Weekly Newsletter | July 7, 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 live stream on our Facebook page. If you miss any of our services, you can find them on our  website  and  Facebook page. Feel free to share these links with others, too.

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.  Prayer requests that are emailed by Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8 will be included in the Sunday prayers this week. 


Join Us For Daily Devotions
In these first three weeks of summer, we are taking time to remember the power of sacred songs that nourish our faith and inspire us in our journey of discipleship. Some of these songs come out of the deep well of sacred music that has brought life to many generations of Christians, and some of them are like fresh springs of water that are gushing forth in these latter days. Our theme for all three weeks is drawn from the title and first line of a song that holds that past and present together, and also points us to the future:  “O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come.”  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.
Come and Get a Homemade Mask SUNDAY, July 12, 12-2 p.m.

If you or anyone in your family needs a homemade mask to wear in public, we will be handing them out at the church on Sunday, 12-2 p.m.
This is a drive-thru service. Stay in your car, drive up the curved drive (as if dropping someone off for service), give us the count you need for your household, and the masks will be handed thru a window or placed in a trunk if you prefer and can open it remotely.

No cost, donations accepted. Thank you to the many persons sewing & donating masks to this effort.
Children, Youth, and Family Faith Formation
  • VBS--it is not too late to join in. Our virtual, online VBS on Mondays has launched! Contact Celesta Smith at celesta.smith@smlutheran.org if you didn't get a chance to register. Note...there is ONE online component, each Monday morning at 10 a.m. via Facebook Live or later on the church website and then the rest is up to you at home with your family. Each week will feature a new story, new song, and a new activity or two. Click here for more information.
  • Our youth are invited to participate in a book club via Zoom. We are choosing a book for intermediate and another for high school students. The focus will be on current social issues like justice, equality, and racism. You can check out the project page and RSVP online here. We are looking forward to it and we hope to have lots of readers! Stay tuned for more details from Ingelaurie. A big thanks to Thrivent for their financial support. 
  • 4/5th grade & Middle School (6-8th gr) Book Groups: We will be reading and discussing the book Holes with a virtual movie night following. Here is the link to sign up. July 29, August 5 and 12, from 6-7 p.m. via Zoom or face-to-face as we are able to meet outside with masks; depending on the strategic planning team. Books will be provided, but you need to sign up by July 17 to get yours. We will divide into 2 to groups once we get going. 
  • St. Mark's Baccalaureate service for 2020 Graduates --Thursday, August 6, 7 p.m. at St. Mark's. Please RSVP by August 2 at this link.  
  • High School (9-12th gr.) Scavenger Hunt and Walk--Sunday, August 2, from 2-3:30 p.m. We'll meet near the fountain at UPS and then head out with our clues. Sign up by July 26 if you plan on participating.

**If you signed up to attend camp at Flathead with us this summer and didn't get the email about our campfire worship on July 16 please email me and I'll send you the registration link and details.  Subject to change based on state guidelines. 
Adult Faith Formation

Young adults : Join us for virtual pub theology Tuesday, July 7, at 7:30 p.m. Pastoral Intern Emilie will kick off a discussion for us on the role of scripture in our lives.  Click here to join.  

Wednesday noon bible study : For those who want to read ahead we will be looking at Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23.   Questions to ponder as you prepare for Bible study: where is your focus drawn to in the parable- the sower, the seed, the soil? What is a parable? And what does this parable say about the kin(g)dom of God?   Click here to join . 

Summer Book Groups at St. Mark's: 
Love Big (The Power of Revolutionary Relationships to Heal the World) by author Rozella Haydee White . Former ELCA staff member for Young adult ministry, Rozella is a theologian, spiritual life coach, leadership consultant, inspirational speaker, and writer. This group will be led by Deacon Ingelaurie Lisher. Sign up here . We will meet 4 weeks on Sundays from 11 a.m.-noon. Beginning July 12 (Intro-Chapter 2), July 19 (Chapters 3 & 4), July 26 (Chapters 5 &6) & August 2(Chapters 7 &8) via Zoom. More information about Rozelle White can be found here . Books can be purchased  here .

Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the US   by Pastor Lenny Duncan. ELCA author and pastor Lenny Duncan writes from a place of love and commitment to the gospel of Jesus while naming important truths about racial injustices within the Lutheran denomination. This book group is for you, dear church, who think boldly and bravely about justice work, and who want to take a long, loving look at the real. This book group will be led by Pastor Hallie; please email  her  to sign up. We will meet on Zoom on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. for 5 weeks, starting on July 13. You may order books  here . Please let Pastor Hallie know if you would like any help ordering the book. 
 
White Fragility: Why it’s so hard for white people to talk about racism  by Dr. Robin DiAngelo. Dr. DiAngelo is an educator, consultant, and facilitator on issues of racial and social justice. As a white woman, she explores why it is so challenging to talk about racism and whiteness as white people. Be of good courage, beloved church. This book group, led by Ray Shjerven, will lead you into brave space with important conversations about whiteness and systemic racism. For more information, please explore her website  here . To order, click  here . To sign-up, please contact  Pastor Hallie ; if you would like any help ordering the book, please let her know as well. This group will meet on Wednesdays starting on July 8 on Zoom for 7 weeks. 
Attention Thrivent Members!
Thrivent members YOU can help hunger needs right now! Serving 350-400 meals a DAY is all the more difficult at Nativity House during the Covid crisis.  Paper products (plates, clam shells and cups with lids) are critical in distributing a meal safely. This added cost is a real challenge to the budget. You have access to Thrivent dollars to be spent for these paper products. The grant writing for these dollars is EASY: will you join in for an Action Grant Writing party so we can help each other get dollars for Nativity House? Join Sharon Stenerson and Pastor Hallie for a Zoom meeting next Monday, July 13, at 4:30 p.m.  Click here to join.
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.

The pandemic has clobbered the essential agricultural workers in Eastern Washington. We spoke to Yakima-based La Casa Hogar to explore future potential partnership opportunities and learned they are a dynamic well-established 501c3 organization with a focus on adult education. They are seeking donations for direct assistance to two hundred families for basic living needs. Learn more at  lacasahogar.org .
Heartfelt Thanks for Vehicle Donation!

We are pleased to share with you that an anonymous donor recently gave funds to purchase a “new” vehicle for St. Mark’s! The donor’s initial intent was that the vehicle should serve as the primary means of transportation for our new Pastoral Intern for the next two years. Taking a long-term view, the Volkswagen Atlas is also sized and safety-equipped with our youth group trips and senior member visits in mind. We are truly grateful for this generous gift.
NEW REQUEST! Organizations in the community continue to need masks. Click below to see the list.
Click below to see ways you can connect and serve with community partners during the pandemic.
St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows