Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar,
and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD; Psalms 96:11-13 (NRSV)
Last week, Leslie and I were able to spend a few days in the northwoods of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Two of our daughters and my brother live "up north" as well as a number of friends, so it was a good to spend some time with them and to appreciate the scenery. We go "north" at this time of the year because the crowds of people are less, there are less lines to contend with, the leaves are changing, and more benches are available to sit on and to peer out onto Lake Superior and the landscape.
But you don't have to drive that far to see the beauty of God's creation. On Thursday, the first day of Fall, pictures like the one above began to appear on my social media feeds. Dana Larson and other local photographers are able to capture images of the beauty of this area in order to share it with us.
But you don't have to drive to see God's beautiful artistry. We are surrounded by the beauty of what God has created. When things feel overwhelming and you need to take a breath, or you just want to take a nice walk, I invite you to remember Psalm 96 and give thanks for the many blessings that are right here in the Storm Lake area.
The above picture is one of many that persons are sharing in their social media feed. We live in a beautiful place, and I hope we can all stop, soak it in, and give thanks.
WORSHIP THIS WEEKEND
I hope you will join us for worship this weekend for worship on Sunday. We have a rather interesting reading from chapter 16 (vs. 9-13) of Luke, a parable Jesus shared about a conversation between Abraham and a fellow who had everything good during his life, but who at the end of the live realizes that there was so much more he could have done with his life that would make a lasting difference. Here is a link to the bulletin and announcements.
VETS TOGETHER
We will be launching a new group beginning this Wednesday evening at 6:00. Vets Together is an informal time for persons who have served in the US military to get together to be encouraged, and to encourage one another. The need for this group has been growing as persons return from military service and look for connections with others who have had similar experiences.
PRAYERS: We are each invited to keep the following persons in our prayers: Prayers for Healing-
Don Northrup, Hildy Clewell, Sherry Aryanpur, Sarah Dvergsten, Dick and Eleanor Schemmel, Julie Egland, Val Anderson, Monna Gardalen (sister-in-law of Donna Schulz), Marlon Gasner, Jon Kruse, Kermit Smith, Donna Schulz, Lori Porsch, Steve Korner, Jane Evans, Evelyn Messenbrink, Alex Kron, Steve Berg, Mark Sorbe, those seeking healing from Coronavirus and their care givers, and all persons seeking healing and wholeness.
Prayers of Comfort-
The family of Aaron Cook.
The family of Brian Borchardt
ATTENTION ST. MARK BOOK LOVERS Are you interested in gathering with friends to read and discuss some of your favorite books and/or expand your reading selection? Then come to an organizational meeting after church on Sunday, September 25. We will meet in the Koinonia Room (Library). If you cannot attend and would like more information from the meeting, contact Jane Hartwell in the church office and leave your name and contact info with her.
UPPER DES MOINES FOOD SHELF NEEDS OUR HELP- At this time, the Upper Des Moines staff is stating that food is very, very low at the pantry. The following items are needed: cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter, canned fruit & vegetables, beans and rice, spaghetti sauce, and pasta. Other items needed: laundry soap, dish soap, shampoo, and body soap. Hot dogs, turkey, and ham for sandwiches, milk and juice. Fresh vegetables are welcomed. You can drop the food off in the grocery cart by the church office or at Upper Des Moines Opportunities Food Shelf, 620 Michigan Street, in Storm Lake.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME: The goal of the Buena Vista University “Home Away from Home” program is to connect out-of-state and international BVU students with families from the Storm Lake/BVU community. Moving away from home and family for the first time can be difficult. This program hopes to give students a feeling of home right here in Storm Lake. Interested families will be paired with a student to serve as their “second family” during their college transition and first academic year. If you have any questions, please contact: Joanna Chavez De Leon at 712-749-2367, chavezdeleonj@bvu.edu
“COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS”: Join us for food, fun, and fellowship to celebrate “Count Your Blessings”. Our Savior’s Lutheran Annual “Spuds and Splits”, Sunday, September 25, 2022, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in Rembrandt. Serving baked potato with toppings, banana splits, and a drink. Free-will offering. To-go meals are available. Baked goods and craft items are available for sale. Proceeds will go to our resident Kate Donnell for medical expenses.
COLLEGE BOXES: St. Mark Women will again pack snack boxes for our college students. All items such as small candy bars, fruit snacks, popcorn packets, and cookies need to be individually wrapped. No home-baked goodies this year! Please bring your items to the church office. We will pack and mail the boxes on Friday, October 5th at 1:30 pm. It’s a great way to show the kids we are thinking of them!
WELCA FALL RETREAT 2022: God’s Presence…..Finding it and sharing it. A day of fellowship, conversation, and strengthening of our faith. Included is a tour of the Western Iowa Synod Office in their new location. Bishop Lorna Halaas will provide the Bible Study and lead the conversation. God touches us in mysterious ways, and we rejoice in this miracle. From 9:00 AM-3:00 PM, Saturday, October 15, 2022, at St Mark Lutheran Church, 1614 West 5th Street, Storm Lake, IA. The registration fee is $15. Every woman in the Western Iowa Synod of the ELCA is invited to attend. Please send your full name, address, phone number, email address, and registration fee to Nancy Peters, 1020 9th St., Sheldon, IA 51201, or contact Nancy at nancyp@nethtc.net
FRIENDS WITH FOOD UPDATE-
Would you like to help? Friends with Food is a partnership of St Mark Lutheran Church and SALUD working together to offer a monthly food distribution to those who are permanently or temporarily homebound and with no easy access to transportation. The next distribution will be on Thursday, October 20th at St. Mark. Please contact Jane Hartwell at 712-732-5255, Di Daniels at 712-299-9863, or Julie Cook Western Iowa Synod Office at 712-732-4968 if you want to help, know of someone who could use some help with food, or have questions.
LIFE SERVE BLOOD DRIVE was held at St. Mark on September 6th. There were 57 appointments, 49 registered, 43 eligible to donate, and 49 units collected. These units can save up to 147 local lives. Thank you to all of those who donated blood. The next blood drive will be on October 4th at St. Mark, 12:30 PM-5:30 PM. ‘TEXT LIFESERVE’ to 999-777 to make an appointment to Give Blood.
PROCLAIM RADIO MINISTRY Proclaim is a radio ministry of St Mark and is broadcast every Sunday at 7:30 AM via FM 101.7 KAYL. The message and music are from the previous weekend. This ministry is one of the ways we reach out to Storm Lake and Western Iowa with the love of Jesus. We invite you to consider supporting this ministry and your regular financial support of St Mark. The cost is $38 per week and can be given online or by check. You can sign-up for a Sunday on the bulletin board sign-up located on the bulletin board near the west entrance to the building. Call Jane Hartwell at 732-5255 if you have questions.
5K WALK/RUN The Buena Vista Suicide Prevention Coalition is hosting Stronger Together: Suicide Prevention and Family Wellness Walk/Run this year. They invite the public to attend tomorrow, September 24th. Sign-up would be about 8:45 AM, and the walk/run is scheduled to start at 9:00 AM. For any questions, please contact: Casey Orth-Nebitt at conebitt@icloud.com or Jenny Ahlers at ahlejen@hotmail.com.
OFFERINGS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT- Thank you for generously sharing your financial support of St Mark. Your financial support allows us to fund our ministries as we enter the new school year. You can financially support the ministry of St Mark by:
Bringing your offering to worship on Sundays and placing it in the offering box at the Welcome center on Sunday mornings. You can also drop it off or mail it to the church office.
CLEANING UP AROUND THE CHURCH PROJECT: Thank you to everyone who helped with the project of removing shrubs, grasses, and other bushes surrounding the building that had died or become unmanageable. Our next project will be filling the holes with good dirt, replanting with some perennial flowering plants or other shrubs, and “re-rock” the area so that it will look nice when we begin growing season next Spring. If you would like to help or have questions about this ongoing project, please contact Pastor Dave or Dan Sievers.
THIS WEEK AT ST MARK Sunday, September 18
7:30AM - Proclaim Radio broadcast on FM101.7
9:00AM- Worship Service- in-person and streamed live on Facebook
10:00AM- Fellowship Time (Fellowship Hall)
Sunday School (Sanctuary) starts after students and
leaders have had a chance to eat.
Monday, September 19
9:00AM- Sew & Do
5:00PM- Family Access Center-Domestic Abuse (Room 128)
Tuesday, September 20
7:00PM- NA- (Room 128)
Wednesday, September 21
9:30AM- Naomi Circle
6:00PM- Confirmation Class
6:00PM- Vets Together
Thursday, September 22
12:00PM – AA-(Fellowship Hall)
Sunday, September 25
7:30AM - Proclaim Radio broadcast on FM101.7
9:00AM- Worship Service- in-person and streamed live on Facebook
10:00AM- Fellowship Time (Fellowship Hall)
Sunday School (Sanctuary) starts after students and
leaders have had a chance to eat.
Do you have garden produce
you would like to share?
Would you like some fresh fruit and vegetables grown by your friends at St Mark?
If you have extra garden produce you would like to share, simply drop it off here at St Mark or set it on the garden table in the main hall. AND if you stop by and see some produce you like, please feel free to take some home with you. If we have plenty of extra produce on the third Thursday of the month, we will deliver it to those in need with our regular Friends with Food deliveries.
ATTENTION ST. MARK BOOK LOVERS Are you interested in gathering with friends to read and discuss some of your favorite books and/or expand your reading selection? Then come to an organizational meeting after church on Sunday, September 25. We will meet in the Koinonia Room (Library). If you cannot attend and would like more information from the meeting, 
FRIENDS WITH FOOD UPDATE- 
