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Proclaiming Christ’s Abundant Love
This Week at St. Mark’s
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28 9:00a WORSHIP 9:00a Johnson Baptism 10:30a WORSHIP 10:30a Olson & Redding Baptisms
MONDAY, DECEMBER 29 9:00a Lydia’s Piecemakers & Knit Pickers
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30 7:00p Glory Ringers
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31 10:00a Bread Wrappers 1:00p Office Volunteers 5:30p Learning Circle 7:00p Hope Circle
THURSDAY, JANUARY 1 NEW YEAR”S DAY OFFICE CLOSED
FRIDAY, JANUARY 2
6:30p Al-Anon
SATURDAY, JANUARY 3
COFFEE SALES 5:00p WORSHIP
SUNDAY, JANUARY 4 COFFEE SALES DOUGHNUT & COFFEE CONNECTION 9:00a WORSHIP 9:00a Sunday School 10:30a WORSHIP 10:30a Come Together
Salvation Army Bell Ringing
Nursing the Spirit Hannah Circle St. Mark’s Photo Directory
CDC News Children’s Ministry Annual Report Due Date Care List Update
Year End Giving
Acolytes Needed
Adult Study - Community Bible Experience
Altar Care Help Needed
Abundant Joy, Overflowing Generosity
Thank you to our many members who have joyfully committed to the ministries of St. Mark’s in 2015. St. Mark’s is truly a congregation of generous people! From our January Hesed House volunteers, to members who have signed up to shovel snow, and those who are financially supporting our church’s ministries we are so grateful to you! The spirit of Abundant Joy, Overflowing Generosity is alive and well at St. Mark’s. Commitment cards can be found in the pew racks or at the Welcome Center; they can be returned in an envelope at the Welcome Center, mailed to the church, or
left in Jim Erickson’s mailbox in the office hallway. We are incredibly grateful to our members who are hearing God’s call to share our blessings with our church and those in need.
Acolytes Needed I'm sure most of you know, our worship services rely on the assistance of our 6th-8th graders to provide us with acolytes. Although this is not mandatory, it is a right of passage, and a very important part of our worship services. Each weekend we could use at least two acolytes at each service: Saturdays at 5:00pm, Sundays at 9:00am, and Sundays at 10:30am. We can certainly use more than two acolytes at each service!
If your child was not able to attend Confirmation last week, but would still like to acolyte please let us know and we can arrange a training session if they do not yet have experience. Please contact Nicole Ferrier at: [email protected] or (630) 364-9459 if you would like to sign your child up on the schedule or if you have questions.
Adult Study - Community Bible Experience Join us for a new eight week study on Tuesdays, starting January 6th at 10:00am. When it comes to spiritual growth, nothing has more impact than the Bible. However we all need help getting into the Scriptures. Community Bible Experience offers a new model for reading the Bible, equipping whole churches to experience God’s Word together. The plan takes us through the entire New Testament. Each week, we will meet to discuss five simple questions around the Bible reading. But this isn’t just another Bible study; anyone can join, no matter where they are in their spiritual journey. Pastor Brian Wise will facilitate this study.
Children’s Ministry
We are taking a winter break from classes, all classes will resume the week of Sunday, January 4th!
Join us for Christmas Eve worship at 3:30pm, 5:30pm, 8:00pm, or 11:00pm. Students are invited to sing during the 3:30pm or 5:30pm service. Roaring Ringers and Joyous Praise Bells are ringing at the 3:30pm service.
Salvation Army Virtual Bell Ringing
On the bell ringing sign-up board, there is a "virtual bell ringing chart". So what does that mean? Virtual bell ringing is for individuals that may have rung Salvation Army bells or "stood kettles" in the past, but due to age or any number of factors, (i.e. cold weather), no longer can stand and ring bells. These individuals can choose to give a check made out to the Aurora Area Salvation Army for $45.00. Why $45.00? That is about the average amount of money we receive per hour for those individuals that can still "stand kettles" ringing bells. The check "counts" as
an hour of bell ringing. Sign your name on the Virtual Bell Ringing chart and give the check to the "onsite coordinator" that is listed at the top of any bell ringing chart. The onsite coordinator will place the check in the kettle that they are responsible for. Thank you!
Child Development Center News DCFS has approved the usage of two more classrooms here at St. Mark’s in our preschool wing for use by the Child Development Center. We plan to open one classroom on Monday, January 5th. The older students are being moved to this building in order to expand our infant care capacity. This change does require additional flexibility and sharing with our own children’s ministries. Thanks to everyone who makes this expansion possible.
Annual Report Due Date As a reminder, all articles and updates for the 2014 Annual Report are due no later than Wednesday, January 14th. Any submissions after this date cannot be guaranteed entry into the report. Early submissions are greatly encouraged! If you have any questions please contact Nicole Ferrier at: [email protected] or (630) 364-9459.
Care List Update
Please remember those on our care list this Holiday Season. Keep them in your prayers and send them holiday greetings. Their names and mailing addresses are available at the Welcome Center.
Correction – For those of you who picked up a care list from the Welcome Center last weekend, we have one correction, Georgene Anderson moved to Countryside, not Jennings Terrace. Her address is: Countryside Care Centre, 2330 West Galena Blvd, Aurora, IL 60506
Altar Care Help Needed Seeking interested individuals, couples, or families that would like to do altar care at the 9:00am service on the 4th Sunday of the month. Training will be provided. Please contact John or Terry Thorsen or Melvin Smith.
Year End Giving
During the Season of Advent we consider again the gift of God’s own self in the person of Jesus of Nazareth – his challenging words, healing work, and transforming ministry. As the church, we are this gift of Jesus in our world today. The Incarnate One continues to live through us: our words and our work, at home, at our places of employment, at school, in the community, in the world, and through the church.
The end of 2014 is upon us. Please consider “catching up” in your financial support or giving an additional gift to our ministry, if you are able. This giving enables us to meet the goals we establish together.
As we celebrate The Gift, we become The Gift. When we work together we can accomplish more in our ongoing effort to mend the world, - tikkun olam.
New Facility Manager Hired We are very pleased to inform the congregation that Ed Malert has been hired to fill our Facility Manager position. Ed comes to us with much knowledge and experience. For eight years Ed was the Director of Maintenance for Sonlife Ministries in Elburn. Since 1987 he has run his own business managing residential rental property, and he also owes his own lawn care business. In these positions Ed has worked with various maintenance and financial aspects of property management. Ed adds, “I love to serve and work with people!” Ed will begin working with us on Friday, January 2nd. The Facility Manager position is for 20 hours a week.
Please greet him with a warm, St. Mark’s welcome.
27 South Edgelawn Drive Aurora, Illinois 60506
St. Mark's Lutheran Church
Phone: (630) 897-6891 Fax: (630) 897-4842 Web: www.stmarksaurora.net December 27th & December 28th, 2014
Welcome!
We’ve been waiting for you! Our mission at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church is to proclaim Christ’s Abundant Love. We are called to reach out to persons of all ages and life situations with Christ’s own hospitality and acceptance, to invite you to be our companion on the spiritual journey as we discover together the ways that Christ is offering hope, healing, and a renewed sense of meaning for our lives.
If you are not a member, we would love to talk to you about our ministry. We invite you to talk to one of our pastors or stop at the Welcome Center near the church entrance.
May your worship experience here at St. Mark’s draw you closer to Christ and His Abundant Love!
Today’s WORSHIP FOCUS
The texts for the first Sunday after Christmas
Day are full of weighty concepts –
righteousness, vindication, redemption,
salvation. Maybe we’d prefer to focus on a
sweet newborn baby.
But it is good to ask, who is this child? What has he come to accomplish? For us, for the
world?
And how to do we participate in right relationship? Saving justice? And restorative justice?
Next Week’s WORSHIP FOCUS
Righteousness is Born
Righteousness, vindication, redemption, salvation! The texts for this first Sunday after
Christmas Day burst with weighty concepts. It's tempting to skip past them and focus on
the more heartwarming image of the newborn babe. But perhaps there is a powerful gift to
be received in asking, "Who is this child? What has he come to accomplish?".
For More Information… Call the St. Mark’s office or email if you have questions about the following areas of ministry. You may also visit our web site for more information about St. Mark’s.
Pastoral Staff
Pastor Patricia Geiseman Ext. 15 [email protected] Pastor Brian Wise Ext. 13 [email protected]
Ministry Staff
Kristin Young Ext. 16 [email protected] Director of Worship & the Arts Sue Hilderbrand Ext. 24 [email protected] Bell Choir Director Kari Reiseck Ext. 22 [email protected] Director of Children’s Ministries
Support Staff Deb Arcilla Ext. 10 [email protected] Office Manager John Themanson Ext. 19 [email protected] Finance Administrator TBA Facility Manager Nicole Ferrier Ext. 27 [email protected] Communications Coordinator Tracy McClure Ext. 11 [email protected] Intern Terese Ruppel 630-466-1036 [email protected] Nursery Coordinator
Faith Community Nurse Jean Clementz Ext. 23 [email protected]
Financial Secretary Jim Erickson 630-897-0291 [email protected]
St. Mark’s Child Development Center Merrilee Parkhurst 630-897-6063 [email protected] Director
Council Members Rebecca Mueller (President), Preston Runyan (Treasurer), Roger Shields (Property), Jeanne Flynn (Care & Nurture), Melvin Smith (Worship), Julie Simpson (Stewardship), Nicole Ferrier (Welcoming), Alan Jacobs (Small Groups), Don Friend (Worship)
Prayers
5:00 p.m. Beth Edwards, Rita Gannon, Ryan Johnson, Cornelia Jones, Gloria Julch, Mary Kenner, Christopher Knight, Steve McDuffee, Bob Murphy, Pat Walters
9:00 a.m. Georgene Anderson, Bill Beattie, Barb Brown, Victoria and Chad Carpenter, Jeff Carter, Carter Crogan, Dani Fulks, Kirk Harding, Hans Jeske, Janet Jones, Bruce Lindgren, Bob LeCuyer, Debbie Mansen, Gene Middagh, Sadie Miller, Donna & Brian Orolin, Hank Viereckl, Jen Waters, Char Zvirbulis
10:30 a.m. Brooke Bess, Barbara Dwyer, Phyllis Fauth, Jennifer Franke, Jacky Isabel, Rich Jacobs, Rebecca Perez, Connor Robinson
Continuing Care Barbara Dwyer, Gerd Gunnarsson, Jim Kalish, John Lange, Olive Latimer, Charlie Walters, Lorene Wood
Paul’s Ministry We give thanks to God for the staff, congregation, and ministries at Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church in Grayslake, IL and Our Savior Lutheran Church in Lansing, IL.
Check us out online! Head to www.stmarksaurora.net to find online versions of both the Courier and Vineyard, and “Like” St. Mark’s on Facebook to
get the latest updates about our events and programming!
Proclaiming Christ's Abundant Love
Submissions for the weekly Courier are due each Wednesday by noon for that weekend’s publication. Submissions for the February Vineyard are due by noon on Wednesday, January 14th. Submissions will be added in the order in which they are received. Early submissions are always welcomed!
Please email articles for the Vineyard and Courier to Nicole Ferrier at: [email protected] or place handwritten articles in her mailbox. If you have any questions please email or call Nicole at: (630) 897-6891 ext. 27.
Please send all 2014 photos from any St. Mark’s ministry or event to: [email protected].
St. Mark’s Photo Directory Thank you to all of our members who made appointments and came in to have their pictures taken for the St. Mark’s Photo Directory. We are currently in the design phase of creating the directory and will have more information soon on when you will be receiving them.
Nursing the Spirit: Snow Shovel Safety The following are some safe shoveling tips to protect your heart AND your back!
Talk to your doctor if you have a history of heart disease or any other chronic health concern such as diabetes.
Avoid stimulants, such as caffeine and nicotine that will raise your heart rate and constrict blood vessels.
Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
Dress in layers.
Pick the right shovel for you! A smaller shovel means less snow to strain your heart and back.
Warm up muscles by walking or marching in place and stretching arm and leg muscles.
Stand with feet apart (even with hips) and keep shovel close to your body.
Bend your knees (not the back) and tighten stomach muscles as you lift the snow.
Avoid twisting movements.
Go slow and take breaks! STOP if you feel pain, or are unusually winded, or fatigued. If you feel chest pain – STOP and call 911!
When in doubt, let it melt, or hire a neighbor, teenager, or service to shovel for you. What you spend will be priceless if it saves your life.
Hannah Circle
Attention Mothers of Young Children: Our mission is to support each other as we grow in faith, fellowship, and family life. Our next meeting will be on Monday, January 12th from 7:00 - 9:00pm in Sanctuary Hall, and we will continue to meet at this time the 2nd
Monday of each month through May. Child care will be provided. Please sign up at the Welcome Center if you would to be part of this circle. We are using MOMS: A
Personal Journal ($15), please contact Jean Clementz to obtain a copy. You may also contact Jean with any questions at: 630-897-6891, ext. 23 or at: [email protected].
