The Mark s. The Mark s. RE:FORMED BY FAITH: Our Lutheran Heritage. Special points of interest: Inside this issue:

Transcription

1 St. Mark s Lutheran Church, Conshohocken, PA. October 2017 Special points of interest: Confirmation Ministry Resumes Social Ministry Meeting Upcoming Stewardship Drive Octoberfest Fundraiser Dinner Inside this issue: Faith Formation 2 Home 4 Service 5 Worship 8 Altar Flowers 11 Fellowship 12 Calendar 15 Helping Hands 16 RE:FORMED BY FAITH: Our Lutheran Heritage Our program year continues it s focus on being formed by our faith, and this month we take a special look at how our lives of faith are formed by our tradition. This month on Reformation Sunday we will mark the 500th anniversary of the Spirit that moved among medieval Europe that came to be known as the Protestant Reformation. And while this might be an occasion to celebrate our pride in the guy Martin Luther, I think it s more important to celebrate the key elements of our Lutheran faith that helped to change the world and make Lutheranism a truly global faith. At the heart of our faith, I believe are several key components that make the Lutheran faith so unique as an expression of faith. They are what I think we should be celebrating this month as we are formed by our faith into disciples. Saved by grace through faith: at the heart of Luther s teachings is this understanding from Paul s letter to the Romans. It wasn t Luther s idea, in fact it was scripture that informed this element of our faith. We are saved by grace through no work of our own, but simply by faith in Jesus Christ to forgive us. Law and Gospel: Lutherans have a particular way of reading scripture as both law and gospel. As Luther says, the law says, do this, and it is never done. Grace says, believe this and everything is already done. The law points us to how deeply we need the good news of God s love in our world, one without the other is incomplete; both law and gospel help us understand the full depth and breath of the Good News. Means of Grace: When the good news is preached, when someone is baptized, when we receive the Lord s supper, grace happens. Which means that in worship we experience the meaning of grace in our world today. We are sent from worship having experienced the goodness of God in word and sacrament to draw others invite others to an experience of God. Theology of the Cross: Not only is this about the events of Good Friday, but it seeks to keep the cross central in all that we do. On the cross we see God in the middle of pain and suffering, not shying away from the pain of this world. In tern we follow Jesus to the Cross and to the painful parts of our world that are marked by suffering and death. The cross is scandal to non-believers, but Christians confess that it is the very power to save us, and it is through this kind of weakness that God works a most glorious resurrection. Saint and Sinner: we acknowledge that we are both created for good and capable of evil. Luther wrote to Phillip Melanchton, be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly, for he is victorious over sin, death, and the world. Vocation: The Reformation changed the way we thought about this word. Not only did Luther see himself as a monk, priest, and teacher, but he also understood his calling to family life, to parenting, to being a husband. This was a radical departure for the day, monk s and priest could not have as part of their vocation a wife or children. Luther s radical departure also meant that he viewed all people as part of the priesthood of all believers and all walks of life a holy calling from God. That everything done in faith and service to God in caring for your neighbor was just as holy as the priests, bishops and saints. As we seek to celebrate the Reformation this year, my prayer and hope is that we would lift up these elements as the heritage we celebrate this month. For we are a church reformed by the moving of the Spirit, may we be attentive to that Spirit and see that each day we are re:formed by grace to live anew. Pastor + Page 1

2 Faith Formation Faith Formation on Sunday s Faith formation activities on Sunday are off to a great start! As a reminder our young person s class starts following communion for a time of learning about the lessons from worship upstairs. Teachers/Leaders/ Helpers are needed for the fall for the young person s class each week. To facilitate the signup for teachers we are using SignUpGenius this year. The link for this signup can be found in the weekly pastor s or on our church s website under the faith formation tab. Our adult class meets in the choir room following worship and as soon as people grab refreshments for a more indepth discussion of the text from worship. Once a month we will be observing a special topic discussion and last month we met to view and discuss Vicar Lenny s documentary Do Black Churches Matter in the ELCA? Thanks to all who attended and participated in the discussion! Tweener s Bible Study: Introducing the Lutheran s The books are finally in so if you have missed the first few sessions, there is still time to catch up! As we read Together by Grace we will be exploring more about our Lutheran heritage as we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Throughout the book various voices from across the global reach of Lutheranism will be reflecting on our Lutheran faith and why a community built on grace continues to reform and change our world today. Join us as we explore more about our faith, our witness, and our theological heritage. Updated Schedule: October 17th (Faith Active in Love) October 24th (Worship and the Arts) November 21st (Being Lutheran Together in a Wider World & Voices and Places) Special Adult Forum: Sunday October 22nd Celebrating the Reformation s 500th anniversary is about more than just singing A Mighty Fortress, toasting German heritage, and wearing red! The ideas that circulated during the Reformation era where revolutionary and they changed the church (and the Western World) forever. On Sunday October 22nd we will begin to explore some of these radical and reforming ideas that Luther and his fellow reformers had that went on to change the lives of faith for generations to come. It s this theological heritage that we celebrate on the anniversary of the Reformation; the power of the Spirit to continue to reform and re-orient the church to be more Christ-like, more graceful, more expansive, more grounded in the Word. During our Adult Forum we will explore some of these bedrock themes that make the way Lutheran s see the world so radical and grace oriented. Also this month on PBS a documentary film entitled Martin Luther: The Idea that Changed the World aired on our local stations. It was a fantastic documentary if you want to learn more about the Reformation and the movement of the Spirit that changed the world. DVD s will be available for sale in November if folks are interested in seeing the movie, please let pastor know. Page 2

3 Faith Formation Theology on Tap This month we gather at the Great American Pub on Wednesday October 11th as we continue to explore themes from our program year: Re:Formation. This month we will explore items from our heritage. How has your life experience made you uniquely you? What formation events have happened in your life and where do you draw inspiration from your past that make you act in the present? Of course we will also explore how our Lutheran tradition continues to shape us as believers who proclaim God s grace! Join us for conversation and a few drinks! Confirmation Classes start this month Thursday October 5th following Dinner church our Confirmation class will meet for the first time this year. Confirmation is for youth in upper elementary and middle school who are interested in beginning the process of Affirming their Baptism and becoming adult members of the church. This year we will be starting a radically new work at your own pace program that will seek to affirm the gifts given to each of our students and form them in the practice of exercising their faith in our community and the world. If you are interested in having your child be part of the Confirmation process, but can not make the first meeting, please pastor to be included on the communications about the class going forward. It s been a few years since St. Mark s has had a confirmation group, so we are excited to begin this ministry again for our young disciples as they continue to grow in their faith! Page 3

4 Faith Formation Home Activity Celebrate the Journey of Faith by Jolene Roehlkepartain Teenagers sometimes experience doubts as they prepare for Confirmation, but let s be honest, we all have doubts from time to time about what we believe. As we question and explore our faith, we deepen our understanding of faith and can learn to celebrate what we believe as an important milestone on our journey of faith. Activity Plan Say this prayer aloud to begin: God, be with us today and help us to be honest about what we believe. Thanks for never leaving us as we travel on our faith journeys. In Jesus' name. Amen. Ask someone to read aloud John 14:8-14 from your Bible or look it up online. Discuss this story: How could Philip know or "see" God the Father? What "works" are Jesus' followers called to do? What are you praying for in Jesus' name? After all have finished, discuss: What did you discover about what you believe? About questions you have about being Christian? How have your beliefs changed since you were younger? Why do you think beliefs change over time? Celebrate your teenager's confirmation. Emphasize that confirmation is one step of the journey of faith, and that it doesn't mean your teenager is "graduating" from church or a life of faith. Ask someone to read aloud John 20:24-31 from your Bible or look it up online. Discuss this story: When have you felt like Thomas did at the beginning of this story? What has helped you to believe in Christ? Have adults explain what confirmation means to them and tell any stories about their own confirmation. Seeing that this ritual and tradition of our church is important in other s lives will imprint the significance and special or sacredness of the activity onto others. Ask your teenager what he or she would like to do to commemorate his or her confirmation. Consider going out for a treat or a fun activity or hosting a family party. Spend some time reflecting on the following questions as individuals or together as a family. Allow quiet time for family members to think and then discuss.. Each person is constantly growing and changing. Faith evolves over time. Write what you believe at this time by finishing each sentence.: I believe God is... I believe the Bible is... I believe that Christians need to do more to help those who are... I believe that when life gets hard, I can... I believe that prayer... I believe that Christians make a difference in the world by... Page 4 Families grow in faith when they... TALK with each other about their faith PRAY together in ways that are comfortable and comforting RITUALIZE their important moments REACH OUT in service and support of others. SHARE BIBLE STORY to connect with family stories LEARN ABOUT FAITH TOGETHER in comfortable and fun ways

5 Serve Social Ministry Meeting : October 25th at 7pm Article by Katie Colaneri If you re new to St. Mark s, you may not know that for five years, our congregation supported a young man from our community who was living in poverty and trying to beat the odds by getting a college degree. Over the years, our community raised more than $25,000 to support his education. Dylan Peay, who we often refer to as our college student, graduated from Temple University last May with a degree in biology. Today, he s pursuing his Ph.D. in neuroscience at Arizona State University. His story is remarkable and we are so glad to have lived out Jesus commandment to love one another in this way. But there is so much more work to do. There are roughly 400,000 people in Philadelphia living in poverty and just as many living in the four counties of the Philadelphia suburbs, including ours. Just next door in Norristown, nearly 25 percent of residents live below the poverty line more than double the rate in Conshohocken. There are many others who may not be below the line, but are struggling to make ends meet. And then there are countless others who may or may not have material wealth, but live in spiritual poverty who are dealing with addiction, illness, abuse or loss. It s so easy to despair when we think about these things. But God calls us to do His work with our hands as the ELCA motto goes. And here is your chance to help. Our Social Ministry Team is brainstorming new ways our congregation can bring light to the dark places in our community by serving those in need, just as we did with Dylan. We invite you to be part of the conversation and to share your ideas. Join us on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. in the [insert room here] at St. Mark s. If you can t make the meeting, please feel free to speak to Karen Hanna, who leads our Social Ministry Team, or Pastor Bryan or me. We're looking forward to hearing from you and seeing which way the Spirit moves our community next. Collection Items for CNC this month St. Mark s collects weekly food items for our local food pantry at Colonial Neighborhood Council. Items that we collected are canned foods (beans, veggies, soups), kids snack items, canned meats (tuna and chicken), Chef Boyardee meals, and other boxed shelf stable products. Each week volunteers from St. Mark s take the items down to CNC to stock the items on the shelves. St. Mark s also supports the work of Colonial Neighborhood Council s Meals on Wheels program by providing a site to heat and prepare foods. Each Page 5

6 Service Fall Stewardship Campaign: Discover your unique S.H.A.P.E. The Stewardship team is excited to roll out the Fall Stewardship Campaign called S.H.A.P.E. S.H.A.P.E. is a process of discernment and discovery as you learn about your Spiritual gifts, Heart s passion, Abilities, Personality and Experiences. Through this process we will discover the way God has uniquely shaped you and your life to serve where you fit. The campaign will begin in October with a series of short questionnaires focusing on each of the of the S.H.A.P.E. components; they will be provided in both electronic and paper formats to assist in identifying your individual S.H.A.P.E. Each week will feature a different part of the S.H.A.P.E. process as we discern and discover your overall gifts for ministry. We are asking the whole congregation to participate in this survey as we look to shape the future of our ministry together based on the unique gifts God has gathered in our community. At the end of the survey process, we are asking that folks signup for one of four cottage meetings. Cottage meetings this year will be themed around the four key ministry areas of our congregation (Service, Fellowship and Evangelism, Faith Formation, and Worship) which will provide an opportunity to explore more how your unique shape for ministry might fit into our congregation; plus it will spend some great time for fellowship and thinking about the future for each of our key ministry areas. We are asking that people sign up for a cottage meeting in a area that they feel they have been uniquely gifted to serve. Our hope, is that through this process, you will discover your unique S.H.A.P.E. for ministry at St. Mark s as we work to fit our gifts together to do God s work, with our hands. Ministry is first and foremost giving thanks to God, but then in joyful response to the blessings of God s grace, looking out in the world to our neighbors in need to see how our unique gifts might help to build the kingdom of God. Further details to follow in the upcoming weeks! S Used for the work of ministry to further God s love in the world, spiritual gifts are received through baptism. Everyone s got some, so let s discover yours! H Heart s passion includes desires or purposes that bring us joy or that we get excited about. A Abilities are the things we love doing and when opportunities arise, they trigger an energized anticipation to get started. P Personality reflects our preferences for how we are energized and organized; like stained glass, our different personalities reflect God s light in many colors and patterns. E Experiences form our faith journey and life story. Page 6

7 Service Maintaining a Strong Household of Faith: Capital Appeal Update At the congregational meeting in June we voted to begin a process to collect funds for repairs and improvements to our sanctuary space; masonry work on our stained glass windows, plaster repair, painting the interior of the sanctuary, exterior trim painting, and replacing the carpet in the sanctuary. To make a gift to the capital appeal, please mark your donation Capital and we will mark the funds to be placed in this special appeal. The property team and council will be meeting in October to talk about the initial stages and funding of this work. We have been blessed by the generosity of so many people participating already in this campaign. If you haven t made a gift, we invite you to consider doing so here this fall so we can continue to move towards the completion of this work. Received to Date $9, Stewardship 101 Consider Percentage Giving I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. --1 Corinthians 3:6-7 Doesn t fall give your spirit a boost when you see the colorful fruits and vegetables in the farm stands and supermarkets? Orange pumpkins, red apples, green squash, yellow corn and purple eggplants are all tasty reminders of God s abundance. We bear in mind that although the farmers grow the harvest by carefully preparing the soil and planting in spring, then watering and nourishing all summer, it s God that produces the life in the seeds that sprout into fruitful plants. Farmers manage God s order of life by providing the ideal conditions for plants to grow abundantly. Yes, the plants would grow and produce fruit and vegetables if left wild, but their yield would not be as plentiful. The attentive, skillful work of farmers in cooperation with God s design for life ensures a harvest of plenty for all. Fall harvest provides a wonderful metaphor for how we are stewards of all the blessings that God gives us. We know that God has given us wonderful, amazing gifts, such as family, community, church, health, intelligence, time, and relationships. And we also know that we are responsible for caring for them and working hard to provide the ideal conditions under which they will benefit ourselves, our families and our communities. For instance: Maintaining the gift of our bodies by eating right, exercising and getting plenty of sleep, we increase the likelihood we will live longer, healthier, robust and resilient lives. Nourishing our gifts of intelligence and wisdom through education, reading, exploring, curiosity and continually learning, we will be best able to understand and improve the world around us. Cultivating our gift of faith through prayer, worship, scripture, generosity, love and service, our lives bear fruits of the spirit -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Loving and tending to our spouses, children, parents, siblings and other relatives, we build strong, healthy families and develop caring, purposeful individuals who can make a difference. Our farmers are stewards of the earth, not only understanding how to make the most of God s gift of plant life but also working tirelessly to achieve it. They are partners with God to create a bounty of blessings for our dinner table. We are stewards of our lives, not only understanding how to best use our gifts of time and talent and treasure but also faithfully striving to make the most of all with which we have been entrusted. We are partners with God to create a bounty of blessings for ourselves, our communities and our world. --Rob Blezard Copyright 2017, Rev. Robert Blezard. Used by permission. Pastor Blezard serves as an assistant to the bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod and also works as content editor for Page 7

8 Worship Tidbits on Liturgy: Confessing our Faith in the words of the Apostle s Creed Martin Luther includes in the Small Catechism (or instructions for every believer) an explanation of the Apostle s Creed. Each Sunday we confess during the Word section of our liturgy this powerful early church creed to summarize our believe in the Triune God. As we confess it on our lips we proclaim the power of God to create in us a new life, Redeem us from all that is wrong, and acknowledge that through the power of the Holy Spirit we are made Holy ourselves. The Creed is not actually found in scripture, but was a process of systematizing our faith and scriptures used by the early church communities as early as 150 years after the death of Christ. What follows is Martin Luther s explanation of the Creed from the Small Catechism. The First Article: On Creation I believe in God, the Father almighty, CREATOR of heaven and earth. What is this? Answer: I believe that God has made me together with all that exists. God has given me and still preserves my body and soul: eyes, ears, and all my limbs, my reason, and all my senses, and all mental faculties. In addition, God daily and abundantly provides shoes and clothing, food and drink, house and farm, spouse and children, fields, livestock, and all property along with all the necessities and nourishment for this body and life. God protects me against all danger and shields and preserves me from all evil. And all this is done out of purse, fatherly, and divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness of mine at all! For all this I owe it to God to thank and praise, serve and obey him. This is most certainly true. The Second Article: On Redemption I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell. On the third day he rose [again}; he ascended into heaven, seated at the right hand of God, the almighty Father, from where he will come to judge the living and the dead. What is this? Answer. I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father in eternity, and also a true human being, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned human being. He has purchased and freed me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death. He has done all this in order that I may belong to him, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in eternal righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true. The Third Article: On Being Made Holy. I believe in the Holy Spirit, one holy Christian church, the community of the saints, forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the flesh, and eternal life. Amen. What does this mean? Answer: I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith. Daily in the Christian church the Holy Spirit abundantly forgives all sins mine and those of all believers. On the Last Day the Holy Spirit will raise me and all the dead and will give to me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true. Page 8

9 Worship Fall Music Ministry Notes "Both the Adult Choir and the Bell Choir shared lovely offerings of music during our Sunday worship services in September! On October 1, the Adult Choir will sing Timothy Shaw s Teach Me Your Way, a musical interpretation of Psalm 86. October 22 brings Patrick Liebergen s African Psalm, which incorporates a Kenyan folk melody into a text based on the psalms of praise. The Bell Choir will play an arrangement of My Song is Love Unknown, which is our hymnal (ELW 343), on October 8. The text of this hymn was written by Samuel Crossman in 1664, and the tune Love Unknown was written by John Ireland in Both men were part of the Anglican tradition in Britain. This hymn is in the Lent section of our hymnal as the text specifically relates Christ s crucifixion, but the overarching sentiment is one of awe at the unimaginable love that Christ has for each of us, and the undeserved gift we each received with his death and resurrection. All are welcome to participate in music ministry at St Mark s! See below for dates through the end of the year. Feel free to contact Emily Ballentine Erb, Director of Music ministry, (emily@stmarksconshyorg) for more information!! Adult Choir Sundays: October 1 October 22 November 12 December 3 December 24 Bell Choir Sundays: October 8 November 5 December 17 December 24 Faith Formation Sunday s: October 15 November 19 December 24 Blessing of the Animals : St. Francis of Assisi Day Wednesday October 4th from 5:30 7pm we will be blessing our animal companions outside the front of the church. Saint Francis was known for his care and compassion for creation and so to honor his feast day we bless and give thanks for the animal companions in our own lives. Animals of all kinds are welcome at the blessing and if you would like to help out with the blessing service speak with Pastor. It s a great service for kids to participate in!! Page 9

10 Worship Music Minister s Notes: Hymns during the year After spending the month of September focused on our baptism, our journey through the Reformation brings us to a focus on tradition. Tradition shapes us as individuals on our faith journeys, as a church community at St. Mark s, as a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and as a part of the global Lutheran community. There are many hymns in the ELW that point to different aspects of our Lutheran tradition. The hymn of the day on October 1 is ELW 806, O God, My Faithful God, the text to which was written by Johann Heermann. Heermann was active during the second half of the 16th century into the 17th century. John Julian s Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) says, He marks the transition from the objective standpoint of the hymnwriters of the Reformation period to the more subjective and experimental school that followed him. His hymns are distinguished by depth and tenderness of feeling; by firm faith and confidence in face of trial; by deep love to Christ, and humble submission to the will of God. The tune for this hymn was written by Ahasuer Fritsch, a German lawyer and university chancellor who also penned more than a dozen hymns himself. ELW 769, If You But Trust in God to Guide You, will be the closing hymn on October 8. It was written by Georg Neumark in 1641, and published as a hymn of consolation. Neumark was a poet, and suffered many personal setbacks during his lifetime. The text for this hymn was written after he finally found employment as a tutor, after a long period of being without work. The melody Neumark wrote for this hymn has become a wellloved tune in the Lutheran canon; Johann Sebastian Bach used the tune as the basis for both a choral cantata and an organ chorale; Felix Mendelssohn and Johannes Brahms also adapted the melody for their own works, and contemporary composers continue to use it in their writing. On October 15, we will end worship by singing ELW 498, United at the Table. This hymn was written by Joaquín Madurga, a Spanish priest and composer who just passed away in June of this year. While Madurga was not Lutheran, this hymn was brought to the ELCA by a Lutheran translator, Gerhard M. Cartford. Cartford, who passed away in 2016, is responsible for translating many hymns from the Spanish language and was also instrumental in compiling the Libro de Litugia y Cántico, a Spanish-language hymnal published by Augsburg Fortress. The service music on October 29, Reformation Sunday, will be a celebration of our musical traditions both past and present. Violinist John Sergovic will join Emily for special music during the service as they play various movements from J.S. Bach s First Sonata for Violin and Organ. Our liturgical music (such as the Kyrie, Offertory Canticle, and Lamb of God) will be gathered from various cultural traditions around the world, as a musical representation of our connectedness in the global Lutheran community. Look for the Lutheran rose symbol in the bulletin all year! This indicates a hymn from the Lutheran tradition. Look through the indices at the back of the ELW to find other hymns by the same composers! Page 10

11 Worship Beginning to train Junior Worship Assistants!! This month Vicar Lenny and 3 of our youngest disciples will begin Junior Assistant Ministers school. Ava Ruggerio, Evan Fazzari, and Garret Kriebel will be studying with me the liturgy we use in worship. I m writing to ask all of you to pray for these young disciples this month of October as they engage in this work. As we are growing as a church it is important to connect the next generation to the 1800-year-old traditions of the church. As Christians from a Lutheran faith perspective our great inheritance is the story of Jesus Christ and the early church. We re-tell this story every Sunday in worship, and it is our duty and our joy to help a new generation experience this unbroken chain of faith. We are excited as a staff to hear the gospel proclaimed in new voices and embodied in new servants throughout ministry. We will be meeting after worship every Sunday this month for minutes if you see these students please encourage them and engage them about what they are learning. Altar Flowers this Month October 1st Given by Pam Keebler In gratitude for her many blessings October 8th Given by Luella Claffey In memory of her sister, Alice Bate October 15th Given by the Jacovino s In loving memory of our parents, Fred and Lillian Kopenhaver October 22nd October 29th OPEN OPEN As a reminder Altar Flowers are $40 dollars and can be sent in or dropped in the offering plate. Please make sure to mark on your envelope or check that they are for Altar Flowers. To sign up for Altar Flowers or to check the wording of an upcoming memorial please see the new bulletin board in the hallway past the offices. People are welcome to make corrections or additions prior to the printing of the bulletin. You may also sign up for any blank weeks that appear on the schedule as well, or contact the church office ( ) to find out about upcoming openings. All Saint s Sunday : November 5th We give thanks once a year on All Saint s Sunday for the faithful departed and the communion of Saints to whom we are connected each Sunday around the table in the sacrament of Holy Communion. All Saint s Sunday is a time when we acknowledge and remember those in in our lives that have died and that we remember now live in the church triumphant. As part of our thanksgiving each year we compile a list of those that have died since last All Saint s Sunday to read during our prayers of the people as a special way to honor their memory. If you have someone significant in your life that has passed this year, we invite you to send us their name for reading during worship on November the 5th. Also if you have pictures of loved ones that have died we invite you to bring them to worship that day it s a great way for us to be surrounded by the saints in worship. Page 11

12 Evangelism / Fellowship Conshohocken Beer Fest We are excited to once again be joining the evangelism team at Conshy Beerfest. This important public witness is a huge part of the DNA of St. Mark s. We know we are the grace people. We don t care where you are in your faith journey we welcome you at God s table. We also know that young families and millennial couples are a big part of our ministry and our community. Conshy Beerfest gives us an opportunity to witness that with our actions. We go out to beerfest and give out free waters and just stand as a loving expansive community willing to meet you where you are. It s as simple as that. Joe is looking for folks to help set up, or man the table during the event. Great opportunity to socialize with members of our community and get ourselves out there. If you are interested in helping please contact Joe Ruggiero (josephmruggiero@yahoo.com) he is looking for help to set up in the morning (going to BJ's with me to buy water and bring to A field in Conshohocken) or staff the table passing out water (12:30PM - 5PM) and talking to folks October 21st from 9:30 am 2 pm Trinity Lutheran Church, Lansdale Lutherans and Catholics will mark the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation with an ecumenical seminar and worship. Speakers: The Rev. Donald McCoid and Dr. John Borelli, highlighting theological progress toward unity. Worship led by The Rev. Peter Donahue, president of Villanova University, and Bishop Claire Burkat W. Main St., Lansdale, PA Map. Register via the synod website ministrylink.org Check us out virtually: stmarksconshy.org Here you can find weekly announcements, Sunday sermons, Worship assistant schedule, a calendar of events, previous weekly bulletins and copies of the Page 12

13 Evangelism / Fellowship Octoberfest Fundraiser Dinner Help is still needed for our annual Octoberfest fundraiser dinner. During the week help is still needed for food prep and lots of help is needed the day of the fundraiser dinner for set up, serving, and clean up. A signup sheet is in the McCarney room for volunteers as well as an online SignUpGenius for those willing to help is available : w w w. s i g n u p g e n i u s. c o m / go/20f0a44adac2da3f49-volunteer Page 13

14 Wider Church As the ELCA commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we join with Lutherans from across the globe remembering what Martin Luther describes as a living, daring confidence in God s grace. The ELCA s connection to the global Lutheran church is realized through The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), a communion with 145 churches in the Lutheran tradition representing over 74 million Christians in 98 countries. The ELCA is the communion s only member church from the United States. A delegation from the ELCA joined more than 800 Lutherans in May in Windhoek, Namibia, for the LWF s 12 Assembly, which observed the historic Reformation anniversary and elected new leadership, including ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton as vice president of the LWF s North American region. In his welcome address to the assembly, LWF General Secretary Martin Junge said, Gathered from all over the world, we embody in tangible ways a global communion of Page 14 churches, rooted in worship, grounded in our theological tradition and actively witnessing to the gospel of Jesus Christ. But what does this global connection mean for the ELCA in our local context? Building on relationships established in the LWF, our church is connected to 85 companion churches in other countries through the ELCA churchwide organization. Each of the ELCA s 65 synods have at least one international church companion. For example, the LECA Nebraska Synod is engaged in ministry with the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Argentina and Uruguay and the Northern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. We are grateful for inspiration we get engaging our companion synod in Tanzania and Argentina and Uruguay, and for the models of ministry we see them using to witness to the gospel, said Brian Maas, bishop of the ELCA Nebraska Synod. We know true mutual benefit in these continually growing relationships, church-to-church, congregation-tocongregation and person-to-person. Our walk together as the Nebraska Synod would be greatly diminished if we weren t also walking with these companions on the journey. Jennifer Kirby, a member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Oaks, Okla., witnessed this connection firsthand. Attending the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women earlier this year, she had engaged women from the LWF member churches near and far. Kirby said the experience gave her a greater, larger sense of community and connection in faith. It means that my church has something in common with another church in a different country. Being connected with Lutherans across the globe reminds me in Oklahoma that we are part of something much larger than ourselves.

15 October 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :30: Worship 6 pm: Dinner Church 10:15: Faith Formation 10:30: Fellowship Hour 7pm: Worship and Music Mtg 5:30pm 7pm Blessing of the Animals 7pm: Choir 7pm: Confirmation Class 7:45pm: Bells Baptism 9:30: Worship 10:15: Faith Formation 10:30: Fellowship Hour 7pm: Church Council Meeting 4:30pm: Octoberfest Food Prep 7pm: Theology on Tap 6 pm: Dinner Church 6pm: Octoberfest Food Prep 7pm: Choir 7:45pm: Bells 9am: Octoberfest Food Prep 1pm: Conshy Beer Fest 4:30pm-7pm: Octoberfest Fundraiser Dinner New Members 9:30: Worship 10:15: Faith Formation 10:30: Fellowship Hour 7pm: Tweener s Bible Study 7pm: Stewardship Mtg. 6 pm: Dinner Church 7pm: Choir 7:45pm: Bells :30: Worship 10:15: Faith Formation 7pm: Finance Team Mtg 7pm: Tweener s Bible Study 7pm: Social Ministry Mtg 6 pm: Dinner Church 7pm: Choir 10:30: Fellowship Hour 7:45pm: Bells Reformation Sunday 9:30: Worship 10:15: Faith Formation 10:30: Fellowship Hour Page 15

16 Saint Mark s Church 508 Harry Street Conshohocken, PA This is Christ s Church. There is a place for you here. We are the church that shares a living, daring confidence in God's grace. Liberated by our faith, we embrace you as a whole person questions, complexities and all. Join us as we do God's work in Christ's name for the life of the world. Phone: info@stmarksconshy.org stmarksconshy.org God s Work. Our Hands. Worship Assistants for the month October Assisting Min. Theodora Moreley Kathy Pokalo Katie Coleneri Kim Kriebel Joe Jacovino Com. Assistant Nate Ramsden Joanne Copestick Lara Hoffman Lauren Parkin Donna Kobi Readers George Pokalo Matt Hoffman Donald Dunn Eric Schauer Erin Fizzari Nursery Fiore Inderbitzen Ruggiero Ramsden Walker Acolyte Joanne Popowicz Gavin Kreibel Nate Ramsden Evan Fazzari Joanne Popowicz Altar Guild Joanne/Sandy Dryburgh s Joanne/Sandy Joanne/Sandy Jen Ramsden Ushers Joanne Copestick Aaron Moul Pam Keebler Joe Dryburgh Dolores Lush Terry Spence Meaghan Moul Donna Kobi Jim Orman Karen Hanna Counters Rhea Moore Susan Jacovino Debbie Eskate Susan Dryburgh Pam Keebler Jen Schreiter Lara Hoffman Pam Keebler LJ Kreibel Stef Conklin Recorder Jeanette Nazaryk Jen Schreiter Nate Ramsden Pam Keebler Kathy Pokalo Page 16