October 20, 2019

Worship Schedule 8:30 AM English Worship Service 9:46 AM  The 9:46 Crowd  (Adult Forum) 10:00 AM English Worship Service 11:05 AM Sunday School combined English/Spanish 11:06 AM  The 11:06 Crowd  (Adult Forum) 12:00 PM Spanish Worship Service

This Sunday

Music This Sunday, October 20 8:30 AM Worship Service Offertory:  Grace     Shepherd/Robinson/Thompson Communion:  To God Be the Glory     F. Crosby/W. Doane Rejoice! Ensemble 10:00 AM Worship Service Prelude:  Centennial Horizon      Kevin McKee After the First Lesson:  Lift Thine Eyes     Mendelssohn Womens Ensemble Offertory: T he Lost Chord      Arthur Sullivan Chancel Choir Communion:  Gymnopedie No. 1      Erik Satie Steve Hendrickson, trumpet Myriam Teie, piano

This Sunday, October 20, the Youth Bell Choir will be demonstrating bell trees in the narthex between the 8:30 and 10:00 services. Members of the congregation are invited to both listen to and play the bells. We will have some familiar hymn tunes for you to try. Come make a joyful noise to the Lord!

Oktoberfest Supper The youth of St. Mark’s are giving the community supper on Sunday, 10/20/19, a German flavor. This community Oktoberfest meal is served from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall at no cost, but any freewill donations received will be set aside for St. Mark’s youth events. Enjoy the company of your existing friends and new friends as you eat bratwurst and other German foods. See you there!

A Message from Pastor Triolo

Dear Friends in God’s Love, Whether you were at church or streaming the services online last Sunday, you might have noticed that I was not in worship at St. Mark’s. I was with two of our St. Mark’s ladies at the fall women’s Living Stones Via De Cristo retreat where I was blessed to serve as spiritual director. What is Via de Cristo ? Living Stones Via de Cristo is a Lutheran crash course in God’s grace and Christian discipleship led by laity; it also includes clergy participation as spiritual directors. Beginning on Thursday evening and ending on Sunday afternoon, participants hear and discuss a series of talks presented by lay members and spiritual directors. Between the talks are opportunities for worship, fellowship, food, and fun. The retreat also includes a time of silent retreat on Thursday evening. There is no cost for first-time attendees; this is covered by his or her sponsor. Sponsors typically transport the first-time participants and treat them to supper on Thursday evening. Watches and mobile phones are set aside as the retreat leaders guide participants through the weekend. Naturally, there are emergency phones available for receiving and placing calls in the event such a need arises. Both I and Pastor Varinia have attended the Living Stones VdC , incognito (we wanted to experience the weekend as laypersons). Nine other members of St. Mark’s have also attended a Living Stones VdC weekend. Additional members have attended other versions of the retreat in other denominations. For more information, speak with me or Pastor Varinia or visit the Living Stones VdC website We hope to see you at a future weekend! God loves you and so do I, Pastor Albert

Announcements

Worship Assistant Training this Saturday, 10/19 at 10:30 AM in the Sanctuary Calling all youth and adults who have been serving as an Assisting Minister, Lector, Communion Assistant, Acolyte, or Crucifer and all who would like to join our ranks. We are making some changes in how we schedule assistants for the worship services and how we handle the various tasks. Please join us this Saturday, 10/19 at 10:30 AM so the pastors can discuss the procedures and answer all your questions. No reply is needed—just come. See you Saturday!

ECHO continues to give food to area clients, about 1,900 bags during August alone. Donations during the summer traditionally drop off, so it has been necessary to purchase some items. St. Mark's is asked to help fill the cupboard during the month of October. Bags will be available in the narthex for the next two Sundays, with a list of most needed items attached. You may also bring your own bag. Listed below are the items most needed at this time:   Spaghetti & Sauce                       Jelly Rice Boxed & bagged Vegetable Oil Bagged beans Instant potatoes Canned meat 6-8 oz. tomato sauce and paste Flour/sugar (2#) Muffin mix Pancake mix & syrup Juice (box or can) Detergent Deodorant Facial tissue Shampoo Children’s toothbrushes OTC cold/flu meds—adult & children’s

Next Military Packages Collection : Sunday, October 27   This month’s recipient is Ashley Yee, U.S. Air Force, with the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed to Guam. She is a “mother hen” to many young airmen who are away from home base (primarily Minot, North Dakota) for the first time, and she is delighted to be able to share your items and thoughtfulness with them.  What would she and her cohorts like to receive? You know they always love to receive your yummy homemade items, including brownies. They also mentioned jerky and various snacks, both sweet and salty snacks. The group includes mainly males, but there are some females, so you may want to consider that when thinking about what item to contribute. As everyone always says, whatever we send them is most appreciated and lets them know we’re thinking of them, a real morale booster. Thank you very much for your support of this project!

Card Shower Event Mildred Wolf's 98th Birthday is October 28, 2019.  Mildred is a long-standing member of St. Mark's who can no longer actively attend worship with us. We would like to shower her with birthday greeting cards this year on her special day. Our Visitation Team will have a box to place birthday greeting cards for Mildred in the narthex the next three Sundays. We will also have a supply of cards by the box if you would simply like to sign a card and enclose a brief birthday greeting message to Mildred. Even better, of course, is if you are willing to purchase a greeting card to honor Mildred on her Birthday and place it in the box. Our Visitation Team will ensure all cards collected are delivered to Mildred by the time of her Birthday.  Thank you for your anticipated help in honoring Mildred on her special day.                                                                                                                The Visitation Ministry Team

Sunday, November 3  9:00 AM to 1:00 PM In the Fellowship Hall AND We need your help! *** Items to sell If you knit, crochet, sew, paint, cook, bake, make jewelry, do woodworking, make frozen casseroles or soups, etc., please consider donating an item or more to be sold at the Bazaar. All proceed are given to St. Mark’s Outreach Ministries to help shine the light of God’s love into the community. Help is also needed Set up the Bazaar on Saturday, November, 2, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Sell items at the Bazaar on Sunday, 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM Clean up starting around 12:30 PM Equal opportunity for all ages and genders to help

Connecting with Community

Abiding Presence Lutheran Church Events on Mental Health Abiding Presence is sponsoring several events on raising awareness on Mental Health and on helping those who are experiencing mental health issues: Mental Health First Aide for Parents & Caregivers of Youth on Saturday, Oct 26, 8:00 AM-5:30 PM  and Angst—Raising Awareness around Anxiety on Tuesday, Nov 19 at 7:00 PM (free pizza at 6:00 PM) There is also a NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) course in Falls Church: 8-week NAMI Peer-to-Peer clas s in Falls Church, VA on Wednesdays, Sep 25-Nov 13 Learn more about these events and what the Abiding Presence Mental Health Team offers HERE!

Ministry Team October 20

Altar Flower Dedications

Communion Cards.  Please don’t forget to fill out a communion card each time you  worship . Cards are located in the pew racks. If your address has changed, you can include that information so the church office can update your records. In addition, use of the card allows the church office to enter your communion and attendance in the official church records. Thank you.

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Please remember to fill out a communion card each time you worship and commune.  Print the information as legibly as possible including the names of each family member who worships. If you have a family of five and your card says “John and Mary Doe + 2”, the registrar won’t be able to determine who the “2” refers to. If your address has changed, include that information so the church office can update your records. Thank you. The Information is entered into Shepherd’s Staff, a computer software, which maintains an individual history of your communion and attendance.

Kristin's Message based on the lectionary of the week by  Kristin Berkey Abbott .

Article Deadline We need YOUR help! In order that ALL OF US receive the necessary documents for This Week, The Messenger, and the website, please send all articles you wish to have published no later than 5:00 PM on the Tuesday before the Sunday you wish for the articles to appear. Send those articles to communications@stmarks-elca.org .