Weekly Newsletter | January 12, 2021
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During these difficult days of national unrest, let us keep in prayer our nation, its leaders, civil servants, law enforcement officers, first responders, and all who seek peace and unity. |
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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.
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A Message from Cooper Sherry |
Our Director of Music Ministry, Cooper Sherry, has been on sabbatical and extended leave since the beginning of September 2020 along with his wife, Sarah, and daughter Eleanor. The three of them have been at Holden Village in the Cascade mountains and we have enjoyed hearing updates along the way, including this message to the congregation from Cooper as the new year begins.
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Please Join Us Online for the Semi-Annual Meeting of our Congregation on Sunday, January 31, at 11:15 A.M. |
All members of St. Mark's are asked to attend this important meeting which will take place online via Zoom. Please sign up here to attend the meeting and we will send you a link to join.
We are asking every participant to sign-up ahead of time and to keep our leaders in prayer as they prepare to host this mission-driven gathering.
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Please join us ONLINE for a Community Conversation with other Members of St. Mark's |
Please join us ONLINE for a Community Conversation with other Members of St. Mark's
As the new year begins, we are inviting you to join a conversation with others in our church family to share your experiences and reflections on the diverse activities of St. Mark’s during the time of COVID and to help us plan for the future. Participants will meet in early January via Zoom in small groups hosted by a moderator. You will be asked to share: 1) The most meaningful and the most challenging parts for you of being church together in 2020; 2) Who you see us becoming in this time of change and your vision for who we will be one year from now.
To sign up, please go to the “Community Messages” tab on our church website at www.smlutheran.org then follow the link to “Community Conversation Sign Up” and pick the date(s) that work best for you. We are asking you to indicate your first choice and one or two alternates. If you don’t have access to the internet, you may leave a phone message at 253-752-4966. You will also be able to join a Community Conversation group by phone.
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Upcoming Memorial Services |
You are invited to join us ONLINE for the following Memorial Services which will be live-streamed on our St. Mark’s Facebook page at the times listed and also available to view in the Worship section of our St. Mark’s website.
Saturday, January 23, at 4:00 p.m.: Memorial Service for Bob Stivers
Saturday, February 6, at 10:00 a.m.: Memorial Service for Carolyn Patterson
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Interfaith Encounters Resume on January 26 |
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We are happy to announce that monthly Interfaith Encounters with members of Temple Beth El, the Islamic Center of Tacoma, St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows, and Bethany Presbyterian Church will resume this month with an online Zoom gathering on Tuesday, January 26, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. We will be discussing the Introduction and Chapter 1 of a book called “The Witness of Religion in an Age of Fear” by Michael Kinnamon. To sign up for this gathering, please click here and fill out the online form. A Zoom link for the gathering will be sent to you via email.
The book is available in Paperback and Kindle edition through sites like Amazon.
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Adult Faith Formation
Wednesday noon Bible study: On January 20, there will be no Bible study (next week), as our rostered leaders will be attending the annual Bishop's Convocation. We hope you will study on your own! Bible study will pick back up on January 27.
Film Friday: Join us Friday, January 15, at 6 p.m. for our virtual movie night discussion on the film Daughters of the Dust. Directed by Julie Dash, this movie is the first feature film directed by an African-American woman. You can watch the film on Amazon or Youtube. Click here to join Zoom, and here for the viewing guide.
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Wednesday Wellness podcast season 2 begins this Wednesday, January 13, here to help you maintain or jump start your wellness in 2021. I would love to hear from you about topics you would like covered concerning well-being. Perhaps there were things you learned in 2020 or healthy habits that you began that you would like to share. I invite you to email me if you have something to ask or share at sigi.helgeson@smlutheran.org; I can’t wait to hear your stories!
New Wellness Circle starts Thursday, January 14, at 5:30 p.m. Are you wanting to try something new, start a healthy habit, or re-engage a spiritual practice? Come check out the "Wellness Circle" for friendship and support. For more information and the Zoom link email sigi.helgeson@smlutheran.org.
Congregational Care: These can be challenging times. If you would like someone to pray with you or need a little extra support St. Mark's care ministers are available to talk with you. Please contact Pastor Sigi if you would like to set up a virtual visit.
Support groups:
Caregiver support- Friday, January 22, at 10:30 a.m.
Grief support - Friday, January 29, at 10:00 a.m.
If you are interested in joining a support group contact Pastor Sigi for more information and Zoom link.
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Children, Youth, and Family Faith Formation |
Here are our start up dates for 2021!
Sunday AM classes resume for children and youth (preschool-12th grade) on Sunday, January 10.
Weekly storytime for PreK/Kindergarten students continues as is; see weekly email for link to video.
1-4th gr. through January-February 14:
- Video and Activity: January 17 and 31, February 14
- Zoom class at 9 a.m.: January 24, February 7
5-12 grades: January 10, 17, 24, February 7 and 14. NO class January 31(Semi-annual meeting of the Congregation). No 1st Sunday of the month Confirmation (7/8th gr.) Podcast this time around.
Wednesday, January 13
- Middle School Youth Group begins at 3 p.m.--see email from Ingelaurie for Zoom link.
- Kids Choirs with Elizabeth Hirchl 5:30 p.m.--see email from Liz for Zoom link.
Thursday, January 14
- Youth Marimba's 7-8 p.m. --contact Jeff Brahe with any questions.
High School--"Bob Ross" Paint Event--Friday, January 29 6:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Sign up by January 17 to reserve your paint supplies and snacks.
Sign up here for your Lent at Home Activity Bag and Devotional materials: this will include Recipes and supplies for a fun Shrove Tuesday in your Home; devotional materials for parents and families of all ages; as well a couple more surprises. Take home bulletins for classes and storytime/videos were sent out in the Advent bags--contact Ingelaurie Lisher if you did not receive yours. Sign up here by January 24 to make sure we have enough supplies and materials.
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Chase the Chill
We continue to collect items for Chase the Chill through these cold winter months. Useful items are hats, scarves, mittens/gloves, and socks. We are also adding gently used clothing to the list to be given to Peace Lutheran Church to be distributed. Items can be delivered to St. Mark’s anytime before 4 p.m. on Wednesdays. Please place your items in a bag and leave it outside the office door near the fountain. If you have any questions or need to coordinate a different time for drop off, contact Teresa Handy at teresa.handy@smlutheran.org. Thanks!
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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 COVID-19 pandemic has increased hunger around the world, but there is good news of cooperation among countries and the private sector to reduce the impact. Please read a few encouraging updates here.
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Antiracism Resources
Over the past few months, many members at St. Mark’s have been engaged in an urgent conversation about racial justice. The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others have brought into focus the reality of systemic racism in our country and in our church. We have begun this journey through book studies, movie discussions, and extended conversation.
We all find ourselves in different places on this journey. Fortunately, there are abundant resources available to help us. St. Mark’s Peace and Justice committee hopes that you will look at the attached list and find some useful tools. We will be posting this on the church website soon, and we welcome new additions to the list.
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The loving kindness and generosity of our St. Mark’s family has been a great
help to us during this difficult time. We would like to offer our thanks
for the cards, food, flowers, prayers and sympathy you extended.
Thank you so much for your loving support.
Sincerely,
The Droubay family
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Calendar Year-End Giving Statements |
Hello! Just a friendly reminder from your finance team... Our fiscal year (July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021) does not coincide with the calendar year; therefore, we provide you two giving statements in January (if necessary) to distinguish tax year giving from fiscal year giving. This works as follows:
Anyone who gave during 2020 will receive a statement on white paper that is stamped at the top with "Calendar Year Statement for Tax Purposes.” This summarizes your giving from January 1 through December 31, 2020. This statement gives you the information you need for year-end tax documentation.
If you gave an offering on or after July 1, 2020 (the start of our new fiscal year), you will also receive a second statement on green paper summarizing your giving from July 1 through December 31, 2020. If you pledged, this statement gives you a view of both your pledge for the current fiscal year and your giving thus far toward that pledge. If you did not pledge, you will simply receive a summary of your giving-to-date for this fiscal year.
We hope these two statements give you a clear picture of your giving. We sincerely thank you for your generosity and ongoing support of the mission we share at St. Mark's! Please contact Pat Buck or Jennifer Droubay in the church office (253-752-4966) with any questions.
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A Message Regarding the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize |
Dear Friends,
The appalling events at our nation’s Capitol on January 6 shocked and saddened the members of the of the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize Board of Directors. It is impossible to find the right words to express our disappointment and horror. However, 6 January 2021 clearly shows us that the work of peacemakers and peace teachers is more important than ever here in America! On a positive note - I am certain that it will spur more people than ever to work for peace in America and in the greater Tacoma area!
Please note that, due to ramifications of the pandemic, the Board of the GTPP decided that we will not take nominations this year (for a 2021 laureate); 2020 Laureate Marilyn Kimmerling will remain as Laureate for 2021.
We encourage you to...
a) be "on the look-out" for this year's peacemakers and peace teachers as potential nominees for the 2022 GTPP Laureate, and
b) submit your nominations next January through March.
This fall, as we hopefully return to a more "normal" schedule, GTPP will celebrate 2020/21 Laureate Marilyn Kimmerling at our Laureate Recognition Banquet, and she will travel to Norway in December to meet with our partners there and attend Nobel Peace Prize activities.
Thank you, St. Mark's, for your continued support of the GTPP
Peace,
Janet Ruud (253-988-6825)
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St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows
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