Good morning friends! As I write this note to you, workers are out on the roads, streets, sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots clearing snow to make it safe for all of us to attend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worship services.
We are busy preparing for this weekend's services, and we are planning on holding all 3 services in-person for all who can attend.
Christmas Eve- Saturday, December 24, 3:00 and 5:00 PM
Christmas Day- Sunday, December 25, 9:00 AM
New Years Day Service- Sunday, January 1, 9:00 AM
I hope that all of you will join us at one or more of the services this weekend. Here is a link to the Christmas Eve Services and a link to the Christmas Day Service. There is a lot happening at St Mark and lots of ways for you to be more involved in the life here in the church building and as we reach out to more and more people.
Peace to you,
Pastor Dave
LIFE TOGETHER AT ST MARK You can find us at:
1614 West 5th Street
Storm Lake, IA, 50588
Phone: 712-732-5255 You can email us at hello@stmarkstormlake.com
You may log into Saint Mark Wi-Fi
Password- devotion
WORSHIP
We gather for worship this weekend on Saturday Christmas Eve at 3:00 and 5:00, and Sunday Christmas Day at 9:00AM. You can join us in-person in the Sanctuary, or via livestream on our Facebook page. Recordings of services may be also found on the St Mark Website.
PRAYERS- We are all invited to keep the following persons in our prayers:
Prayers for Healing:
Barb Movall, Irv Strand, Marlon Gasner, Royce Larsen, Marilyn Jones, Ken Russell, Don Northrup, Hildy Clewell, Julie Egland, Val Anderson, Jon Kruse, Donna Schulz, Steve Korner, Jane Evans, Evelyn Messenbrink, Alex Kron, Steve Berg, and all persons seeking healing and wholeness.
SCARF AND MITTEN TREE
Thank you to everyone who donated mittens, scarves, hats, gloves etc. Many items were received, and they will go to supply Upper Des Moines Opportunities as they help people stay warm this winter.
ADOPT A FAMILY
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Adopt A Family Christmas program. With your help more families’ will have a brighter Christmas this year.
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES- Methodist Manor- The residents of Methodist Manor are in need of persons to visit. Training will be available to prepare volunteers for the conversations. If you are interested, please contact Maxine Lampe 712-732-1058, or Pat Cowan 712-299-3120.
Worship Techs- we are in need of at least 2 more persons (families) to serve one Sunday a month as worship tech. New tech helpers may include families with junior high or high school aged kids, possibly a great way to involve them more with helping with church service. If you are interested, you are invited to sit back at the console on a Sunday morning and watch/help the persons working on that weekend. Contact Pastor Dave if you are interested.
VETS TOGETHER
Is an opportunity for veterans of the United States military branches. There is no agenda other than an opportunity for veterans of the United States military services to have a place to be with others who have had similar experiences and who are willing to receive and give encouragement to others. As veterans go through re-entry into civilian life they may experience, short and long term, challenges unique to veterans such as: PTSD; disabilities; reconnecting to family and friends; finding meaningful employment; and other struggles. Vets Together meet on Wednesday evenings, 6:00 PM in room 128. The gatherings are open to all community persons. Please share this opportunity with friends.
PROCLAIM RADIO MINISTRY
Proclaim is a radio ministry of St Mark and is broadcast every Sunday morning 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 in addition to your regular financial support of St Mark. 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 732-5255 if you have questions.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR OFFERINGS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT
We are grateful for your faithful financial gifts to St Mark as they provide the needed support for all of our ministries, outreach, operating expenses, and staff. We are hopeful that through all of our gifts we will finish our year strong. If you have a financial gift you would like to share today you may place it in the offering box found at the welcome center. You are welcome to drop off an offering at the Church office or send it in the mail. You can also go to the St Mark Give Page where there are links and instructions for sharing your gifts:
· Give via EFT, banking cards, and credit cards. Make a one time,
or set up ongoing gifts.
· Text your gift to 833-643-0608.
· You can also give during the service electronically through
the new Vanco Mobile Giving App available at Apple App
Store on Google Play Store.
· And a new way to give is through Amazon Smile each time you
purchase something online.
FRIENDS WITH FOOD
Thank you to the volunteers who helped with filling bags and delivering food in December. Friends with Foodis a partnership of St Mark Lutheran Church, SALUD, and other community persons who work together to offer a monthly food distribution to those who are permanently or temporarily homebound and without easy access to transportation. The next distribution will be January 19th. If you would like to help, and if you know of someone who could use some food, please contact Jane Hartwell 712-732-5255, Di Daniels 712-299-9863 or Julie Cook- Western Iowa Synod Office 732-4968.
UPPER DES MOINES FOOD SHELF NEEDS OUR HELP
The Upper Des Moines Opportunities Food Shelf staff has stated that any food is welcomed at the pantry. The following items are very low and needed at this time: cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter, canned fruit & vegetables, beans and rice, spaghetti sauce and pasta. Other items needed: laundry soap, dish soap, shampoo, body soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, paper towels. 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.
LIFE SERVE BLOOD DRIVE
The next Blood Drive date is January 3, 2023 at St. Mark from 12:30-5:30. You can register online or text LIFESERVE to 999-777 to make an appointment to Give Blood. If you would like to know any other info about donating blood and Life Serve Blood Center, just click on this link, or contact Jane Hartwell in the Church Office.
2023- ANNUAL MEETING OF ST MARK LUTHERAN CHURCH
The Annual Meeting of St Mark Lutheran Church will take place on January 29, 2023, immediately following the 9:00 worship service (Time @1010). In addition to the election of officers, and reports of the Congregation, the Congregation Council has recommended changes to the Constitution of St Mark that will be voted upon at that service. We will have Congregation Conversations on Sundays January 15 and 22 @10:10 in the Fellowship Hall.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OUR PARTNER SYNOD GIRLS SCHOOL AND HAVE BRUNCH TOO.
The Western Iowa Synod has a relationship with the Igumbilo Lutheran Girls School in the Southern Diocese of Tanzania. The synod's relationship with the girls' school dates back to 2005 when the Western Iowa Synod helped found the school. They are currently in the process of creating a computer lab at the school. Individual congregations are being asked to purchase computers (approximate cost $225), hoping to supply at least 50 computers for the lab. Computers are needed so students and staff can access resources that are only available electronically.
A brunch will be served following the church service on Sunday, January 8th with the free will offering to go to help purchase at least one computer for the school. Thrivent will be providing some seed money for this event. Please join us after church for a meal and a chance to make a difference in these girls' lives.
YEAR END GIFTS
Did you know that in the course of your year-end tax planning, that you may find yourself considering special one-time donations. There is a growing trend among donors to make online contributions to their favorite organizations during the final week of the year. As you contemplate year-end financial gifts of cash, stock, and other contributions, please keep St Mark in mind. We welcome your gifts.
THIS WEEK AT ST MARK
Saturday, December 24- Christmas Eve
3:00PM- Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
5:00PM- Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Sunday, December 25. CHRISTMAS DAY
7:30AM - Proclaim Radio broadcast on FM101.7
9:00AM- Worship Service- in-person and streamed
live on Facebook
Wednesday, December 28
8:00AM-6:00PM New Opportunities (Women, Infants &
Children) (Library, Fellowship Hall, Room 122,
Room 123. Meeting Room 107)
6:00PM- Vets Together (Room 128)
Thursday, December 29
12:00PM- AA-(Fellowship Hall)
Saturday, December 31
3:ooPM Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
5:00PM Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Sunday, January 1 HAPPY NEW YEAR
7:30AM - Proclaim Radio broadcast on FM101.7
9:00AM- Worship Service- in-person and streamed
live on Facebook
10:00AM- Fellowship Time
