Weekly Newsletter | October 12, 2021
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Sunday Morning Worship
We will continue to gather in person each Sunday at 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 a.m. in our sanctuary.
Also, please remember that we will continue to offer an online worship service every Sunday at 10 a.m. As in the past, this will be a livestreamed on our Facebook page and also available on our St. Mark's website.
Evening Prayer every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Parish Commons. This weekly in person evening service includes contemplative music and readings along with candlelight prayer around the cross. We will wear masks and observe the same COVID safety guidelines that we use on Sunday morning.
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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Memorial Service for George Leone |
The congregation is invited to a Memorial Service for George Leone on Saturday, October 16, at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary at St. Mark’s. The service will also be live-streamed on our St. Mark’s website and Facebook page. Watch The Bridge and our website for the link to the live-stream. We hold Char and the family in our prayers in this time of mourning.
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Message from Stewardship Committee |
Greetings to those in fellowship at St. Mark's by the Narrows!
My name is Derek Smith and I serve St. Marks as a member of the Stewardship Committee. September is a time for going back to school, and this year that’s still the case. My two sons are back in Sunday School for 5th and 8th grade, and I am teaching the 1st and 2nd grade children downstairs. It is a wonderful opportunity and both Sunday School programs (pre-K to 4th grade) and the Youth and Young Adult programs (5th to 12th grade), offer plenty of opportunities for those whose calling is helping children are available for those interested, including helping with set up and take down of the outside classrooms for those whom teaching isn’t their calling. For those wanting to volunteer in any way, you can contact those in charge of your interest area, Hollye Piercy for pre-K to 4th and Ingelaurie Lisher for 5th-12, or contact the office at St. Marks they will be happy to forward you to the right person. Finally, thank you all for your continuing gifts to allow St. Marks, this place of love and learning and hope and peace to continue our Outreach to the community and members. Peace and blessings to you all!
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We are excited to announce that the Bazaar will be back in person this year! Mark your calendars for the first Saturday in November, 11/6/21. There will be some changes to ensure the safety of everyone who attends, including masking as we already do for worship services. But, we are especially excited to have baked goods for sale again, including lefse! If you are interested in helping with any aspect of the bazaar, please contact Julie Milasich (see below). This can include set-up, helping make lefse, manning the cashier's table, contributing baked goods, craft items, or books and collectibles, and of course, shopping for those must-have holiday gifts! Look for sign up forms at church coming soon as well. For collectibles, we cannot take furniture size items. Stay tuned for more information regarding drop off times prior to and the week of the bazaar. Contact Julie with any questions, or to volunteer, at jldennis74@hotmail.com, or 253-988-8596.
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Children, Youth, and Family Faith Formation |
Sunday School is back in the building: after a couple weeks outside we have moved indoors on Sundays from 9:45-10:45 a.m. for children 3 years old to 9th grade, 10-12th graders you will start up on Sundays beginning Nov. 14.
If you haven't registered your student yet please sign up here.
Class locations:
- 3 years to 4th grade Preschool/Lower CFC wing
- 1-4th grade Zoom class begins October 17 9:00-9:25am--see email from Hollye Piercy for Zoom link.
- 5/6th grades Lower Youth Room--also offered on Zoom
- 7/8th grades Parish Commons--yes Coffee hour has been moved to the Narthex for the time being--also offered on Zoom
- 9th grade Fireside Room
- Storytime for PreK-1st grade students will be 2x per month--link sent out beforehand to families.
Zoom links for 5-8th grade classes are emailed to families ahead of time.
Have you met our teachers for the fall? Here are our leaders: Amanda and Joshua Minnis, Pre-K; Derek Smith 1st-3rd; Mark Young and Claire DeMoss 4th grade; Angelie and Irv Stahlnecker, Bryne DeMoss 5/6th grade; Linda Wimberley and Bruce Sadler 7/8th grade. We are still looking for a 1-3rd grade assistant or volunteer and some extra adults to help teach the high school youth when they begin in November. Just let Ingelaurie Lisher ingelaurie@smlutheran.org know if you can lend a hand.
Thursday Nights for youth at St. Mark's:
October 14
6:30 p.m. Youth Choir
7:30 p.m. Marimba's
Middle School youth group is held the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of each month: October 21, November 4, 18, December 2 & 16.
The Well for High School Youth will meet again on Sunday, October 17, at Ingelaurie and Bruce's home; 6:30-7:30 p.m., dress for the weather, we will be outside.
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Adult Faith Formation
Wednesday Noon Bible study: Join us for Bible study with the pastor! On Wednesday at noon on we will meet. This fall, we will offer a hybrid Bible study. With Covid safety in mind, we invite you to wear a mask and to eat before Bible study (no food will be served). You are invited to join in person in the Parish classroom, or join remotely via this Zoom link. For questions, please email Pastor Hallie.
Following the book conversation with John Phillip Newell on a date to be determined soon, there will be an evening book discussion on the following three Wednesdays at 6:15 at St. Mark's. Please sign up for small groups here.
On Sunday, October 24, at 10 a.m. you are invited to a movie discussion of the film The Big Sick, a romantic comedy loosely based on the real-life romance between Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani (Nanjiani) and grad student Emily Gordon (Zoe Kazan). Spoiler alert- they fall in love, but struggle as their cultures clash. We invite you to watch the film on your own and explore the movie guide in our Google drive. Please know you are welcome to join in person or online- you can find the Zoom link in our google drive. Please email Pastor Hallie for any questions.
The rest of our film line up for the year:
November 19: To Be Takei
January 14: The Farewell
February 11: Always Be My Maybe
March 11: Moana
April 22: Minari
PLU events:
Tuesday, November 2, at 7 p.m., PLU will host an evening with James Martin-Schramm on his lecture, "Bonhoeffer, the Church, and the Climate Question." For more information, click here.
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For those who have lost a loved one or have experienced a significant loss we are offering a 5 week class on grief: “Journey through Grief and Loss” Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m.- 7:00 p.m; October 12 and 19. The class will be offered at the church “in person” and may be offered via Zoom to those who would prefer that option.
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LATEST UPDATE on Refugee Needs |
THANK YOU, PRESCHOOL FAMILIES!
for the baby supplies for Afghan refugee families, pictured on the left.
Still needed for the family we will be supporting:
2 twin sheet sets, 2 twin mattress covers, 3 twin blankets, 1 full blanket, 2 pillows.
To support our refugee resettlement efforts financially, go to smlutheran.org, select “Give”, then ONLINE GIVING, then “refugee support”. Thank you!
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UPDATED: Donations for “Starter Kits” needed
Breaking the cycle of homelessness
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HELP NEEDY YOUTH! This Fall, we would like to provide “Starter Kits” for 6 needy youth ages 16-24 years old as they begin their personal journeys to independence. Needs include linens and full size toiletries. If you would like to buy some items for kits, follow this link to sign up. Purchase your items, label them “YHH Starter Kit” and drop them in the SHS/YHH Starter Kit bin at church on Sunday or during office hours during the week.
Background: In 2013, St. Mark’s members learned of Shared Housing Services* (SHS), a non-profit with a unique approach to help needy youth in Pierce County. With Youth Host Home (YHH), one their 3 core programs for improving people’s lives, youth 16-24 years old are matched with homeowners who provide a safe, stable home and mentoring program to them while they connect with education and community services.
We connect with the YHH program as part of our Peace and Justice mission. According to SHS data, youth placed are 33% with some disability, 33% were domestic violence survivors, 20% LGBTQ, 8% escaped sex trafficking and 27% had had some involvement with the justice system. Each year, about 15-20 young people enter the program, often with only the clothes on their backs. The hosts provide a bedroom, bed and the promise of mentorship.
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Fully Alive Bible Study meets Tuesdays at 5:15 p.m. We will meet in the Fireside Room and study: Elohim: God the Creator, Yahweh Yireh: God the Provider, El Roi: The God who sees ME. These are just a few of the names of God. In our English Bible, the Supreme Being is called "God' or "LORD'. However, the original translations in Hebrew and Greek have a rich, full variety of names for God. We learn these names through different Biblical stories, and as we study them, we begin to experience the breadth of God's character. Join us as we explore the characteristics of God. For more information please contact Sherry Maiura 253-303-1681.
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Worship Volunteers Needed |
Would you like to volunteer to be a part of worship services as a greeter, usher, lector, or communion assistant? We need you and would love to include you in this important ministry. Call the office at 253-752-4966, email linda.mckeller@smlutheran.org, or drop by the office any morning from 8:30-12:30 to sign up to be involved in the worship service of your choice. Thanks!
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Would you like to donate flowers for the altar in honor or memory of a person, event, or special occasion? You can sign up on the flower chart calendar on the board outside the office door. Questions? 253-752-4966. Thank you! |
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St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows
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