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.
Social Justice & Outreach Ministry Adult Forum: An Intro to the Moran Center
The SJOM Adult Forum has been scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 17th at 9:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in Bethlehem Chapel. Please mark your calendars accordingly. We will host representatives from the Moran Center for Youth Advocacy. Learn about the work of this legal aid organization and how they impact the Evanston-Northshore community. We welcome Joi-Anissa Russell, Director of Strategic Partnerships, and Tom Verdun, Director of Legal Services for this presentation. If you have questions, contact Donna Richardson, dlynnrich322@gmail.com or 847.712.0705.
This Weekend
Lay Ministers for
Sunday, November 17, 2019

Eucharistic Ministers: Asher Sondgeroth, Byron Scott, Lisa Montgomery (10:30 a.m.)
Lectors: Nancye Kirk (8 a.m.), Cas Szczepaniak, Donna Richardson (10:30 a.m.)
Acolytes: Patrick Nee, Kate Johnson
Altar Guild: Pat Bent, Rachel Easton
Altar Flowers: Dorothy Laudati
Usher: Susan Lewis, Lisa Montgomery
Coffee Hour Snacks: Last names beginning with M-S (11/17), T-Z (11/24)
Coffee Hour Hosts: Wyvette Hoffman
Vestry Person of the Day: Seth Himrod, Deane Johnson
Staying Connected
Youth Group (Grades 6 – 12) Bowling THIS SUNDAY: Bring your friends and bring your best game face as we go bowling and eat pizza at Wilmette Bowling Center, 1903 Schiller Avenue, Wilmette on Sunday, November 17 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Wear socks! See you in Wilmette! Suggested donation to cover costs $10.

“Do-It-Yourself” Christmas Pageant! A what?! That’s right, at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve, all are invited to gather for worship BUT dressed as your favorite pageant character – Mary, Joseph, shepherd, sheep, or angel (note: no Wise Ones – they don’t show up until January 6 th ). As we worship we will build the scene. It will be a glorious celebration of that first Christmas so many years ago. Want to help with set design? Please contact Pastor Debra at rector@stmarksevanston.org or Liz McElhatton at mcelhattonliz@gmail.com .

A Holiday Invitation for the Ladies: Let's have lunch on Saturday, December 7 -- we'll get together at 12:00 noon at Prairie Moon -- 1635 Chicago Avenue - there are stairs going down to the restaurant -- but there is an elevator -- the reservation is in Tacia Johnson's name. Please let us know by November 27 if you can join us for this fun event. You can reach Tacia Johnson at taciajohnson123@earthlink.net or 847-328-0993, or Beth Johnson at bethj5@comcast.net or 847-733-9122.

Men’s Breakfast: The men of the parish will meet for breakfast on Saturday, November 30 at 7:30 am at the SE door of Walker Bros. Pancake House at 153 Green Bay Rd in Wilmette. Men who have not attended for a while or who have never attended are especially encouraged to join us for informal conversation. The group gathers on months that have a 5th Saturday. Questions? Call Fred Lewis (224-688-3571) or talk to Mike Johnson, John Fitts, Caz Szcepaniak, or Rich Forst.

Carol Sing: It’s almost time for the Annual Cookies and Carol Sing at the Rectory – Sunday, December 8 from 2-4 p.m. The Rectory is the house on the south end of St. Mark’s Property. Everyone is invited.

Jubi-latte and Tea Deum:  Pastor Debra looks forward to welcoming you to a time of conversation over coffee or tea at Cupitol (812 Grove Street) each Wednesday morning from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Come sit and chat!

The Centennial Celebration Dinner:   for St. Andrew’s Pentecost Episcopal Church will take place on Saturday, November 30 at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 5300 W. Touhy Avenue, Skokie. Tickets are $100 per adult, $30 per child. To reserve a ticket call Victoria Thompson at (847)-341-9649. All are invited to join the celebration.

Creation Care Team Meeting: You are invited to join us at the next Creation Care team meeting on Sunday, December 15 at 8:45 am in Bethlehem Chapel. If you would like an agenda or have questions contact Allison Ashley at  creation@stmarksevanston.org.

Vestry: Did you know that the most recent Vestry Meeting minutes are always posted on the bulletin board outside of the volunteer office? Now they can also be viewed online by clicking   this link!
Worship & Formation
Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service   on Wednesday, November 27 th  at 7 p.m. at St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church, 806 Ridge Avenue, Evanston. The Keynote Speaker will be The Rev. Grace Imathiu of First United Methodist Church and the Community Choir will be led by Ace Gangoso, Director of Music Ministry at St. Nicholas Parish. All are invited to attend this service organized by Interfaith Action of Evanston.
 
Thanksgiving Day Eucharist   on Thursday, November 28 th  at 10 a.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 939 Hinman Avenue, Evanston.

Acolyte Retreat: On Saturday December 14th from 10 a.m. – 12 noon, Pastor Debra will hold an Acolyte Retreat. This is for ALL acolytes – those who have been doing this for years and those who are brand new or just curious. Can YOU be an acolyte? If you are in 1st grade or older (up to age 103) you are welcome to be an acolyte! Please RSVP to Pastor Debra at rector@stmarksevanston.org OR talk to her after worship to let her know if you are interested in being an acolyte and/or if you can attend this retreat! Being an acolyte is a great way to help lead worship at St. Mark’s and a wonderful way to remember and honor our beloved Acolyte Master, Bruce Gaede.

The Gathering: Children ages 3 through Grade 5 are invited Sunday morning from 9:55 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. for this Christian Formation offering. We gather in the classroom on the main floor of the parish house for a time of prayer and reflection, we will join the choir for 5 – 10 minutes to learn the Psalm for the day which the children will lead during worship, and we end our time together by prayerfully lighting the candles in the sanctuary and preparing for worship. All children are invited to be a part of the procession into the church that opens our worship before joining their families for worship.

Christmas Flowers: One of the beautiful ways in which we mark the difference between the season of Advent and the joyous celebration of the Feast of the Incarnation is in the way we adorn our sanctuary. All are invited to help us create a festive display by contributing money toward poinsettias. 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. After our Christmas celebrations, the plants are delivered to our homebound parishioners and to others in the community to enjoy. Forms are available in the Parlor or by emailing Timothy at office@stmarksevanston.org . Please make checks payable to St. Mark's Episcopal Church and indicate "Christmas Flowers" in the memo line or place cash in an envelope clearly marked Christmas Flowers. You may also use PayPal by going to our website www.stmarksevanston.org and clicking the Donate button. Requests to remember or honor loved ones in this way, must be in to the church office no later than Tuesday, December 17.

Flowers: If you would like to remember a loved one by making a donation for flowers on a Sunday morning, add your name to the sign up sheet in the parlor. The suggested donation is $50. There are several dates still available!
Social Justice & Outreach
Volunteer for the IAE Overnight shelter: The IAE Emergency Overnight Shelter (EOS) will be open every night from November 17th through late March. If you would like to volunteer and have not attended a training, please show up to one of their training sessions (see image for shedule). If you cannot attend a training but would still like to volunteer, please contact IAE!

Sandwich-Makers and Lunch Servers Wanted: Did you know that every week St. Mark’s and St. Matthew’s serve lunch to between 50 and 70 guests in Cunningham Hall? AND, did you know that you can get involved by helping to make those lunches on Tuesday evenings? It’s all true! 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.
WANTED: Christmas Elves! We are off to a Promising Start! Thank you to those you signed up to be a sponsor or donor for the ReVive Christmas Basket Program last Sunday. We still have individuals remaining for sign-ups. Deadline for sponsors is November 17th. There is another option for participation --- you may signup to be a donor and purchase $15 Jewel-Osco gift card(s). Each family receives a gift card for each member. For example, a family of 5 receives $75.00 in cards, so they may purchase a holiday meal. All gifts and gift cards are due on or before Sunday, Dec. 1st. We appreciate you sharing the beauty of the season with these families.
The information table for this program sponsored by ReVive Center for Housing and Healing is in the church parlor. If you have questions contact Social Justice and Outreach Ministry Lay Coordinator, Donna Richardson, 847.677.0701, dlynnrich322@gmail.com or Pastoral Intern, Carter Schram 712.301.3844, intern@stmarksevanston.org.
3rd Sunday Juice collection THIS SUNDAY: Please remember to put jugs of juice (cranberry or apple juice are preferred) on your shopping list for our Wednesday Lunch program. Our next RED CART collection will be THIS SUNDAY, November 17 ; please place the jugs in the cart at the back of the sanctuary. Thank you.
Other Announcements
Westminster Place Holiday Bazaar TODAY: Westminster Place welcomes you to their annual holiday bazaar! They will be open for two days. Friday, November 15th -- 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., and Saturday November 16th -- 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.! Don't miss the chance to get wonderful items for everyone on your holiday shopping list! Questions? Call Nancye Ichinose at 847-492-4872

Donation Statements Update: Good news! If you are a member and have your email address is on file with the church office, Donation Statements are now coming to you via email. This allows us to deliver your statement more quickly and saves on postage. Please be looking for your emailed statement sent Nov. 5 showing your donations through the end of October. Now’s a good time to get your pledge payments up to date before the end of the church fiscal year. Final 2019 statements will be emailed by the end of January. Thanks again for your support of St. Mark’s. If you have any questions please contact the church treasurer at treasurer@stmarksevanston.org.
Are you being called?
Vestry Me mbers So ught: We are now accepting nominations for Vestry members to be voted on at our Annual Meeting on January 26, 2020. If you are interested in serving or know someone who would be a good addition to the vestry, please reach out to the wardens (Doug Sondgeroth, srwarden@stmarksevanston.org; Rachel Easton, ( jrwarden@stmarksevanston.org), Deane Johnson (johnsondeane@yahoo.com), Lisa Montgomery ( msmontg@aol.com), or Pastor Debra ( rector@stmarksevanston.org). Nominees must be at least 16 years of age at the time of the Annual Meeting and must be baptized members of the Episcopal Church. It is perfectly acceptable to nominate yourself.

Special Convention June 2020 Delegates Sought: We are now accepting nominations for Delegates to serve at the Special Convention which will take place on Saturday, June 20. Nominees will be voted on at our Annual Meeting on January 26, 2020. This will be a convention to elect the next Bishop for the Diocese of Chicago. If you are interested in serving or know someone who would, please email Pastor Debra ( rector@stmarksevanston.org). Nominees must be at least 16 years of age at the time of the convention and must be baptized members of the Episcopal Church. It is perfectly acceptable to nominate yourself.

Annual Convention 2020 Delegates Sought: We are now accepting nominations for Delegates to serve at the Diocese of Chicago Annual Convention which will take place on a Friday and Saturday in November 2020 in Lombard. Nominees will be voted on at our Annual Meeting on January 26, 2020. If you are interested in serving or know someone who would, please email Pastor Debra ( rector@stmarksevanston.org). Nominees must be at least 16 years of age at the time of the convention and must be baptized members of the Episcopal Church. It is perfectly acceptable to nominate yourself.
Pastoral Care Notes
Birthday Celebrations:
Jane McCarron (11/20)
Catherine Carpenter (11/21)

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, Judy Kopp, Charlie Lettner, Grace Lettner, Paul Lettner, Katherine Tyson McCrea, George Mitchell, Jan and Jeri Offutt, Kate Lewis, OJ Mabwa, the Skelton Family, Lee Gaede, Rick Artwick, Demetrie Augustinos, Michael Collins, Kathleen Cook and Pat Ryan, David and Donnie Cresap, Lynn Kissell, Ahmed Mahmoud, Holly Nelson-Johnson, Lisa Smith

We pray for those who have died: Bruce Gaede, husband of Deacon Lee Gaede; Mark Schweizer, friend of Westley Hodges
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 Timothy at office@stmarksevanston.org