Scholarships for January 2019

In 1979 a College Scholarship Fund was es-tablished at St. Mark's to aid students at our church with some of the costs of an under-graduate or graduate education. We are thankful for this fund and would like to assist you. This year we are awarding scholarships in January 2019. If you are enrolled at a college or university for this school year, St. Mark’s Scholarship forms are now available in the church office.

A wooden cradle standing in the Narthex is filling with infant items for the non-profit agency, Birthline, located a few blocks north of St. Mark’s. Swaddling blankets, digital thermometers, hats, lotions/shampoo, small board books, diapers, and new/gently used clothing are needed. Your Christmas contri-butions to socially challenged mommies with new babies are greatly appreciated. We will receive donations through Christmas Eve. Thank you.

Sunday School Advent Giving Project —

Donations Accepted through Christmas Eve

St. Mark’s recognizes that often during the holidays there is grief or sorrow that cannot be erased by carols and parties. To help those who need a quiet place to sit, remember, and reflect we offer the Longest Night Service on the Winter Solstice, Dec. 21. The service begins at 6:30 p.m. This is a service where people can come to sit, pray, hum or sing quietly, and light candles to acknowledge the darkness and sadness that may be very close.

Longest Night Service Fri. Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

Interested in Becoming a Member (or Wondering What It Means)?

Are you interested in becoming a member of St. Mark's or just wondering what that even means? Do you want to know more about the United Methodist Church? Rev. Lydia will be leading a four week class that will take place after Sunday morning services in the month of January. We will meet in the New Room dur-ing coffee hour. All are welcome to this class.

So that we may enjoy time with our families, the office will be closed December 25, 2018 through January 1, 2019. There will be no Messenger for December 25, and it will be delayed the first week of the New Year. Please have all Messenger articles to Michelle at office@stmarksumcsd.org by 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. Thank you for your support all year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Office Closure and Messenger Deadlines How Did We Get That Star Up There??

A number of people have asked about that big star that was hung above the Chancel for Living Nativity. “How did you get it up there?” Well, Bob and Rob Hout got it up there! (Sherry Miller made the star.) When the sanctuary was built in 1962, 18 light fixtures had been attached to the ceiling. Changing bulbs was risky. So church members got to work to ease the situation. Look high to the ceiling and notice the long bar of lights. It was designed to be remotely lowered and raised. “We built that fixture when Rev. Martha Wingfield was with us, 2007ish,” Bob says. “I bought all the parts. Dan Zeller painted the bar after we put it together. I did all the wiring, and Russ Huffman did the wiring up on the ceiling." Now, about that star: Let’s all give cheers to Bob Hout for his work in lighting the sanctuary for and during Living Nativity. Time and talent at its best. A big Christmas hug to you, Bob!

A ground view of the pulley system attached to the light bar.

Advent JOY!

Christ has come to give us JOY. Did you know that God actually wants us to have FUN in our lives!?! God wants us to laugh, love, and play! In fact, it gives God great satisfaction to see us live in this manner. Where are areas where you could use more JOY? What is holding you back from experiencing it? Is it high expecta-tions of yourself? Is it stress? Remember that more than success and accomplishment, God wants you to see your life as a GIFT for you to experience overwhelming JOY.

Christmas Eve Services 5:30 p.m.

& 8:00 p.m.

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16:

175

♥ Forrest Sedgwick ♥ Phyllis Drewett ♥ Sherry Forrest ♥ Vera Morrison ♥ Al Johannesen ♥ Hope Coleman ♥ Brad Cannon Our military personnel:

Kris Brendal, Army Robert S.Chisholm, Navy Craig Clemans, Marines Paul Clemans, Air Force Blake Cross, Navy Samuel England, Navy Lenny Hezelett, Navy Amanda Hoadley, Navy Michael Hunter, Navy Brady Jackson, Army Jeremy Munson, Navy Milo Riegle, Marines Casper Stalnaker, Navy Nathan Streeter, Army Robert Tarango, Navy

In Our Prayers Next Week @ A Glance

Thursday, December 20, 2018

12:00PM Midday Mindfulness/NR 1:00PM Interfaith Disaster Council/NR 1:00PM Gratitude Study/TBD 4:00PM Cherub Choir/CR 5:20PM Hallelujah Chimes/SH 6:30PM Community Forum/RM 10 7:00PM Boy Scouts/SH 7:00PM Choir Rehearsal/CR 7:15PM AA Meeting-Wmn/RM 9

Friday, December 21, 2018 6:30PM Longest Night Service/Sanc

Sunday, December 23, 2018

8:30AM Pastor’s Sunday School/NR 9:30AM Service/Sanc 10:45AM Blood Pressure Scrn/NR 12:00PM Tongan Fellowship/Sanc

Monday, December 24, 2018 Christmas Eve 5:30PM Christmas Eve Service 6:45PM AA Meeting-Wmn/RM 9 8:00PM Christmas Eve Service

Tuesday, December 25, 2018 Merry Christmas! 7:15PM AA Meeting/RM 9

Wednesday, December 26, 2018 5:30PM Bible Study/NR

Thursday, December 27, 2018

7:15PM AA Meeting-Wmn/RM 9

Sunday, December 30, 2018

8:30AM Pastor’s Sunday School/NR 9:30AM Service/Sanc 12:00PM Tongan Fellowship/Sanc

REMEMBER: NO MESSENGER NEXT WEEK! NO GUARANTEES ON THE ACCURACY OF THE CALENDAR POSTED HERE. PLEASE CHECK EVENT WITH YOUR CONTACTS.

CR=Choir Room Sanc=Sanctuary Lib=Library SH=Social Hall NR=New Room *If you have any questions about or would like to add an event to the church calendar, please contact the church office at 858-273-1480 or by email at office@stmarksumcsd.org.

You are invited to partici-pate in the St Mark's prayer chain via email. Prayer requests will be sent to you via an email account you provide; you will not be asked to do anything other than offer your private prayers for requests you receive. To participate, please email Donna Newby at donewby@san.rr.com.

858-273-1480

St. Mark’s Messenger (USPS 516-260) is published weekly by St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 3502 Clairemont Drive, San Diego CA 92117. Periodicals Postage paid at San Diego, CA POSTMASTER: Send address changes to St. Mark’s Mes-senger, 3502 Clairemont Dr, S.D., CA 92117

Sunday, December 23, 2018 9:30 AM Service Rev. Craig Dorval

Child Care, Room 1

Sunday School Rooms 6, 8 &10

Rev. Craig Dorval Senior Minister

In Pastor’s Sunday School

we study the lectionary

texts which follow the

church calendar. For

Sunday, December 23:

• Micah 5:2-5a

• Luke 1:47-55

• Hebrews 10:5-10

• Luke 1:39-45

It’s an informal study,

always open to all, at

8:30 AM in the New Room.

Pastor’s Sunday

St. Mark’s Messenger

Vol. 45: Issue 47

Keeping In Touch

December 18, 2018 Did you know there is more information on our website and in the email Messenger? • Learn the details of what

YOU can do to help asylum seekers: make a hygiene kit! Details on-line and in the office.

• Need a pick-me-up? Videos of all sermons are on-line!

If you don’t want to miss a thing, subscribe to the email Messenger at www.stmarksumcsd.org.

Do you have some free time during the week? Consider becoming an office volunteer. We currently need help on Monday mornings from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. For more information contact the office at 858-273-1480.

Office Volunteer Needed

First things first. Christmas services in the sanctuary at St. Mark’s: Friday, December 21, 6:30 p.m. Longest Night service, for those dealing with grief or struggling in any way with the “Christmas spirit.” Sunday, December 23, 9:30 a.m. Christmas Sunday service Monday, December 24, 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Family-Friendly Christmas Eve services, with our choirs, bells, brass, timpani, candle-lighting, a brief Christmas message and a time just for children. I hope you will come, and that you will invite your family, friends, neighbors and cowork-ers. Let’s all have a warm and joyful celebration together! We have been welcoming more guests than usual over these last few months, and we expect many visitors for our Christmas services. If you are a regular at St. Mark’s, remember to watch for those needing information, directions, or any other kind of assistance. This begins in the parking lot—some will not know which door to enter to come into the sanctuary, or where the rest rooms are, or where to sit in the sanctuary. Watch for those with special needs and ask if they need any assistance. There will be families of all kinds, and many individuals. Some will be lonely or facing pain, conflict, or deep disappointment in their lives. Your presence, and your welcome, may be just what they need. Because Christmas is a family- and friend-centered holiday, those coming by themselves especially need a “Merry Christmas” or help getting comfortable. It is very easy to be so focused on saying hello to our friends that we don’t notice the needs of those near us. I suggest we practice what I call “indiscriminate Merry Christmasing.” This means that we say it before we have figured out whether we know the person we are Merry Christmasing. Just say it indiscriminately, to everyone (or almost every-one) you meet here at St. Mark’s. You may feel awkward at first, but stick with it. It really makes a difference. It can be a bigger gift to someone than you realize. I know that some of you are too cool for school, but I have faith that you can do it. Remember also the needs of those visiting with children, especially small chil-dren. Invite the children to participate in Children’s Time. Be extra mindful that, with many children here, there will be some fussing, confusion, and noise in church. Our goal is to make our guests welcome and comfortable—especially parents and children. Each person who walks onto our campus this weekend is, in some way, seeking the spirit of Christmas. Extend yourself to them, share yourself with them. And Merry Christmas! See you in church. Craig