Dear Friends,

Welcome to Daylight Savings Time.  For some people losing one hour of sleep is hard.  I’ll admit, it takes me about three days to get my bearings waking to darker mornings and having lighter nights. Hopefully by the time you read this I’ll be adjusted to a new normal, at least until October.
 
Speaking of time, we are now just a little over two weeks until Easter.  There are lot of things happening at St. Mark’s between now and Easter Sunday on April 1. (No fooling.)  Two things that are especially joyful in our Easter Sunday service are the flowers that adorn our altar and our Easter cross.  Altar lilies can be purchased for $9.00 each to honor or remember a loved one, and then be taken home after the 9:30 Service.  Fresh cut flowers and greenery can also be brought to both services (8 and 9:30) to decorate our Easter cross.
 
The schedule below can help to make sure you don’t miss an opportunity to share in the many things St. Mark’s is hosting.  You are invited to join us in all these exciting events and bring your family and friends too.  You know what they say, “The more the merrier!” 
 

• Saturday, March 17 10 AM–4 PM -  Quilt Show and Craft Faire. Come enjoy the creative handiwork of various people and enjoy food from a St. Patrick’s Day menu.  $5 admission fee.
• Sunday, March 18 at 4:30 PM – Free Concert.  Pianist Bill Mays’ career as a professional musician spans 55-years and includes a multitude of musical endeavors. Mays will feature a variety of jazz arrangements
• Saturday, March 24 at 5 PM– Rolling Hills Christian Church begins arriving for dinner and an overnight stay before their mission work in Baja, Mexico. St. Mark’s has been hosting this growing group for 15 years.  Last year there were over 275 guests. Cookie donations for their dessert are requested.   Please bring them to the Social Hall Friday, 9AM–3PM or Saturday between 4-5 PM.
• Sunday, March 25 at 9:30 AM – Palm Sunday Service and blessing of the Children’s Lenten Underwear Collection for CCSA.  We are collecting new underwear for all sizes and genders.
• Thursday, March 29 at 6:30 PM – Holy Thursday Tenebrae Service with Holy Communion
• Friday, March 30 at 1:00 PM – Good Friday Service with time for silent meditation
• Saturday, March 31 at 9:00 AM – Community Easter Egg Hunt for children ages 0 – 12.  Yes, the Easter Bunny will be there too!
• Sunday, April 1 – Easter Sunday!  We will celebrate with two services, 8 and 9:30 AM and include the Congregation singing of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah, accompanied by Organ, Brass, Timpani, and Chancel Choir.  Everyone is invited to come forward to sing with the choir.

 
As you can see there is a lot going on and we invite you to join us.
 
See you at church,
Jeri