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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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Wednesday Church Night Tonight
5:00-6:30 p.m. Dinner: BBQ meatballs, rice, salad (Suggested donation: $5)
5:00-5:30 p.m. Little Angels Choir (Preschool-K)
5:30-6:00 p.m. Joyful Noise Choir (Grades 1-2)
6:00-6:45 p.m. Jubilation Choir (Grades 3-5)
6:00 p.m. Praise Team Rehearsal
6:15-7:20 p.m. Midweek Renewal
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Worship on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
December 24 (all services include candle lighting and Holy Communion)
4:00 p.m. Family Christmas Eve Worship (no nursery care)
5:30 p.m. Traditional Christmas Eve Worship (childcare)
7:30 p.m. Contemporary Christmas Eve Worship (childcare)
11:00 p.m. Traditional Christmas Eve Worship (no childcare)
December 25
10:00 a.m. Christmas Day Worship with Holy Communion
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Join Us for Christmas Caroling
Come join us for Christmas Caroling in the Neighborhood on
Wednesday, December 18. We will begin at 5:30 p.m. with some singing together at St. Mark's, and then visit nearby neighbors before returning to the church for cocoa and cookies. All ages welcome!
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Blue Christmas Candlelight Prayer Service
Join us on Wednesday, December 18, at 7:30 p.m. for a worship experience that is particularly mindful of those who are experiencing sadness, loneliness, grief, or loss. The songs and readings and prayers will offer gifts of healing and hope.
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Your Offering Gifts in December Empower Ministry Throughout the Year
Our annual budget is built on the expectation that offering gifts in December are about TWICE the amount we receive in most other months. This is a great boost, and it is a vital part of our overall plan to fund mission and ministry throughout the whole year. Your generous gifts this month can help us reach our mission goals and get the new year started on a positive note! In order to insure that your gifts are counted on your 2019 Record of Giving at St. Mark's (for income tax purposes), please make sure to place them in the offering plate or bring them to the church office by Sunday, December 29. Mailed envelopes must be postmarked no later than December 31. Thank you!
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Women: You are invited to take part in a brief survey
This anonymous survey will help direct the plans of future events for the Women of St Mark's.
Your comments are appreciated.
Thank you to all who turned in the survey at the Advent Brunch.
Please use
this link or pick up a copy of the survey at the welcome center.
Return all surveys to the church office or online through the link provided above.
Survey data will be compiled and reviewed at a Women's meeting in late January- date and time to be confirmed by New Years.
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Sign Up to Have Your Holiday Shopping Dollars Help St. Mark's
Did you know that St. Mark's can earn "free" money nearly every time you shop at Amazon, Fred Meyer, or Bartells? These companies will donate money to our church at absolutely no cost to us - and it can really add up. Every dollar earned is applied to our Mortgage Principal Retirement Fund. Please take the time to sign up, following the instructions below. The same information can also be found on our church website under the Give tab. Please contact Jennifer Droubay in the church office if you have any questions.
Amazon Smile
St. Mark's can benefit financially almost any time you shop with Amazon! AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, shopping features, and Amazon Prime member benefits as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice. Since you use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile, your shopping cart, Wish List, registries, and other account settings remain the same.
To register, go to
smile.amazon.com. Under your Accounts & Lists menu, click into Your AmazonSmile, search for "St Marks Lutheran By the Narrows", and designate St. Mark's from there.
Fred Meyer
If you have a free Rewards Card at Fred Meyer, nearly every purchase you make there can benefit St. Mark's. (If you don't have a card, applications should be available at all registers or at the Customer Service Desk.) You just need to link your card once to St. Mark's. Go to
www.fredmeyer.com. If you don't have an online account, you will need to create one. Then scroll all the way to the bottom of page and click on Fred Meyer Community Rewards link --> click on Link your Rewards Card Now and search for "St. Mark's Lutheran Church by the Narrows." You will continue to receive Rewards Points, Rebates and Fuel Points.
Bartell Drugs
St. Mark's can earn up to 4% on eligible purchases from Bartells if you have a free 'B' Caring Card. (If you don't have a card, you can pick one up at any Bartell Drugs.) There are three ways you can choose to link St. Mark's to your Bartell's card: (1) complete a hard copy "escrip" registration form at the store; (2) call 1-800-931-6258; or (3) register online at
https://secure.escrip.com/signin/index.jsp.
Thank you in advance!
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Thank You for Your Year-End Giving!
Just a quick reminder that St. Mark's documents year-end gifts in accordance with IRS regulations. Cash contributions are deductible only in the year in which they are made. This means that any contributions you'd like to deduct for tax purposes in 2019 must be received by the Church office
before the office closes at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31st. Per IRS rules, mailed checks will be dated as of the date they were mailed (verifiable postmark); credit card gifts are deductible in the year in which the charge is made. Gifts of securities are considered delivered upon receipt in St. Marks's account at Charles Schwab (please contact the Church office for account information).
Finally, as you plan your year-end giving, did you know...
- Once you are age 70 1/2, you generally are required to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) from your IRA. If you have your investment account holder make out the check directly to St Mark's, you still get credit for the RMD, but should pay no taxes on the withdrawal. (Please consult with your tax advisor for specific guidance.)
- If you'd like to donate in this way, please notify our Financial Recording Secretary (Pat Buck; pbuck@smlutheran.org) of the amount and financial institution, so we can give you proper credit for your gift. Donor names often do not appear on the check or other documentation from financial institutions.
Feel free to contact Jennifer Droubay or Pat Buck at the Church office if you have any questions. Thank you!
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Grief Support Group
Meets Friday, December 13, at 10:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room.
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Caregiver Support Group
Meets Friday, December 20, at 10:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room.
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Advent Book Study
Advent book study: Sunday, December 15 and 22 at 11 a.m. "Living Well Through Advent," a 40-day devotional book focusing on practicing peace with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.
Hosted by Ingelaurie Lisher and Sigi Helgeson in the Fireside room, Sundays at 11 a.m.
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Prayer Shawl Knitters
Prayer Shawl Knitters
will meet Wednesday, December 18 at 1:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room. All are welcome!
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Giving Tree 2019
Thank you for your generosity in supporting 17+ families from DeLong Elementary School this year! Please make sure to return your unwrapped gift or donations to the Giving Tree on or before December 15th. Questions? contact Celesta Smith @
celesta.smith@smlutheran.org
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Elf's Workshop
You are invited to join us for some holiday cheer as we wrap all the generous gifts for our Giving Tree families on Sunday, December 15. Christmas music and lots of cheer will be shared as we prepare all the gifts and food baskets to be delivered to the families for the holidays. The Workshop will open in the lower Youth Wing at 11:00 a.m. and continue until all gifts are wrapped. Stop in to wrap one gift or a whole families worth. PLEASE SIGN UP at the Giving Tree table in the Narthex. QUESTIONS? Contact Celesta Smith @
celesta.smith@smlutheran.org or Katie Cootsana @
katie.cootsana@smlutheran.org.
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Third Quarter
Those in the "Third Quarter" of life are welcome to join others age 50ish-75ish to share hope, laughter, and love through monthly active events.
Friday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m.
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Symphony Tacoma presents Handel's "Messiah" at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 7112 S. 12th St, Tacoma. Meet in the foyer by ticket sales at 7:05 if you want to purchase $30 tickets with seats together. If you prefer to buy tickets ahead, go to
Thursday, January 16, at 6:00 p.m. potluck in the Fireside Room and highlights of each others' travels.
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Thank you, knitters!
Last week over 60 hats and scarves, handmade by St. Marks' Chase the Chill knitters, were delivered to the Tacoma Homelessness Coalition's 99 Stockings Project. They will be distributed to residents of the city's stability site, among others. The organizers were excited to receive these lovingly made and beautiful items. Thanks to all who contributed!
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Children and Youth Faith Formation
Sunday AM classes for children 3 years old to 12th grade: Regular classes December 15 and 22 (9-12th gr. Students don't meet December 22).
Children's Christmas Program
The Light of the World
with music from Marty Haugen's Night of Silence. Rehearsal: Saturday December 14 10:00 a.m.-12 noon here at St. Mark's. Preschool age children please arrive at 11:00a.m. Program: Sunday, December 15 4:00 p.m. (costumes and call time 3:30 p.m.); Potluck dinner following in the Parish Commons: Please bring a dish that corresponds to the following: Please bring a dish to share with at least 10-12 people. A-I Side Dish; J-Z Main Dish, Dessert and Beverages provided. Sign up to help with the Potluck at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B45A4AA2FABFE3-christmas
Thursdays at St. Mark's for youth grades 6-12
! Thursday, December 12, 6:00 p.m. Youth Choir, 7:00 p.m. Youth Marimbas - NOTE TIME CHANGES.
Middle/High School Movie Night!
Friday, December 20, 5:30-10:30 p.m. Star Wars: The Force Awakens & The Last Jedi. Pizza dinner and snacks provided. Parents are needed to help supervise this event. Two shifts: 5:30-8:00 p.m. & 8:00-10:30 p.m. Please let me know if you can lend a hand. Sign up by December 15.
Home for the Holidays-College Age Breakfast!
Sunday, December 22, 9:45-10:45 a.m. in the Fireside Room.
High School Winter Baking Event!
Monday, December 23 10:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. here at St. Mark's. Cost: $5.00 to help with supplies. Youth will be bringing home the goodies they make. Sign up by December 15.
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Adult Faith Formation
Adult Forum Sunday, December 15, 9:45 a.m.
Exploring Advent through Words and Images (FR):
Michelle Marshman and Mary Jo Larsen will lead the us in exploring
Advent through words and images using poetry, photography, art, and short devotions to reflect on Advent themes.
Wednesday Adult Faith Formation
Wednesday Morning Bible Study meets in the #1 Commons Classroom. Visiting with coffee begins at 9:15. We have varying bible experiences, share our insights and concerns, and are now studying Proverbs.
We are taking a break and will resume meeting January 8, 2020. Come and join us! Questions? Linda Durant (253) 363-8202,
hotdouug@harbornet.com.
Wednesday Noon Text Study Luncheon
We gather for lunch and for conversation at noon in the Parish Commons Classroom and study around the texts that will be heard in worship the following Sunday.
Conversation will be guided by the pastor who will be preaching, and by the insights and questions of the group.
Wednesday Midweek Renewal: Advent discussion during Midweek renewal. Join Pastor Sigi in exploring what it means to live well during Advent and practice peace.
Lydia Circle meets the first Tuesday of the month at noon in the Parish Commons Classroom. Everyone is welcome to bring a sack lunch and join us.
Fully Alive Bible Study:
The Fully Alive Bible Study meets Tuesday evenings at 5:15 p.m. in the Upper Fireside Room. We will continue our study of the women of the Bible with the life of Gomer, the wife of the prophet Hosea. She's an interesting woman!
Please join us. All are welcome. For information, contact Sherry Maiura at 253.303.1681.
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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.
Clean Fuel Standard in Pierce County
There has been substantial discussion about reducing the carbon footprint in homes, businesses, schools, and churches. One way the county can assist in this goal is by establishing a standard for clean fuel. The Clean Fuel Standard considered by governments around our region targets a 25% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030. As of 2015 Pierce County emissions come from transportation, 40%, and the built environment (56%) which divides up into 19% residential and 22% industrial, 14% commercial. The Pierce County Council has taken a position against a clean fuel standard. You can take a further look at this issue
here
. You can also submit a comment to your council member from this webpage.
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Housing is the Foundation for Wholeness
Associated Ministries next quarterly meeting to address homelessness will be held Thursday, December 12, 5 to 7 p.m., at Oasis of Hope Center: 1937 S G Street Tacoma WA 98405. At these meetings attendees from faith communities in Tacoma gather to learn about resources and hear important updates on how Associated Ministries and their partners are working to confront this crisis. These meetings are an energizing space for people of faith and good will to be informed and to take action to end homelessness in our community. Members of St. Marks are encouraged to attend. More information is available at
www.associatedministries.org/events/cqm1212
, or by contacting Martha Ward or Robert Hasselblad.
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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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