Welcome Advent

Beautiful Day 2

Briefly 3

Here at St. Mark’s 4

Letters 5

Children’s Ministry 6

Youth Ministry 7

Alpha 8

Inside this issue:Inside this issue:

May 16, 2012 Issue 200

Special Offering

For the World Vision, Zam-

bia, Africa WASH Project

helping to provide water,

sanitation and hygiene. A

special “3 times” match will

provide an extra $3,000 for

every $1,000 raised.

Mission Weekend June 2-3

Beautiful Day takes on community projects with simple, direct and unyielding kindness. Read more on page 2.

Saturday, June 2 Beautiful Day

Sunday, June 3

Mission Sunday Special guest speaker Steve Haas, Vice President and Chief Catalyst for World Vision, will speak at all three worship services challenging us to “live out loud” and calling us to action as we follow the greatest commandment to love.

“Year of Mission” Fair

Sponsor a child World Vision Sponsor-A-Child packets will be available June 3.

Visit our mission display tables to learn

about how to get connected to a mission

project. Displays will include Local Missions,

Beautiful Day, The F.L.Y. Program, SMERT,

Eight Days of Hope, TEX/MEX Missions and

Global Missions. For those who visit all the

displays, there will be a drawing to win a

donation toward a mission trip or your cho-

sen mission project - $400 adult prize, $250

student prize.

Page 2

There’s a familiar story in the Gospel of John, in which

Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. Methodically, de-

spite Peter’s protests, the Savior moves from one person

to the next, likely scrubbing from heel to toes (and in be-

tween) until each of the twelve has been cared for. At the

end, after doing a slave’s job, He returns to the table and

presents them with a simple command:

“Now that I, your ‘Lord’ and Teacher, have washed your

feet, you should wash one another’s feet. I have set you

an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

(John 13: 14-15, NIV)

Beautiful Day, at its core, is an extension of this mes-

sage—an opportunity to deliver a fraction of the compas-

sion God has shown us through Christ to our community.

But why of all things did Jesus use washing someone’s feet

as the anchor of His point?

Sure, no one wanted to do it and, as Peter shows, it

seems a task far below the Son of God. We often look to

the humility displayed by Jesus and marvel (rightfully), but

maybe we miss something a little deeper. What happens

when you wash someone’s feet?

You see what they’ve stepped in.

Think about it: the streets of Palestine were more than

just thick with dust and dirt; they were often littered with

garbage and stinking piles left behind by pack animals car-

rying goods from one place to another. To wash a per-

son’s feet was to encounter the unsavory circumstances of

their life.

That is what Beautiful Day is about: stepping in to meet

the needs as best we can because Jesus did it for us first.

We, the blessed, find the broken and hurting people so

that we can wash their feet and understand where they

have walked, if only for a day.

Near the end of the chapter, Jesus tells the disciples to

“Love one another….By this everyone will know that you

are my disciples.” With sweat and smiles, paint-stained

clothes and achy joints, that is exactly what Beautiful Day

volunteers do.

Beautiful Day at St. Mark’s begins on June 1 with a

blood drive from 1-5:30pm.

On June 2 Beautiful Day will continue with a variety of

projects such as:

visiting and sharing God’s love with those in a care

center

assisting in building a home for a family in need

thanking our civil service workers with cookies and

cards

providing food to those that are in need

….just to name a few. See the Beautiful Day brochure for

full details and serving opportunities. Sign up any Sunday

in May in the Crossings.

Why do we participate in “Beautiful Day”?

Page 3

H.S. and college graduates of 2012 Graduates, we would like to honor you on Graduation Sun-

day, May 20. Please join us at any of our three worship

services.

Choir Extravaganza May 20 Don’t miss the Chancel Choir’s performance of “Lord of

the Dance” Sunday, May 20 at the 8:30 a.m. worship ser-

vice.

Church council meeting The next Church Council meeting will be held at 4 p.m.

Monday, May 21. To contact the council, send an email to:

council@faith-life.org.

50+ potluck meal Join us Thursday, May 24 at 11:30 a.m. in The Cross-

ings. Our guest will be Gazette human interest columnist

Dave Rasdal. Please bring a covered dish and your own

table service.

I Am Second I Am Second is designed to help people discover their pur-

pose in life. Have you discovered yours? The stories shared

at I Am Second provide insight into dealing with typical

struggles of everyday living. Find the hope, peace, and ful-

fillment that others have found. Be Second. Join us at 6

p.m. Sunday, May 20 & 27 in the Legacy Room.

CrossRoads needs food donations CrossRoads Missions is experiencing a shortage of food

and has issued a plea for help in restocking food shelves,

refrigerators and freezers. You can drop off non-

perishables in the collection box in St. Mark’s North Coat

Room or call CrossRoads at 365-0707 for specific needs.

Prodigal God series ends Sunday Our last sermon message in the Prodigal God series will be

Sunday, May 20. You can prepare for the weekly message

by reading chapters 6 & 7 in your copy of The Prodigal God

(available for $10 at the Church Office during the week).

Dementia/Alzheimer's support group Find fellowship, advice and information on dealing with

dementia or Alzheimer's at an informal support group

Sunday, May 20. We'll meet at 11 a.m. in the Compass

Room.

FLY program needs volunteers Feeding Lunches to Youth (FLY) makes and serves 500-700

sack lunches Monday through Friday to youth in the

Marion area because of Christ. St. Mark's will help staff

this program on Thursdays for 10 weeks, starting June 7.

We need 12 people from 10:30-11:30 a.m. to make and

bag lunches and 18 people from 12-1 p.m. to drive and

deliver. Lunches are made at and picked up from First

United Methodist Church. Please sign up in The Crossings

or email Denise Harriman, deniseharriman@gmail.com.

Christian book club to meet May 21 The Christian Book Club will meet Monday, May 21 at 9:30

a.m. in Café Ablaze. Please join our next discussion. For

information, contact smallgroups@faith-life.org.

Church office closed The Church Office will be closed Monday, May 28 for the

Memorial Day holiday.

Blood drive on June 1 Don’t forget to sign up at the Beautiful Day table in The

Crossings for our blood drive Friday, June 1

Volunteers needed for ARC Fun Day June 6 Sign up in The Crossways at the Beautiful Day table to help

with the ARC Fun Day at St. Mark’s. We’ll need help facilitat-

ing games, serving ice cream and socializing with the visitors.

Page 4

HEALTH CONCERNS: Diane Popken

Angie Schroeder

Linda Wood

GRIEVING: Pam and Larry Hoffman at

the death of Pam's brother,

Tom Millhollin, on May 6.

PRAISES: Harper Kay Einck, daughter of

Landon & Kristin, born May 7.

Wednesday, May 23 6:00 AM Crossways

6:30 PM Choir Year-End Potluck

7:00 PM Crossways

Thursday, May 24 11:30 PM 50+ Potluck

12:00 PM Crossfire! Prayer Team

5:30 PM Capital Appeal Team

7:00 PM Beta Sigma Phi Mtg.

Friday, May 25 7:00 PM Senior Recital: Ashley Fruhling

Sunday, May 27 All Morning Beautiful Day Sign-ups

Blood Drive Sign-ups

8:15 AM Crossways

8:30 AM Capital Appeal Focus Group

9:45 AM Capital Appeal Focus Group

11:00 AM Crossways

Capital Appeal Focus Group

Dementia Support Group

12:15 PM Capital Appeal Focus Group

6:00 PM I Am Second

For complete listings, including small groups, Bible studies and committees, refer to the St. Mark’s Calendar at www.faith-life.org.

SELECTED EVENTS AT ST. MARK’S SELECTED EVENTS AT ST. MARK’S

Sunday, May 20 Graduate Recognition

All Morning Beautiful Day Sign-ups

Blood Drive Sign-ups

8:15 AM Crossways

8:30 AM Children’s Ministry

Capital Appeal Focus Group

9:45 AM Children’s Ministry

Capital Appeal Focus Group

Prodigal God Class

11:00 AM Crossways

Capital Appeal Focus Group

Dementia Support

12:15 PM Capital Appeal Focus Group

6:00 PM I Am Second

Monday, May 21 9:30 AM Christian Book Club

4:00 PM Church Council Meeting

6:30 PM Chancel Bells

7:00 PM Boy Scouts

Tuesday, May 22 9:00 AM Quilters

12:00 PM Crafters

Crossways

6:30 PM SMERT Meeting

May 3, 2012: This week Jeff Weiler

and his team from the organ restora-

tion firm in Chicago completed most

of their work in the Opus 695 blower

room in the lower level at St. Mark's.

The 1,000 pound, main blower motor

was re-installed into the blower,

and most of the large pipes that go

in this room have been installed and

are ready for final wiring and clean-

up work.

In the photo you can see Jeff and one of his team work-

ing on the large main blower in the center with the smaller

humidification blower on the left and the main reservoir in

the background.

Work is scheduled to begin in the

Faith Center on May 14. The front of

the south pipe chamber (the “swell”)

will be removed in preparation for the

arrival and installation of the first

pipes and their supporting equipment

on May 15.

Meanwhile, Jeff’s team in Chicago

is building wiring harnesses and com-

pleting the final re-assembly of the

console. The console, as well as the entire organ, have

been completely restored and refinished in every detail

and will function and look as they did in 1928 when Opus

695 was originally installed in the Bronx church by E.M.

Skinner. As the work progresses, feel free to contact Barb

or Ron Ritchie or Jim Ogann if you have any questions.

Preparations continue for new pipe organ

Page 5

Thank you! A huge thank you to our St. Mark's family for the special surprise

50th birthday celebration on April 17. I was totally, utterly, and com-

pletely surprised as our family drove into the church parking lot to

waving banners, honking horns, and shouting members! The pro-

gram was a blast - from the yodeling and happy birthday songs to the

special "announcements" to the welcome to the 50+ club to the song

dedication! Thanks for the laughs, the gifts, the cards, and most of all

the fellowship in the Lord. To God be the glory!

Pastor Perry

Look what bloomed this spring in the Larry and Pam Hoffman garden. These are from the bulbs given out at one our worship services last year.

Where were you when we decided…

What St. Mark’s number one priority should be?

To expand our local outreach?

To grow our children and youth ministries?

To expand our global mission support?

How to secure our financial future?

To grow our church in our community?

As a St. Mark’s partner, you are invited to get the

“scoop” on our “scope” and provide your input in this

important step in life of St. Mark’s, by attending

a 45-minute meeting.

Get the “Scoop” on Our “Scope”

Ron Harriman makes a point during a recent Capital Appeal Focus Group.

Capital Appeal Focus Group Meeting Times:

Sundays in Café Ablaze

Sunday, May 20 8:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.

*The 12:15 meeting will be in the Discovery Room

Sunday, May 27 8:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.

Refreshment and childcare are available.

These meetings are for information only; there will be no solicitation of pledges.

If you have already attended, thank you! Please encourage your friends to come to a meeting.

Page 6

Fun Family Devotion

Vacation Bible School is coming

Vacation Bible School at St. Mark’s

will be a high-flying adventure the

week of July 22-26. Our theme this

year is Sky, so imagine flying the

friendly skies where kids learn to trust

God! We’re all getting ready for a soar-

ing good time!

VBS is the perfect time to make new

friends and learn that Everything Is Possible with God!

Each day, kids and adults participate in small groups,

called crews, where they’ll meet a new Bible buddy and

learn a new Bible point to help grow closer to God. We’ll

explore Bible truths with memory verses. You and your

kids will discover that with God, the sky’s the limit!

Sky provides amazing Bible learning experiences in-

volving our eyes, ears, hands and even our taste buds!

Our flight crews will visit stations like Imagination Sta-

tion, All-Star Games, Wild Blue Bible Adventures, Skydive

Diner and the popular Chadder’s Sky High Movie.

(There’s a new animated version this year.) These activi-

ties help faith flow into real life. We’ll also be collecting

school supplies for Families Helping Families as the mis-

sion project. Get ready for a high-flying

adventure that will change you forever!

Register your children, ages 3

through 5th grade (as of Fall 2012) for

crew placement. Register yourself to be

a volunteer (must be entering 6th grade

in the fall or older).

There are hundreds of opportunities

to get involved, ranging from behind-the-scenes tasks to

working directly with the children throughout the week.

Do you love God? Do you love kids? VBS makes it easy

with little or no preparation! Just show up and let God

bless your day! (We provide training and materials.)

Pick up a donation card at the VBS display in The

Crossings and provide supplies or cash to help us make

this year’s VBS an adventure of a lifetime for our kids and

the kids in our community.

Register online at www.faith-life.org by following the

VBS logo or pick up a VBS form at church. For more infor-

mation, please contact Lynne at vbs@faith-life.org or call

447-0100.

Find out how you can get connected

Volunteers needed for next school year

If you would like to volunteer in Children’s Ministry next school

year, please send an email to lkendrick@faith-life.org. Whether you

want to be behind the scenes, up front in worship, leading a small

group or welcoming families, we will find a spot that is perfect for

you! You will be blessed beyond measure!

Sunday School

ends May 20

What a blessing it has been to get to know

your children this school year and to share

the Word of God with them. We look for-

ward to seeing everyone again next school

year! Watch for registration details coming

in August.

Page 7

For those impacted by St. Mark’s 6th – 12th Grade Ministry

Jody Skogen, director of youth ministries, jskogen@faith-life.org Stephan Peck, director of high school ministries, speck@faith-life.org

Tami Foley, administrative assistant to Youth Ministries, tfoley@faith-life.org

If you know of a middle schooler or high schooler who is not connected at a local church, please let them know about

Confirmation/Middle School Ministry and The Edge High School Ministry. Guests and visitors are always welcome!

God is doing amazing things in our youth ministry!

Our High School Mission Team members are preparing their hearts for what God has prepared for them when they

go to Louisville in just a matter of weeks! This past weekend the team travelled to Camp Courageous and took part in

some amazing time of group building and serving by working at the camp on various projects.

We gave out prayer tools after worship recently - a helpful guide for praying for our team! If you didn't get one,

please pick one up in the church office!

Join us for The Edge The Edge meets weekly from 7:15 - 8:45 p.m. in Café Ablaze. Please join us!

This past Friday was the 5th grade retreat - it was AWESOME! It was a great way for some of our 5th graders to hear

about middle school ministry and for their parents to learn more too! If you weren't able to attend, no worries — we'll

have an Orientation for Confirmation in the fall. If you know of a current 5th grader who needs info about our middle

school ministry/confirmation, let Jody or Tami know!

5th grade retreat was fantastic!

On May 2 we celebrated a wonderful year of ministry at Confirmation/Middle School Ministry! A HUGE thank you to all of our INCREDIBLE leaders and team members that make this ministry possible by the grace of God!

U.S.

Phone: 319-447-0100