OUR STAFF

Rev. Jeffrey E. Koth

Pastor

Rev. Dr. Willard Blomquist

Visitation

Laura Swanson

Youth & Family Ministry

Anne Illi

Choir Director

Victoriya Berezhna

Organist

Jill Shepherd

Stephen Ministry

847-989-1919

Kathy Anderson

Office Manager

Ken Swanson

Facebook Page

Rebecca Falkinham

Web site master

CONTACTS

Phone: 847-623-5135

Fax: 847-623-4016

E-mail:

stmarkslutheran@gmail.com

Website: stmarkslutheran.us

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

Come celebrate the gift

of Jesus Christ.

Grow together in faith

and love.

Share the Good

News with all.

The Messenger Come, Grow, Share

March 2013 Vol. 16 No 3

3350 North Delany Rd

Waukegan, II. 60087

Growing Together

734 & 5-5-13 If you look at the official Yearbook of the ELCA, 2013, you will

see the number 734 next to the name, St. Mark’s Ev. Lutheran

Church. No, that is not the prefix to our phone number nor is

it the number of pasties we sold this past year. It is the number of baptized

members that belong to St. Mark’s Ev. Lutheran Church! Imagine? What if

everybody showed up on a given Sunday? We wouldn’t have enough space to

house them. Wouldn’t that be a grand problem to have?

I don’t have any illusions that next Sunday 734 St. Mark members are going to

come to worship. But how about SUNDAY, MAY 5TH? Maybe we can do

it that day! “Why May 5th?” Because on May 5th, we will dedicate our new

administrative and Sunday School wings. We realize that it is not just the cur-

rent active membership that is responsible for this ministry, but ALL who have

played a part in supporting St. Mark’s through the years. We would like all of

those folks to be here to celebrate with us!

On May, 5, we will assemble young and old, current and former members,

along with folks from the community around Word and Sacrament to thank

God for all the blessings and support we have received in this expansion pro-

ject. We hope to reconnect to many among our 734 baptized members who we

have not seen in a long time, and at the same time, make new friends in the

community at large. To welcome all of them, there will be an open house on

May 5th, from 1 – 4:00 p.m. Each of the ministry teams will serve as hosts to wel-

come all who come.

Surely you know someone among our 734 baptized who

hasn’t been regular in attendance. Make a firm commitment

to invite them to this special weekend. And you surely

know others who may be interested. Invite them too! There

is no substitute for a personal invitation. Please be that spe-

cial person.

W e b t m a r k s l u t h e r a n . u s

the messenger 2

March Birthdays 03/01 Brett Stacey

03/03 Stephen Londo

03/03 Joyce Wonderland

03/06 Alexis Koth

03/06 Dominic Stelter

03/06 Ervin Uhlman

03/07 Betty Tentes

03/10 Callie Spengler

03/11 Lynn Deram

03/11 Linda Haapanen

03/12 Dave Norkus

03/13 Claire Lundtveit

03/13 Kayla Wittry

03/14 Lauren Hernandez

03/15 Nichole Truby

03/16 Glenn Collins

03/16 Annika Swanson

03/17 Gertrude Patton

03/18 Nicholas Fontana

03/20 Aura Carlson

03/21 Steven Aukee

03/22 Madison Falkinham

03/22 Julie Wendorf

03/23 Sophia Diaz

03/24 Mark Grams

03/24 Evan Lundtveit

03/24 Drew Stacey

03/26 Kimberly Baehr

03/26 Wayne Voss

03/28 Eric Illi

03/28 Jacqueline Tentes

03/29 Kenneth Falkinham

03/30 Matthew Hopkins

03/30 Michael Spengler

03/31 Timothy Harris

03/31 Daniel Voss

Memorial Gifts

We thank the people who have memorialized these friends and

loved ones for their generosity.

The following gift was given in Loving Memory of: Virginia Blomquist from Henna Granvik, Sylvia Kangas, Peter &

Judy Reinier

Sheila Stuart (Carol Suomu’s sister) from Paavo & Helena Pelkonen

Sylvia Kangas from Mattias & Laila Maki, Bob & Helen Ostman,

Dave & Jean Norkus, Paavo & Helena Pelkonen, Jill Shepherd,

Nancy Inskeep, Mae Florio, Al & Ida Dudleston, Lucille Tolonen,

Walter Maki, Ann Roberts, Robert & Miriam Sybrandy, Yolanda &

John Balitchik, Ginny Kukla, Ken & Sandy Falkinham, Martha

DeTogne, Mike & Rhonda Sybrandy, Edward Ylitalo, Bridgette

Otterbacher, Kathleen Morrow, Carol Suomu, Carol Bonnes, Bill &

Marty Gregory, Home Instead Senior Care

Walt Griffin and my parents, Mae and Al Klass from Sara Griffin to

the Building Fund for media equipment.

Other Building Fund donations for media equipment & items for

youth addition received from: Bridgette Otterbacher, Janet Meyer,

Travelers Club, Carol Suomu, Anne Illi, Helen Binning, Wayne &

Kim Voss, Carol Bonnes, Wayne & Ann Kottka, Paul & Genie

Durand, Laura Raykiewicz, Bill & Marty Gregory, Don & Amy

Fontana, Ian & Jodi Hopkins, Dennis & Sandy Closs, Bob & Helen

Ostman, Jan & Ken Smith,

March Anniversaries

March 6th—Charles and Kathie Brady

March 10th—Clyde & Helen Fawcett

March 16th—Tom & Betty Tentes

March 19th—Mattias & Laila Maki

March 24th—Gregory & Leslie DeTogne

March 29th—Tom & Betty Nicklas

March 31st—Antonio & Diane Hernandez

If your name/s have not appeared in recognition of your birthday, wedding anniversary or a memorial gift, please contact the church office. We want to include all celebrations and memorials. 847-623-5135

W e b s i t e : s t m a r k s l u t h e r a n . u s

Mission of the

Month -

Waukegan 2

College What is

Waukegan to

College (W2C)?

Waukegan to College is a project of Lake County

United that helps Waukegan elementary and high

school students prepare for, apply to, and

graduate from college. Program components are:

Monthly one-on-one counseling takes place with

the families and W2C staff. In these meetings, the

student’s progress is discussed and goals and next

steps are determined.

Bi-lingual workshops deliver college-oriented

information to families throughout the year.

Examples of topics include Orientation to College,

Demystifying Financial Aid, a campus visit and a

career day.

Weekly one-on-one tutoring sessions to help

students struggling in their schoolwork. Tutoring

is offered for 3 hours on Saturday mornings in

Waukegan, and is staffed by volunteers.

Read to Achieve, pairs an adult volunteer with a

student to read aloud for a half hour each week to

improve comprehension, vocabulary and fluency.

A mentoring program, pairing an adult with each

sophomore, junior and senior student works with

their students on life skills, monitors academic

progress and, for rising juniors, provides essential

college planning and decision-making support.

Mentors build relationships that will continue

through the students’ college careers, helping to

ensure that the students graduate from college.

Why is W2C needed?

Waukegan has historically had a low rate of

college attainment by its students, and this

problem has become more severe as more

3 “Come, Grow, Share.”

immigrant families have moved to the city.

While teenagers in more affluent areas have

parents, relatives, and neighbors who have

attended college, know why it is important,

and how to navigate the application process,

many times this information and social

knowledge is missing in Waukegan.

How many children are in the program and

how has the program grown?

Waukegan to College served 30 students in

2010-11 and is growing to 45 students for the

2011-12 year. All of the participants are

members of Lake County United member

congregations in Waukegan. The vast majority

of participating students are Hispanic or

African American. In both 2009-10 and 2010-11

all of the W2C’s graduating high school seniors

went on to attend college.

Who are W2C volunteers?

W2C volunteers come from all over Lake

County and their backgrounds are equally

diverse. Tutors range from chemists and

engineers helping high school students with

math and science to parents who have helped

their own children with homework, working

on middle school English, math and science.

Mentors are typically parents who have helped

their own child navigate the college application

process and who want to develop a nurturing

relationship with a student. Other volunteers

support the program with their translation,

marketing and other specific expertise. Each

volunteer must complete child protection

training and have a background check.

How can I learn more?

The Waukegan to College website is:

http://www.lakecountyunited.org/w2c.htm.

You may also call the church office: 847-623-

5135.

the messenger 4

W e b s i t e : s t m a r k s l u t h e r a n . u s

COOL FOOD PANTRY—

FOOD OF THE MONTH: TUNA

Thank You To the Yarns of Compassion

“May the Lord repay you for what you have

done” - Ruth 2:12 (NIV)

Thank you all for the warm gloves, hats and

scarves that were made for our Homeless Shel-

ter at Shiloh Baptist Church of Waukegan.

Thank you for being a blessing to others and

for showing the love of Christ.

In Christ Love,

Shiloh Baptist Church of Waukegan

PADS Shelter Ministry

Dear St. Mark’s Family,

Thank you for your prayers and concerns dur-

ing my recent surgery. The words, “I prayed

for you” or “I am praying for you” are very

comforting. I would like to thank Yarns of

Compassion for the lovely prayer shawl. It re-

minds me of the caring fellowship of St.

Mark’s. I thank God for you. God’s peace be

with you.

Sincerely, Ida Dudleston

All children who are in 5th grade, or who will

reach the age of 10 years old in calendar 2013,

are invited to participate in first communion

preparation. Letters will be sent by the church

office informing parents of the eligibility of

their child. If you do not receive such a letter,

please inform the church office so we can pre-

register you.

Parent’s Meeting Saturday, March 16th , 9:30 am.

1st Communion Class Date: Saturday, March 23rd

Place: St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

Time: 9:30 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

Ministry of Hospitality Meeting

Saturday, March 9, 2013

9:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall

All members of the Hospitality Team are

encouraged to attend this meeting.

Activities on the agenda are:

Seder Dinner

Food for Dedication of new addition

Birthday greetings for Shut-In members

Coffee and rolls & other goodies will be served.

If you have any questions on this meeting call:

Lucille Tolonen, Team Leader

847-662-4417

the messenger 5

W e b s i t e : s t m a r k s l u t h e r a n . u s

Stephen Ministry Part II: What Kind of Woman Would Receive the Care of

a Stephen Minister?

Stephen Ministries Series, St. Louis

A woman like Sarah

who faced a major change in life at an advanced age and needed someone to listen to both her

joy and apprehension.

A woman like Hagar

who was abandoned along with her child and needed someone to offer her hope and remind

her of God’s presence.

A woman like Hannah

who struggled with her inability to bear a child and needed someone with whom to share her

sadness and pain.

A woman like Naomi

who had lost her loved ones and needed someone to hear her sorrow and pain.

A woman like Ruth

who left everything that was familiar to her and needed someone to journey with her in her

new life.

A woman like Esther

who was faced with a major decision and needed someone who could listen to her concerns

and offer encouragement.

A woman like Mary of Nazareth

who lived with both the joys and struggles of having an exceptional child and needed someone

to help her sort out the ponderings of her heart.

A woman like Martha

who was burdened by the demands of daily life and needed someone to help her regain sight

of what was most important.

A woman like Mary Magdalene

who received healing from inner turmoil and needed someone to walk with her as she built a

new life.

A woman like you.

If you would like to know more about how a Stephen Minister could care for you, please see or call

Jill Shepherd, 847 989 1919.

May you have a blessed Lenten and Easter season,

Jill Shepherd

Stephen Leader

the messenger 6

W e b s i t e : s t m a r k s l u t h e r a n . u s

For our Lenten Devotions this year, we recommend the book, “Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear”. During the 40 days following Easter [until Pentecost] we will gather in our small groups to discuss the faith view of fear that this book promotes. There are two copies of this book that can be purchased at a cost of $15.00 [display in narthex].

Wednesdays Soup Suppers @ 6:00 p.m.

March 6th—Drama, Music &

Worship

March 13th—Yarns of Com-

passion

March 20th—Scouts

Lenten Services @ 7:00 p.m.

Holy Week

Maundy Thursday Thursday, March 28th

Seder Dinner @ 6:00 p.m.

1st Communion Worship @ 8:00 p.m.

Good Friday Friday, March 29th

Good Friday Drama @ 7:00 p.m.

Easter Sunday Sunday, March 31st

Worship @ 9:45 a.m.

Thank You Greetings from the Armory:

Thank you for your generous

second donation of assorted

items. Thank you again for your

thoughtfulness and wonderful

patriotic spirit—every donation

we receive truly makes a differ-

ence to our mission of putting

smiles on service members’ fac-

es.

Fondly,

Carolyn Blashek, President

Operation Gratitude

Dear Friends:

On behalf of all of us at COOL

we give thanks for your ongoing

support of COOL. In the calen-

dar year of 2012, your contribu-

tion to COOL was $11,445.00

and 1,219 pounds of food and

with it you have our heartfelt

gratitude for your support of

COOL Ministries. We work

very hard to maintain and im-

prove our programs, and be-

cause you give, we are able to

offer encouragement and hope

to those who turn to us in their

time of need.

It is with deep appreciation we

acknowledge the two checks re-

ceived by COOL in January 2013

one in the amount of $1,165.00

and one in the amount of

$390.00. All of us at COOL are

thankful for your generous sup-

port.

Warmest Regards,

Diane Thackston

7 “Come, Grow, Share.”

W e b s i t e : s t m a r k s l u t h e r a n . u s

Mission Interpreter—

Metro Chicago Synod Bishop Wayne N. Miller recently wrote:

“Lent is a season traditionally marked by a renewed commitment to disciple-

ship. Discipleship is an act of surrender - surrender to a bewildering, unpredictable

and not particularly sensible lifelong love affair with Jesus Christ, who always

seems to lead us into ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet

untrodden, through perils unknown, toward places we never, ever intended to go.”

Where are you going this Lenten season? What are you doing for His sheep

and lambs? Maybe the following will give you some ideas.

God uses our hands through our direct service work, and our voices through our advocacy

efforts to restore and reconcile our world. The third annual ELCA Advocacy National Priorities sur-

vey allows you to speak up about what is important to you and share how you serve God’s creation

and our vulnerable neighbors (His sheep and lambs) with your hands and your voice. The advocacy

ministries of your church want to hear about your service - on mission trips, in local food pantries

and homeless shelters, on congregational green teams - and how these efforts and relationships in-

form your sense of important policy issues. By completing the short, four-question ELCA Advocacy

National Priorities survey, you are helping to determine the collective priority issues for our active

and growing network of Lutheran advocates. Get started now by visiting www.ELCA.org/advocacy/

survey .

More good news about the ELCA Malaria Campaign. This time from Africa. When we start-

ed working for the ELCA Malaria Campaign 2 ½ years ago, we used the following statistic: “Every

30 seconds, a child in Africa dies from malaria.” After lots of hard work by people all across the

globe, that death rate slowed last year, and we were able to say “Every 45 seconds, a child in Africa

dies from Malaria.” Well, that was better, but of course it still wasn’t good enough. The newest set

of statistics gets us even further along the road we’re traveling towards a malaria-free world. The

new statistic is this: “Every 60 seconds, a child in Africa dies from malaria.” This statistic is good.

It’s very, very good. Look at the progress from 2 ½ years ago! And of course, this statistic is bad. It’s

very, very bad that a child dies every minute from a preventable and treatable disease. But hand in

hand with our Lutheran sisters and brothers in Africa, we continue to make a difference working for

the ELCA Malaria Campaign.

With Easter coming early this year, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) is now collecting

filled Easter baskets for the children served by LSSI’s Head Start sites in Chicago. LSSI’s goal is to

collect more than 300 baskets to share the joy of Easter with the preschoolers, aged 3 to 5 years old.

Is there any one or any group at St. Mark’s willing to help out? If so, you can contact Cheryl Novas,

director of institutional research, at Cheryl.Novas@LSSI.org . LSSI’s Easter Basket flyer, which has a

list of suggested items for the baskets and other information, can be found at http://www.lssi.org/

Support/2013Flyer_Easter%20Baskets%20Needed.pdf . The deadline for delivery of baskets to LSSI’s

Des Plaines office is March 15th.

Erv Uhlman

Mission Interpreter

8 “Come, Grow, Share.”

W e b s i t e : s t m a r k s l u t h e r a n . u s

WSM Bible Study

Meets: Friday, March 8,

2013 at Ida Dudleston’s

either 10 a.m. or 5:30 p.m.

The text for this session is

taken from Luke 13: 31-35.

Overview of session:

“We join Jesus in the Gospel of Luke as he is on

his way to meet his end in Jerusalem. The news

brings threats of death, but it cannot deter

Jesus from his appointed task. Like a mother

hen protecting her chicks, he offers shelter to

those who would remain close to him. Will we

gather with the other children of God beneath

those wings, or will we prefer to go our own

way?”

Seder Dinner Thursday, March 28th

6:00 p.m. Dinner

8:00 p.m. Worship Ser-

vice

Reservation forms will be out

soon. All reservations should

be in by March 21st, 2013. A

poster will be put up to sign

up for donations for the Seder

Dinner Plates and dinner items.

A FREE-WILL OFFERING WILL BE RECEIVED

TO OFFSET THE COSTS OF THE DINNER

OVER AND ABOVE THE DONATIONS.

Souper Bowl Sunday Thank you to all who contributed to the Youth

& Family Ministry’s Souper Bowl of Caring on

February 3rd, 2013. We raised $513.00 to be

donated to COOL, plus over 100 lbs. of canned

soup.

Scout Sunday February 3rd was Scout Sunday. The scouts

hosted the Coffee Hour in the Fellowship Hall

following worship.

9 “Come, Grow, Share.”

W e b s i t e : s t m a r k s l u t h e r a n . u s

Easter Flowers In anticipation of Easter

Easter is associated with the rebirth of nature as

well. Living things like plants sprout and grow.

They flourish and bloom. Each year St. Mark’s

attempts to give the feeling of new life and hope

with the “Easter Garden” that is created at the

altar with live potted spring plants. Take a mo-

ment to order a plant to be used in the display

and which can be taken home after the worship

service on Easter Sunday.

To those who ordered poinsettias at Christmas,

“THANK YOU” for your generosity in helping

to make an atmosphere of joy and beauty.

With gratitude,

The Anamnesis Team

Order forms are available in the Narthex. Please

include your name, the type of flower, the quan-

tity, in memory or in honor of a loved one, and

place the completed order forms in offering plate

or the box marked “Easter Flowers” which is lo-

cated on the counter in the Narthex.

Orders must be received by the church office no

later than March 12th, 2013 for best selection.

Please make checks payable to St. Mark’s Lu-

theran Church

50

Laura Swanson

3 25 13 St. Mark’s Lutheran Church @ 6 p.m.

the messenger 10

W e b s i t e : s t m a r k s l u t h e r a n . u s

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2013

St. Mark's Lutheran Church 3350 North Delany Rd.

Waukegan, IL. 60087

Phone 847-623-5135

Fax 847-623-4016

E-mail stmarkslutheran@gmail.com

The Messenger

St. Mark's Lutheran Church

3350 North Delany Rd.

Waukegan, IL. 60087-1343

RETURN ADDRESS REQUESTED

Serving Us This Month Lectors

Sundays 03/03 Jack Broemelkamp

03/10 Jan Smith

03/17 Grace Brikha

03/24 No Lector—Palm Sunday

03/31B Bob Ostman

Lenten Worship 03/06 Grace Brhikha

03/13 Ken Swanson

03/20 Bob Ostman

Assisting Minister (1st & 3rd Sundays)

Communion Assistant Laura Swanson (2nd & 4th Sundays)

Altar Guild Helen Ostman, Eleanor Senteney & Earleen

Constantino

Ushers

Sara Griffin & John Meyer

Offering Counters

03/03 Kristen Trukova & TBD

03/10 Al Dudleston & Wayne Voss

03/17 Al Dudleston & TBD

03/24 Al Dudleston & TBD

03/31 Jensea Chromy & Laura Swanson

Acolyte

Sundays 03/03 Danyel Sparesus

03/10 Arielle Jones

03/17 Andrew Oye

03/24 Sophia Diaz

03/31 Zachary Ammons

Lenten Worship 03/06 Chantal Brikha

03/13 Annika Swanson

03/20 Evelyn Fontana

Maundy Thursday Chantal Brikha

Good Friday Annika Swanson

Projectionists

Sundays 03/03 Matthew Hopkins

03/10 Kathryn Kottka

03/17 Matthew Oye

03/24 Abigail Oye

03/31 Cody Ammons

Lenten Worship 03/06 Monique Brikha

03/13 Magnus Swanson

03/20 Kathryn Kottka

Maundy Thursday Monique Brika

Good Friday Magnus Swanson

Sound Technicians

Sundays 03/03 Ryan Hopkins

03/10 Cassidy Smith

03/17 Nichole Truby

03/24 Giovanni Diaz

03/31 Anna Koth

Lenten Worship 03/06 Caitlyn Maennena

03/13 Dan Nicklas

03/20 Nick Fontana

Maundy Thursday Anna Koth

Good Friday Nick Fontana

stamp

PLACE MAILING LABEL HERE

Worship

Sundays

9:45 a.m.

Sunday School

9:30 a.m.