Day weekend, some will certainly be reflecting on the status of workers in the U.S. There will be Labor Day parades and other events to celebrate the role of the working class in this country. How many of us will take a good, hard look at how the system of capitalism perpetuates racism upon those who sell their labor? ....Read more from Anne Armour in the link below.

Link to Blog

Social Hour Hosts Needed

Please consider offering to host a social hour on a Sunday, following the 8:00 a.m. and the 10:30 Eucharist. A sign-up sheet is available on the Welcome Desk of the Parish House foyer. A social hour can be as simple as cookies, cheese, crackers and lemonade. Hosts can expect to be reimbursed by submitting receipts to Pam Stevenson, Financial Manager of St. Mark's.

Please, consider this opportunity for service and fun.

Thank you.

Livestream Sound Issues

If you tune in with us for our Sunday Worship Services please be patient with our sound as we work through some of the issues with the system. We are in the process of updating speakers in the Sanctuary and acquiring new microphone packs as well.

We appreciate your patience and look forward to improvements to share with everyone as we get the new equipment installed and up and running.

Health Safety Protocols at St. Mark's

Everyone entering the St. Mark's Parish House, all parishioners and visitors, are asked to register with name and contact information, clearly printed. All adults and children, whether vaccinated or not, are be strongly encouraged to wear a mask. Everyone is asked to use sanitizer provided in several places in the Parish House foyer and also encouraged to sanitize at the time of leaving the building. Upon leaving a restroom, please wash hands with warm soapy water and sanitize prior to re-entering the Sanctuary. At the time of receiving Holy Communion at the communion rail, everyone is encouraged to maintain some distance unless with a family member. Your help and cooperation will be much appreciated. Please keep in your prayers those who are sick especially from COVID and ask God to be with them in their recovery. Peace, blessings and thanks. ~ Christian+

Stewardship at St. Mark's

Please join us in pledging for 2021. Pledge cards are available at Church, online (See link below) or by contacting the Parish office, if you'd like one mailed. Please, consider joining us in regular support of our mission at St. Mark's/ Pledging a specific monetary gifts is very helpful to us for planning purposes. Many thanks for your generosity.

The goal for 2021 was $470,000. We have received 142 pledges for a total of $480,746.

Complete your 2021 Stewardship Pledge online

Click here to submit your 2021 pledge

Prayers Requested

Ephesians 6:18

Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the LORD's people.