SO MANY NEW THINGS COMING THIS FALL!

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1 Spokane, WA September 2016 Vol. 2016, No. 7 MESSAGE FROM PASTOR KATE PASTORS, PARISHIONERS, AND PARTNERSHIP Promises: The ministries of a congregation are built on promises: promises made by God, promises made by pastors, and promises made by parishioners. ( Parishioner is an older word used for member of a congregation, I like the alliteration.) Pastors and parishioners are linked in partnership by promises. When a person is being ordained into the ministry of Word and Sacrament, i.e. becoming a pastor, there are promises made by that person and by the people attending the service. It was a good review, recently, to be at the ordination service of Robin Luckey, as we at St. Mark s begin the process for calling another pastor. Robin was one of our members who graduated from Wartburg Seminary and has received a call in the Montana Synod. The pastor first promises to believe that the church s call is God s call. The next promise is that the pastor will preach and teach in accordance with the holy scriptures, the three creeds, and the Lutheran confessional documents. Then the pastor promises to be diligent in the study of scripture and faithful in using the means of grace (the sacraments.) Finally, there is the promise to give faithful witness in the world to God s love. The assembled people (on behalf of the whole church) are asked to promise that they will receive the pastor as a messenger and servant of Jesus Christ, sent by God. They promise to pray for, help, and honor the pastor and live together in the peace and unity of Christ. The stole (colored cloth yoke around the neck that pastors wear over the robe) is a sign of living in obedience to the Lord, serving God s people and remembering Jesus promises from Matthew 11, in taking on Christ s yoke. Throughout the rite of ordination, God s promises continued page 2 SO MANY NEW THINGS COMING THIS FALL! Here s ONE: Sunday, September 11: An ELCA-wide day of service to put our faith in action. Congregations across the nation will be working in their communities to share God s love with their neighbors. Lunch, T-shirts. More information page 4. Here s ANOTHER: A program specifically for families with children of all ages, meeting Sunday mornings. More information page 6. And there s MORE: Costa Rica service trip, April 2017: page 6. Special congregational meeting to form a call committee, Sunday, September 25: page 2. New Cancer Spirituality Group: page 6. New group for parents of young adults: page 6.

2 PASTOR KATE, continued from page 1 and commands are read from different parts of the New Testament. We are reminded of the command to forgive sins, to baptize, to teach, and to share the Lord s Supper. Other charges are made to the new pastor to feed the church, tend the flock of God, and be a trustworthy steward of God s mysteries. Call Process: As we begin looking for a third pastor to serve at St. Mark s, we are depending on God s promise for the Holy Spirit to guide us. Over the summer, Pastor Eric and I wrote a ministry description. The church council has asked some people to serve on a call committee and the congregation will vote to affirm them at a brief congregational meeting on September 25 after second service. The call committee and pastors will meet with Bishop Wells to work through the process that will include receiving some names and files of possible candidates. Interviews will be scheduled with those who seem like a good fit. The process sounds pretty simple but it actually can take quite a bit of time for all the pieces to come together and to find the right person. The council and pastors feel strongly that it is important not to rush but to try and select a pastor who will partner really well with the present team and with the ministry at St. Mark s. When that finally happens, the congregation will have a chance to meet the pastor and vote on the call. Promises: When the new pastor has accepted the call of this congregation, there will be an installation service. The same promises as those mentioned above from the ordination service will be made by the pastor and by the congregation. The promises and commands of God will once more be remembered. Then, together in partnership, we will continue the grace-filled history of ministry through Christ s church, at St. Mark s. Blessings, Pastor Kate Note This! SUNDAY SERVICE TIME CHANGE Beginning Sunday, September 4, Sunday services will change to our fall/winter worship schedule times of 8:30 & 10:45 am. CHURCH OFFICE CLOSURE The St. Mark s church office will be closed on Monday, September 5, in observance of Labor Day. CHURCH COUNCIL St. Mark s Church Council will meet on September 12, at 7:00 pm in the conference room. SOCIAL MINISTRY Join this very active social ministry group when they meet monthly at the church. Please watch your bulletins for meeting dates and times. If you have questions please chat with one of the pastors. CHANCEL CHOIR St. Mark s Chancel Choir rehearsals begin on Thursday, September 15, at 7:15 pm in the music room. If you are interested in singing in the choir we d love to have you. If you have questions please contact director Debbie Hansen at SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING St. Mark s Church Council has called a special congregational meeting for Sunday, September 25, after second service. The purpose of this meeting is to appoint a call committee to hire a third pastor for St. Mark s. Please plan to attend this special meeting. THIRD GRADE BIBLES Third grade students will receive their Spark Bibles at the 8:30 am service on Sunday, September 25. Please call the church office if your third grader will be attending the service so that we can have their Bible ready for them. 2

3 MONEY MATTERS 2016 Operating Budget Year to Date Fund July Giving Income Expenses Budgeted Net - YTD General $ 53, $ 397, $ 405, $ 431, $ -7, Mortgage $ 8, $ 50, $ 41, $ 40, $ 9, Welcome back to our Messenger. I hope everyone s summer has been filled with family, friends, and fun. We are in a stronger position going into fall than we have been in several years. We still have August coming up, a time of higher than usual expenses (getting supplies for fall programs such as Sunday School) and lower than usual attendance, which often results in less giving. Thank you to all who helped keep us on track. We especially appreciate those who give through the Simply Giving program, which keeps contributions level throughout the year. Loris Stupel Financial Secretary finance@stmarks-spokane.org ANNOUNCEMENTS Baptized June 12, 2016: Liam Asher Kidd, son of Brendan and Crystal Kidd June 18, 2016: William Roy Egly, son of James and April Egly, grandson of Nancy Collins Death Ann Brewer Lenora Nelson Pauline Adamson Carol Oeljen Paul Schurman Sympathy The family of Ann Brewer at the time of her death The family of Pauline Adamson, at the time of her death The family of Carol Oeljen, at the time of her death The family of Lenora Nelson, mother of Bruce Nelson, at the time of her death The family of Craig Pickard, brother-in-law of Todd and Brett Hagen, at the time of his death The family of Roger Hams, brother of Sharon Olson, at the time of his death The family of Laura Armstrong, grandmother of Carl Andrews, at the time of her death The family of Paul Schurman at the time of his death The family of Fern Elan, grandmother of Kevin Benson, at the time of her death SERVICE TIME CHANGE Beginning Sunday, September 4, Sunday services will change to our fall/winter worship schedule times of 8:30 & 10:45 am. 3

4 theme in the weeks to come. September 11 is not just Rally Day at St. Mark s! September 11 is also deemed Gods Work. Our Hands. day by the ELCA. Congregations across the nation will be working within their communities to share God s love with their neighbors. Please set aside Sunday afternoon to participate in this dedicated day of service. Lunch will be served after second service before our activity begins. Service activities offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God s grace. ST. MARK S WORKS! is our theme for this fall. The afternoon of service on September 11 (see above) will continue with other events in the following months. SUNDAY ADULT FORUMS St. Mark s Works! We kick off this theme recognizing that it starts with worship. Please check out the photo display that Martin Waedlich has put together in the narthex. Our identity at St. Mark s is rooted in liturgical worship. Our hope is that everything in our worship will point us to Christ and the relationship we have with him and one another. Our wonderful music, variety of liturgical experiences and many faithful voices of the congregation are part of what makes St. Mark s Work. Adult Forum in the fall will carry our theme St. Mark s Works! On September 18 Pastor Kate and Pastor Eric will begin helping us explore what makes St. Mark s work and how St. Mark s might work in the future. It all begins at worship. Here are some of the ways we will explore this September 18: Our Faith Makes a Difference (setting the theme), Pr. Kate and Pr. Eric September 25: St. Mark s Works in Community, Social Ministry Committee October 2: No Forum, Blessing of the Animals Sunday October 9: St. Mark s Works in Mozambique, Dr. Paul Myers October 16: TBA October 23: TBA October 30: No Forum, Reformation/Confirmation Sunday November 6: St. Mark s Works in Community: Goals of Care Near the End of Life, Dr. Bob Bray November 13: St. Mark s Works to the End: The Church on Death and Dying, Pr. Kate and Pr. Eric November 20: St. Mark s Works for Families: Documents and Discussions to Communicate One s Wishes Around Death, Dr. Bob Bray November 27: No Forum, Thanksgiving weekend. Spend time together at coffee. December 4: TBA COLLEGE STUDENT ADDRESSES Do you have a college student away from home, or leaving soon? We d like to stay in touch with your child (it s always nice getting something in the mailbox at school!), but we ll need an address from you! Please contact the church office at or office@stmarks-spokane.org with the new address, or address change for previous students. 4

5 Learning for All Ages WWL (Walking With the Light) and CONFIRMATION CLASSES WWL/Confirmation (5th 10th grade) classes begin on Wednesday, September 7, at 6:00 pm. Please see the Youth Pages for more information. CONFIRMATION ENROLLMENT Eighth Grade Confirmation students will be enrolled in confirmation at the 10:45 am service on Sunday, September 18. Please have your 8 th grader to the church by 10:30 am for instructions. LutherArts 2016 HOLY MOSES!!! Calling all 1st through 4th graders! LutherArts is a jam-packed night of music, drama, art, games, learning and laughing all centered on ideas of our Christian faith. This fall, join us for HOLY MOSES! Eight weeks of getting inside the dramatic, crazy and exciting story of the life of Moses. Create a giant pillar of fire sculpture! Make music and sound effects while you watch the Red Sea roll back so the Israelites can make their narrow escape! Act out the total icky-ness of the plague of frogs! You will not want to miss this! Here are the details: WHEN: LutherArts HOLY MOSES! will meet 6:00 pm-8:00 pm each Wednesday night from September 7 through October 26. We will share a meal together and then launch into the fun. WHO: LutherArts is open to all first through fourth graders. Invite your friends! COST: To help defray the cost of food and supplies, LutherArts costs $30.00 per kid for the 8-week session with a family cap of $ For more information or to sign up, contact the church office or Ann Benson at or annmbbenson@gmail.com. SUNDAY SCHOOL Sunday School will begin on September 11, at 9:45 am with Rally Day in the fellowship hall. Students will get a chance to register for Sunday School, meet their teachers and play some super fun games! Sunday School is available for kids three years old to eighth grade. Regular Sunday School classes will begin on September 18, at 9:45 am. Sunday School Teacher Installation will be at the 8:30 service on September 18. We are so thankful for these teachers who are sharing their time and talents with our children. For Sunday School questions please contact Katie Kadlec, Sunday School Director, at (360) RALLY SUNDAY ISN T JUST FOR KIDS! Rally Sunday, September 11, marks the start of the Sunday School year. It is also a time all churchgoers of any age can learn about volunteer opportunities within the congregation. We would love to have your talents; whether you enjoy singing, helping with communion, working on the bazaar or a myriad of other positions, surely there is a good fit for you. We will have tables in the narthex with signup sheets and representatives from a variety of groups at the church. Start thinking now about ways you can be a part of what goes on at St. Mark s. It s a great way to connect and meet people. BLESS YOUR BACKPACK AT CHURCH! Calling all students! Bring your backpack to be blessed at either service on Sunday, September 11. This is a great way to start the new school year and help our kids remember that God is always with them. ALLELUIA CHOIR - BACK AGAIN! JOIN US! All 1st through 6th graders are invited to join Alleluia Choir, a fantastic opportunity for kids to refine singing skills, learn more about church music, and deepen friendships at church. We meet in the choir room each Sunday during the 8:30 am service. We ll start on September 11. Attend the early service and come back to the choir room right before the reading of the Gospel lesson (about 8:45 am.) For more information, contact Ann Benson at or annmbbenson@gmail.com. 5

6 NEW CANCER SPIRITUALITY GROUP FORMS IN SEPTEMBER This new group will reach out to those who have cancer, are in remission, or are affiliated with someone who has, or has had, cancer. The group will meet on the third Sunday of each month after the late service in the parish house. A light lunch will be available. The first meeting will be held on Sunday, September 18, after the second service. You will receive the book Everyday Strength which contains a Bible passage and an explanation on how to make these passages work for you. There will be a pastor, chaplain, or counselor present to discuss these Bible verses, have interesting insights on them, and be a support. We look forward to your coming to these gatherings, and feel they will be helpful to everyone. Please contact the church office at if you have questions. Coming to St. Mark s this Fall! Looking for a way to connect with other parents at St. Mark s? Starting on September 18, Family Forum will be offered in the fellowship hall at 9:45 am, running concurrently with Adult Forum for eight weeks in the fall and 8 weeks in the winter. Family Forum will offer topics and programs specifically for families with children of all ages. Our first topic will be a program called FAITH5. FAITH5 (Faith Acts In The Home) is a simple, easy-to-implement faith practice, perfect for incorporating into your bedtime routine for five to fifteen minutes a night. When done over time, FAITH5 carries the power to enrich communication, deepen understanding, aid sleep, and promote mental, physical and spiritual health. Come learn more about FAITH5, enjoy fellowship with other parents, and sip your coffee at church while your kids are in Sunday School or in the nursery! Commit again to Sunday mornings at St. Mark s! Questions? Contact Susan Hagen, Director of Youth & Family Ministries, at or youth@stmarks-spokane.org. CAN YOU SUGGEST A NAME FOR THIS NEW GROUP FOR PARENTS OF YOUNG ADULTS? Post-secondary Parenting (still working on a name for this group ) is for parents who have young adults recently out of high school. This will be a social group to explore questions such as, How to - or can we - parent our young adults? How do we connect with our spouses and friends when our children leave? How do we move gracefully into the next chapter of life when we hit the empty nest stage? If you are interested, please contact Pastor Eric at Also, let him know if you have any great name ideas. Our first meeting will be Friday, October 2, 4:00 pm. Place to be determined. COSTA RICA TRIP PLANNING BEGINS Join a group of 30 adults and high school youth on a spring mission trip to San Jose, Costa Rica. Travel dates are April 1 April 8, Spend a week learning and serving in communities within the province of San Jose where residents live in extreme poverty. Our work will be focused primarily with at-risk children. Cost for airfare, lodging, food, local transportation, and some of our sightseeing activities is $1400 (youth) and $1600 (adults). Come learn more about this trip at an informational meeting on Sunday, September 18, after second service in the conference room. A $400 deposit to hold a spot on this trip is due by September 25. Please contact Susan Hagen with questions. Susan can be reached at or by at youth@stmarksspokane.org. 6

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9 Social Ministry Opportunities to Serve Submitted by Patti Berg ST. ANN S SUNDAY LUNCH Sunday, September 25 th is St. Mark s next opportunity to cook and serve the Neighborhood Sunday Lunch at St. A n n s C a t h o l i c Church. St. Ann s is located at 2120 E. 1 st which is the SW corner of 1 st and Lee. The fellowship hall is behind the church. Volunteers are needed between 12:00 noon and 12:30 pm. Please call Kathy Hammonds at for more information. BITE 2 GO Thank you, St. Mark s, for being so generous for this great cause. The Bite2Go program offers a kit of food for children on the reduced lunch program at schools to take home on the weekend. Last year St. Mark s supported 53 children at Franklin Elementary, and would like to try to do at least that many again this year. If feeding hungry children is a passion of yours, this is your opportunity to help. You can support a child for a school year by paying $144 made payable to St. Mark s, and we will get the money to 2nd Harvest food bank, which prepares the food. Thank you. N E W M E M B E R S / I N Q U I R E R S CLASSES BEGIN IN OCTOBER New Members and Inquirers dinners and classes begin on Sunday, October 23, at 5:00 pm and continue for two additional weeks. Each week we will have dinner together with at least one of our pastors, staff members and a few church members, followed by informational classes about the Lutheran faith and what we do at St. Mark's. We encourage our members to share this information with anyone who might benefit. If you are considering becoming a member on Sunday, November 13 or have questions, please call or e m a i l L o r i s S t u p e l a t o r fundsoups@comcast.net. OCTOBERFEST WILL CELEBRATE GERMAN FOOD AND CULTURE Focusing on those with German roots, or those who enjoy German culture and singing German songs, we will celebrate with beer and brats on Sunday, October 16. Calling all amateur brewers! Would you like to share your brewing talents with other beer lovers? Please let Loris Stupel know at fundsoups@comcast.net or and we can chat. We have some new ideas for this event for this year. MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS There are many annual events taking place at St. Mark s. More details will follow, but for planning purposes note these dates: Blessing of the Animals, Sunday, October 2, at 10:45 am. Bring your pet to sit with you at church and receive a blessing. St. Mark s Bazaar and Bake Sale, Saturday, November 5, from 9:00 am 1:00 pm. We are looking for a chair or team of two to chair this event. Call Loris at to discuss ideas for chairing. Please start saving your nice, used items kitchen items and furniture especially. No clothes, please. Lefse Making for the Bazaar is Saturday, October 22, from 10:00 am 1:00 pm. Smorgasbord is Sunday, December 11. We have two seatings, one at 4:00 pm and one at 6:00 pm. 9

10 HOLDEN VILLAGE PREPARES FOR REOPENING By Patti Berg and Dick Thiel In May and June of this year, Dick and I participated with a group of people working at Holden Village while it is closed due to the mine remediation and the fires that threatened it last year. We were called Forerunners, after the original Forerunners who worked to convert Holden from a copper-mining town to a Lutheran retreat center in the early 1960 s. Our group of Forerunners came from far and wide; North Carolina, Tennessee, Minnesota, Indiana, Bainbridge Island, Bothell, Leavenworth, Wenatchee, Coeur d Alene and of course, Spokane. Some people worked on landscaping, others organized music, removed decades worth of spilled candle wax, laid pavers in the garbage shed, did electrical work, helped lay new pavers for the walkways, helped in the office, sanded the Arc and many other tasks at hand. Dick built Adirondack chairs with a young man from Tennessee, while Patti was always covered in paint. Patti helped paint the finishing touches on the new footbridge as well as paint the walls and ceiling in the bowling alley. That was fun, working with a team of good spirited people who loved playing the juke box and singing along to the oldies. Each morning started with wonderful food prepared by the company that the construction company (Rio Tinto) brought in, along with a listing of the schedule for the day. There were different speakers and workshops and lots of people participating in the choir. Holden staff put on an amazing concert our last night. It was a wonderful time of meeting new friends and reconnecting with friends from our past. If you have never been to Holden Village, it should be a must on your bucket list. Viewing the mine remediation project alone is worth the trip (approaching half a billion dollars!). It is the hope of the construction company to be out of the Village by the end of November so Holden can open to the public by December 1. Watch for an announcement of re-opening and get signed up to go as soon as possible. God watched over Holden Village during the 2015 Wolverine Fire! 10

11 SAVANNAH PHELAN TO SERVE IN CAMBODIA My name is Savannah Phelan. I ve been a member of St. Mark's since 2008 when my family moved to Cheney from Montana. I've spent the last five years attending Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, and most recently in Denver. Although I have attended many wonderful churches over the years, St. Mark s has held a special place in my heart and for that reason I wanted to share with this congregation an exciting opportunity that I am beginning. In March I was accepted into a ELCA program called Young Adults in Global Mission. I will be one of more than 85 young adults serving on behalf of the ELCA in 11 different countries around the world. I will serve in the village of Sameakki Mean Chey, Cambodia, teaching English for grades 4-6 and working with a Cambodian organization called Life with Dignity, which works with rural communities to reclaim their rights and engage in sustainable land management. I am so incredibly honored and excited to take part in this year-long opportunity, to grow in my faith and to work hand in hand with our global companions. During my year of service I will be keeping a blog ( and sending out newsletters to everyone back home, including St. Mark s. While this is a personal journey for me, my support system at home will be with me every step of the way and so I really look forward to sharing my experiences with you all throughout the year. I enjoyed being at St. Mark s at the services on August 13 and 14 to share a little bit about my adventure in mission for our church. Thank you for the financial gifts many of you contributed for my work and thank you to the congregation of St. Mark s, as a whole, for the generous additional gift of support. Altogether it added up to $ ! Donations can still be made on my fundraising page at All donations go to expanding the program at large. Thanks so much! For more information about this ELCA program: Church/Global-Mission/Young-Adults-in-Global- Mission. THANK YOU A big thank you to St. Mark s youth! What a wonderful youth group you have! I can't thank you enough for bringing them to the Oak Harbor Thrift store to help us with Christmas pricing. Please let them know that they are so very much appreciated by all of the people and pets at WAIF (Whidbey Animals Improvement Foundation)! Everyone is stunned that they were able to "do" so many bins. Here is a link to our Facebook page with photos of the volunteers: waifretail Thank you again, Mary Anna To My St. Mark's Family, Thank you for all your prayers before, during and after my daughter's heart transplant. Her recovery continues to have minimal complications. We are so grateful. Bernie Rodseth Prayer Shawl Ministry, May I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who sent cards, visited, and phoned during my recovery. I was overwhelmed with gratitude. I so appreciate our pastors, Mary Cares, and my entire St. Mark s community. Thank you also for the lovely prayer shawl that is so comforting and cozy. I surrounded myself with it during my days of recovery. Thank you all for your prayers. Sue Luppert Dear St. Mark s, I want to share a thank you for all your prayers and support during my recent illness. A special thank you for the ladies of Mary Cares and all the thoughtful cards. They uplifted my spirits. And I love my prayer shawl. I know that it was a comfort to me during the difficult times. In Christ s Name, Diana Davenport 11

12 THANK YOU Hi Friends, SPEAR (Spokane s East Central neighborhood children s ministry) has two 2016 graduates, Ashly and Joseph. Because of your love and support, SPEAR gifted each of them $25. Ashly and Joseph wanted me to thank you. SPEAR sent 29 kids to camp this summer. The kiddos had a lot of fun at camp enjoying games and the camp adventures! Thank you for your love and support. You made this a summer full of memories. The hugs and joy they give me, I share with you. Sheryl SPEAR Director initially calling to see if anything was needed and to the Mary Cares members for the many cards of prayer and encouragement. The surgeries went well; hopefully this surgery will allow me many more years of functioning without the symptoms of Parkinson s being in control of each day. Again, my thanks. Mike Haberman Dear Mary Cares Friend, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the wonderful cards you all sent me after my neck surgery!! Preparing for surgery, I had no idea how miserable I would be after surgery. Your cards were perfect and helped me remember the wonderful people who were praying for me!! It truly meant the world and made a huge difference in my recovery. Thank you!! Adam Shipman Thank you Mary Cares for all your prayers and cards. St. Mark s has been so supporting! My progress is coming along and prayerfully I ll be finished with therapy sometime in October or so.thanks to Pastors Eric and Kate and friends for the visits and texts. May the peace of the Lord be with you all. Bob Graham, Yvette and family I would like to express my thanks for the prayers and concerns expressed for me and my family during my recent surgeries for Parkinson s. Although I had lots of family support, it was comforting to feel the strength of the support that was so willingly offered by the St. Mark s community. A special thanks to Pastor Kate for Dear People of St. Mark s, Through these years of discernment, study, chaplaincy, internship, and living in community, I ve been amazed by God s love for me and for my family. It s been a humbling journey, all of it gift. Grace upon grace, upon grace, upon grace Jesus shows up in my life through the hands and words of many people. I am particularly grateful for you, people of St. Mark s Lutheran Church. Thank you for being our home congregation, for sending us out to Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa four years ago with your love and generous financial support, and for welcoming us back for my ordination July 30. Everything about the service was just beautiful: Pastor Kate s powerful sermon, Carol Miyamoto s playing, and most of all, the presence of so many of you. I was struck by the loving attention to every detail. Thank you, Jane Somers, for putting together the worship folder. Thank you, Loris Stupel, and to everyone who helped with the reception. The continued page 13 12

13 ROBIN LUCKEY continued from page 12 day will surely serve as food for the journey ahead as I step into this vocation. Most of all, thank you for gently inviting us into the Lutheran Church. Here we found an open table, a priesthood of believers, and a wonderful cast of characters! Your love for Jesus, your collective wisdom and humor, and your heart for service is contagious. I was blessed to have three pastors who have become mentors and friends. Thank you, Pastor Kate, Pastor Eric, and Pastor Finch, for your kindness and patience with me on this journey. Pastor Kate, thank you for accompanying me so lovingly every step of the way. I am proud to be a daughter of St. Mark s Lutheran Church. I m thrilled to have been called by the people of Bethany Lutheran Church, in Dutton, MT, to serve as their pastor. We are living in Great Falls, where Michael is working for Benefis Heathcare, and where Jackson will attend Great Falls High School. Dutton is 35 miles north of Great Falls, just off Interstate 15. If you re in the area on a Sunday morning, be sure to stop by! Service at Bethany is at 10 am. We d love to see your faces on this side of the Rockies. With gratitude, in Christ, Pastor Robin Luckey Faith and Fellowship Groups EAT, PRAY, LAUGH (First Tuesday,) September 13, 7:00 pm Eat, Pray, Laugh will meet in the Parish House. All women are invited for conversation, laughter, and refreshments. Note: Change of date for September only. RUTH CIRCLE Second Thursday, September 8, 10:00 am This gathering is our longest-running small group. All women are welcome to join us at the church for refreshments, very brief project discussion, and Bible study led by Pastor Kate or Pastor Eric. SERVICE TIME CHANGE to the winter schedule, beginning Sunday, September 4: 8:30 & 10:45 am. WALKING CIRCLE Second Friday, September 9, 10:00 am Questions: Nancy Childre, This group will meet at the home of Nancy Childre for poolside mimosas and brunch. Bring a small salad or dessert. Nancy will provide the entrée. SCRIPTURE & COFFEE Tuesdays, September 13, 20, 27 10:30 am Questions: church office, Bible-based conversation with Pastor Eric or Pastor Kate to study the Scripture texts. There will be no meeting on Tuesday, September 6. SUNRISE SAINTS & SINNERS Second & Fourth Wednesday, Sept. 14 & 28, 6:30 am Questions: Roger Chase, This men s group meets at The Chalet Restaurant on 30th and Grand Blvd. In this group you'll have lots of laughs, crazy discussions about everything and breakfast. All men are welcomed, saints or sinners! MOVIE DAY Second Wednesday, September 14 Questions: Patti Berg or Dick Thiel, Enjoy an afternoon of fun, fellowship and film with popcorn and snacks while watching Julie and Julia. Call the church office if you would like a ride. CANCER SPIRITUALITY GROUP Third Sunday, September 18, 12:00 pm This new group will reach out to those who have cancer, have had cancer, are in remission, or are affiliated with someone who has, or has had, cancer. The group will meet on the third Sunday of each month after the late service in the parish house. A light lunch will be available. Please watch for more information in your newsletter. GROUPS continued page 14 13

14 GROUPS continued from page 13 THEOLOGY ON TAP Third Monday, September 19, 7:00 pm Hey! Did you know one of our pastors will lead a discussion and buy a few appetizers to share? If you are 30 years or younger you are welcome to join this group at Two Seven Public House in Lincoln Heights. DIAKONIA GUILD Fourth Tuesday, September 27, 2:00 pm Questions: Ruth Schmidt, Diakonia is an auxiliary of Lutheran Community Services. The members meet monthly at various locations with a speaker from LCS. In September the meeting will be at Lutheran Community Services (210 W Sprague) for coffee/tea. Please contact Ruth Schmidt if you would like to be part of this important service. BOOK GROUP Last Wednesday, September 28, 7:00 am St. Mark s Book Group meets at Forza Coffee in Lincoln Heights. The book to be discussed in September is Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. All book lovers are welcome to join any discussion! ST. MARK S MEN S GROUP Second Tuesday, October 11, 7:30 pm This group will resume meetings in October and will meet each month with various speakers and topics, in the parish house. All men are welcome. Bring a beverage of your choice. PHOTO/ VIDEO RELEASE AVAILABLE St. Mark s Lutheran Church often uses photos/videos taken at events, classes, and worship in various publications and on our website, Facebook page, Twitter and Pinterest pages and TV monitors in the church. We appreciate your right to privacy, and if you prefer NOT to have photos/videos of yourself or your family used in this way, please contact the church office. Release forms are available during event sign-up times (WWL/Confirmation/Sunday School, Rally Day, etc.). HAVE AN ITEM FOR THE NEWSLETTER? We welcome your submissions of news and pictures, submitted to the church office by the 15th of each month. To make sure we can use them, please follow these guidelines: 1. Submit the text separately from the pictures or graphics. Do not format them together. 2. ATTACH the pictures/graphics as jpegs, or send them separately, labeled as to subject. 3. Make sure the pictures are as HIGH RESO- LUTION as possible; 300 ppi is great. Questions? Ask Martha Arneson (church office) or Hulda Bridgeman (newsletter editor). Thanks! 14