Covid Precautions and Updates |
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With Covid cases and hospitalizations on the rise again, it's time for us to make some changes to our worship life for the sake of caring for one another. This week we will be moving back to a mostly spoken liturgy, with a closing hymn being the only congregational singing. The service will also be a bit shorter- more like 45 minutes than an hour- and we're giving renewed attention to how we can space out, especially around communion distribution.
If you're lamenting these changes, I'm right there with you. Singing is good for my soul. But so is caring for our neighbors. With Keri's line of work, I have a pretty good sense of what things are like in the hospital world, and things are not good. We're to the point, again, that the amount of resources needed to care for Covid patients means that people with non-Covid illness and injury may not have access to the level of care to which we are accustomed. There are only so many beds and staff to care for the people in them. So in this tight spot, we need to care for one another. That care looks like wearing masks, getting vaccines and boosters, and for a while, it looks like altering our worship practices to reduce some risk factors.
May the same God who gives us the knowledge and the tools to mitigate Covid risks, give us the will to use them.
-Pastor Matt
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St. Mark's staff is extremely grateful for our Staff Gifts. We can thank you enough for your kindness and generosity as we begin a new year together with many exciting things ahead for our congregation.
Pastor Matt, Deacon Katie, Cantor David, Pastor Linda, Steve, and Danielle
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Thank you again for committing to your 2022 pledge. As a reminder, if you changed your pledge amount from 2021, don't forget to update your electronic account information to reflect your current pledge amount! If you need help changing this information within your Simple Giving/Vanco account, please reach out to Danielle and she would be happy to help you.
Your 2021 Annual Contribution Statements will be available for pick up beginning on Sunday, January 16th. If you are not able to pick them up before February, they will be mailed to the address the church office has on file.
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Updated Security System
Live on Tuesday, January 18th
Beginning on Tuesday, January 18th we will once again have a security system in place at St. Mark's. This system will monitor the second level of our facility, just as the old system did. Once you come up any stairwell, or enter in the North Liberty St. entrance, the alarm will activate and you have 60 seconds to enter in the code on one of the two keypads. If you remain on the main floor (Fellowship Hall, Kitchen, ect) you will not need to deactivate the alarm system.
The code for the new system will be the same code as before. The disarming key pads are located next to the elevator on the second floor and at the end of the admin office hallway. If you need access to this code, or a lesson on how to disarm the system, please contact the church office or Steve.
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Lutheran Services Carolinas - Circle of Welcome Information Session
Thursday, January 6th @ 6:30pm via Zoom
Laura Collins, our area director from LSC, will be leading a Zoom meeting to update Circle of Welcome volunteers on what she currently knows about the arrival of Afghan Refugees. This meeting will occur THIS THURSDAY at 6:30pm for anyone volunteers or those that are part of the Circle of Welcome. LSC does not have time right now for individual conversations with each of person, so this is the best way to learn all that they know currently. The meeting will be recorded for those who can't attend on Thursday.
Topic: Circle of Welcome Information Meeting
Time: Jan 6, 2022 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 862 5132 7738
Passcode: LSC
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Evangelism and Hospitality Team
Thursday, January 6th @ 4pm via Zoom
The Evangelism and Hospitality Team will be meeting via Zoom this week rather than in person.
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Lutheran Men in Mission - Cancelled
LMM will be cancelled on Saturday, January 8th. They are working on finding a new location for their meeting space and hope that this will be found by their February meeting. Stay tuned for more information!
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Afghan Resettlement Firewood Ministry
For ordering details contact Al directly
Al Seale has made up small bundles of nice oak firewood similar to those that are sold at grocery stores. Each bundle will cost $10 with extra donations welcome. Proceeds will be divided equally and donated to Catholic Family Services and Lutheran Immigration and Resettlement Services. If you haven't had a chance to get purchase your firewood, contact Al directly! Wood orders will be delivered on Sunday's or at a convenient meeting time throughout the week.
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Adult Faith Formation—Worship Words
January 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2022 from 9:45am-10:45am
Even if you've been coming to church since before you can remember, the terms that Christians use can seem like a foreign language (hint: sometimes they are). Beginning January 9, 2022, join Cantor David for a four-week exploration of the weird and wonderful words associated with the church. Whether you already know your Mag from your Nunc, or couldn't pick out a ciborium in a sea of chalices, everyone is guaranteed to (probably) learn something new! This class will meet in the sanctuary and via Zoom linked here.
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Landmarks
January 9th from 9:45am-10:45am
New to St.Mark's? Want to get to know the people here? Interested in getting involved with what God is doing in this place? LandMARKS is a monthly meeting with Pastor Matt and/or Deacon Katie that helps visitors and new members learn about the ministries of St. Mark's, get to know the staff and members, and ask questions about our community. Join us the first Sunday of every month. Meet us at the bottom of the main staircase at 9:45am to join!
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Bishop's Book Study: Reconciliation
Beginning January 25th
Join Bishop Smith in a synodwide book study of Called to Reconciliation: How the Church Can Model Justice, Diversity, and Inclusion by Jonathan (Jay) C. Augustine. Bishop Smith and Pastor Augustine will kick-off the study with a conversation to introduce the book on January 25. Pre-order the book at www.jayaugustine.com to receive it on the release date of February 8! RSVP here to receive the Zoom link via email. The book study will meet on these Tuesdays from 7:00-8:15 p.m.
January 25 = Kick-Off Conversation on Reconciliation
February 15 = Part One: Chapters 1 & 2
February 22 = Part Two: Chapters 3 & 4
March 8 = Part Three: Chapter 5 + Author Q&A
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Thursday, January 6th
- 4pm - Evangelism Team Mtg (Zoom)
- 6:30pm - Circle of Welcome Info (Zoom)
Friday, January 7th
Saturday, January 8th
Sunday, January 9th
- 8:30am - Worship
- 9:45am - Faith Formation
- 9:45am - LandMARKS
- 11am - Worship
- 12:15pm - Youth Group
Monday, January 10th
- 10am - Faith and Fellowship (Zoom)
- 1:30pm - Book Club
- 6pm - Council Mtg (Zoom)
Tuesday, January 11th
- 9am - Quilters
- 10am - Staff Meeting
- 12pm - Yarn Angels - In Person
Wednesday, January 12th
- 9am - Property Day
- 10am - Kairos Group (Zoom)
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Meeting Links:
-Evangelism Team Mtg
Thursday, January 6th @ 4pm
Password: stmarks
-Circle of Welcome Info Session
Thursday, January 6th @ 4pm
Password: LSC
-Faith Formation
Sunday, January 9th @ 9:45am
Password: stmarks
-Faith and Fellowship
Monday, January 10th @ 10am
Password: stmarks
-Council Mtg
Monday, January 10th @ 6pm
Password: stmarks
-Kairos Group
Wed, January 12th @ 10am
Password: stmarks
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Worship Assistant Information |
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If you are a worship assistant, please take a few moments and refresh yourself on the routines of your position either by watching these videos or by reading the linked text within the titles. If you would like to know more about these positions or any others on Sunday morning, please reach out to Danielle.
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January 9th @ 8:30am
Greeters
Henry Ulrichs
Barbara Ulrichs
Usher
Tom Stewart
Brenda Stewart
Altar Guild
Amy Zellers
Acolyte
Julia Volk
Reader
Tom Stewart
Communion Assistant
Anne Sites
Assisting Minister
Katie Rivers
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January 9th @11:00am
Greeters
Bob Mihara
Mitch Williams
Usher
Jason Jones
Josh Kersey
Altar Guild
Bonnie Richards
Acolyte
Anne Blackwell
Crucifer
Christian Wikoff
Reader
Bonnie Richards
Communion Assistant
Natalie Haynes
Live Stream
Trey Doss
Assisting Minister
Steve Doane
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Contact Information
Parish Administrator
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Our Mission:
Making disciples by loving Christ,
growing in faith, serving all people
Our Vision:
Experiencing and sharing God's grace as an inclusive, intergenerational congregation through Worship, Outreach, Learning and Fellowship
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