Weekly Newsletter | August 11, 2020
Worship and Devotions
Join Us Online for Worship Every Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
We are happy to have people from all over the world worshipping with us online through the livestream on our Facebook page. If you miss any of our services, you can find them on our website and Facebook page. 


Share prayer requests with us by sending them to: prayers@smlutheran.org. If you would like us to include them in the Prayers of the Church during Sunday worship, please make note of that. 

Join Us For Daily Devotions
A new Daily Devotion is posted every weekday at 6:00 a.m. on our St. Mark’s website and is available for listening at any time. 
Children, Youth, and Family Faith Formation
The second set of supplies for VBS are ready for pick up. Please contact Celesta Smith at celesta.smith@smlutheran.org if you still need to pick yours up. We have 3 weeks left of our 10 week program but you can view the videos via Facebook or through our website through the month of September and then they will be archived. Click here for more information.

4/5th grade & Middle School (6-8th gr) Book Group: Last discussion group this Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 6-6:40 p.m. via Zoom. 

Confirmation Bible Pick up (last years 7 & 8th graders): Our next bible pick up will be Tuesday, August 11, from 10 a.m.-noon and then from 3-4 p.m. at the church. Bibles will be on a table outside Ingelaurie's office to pick up between those times. Please wear a mask. 

CYFF Team Meeting: Sunday, August 16, 11 a.m. via Zoom. Ingelaurie will send the link out.
Adult Faith Formation

Join Deacon Ingelaurie for text study this Wednesday at noon on Matthew 15: 10-20, 21-28. Click here to join. 

This fall, Adult Faith Formation is looking for small group leaders to guide online discussions. If you would like to be a leader for one of these online cohort groups, please sign up here. 

Summer Book Groups: We have many busy readers this summer! Here's a reminder about when these groups meet:  
  • Love Big and Dear Church are done; thanks to everyone who participated these last weeks. 
  • White Fragility continues to meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, led by Ray Shjerven
Also, please take a moment to fill out a brief survey on the summer reads, found here. 
Job Opening at St. Mark’s

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church by The Narrows is seeking a person responsible for the coordination and support of the day-to-day activities of the church office and for operational support of the church facilities. This is a part-time position of 23 hours per week. Hours are 9:00 a.m - Noon on Monday to Friday for church office duties, 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Tuesday for staff meetings, and 1:00-4:00 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday for operational support. It is understood that functions may be performed in various combinations during those work hours. The position is offered with a 10-month Work Agreement from September 2020 to June 2021. Click here for the job description. Applicants should submit a Letter of Interest and Resume with 3 references by August 15 to: St. Mark’s Lutheran Church by The Narrows, Attention: Pastor Jan Ruud, 6730 North 17th Street, Tacoma, WA 98406. Application materials can also be emailed to Pastor Ruud at jruud@smlutheran.org.
A Note from the Stewardship Committee
The Apostle Paul often wrote to the churches describing the effect we have on one another. He encouraged members to support one another. Paul wrote about this as a mutual process that was to take place among believers. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, we are told that God has placed each one of us in the church with specific roles. These diverse roles work together for the purpose of caring and supporting one another. During this unprecedented time, how we care for and support one another has significantly changed.  However, despite the absence of physical contact and being together in person, the St. Mark’s community adjusted and continues to express care and concern in meaningful ways.  We have greatly appreciated the cards, letters, emails, and phone calls from congregation members. Likewise, we send out cards and messages, and make calls of care and support.  The St. Mark’s family is resilient and is finding creative ways to express love, encouragement, kindness, and concern for each other.  Until that wonderful day happens when we can be together in person, let us continue to reach out in new ways to one another.  

Bruce Sadler, Ingelaurie Lisher
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 and to make moral choices in our personal behavior.

In the lead up to the November election, it is helpful to inform ourselves about issues before voting. On the topic of immigration, LIRS, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, has a new virtual book series: insightful interviews with immigration authors. Click to learn more and to register. Netflix also has a series entitled Immigration Nation that is tense and riveting. This article in Vanity Fair explains more about it.  
Habitat for Humanity
 
Once again St. Mark’s is supporting the construction of a Habitat house, and you’re invited to help!
There are new procedures and restrictions due to the COVID pandemic, though. We are limited to smaller groups, but now have more than one workday available. The dates for St. Mark’s are August 29 and September 26 – and depending on the level of interest, we will probably be able to obtain another date, as well.
 
If you are interested in being part of a St. Mark’s team, please send me an email with the date that you prefer, and I will send you more information about the new health and safety restrictions at the worksite, along with instructions on how to sign up online.
 
Please contact me if you have any questions. Tom Geary, twgeary@aol.com, 253-549-2668
Crafting for the Bazaar

The Women of St. Mark's is considering hosting virtual craft night, with the crafting supplies available for pick up at the church in advance. Would you be interested in joining an online class to make the craft?

What time would be best for you?
Click here to complete a survey indicating what time would work best for you.


Lutheran World Relief

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) Quilts and Kits were destroyed in the Beirut explosion. 
The Bazaar is in the works for 2020! 

Save the date: November 7

It might look a little bit different, we won’t know until we get there, more news to come.
 
Crafters, have you been working during the closures on those amazing items for the event?
Craft Items can be donated any time. Please contact Katie Cootsona to arrange a meeting.
 
Please only Craft items, we are unable to accept books or collectibles at this time.
Member Notes and News
St. Mark's member Clara Eickhoff will be married to Bergen Nelson on August 15 and they would like the congregation to (virtually) join them! The wedding will be livestreamed on their wedding website and the congregation is invited to visit the website and then watch the ceremony online. Clara and Bergen would like to know if you plan to watch so they can have a mental image of who would be sitting in the pews if it were safe to gather together; Clara can be emailed at clara.eickhoff@gmail.com.
UPDATED! Organizations in the community continue to need masks. Click below to see the list.
UPDATED! Find ways you can connect and serve with community partners during the pandemic.
St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows