Weekly Newsletter | March 1, 2022
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Sunday Morning Worship
We 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.
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.
For recordings of the Bible study, “I am doing a new thing,” sermons, matins, and more, please check out our podcasts on Podbean. You’ll be able to connect with Apple Music, Spotify, and more on the podbean website.
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Lent Begins Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 2 |
You are invited to join us in our sanctuary for an Ash Wednesday Worship Service on March 2 at 7:30 p.m. If you are not able to be present with us at this in-person worship service, you may come by the church during the day on March 2 to receive the imposition of ashes. Just follow the signs in our parking lot and we will come to your car. You are invited to come during any of the following times: 8:00-9:00 a.m., Noon-1:00 p.m., and 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Click here to view all Lent faith formation opportunities.
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Please join us this Saturday, March 5, at 10:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room to discuss how to distribute the funds from the bazaar. If you would like to participate but need or prefer a Zoom option to join, please contact Julie (see below). Also, what are your ideas for the next bazaar? We'd love to hear them! Contact Julie Milasich at 253-988-8596 or jldennis74@hotmail.com with any questions.
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Thrivent Choice Dollars – Don’t Let Them Expire on March 31! |
Are you a member of Thrivent Financial who’s eligible to direct Choice Dollars? Would you like to designate them for St. Mark’s? If so, simply go to Thrivent.com/thriventchoice to learn more or call 800-847-4836 and say “Thrivent Choice” after the prompt.
Every dollar directed to St. Mark’s will be applied to our Mortgage Principal Retirement Fund, unless specified otherwise in an email to our Financial Recording Secretary, Pat Buck at pat.buck@smlutheran.org (include the dollar amount and designation). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jennifer Droubay in the church office. 2021 Choice Dollars expire on March 31, 2022.
Last fiscal year St. Mark’s received over $5,400 in Thrivent Choice gifts. Thank you for your generosity!
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Update on the church nursery: |
The Washington State Department of Health adjusted their guidelines for drop in child care facilities on February 1, 2022. And more updates plan on being announced later in March 2022 on working with children who are currently unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccination due to their age.
The Children Youth and Family Faith Formation Team will be meeting on Sunday, March 20 to establish a timeline and discuss ways in which we can safely reopen the Nursery with the new guidelines and advice from the Strategic Planning team. We will also discuss an updated job description to include Covid-19 and/or other health Safety guidelines as we post the job opening for a Nursery Coordinator(s).
If you would like to be a part of a Nursery reopening team, be open to applying for the position when it opens and/or have any questions regarding the St. Mark's Nursey please feel to contact Ingelaurie Lisher at ingelaurie@smlutheran.org.
Thank you for your patience as with everything over these past 2 years.
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Children, Youth, and Family Faith Formation |
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Tuesday, March 1 Mardi Gras Party! Live music, activities for all ages, Pinata, pancake races and more. Youth don't forget to bring your adult with you and drop in to St. Mark's between 6-7:30pm. Sign up here so we know you are coming! Youth and adult volunteers are needed to help out with this event--sign up here to lend a hand.
Thursday Nights for youth: March 3
- Youth Group 5:30-6:30 p.m. (grades 6-8)
- Youth choir 6:30-7:30 p.m.
- Youth marimbas 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Sunday March 6 Family Worship Sunday--no faith formation classes that morning for children and youth preschool-12th grade. Please attend worship with your family.
Late Winter/Spring Sports and activities...Ingelaurie would love to come and see your play, concert, sporting event, etc. Our youth in action--please send her your student's schedule and she will see what she can attend. ingelaurie@smlutheran.org
Summer Camp 2022 (June 26-July 1 camp dates): for youth grades 4-7(5-8th gr. '22-23 school year)--Spaces are still open for both Pioneer and Pathfinder groups.
2. Click 6/26 Lutherhaven Summer Camp
3. Click either Pioneer (5/6th grade 2022-2023 school year) OR Pathfinder (7/8th 2022-2023 school year).
4. Then follow the rest of the instructions.
5. Please register SOON so the church can pay the $200.00 per person fee and we get the early bird camper rate.
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Adult Faith Formation
I Am Doing a New Thing: Our final session of the study led by Mark Gravrock will meet in person on Sunday, March 6, at 9:45 a.m. in the parish classroom. For podcasts of previous episodes, please listen here.
Good Enough--40ish Devotions for A Life of Imperfection by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie find out more about the book or to order click here. Women's discussion group on this book and devotional will be held here at St. Mark's in the Fireside Room Wednesday from 6:15-7:20 p.m. March 9, 16, 23, 30 and April 6 led by Deacon Ingelaurie Lisher *If you need help with purchasing the book the church is able to purchase a few and donate them. Sign up here to reserve your spot: https://forms.gle/bqzedSQwnmZMxYdK6
Living Well Through Lent
“Letting Go with all your heart, soul, strength and mind”
11 a.m. in the Parish Commons Classroom
This daily devotional for Lent is available to anyone...first come, first serve basis! Contact Pastor Sigi for more information.
Late night catechumenate
Young adults (21+), you are invited to join Pastor Jan and Pastoral Intern Emillie for a late night discussion on faith and Luther’s catechism. Please sign up for the class here.
Jesus and John Wayne Men’s book discussion
Join Ray Shjerven and Gary Petersen for a discussion on masculinity, Jesus, and faith on Wednesdays: March 9, 16, 23, and 30 at 8 p.m. in the parish classroom following evening prayer, or Thursdays: March 10, 17, 24, and 31 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Please sign up for the discussion here.
Spiritual Memoir and Storytelling:
This creative writing cohort will focus on what it means to write and communicate our life of faith. Where is the presence of God creative in our lives? How do we write our stories of faith? You will be encouraged (but not required) to share your own work and writing, as well as read favorite works by others in the class. Class will meet on Wednesdays March 9, 16, 23, 30, and April 6 on Zoom and in person in the parish classroom. To sign up for the class, click here.
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Wednesday Morning Bible Study: The Wednesday 9:30 a.m. Bible study has resumed in the Fireside room with our study of Proverbs-God’s wisdom for applying to our daily experiences and challenges. All are welcome to arrive at 9:15 for coffee and visiting. We encourage sharing insights, questions, and concerns. Join us! For information, contact Linda Durant (253) 363-8202, hotdouug@centurylink.net. Masks will be worn.
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Fully Alive Bible Study: 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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New Wellness Class: Beginning Sunday, March 6
Living Well Through Lent
“Letting Go with all your heart, soul, strength and mind”
11 a.m. in the Parish Commons Classroom
You can sign up for the class Sunday, February 20 and 27 in the Parish Commons and get your free book. This daily devotional for Lent is available to anyone...first come, first serve basis! Contact Pastor Sigi for more information: sigi.helgeson@smlutheran.org
Caregiver support meets on Friday, March 4 and 18, at 10:30 a.m. in the Fireside room.
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Moral Voices, Moral Choices |
Tiny Houses Meet a Need for the Homeless
The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) is a Seattle-based organization that now operates 16 tiny house villages, including two in Tacoma. Recent information from LIHI documents the effectiveness of this one response to the homeless crisis.
LIHI tells us that 2,516 people are sheltered in tiny house villages including vets, people with disabilities, seniors, and people with pets. The villages are intended to shelter homeless individuals and families in safe housing as they transition to permanent homes. Of these folks, 57% are from chronically homeless and 56% found permanent housing which takes them off the street. Additionally, just more than half of the people served are people of color. These statistics tell us that while not a complete solution, tiny houses provide for a very real need for the homeless of secure, safe and private housing in a community setting where residents are linked up with resources to elevate them from the indignity of homelessness.
To date, St. Mark's members have financed and constructed seven tiny houses that we've handed off to LIHI. We've done that with weekend building projects with groups of 5-20, an individual-led building project with some help from friends, and a large group project for building multiple houses all in one week. All of this has happened during the pandemic and given us focus as a response to exceptional need during this trying time. As we look forward into 2022, we feel we can do it all again once weather warms and plans are firmed up. We are also discussing a new cross-generational build that would occur in the summer. If you are interested in supporting this ministry financially, you can send funds to the church and earmark them for tiny homes. New opportunities for participation will be well advertised in advance once dates have been determined.
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Peace Community Center Annual Event: Learners to Leaders |
Peace Community Center invites you to our annual Learners to Leaders event! Join our community in celebration of the growth and accomplishments of Hilltop Scholars. Hear powerful stories directly from our Scholars and make a meaningful investment toward their bright futures. Together, we will continue Peace Community Center's tradition of Empowering Lifelong Learners.
Will you celebrate with us? Here are some ways to get involved with Peace Community Center’s Learners to Leaders event:
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Attend our livestream event on March 18th at 4:00pm on YouTube live. You can register online at: https://peacecommunitycenter.org/events/learners-to-leaders/
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Make a special Learners to Leaders gift to Peace Community Center by March 18th either online at https://peacecommunitycenter.org/giving/ or by mailing a check to Peace Community Center at 2106 S Cushman Avenue Tacoma, WA 98405.
- Invite your friends and family to join you in attending the livestream and in making an impactful gift toward our Scholars.
You can help us reach our goal of $120,000 raised by March 18th that will go directly toward academic support for Scholars. Your support sustains incredible educational opportunities and academic mentorship for Hilltop youth each year.
Thank you for your incredible continued support of our Scholars and community. We are so grateful to have your caring and generous congregation as partners in this work.
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Peace Bench Dedication Update
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The Peace Bench will be placed along the Waterwalk at Point Ruston, Washington, in loving memory of 2006 Greater Tacoma Peace Prize Laureate William F. Lincoln (08/17/1940 – 03/21/2020). Bill, an internationally known peace advocate, mediator, negotiator, trainer, GTPP Board Member, and member of St. Mark's, was a long-time Tacoma resident. The dedication of Bill’s Peace Bench will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, along the Waterwalk he loved. A reception will follow. The bench is located between the Silver Cloud Hotel and the Dune Peninsula Park.
NOTE from Janet Ruud: If you plan to attend, please notify me by March 10, so that we can plan enough refreshments for the reception. Email me at janet@tacomapeaceprize.org or call 253-988-6825.
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Rental Needed for Refugee Family |
The Refugee Resettlement Team is happy to announce that St. Mark’s will soon be co-sponsoring a refugee family, probably starting in March. We are looking for tips, advice and information from anyone in the congregation who might be familiar with the rental market in Tacoma. If you can help in any way, please contact John Avery, johnavery@gmail.com, 253-376-5599.
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Chase the Chill Part 2! UPDATED |
Thanks to so many kind knitters and crocheters we have a growing supply of hats and scarves which means we can generously share the warmth and help chase the chill during these very cold, damp days of winter. Please stop by the table by the Office when you are in the building and pick up a ziploc bag or two to take with you and then give to someone you see on the streets who might need and appreciate a hat or scarf, a granola bar and a bottle of water. Of course you can add whatever you want to the bag-an encouraging note, hand warmers, a small McDonald's or Safeway gift card. Thank you for helping us care for our community. We have been given skeins of yarn as well which are also on the table. If you would like some for your next Chase the Chill project please help yourself. Thanks so much!!
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Pastor Hallie would like to share the exciting news that she is engaged to marry Nate Smith. A wedding is planned for this summer. |
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St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows
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