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Dear Saint Mark Family,
I pray you are continuing to observe a Holy Lent and are being faithful witnesses to Jesus Christ.
Let me begin by welcoming our newest members to our Saint Mark family, Piet and Ester Strydom, and Madi Dunn. We are delighted that they have chosen to become a part of our family, and we pray God’s blessings upon them as they continue to grow as disciples and participate in the life and ministries of our church. I encourage you to take the time to introduce yourselves to them and welcome them to Saint Mark. Welcome Piet, Ester, and Madi.
Last Sunday our Church Council met and discussed and planned the business of the church. The Council also approved the budget of $1.105 million for our 2024 ministry year. Again, I must express my deep gratitude and say thank you to everyone who has committed to give to our 2024 ministry financial goal. Your generosity is making a positive impact in the life of Saint Mark and those we serve.
I want to remind everyone that Church Council meetings are opened to our congregation, and you can attend all of these meetings. The only part of the meeting that is held in closed session is the executive portion, which is usually the last item on the agenda, so you can be present for all of the meetings until it is time for the execution session. The meetings are held on the 3rd Sunday of each month, except for the month of July when the Council will be on a break. I encourage you to attend these meetings and get to know more about the workings of the life of your church. There will be monthly reminders in the bulletin, so you can mark your calendars.
There are a number of current and upcoming ministry opportunities I want you to be aware of that are happening in the life of our church. There will be monthly opportunities for congregation-wide fellowship and mission outreach throughout the year. We know the importance of growing together as family, and the intentionality required for it to happen. We also know the importance of obeying the teachings of Jesus Christ by living out our witness through serving those in need. As such, the staff has been working behind the scenes to create opportunities for both fellowship and service for our congregation. The aim is to have an opportunity for congregation wide fellowship one month, and an opportunity for mission outreach the following month.
Last month we began with our Chili Cook-off, which was a wonderful time together. We are thankful to all who participated, and to those who attended. This month we will have an opportunity to partner with Wellroot Family Services (formerly known as the UM Children’s Home), and pack Easter baskets for youths in foster care. This will happen immediately after the 11am worship service on March 17th. More information will be published in Sunday’s bulletin and the Remarks. In the coming months there will be other opportunities for fellowship and outreach, including a bi-monthly opportunity to hike different trails in and around the state. I pray you will join in and encourage others to do the same.
Finally, I share with you a report from Lily Berrios, Chair of our Endurability Committee about the current work happening on our sanctuary.
Update from the Endurability Committee
Through the last few months, we have seen the progress of exterior wall repairs to the North Wall of the 1902 Sanctuary, primarily intended to address joints in the stone wall. As we near substantial completion a water test was done and a list of final items is being addressed by the contractor. This includes additional work around the Rose window and plaster in the interior of the Sanctuary. We expect the exterior items to be complete in the next month.
This puts us in good position for the next phase of improving the watertightness of the 1902 Sanctuary - the roof. This will involve replacing the roof of the main sanctuary and related work such as the gutters on the East and South wall. The committee has been busy finalizing the scope of work, anticipates awarding it soon, and starting work in the Spring.
My sincere thank you to John Hannula and Bill Sanders for managing the progress of these, to the committee that regularly meets to guide this process. and to all who have and continue to give to the capital improvements. In the words that our predecessors adopted: To contribute to the Saint Mark we will never see.
Saint Mark, we are only able to do this much needed and overdue restoration work because of the profits from the Juniper Street property sale. I am thankful for those members before us, who looked and planned ahead for the Saint Mark they would never see. I pray we will do the same.
God’s grace,
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