Covid Precautions and Updates |
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With Covid cases and hospitalizations still on the rise, it's time for us to make some changes to our worship life for the sake of caring for one another. 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.
Please keep in mind the following as we worship together
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The cloth masks we started wearing in the beginning of the pandemic are not as effective as masks that offer more protection against the highly transmissible omicron variant, such as N95 or KN95 masks. One non-profit website with information about various kinds of N95 respirators can be found here. Some websites offer masks that are counterfeit, so be sure to look for appropriate labeling. N95 masks can be worn multiple times but when it shows signs of wear and tear, it’s time to switch to a fresh one. Wearing this kind of mask is especially important to consider if you are not fully vaccinated and boosted or in good health.
- We will be roping off every other pew again this week. Please leave space between yourselves and the next family in the open pews to allow for as much social distancing as possible.
- If you are feeling ill, please stay home until you are well and join us on our Facebook Page.
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Lutheran Service Carolinas Update |
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Circle of Welcome Information
The Afghan refugee families arriving over the next month that St. Mark’s Circle of Welcome will be helping settle in will need a basket of food staples to get them through the first week or so. Families will range in size from 3 to 10! We have a Thrivent action team grant to use as seed money for items for 10 baskets that we will hold in reserve for fresh items, as well as for items not donated. There is a signup sheet on the bulletin board at the foot of the stairs for non-perishable items. If you can supply any, please place in the box marked “Afghan food basket.” We are also in need of volunteers who can supply a hot meal within 24 hours of arrival. Meals need to be “kosher/halal” meats, or fish or vegetarian.
If you have questions, or you cannot shop for items yourself, but would like to help, please contact Pam Stein at 334-324-2279, or email her at pamtstein@gmail.com.
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In the News
Lutheran Services Carolinas has published an article about the new Americans Program Office at St. Mark's. To read the full article and find out more about the upcoming open house where you will have the opportunity to meet the LSC President and CEO Ted Goins, follow this link.
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Staying Connected
Amy Dix, the Outreach Coordinator for LSC, will be publishing a weekly email keeping those interested up to date with volunteer updates and immediate needs. To receive her emails, sign up here.
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Handbell Rehearsal - CANCELLED -
Thursday, January 20th @ 6pm
Handbell Rehearsal will be cancelled today Thursday, January 20th @ 6pm. Stay safe and warm in the comfort of your home. Rehearsal will resume next week on January 27th.
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Annual Contribution Statements
Your 2021 Annual Contribution Statements will be available for pick up beginning on Sunday, January 23rd. If you are not able to pick them up before February, they will be mailed to the address the church office has on file. In your household envelope, you will also be receiving a reminder of your intended 2022 pledge. Please review this, update your automatic giving if needed, and contact the church office if you see discrepancies in this information.
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2022 Updated Directory
Please take the time to review your contact information in the 2022 Directory. There will be a hard copy for you to review on Sunday in the commons. If you are unable to view this copy, please double check your information using this linked document. Notify Danielle with any edits that need to be made by January 31st.
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Updated Security System
We are LIVE!
The security system in place at St. Mark's is active. 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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NOISY Bucket Collection
Sunday, January 30th
The Noisy Bucket collection will go to support the Lutheran Disaster Response team as they continue to support the tornado victims in Kentucky and surrounding states from the devastation left behind after the December 10th disaster.
Lutheran Disaster Response is engaging with partners in the affected areas, including the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, to respond to needs. Given the initial damage assessments, recovery will likely take years, and Lutheran Disaster Response is prepared to accompany survivors until the response is complete.
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Adult Faith Formation—Worship Words
January 23 and 30 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). Join Cantor David for three more weeks of 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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New Member Sunday
January 23rd during the 11am Worship Service
Due to service being cancelled last week, we will welcome our new members, this Sunday during the 11am Worship Service. Bill Chalmers & Mary Brady, as well as Mary Wilkins will be joining the St. Mark's family. We look forward to adding these new members to our ever growing ministry.
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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 20th
- 6pm - Handbells - CANCELLED
Friday, January 21st
- 9am - Library Team
- 12:30pm - Bridge Group
Saturday, January 22nd
- 10am - Yarn Angels (Zoom)
Sunday, January 23rd
- 8:30am - Worship
- 9:45am - Faith Formation
- 11am - Worship
- 11am - New Member Sunday
- 12:30pm - Youth Group
Monday, January 24th
- 10am - Faith and Fellowship (Zoom)
- 1:30pm- Book Study (Zoom)
Tuesday, January 25th
- 9am - Quilters
- 10am - Staff Meeting
Wednesday, January 26th
- 9am - Property Day
- 10am - Kairos Group (Zoom)
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Meeting Links:
Yarn Angels
Saturday, January 22nd @ 10am
Password: stmarks
-Faith Formation
Sunday, January 23rd @ 9:45am
Password: stmarks
-Faith and Fellowship
Monday, January 24th @ 10am
Password: stmarks
-Book Study
Monday, January 24th @ 1:30pm
Password: stmarks
-Kairos Group
Wed, January 26th @ 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 23rd @ 8:30am
Greeters
J.D Slater
Linda Kinsinger
Usher
Lila Niedenthal
Ken Clark
Altar Guild
Amy Zellers
Acolyte
Claire Niedenthal
Reader
TBD
Communion Assistant
Connie Chaplin
Assisting Minister
Katie Rivers
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January 23rd @11:00am
Greeters
Bob Mihara
Mitch Williams
Usher
Dave Schuetze
Alice Silver
Altar Guild
Paula Lindsay
Acolyte
Bonnie Richards
Reader
James Aydelotte
Communion Assistant
Eileen Cram
Live Stream
Cord Doss
Assisting Minister
Susan Denne
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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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