This Weekend
Church Book Club Meeting: Friday, Dec. 7, 10:00 a.m.
We are taking a lighter tone for the month’s selection: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. Join us for fellowship even if you haven’t had a chance to read the book. The meeting is at Joy Lewis’ house at 4904 Mt. Hay Drive.
TNT Progressive Dinner: Friday, Dec. 7, 5:00 p.m.
Start with appetizers at 5:00 p.m. at the home of Joan and Bill Williams, 4235 Tacoma Street, and enjoy the main course down the line in the Social Hall!
Living Nativity Dinner Tickets Available in Advance: Sunday, Dec. 9
This year, the dinner following the Living Nativity on Saturday, December 15 will be catered by some of San Diego's finest people and chefs, Roger and Trish. Help us plan by purchasing tickets in advance after church on the patio this Sunday, December 9. Suggested donations are $10 per adults (13+) and $5 for children. All proceeds support St. Mark’s Tijuana Build project.
Holiday Parsonage Open House: Sunday, Dec. 9 from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
In gratitude and celebration of the efforts made by the St. Mark’s family to create a lovely home for them, Rev. Lydia, James and Hugh welcome you to visit on Sunday, Dec. 9 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Christmas treats and yummy drinks will be plentiful along with a Christmas cookie decoration table for kids. The address of the parsonage is 3536 Clairemont Drive.
Pastor's Sunday School
In Pastor’s Sunday School we study the lectionary texts which follow the church calendar. Sunday, December 9:
· Malachi 3:1-4
· Luke 1:68-79
· Philippians 1:3-11
· Luke 3:1-6
It’s an informal study, always open to all, at 8:30 a.m. in the New Room.
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News & Views
Sunday School Advent Giving Project
The Sunday School collection of infant goods has begun. You will find a wooden cradle (not a manger) in the Narthex (not a stable) for placing your infant gifts through the Advent season. These gifts will go to Birthline, a non-profit agency a few blocks north of the church that helps new mothers with complex social problems.
Swaddling blankets, digital thermometers, diapers, shampoo/lotion, small board books and hats are needed. (Do remember that the 99-cent stores carry these items). Thank you for intentionally shopping for babies (not infant Jesus) - those he would love forevermore.
Meals for Teens at Storefront
St. Mark’s provides dinner on the fourth Monday of each month to Storefront, which supports homeless youth in the Hillcrest area. A meal is delivered to Storefront at 6 p.m. and the group delivering the meal can choose to stay and eat with the youth or set out the meal and leave. The sign-up sheet for 2019 is on the announcement board in the church library. When signing up, please be sure to provide the name of persons of group delivering the meal as well as a contact phone number. Please contact Hope Coleman at 619-275-0603 for more information.
Available 2019 dates are 1/28, 3/25, 4/22, 6/24, 7/22. 8/26, 10/28, 11/25, and 12/23.
A Gift for the Staff
During this holiday season the Pastor/Parish Committee (PPRC) wishes to offer you the opportunity to thank the hard working church staff and ministers with a monetary gift. If you would like to contribute to this gift from the congregation, please give your donations to a PPRC committee member or you may send it to the church office. Please be sure to designate your contribution as "staff gift”. PPRC members are: Andy Guevara, Brad Cannon, Arlene Dempster, Carol Brown, Kirk Hinkleman, Robin Nuspl and Susan Holko. Thank you!
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 during coffee hour. All are welcome to this class.
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Eat & Play Youth Event at
Belmont Park a Success!
Did you enjoy the United Methodist Women's (UMW) annual Thanksgiving potluck? Our youth certainly did! (Thank you UMW!) After the feast, our youth burned off those extra calories playing for over six hours at Belmont Park. Ten youth and one little sister attended. (Not all are pictured.) They enjoyed rock climbing, laser tag, miniature golf, a ropes course, and more.
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From Hope to Peace:
Family Advent Gathering Update
Sixty people gathered in our Social Hall for our first Advent Family Gathering. Rev. Lydia led a discussion on God's gift of hope.
This week, we'll discuss peace. What does peace mean to you? We often link peace and quiet together. Peace can also mean being in harmony with one another. (And as the children showed us on at our first gathering, peaceful play is not always quiet!) Where do you find peace in your life?
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Upcoming Events
CCSA Christmas Gift Baskets
Please deliver your baskets for CCSA families to the Social Hall on December 12. SPECIAL REQUEST: If you have any 2019 calendars or Christmas wrapping paper, please leave it in the church office labeled for Phyllis Drewett. These will be shared with families as they pick up their baskets!
Cookies for Living Nativity and for The Homebound
St. Mark’s will once again be hosting the Living Nativity and taking cookie trays to our homebound members and we need your help. Whether you bake or buy, we invite you to bring your tasty treats to St. Mark’s on Saturday, December 15 before 3 PM to share with the community and those who are unable to attend church. Everyone is invited to participate in this offering of love. No cookies will be turned away.
The Stars Shall Be as Signs: Living Nativity, Saturday, Dec. 15, 5:30 p.m.
We walk beneath a most glorious record each night, unaware of the magnificent story written in the stars of God’s creation. But on Christmas night we are witness to the celestial event revealed to the Prophet Daniel, interpreted by the Magi, and meant for you and me. These are the messages of this year’s Living Nativity on Saturday, December 15 at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
Don’t miss the starlight in the sanctuary and the dramatic telling of our beloved nativity story. Stay and enjoy a spectacular meal prepared by Roger and Trish and their gourmet team—followed by our favorite hot cocoa and cookie delights.
All children everywhere are invited to participate as shepherds and angels. Simply show up at the church office by 5:00 on the evening of the event. No rehearsal is necessary and costumes are provided.
Christmas Week: Focus on Gratitude
How might we better understand the real power of grateful living, and apply it to our life together? During the week leading up to Christmas, I will lead a searching daily conversation about the meaning of gratitude, guided by Bass’ excellent book: Monday, December 17 through Thursday, December 20 from 1 to 2:15 PM in the New Room. While I recommend the book, there’s no need to buy it to participate in the conversation. Just come on by!
Are You College Bound?
In 1979 a College Scholarship Fund was established at St. Mark's to aid students at our church with some of the costs of an undergraduate or graduate education. This year we will again be giving yearly scholarships, instead of scholarships each semester. In January we will do awards for the 2019 school year. If you are enrolled for this school year, St. Mark's Scholarship forms are available in the church office. The deadline is December 31.
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Longest Night Service: Friday, Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
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, December 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.
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Did You Know?
Church Related Early Childhood Education Fellowship (CRECEF) Pastor-Director Chili Cook-off Hosted at St. Mark's
The St. Mark's Nursery School and Church continue to strengthen their ties as well as the ties between the pastors and directors at preschools across San Diego! On November 27, 2018 in our very own Social Hall, Director Anita Hill and Rev. Jeri hosted a meeting and chili cook-off for church-based preschool directors and their pastors. Little Steps Christian Preschool, based at Mount Soledad Presbyterian Church, emailed, "We have many ideas for both the church and school after hearing your school's testimony."
The CRECEF was founded as a not-for-profit network to help church-related preschools stay at the forefront of early childhood education issues such as licensing regulations, curriculum changes and community connection.
Make a Difference for an Asylum Seeker
Christ Ministry Center is requesting hygiene kits for asylum seekers. Click here or go to the church office for details on how to prepare and deliver kits.
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Next Week At A Glance
Friday, December 7, 2018
10:00AM Book Club Meeting
5:00PM TNT Progressive Dinner/SH
Sunday, December 9, 2018
7:30AM Pancake Breakfast/SH
8:30AM Pastor’s Sunday School/NR
9:30AM Service/Sanc
11:00AM Worship Cmte Mtg/Lib
12:00PM Tongan Fellowship/Sanc
4:00PM Parsonage Open House
Monday, December 10, 2018
6:00PM Carillon Bells/SH
6:45PM AA Meeting-Wmn/RM 9
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
6:00PM Family Advent/SH
7:00PM Faith Circle
7:15PM AA Meeting/RM 9
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Drop off CCSA Baskets/SH
9:30AM Friendship Circle/NR
5:30PM Bible Study/NR
6:00PM Glory Ringers/SH
Thursday, December 13, 2018
12:00PM Midday Mindfulness/NR
4:00PM Cherub Choir/CR
5:20PM Hallelujah Chimes/SH
7:00PM Boy Scouts/SH
7:00PM Choir Rehearsal/CR
7:15PM AA Meeting-Wmn/RM 9
Saturday, December 15, 2018
5:30PM Living Nativity and Dinner/Sanc/SH
Sunday, December 16, 2018
8:30AM Pastor’s Sunday School/NR
9:30AM Service/Sanc
12:00PM Tongan Fellowship/Sanc
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 office@stmarksumcsd.org.
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