St. Mark Lutheran Church

Sunday School Schedule

Don — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:24:35 +0000

Check out the “Sunday School Schedule” page under “Ways to Learn” and find an activity that you would like to lead or assist with for one Sunday and sign up on the paper copy in the narthex. We’ll provide lesson plans for you from the Spark curriculum, or if you have an idea of something you’d like to do but aren’t sure where it might fit in, please talk to us. We’d love for you to get involved! There are still openings in March, April, and May.

Carrie & Angie – Coordinators

Recommendation For Call

Susan — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:57:46 +0000

The St. Mark Call Committee has presented the names of Pastors Eric and Beth Utto-Galarneau as their recommendation for call. Pastors Eric and Beth have co-pastored at several churches, most currently, Amazing Grace Lutheran Church of Grays Harbor. Their love for the Gospel and love for their congregation is evident in all they say and do. Worship, music, youth, families, community outreach, prayer, Holden Evening Prayer, good conversation and good food were topics of lively discussion during our interview-making them pastors the committee thought would be good matches for St. Mark. The Utto-Galarneau’s have two children, Grace and Isaiah. As a family, they are discerning the possibility of accepting the call from St. Mark. They will be worshipping with us at St. Mark on Wednesday, February 29th, at our Lenten service (and pot luck) and on Sunday, March 4th. We will have an opportunity to “meet and greet” the Utto-Galarneau’s on both dates.

SMOGs Valentine’s Breakfast

Don — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:37:20 +0000

SMOGs (St Mark Old Guys) will meet at 8:30am on Feb 16 in the St Mark Parish Hall for their Valentine’s Breakfast. This is the SMOGS normal weekly meeting time. The wives of the SMOGs and other special invited guests will be attending. The SMOG’s will be demonstrating their amazing cooking skills. This is an annual event which both the SMOG’s and their guests look forward to each year.

St. Mark Community Garden News

Gail — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:00:20 +0000

We know it is currently winter but SPRING is just around the corner and the Garden committee is busily planning to ensure a successful growing season. Our goal is to plant the same amount of potatoes (2,000 row feet) and Oregon Sugar pod peas (200 row feet) as last year, and to use any unassigned raised beds to plant a variety of crops for the Thurston County Food Bank. We would also like to plant some blueberry bushes.

Here are important dates to place on your calendar for the garden:

Saturday March 17th - Oregon Sugar Pod pea planting
Saturday April 14th - Potato planting – 2,000 row feet
Sunday May 6th - All church potluck and raised bed planting after 11 a.m. service

The Committee has decided that the raised bed area needs to be expanded by eighteen 3 X 8 foot beds. We currently have about $1300 in our Garden fund and will also benefit from some Thrivent Choice dollars.

We are advertising free plots again this year in the Lacey Park and Recreation Spring flyer. Please tell your friends and neighbors about our free, irrigated, raised beds (with great organic compost!) We just ask that in exchange for the use of the free raised bed, they help out with the potato and pea patches for the Thurston County Food Bank

If you would like a raised bed this year to plant crops for your family or to grow for the Thurston County Food Bank, please call Gail Frare at 456-3281 or at gatofrare@comcast.net.

“Seniors Together” Valentine’s Party

Don — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:09:58 +0000

Seniors Together are planning a Valentine’s party on Tuesday, February 14 at 1:00. Bring a story or poem, or share the story of how you met your spouse. We will have ice cream sundaes and other goodies. Please join us for fun, lots of laughs, and good fellowship. If you need a ride, contact Audrey H.

“Love is like a beautiful flower which I may not touch, but whose fragrance makes the garden a place of delight just the same.” – Helen Keller

Sunday School February 2012

Don — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:18:33 +0000

St. Mark Sunday School children are mid-way through their study of the Lord’s Prayer. We are learning the story and meaning of this prayer from many different angles, enjoying everything from games, singing and chanting, to making picture books, and having fun with food in the kitchen. We’re working on getting the prayer memorized, and having fun with and getting to know those who have volunteered to lead a lesson.

Following the Lord’s Prayer, we’ll spend the Lenten season talking and learning about the Palm Sunday to Easter story. Finishing up the year will be a study of the 23rd Psalm, “The Lord is My Shepherd.”

Many thanks go to those of you who are showing your love for the children of St. Mark by planning and leading a one-hour lesson. For those who haven’t yet had the opportunity, there are still spots available to fill between now and the end of May. Check out the poster in the Narthex for dates and subjects so you don’t miss out on the chance to share your interest in art, music, cooking, drama, science, or games while getting to know our children better. We’ll provide lesson plans for you from the Spark curriculum, or if you have an idea of something you’d like to do but aren’t sure where it might fit in, please talk to us. We’d love for YOU to get involved!

– Carrie and Angie, Sunday School Coordinators

February Quarter Circle

Don — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:10:13 +0000

Women of St. Mark: We will be meeting at Margit’s home on Tuesday, February 28 at 6:30 pm (NOTE: THIS IS A DATE CHANGE) to share food (bring a main dish, salad, or dessert) and insight on the book of the quarter. This quarter’s read is, “I Count My Blessings. Each Day Is a Gift, a Blessing, a Connection” by Eunice Nordby Simonson. Many who have met “Eunie” have been delighted by her kindness, her sparkling personality, her deep faith, and incredible stories. This book is “her account of the blessings of her 80 years which took her from a parsonage in North Dakota to Tanzania.”

Pastor’s Resignation

Don — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:13:20 +0000

On January 26, 2012, Pastor Linda Nou tendered her letter of resignation to Council; this letter was presented to the congregation of St. Mark at both services on Sunday, January 29, 2012.

St. Mark’s Executive Committee (Kate Delozier, James Reddick, and Cathy Chapman) has met with Pastor Linda and staff members Kerstin Shaffer and Pam Buckner to discuss not only the ongoing worship, but the “behind the scenes” needs of the congregation while we wait for God to answer our call for a new pastor.

A farewell party will be held for Pastor Linda on Sunday, February 19, following the 11:00 service; watch for details over the next couple of weeks.

Should you have questions or concerns during this transition time, feel free to contact any of the following Council members to discuss: Cathy Chapman, Kate Delozier, Dave Eilers, Wade Maxey, Vicki Powers, James Reddick, or Joshua Sneva.

– Kate Delozier, Council President

January 26, 2012Dear Church Council and Brothers and Sisters of St. Mark Lutheran Church,

From the day I arrived among you eighteen months ago, I have been working myself out of a job. That’s the nature of interim ministry. The time has now come that I resign my call as interim pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church effective March 31, 2012. My last day in the office will be on February 19, 2012 after which I will use up my accrued leave time.

It is with deep sadness that I leave my ministry among you. I have enjoyed our worship together, our work, our fellowship, and our friendship. You are an amazingly gifted group of people and I will miss you.

Thank you for opening your hearts to me and allowing me the privilege of sharing in your joys, sorrows and all that life has brought us in these days. I will forever hold you in my heart.

May you continue to be blessed to be a blessing, as you journey on into God’s future.

With much love in Jesus,

Pastor Linda Nou

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

– Philippians 1:3-6

IT’S SPORTS SUNDAY!

Pam — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:41:10 +0000

Join us this Sunday – SPORTS SUNDAY - as we share our joy for JESUS and all things sports-related.

Finding yourself in the spiritual neutral zone? Pastor Linda’s locker room sermon will inspire you to move like the offense toward a personal touchdown with God. Forget being on the offending team and be part of the excitement that happens when we huddle as the Body of Christ to share the Good News of the gospel!

And in the spirit of the day, Pastor asks that you dress in your favorite sports team colors and/or apparel (jerseys, sweatshirts, blue jeans, cheesehead hats, etc.). Services are at 8:30 and 11:00 am (with coffee hour and various education opportunities in between) … SEE YOU THERE!

News from the Call Committee: 1-14-2012

Gail — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:12:31 +0000

Four pastors are now being considered for call at St. Mark; two individual pastors, and two pastors who would co-pastor sharing a 1.25 position.

Another name and profile was provided to the committee for consideration. This pastor’s profile was of interest to the Call Committee so it was decided to move forward with an interview. The interview will take place during the week of January 16th.

The Call Committee will be going to the churches of the other three pastors still being considered for call, to hear the pastors lead worship and preach the Gospel.

Hopefully, by the first week in February, the Call Committee will be able to provide to the congregation and the church council the result of the search for the pastor/s for St. Mark.