St Mark eNEWS January 6, 2023 photo from St Peter's Church Ightham England
A NOTE FROM PASTOR DAVE
"As he (Jesus) walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen." -Matthew 4:18
Friends,
I hope you have gotten dug out from our most recent snow. The snow plows just arrived and are clearing the walks and church parking lot.
This weekend we will be reading from Matthew 4:12-23. The image of Jesus calling his first disciples (Andrew and Simon/Peter) from their boats has been the inspiration for much church art such as stained glass windows, sculptures, and paintings. If you are ever get a chance to read the meaning and stories behind church art, I invite you to take a few moments to just ponder what the artist is trying to bring across in their creation. I find that art helps me to see things in the scriptures that I may gloss over by only reading the text. Perhaps it can do the same for you.
I hope you will join us this weekend for worship on Sunday at 9:00. Here is a link to the service outline and announcements for this weekend. On this link you will find all of the readings for this weekend, and discover more of how you can become more active in the life of St Mark
Peace to you,
Pastor Dave
LIFE TOGETHER AT ST MARK You can find us at:
1614 West Fifth 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 each Sunday morning at 9:00. 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:
Carol Snyder (sister of Norma Juhl), Ondrej Jensen (Norma Juhl’s great grandson), Tony Bodholdt, Clara Samuelsen, Marlon Gasner, Marilyn Jones, Ken Russell, 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.
Prayers for Comfort: For Susan Thompson and family as they grieve the death of Bob Thompson
NEW IGUMBILO GIRLS SCHOOL UPDATE We have now raised $1135, to be used to purchase computers for the students at Igumbilo Girls School in the Southern Diocese of Tanzania. St Mark and the Western Iowa Synod’s relationship with the girls' school dates back to 2005 when the Western Iowa Synod helped found the school. Computers are needed so students and staff can access resources that are only available electronically. Thank you for your generosity, together we are changing lives.
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.
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 wa tch/help the persons working on that weekend. Contact Pastor Dave if you are interested.
BOOK DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE IN FEBRUARY- The book for February will be “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah. It is about Trevor Noah's childhood and adolescence in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa. A child of mixed heritage, Noah details the challenges he faced and the peculiarities that existed when he was growing up. The meeting date for discussion is TBD.
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.
2022 GIVING STATEMENTS- are ready to be picked up at the Welcome Center on Sunday morning, and in the church office.
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 through the end of February is through Amazon Smile . Each time you purchase something online a portion of your purchase will be sent to St Mark.
WHERE ARE MY OFFERING ENVELOPES? Some of you may be aware of delays in the offering envelope mailings over the past couple months. Due to supply chain and the inability to add employees at the rate necessary has created a slow draw on production and shipping. Recently, both of those issues have been resolved. However the “catchup” would jeopardize long term delivery. In order to get back to expected levels of timely deliveries, we are forced to suspend the production of the remaining supply of your January envelopes. The offering envelopes will resume and be delivered by the first Sunday in March. Quarterly supply will restart in April. We appreciate your understanding. The Church – Budget Envelope and Mailing Company Management Team
FRIENDS WITH FOOD RESCHEDULED
Due to weather, our shipment of food from the Food Bank of Iowa was not delivered on Thursday. We have rescheduled to package and deliver food on January 30 with times to TBA. 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. Friends with Food is 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.
LIFE SERVE BLOOD DRIVE
The next date is February 7, 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.
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. Meat is very much needed (lunch meat, hot dogs, ground beef, ground pork, chicken. Freezers are available at Upper Des Moines if you drop off there, address below). 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.
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 @10:10). 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. Copies of the documents are available in the office and at the Welcome Center.
UPDATE- MORE COINS HAVE ARRIVED
Together, we filled the Global Barnyard coin boxes with $806.118. The Sunday School students have done their math, and these funds are enough to purchase an entire Family Farm for a family (A cow, a couple of goats, a dozen chicks, two pigs, farming tools, seeds and agricultural training can create a world of opportunity for a family living in poverty. With eggs, milk and meat to eat and sell, and tools and training to increase the harvest, this gift can make all the difference.) And there is still enough to purchase honey bees and some more baby chicks.
THIS WEEK AT ST MARK
Sunday, January 22
7:30AM - Proclaim Radio broadcast on FM101.7
9:00AM- Worship Service- in-person and streamed live
on Facebook
10:00AM- Fellowship Coffee time (Fellowship Hall)
10:00AM-10:45AM Sunday School (Sanctuary)
0:10AM Congregation Conversations (Fellowship Hall)
Monday, January 23
8:00AM-6:00PM New Opportunities (Women, Infants &
Children) (Library, Fellowship Hall, Room 122,
Room 123. Meeting Room 107)
5:00PM Family Access (Room 128)
Tuesday, January 24
8:00AM-6:00PM New Opportunities (Women, Infants &
Children) (Library, Fellowship Hall, Room 122,
Room 123. Meeting Room 107)
Wednesday, January 25
6:00-6:45PM Confirmation Class
6:00PM- Vets Together (Room 128)
Thursday, January 26
12:00PM- AA-(Fellowship Hall)
Saturday, January 28
10:00AM-1:00 Western Iowa Synod (SAMS) Gathering
Sunday, January 29
7:30AM - Proclaim Radio broadcast on FM101.7
9:00AM- Worship Service- in-person and streamed live
on Facebook
10:00AM- Fellowship Coffee time (Fellowship Hall)
10:00-10:45AM Sunday School (Sanctuary)
10:00AM Annual Meeting
