Weekly Newsletter | June 7, 2022
Worship at St. Mark's
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, 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.
Semi-Annual Meeting on June 12 at 12:15 p.m.
We are asking all members of St. Mark’s to join us for the semi-annual meeting of our congregation on June 12 at 12:15 p.m. We will be meeting in-person in the Parish Commons. Lunch will be served, starting at noon. When children have finished eating, they will be invited into the sanctuary to watch a fun movie together.

At the meeting, we will be electing new people to serve on our Church Council and various boards, adopting a budget for mission in the next fiscal year, hearing updates from our leaders on key areas of mission, saying thank you to Jennifer Droubay for seven years of faithful service on our staff, and looking ahead to an important time of transition. 

If you are not able to be with us in person, please plan to join us online via Zoom at 12:15 p.m. Zoom link here.
St. Mark’s Anti-Racism Alliance Welcomes Theresa Pan Hosley as Guest Speaker on June 13 at 6:30 p.m.
All are invited to join us on June 13 at 6:30 PM in the Parish Commons Classroom to hear Teresa Pan Hosley speak to us about our community history, past and present. Ms. Hosley is the President of the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation and the 2016 Greater Tacoma Peace Prize Laureate. She was nominated for the Peace Prize by the World Affairs Council of Tacoma for her “initiative, persistence, and long-term leadership of Tacoma's Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation.” Ms. Hosley is also inviting one or two other Foundation members to join us at our gathering. In preparation for the event, Ms. Hosley recommends watching a documentary on KBTC called “Of Race and Reconciliation.”
Wedding Shower for Pastor Hallie
The Mountains are calling and I must go!
-John Muir 
You’re invited to a
Wedding Shower for Pastor Hallie
given by and for the Women of St Marks 
Wednesday June 22, 7pm 
Chart your course and get ready for the next big adventure! We’re gathering to celebrate Hallie her big day. All ages are welcome to enjoy this time of joy and blessing with some fun activities, and of course a deliciously campfire-worthy dessert.  
BACKPACK CHECKLIST 
  • Yourself (and your favorite outdoors adventure gear if you wish!) 
  • Your favorite Recipe to pass on to Hallie OR 
  • Your Blessing for a Happy Life – cards are available on the welcome center this Sunday. 
  • RSVP at this link or at the church office 253-75-4966
  • Gifts? See their registry here.
NEW SONGBOOK from Cooper and Sarah Sherry
If you were not able to be at the book launch, and were hoping to own a copy of "Songs of Hope in the Wilderness" - the new collection of songs written during their 6 month sabbatical at Holden Village - it is available at www.evergreenhymns.com. Or, ask Cooper or Sarah for a copy and they will have them available at church if you wish to purchase one for yourself or a hymn-loving friend in your life.
Welcome to Summer Intern Tove Trelstad-Larsen
From Tove:
I am Tove Trelstad-Larsen, a St. Olaf College student who is here for an internship with St. Marks this summer! At St. Olaf I am a sophomore religion major with a concentration in gender and sexuality studies. I grew up going to services at St. Marks, and was confirmed here in middle school. I have very fond memories from this place, and I am so excited to serve the community this summer! My time with St. Marks for the next couple of months will consist mainly of working with college age young adults and also helping with services throughout the summer. Usually when I’m not working at St. Marks, I am painting, reading, drinking tea or hiking with family and friends! Thank you so much for the opportunity to serve this congregation this summer, I cannot begin to tell all of you how exciting this is for me.
Tiny House Build this Summer – Week of July 25-29
In partnership with Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), St. Mark’s will be building Tiny Houses at St. Mark’s this summer during the last week of July. The team will consist of adults and youth entering high school (9th grade) in the fall or older. There will be work at all skill levels, so you don't have to be an expert to be a part of this. We hope you can join us for a week of fun, fellowship, and truly meaningful work. 
Please fill out the contact information form here if you're interested (and let us know if you're still not sure or definitely joining us). Or if you prefer a Word document you can fill this out and email it to us (melaniesummerour@gmail.com), or print it and bring it to church. We'll provide lots more details in the coming weeks but please ask us about any questions you have.
Thanks! Melanie Summerour, Sarah Moore, Jan Ruud, John Avery
Planning Christmas in June?
While not strictly a Christmas event, the bazaar happens in November...but we've started planning now! Did you celebrate the return of lefse and the many other delicious baked goods last fall? Did you enjoy exploring the variety of homemade crafts for your holiday shopping? Or, are you looking for a way to get involved with a welcoming, multigenerational group at St. Mark's? If so, we need you! The adage is true: "Many hands make light work." The bazaar is a great way to celebrate the many talents in our congregation, as well as raise money to support a variety of needs within the church and in the wider community. To let us know you are interested, or even to just get more information, please contact Julie Milasich at jldennis74@hotmail.com or 253-988-8596.
Children, Youth, and Family Faith Formation
Splash into Summer with us!! VBS 2022 is August 1-5 from 9:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Registration is now open for all St. Mark's students (Preschool and Congregation). Registration opens for everyone else June 15 with registration closing July 15 or when we reach capacity.

VBS is for students ages 4 years old (as of June 1, 2022) to students 5th grade (completed as of July 2022). For more information and to Register go here or check out the table in the Narthex/Foyer. 

VBS Volunteers are needed--students grades 6-12th (completed) and adults of all ages are invited to sign up

You are invited to celeberate and honor the 2022 St. Mark's High School Graduates at the Baccalaureate service on Wednesday, June 8, at 7 p.m. here at St. Mark's. University of Washington Campus Pastor Chelsea Globe will be our preacher for the evening. All are welcome to attend! Congratulations and blessings to our 2022 Graduates: Douglas French, Kaelen Hoseth, Jonah Gaimster, Velle Gilje, Michael Mady, Sam Marshman, Claudia Silverthorne, and Sophia Terrill

Nursery Update: Sunday, May 29, we welcomed Libby Bunch as our temporary adult nursery caregiver. Libby will be a junior at Whitworth College in Spokane this fall and has been an active youth and young adult at St. Mark's over the years. Libby will be working Sunday, June 12, 19, July 3 and 10 for all 3 services. Youth Caregivers will continue to work as well on Sunday mornings and yes, we are still hiring for a permanent person to work on Sunday mornings. Please let me know if anyone comes to mind. ingelaurie@smlutheran.org

Upcoming Milestone Events: 
  • 5th grade Image of God: Sunday, June 12, 9:45-10:45 a.m. for parents and students lower youth wing. Sign up here.
  • Summer Camp blessing--beginning of the 9:45 am service on Sunday, June 19th, for all students and adults headed to camp June 26-July 1. 

Summer Camp--dessert and Q&A Wednesday, June 15 6:30-7:00pm (Bring your summer-camp check in sheet; St. Mark's Medical release form (2022-2023 school year) and a copy of your student's medical insurance card. We will also be taking pictures of each student to post on the youth board as we get ready to head off to camp

Sunday Morning Schedule for Children and Youth: 9:45-10:45 a.m.--Last Sunday of classes for students 4 years old to 8th grade. 
  • Students and parents preschool to grade 4 are invited to an end of the year celebration on June 12 from 10:45-11:45. following Sunday school. Please RSVP to Hollye Piercy by Wednesday, June 8 holly.piercy@smlutheran.org if you are attending so we make sure we have enough food.
Thursdays for Youth: We are offically done for the school year. 

Please contact Ingelaurie Lisher(Director of Children, Youth and Family Faith Formation) at ingelaurie@smlutheran.org or Hollye Piercy (Sunday School Coordinator) at hollye.piercy@smlutheran.org with any questions.
Adult Faith Formation  

Bible study: We will look forward to beginning Wednesday noon bible study again on September 14.

In the summer months, we are taking a break from the pattern of our weekly faith formation. This means we will pause our forums and Wednesday evening faith formation through the summer. Instead, look for opportunities for urban pilgrimages (walks) with Pastor Sigi, care of creation hiking trips, women's camping and hiking, and young adult retreats. We look forward to resuming Midweek Renewal and Sunday morning forums in September.
Congregational Care
Wellness Yoga has ended for the summer season. If you would like to take yoga in the Fall please email pastor Sigi. Thank you to Brittny Ramirez for providing "Just Be" yoga 

Walking for Wellness begins this Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Meet at the Peninsula Dune Park near the restrooms to walk around Point Ruston - all abilities are welcome. Please let Pastor Sigi know if you plan to walk so we can look for you. 

A walking group also meets in Gig Harbor - this week on Wednesday at 9:30 meet at the GH Post Office off of Judson St. for an easy pace walk.
Contact Barb Haueisen for more information. barbhaueisen@yahoo.com

Grief Support group meets Friday, June 10 at 11 a.m.

Caregiver support meets Friday, June 17 at 10:30 a.m.

Support groups meet in the upstairs Fireside room. (A Zoom option is offered for those who prefer it.)

For more information contact sigi.helgeson@smlutheran.org
Save the date! Women's Hiking and Camping Trip
Women's hike/camp: July 7- at Silver Springs. Hosts/leaders: Tove Trelstad-Larsen and Pastor Sigi Helgeson. More information to come!
Care of Creation Summer Field Trips and Hikes
On Friday, June 24, we will join with members of Port Angeles Trinity Lutheran on a field trip to the Elwha River. After two decades of planning, the largest dam removal in U.S. history began on September 17, 2011. Six months later the Elwha Dam was gone, followed by the Glines Canyon Dam in 2014. Today, the Elwha River once again flows freely from its headwaters in the Olympic Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. You can revisit the story of the Elwha Dam removal by watching this video trailer.

To join this trip to the Elwha, St Mark's participants will meet at the church upper parking lot at 7:30 a.m. We will form carpools and drive to the mouth of the Elwha for a walk and speaker. Afterwards we will meet at Trinity Lutheran for lunch and midday prayer. The afternoon will include a walk on the Discovery Trail, visit to the museum, and potentially a winery owned by a member of Holy Trinity prior to the drive back to Tacoma. The hikes on this trip will be short and level; not long and arduous. Could you please email Tom Hulst at thulst@live.com or Pastor Hallie at hallie.parkins@smlutheran.org to express interest in joining this field trip.

Summary of Care of Creation Summer Field Trips and Hikes:

Elwha River-Port Angeles: Friday June 24, 2022
Pinnacle Saddle and Reflection Lakes, Mount Rainier: Saturday July 23, 2022
Sunrise areas, Mount Rainier: Saturday August 20, 2022
Peace and Justice
Nativity House Update
Thanks to all who helped with meals in May for Nativity House guests. On 
May 12 we prepared and delivered 300 breakfast meals, and on May 28 we 
prepared and delivered 341 lunch meals -- 641 meals for the month! 
Thanks to all who participated and supported the effort. For those 
interested in helping out with Nativity House in June, we welcome you to 
join us -- no experience required. Upcoming events include:
* June 9, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: grab-and-go sack breakfast meal 
preparation (for 2nd Saturday breakfast); location: St. Mark's
* June 25, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: brunch burrito meal preparation (for 
4th Saturday lunch); location: St. Mark's kitchen
* June 25, 12:00 noon-1:00 p.m.: sack lunch meal pickup; location: St. 
Mark's
* flexible times/locations: remote volunteer activities, including bulk 
ingredients shopping and sack meal preparation (note: sack lunch meal 
kits available for easier meal preparation)

You can find more information about St. Mark's Nativity House ministry 
reach out to Melanie Summerour (melaniesummerour@gmail.com) or Peter 
Ride for Refugees Bike Ride

Click here to learn about LCSNW's Kitsap Ride for Refugees bike ride on August 20.
St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows