CROSSMARKS - St. Mark Lutheran Church

December 2015
C ROSSMARKS
St. Mark Lutheran Church (ELCA) of Charlottesville, VA  www.stmarklutheran.org  434-293-3311  [email protected]
A Reconciling in Christ congregation  Lutheran Campus Ministry at UVa  St. Mark Lutheran Preschool
PASTOR’S PONDERINGS
I’ve been pondering what it will be like to be
separated from this congregation and it is tough to
imagine. The truth is, what binds us together is St.
Mark and its ministries so our prime topics of
conversation will be gone. And, come January,
another person will be your ‘go to’ pastor. I’m
obligated to refrain from any pastoral role in order
to comply with the Virginia Synod’s guidelines.
A good epistle to read in these days ahead could be
1 Peter. In Chapter 5 the writer is encouraging the
leaders to tend God’s flock and willingly exercise
oversight. He also says to cast your anxiety on God
because God cares for you. You’ll do fine between
January and when you call your next pastor. Just
love one another as Christ has first loved you.
Meanwhile, we have a month to visit and chat and
plan and dream and get anything important out onto
the table for conversation so that our path forward
will be smooth and clear. Let’s visit and talk.
I am very eager to share some of my faith stories
with you this Advent season and I look forward to
hearing some of yours in a small group setting in the
library. If you want to arrange for a small group in
your home, we can do that too. A story that you or I
could share may be a powerful story or a simple
story or an old story that grows in meaning over
time. Hindsight and experience and their re-telling
help our stories become clearer over time. It’s
Advent, so let’s share.
And soon it’ll be Christmas when the gift of Jesus
comes to us anew and we open our hearts and
hands once again to receive God’s gift of grace in the
baby Jesus.
with you or their dolls or stuffed animals. Some
pretend to be an acolyte using a broom. Your
children and grandchildren are very spiritual beings
and we all need to nurture them. I have kept the
‘art’ that your children have made for me. They are
treasures.
This entire 7 ½ years of call has been a treasure. I’m
grateful to have had these years with you and your
families and friends. You truly will remain in my
heart forever and in my prayers as time goes by.
We shared together:
26 baptisms
15 marriages
34 deaths/funerals/burial/committals
22 confirmands
Many wonderful UVa students
Over 415 worship services
And joys that are too numerous to count
Clearly, it’s not about the numbers but rather it’s
about the people and the multitude of meaningful
things we experienced together, supporting one
another, as a church family. Pastors come and go,
but the people of the congregation remain. Let your
sense of family, as a congregation, bring you support
in the months ahead.
Philippians 4: 4f Rejoice in the Lord always; again I
will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to
everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about
anything, but in everything by prayers and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made know to God. And the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Some of the favorite stories you’ve told me are of
your children playing ‘Holy Communion’ or ‘baptism’
St. Mark Lutheran Church, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone, is a people called by God to be servants of all people; to experience
God's saving grace through faith; to come together as the body of Christ in worship and celebration of the gifts of God; and to reach
out to those outside the church with witness to the loving grace of God through Christ Jesus. To answer this call, our mission will
include reaching out to and beyond the members of St. Mark.
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WORSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
December 6 – Advent 2 Comfort, Comfort my people. The Advent/Christmas musical celebration will
be presented this day.
Isaiah 40:1-11 The Lord speaks tenderly to God’s people and promises release from captivity. God
promises to feed the people as a shepherd.
Mark 1:1-4 John the Baptist is the voice in the wilderness.
December 13 – Advent 3 Returning from Exile. Annual Christmas pageant at 9:30 in the narthex.
Ezra 1:1-4, 3:1-4. 10-13 King Cyrus of Persia ends the Babylonian captivity, the Israelites begin
rebuilding the temple, and the people praise the Lord.
Luke 2:25-27 Simeon, led by the Spirit, sees the infant Jesus in the temple.
December 20 – Advent 4 John the Baptist
Luke 1:5-13 (57-80) The angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah and foretells the birth of John, the
forerunner.
Psalm 113 Praise the LORD who lifts up those in need.
December 24 – Christmas Eve 5pm family service and 11pm candlelight service. The St. Mark Brass
will play.
Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) Jesus, the Messiah, is born in a stable in Bethlehem, which is announced to
shepherds by an angel of the Lord.
Psalm 146 Put your trust in the LORD, not in mortals.
December 27 – Christmas 1 Jesus announces the Kingdom. Pastor Sandy’s Farewell and Godspeed.
Mark 1:1-20 Mark’s introduction to the Gospel, including John the Baptist, Jesus’ baptism,
temptation, first sermon, and the call of the first disciples.
Psalm 91:9-12 “For he will command his angels concerning you…”
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PLEASE JOIN US
FOR A VERY SPECIAL SUNDAY MORNING
Our St. Mark Choir Presents
An Advent/Christmas
Musical Celebration
Sunday, December 6, 2015
10:15 am
A beautiful and meaningful service of Hymns,
Choral Anthems, Instruments, Solos, and Readings
Bring your family, friends, and neighbors
to this festive worship service!
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CONGREGATIONAL NEWS
Sunday, December 6: Our annual Advent/
Christmas musical celebration will be held during
the worship hour. Please plan on attending, then
join us after worship in Fellowship Hall for a
Luncheon of Thanks with Pastor Sandy before her
retirement on December 31. This will be a time to
express appreciation to Pastor Sandy for her
dedicated service to St. Mark.
Sunday, December 13: Our faith formation
students will present the annual Christmas
pageant in the nave at 9:30am.
Sunday, December 20: our Christmas tree
decorating, then caroling at nearby assisted living
facilities will take place following worship.
Sunday, December 27: Pastor Sandy leads her
last worship service as St. Mark’s pastor. We will
conclude with a Farewell and Godspeed.
Retirement and River Stones: What could these
two things possibly have in common? On
December 27, the last Sunday before Pastor
Sandy’s retirement begins, you will have the
opportunity during worship to find out! Until
then, you will notice a large glass jar in the
Narthex and a basket of river stones next to
it. Please take a moment to choose a stone and
move it from the basket to the jar. Ideally, there
will be a stone for each member of our
congregation. If there are children in your family,
please help them chose a stone to add to the jar
as well. Then on December 27, please join us as
we gather to worship God and say Godspeed to
our much loved Sandy Wisco.

Thank you to Susan Seehaver once again for
her creative planning of the Children’s Moment
during the season of Advent.
Two Advent devotions to try from Loyola Press: the
Jesse Tree http://www.loyolapress.com/the-jessetree.htm or Advent Moments of Mercy
http://www.loyolapress.com/advent-moments-ofmercy
Christmas poinsettias are available for purchase for
$13 each to decorate our sanctuary for the
Christmas season. Sign-up by December 6 on the
sheet posted outside the office, make checks
payable to St. Mark, note “Poinsettia” on the
comment line, and leave in the Office Manager’s
box. Please consider purchasing a poinsettia in
honor or in memory of a loved one.
The Women's Book Club will be taking a breather
from reading an assigned book. Instead we are going
to Vivace at 6:30 pm on December 14th to have a
Christmas dinner together. The January book will be
Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown
Taylor in case anyone wants to start it ahead of time.
Please sign up for at least one Advent session
with Pastor Sandy to hear/share faith stories
over coffee or tea and say goodbye. Look for the
signup sheet in the narthex. All sessions will be
held in the St. Mark library.
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YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY
December Highlights
All Youth and Advisors are invited to a Christmas Celebration and dinner
at the home of Anne Carter on Saturday, December
12. Please meet at the church at 4:00 for a ride to Anne's
house; you'll return to the church at7:30. Please RSVP to
Anne so that she can prepare ample delicious food. Anne
is looking forward to seeing you there!
Sunday, December 13: Our faith formation students will
present the annual Christmas pageant in the narthex at 9:30am. Please join
us!
Sunday, December 20: Christmas tree decorating and caroling at nearby
assisted living facilities will take place following worship. This is a very causal
event; all are welcome. Please consider bringing a hearty snack or finger food
to share. Songsheets provided; additional instruments welcomed!
All in the St. Mark Faith Family are
invited to join us for a magical evening of
light on Wednesday, December 30. We will
meet in Richmond at the Lewis Ginter
Botanical Garden for the GardenFest of
Lights. We will meet at the Garden in
Richmond at 5:00. Once our group has
gathered, we'll tour the twinkly lights
together. This is a delightful experience for
people of all ages! Visit http://www.lewisginter.org/visit/dominiongardenfest-of-lights/ for more information. Please let Anne know if you are
interested in this event!
Calling all senior high youth: Please save the date for Winter Celebration!
We will be attending Winter Cel 1, and the dates for that are January 15-17.
Registration information to follow soon!
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PRESCHOOL
Greetings and tidings of great joy! As we prepare our hearts, during this
Advent season, there is much to be grateful for and of course, a bit of
sadness at saying goodbye to our dear friend and pastor, Sandy.
The children are so fond of Pastor Sandy and greet her with
enthusiastic shouts of joy whenever they catch her passing by the
playground. She has provided steadfast leadership for the preschool and the congregation, through both
happy times and stormy weather. Her faithful watch over the preschool has never wavered and for that
we are forever grateful. Pastor Sandy has led the preschool with a servant’s heart, coming to our aid when
the bathroom caught fire, when we needed sidewalks shoveled at 6:00 in the morning and for this
director, at any time that I’ve needed a shoulder or clarifying thought. She’s fed these, the tiniest “sheep,”
with warm, friendly chapels and attended many preschool events.
She leaves a legacy in you, the lovely people of this parish, who’ve also stood fast in our time of need and
always come to our aid when called. You’ve painted walls, laid flooring, sat at the front desk when we
needed help, trained teachers, sopped up flood waters, served pancakes, installed bookshelves, sorted
books and so much more. You’ve given of your time, talent and treasure and we, the preschool staff and I,
are grateful not only for Sandy’s leadership but for you, the good people of St. Mark Lutheran
Church. For it is the people that make the church, not the walls and it is in faithfulness to you and your call
to serve the community of Charlottesville with and through the preschool, that we go forth each day,
serving the children and families of St. Mark Lutheran Preschool.
We look forward to the coming year with great hope and expectation, knowing that while Pastor Sandy
moves forward into a new chapter of her life, her love and prayers stay with us. Sandy, thank you for your
faithful service. Our love and prayers go with you too.
- Carla, Tami, Nana, Christina, Charley, Kristen, Betsy, Mary, Ashley and Cassidy
Once again, on Saturday, December 5th, the congregation will
host the preschool for the 2nd annual St. Nicholas Day
Pancake Breakfast and Shoe Drive. We will be collecting new
or gently used shows for children in Charlottesville. Mark
Giesecke is heading up the pancake making crew. Please let
Mark know if you'd like to help cook or serve. We'll also need
help with setting up and taking down tables, chairs and
decorations. Bob Nelson will once again serve as St. Nicholas!
We have so many families that we'll need to have two seatings;
one at 9:00 and another at 10:00. Please contact the preschool,
Nancy in the front office, or Mark to help.
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SOCIAL MINISTRY
Entering the season of thanksgiving, please consider adding a
weekly gift to the food bank. The container is in the narthex.
This is an especially simple and dramatic way to teach our
children to share their own blessings. If each of us will bring one item every week, or even once a month,
it will matter.
Ideas for items most needed include cereal, peanut butter, canned meats, canned soups and stews,
canned fruits and vegetables, 100% fruit juice, boxed macaroni and cheese, spaghetti sauce, pasta, rice,
paper products and personal care items. No glass, please. These gifts of food obviously nourish those
without the resources to purchase their own. The gifts will also nourish our hearts as we share a most
basic human need in a visible and consistent way.
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ELCA Good Gifts Catalog and the World Hunger Appeal of the ELCA provide some
alternative “gift” options this Christmas season! Check out the table in the narthex in
December for ideas to honor others on your gift list through the ELCA Good Gifts
Program and/or the World Hunger Appeal. Catalogs are available with many possible
“gift” options to benefit people around the world as well as cards to send to notify
those you choose to honor in this way. There are also Christmas cards to send after you
have made a donation to the World Hunger Appeal. Questions? Talk to Laurel
McClurken.
--We will be collecting gifts for a family at SHE (Shelter in Help and Emergency). Items to purchase will
be listed in the narthex.
ATTENTION ALL COFFEE, TEA AND CHOCOLATE LOVERS St Mark will be selling coffee, tea and chocolates
through the Lutheran World Relief Coffee Project at a table in the narthex every Sunday in December until
Christmas. These items make great gifts for stocking stuffers, and for small gifts to friends, teachers and
family! For all fairly traded products purchased through this project, Equal Exchange gives $.20 per pound
back to LWR for projects supporting small-scale coffee farmers. At St. Mark, we are giving all proceeds to
the Malaria Project. Suggested donations are $8 for coffee, $4 for tea, $6 for hot chocolate, and $3 for
chocolate bars. We carry a variety of coffee (both ground and whole bean), tea, and chocolate bars, but
please let us know if there is a particular item that you would like to see St. Mark purchase to be part of
the regular mix. See Christa Escobar if you have any questions. Thanks for your support!
When you shop at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/46-4620294, you’ll find the exact same prices, selection
and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate 0.5%
of the purchase price to St. Mark. Please bookmark this site, or go to the St. Mark website to find the link.
You can choose from nearly one million organizations to support, but we hope you’ll choose St. Mark!
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VIRGINIA SYNOD NEWS
Walking Together With Papua New Guinea
As Christians, we are a part of the body of Christ. Which means that we are not only connected to people in
the United States, we also have brothers and sisters all over the world! In the Virginia Synod, we have
recognize this global connectivity several ways, one of which is our formal partnership with the New Guinea
Islands (NGI) District of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea (PNG for
short) is a country right off the coast of Australia that is slightly larger than California. Our relationship with
PNG has been the Synod's primary global mission emphasis since 1990.
Matt Wertman was introduced to PNG as a high school student when he traveled overseas with Bishop
Mauney and a small team to visit with our global partners. Today he is part of the Synod's Papua New Guinea
Task force. "Our partnership with them transcends geographic distance," he said. "To know that there are
always people praying for us and the Church is a comforting thought. Their church struggles with many of the
same issues that we are faced with." While many of our struggles are the same, we also differ in several
challenges that we face.
There has been a huge level of success in the ELCA recently with the Malaria Campaign, an effort to raise $15
million to fight malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa. The goal was reached this year and as we celebrated the
success of this project, some in our Synod couldn't help but to question how Malaria impacts our partners in
Papua New Guinea.
Tobby Eleasar is the President of the NGI District (similar to the position of our Synodical Bishop) of Papua
New Guinea. President Eleasar recently visited Virginia so you may have had the chance to meet him last year.
He has shared that Malaria is not just a problem in Africa. "Malaria is one of the major deadly diseases in
Papua New Guinea," he said. "Four of the five malaria species known to infect humans are found in Papua
New Guinea and Papua New Guinea accounts for about 36% of all confirmed Malaria cases in the Western
Pacific region."
After learning more about the impact of this disease, the Virginia Synod Papua New Guinea Task Force began
to talk about how we could help. Diane Giessler is the Coordinator of Companion Synod Program in Virginia
and she has been in communication with President Eleasar about how we in Virginia can help address this
health concern. "It appears that prevention is the best approach, rather than us helping with treatment after
malaria has been contracted," Diane said. "The government has instructed people to purchase treated nets,
however few are financially able to do this," she said. "Pregnant women who visit clinics are given nets but not
everyone is able to visit a clinic because of the distance they must walk."
The Papua New Guinea Task force has set the goal to work to provide the funding for 5,000 malaria nets for
the Lutheran church in PNG to distribute to their members and people in their communities. Each net only
costs about $10, a small cost for potentially saving a life.
Bishop Mauney was so excited about this effort that he has already donated to buy the few nets and at our
recent Synod event, Gathering of the Ministerium, the offering was dedicated to this project.
If you would like to join the effort to help provide malaria nets for our brothers and sisters in Papua New
Guinea, you can write a check to the Virginia Synod with "PNG Malaria" in the memo line and mail it P.O. Box
70 Salem, VA 24153 or you can give online at http://tinyurl.com/PNGMalaria.
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October 4
October 11
October 18
October 25
Offering
$6,514
3,956
4,323
6,371
Attendance
95
79
95
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MISSION COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
At its November 10 meeting, Mission Council:
 discussed plans for the visit of Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber during the 2016 Festival of the Book
 received the Treasurer’s report stating that the congregation is running a deficit, but less than last
year
 accepted a recommendation of the Property Committee to upgrade our liability insurance
 discussed how to make more people aware of opportunities to work with our various committees
 appointed Elaine Oakey to the Audit Committee
 reviewed the bishop’s outline of the call process
 scheduled a special meeting November 19 to work on the preliminary 2016 budget
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