St Mark eNEWS January 27, 2023 photo from National Franciscan Order USA
A NOTE FROM PASTOR DAVE
"What does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?" -Micah 6:8
Greetings everyone!
This Sunday we are gathering for our Annual Meeting in the sanctuary immediately following worship. Congregation Council members have done a very good job of putting together a "recap" of 2022 in their reports. You can clearly see from what they have written that we had a very good 2022, and we are looking forward to an even better 2023. Financially, 2022 was a very good year for us, especially considering where we have been as a nation since March of 2020.
In addition to the reports, election, and budget discussion (that go impressively well here at St Mark compared to other churches I have been a part of) there is another good reason to attend the Annual Meeting, being present and engaged makes a difference.
An Annual Meeting is the one time that we can come together as a congregation to celebrate the good things that have happened, and what is yet to come. I have certainly been to many annual meetings where the budget was center stage. At St Mark we have kept the mission of this congregation at the center of why we gather. I hope you will come for worship on Sunday and stay for the meeting. Deb Mortensen (President) will lead us on Sunday.
Speaking of mission, I'm not sure we can can have two better texts to gather around on the Sunday of an Annual Meeting than Micah 6 and Matthew 5:1-12 (the Beatitudes) They are two of my favorites, but more than that, these two selections point clearly to the mission of what we are to be about as the Church.
Friends with Food
Our schedule in January had to be changed for packing and delivering food because of the snow storm that halted everything on our last scheduled date. If you can come over and help out on Monday (January 30), it will be greatly appreciated. Packing will be inside.
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
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.
We pray for those who grieve
For Kandi Anderson and family as they grieve the death of her mother Eleanor Schemmel.
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.
SIT,KNIT, AND CROCHET, ETC
Bring your favorite craft to the church library February 2 at 1:00PM. Enjoy great conversation while working on your project. If you have no project, just come and enjoy the company.
NEW IGUMBILO GIRLS SCHOOL UPDATE
St. Mark is sending $1135 to the Igumbilo Girls School in the Southern Diocese of Tanzania. These funds will be used to purchase 4+ laptop computers for the students. 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.
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 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.
PFLAG SUPPORT GROUP
On Wednesday, Feb. 8th, the future PFLAG Chapter of Storm Lake will meet at Our Place (114 E. 3rd St.) from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. PFLAG is dedicated to supporting, educating, and creating a safer world for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.
WATERLIFE JOURNAL
Would you like to know more about the Western Iowa Synod of the ELCA and what is happening in western Iowa? Are you wondering about ways you could get involved? Check out the January edition by clicking on this link. If you would like to receive a copy in your email each month, simply click on this link and a copy will be sent to you.
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
WHERE ARE MY OFFERING ENVELOPES?
From The Church Envelope Company- “Some of you may be aware of delays in the offering envelope mailings over the past couple months. Supply chain issues and labor shortage and employees at the rate necessary has created a slow draw on production and shipping. The offering envelopes will resume and be delivered by the first Sunday in March. Quarterly supply will restart in April. We appreciate your understanding – Budget Envelope and Mailing Company Management Team. In the meantime, there are some offering envelopes available at the Welcome Center and in the Church Office. You may take what you need. Make sure to put either your envelope number or name on the envelopes.
2022 GIVING STATEMENTS
Are ready to be picked up at the Welcome Center on Sunday morning, and in the church office.
FRIENDS WITH FOOD RESCHEDULED TO MONDAY
Due to weather, our shipment of food from the Food Bank of Iowa was not delivered on Thursday due to weather. We have rescheduled to package and deliver food this Monday, 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.
ANNUAL MEETING OF ST MARK LUTHERAN CHURCH
This Sunday January 29 immediately following the 9:00 worship service in the Sanctuary. 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. Copies of the Annual Report are at the Welcome Center.
UPDATE- MORE COINS HAVE ARRIVED
$806.18 has been collected for God Global Barnyard. 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 was also enough to purchase honey bees, more baby chicks, water filter, and 3 fruit trees.
THIS WEEK AT ST MARK
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)
10:00AM- Sunday School (Sanctuary)
10:00AM- Annual Meeting
Monday, January 30
Morning- Friends with Food (truck arrival time TBA)
5:00PM- Family Access (Room 128)
Tuesday, January 31
5:30PM- Endowment Committee Meeting (Conference Room)
Wednesday, February 1
8:00AM-6:00PM New Opportunities (Women, Infants & Children)
(Fellowship Hall, Rooms 120, 1222, 123, 124, 125)
6:00PM- Confirmation Class
6:00PM- Vets Together (Room 128)
7:00 PM- Suicide Support Group (Room 128)
Thursday, February 2
8:00AM-6:00PM New Opportunities (Women, Infants & Children)
(Fellowship Hall, Rooms 120, 1222, 123, 124, 125)
12:00PM- AA-(Fellowship Hall)
1:00PM- Sit, Knit,Crochet, Etc. (Library)
Saturday, February 4
9:00AM-3:00PM- Quilt Sewciety (Fellowship Hall)
Sunday, February 5
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- Sunday School (Sanctuary)
