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In winter’s deepest night, we welcome the light of the Christ child. Isaiah declares that the light of the long-promised king will illumine the world and bring endless peace and justice. Paul reminds us that the grace of God through Jesus Christ brings salvation to all people. The angels declare that Jesus’ birth is good and joyful news for everyone, including lowly shepherds. Filled with the light that shines in our lives, we go forth to share the light of Christ with the whole world. (from Sunday and Seasons).
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Christmas Eve Worship
Worship with Us In-Person
Intergenerational Family Worship @ 4 PM
Traditional Candlelight Service @ 7 PM
Holy Communion will be celebrated at both services.
Our tradition of closing both Christmas Eve services with the
singing of Silent Night while lighting candles continues.
Worship with us Online
Not able to attend in-person or still not comfortable in larger group settings? Join us for worship online by watching the livestream of the services on YouTube. Just click the button below to watch. Note that the services will be recorded and can be watched at time more convenient to you. Again, just click on either of the buttons below to access one of the Christmas Eve services.
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Worship Resources
The Online Worship page on our website has links to the following worship resources:
Click below for links to the following worship resources:
- Appointed scripture readings
- Prayers of the People
- Children's bulletin
At its November meeting, the Congregational Council decided it would be prudent for St. Mark's to align with the advice of the medical community by strongly recommending the wearing of masks while inside the building.. To be clear, mask wearing is still optional, not mandated. A box of masks can be found on the information table in the Parish Hall for those who arrive without and wish to wear one.
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Those to Remember in Our Prayers
Adeline Adams, Brenda Adelman, Geraldine Adelman (Brenda's mother), Jose & Gloria Ayala (Ludvigs & Andrea Ayala's parents), Mel Berg, Shannon Braun St.Clair (Roxanne Duguay's friend), Renee Brickner (Chris Lewis’ friend), Martha Corzo (Daniel Corzo's mother), Rob Dojack, Roxanna Duguay, Michelle Emond (daughter of Iris Daniels-Rowe), Tim Fennell (Kate Fennell's husband), Randy Fiks (Brenda Adelman's brother-in-law), Larry Fuhl (brother of Darlene Trindall and Eileen Burt), Rev. Bruce Gelhorn, James Golas, Terry Hercus, Dwight Hermiston (friend of Wade Quehe), Chris Hlady, Alfred Hoas, Emil Hoas, Evelyn Hoas, Eleanor Janke, James Juce (Esther Juce's brother), Bill Palmer, Dorothy Penner (Rudy Roman’s sister-in-law), Diane Pero (Alma Juttner's daughter), Sylvia Reagh, Don Ross (Kris Wegert's friend), Brian Rowe, Victor Santa (Lori Nelson's father), Harold Slippert, Earl Skundberg (Inga Skundberg's brother), Christina Taylor, Gerald Toupin, Joanne Yager, and the family and friends of Clarence Yager.
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No Worship on Christmas Day @ St. Mark's
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St. Mark's will not have a worship service on Christmas morning (Sunday, December 25).
This was a decision by the congregational council. The decision was based on a desire to give staff involved in leading the two Christmas Eve services an opportunity to relax and spend time with their families on Christmas Day morning.
For members who would like to attend a Christmas Day service, here are a few suggestions:
- Gloria Dei Lutheran (637 Buckingham Rd) - 10:30am Worship with Communion
- Messiah Lutheran (400 Rouge Rd) - 11am PJ Party Casual Worship with Communion
- Sherwood Park Lutheran (7 Tudor Cres) - 10:30am worship with communion
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"What are We Waiting For?"
Reflections for the 4th Week of Advent
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The Rev. Susan Johnson, our ELCIC National Bishop along with the leaders of the Anglican, United and Presbyterian churches in Canada are coming together each week in the Advent season to reflect on the theme "What are We Waiting For".
In this last of four installments, the discussion centres on the cost of discipleship. At times, the church is called to take positions that are not in tune with popular opinion or with other church partners. When should the church take a prophetic stand, and are we willing to pay the price to witness to the gospel?
Click the link below to watch / listen to the discussion.
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New Year's Day Service - Sunday, January 1
A Service of Lessons & Carols Simplified.
The reality at St Mark's is that we need a whole bunch of people to support the kind of worship we want to participate in and offer. We are lucky to have a small and mighty group of people who have worked very hard this year. To honour the offering of volunteer hours, and in right stewardship of people's offering of time, space sometimes needs to be made for proper rest. With this in mind, and in the Spirit of Christmas, Pastor Zsofi, Melissa, and the Worship Committee have simplified the worship service on New Year's Day. It will be an in-person only gathering of the assembly without communion. We encourage everyone to make space in the season of Christmas to be present to God living among us.
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Financially speaking . . .
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First, thank you to all those who participated in the special congregational meeting on Sunday, December 11. Members approved the 2023 budget proposed by the congregational council. If you were not able to attend, please take time to read the report presented by the Finance Committee.
2022 Update and December Giving Target
We are projecting an operating deficit this year of approximately $5,000. An assumption underlying this projection is that December offerings this year will be around $47,000. Offerings of this amount would match what we have averaged over the past five years for December giving.
Here's where we stand as of December 22.
| December general offering target |
$47,000 |
| Received as of December 22 |
$38,337 |
| Still needed to reach goal |
$8,663 |
Special Christmas Offering
In addition to your regular December offering, please prayerfully consider making a special Christmas offering to help us reach our goal and, just maybe, exceed it. Options are:
1. E-transfer to office@stmarkslutheran.ca
2. Offering plate donation by cheque or cash.
3. Mail cheque to church (600 Cambridge Street, Winnipeg, MB R3M 3G9)
In all cases, please indicate somewhere (e.g., on an envelope or the memo line of the cheque) that your donation is for general offering.
Deadline for 2022 Tax Receipt Eligible Donations
To ensure your year-end donation is eligible for a 2022 Income Tax Receipt, please note the following deadlines.
E-Transfers - completed by midnight, Friday, December 30
By Canada Post mail - must be postmarked no later than December 31, 2022
Dropped off at church - no later than noon, Friday, December 29.
Please note: For church drop offs, the office will be closed the week between Christmas and New Years. The external mailbox will be checked during the week for mail. For security reasons, we advise against leaving envelopes with cash in the mailbox.
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Christmas Message from ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson
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Eternity for Today
The latest edition of the Eternity Today devotional booklets (January- March 2023) have arrived.
A limited number of copies are available for pick up from the information table in the Parish Hall.
Eternity for Today has been a long standing publication of the Program Committee for Worship (PCW) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.
This daily devotional follows the lectionary of the church and provides daily reflections and prayers from ELCIC members across the church.
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Over the past few weeks, several members have received emails from someone posing as Pastor Zsofi. We are unsure as to how member email addresses have fallen into the hands of scammers. As a precaution, we have removed both the telephone/email directory and pictorial directory from the church website.
If you have wish to have a copy of either of these directories, please contact the church office.
Identifying an email scam
1. Check the email address of the sender of the message. All official St. Mark's email addresses end with "@stmarkslutheran.ca" If the sending address is anything else (e.g, @gmail.com), it is not from the church office or from Pastor Zsofi.
2. Watch for awkward grammatical structure or glaring spelling errors.
3. Know that Pastor Zsofi or anyone else using an official St. Mark's email account will never ask you to carry out an action discretely or make a personal request to transfer funds or purchase gift cards.
4. Be wary of messages that begin with a short, simple request that will start a conversation. For example, the message might ask how your day is going or if you're not busy, do you have time to chat. If you respond, the conversation begins and gradually moves to a request of some such as clicking on a link.
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You can find out what's happening at St. Mark's in the coming weeks by viewing our online calendar.
CLICK HERE to view the calendar.
To have something added to the calendar, contact Lori in the church office.
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A Christmas Blog by Norm Fullerton
"When I was seven we lived on a farm without electricity. On the day before Christmas, darkness deepened as my parents and I began our journey home from a trip into town. The nativity scene in a front yard was flooded by light. Mary, Joseph, the baby, shepherds, some animals, and the wise men were all there. The size of the tableau and the electric lighting impressed this scene into my memory, I can still see it vividly 75 years later." READ MORE.
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Church Office Hours over Christmas
The church office will be closed beginning December 25th and will be open for regular hours beginning January 3rd. Pastor Zsofi will be available for pastoral emergency needs, and you can connect with her by cellphone at (431) 374-8562.
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From our church photo archive.
We found this photo while going through the church archives. Unfortunately, no info is written on the back of the photo that identifies the students. We did recognize a young Pastor Dick Smith in the centre. If you recognize any of the confirmation students or have an idea of what year this class graduated, we'd love to hear from you.
Please send your recollections to Brian Lorch (bjlorch@shaw.ca)
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Brian Lorch has temporarily assumed the role of E-News editor. Please send items for inclusion in the E-News to him no later than 2 PM on Thursdays. Brian can be reached by telephone (204-489-1054) or email (bjlorch@shaw.ca).
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Office Hours
Tuesday-Thursday 9AM - 4PM
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