St. Marks Marker. December From the Pastor s Desk

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1 St. Marks Marker December 2017 From the Pastor s Desk Pastor s report during the charge conference, November 26, 2017 Lectionary for December December 3 Isaiah 64:1-9 Psalm 80:1-7 UMH Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:24-37 December 10 Isaiah 40:1-11 Psalm 85:1-2 UMH Peter 3:8-15a Mark 1:l1-8 December 17 Isaiah 61: Psalm 126 UMH Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, December 24 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 Luke 1:47-55 UMH 199 Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38 December 31 Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Psalm 148 UMH 861 Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:22-40 I want to thank the District Superintendent Rev. Cammy Gaston, Bishop McKee and the cabinet for allowing me to continue to serve at St. Marks. It was another year of an exciting ministry! God s grace is always there to sustain and inspire us in everything we do. We give thanks to the Lord and celebrate the following: Our church leaders who are very much engaged and involved in all our programs and ministries. Five (5) new members were added into full membership Newly renovated building and facility 92% of our 2017 budget as of 1 st week of November has been reached Evolving new leaders from the group of young people. Two (2) of them (Robyn and Charley Radde) have indicated their intention to enter the ministry. They helped me in leading our worship services. Children and youth are always involved in our outreach programs and in worship. Our Christian education programs. We have 7 Sunday School classes (4 adults, 1 youth, and 1 nursery/children), and we plan to open a college class soon. We have 2 Bible Study groups (1 adults and 1 youth), confirmation class was done with 4 students and 3 of them were confirmed. Young people attending Summer and Winter youth camp, and Chrysalis. Some of our members including myself have attended Emmaus Walk. Pastoral care through the help of Don Cecil, our new member who is a retired chaplain. The worship gatherings where we encounter God s presence and share God s love to all people. Our Freestyle worship every 5 th Sunday which allows all ages to be more creative as we express our faith in God. The youth invites their friends during this Sunday. The choir has been great in leading the worship. Food, Fun and Fellowship every 2 nd Wed, 6:00 pm where we invite friends, and we also have the Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving dinners. New and updated church website.

2 St. Marks Marker From the Pastor s Desk continued Community Outreach programs: Breakfast for the Veterans and first responders last November 11 was a great success. The sharing of Thanksgiving food boxes to the community last November 17 th through MISD (served 14 families in 7 schools). Sharing of Christmas food boxes and Hoodie Drive is scheduled few weeks from now. Human Trafficking Awareness (1st Week February) Youth participated in Mesquite Day clean up Santa Cop with the Mesquite Police Department Mesquite/Sunnyvale UMC Joint Community MISD Read (your Bible), Play (your part), Talk (about your Faith) VBS Joint Community Summer Splash Community Easter Egg Hunt with Sunnyvale and Mesquite UM churches. We continue to support Mesquite Social Services, Mission East Dallas, and the Sharing Life through our basket offering every Sunday. We plan to do mission in the Philippines next year. Hopes and dreams: We will continue on with our programs and ministries. We will invite more people to walk with us in this exciting journey of loving and serving Christ and all God s people. We will continue to develop strong ties with the social services/agencies in our community and will offer our space for possible ministries. We will continue to encourage new people/young people to take part in our church s leadership, and we will continue to be a loving and caring community by welcoming all people in our midst and allowing the Spirit of God to lead us in everything that we do. I thank God for giving me a new life so I can continue serving him. I want to thank my wife Janice and our three precious children Ninna, Saro, and Diwa for standing beside me during those difficult days when I was on dialysis. I want to thank the Rev. Cammy Gaston for her caring and compassion. She went to see me and my brother in the hospital before my transplant, and she kept praying for me I want to thank Bishop McKee and the cabinet for the card and their prayers. I want to thank the St. Marks family for taking care of me and my family. They took good care of my children while I was in the hospital. Their love is unconditional and overwhelming, and I could not thank them enough. The Rev. Ben Shinn for his great work while I was on leave; and to all friends and colleagues who prayed for me and supported me financially. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

3 Candle Light Service with Holy Communion December 24, :00 pm Come, join us! Merry Christmas to all!

4 Prayer Requests Prayers for our St. Marks family unable to worship with us today Shirley Beathe, Gladys Cupp, Linda Heath, Don Bragg, Edna Fields, Bob McReynolds, Janice Barton, Mazelle Ross, Eileen Mark, James and Vicki Folks Requesting prayers Jane Kennon, Stan Little, Keith Mumaw, Tom Marks, Chris Mumaw, Barbara Holland, Virginia Spurger, Nelda Walker, Pam Connolly and family on the death of Lance Carnal, Gayle Jones, Mary Grigar-Brown, the family of Kay Perry, Helen Halliday, Mary Ellen Handel, the family of Ben Robertson, Mark Connolly, Gorospe family on the death of Esther Penalosa, Mazelle Ross and family on the death of Don Ross, Ken Hassell, Sandra Pugh s husband Elmer, Nancy Good 3-Ila Dennis 3-Dot Mabry 5-Gary Marks 10-Edwin Zarate 10-Ann Harris 10-Dennis Arnold 13-Carolyn Vanderburg 15-Janice Zarate 17-Nicholas Fries 26-Mike Heath 28-Linda Heath 30-Ella Connolly

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6 November 19th started our preorder for poinsettias for Advent. This year we must have your check for the order to reserve your poinsettia. This is a fundraiser for the Worship Committee and its budget for Each poinsettia will be $ We want to have them out through the Christmas Eve service, and after that you may take them home with you to enjoy with your family. Thank you for supporting the church and the Worship Committee. The new year is coming and that means a return to the Methodist tradition of covered dish dinners at St. Marks UMC, Mesquite! As is our custom, we will be hosting the dinners in the Wayne Odom Fellowship Hall on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00pm, starting in January. The following is a list of the dates for next year. Jan. 10, Feb. 14, March 14, April 11, May 9 How all this works: Bring an entree, salad or vegetable dish that will feed 4 or more adults. Anyone who wants to bring a dessert as well, is encouraged to do so. Choir members are moved to the head of the buffet line so they have time to eat before they begin practice at 6:30pm. Salaried staff members are not expected to bring a dish but are encouraged to join in the meal and fellowship. Please mark your calendars now so you don t miss even one of these Wednesday night dinners.

7 Update on Mary Grigar-Brown doing well in Sherman, TX!

8 Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

9 December 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Stronger St. Paul UMC 2 Together Dallas 3 Worship 11:00 Celebration, at Aldersgate 5: Choir Rehearsal 6: Clergy Gathering, Hitt Auditorium, Dallas nd Advent Worship 11:00 Refugee Sunday Choir Rehearsal 6:30 UMW Christmas Party 12: rd Advent Worship 11:00 Christmas Dinner Sama Sama Gather at 5:00, St. Marks Passing out Christmas Food Boxes Choir Rehearsal 6: th Advent Worship 11:00 Candle light Worship 7:00 31 Freestyle Sunday 11: Choir Rehearsal 6: St. Marks United Methodist Church 3117 Motley Drive Mesquite, TX Phone: Fax: stmarksoffice@att.net