St. M"rk`u [-uth era" Chur.h

St. M"rk'u [-uthera"Chur.h
Volume Number
Publisher
Church mouse
f ,o*l
2013
astor(odt"g
Seepage3 for his report.
E-mail : Pastorrodney@midtel. net
lssueNumber
23
lrug"r" fon..rns
Please lift the following people up in
Prayer:
All the flood victims
N.* website
Our new webpage is up and running.
Check it out. It is awesome! Thank
you Angela. The addrcss is
www.stmarkslutheran
-middlebursh.com
Marie Campbell
Families of Lorccn Duncan and
Thelma Serrie
Cindy
Family of Marc A.
BilI
Bonnie and Bill's grandson
Joht
Op"tt
tion
ChristmasChild,
We are going to try something a
little different this year. Rather than
waiting until fall to start our
collection of itcms for thc kids we are
going to collect different items on a
monthly basis. For the month of April
plcase bring in boy toys. The box is
up front near the cross.
Up.o^ingL"e nts
April9 - Council meeting 6 PM
April 13 - Youth roller skating
@ Interskate 88. Meet at church
at 1:00
April 27-28 - 30 Hour famine.
Meet at church 8:30 Saturday
iAAay4 - Make owl houses
May 14 - Council meeting 6 PM
!outh,
In the hallway by the music room are
sign up sheetsfor the 30 hour famine,
roller skating,building owl houses,
zoom flume and Fright fest. If you
would like to participatepleasesign
uP.
May 18 - Volunteer at Mr.
Larawayts refuge farm
June 1 - Youth families summer
picnic and bingo night
5t. M" ,L't LutheranCh ur.h
Food f antrg\.-ds
Apr 7 - soups
Apr 14 - spaghetti sauce
Apr 21 - spaghettios
Apr 28 - pudding
applesauce / jello
************tF**********
God is likc - Baycr aspirin - He
works miraclcs.
H"ppg Pags lllll
Birthdays: April
April 1 - Virginia Peterson
April3-PatBeckcr
April 5 - Nikki Gordon and Julic
Sammons
April 11 Carolyn Wyckoff and
Maric Catcr
April 19 HannahMartin
April 20 - Diane France
April24 - MauriceVan Dyke
April 25 - Lori Warner and Liam
Grapes
April28 Bill Gordon
April30 - Virgil Catcr
God is like Wal-Mart - He has
evcrything.
Anniversaries: April
God is like Alka - Seltzer - Try Him,
you'll likc Him.
March 15 - Tcd and Dcbbie
Palmatier
God is likc scotch tape - You can't
sec Him, but you know Hc is thcre.
** ** * ***
** **trtr ** * * * tr* ** **
God is likc Delta - Hc's ready when
you are.
God is like Allstate - You're in good
hands with Him.
Food Pantry
Blessing:
In February, our food pantry
received $423.38 from the Broomc
Fire Department. The money was
raised by t}e Westerlo Reformcd
God is like Hallmark cards - He cares
enough to send the very best.
God is like Coke - He's the real
thitg.
God is like Chevrolet - the heart beat
of America.
Church community. The fire
dcpartment was asked to select people
in need or agencies that helped meet
the needs ofarea residents. The food
pantries at St. Mark's and the North
Blenheim Methodist Church were the
recipients. St. Mark's council and
congregation are truly thankful for this
generous donation. We have been
blessedto be a blessing!
A BlessedEaster to Everyone!
The Apostle wrote in 1 Peter 1:3-5 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a
living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ fro* the dead, to en
inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, ffid unfading, kept in heaven for you,
who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be
revealedin the last time."
On SundayMarch 3I, 2013 we will be celebratingthe resurrectionof our Lord. It
is a time of great rejoicing and a seasonfor us to be glad. The resurrection of
Christ signifies for us as Christians, hope and newnessof life. The long seasonof
Lent is over, and it gave us a chanceto reflect on the sacrifice of Christ our Lord
and; we were able to journey with him through theseforty days.
Easter celebratesthe victory of light and life over darknessand death. God recreatesand redeemsall life from dead, dry, and destroyedbones. We are released
from the bonds of self-obsession,addiction, and whatever would steal away the
radical freedom of God-with-us. Our lives re-center in what is most holy and
creative, the new thing God is continually doing in our midst. Practicing
vulnerability toward the need and hunger of others around us, we have cultivated
compassionatehearts. We join in baptismal rebirth in the midst of Jesus' own
passing-over.
The wonder of the resurrectionis upon us once more. May we embraceGod's
ever-new life with every cell of our being, every yearning of our soul, and every
muscle of our will. Christ is risen, deathis vanquished,humanity is restoredto
holy and creativerelationship with God's ongoing and eternalliveliness. Praise
God who brings light out of darkness,life out of death,ffid newnessout of the
stale and moribund. Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
PastorRoyan Rodney.
5t. M" rL'uf*utheranChrr.h
$e-"rs {or ft7ril
(ommittees:
Christian
Education
/ Youth:
5 adults and 13 youth went to the
indoor water park @ Grcat Escape on
March 9 and had a great time.
Beginning March 3 the confirmation
class will meet every Sunday from
12 1 lor class.This is for youth 7'h
grade and up.Please be sure your
child attends worship scrvices as they
April T:
Acolyte - MarylJenna
Ushers - Dennis/Diane
Readcr - Maric
Grccter - Maurice
Prayor - Gene
Counter - Dianc
April 14:
class. See Pastor Rodney with
Acolyte - Kenny/Brianna
Ushcrs - Gcorgia/Nikki
questions.Bring a bag lunch to cat
during tJrc coffcc hour.
Rcader - Allison
Grcctcr - Harry
Sign up sheets for roller skating, 30
hour famine , building owl houscs,
Prayor - Bcth
Counter - Dcb
will need to takc scrmon notcs for
voluntccring at Wildlifc Rcfugc,
zoom flume and Fright fcst arc
hanging in thc hall by thc music room.
Sunday School is opcn to all
children- all ages. New hours will
be 9:15 to 10:15.
**t<**{<{<{<**{<t
*{<*X<{.***t<****t<**
April2l:
Acolytc - Gabby/Morgan
Ushcrs - Bcth/Chris
Rcadcr - Nanettc
Grccter - Pat
Prayor - Georgia
Cor.rntcr - Dianc
April28:
Acolytc - Logan/Vivian
Ushcrs - Aaron/Alyssa
Reader - Ethel
Greetcr - Janct
Prayor - Ginny
Counter - Deb
,F{<************8*****t<tr
*{<*****
Please join us as we celebrate
the life of Lorene Duncan with a
memorial service followed by a
luncheon on April20th at 3:00
Kiss a Gow
Fundraiserfor World Hunger
Here how it works!
During the month of April vote for the
candidateof your choiceto kiss the Gou
- either Pastor Rodncyor Pat McGoy.
Alongwith your vote pleaseoonsider
makinga donationto World Hunger.
The pcrson with the most votes ..wins,
(or looses) and gets to kiss the Gow.
Kissingwill take place $undayApril 28*
at l2 noon.
The youth will also be collecting
donationsand the Soal is to collect
Sl OOO.If they do not reach that goal all
the youth will kiss the Gowtoo!
Vote Ofrenr DonateOfren
Votingtable is in the fellowshiphall.
Helpmg to.uno uruld.hlungerln Amerrca I unllcl Hunger bnds Here
PageI ot 2
Tell your friends
About the progrcrm
Reqlities of hunger
Tdldng action
lliv,EEE
Voices lor hope
stcrrtswith q code.
FEffi@W@&
W %-wcqtrEffi
Look lor codes on these pqrticipating ConAgro Foodsbrcrnds.
Neorly 17 million children loce hunger in the U S '
ConAglcr Foods is wolku:g with Feedlng Americo to chonge thot
Here's how you cctn help.
t
I
2
Submit code
Locote the red push
Look lor porticlpoting ConAgro
Foods bronds,
pm ond
S€ tho brods
l^f
b-drsttcode q80Alq50
har.r'i
1! a
/ tr:A,
902,070
children fqce hunger
in New York.*
lcode=lmecrl"'
5M,739
codes entered
since l.l l. t 3
Goal: 3 rnilhou
meols
See how mcmy children
qre qffected in your county.
View the map
Code eniry by stote
lsrteltte-ur."let"
lxi
Stayconnected
to the cquse.
Join the converscrtion, ond heip spreod the
word on Twitter ond Fqcebook, Together,
'
we cqn <rli moke cr difference.
com/
http ://www. childhungerendshere.
Cllld HurrgerEndsHere.Join the lightl
As-part-ftheyouihgd hourTamine
we
going
are
to be lookingfor the ConAgra
foodcodesandsubmitting
themon
theirwebsite.
@ect'mgthe
codes.
We willgoto theirwebsiteand
enterthemfor freemeals.
3t20t2013
tstelpmgto bncl Hunger m the unlted states I uhrld Hunger Ends Here
PageI of2
Tell your tdends
About the progrcrn
Reqlities oI hunger
Toking oction
Eiri.fiEE
Voices for hope
CorrAgrqFoodsis committed
to ending child hunger,
Food is not something fi"ry ch.rld should lrcrve
to worry crbout, but in Americo necrly 17 mrllion'do.
We wcrnt to chonge thcrt And you ccn help.
Get involved
Followus
on Facebook
g
Learn more about
the ConAgra Foods
Foundation.
.|
Discover more way5
to helpthrough
F e e d i n gA m e r i c a .
0
Help a local food
b a n k . R e m e m b e rt o
key-inyour zip code
t,
The chrld Hunger Ends Here progrom is port o1conAgro Foocls'ongorng commitment to
help end child hunger in Amerjcq For every code entered by B/ 31/ 13, ConAgro Foods
will donqte the monetory equivcdent ol one meol" to Feeding Americcr, the notion's
lorgest domestic hunger-relief orgcrnlzqtlon.
Followus
on Twilter
Contact us
Thonks to ihe help ol coring people h-keyou, ConAgro Foods donqted the monetory
equlvolent of 3.4 million meqls to Feeding Amedco crsport o1the previous Child I{unger
Ends Here comp<:ign, which included onhne, school ond retqiler progrcms, Wttir your
help, we cqn moke the 20i 3 compoign just os successftrl.
Pqrticipcting brqnds
Look for the red push pin cnd B-digntcodes on these pcrticipoting ConAgro Foods brcu'rds.
r / d# B @ @ r o e @ w @
&snWwc-w.W6$tffipArvl
ffi@
There'so good chonce thot someone in yow neigirborhood is struggiing to put looci on tire tqble tomght
These Cor:-AgnoFoods bronds hove mode o commrtment to ending chrld hunger ur the U.S They're in this
fight 1orthe long houl. Whtch rlecrns there's <rlot to like obor"rtthe looci you love
*
Where's the code?
Find the B-digit code on the bock
or side of specicrlly morked
ConAgncr Foods pockoges, Just
look for Ure red push pin.
http ://www.childhungerendshere.
com/about.html
3120t2013
ELCA DisasterResponse
ELCA churchwideresponseto disastersin the U.S. and around the world; look for sectionsof this
blog related to specificdisasterlocations.Commentsare welcomedand moderated.
Hurricane lrene/Tropical Storm Lee: You are the SALT of the
Earth
Postedon March l, 2013by JosephChu
Dean,Josh
FromLeft: MarrianeRoberts,SALT Staff;Pr. JoeChu,LDR; Pr. ElaineBerg,Conference
DeBartolo,SchoharieRecoveryInc. Director;Pr. SheniMeyer-Veen,SALT President;SarahGoodrich,
SALT ExecutiveDirector;Ken Dingee,SALT Staff;PatsyGlista,UpstateNew York SynodAssistantto
theBishop
Committeemeetingsare rarely interestingmaterialfor storytelling.But how a meetingis conductedand
how participantsinteractwith one anotherduring the meetingcanhelp tell the bigger story of the
personalities
of thoseinvolvedandthe level of their collectiveaccomplishments.
In thepastfew months,I
havehad the opportunityto attendandobservea numberof Long Term RecoveryCommitteemeetings
that seekto help thoseaffectedby disastersin variouscommunities.I am truly amazedby how different
thesecommitteescanbe: Somearehighly organizedand effectiveand somearedominatedby one or two
strongpersonalities.Unfortunately,someare still finding waysto becomea coherentbody after a long
periodof time.Theboardmeetingof SchoharieAreaLong Term(SALT) at Cobleskill,New York, in the
earlymominghoursof February5,2013,definitelybelongsto the first kind - highly eflectiveand
exciting.
The SchoharieBasin,throughwhich the SchoharieCreekflows, is an idyllic areawith hilly meadowsand
small farmsteadsin UpstateNew York. WhenHurricaneIrene andTropical StormLee ravagedthe
Northeastin AugustandSepemberof 2011,the basinwashardhit with morethan2,000properties
affected.As the result,local governmentslost an upwardof 70o/oof their tax base.Soonafterwards,
communityleadersand faith-basedorganizationscametogetherto form SALT - The SchoharieArea
Long Term- to serveasa "...coordinatingcouncilor regionalcoalitionin orderto provideInterfaithand
inter-agency
resources,
advocacy,healing,support,andrecoveryassistance
to thoseaffectedby disaster."
Severalthings stoodout for me at that meeting.It was conductedin a very organizedand effective
manner;'themeetingagendaandpastminuteswere well preparedandwere sentto participantsin
advance.PastorSheni Meyer-Veen,the Chair of the SALT Board,chairedthe meetingwith graceand
easeandwasvery good at inviting membersto participatein discussions.SarahGoodman,the Executive
andexhibiteda high level of professionalism.
Directorof SALT, wasvery knowledgeable
Thosein
people,
professors
leadership:
business
attendancewere from all stripesof community
clergy,
and
govemmentleaders,eachrepresentingtheir respectivecommunityneedsand assets.The deliveriesand
werevery thoughtfulandcourteous- somethingthat's not alwayseasyto accomplish,
discussions
particularly in the very early morninghours.Undoubtedly,peoplearoundthe table were highly
professionals
but yet no onetried to dominatethe discussion.Instead,they tried to give of
accomplished
group
their bestfor the
and for thoseaffected.At onepoint, membersof the unmetneedscommittee
presenteda highly sophisticateddecision-makingflowchart to map how they maketough calls when
local residents.
consideringrequestsfrom devastated
Oneof the things that struckme wasthat theseleadersprobablywould not havebeenat the sametable
beforeHurricaneIreneand Tropical StormLee; but they roseup to the commonchallengeafter the
disasterandhumbledthemselves
to work togetherto bb apart of the wholefor the sakeof the shared
future of their community.My subsequent
meetingswith the staff of SALT and othercommunity
stakeholders
aswell asmy toursof the rebuildingprojectsconfirmedtheseimpressions.
The following arejust a few of the pointsthat helpedme in formingthis impression:
.
.
.
.
.
.
Over 500damagedpropertiesreceivedassistance
from SALT andareapartnersandover 150
familieshavereturnedhome.
Over 120faith basedgroups,20 corporations,
35 schools,15laborunionsandconstruction
companiesand30 communityservicegroupshavevolunteered.
Over25,000volunteershavecontributed128,877hoursof laborworth over $4 million.
The FenimoreAssetManagement
investmentfirm offereda $250,000matchinggrantto SALT
andthe communitywas ableto raisethe sufficient frrndto doublethis gift.
SarahGoodrich,the ExecutiveDirectorof SALT, wasnamedasthe 2}l2Times-JournalStar,a
greathonorfor localresidents.
On the day of my visit, the Rev.David Meyers,Directorof the FederalDeparhnentof Homeland
Security'sCenterfor Faith-Based& NeighborhoodPartnership
alsovisitedSALT. SALT invited
the mediato talk to David Meyers,who represents
the PresidentObama,aswell as SALT leaders
andrepresentatives
from variousfaith basedorganization.WhenRev. Meyerswas askedabout
how well he thoughtSALT wasdoing,he uttereda very importantword, "Exemplary!"
We want to thankthe many lay and ordainedleadersof the UpstateNew York Synod.It wasmy great
plBasure
to meetwith someof themduringmy visits - BishopMarie Jerge;PatsyGlista,Assistantto the
Bishqpfpr Operations;GaryRoller,VolunteerCoordinator;PastorElaineBerg,Deanof Foothill
Conference,
andmanyothers.Throughtheir tirelessgoodwork, LutheranDisasterResponse
hasbeen
aacompanyingthe residencein the SchoharieBasin sincethe beginningof the disasterresponsework in
t[eir community.In fact, LDR was amongthe first to supportthe creationof the SALT recoverygroup
with a $45,000initial grantfor staffing and administration.This initial investmentand subsequentgrants
$aveindeedyieldedenormouslyfruitful results.Thanksbe to God!
5t. M'k's Luthera"eh,rr.h
30 hour farnine ftrr
World Ffunger:
April 27 and 28 - meet at
8:30.
the church Saturciay
Wc rvill be cir:inga
community serviceproject
first so \ rear rvork clothes,
bring work glovcsand bring
a leaf rake rvith your nanto
r.lnit. lf it can bc arrangccl
bring a hathing suit, flip {1r:ps
ancltowel fbr sr,r'imming.lbu
will ncccl a sleepingbag ancl
a pillow for spendingtht:
night. Bring extra clean
clothcs anclany pcrsonal carc
items you rt'ill neecl.
Breaklbstwill be servecl
S u n d a ymo rn i n g a t 8:30,On
the 2B'l'atnoon rn'ervill havc
the rcsultsof the "Kiss a
Co$"' lunclraiscrancln'ho
gcts to kiss the cow Plcasc
bring your donationsthat
vou collectc'dwith vou
bccauscif r.t'cdid not raisc
$ 1000 all the youth rvill have
to kiss the cnw tool An-v
qucstionssee Debbie
Palmatier.
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$aturdag, Apnl t r, zot 7 at 2:oo
(efor'" d (h"r.h of Middl"b,r.gh
tTSKiver$treet
Middl"burgh,N"* Y"'k
(.fre sh te n ts a n J [.l l o*"hip *ill f"llo*.
Hello, SistersandBrothersin Christ!
It is with greatJOY that I am ableto inform you that I will be going to Zarnbiawith Samaritan's
Pursein May on a shoebox distributiontrip! WhenI explainedto a dearfriend oncethat sucha
trip wasofferedto areacoordinatorsandI would probablynot havethe opportunityto evergo on
sucha trip, shesaidsomevery wise words. "If Godwantsyou to go, He will makea way."
God hasmadea way, and I am thrilled to havethis opportunityto be ableto participatein
placingtangiblerepresentations
of God'slove into the handsof children! I askall of you to
pleasecoverthis trip in prayer. Prayfor:
all volunteersand staff to be spiritually andphysicallypreparedto be usedaccordingto God's
purpose
the logisticsinvolved
children'sheartsto be preparedto receivethe GoodNews
families to be opento havingtheir childrenattenda distributionand later TheGreatest
Journeyclasses
local pastorsandvolunteersto be equippedto shareGod'slove
I am confidentthat the Holy Spirit will leadyou to pray for aspectsof the trip I havenot
included. Thankyou for your vital supportof this wonderfulministry. All that we do mustbe
groundedin prayer.
I am also askingyou sharemy newsin your churchesand communitygroups. I look forward to
being ableto sharemy experienceswith you after I return from this amannggift from God!
Blessings!
Mary Lou
Dear Friends,
As we approach Easter Sunday, we are filled with the Hope of the Resurrection. Imagine how a
hurting child feels when he or she learnsthat hope is possible for him or her too. A simple shoe
box gift placed in a child's hands is a way to introduce a child living in darknessto the Light of
the World. I wish to take this opporhrnity to thank you again for all you do to support Operation
Christnas Child throughout the year.
May you and yours enjoy a blessedEaster!
Mary Lou
Relay Center Coordinator and Church Relations Team Member for Operation Christmas Child