File - St. Mark`s Lutheran Church
Transcription
File - St. Mark`s Lutheran Church
SEPTEMBER 2016 St. Mark’s Messenger “Saved by Grace, we are called to Celebrate, Serve and Make Disciples for Christ” God's Work Our Hands day this year falls on the 15th anniversary of September 11th. We will have worship at our normal service times (8:30am & 11am) with Sunday School in between, and then we will embark on giving back to our community. Small teams of people will serve a meal at the Downtown Rescue Mission and will go into the Homeless camps to provide medical care to homeless pets, but the majority of our volunteer efforts will be focused on Kids to Love. Since 2004, the Kids to Love Foundation has directly impacted the lives of more than 200,000 foster children. Their ultimate goal is to find “forever families” for children who are waiting to be adopted. Last fall, K2L purchased the Davidson Farms property in Ardmore, AL and are in the process of renovating it to become a group home for tween and teen girls in the foster system. "This will be a place where they belong... a home. With 8 bedrooms accommodating up to 10 girls, our girls will have the opportunity to learn what it's like to have a family full of love, support & devotion." Service project details and sign up forms are available on the bulletin board across from the playground near Communication Central. We will have service teams head out to the farm to help as well as activities and collaborative projects in the Fellowship Hall that will support Kids to Love and Davidson Farm. If you would like to help, but cannot participate on September 11th, Kids to Love has a gift registry at Target. You may go to the store or shop online to help purchase necessary items for Davidson Farm. Please sign up today! “GOD IN THE ASHES” MEMORIAL PRESENTATION OFFERS FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF SURVIVAL AND FAITH DURING THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ATTACKS PAGE 2 ST. MARK’ S MESSENGER Grace and Peace from Pastor Gary September signals the start of a new season: The arrival of autumn. The kick-off of college football. The public phase of our Freedom to Grow capital campaign. As well as several unique Sundays in the life of this Church. You will find a separate article regarding Freedom to Grow in this newsletter, and you will soon receive a special mailing explaining the campaign’s purpose and time frame. Please note that Freedom to Grow is focused upon debt elimination which will give St. Mark’s ministries the freedom to grow in new and dynamic ways. It is a call to sacrificial giving, above and beyond your regular tithes and offerings. Beginning on September 11, I will provide a workshop during Sunday School in fellowship hall that will provide a Biblical foundation for sacrificial giving; it will be repeated on 09/18, 09/25, and 10/02. Commitment Sunday for the capital campaign will be October 9. [FYI – Consecration Sunday in support of the Church’s life and ministry for 2017 will be November 20.] On September 11, St. Mark’s will join ELCA congregations across the nation in a dedicated day of service – “God’s Work. Our Hands.” As always, there will be opportunities for God’s children of all ages to “love and serve the Lord” by loving and serving our neighbors. Later that evening, as we mark the 15th anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11, John Mahony will give his marvelous presentation and personal testimony of God in the Ashes at 6 pm. As a part of St. Mark’s 65th anniversary, we will feature the best of the best of our church’s music ministries Soli Deo Gloria at both services on September 18. Come and enjoy worship and invite your neighbor to come into God’s presence with singing! Invitation cards will be available for your distribution in the narthex. September 25 will be our annual WELCA Sunday, and our guest preacher will be Seminarian Mary Dickman. She has expressed her gratitude for St. Mark’s support, and she is looking forward to her visit that week-end. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” [Ecclesiastes 3:1]. May this September be a season of great grace for St. Mark’s! In Christ’s love, Pastor Gary SEPTEMBER 2016 PAGE 3 Church Family News We give thanks to God for Anne Trunk, mother of Barbara Kocher, who entered the Kingdom of heaven on August 10. Her memorial service was held in our sanctuary on August 21. Please lift up prayers for those who have been recently hospitalized within our church family: Patti Cutter, Tony Di Cerbo, Derek Emmerson, Almut Herkert, Sigrun Hovlund, Erica Lorine, Darryl Palm, and Wally Stenberg. The freshly painted sanctuary and entrance doors look great! They are painted red as a visual reminder of these words from Hebrews 10:19-20, “We have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us.” Walt Kittelson has recently moved to Morningside Assisted Living in Madison, and Ernie and Arleen Meinecke are new residents at Brookdale. Inquiring minds want to know: The videographer who was filming during our worship services on August 21 is creating a short video that will help to tell the story of St. Mark’s for the upcoming Freedom to Grow capital campaign. Rob Caple, our former Congregational President and Sunday school teacher, will be serving overseas for six months, beginning soon after Labor Day. Let us all express our gratitude for him and commit ourselves to daily prayers for Rob and Kim as well as their four children – Tyler, Robbie, Regan, and Andrew. We rejoice with Mike and Susan McCall as their daughter Kristen is united in Christian marriage to John Busse on September 24 in our sanctuary. SAVE THE DATE: St. Mark’s 65TH Anniversary Celebration Sunday – October 23rd Our Unity Worship Service begins at 10:30 a.m. with Sunday School at 9:15. Bishop Julian Gordy will be our very special guest that day. We will have a catered banquet in fellowship hall at noon. Reservations will be needed, and information will be provided soon for the cost per person. A splendid 45 minute video, providing an overview of our church’s history and ministry, prepared by Darryl Palm, will be enjoyed by all. PAGE 4 Children, Youth & Family ST. MARK’ S MESSENGER Confirmation August 28 - welcome & orientation, 1:15 pm If you were unable to make orientation, see Traci for your notebook, brief explanation and to fill out the needed paperwork. All confirmands are asked to participate in God’s Work. Our Hands. Day of Service. We will be helping with Kids to Love and will have more details on our specific task as more info becomes available. Parents are welcome too! Our first class will be on September 25 in the fellowship hall. We will begin at the beginning with a lesson on creation & original sin followed by acolyte training in the sanctuary. Sunday School Update: Sunday School has begun! This year’s offerings from children and youth will go towards Kids to Love to be used for food, clothing, school supplies, and Christmas gifts as needed. So far, we have raised $34 (as of 8/21). With our younger set, we’re trying a new format this year, with puppets (thanks to Glenn Dasher for a most awesome puppet stage!); video; science experiments; and more to tell each week’s story. A work in progress… thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers for their patience as we iron out all the kinks to make our SS great! It’s time again for our annual canoe trip! On Saturday, September 24, enjoy a relaxing day on the Flint River. Meet at the church at 12:30 pm (or at North Alabama Canoe & Kayak on Hwy. 72 by 1:30 pm). A 3 (to 3 1/2) hour tour, plan on putting in at 2 pm and pulling out by 5:30 pm. For all ages, though anyone under age 12 needs a parent to attend. Costs for this outing range from $35 for a double occupant canoe or kayak to $45 for a single. Make sure and wear sunscreen and water shoes (no flip flops). Please sign up in Communication Central or let Traci know if you plan to attend. Want to get in on the fun? We are always looking for more volunteers - just see Traci if you are interested! SEPTEMBER 2016 Parents of Young Children It’s back! Meeting monthly, young families are invited to come together for a social gathering kind of like a family play date. The idea is to build friendships between parents and their sweet kiddos. So young or not so young, as long as you are the parents of a youngster, you are welcome. September’s Outing: Huntsville Botanical Gardens Date: Saturday, September 17; 10am—12 noon Address: 4747 Bob Wallace Avenue Cost: Adults: $12; Kids 3-18: $8; Kids 0-2: free (passes available—see Traci if interested) Description: The Huntsville Botanical Garden is open year-round and boasts a picture perfect aquatic garden, a spectacular wildflower and nature trail and numerous specialty gardens and plant collections. The Children’s Garden and Nature Center contain the nation’s largest seasonal butterfly house and eight specialized gardens aimed toward the younger set. Children and adults alike will enjoy a stroll through the dinosaur garden, the space garden, storybook garden and more. PAGE 5 Senior High Wednesdays With the Word meets every Wednesday at 6 pm. Join us as we discuss C.S. Lewis’ “Screwtape Letters”, fellowship and plan for the upcoming youth service and future events. Super casual, all are welcome - bring a friend to come chat with us! Have you made it to Sunday School yet? We’ve got a great class going led by Heather White and Brandon Hiller. Visitors welcome, come check it out! God’s Work. Our Hands. Day of Service is on September 11. Opportunities this year include helping pack Blessings in a Backpack; a homeless visit focusing on animal care; serving a meal at Downtown Rescue Mission; and lastly, working with Kids to Love. Kids to Love activities will be varied - in town and at the new Davidson Farms facility in Ardmore. So much help is needed in the world, find where you can serve this day. Sign up in Communication Central. Don’t miss out! The annual canoe trip is on September 24! This is a family trip - all are welcome to attend. Meet at the church at 12:30 pm or at NACK on Hwy. 72 by 1:30 pm. Cost: $35 for a double; $45 for a single. The Fall Festival has become our biggest community event (last year’s attendance was over 700!) To continue to make this event successful - we need YOU! We need volunteers before, during and after. We need donations to purchase food and supplies. And of course, lots and lots of Halloween candy. Please see Traci to see how you can serve. Thanks! Servant Event: Coming on Tuesday, October 4 . . . help us serve our neighbors a free lunch. Why? “Because God loves you”. This is an opportunity to give to our community for no greater reason than sharing God’s love. At this event, volunteers are needed to grill and prepare hamburgers and hot dogs, sides and drinks; to act as servers and hosts; and spread the love of God to our neighbors. Plan to be there and spread the love. PAGE 6 ST. MARK’ S MESSENGER Adult Education Sunday School Faith and Discovery: starting a new text! Young Adult Sunday School: This class Making Sense of the Bible, by Adam Hamilton. Denominations continue to experience deep divisions over universal social issues. The underlying debate isn’t about a particular issue, but instead it is about understanding the nature of scripture and interpreting it. The author attempts to address many of the issues plaguing the church. Please contact Mike Hamilton or Kathy Sieja if you'd like a book. We're always happy to see new faces! Coordinated by Mike Hamilton. (basement choir room). is targeted towards our twenty-somethings and has begun the year with discussions on science and faith; and a look at Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Led by Kathy Emmerson. (Conference Room) Lectionary Bible Study: What is a lectionary? A lectionary is a list of scripture readings assigned to be read on a particular day. This class will study and discuss the week’s readings used in Sunday worship. Led by Tom Duncan. (old narthex area) Donuts: A fun and diverse class of DVD lessons with varied teachers. Currently, this class is studying Kay Arthur’s Lord, Teach Me to Pray. Learn what the Lord's Prayer teaches us about effective prayer and how to put into practice its timeless principles. Led by Marlin & Denise Williamson. (SS Room #8) Blessings in a Backpack mobilizes communities, individuals and resources to provide food on the weekends for elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry. We pack 50 bags every week. Donations and volunteers are always welcome. See Jed Deason for more details. Homeless Camps An ongoing ministry to serve the homeless in our area once a month. Contact Cindy Conrad for more information. The next visit will be September 11. Mid-week Monday: Bible Study Beginning September 12, Pastor Gary will begin a nine-month study on the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. 11 AM in the fellowship hall. Wednesday: 6:06 AM Devotions, Prayer & Fellowship, in the chapel Thursday: Coffee, Tea & Thee: Getting ready to start a new study, now is a great time to stop in and visit. Please join us! Led by Didi Kearney at 1 PM, in SS Room # 8. Opportunities to Serve These are opportunities for you to share your time, money, and of course, your prayers all year long. Food Pantry A long-time ministry to serve hungry families and individuals in the Huntsville area. Make food donations (please check “best by” dates if bringing from home) by bringing this month’s item or any nonperishable and placing it in the blue bins in Communication Central. This month’s food pantry item is… Cans of Soup (No Family Sizes, please) SEPTEMBER 2016 PAGE 7 The Leadership Retreat for our Church Council and Staff was recently held at Lutheranch. Our theme, “Living Lutheran,” aptly encompassed the many exciting events planned for St. Mark’s for the forthcoming year and beyond and the challenges facing us. The theme also provided us focus and a drum beat for action. Several key topics were highlighted: Pastor Gary’s “Moonshot” goal for St. Mark’s and a presentation on identifiable trends at St. Mark’s, churches in the U.S., and healthy churches. Some of the trends are discouraging. St. Mark’s average worship attendance has held steady at 240 for the past two years, declining from a ten-year high of 309 in 2009. Baptized Membership decreased 22.8% while expenses grew by 4.8% since 2008. National trends are also pertinent to us. Major denominations continue to decline in membership, there is greater emphasis on youth, “Millennials,” and “Boomers”, an increase in the use of technology (streaming video, social media, etc.), and a renewed importance of the church building for small group activities and building relationships not otherwise attainable through the Internet or cable. The trends and traits of healthy churches are encouraging. While we are already practicing many at St. Mark’s — small group gatherings (Shepherd Groups, Bible studies, various women’s circles, etc.), active youth programs, and a focus on “Outreach,” there are still challenges. Below are 24 major trends of Healthy Churches. Trends of Healthy Churches Pastor embraces change Have a clear mission statement Identify youth as a prior- Ruthlessly stop unproity ductive ministries Think training over teaching Have robust Sunday School opportunities Have involved church members Identify and offer programs others do not Have specialized programs Have a quality welcome program Are tech savvy Demand excellence Identify, spotlight, and leverage top producers Embrace and foster change Celebrate success Have a positive spirit of excitement Build meaningful relationships through small groups Emphasize volunteering Pastor/staff quickly adwith meaning and action dress/resolve issues Recognize the church as a safe place Add value not venues Design for ministry ends not means Practice faith through lifestyle evangelism Cultivate a great experience Clearly these are not all of the attributes of healthy churches. So that we can continue to improve, please share any success stories you may have experienced in the past. Our goal is to strengthen St. Mark’s ability to create a positive, welcoming church that actively practices our mission statement — “Saved by Grace, We are Called to Celebrate, Serve, and Make Disciples for Christ”. Ted Mueller President, Church Council PAGE 8 ST. MARK’ S MESSENGER Introducing the theme for our capital campaign... We are planting a seed and there is more growth to come on our capital campaign for debt elimination. Many hands are at work planning and praying about this campaign. We ask that you please join us at the 8:30am or 11:00am services on September 11 to learn more about how you can be involved. Please check your mailbox for more information in the coming days. After a 3 month break for the summer, Free Spirits is back in September!! Mark the third Thursday of each month for this fun fellowship event with a special program and great meal each month. Sign up in Communication Central so we know how much food to prepare! This Month: Thursday, September 15th Program: Sunshine Singers from the Senior Center Circle Meetings Hannah Circle will not meet on their scheduled meeting day this month, as it is Labor Day. Their next meeting will be October 3 at the church. Please look for emails of social gatherings this month. We will be reading Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott over the next two months. Ruth Circle will meet Wednesday, September 7 at 9AM at the home of Dot Boerner. We will continue our Bible study from Gather magazine. We welcome new members and guests. Rachel Circle will meet on Monday, September 12th at 6:30 pm at the home of Mary Soop. We will be resuming our Bible Study and collecting items for the Community Free Clinic. We welcome new members and guests. Deborah Circle will meet Tuesday September 13 at 10:00 AM in room #8 at church. Sandy Ingalls is our hostess and we will meet after the summer break. Hope to see all of you then. Everyone is welcome to join us for friendship, fellowship and bible study. Martha Circle will meet on Thursday, September 8 at 7PM at the home of Kathy Sieja. We will start our new study, The Friendship of Women by Joan Chittister, which will be handed out that night. SEPTEMBER 2016 PAGE 9 The St. Mark’s Quilt Guild Saturday, September 10th 10AM - 2PM in the Fellowship Hall We have some specific items to work on, and other projects can be started! 3 quilts need to be tied and three are ready for binding. Come fellowship, work on these quilts for LWR, and have fun with your friends or make new ones! The Tilted World by Tom Franklin and Beth Ann Fennelly will be our reading selection for Saturday, September 3. We will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 8. Our pick for October 1 will be The People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks, and on November 5, local attorney, Robert Bailey, will be our guest speaker to talk about his novel, The Professor. Attendance Faithful Giving Weekly Giving (weekly) to Meet Budget July 31 228 $14,897 $17,132 August 7 244 $22,328 $17,132 August 14 248 $19,398 $17,132 August 21 238 $15,353 $17,132 $ 582,085 $ 582,488 Year to Date Totals: PAGE 10 ST. MARK’ S MESSENGER Worship Themes for September September September September 4 – The Cost of Discipleship 11 – Search, Rescue, and Respond 18 – A Freewill Offering 25 – WELCA Sunday – Mary Dickman, guest preacher -Glory to God AloneThis is the inspiration for two special worship services on Sunday, September 18, offered in conjunction with the 65th anniversary of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. Excellent music and songs from our praise teams and choirs will be featured at both 8:30 and 11:00 services. Imagine how the best of the best will be offered to our God! This will be a wonderful occasion to worship and welcome others to the House of the Lord. Please note that both services will include the Proclamation of the Word and the celebration of Holy Communion. SEPTEMBER 2016 PAGE 11 “GOD IN THE ASHES” MEMORIAL PRESENTATION OFFERS FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF SURVIVAL AND FAITH DURING THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ATTACKS Retired officer shares story of faith at a special presentation on Sunday, September 11, 2016 [HUNTSVILLE, AL] - On September 11, 2016 our nation will pause to remember the 15th anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks. Huntsville resident and retired Lieutenant Colonel John Mahony escaped from the 19th floor of the north tower. His 9-11 memorial presentation, God in the Ashes, is a powerful first-hand account from a survivor of the World Trade Center Attacks. God in the Ashes will presented at a free, community-wide event at 6pm-7pm on Sunday, September 11, 2016 at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Huntsville. Colonel Mahony begins with a gripping account of what it was like to be in the building at the time of the attack. Then he walks through his escape from the building, the collapse of the towers, and being trapped in the debris cloud. The second part of the presentation revisits the events from a Christian perspective and describes his personal prayers and spiritual growth as the events unfolded. Finally, he shares God’s answers to the prayers and the profound differ9-11 ence those gifts have made in his life. St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church welcomes all members of the community to attend this event. Light refreshments will be provided following the session. Parents are urged to exercise their own discretion when determining if their children should attend this talk. A professionally-staffed nursery and child-appropriate activities will be provided for families with young children. The event is hosted in conjunction with the church’s annual “God’s Work, Our Hands Day” in which the entire congregation shares in a day of service to local organizations including Kids2Love and other non-profit organizations. For more information about the presentation “God in the Ashes” or volunteer opportunities through the God’s Work, Our Hands event, please contact the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church office by calling 256-5394361. Event details are posted via www.stmarkshsv.org. About Lieutenant Colonel John D. Mahony (USA, Ret) Colonel Mahony graduated from West Point in 1978 and served in the Army until his retirement in 1999. In the course of his 24 year career, he served in six countries and moved 16 times. He retired in 1999 to join IBM as a manager of large technology projects. On 9-11 he was working with Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield on the 19th floor of the World Trade Center North Tower. He moved to Huntsville in 2011 and attends St Mark’s Lutheran Church. He has a daughter and grandson in Vail, Colorado and as well as family in Huntsville. He is the father of Lara Sieja and grandfather to Payton and Ben. PAGE 12 ST. MARK’ S MESSENGER Whether you've been before or not, join us for September's Supper Club night out! Mark your calendars and sign up on the bulletin board across from the playground. This is for any and all adults at St. Mark's, young or old, parents or single, we will all come together for some fun, food and fellowship. If you do have children, there will be childcare at the church. Drop your kids off at 6pm (after they have eaten) and join us at the restaurant at 6:30pm. SEPTEMBER When: Saturday, September 17th Where: Bonefish Grill (4800 Whitesburg Drive) What time: 6:30pm reservation (child drop off at 6pm at the church) Who: Adults, couples, parents, singles, etc. So we have an accurate headcount to make a reservation (and for childcare purposes), please sign up in Communication Central (on the bulletin board), or contact Courtney Spadaro ([email protected]). Bonefish Grill was founded on perfecting every detail for you, because we believe that a great meal is more than just food on a plate. It is the entire experience from start to finish, from our seasonal fresh fish, to our hand-crafted cocktails, to our personalized, memorable service. That is the Bonefish Way. Entrees include seafood, steaks, and burgers and range $12 - $28. SEPTEMBER 2016 PAGE 13 “Because God loves you” Community Lunch October 4, 11 am - 1 pm Let’s do lunch! On Tuesday, October 4, St. Mark’s is going to serve lunch to our community. A completely free event, for no other reason than to tell people that God loves them. Reaching out to local businesses and the hospital in an act of good will, we will serve lunch from 11 am to 1 pm in the front parking lot (near the office entrance) as supplies last. We’ll set up a few tents and tables for those who want to visit and relax; and carry out options for those with just a few minutes to spare. We will grill and serve hamburgers and hotdogs, offer chips, fruit and cookies as well as a couple drink options. Volunteers and donations are requested. A sign up list is in Communication Central for food donations as well as volunteers. We have chosen October 4, as it is during fall break and will allow some of our youth to participate. A new outreach, this could be amazing, join us if you can. Nursery Position Available. To care for and attend children under the age of six. Attendant needed to work Sunday mornings, occasional events and Wednesday evenings beginning in November. Approximately 15-20 hours per month. Must be 18 and graduated from high school. Background check and letters of recommendation required. No formal experience necessary. See Traci Billman if interested. Coming soon… Wednesday Agape Beginning Wednesday, November 2, St. Mark’s will begin an evening program for all ages. Starting at 5:30 pm, dinner will be served; followed by programming from 6:00-7:30 pm. The details: For dinner, the menu will vary each week and will be posted at sign up. There is a $5 per person per dinner fee; sign up by the Sunday before is required. Payment is due at sign up. Nursery will be available from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Programming will consist of whole and small group activities (age appropriate) for the first three weeks focusing on Martin Luther, Reformation and Germany. We will take a break on November 23 (the Wednesday before Thanksgiving). At the start of Advent on November 30, the schedule will vary slightly with dinner still at 5:30 pm; a whole group devotional activity at 6 pm; and Advent worship service at 6:30 pm. PAGE 14 ST. MARK’ S MESSENGER September is Women of the ELCA month, and this gives us a great opportunity to highlight some of the things that our St. Mark’s WELCA does for fun, fellowship, and for the good of others. Here are some of our regular activities as well as information about our Annual Luncheon meeting. St. Mark’s WELCA is open to every woman of St. Mark’s, and September is a great time to join us in one of our Circles, or attend the luncheon and/or our WELCA Sunday when women serve on the altar and as ushers and greeters. We currently have 5 Circles that meet monthly, and each Circle is always open to welcoming new members. We have members of all ages in our Circles, meet at all different times and places; and each Circle comes together for Bible or book study, a mission to support, and fellowship. See the Circles’ meetings times and places for this month below. WELCA Weekend at St. Mark’s is September 24th and 25th, and we are thrilled to be joined both of those days by Mary Dickman who is a Southern Seminary student whom St. Mark’s is pleased to help financially during her seminary training. Mary will speak at our luncheon on Saturday and also preach on Sunday. The WELCA Luncheon is on September 24th at 11:00, and our theme this year is “Every Woman is a Daughter.” We will encourage attendees to share a memory, and following are some ideas to spur your thinking: What is your favorite childhood memory? Share about a memorable family vacation. The best gift you gave your mom or received from her. The best advice you received from your mom, or gave to your daughter. What were some of your mom’s favorite sayings? Taziki’s will cater our luncheon this year, and the menu is: Sliced Grilled Chicken served with a Greek salad and roasted potatoes. We will also serve homemade desserts provided by members of our Circles. The Southeastern Synod Women of the ELCA will have their Annual Convention September 16th18th with the theme of Weave us Together, and will be attended by four members of St. Mark’s. We will be taking a number of items with us as In Kind offerings that will benefit Wellspring Living of Gwinett, an organization that assists victims of domestic sex trafficking of minors. They are asking specifically for the following items: thumb drives, nail polish, journals, and $10 gift cards from Walmart, Target, or Kroger. If you would like to donate, please place the gift cards in the WELCA box near the Chapel and the other items in Communication Central. There will also be a silent auction and we will be taking a few gift baskets and will welcome as many as we can fit in our cars. Suggestions are a basket for Him, Her, New baby, Fall reading, A trip to the beach, Chocolate fantasies, Wine and appetizers, or any innovative idea you like. The silent auction will also accept new or old treasures that you would like to donate. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Sieja or your Circle leader. SEPTEMBER 2016 PAGE 15 Join us in celebrating the life and memory of John Siegel Sunday September 18th! John is the father of Ivey Beth and Katie An Siegel and husband of Shannon Siegel, members of St. Mark's. John served on church council and in many other roles in the life of the congregation and was much beloved. He struggled admirably with the devastating effects of Lupus for many years and passed way too soon. The 5K named in his honor is a great way to help others still suffering from Lupus. The first annual Dr. John Siegel Jr. Memorial 5K, held on the beautiful campus of HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, is a not-to-be-missed running event in Huntsville. The event is inspired by Dr. Siegel's valiant fight against lupus, and its proceeds further efforts to serve the 85,000 lupus patients covered by the Mid-South Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. Event details and schedule What: Dr. John Siegel Jr. Memorial 5K Lupus Challenge When: Sunday, September 18, 2016 Where: HudsonAlpha Campus- 601 Genome Way Huntsville, AL 35806 Time: 1:00 PM Check-In, 2:30 PM Start You can participate in the standard running 5K or take the 5K Challenge- a 5K with fitness challenges along the course. Are you up for the challenge? There will also be many people that choose to walk the course! Everyone is welcome! Registration for the walking/ running 5K is $25. Registration for the 5K Challenge is $60. Sign up online at www.lupus.org/midsouth/events/entry/dr.-john-siegel-jr.-memorial5k-lupus-challenge Volunteers are also needed on race day! Contact Jennifer Mullin at 256-508-7154 or by email at [email protected] to help out! We need 50 volunteers! Join us! Brookdale Place Jones Farm, First United Methodist Church, Hospice of North Alabama and Laughlin Service Funeral Home are pleased to announce a new six week grief support group "Life after Loss: A Journey to Healing.” The group will meet on Thursdays, 5:30-6:30 pm, Sept. 1– Oct. 6 in the Bamboo Room of Brookdale Place Jones Farm, 2815 Carl T. Jones Dr. SE. It is open to the entire Huntsville community at no charge. The facilitator will be The Rev. Carl Malm of The Center for Loss, Grief and Change. Reservations are requested but not required. Light refreshments will be served. For more information or to make a reservation, please phone Brookdale Place at 256 881-6111 or Rev. Malm at 256 883-6539. Worship Assistants September 4, 2016 Asst. Minister Lector Acolyte Lay Communion Assistants/Servers Greeter Greeter Usher Usher September 11, 2016 Asst. Minister Lector Acolyte Lay Communion Assistants/Servers Greeter Greeter Usher Usher September 18, 2016 Asst. Minister Lector Acolyte Lay Communion Assistants/Servers Greeter Greeter Usher Usher September 25, 2016 Asst. Minister Lector Acolyte 8:30 Louise Brooks Tate Schapell Robbie Caple Aija Abele, Abby Williamson Mandy Hiller Gun Abele Brandon Hiller Roberts Abele 11:00 Jed Deason Lector Needed Reagan Paulus Brooke Harris, Reagan Paulus, Zoe Falkenberg, Sam Mullin Frank and Carol Craig Jim French, Phil Grimm Austin Harris Glenn Dasher 8:30 11:00 Barry Rogers Karen Petersen Wyatt Billman Pam Birkholz Tom Duncan Lorelee Black Grace Billman, Katie Jaramillo Gisela Rieger, Susan Wright Penny Krell Allen Krell Mike Price Michelle Price Frank and Carol Craig Jim French, Phil Grimm Norm Skrenes Jim Mullin 8:30 11:00 Brenda Holsopple Lector Not Need Haley Sharpe John Mahony Lector Not Needed Isabel Folgmann Laura Heim, Lija Abele Polly Falkenberg, Katie Folgmann Greeter Needed Karen Cunningham Eric Bale Barry Rogers 8:30 Gwen Dornbos Traci Billman Lana Leo Carol Craig Jim French, Phil Grimm Wayne Falkenberg Gloria Woody 11:00 Mary Soop Kathy Sieja Holly Hiller Lay Communion Assistants/Servers Katelynn Bodin, Lynnsey Bodin Polly Falkenberg, Gisela Rieger Greeter Greeter Usher Usher Michelle Price Cathy Ontiveros Denise Williamson Mary Wiley Charlotte James Linda Veren Janet Duncan Gloria Woody If you are unable to serve as scheduled, please make arrangements for a substitute and notify the church office. Worship Assistants October 2, 2016 Asst. Minister Lector Acolyte Lay Communion Assistants/Servers Greeter Greeter Usher Usher October 9, 2016 Asst. Minister Lector Acolyte Lay Communion Assistants/Servers 8:30 Jim Birkholz Judy Jung Austin Harris Katie Jaramillo, Grace Billman Mary Grace Evans Connie Jaramillo Michelle Price Mike Price 11:00 Jed Deason Herb Hocutt Reagan Paulus Polly & Wayne Falkenberg, Dave Schultz, Sarah Thornton Peg & Norm Skrenes Courtney Spadaro Chris Myers Glenn Dasher 8:30 11:00 Traci Billman Karl Leo Katelynn Bodin Pam Birkholz Brianna Sieja Holly Hiller Gabe Pittman, Lana Leo Anne Knowles, Gisela Rieger Greeter Penny Krell Peg & Norm Skrenes Greeter Usher Allen Krell Norwood Cutter Courtney Spadaro Don Sieja Usher Bob Dornbos Tim Sieja October 16, 2016 Asst. Minister Lector Acolyte Mary Soop Karen Petersen Sean McNeill Kathy Sieja Mike Hamilton Isabel Folgmann Lay Communion Assistants/Servers Abby Williamson, Laura Heim Susan Wright, Zoe Falkenberg, Brooke Harris, Frank Craig Greeter Greeter Mandy Hiller Karen Fletcher Peg & Norm Skrenes Courtney Spadaro Usher Usher October 23, 2016 Asst. Minister Lector Acolyte Lay Communion Assistants/Servers Greeter Greeter Usher Usher October 30, 2016 Asst. Minister Lector Acolyte Lay Communion Assistants/Servers Bible Bearer Crucifer Torch Bearer Greeter Greeter Usher Usher Marlin Williamson Brandon Hiller 10:30 Unity Service Roberts Abele Peter Loux Lorelee Black Janet Duncan Gloria Woody 8:30 11:00 Lija Abele, Jed Deason Norm & Peg Skrenes Courtney Spadaro Carol Craig Frank Craig 8:30 Louise Brooks Lynn Redington Wyatt Billman Aija Abele, Grace Billman Liz Hiller Bruce Hiller Eric Bale Barry Rogers 11:00 John Mahony Kathy Emmerson Reagan Paulus Reagan Paulus, Katie Folgmann, Brooke Harris, Sesalie Satterfeal Brooke Harris Austin Harris Isabel Folgmann, Lorelee Black Peg & Norm Skrenes Courtney Spadaro Anna Lloyd Butch Lloyd Heidrun Admire Traci Billman Pam Birkholz Josh Bodin Michele Bodin Mary Bryson Andrew Caple Kim Caple Christine Cunningham Chris Deason Elfriede Duke Max Evans Mark Falkenberg Troy Falkenberg Marion Fallon Katie Folgmann Jim Ganoe Sonya Heim Brandon Hiller Donna Ise Charlotte James Katie Jaramillo Evelyn Jensen Shirley Johnson Please contact the church office if your birthday is in September and it is not listed. We would love to include you next year. Marge Killian Gertrude Kindberg Fay Leo Jean Loux Rosalee Martin Charles McCleary Bonnie Mueller Chris Myers Emma Myers Karin OFfik Jennifer Paddon Angie Paulus Madeline Price Chrissie Provancha David Provancha Tabitha Rinyu Craig Satterfeal Grace Schultz Edith Sieja Payton Sieja Tim Sieja Norm Skrenes Courtney Spadaro Mat Thies Imme Tietke Sue Volz Hannah Williamson John Winch A heart felt thank you to Bob Fallon for the generous gift of having the church doors painted red! This act of love is in honor of Marion Fallon’s birthday this month. SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 1PM Women’s Bible Study 5:30PM Praise Team 6:30PM Praise Team 4 5 6 7 8 1PM Knit & Crochet 5:30PM Handbells 6:30PM Winds 6:06 Prayer & Devotion 9AM Ruth Circle 12:45PM Ukulele Choir 6PM WWW 7PM St. Mark’s Choir 10AM LQ Class 1PM Women’s Bible Study 2PM Balance/Tai Chi Class 5:30PM Praise Team 6:30PM Praise Team 7PM Martha Circle 7PM Board of Witness & Outreach 12 13 14 15 9:30AM Staff Meeting 11AM Bible Study 4:30PM Executive Committee 5:30PM Bd of Learning 5:45PM TCMM 6:30PM Rachel Circle 9AM EGA 10AM Deborah Circle 1PM Knit & Crochet 5PM Old Narthex/Little Kitchen Reserved 5:30PM Handbells 6PM Bd of Admin 6:30PM Winds 6:06AM Prayer & Devotion 12:45PM Ukulele Choir 4PM Bd of Worship 6PM WWW 7PM St. Mark’s Choir 10AM LQ Class 11AM Free Spirits 1PM Women’s Bible Study 2PM Balance/Tai Chi Class 5:30PM Praise Team 6:30PM Praise Team 20 21 10:30AM Deliver Meals on Wheels 9AM EGA 1PM Knit & Crochet 5:30PM Handbells 6:30PM Winds 6:06AM Prayer & Devotion 12:45PM Ukulele Choir 6PM WWW 7PM St Mark’s Choir 22 Newsletter Deadline 8:30AM Contemporary Worship Labor Day 9:45AM Sunday School 9:45AM Bd of Prop Mgmt 11AM Traditional Worship Church Office Closed 11 GWOH Day 8:30AM Contemporary Worship 9:45AM Sunday School 11AM Traditional Worship PM - Service Projects 1PM Homeless Camp Visits 6PM God In The Ashes 18 19 Staff Soli Deo Gloria 9:30AM Meeting 8:30AM Contemporary Worship 9:45AM Sunday School 11AM Traditional Worship 2:30PM Dr. John Siegel, Jr. Memorial 5K 25 WELCA Sunday 8:30AM Contemporary Worship 9:45AM Sunday School 11AM Traditional Worship 1:15PM Confirmation Class 11AM Bible Study 11AM LQ Class 5:30PM Church Council Meeting 5:45PM TCMM 10AM LQ Class 1PM Women’s Bible Study 2PM Balance/Tai Chi Class 10AM Altar Guild 9:30AM Faith & Fiction Book Group 9 10AM Altar Guild 10AM Quilt Guild 10AM Lego Club 16 17 SE WELCA Convention SE WELCA Convention 12:45PM 10AM Altar Guild DRM Kitchen 10AM Parents of Clean Up Young Children 12:30PM FH Reserved 6:30PM St. Mark’s Supper Club 23 24 McCall Wedding 5PM Wedding Rehears- 10AM Altar Guild al 11AM WELCA Luncheon/Mtg 12:30PM Annual Canoe Trip 5:30PM Praise Team 6:30PM Praise Team EC Banquet TTBD 26 27 28 29 30 9:30AM Staff Meeting 11AM Bible Study 11AM LQ Class 5:45PM TCMM 9AM EGA 1PM Knit & Crochet 5:30PM Handbells 6:30PM Winds 7PM EGA 6:06AM Prayer & Devotion 12:45PM Ukulele Choir 1PM WELCA Board Meeting 6PM WWW 7PM St. Mark’s Choir 10AM LQ Class 1PM Women’s Bible Study 2PM Balance/Tai Chi Class 12PM Food Pantry/Food Line Volunteer Lunch 5:30 Praise Team 6:30PM Praise Team 10 September 11th - God’s Work Our Hands Day September 18th - Soli Gloria Deo September 24 - 25th - WELCA Weekend October 23rd - Bishop Gordy visits St. Mark’s October 29th - Fall Festival Please check the Lost & Found (in Communication Central) to see if any of the items in the blue bin or on top of the table belong to your family. Items will be donated mid-September. Cans of Soup (No Family Size, please) St. Mark’s Staff Directory Church Address: 200 Longwood Dr. SE, Huntsville, AL 35801 Church Phone: 256-539-4361 Church Fax: 256-539-4388 www.stmarkshsv Senior Pastor: Extension 15……….…………..……..…..Gary Soop ([email protected]) Music Director: Extension 17………..………………...Ferdinand Murati ([email protected]) Dir. of Christian Education: Extension 16………….….….Traci Billman ([email protected]) Office Manager: Extension 14……..……................………...Emily Jacobs ([email protected]) Office Assistant: Extension 10…………………....Connie Jaramillo ([email protected]) Organist/Pianist: ………………......………….. …..,,,,……………..Dr. Mira Kruja ([email protected])