ST. MARK S MATTERS. November Nov. Events

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1 ST. MARK S MATTERS November 2018 Becoming the Beloved Community At a recent Executive Council meeting, conversation was focused on what we hoped to see for St. Mark s in the coming year. We asked, What will it look like when we are successful in following God s leading at this place and time? We named the importance of being a welcoming and inclusive congregation, and our deeply-rooted commitment to modeling justice and hospitality. We hear God calling us to teach unconditional love for every person. In the context of de-facto racial segregation in Christian churches, this call to model unconditional love means increasing our commitment to becoming a more racially-diverse congregation. We know that on a Sunday morning at St. Mark s, we don t reflect the great racial diversity of our neighborhood or our city. The great majority of people at St. Mark s are white people from Iowa, in a city that is 25% people of color and 14% people born in foreign countries ( Iowa-City-Iowa.html). For the sake of living as examples of God s grace and love, we want to do better. The key to pushing back against segregation in church and society is relationships. We cannot build community with people that we don t know. As white people move beyond the comfort of being with people who look just like us we learn more about our world, and even ourselves. As we get to know people of color and people from other countries we become better able to understand their hopes and challenges, and see how they are connected to our own hopes and challenges. As we deepen our relationships across racial difference we will become better able to recognize and confront the prejudice and privilege that weaken our communities. But where to start? It is challenging to move outside of established patterns, and we are often nervous about meeting new people, especially those who appear different from ourselves. Fortunately, we at St. Mark s have some promising partnerships to make those introductions easier. The Ebenezer worship service at St. Mark s meets at 2:00 every Sunday afternoon. Invite a friend to come with you, and plan to stay for the first hour or so of the service. You will hear worship in English and Swahili and meet kind and welcoming children and adults. Or, you can get involved with the Johnson County Interfaith Coalition through our St. Mark s Church and Society team. This new organization is built on a practice of 1-to-1 conversations to strengthen our community through powerful partnerships. JCIC has intentionally engaged white, African-American, and intentionally multiracial churches and organizations. As we engage with and learn from people of color in our neighborhood and community, we will learn to live and love more deeply, and we will grow to become more fully the church that God is calling us to be. Peace, Pastor Sean Nov. Events 3 UMM Program 6 Grayye Matters 14 UMW Program 20 Good Lunch Bunch Thanksgiving break. Church office closed Gifts for Parents Setup See inside for more details.

2 Flamingo Fundraiser The Youth Group has a new fundraiser! Flamingo Flocking has come to St. Mark's! The youth group will put a flock of flamingos in a yard of your choosing for 48 hours. Cost is $1 a flamingo. You must have a minimum of 15 flamingos to request a flocking with a maximum of 50 flamingos total. Do you want to insure that your house does NOT end up with 50 flamingos? You can buy flock insurance for $50. This covers one person wanting to flock your house. We will let you know if someone tries to flock your house. For more information, please us at flamingo@stmarks-umc.net A t presentations about the upcoming General Conference with the UMM, UMW, and Youth Group, I have heard great questions and important conversations. I want to be sure to invite every question and to hear from people who haven t been at these presentations. You will find a Thoughts and Questions box in the main entry of the church, along with a copy of the Commission Report to the General Conference. You don t have to include your name with your thought or question, but if you do, I will be sure to follow up directly. Pastor Sean McRoberts

3 BACK BY POPLUAR DEMAND! Brenda Mayer purchased fleece when JoAnn s had their moving sale and I purchased coordinating colors during the Fleecetastic Sale. So we are going to do our tied fleece blanket project for those in need again. This is a project dear to my heart and I feel so blessed to do it again. The smiles on the faces of the recipients warms my heart. As they wrap the blanket around them I picture God wrapping his arms around them with love and comfort. So let s do it again!!! I will be collecting fleece and/or money to purchase fleece during the month of December and we will tie the blankets between worship services in January. Two-yard pieces of fleece make a nice size blanket. Just mark fleece on your check or on the envelope you place in the offering plate. Thank you! CORRECTION: The Pork Chop BBQ raised $7, (!!!), not $5, as previously reported. Kay Seagren Justice For Our Neighbors is a United Methodist Immigration Ministry. For almost 20 years JFON has provided affordable and high quality legal representation to low income immigrants and refugees. St. Mark s supports this ministry by providing a light meal for the immigrants, lawyers, interpreters and other volunteers. This time there were clients from Congo, Haiti, Ukraine, Brazil, and Burundi. Four women from St. Mark s went to C.R. Lovely Lane United Methodist Church with donations of sandwiches,chips, veggies, fruit,cookies and bars. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED IN ANY WAY! Barb Fisher- Krueger, Nancy Thayer, Jan Soboroff, and Peg Horn.

4 Good Lunch Bunch Tues., Nov. 20th Monica s THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! A huge thank you to everyone who helped to make our September 23 Mission Celebration a success. Lots of people donated items for the Live and Silent auction, thank you all. On Saturday many people showed up to help set up tables and the silent auction, thank you. A big thank you to all of you who bid on the items. On Sunday the pot luck had a perfect balance of food, thank you. A special thanks to Bob Kesselring for keeping track of the money, and Larry Fountain for organizing the great musical group in the afternoon. St. Mark s is truly a big family, and I am blessed to be a part of it. Again THANK YOU! 303 2nd Street Coralville BARB FISHER-KRUEGER Grayye Matters is a book group that meets at 9:30 a.m. the first Tuesday of every month. Our November 6th meeting will be in the Fireside Room at St. Mark s. Bring a book you recommend for reading or holiday gifting. Contact Barb Fisher-Krueger for more information. Gifts for Parents is coming up on December 1st. Setup for the event will be held November 29th and 30th. To find out how you can help, contact Brenda Mayer.

5 Happy Birthday! NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS 1 Bob Hoover 3 Morgan Sammons 8 Helen McClean, Beth Ackerson 9 Brian Cassady 10 Beth Yeates, Bud Forbes 11 Dale Kofron 14 Derek Lewis 16 Donna Higgins 17 Parker Max, Ann Parker, Sam Showers 18 Kaylee Stewart 20 John Snyder 21 Stan Aldinger, Dale Bream, Alan Skelley 22 Avonell Rutherford 24 Bryce Frantz, Randy Krutzfield, Jim Wood 25 Richard France, Karen Miller, Mardee Wood 26 Brad Parker 27 Parker Mueller 28 Barbara Beard 29 Marlene Lake, Lindsey Young 30 Missie Forbes, Mark Krutzfield, Alex Young The Executive Council continues to monitor the church s financial situation. As we hope you are aware, we have not paid our conference apportionments since April because of insufficient funds. This month with the money that was made with the hard work at the Pork Chop BBQ we made a FULL APPORTION- MENT Payment! Great Job St. Marks! This is reason to celebrate! Our apportionments total almost $80,000 a year. These funds support a number of important ministries, including UMCOR and Iowa campus ministries. As we move forward, we invite you to join us in praying for our church and its ministries, in celebrating the ministry happening inside of and beyond these walls, and in remaining faithful with your financial gifts. Over the summer we asked each of you to consider making an extra financial contribution to St. Marks. Thank you so much to those who have responded. There is still time to make an extra contribution. Any gift, every gift of any amount will help finance the ministries of St. Marks. You are always welcome to attend a council meeting or talk to any member of the finance committee if you have any questions. The Finance Committee Diane Berwald, Kay Seagren, Sally Hoelscher, Chet Woodman

6 United Methodist Men Don t forget to mark your calendars for the first Saturday of every month at 7:30 a.m. for good food and great fellowship with St. Mark s United Methodist Men! We are here in a ministry of service and presence in furtherance of the missions and outreach of the United Methodist Church. The next meetings will be on November 3, December 1, and Jan. 5. Jake Kundert, who is the Farm Manager for the Grow: Johnson County program has offered to visit with our group on Saturday, November 3rd. Grow: Johnson County is a hunger-relief and educational farm initiative of Iowa Valley RC&D focused on reducing food insecurity and empowering a new wave of local growers. They are currently utilizing four acres of land located at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm in Iowa City, IA, where they grow organic fruits and vegetables that are donated to local hunger-relief agencies and provide hands-on gardening and farming experience for community members of all ages and backgrounds. In 2018 their Program Goals were: Produce 40,000 pounds and 30 varieties of organic fruits and vegetables. Donate produce to 15 local food assistance programs consistently over 8 months. Engage 500 community members of all ages and abilities through on-farm educational activities. Provide gardening outreach to 2,000 individuals within local schools & correctional sites. Equip 4 aspiring farmers with experience, skills, and connections needed to launch a farming venture. United Methodist Women Wed., Nov. 14th Noon Potluck World Thank Offering and Thankful Women Bring a dish to share, your table service, and your Thank Bank.

7 WORSHIP SERVANTS 8:30 AM 10:45 AM Lead Usher 11/4: Ed Krogh 11/11: Ed Krogh 11/18: Ed Krogh 11/25: Ed Krogh Ushers 11/4: Jeff & Dianne Wasson, Jeremy & Ann Showers 11/11: Tom Shepherd & Mary Brown, Judy Pierson, Randy Krutzfield 11/18: Barb Fisher-Krueger, Pam Bleckwenn, Bob & Maggie Elliott 11/25:Barb Smith, Carolyn Brown, Lavon & Nancy Rutt Greeters 11/4: Pam Bleckwenn, Carolyn Brown 11/11: Judy Pierson, Barb Smith 11/18: Clarence & Jean Skog 11/25: Jerine Strommer, Gwen Hoffmann Reader 11/4: Mary Brown 11/11: Bob DeWitt 11/18: Ed Krogh 11/25: Bob Elliott AV 11/4: Cory & Kaitlyn Berwald 11/11: Cory & Kaitlyn Berwald 11/18: Derek Lewis 11/25: Cory & Kaitlyn Berwald Communion 11/4: Janet Soboroff, Barb Smith, Tom Shepherd & Mary Brown, Dennis Preslicka, Judy Pierson Lead Usher 11/4: Greg Jansen 11/11: Laura Lage 11/18: Greg Jansen 11/25: Laura Lage Ushers 11/4: Sue Brenneman, Carol Reddick 11/11: Amy Chastain, Laura Lage 11/18: Karen & Steve Laughlin 11/25: Amy Chastain, Sue Brenneman Greeters 11/4: Marsha Lowe 11/11: Karen & Steve Laughlin 11/18: Phillip Mitchell 11/25: Karen & Steve Laughlin Reader 11/4: Peg Horn 11/11: Steve Laughlin 11/18: Marsha Lowe 11/25: Brenda Mayer AV 11/4: Amy Chastain 11/11: Josh Cheatum 11/18: Amy Chastain 11/25: Josh Cheatum Communion 11/4: Brenda Mayer, Peg Horn 11/11: Sarah & Cora Beland 11/18: Marsha Lowe, Carol Reddick 11/25: Karen & Steve Laughlin Thank you for serving! If you are unable to serve on assigned dates, please kindly find a replacement and inform the church office.

8 St. Mark s United Methodist Church (319) office@stmarks-umc.net stmarks-umc.net ALL ARE WELCOME St. Mark s United Methodist Church 2675 E. Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52245