St. Mark’s matters

Submitted by Barb Fisher-Krueger

MARCH PRAYER SHAWL MEETING

Our March 15th meeting of the prayer shawl

crafters will be an important one. We have

several things to discuss.

1. Recent attendance at monthly meetings

has been lagging. Should we

reconsider monthly meetings or

possibly meet in the evening?

2. We have had a big drop in donations

due to Insook Matthews’ inability to

knit, she was one of our most loyal

knitters.

3. We have had several donations of

prayer quilts - should we encourage the

people who sew to make these lovely

YOUTH CINNAMON ROLLS Youth will be selling their famous cinnamon rolls on Sunday, March 5th. Mark your calendars!

lap quilts and how can we let the

congregation know that this is another

option.

4. Is it time for another “blessing of the

shawls”?

For these discussions and other lively

discussions, PLEASE join us on March 15th

at 2:00 p.m., we really need input to

continue this awesome ministry. There will

be treats! Please come or let Barb know

what your feelings are.

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF ST MARK’S

MARCH 2017

Church Events March 1 - Ash

Wednesday Service @

6:30 p.m.

March 3 - Operation

Backpack

March 4 - UMM Meeting

March 5 - Cinnamon Roll

Sunday

March 7 - Grayye Matters

March 8 - Senior Group

March 20 - Free Lunch

March 21 - Good Lunch

Bunch

March 26 - Congregation

Hymn Sing

March 28 - Executive

Council Meeting

SacredSpark

“But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their

diseases. But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.” -- Luke 5:15-16 NRSV

Jesus lived a rhythm of action and prayer. His life was a combination of healing, justice and ministries of the word, accompa-

nied by times of quiet, prayer, and close communion with God.

Those of us trying to live our lives as followers of Christ can find our path enhanced by developing such a rhythm in our lives

and discipleship.

Join us on Mondays and Tuesdays beginning March 20 for “SacredSpark” – opportunities for listening and connecting with

God.

Both nights will be filled with contemplative approaches to prayer: Mondays we will explore our God connection through our

breath and body by participating in Christian restorative yoga. On Tuesdays, group Christian meditation/contemplative prayer

will be offered along with contemplative prayer stations for individual work.

Contemplative prayer invites to simply listen for God and sit with God while learning what God has to say to each of us. These

contemplative practices help to keep the sacred spark alive in each of us.

Come and refill – remind yourself that you are a beloved child and God’s imprint is upon you. Come and refuel – gain the

strength, comfort, and restoration that will allow you to continue to be about Jesus’ ministry in the world. Join us for Sacred-

Spark.

Mondays beginning March 20: Christian restorative yoga

Tuesdays beginning March 21: Christian meditation/contemplative prayer

Resources available through SacredSpark:

Yoga

Meditation

Coaching

Coming Soon: Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry

WANT TO SING YOUR

FAVORITE HYMN? Submitted by Kay Seagren

Remember Shall We Gather at the River or Swing Low Sweet Chariot? How about Faith of Our Fathers or We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations? I heard some of my favorite old hymns on the radio recently and thought “wouldn’t it be fun to sing some of those old hymns again”. The idea blossomed from there…a Sunday afternoon of singing hymns requested by those in attendance followed by cookies/bars and coffee in Fellowship Hall. Diane Thayer graciously agreed to play the piano.

St. Mark’s United Methodist Women

St. Mark’s United Methodist Women will meet at noon on Wednesday, February 22. There will be a catered lunch ($5.00); please bring your own table service. Our program will be titled, A Fresh Wind Blowing, and we will have a short business meeting.

All women of St. Mark’s are welcome to attend.

St. Mark’s United Methodist Women will also meet at noon on Wednesday, March 22 for Meal in the Upper Room.

So here is your opportunity to join me on Sunday, March 26th at 2:00 PM for about 45 minutes of hymn singing followed by fellowship time. This is your chance to pick your favorite hymn to sing. If you have time to bake a plate of cookies or bars to share that would be wonderful. Rock of Ages and It’s Me, It’s Me Oh Lord and I Love to Tell the Story…so many wonderful hymns. Looking forward to raising the sanctuary roof with joyous old hymns!

PRAYER REQUESTS

Beverly Yoder for health issues

Dave McDowell’s mother’s health issues

Insook Matthews for health issues

Iva Sagert for health issues

Kathy Fountain for health issues

Bill Thorne for health issues

Julie Murray for upcoming surgery

Ginny Carsner for health issues

GRAYYE MATTERS

Grayye Matters will be meeting on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at

the Pizza Ranch in the Iowa City Marketplace. Please join us for

coffee and a lively discussion starting at 9:30 a.m.

The book we will be discussing this month is, The Twelve Tribes

of Hattie by Ayana Mathis.

All are welcome to attend. Please see Barb Fisher-Krueger with

any questions.

March Worship Servants 8:00 am

Ushers

3/5 - Jeff & Dianne Wasson & Ed & Suzanne Krogh

3/12 - Jerry & Patti Mitchell, Barb Smith, Pam Bleckwenn

3/19 - Lavon & Nancy Rutt, Tony & Pam Freund

3/26 - Neil & Jeanne Bennett, Barb Fisher-Krueger, Carolyn Brown

Greeters

3/5 - Rose Hanson & Randy Krutzfield

3/12 - Eleanor Hixson & Leonard Hixson

3/19 - Traci Huffman and Jerine Strommer

3/26 - Clarence and Jean Skog

Readers

3/5 - Rose Hanson

3/12 - Marlene Lake

3/19 - Jan Soboroff

3/26 - Sally Hoelscher

Communion

3/5 - Tony & Pam Freund, Barb Smith, Barb Fisher-Krueger & Rose Han-

son

9:30 a.m.

Ushers

3/5 - Gary & Jeanie Nagle, Jim & Mardee Wood

3/12 - Mary Curtis & Kathy Harrison, John & Carla Melby-Oetken

3/19 - Bob & Maggie Elliott, Bob & Diane DeWitt

3/26 - Jim & Elaine Warth, Roberta Caris, Judy Brookhaus

Greeters

3/5 - Mark & Carolyn Brock

3/12 - Barb Nelson & Lynn Dornfeld

3/19 - Bill & Janice Thorne

3/26 - Keith & Nancy Thayer

Readers

3/5 - Bob Elliott

3/12 - Lynn Dornfeld

3/19 - John Melby-Oetken

3/26 - Eileen McPherson

Communion

3/5 - John & Carla Melby-Oetken, Tom Shepherd &

Mary Brown, Judy Brookhaus

10:50 a.m.

Ushers

3/5 - Steve & Karen Laughlin

3/12 - Peg Horn, Abbie Buhr

3/19 - Bob & Jo Hoover

3/26 - Don Anderson & Jane Dohrmann

Readers

3/5 - Rebecca Carver

3/12 - Marsha Lowe

3/19 - Peg Horn

3/26 - Lou Schooley

Communion

3/5 - Sue Brenneman & Laura Lage

3/12 - Bob & Jo Hoover

3/19 - Steve & Karen Laughlin

3/26 - John Green, Melanie Justice, Sue Brenneman

Communion servers will be

needed throughout Lent.

Please contact Pastor Sean

or Hillary if able to serve.

If unable to serve on assigned

dates, please kindly find a re-

placement and let office know

as soon as possible.

Is This You? You may know that the mission of St. Mark’s United Methodist is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the trans-

formation of the world.” You may even know that our Discipleship Pathway is known as “Gather, Grow, Go”

and provides many different ministry opportunities that will help you grow in your faith and discipleship. But, do

you know where you are on your personal path of discipleship? Have you had the opportunity to assess your

growing edges and where you want to move forward? Guess what? There’s an app for that!

Excellence in Ministry has created a very useful tool known as the Discipleship Survey. It measures where you

currently find yourself in 6 areas of discipleship. They are:

A life of worship

A life of hospitality

A life open to Jesus

A life of obeying Jesus

A life of service

A life of generosity

Taking the survey allows you to self-assess these areas of your faith life in four categories: Exploring, Beginning,

Growing, and Maturing. This survey is your personal report. No one else will see your results. Once you have

taken the survey, and see where you fall, you can look to the Discipleship Pathway to select ministries that will

help you move forward on your path of discipleship. Want to move from “Beginning” to “Growing” in a life of

service? We can help you do that. Here’s how to take the survey and continue on your journey:

TO CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT:

Go to http://discipleshipsurvey.com/

Click “Church Member Sign Up”

Enter code LOVEANDJOY and click “Login” button

From the pull down menus:

Select District: East Central

Select Church: Iowa City, St. Mark’s

Enter your Name and Email

Create and enter your new Personal Password

Select Language: English or Spanish and click the “Sign Up” button

TO TAKE THE SURVEY

Go to http://discipleshipsurvey.com/

Click “Church Member Login”

Enter the Email and Password you used to create your account

Click the “Login” button

Click the “Take Survey Button”

If you do not have access to the internet, or you have problems creating an account, please contact Pastor Sean or

Deacon Chris and we can help you access the survey. We encourage every person at St. Mark’s to take this sur-

vey and access the Discipleship Pathway as you navigate your path of discipleship.

ANNOUNCEMENTS SAVE THE DATE The next meeting of the senior group will be Wednesday,

March 8th from 2 to 4 p.m. at St. Mark’s UMC. Pastor Ruth

Blayer will be our guest speaker, followed by coffee, snacks

and visiting. I hope you can join us! All senior aged people

are warmly invited. Please contact Sage at sage-

river@icfirstchurch.org or call 319-354-5484.

CROP WALK, Sunday, April 9th at 1:30 p.m.- The Johnson

County CROP Hunger Walk is sponsored by Church World

Service to raise funds to provide food to those in need

around the world. One-fourth of all the money raised on

April 9th will go to the Crisis Center of Johnson County for

those in our community who are food insecure. This year’s

CROP Walk will begin at the Crisis Center of Johnson

County (1121 Gilbert Court) due to the construction at the

former start site. You will be able to sign up to walk and/or

donate, beginning the latter part of March at St. Mark’s

between church services.

WOMEN AT THE WELL VISIT TO MITCHELVILLE -

St. Mark’s will be visiting Women at the Well on Thursday,

April 20th. We are allowed to bring ten approved visitors.

If you are interested in attending, please provide the

following information to Hillary in the office: Full LEGAL

name, DOB & Social Security #. Visitors must be at least

18 years old to visit and not have a family member

incarcerated in the Iowa Correctional System. Please see

Donna Higgins with any questions.

Feed My Starving Children Submitted by Jennie Fischer

March 1 - Ash Wednesday (service at 6:30 p.m.)

April 9 - Palm Sunday

April 13 - Maundy Thursday

April 14 - Good Friday

April 16 - Easter Sunday

April 20 - Women at the Well visit

Feed my Starving Children’s Iowa City MobilePack is back for the

fifth year, and St. Mark’s is helping to host this year’s event!

So save the dates June 8-9 and come on our to the fairgrounds to

help us pack 150,000 meals. We promise it will be the most fun

you can have in a hairnet! Stay tuned for your chance to contribute

to our fundraising efforts.

icmobilepack.org

St. Mark’s UMC

St. Mark’s United Methodist Church

2675 E. Washington Street

Iowa City, IA 52245