St. Mark s Lutheran Church February 2018 3051 Putnam Blvd. Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 Dear Friends of St. Mark's, It feels a bit strange that Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday fall on the same calendar day this year. This odd juxtaposition jolts us from the usual comfort of celebrating each day separately. I encourage you to be part of our community evening worship this year on Ash Wednesday, to fully prepare yourself for Lent. Like Eve and Adam, we have come from dust, and to dust we will return. Throughout our lives, our dusty bodies remind us of our mortality, when they get sick, or when they work imperfectly, or when they age, or when they stop working altogether. Often, our bodies let us down. Of course many good things come from our bodies, including new human life, fulfilling work, loving embraces, and acts of charity. The inherent goodness of our bodies has not been obliterated by sin, though it has been tarnished. So Ash Wednesday invites us into a time of extended contemplation and contrition, as we consider during Lent just how much we need One to save us from our sin. But Ash Wednesday also signifies hope. The ashes that are imposed on our heads form the shape of a cross. Sometimes these crosses are obvious; sometimes more subtle. But the very stuff that symbolizes our mortality and sin also alludes to that which will set us free. It reminds us that God has entered into our human condition in order to break the power of sin and welcome us into the fullness of his life. Blessings to you this Lenten season, Pastor Bekah
February Calendar Of Events Sunday 8:30 am Worship (Traditional with Choir & Organ or Piano) Social 9:30 am in Saint Mark s Center 10:30 am Worship (Contemporary with Guitars & Drums) 10:30 am Sunday School 11:40 am Confirmation Class This Month February 7th, Crafty Ladies Start Crafting 10-2 Everyone is invited to come! February 14th, Ash Wednesday Service 7:00 pm February 19th, Office Closed for President s Day February 21st - March 28th, Wednesday Lent Services 7:00 pm (no soup suppers) February 25th, Pastor Lyle Beckman San Francisco Night Ministry Preaching February 23rd-25th, Mt. Cross ELCA Synod High School Retreat 1st Tuesday of the Month Martha Circle 1:30 pm. MR 2nd Tuesday of the Month Social Ministry Meeting 10:00 am MR Wednesday Crafty Ladies 10:00-2:00 SMC Thursday Night Choir Practice 7:00 pm in SAN Saturday Worship Band practices at 10:00 am in the SAN Upcoming Events March 4th @ 2 pm, Joey Baughman s Memorial Service at the Senior Center March 17th, Tie & Tea 9-2:00 pm SMC Potluck Salad Luncheon Everyone is invited to help tie quilts for local charities March 25th, Palm Sunday March 29th, Maundy Thursday Service 7:00 pm March 30th, Good Friday Service 7:00 pm April 1st, Easter Sunday, Brunch & Egg Hunt
News of the Church fire was discussed and measures to be taken in response and the use of the facility. The agenda for the Council Retreat in January. Monthly Budget YTD Actual YTD Budget Offering 20,648 17,535 191,764 175,353 Monthly Outreach Giving 3876 14,805 Total Expenses 19,002 17,535 234,306 175,353 Current financial statements and council minutes are available in the binder on the shelf in the back of the sanctuary. Lenten Services Ash Wednesday February 14th, 7 pm February 21st - March 28th, Wednesday Lent Services 7:00 pm (no soup suppers)
February Birthdays Date 5 Diane Lenzi 6 Connie Geranen 9 Cindy Gade 10 Joy Fehrenkamp 11 Jasper Valmores 13 Drew Klingelhafer 14 Dylan Follmer 17 Jared Wilson 19 Cyndi Lukk 20 Noah Alm 26 Richard Albright 26 Peg Brown 27 Marcia Barden February Anniversaries 19 Debbie & Steve Wilson
Rwanda Trip Interested in visiting our sister synod in Rwanda? An informal meeting will be held Wednesday, February 14th, 8:00 pm, following the Ash Wednesday service.
Tie and Tea St. Mark s Lutheran, 3051 Putnam Blvd, Pleasant Hill March 17th, 2018 9am-2pm Everyone is invited to come all day or part of the day. Can you tie a knot? Help tie quilts (no experience or special skills necessary). The quilts are for local organizations who help those in our community in their time of need. Potluck Salad Luncheon @ Noon
February 2018 Outreach: San Francisco Night Ministry (www.sfnightministry.org) Adult Forum: February 25, 2018 The San Francisco Night Ministry provides crisis intervention, counseling and referral services every night, rain or shine, including holidays. Trained volunteer counselors staff a crisis telephone line that is open for any issue someone needs to discuss. Night ministers walk the streets of San Francisco offering face-to-face conversations to the lonely, anxious and afraid. The Night Ministry also sponsors two Open Cathedrals (one in the Tenderloin and one in the Mission), which provide a weekly worship service and a time of sharing food. We are looking forward welcoming the Director of the Night Ministry, Lyle Beckman, who in the past served as an interim pastor at St. Mark s. He will officiate at both services on Sunday, February 25, and facilitate the Adult Forum at 10:45 am. In addition, our Pastor Bekah also serves on the board of the Night Ministry. How Can We Help? Monetary donations are very important for maintaining the work of the Night Ministry, particularly staff salaries for the night ministers who walk the streets. Just indicate Night Ministry on your check. Attend the Adult Forum on February 25 to learn more! Thank you to all who supported the Food Bank in December. When the food bins were picked up they had 229 lbs of food, equal to 191 meals. We also sent $430 to the Food Bank.
2018 ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston, TX June 24th ~ July 3rd
3051 Putnam Blvd. Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 (925) 934-6114 www.sm-lc.net officeadmin@sm-lc.net Pastor: Bekah Davis Cell: (415) 335-3599 Office Administrator: Cheryl Wight Directors of 2 nd Service Music: Sherry & Mike Doyle Choir Director/Organist: Joyce Porter We pray for Myrtle, Don; Tom; Ed; Jan; Sean; Anna s brother, Joseph; Brian s friend, Sara; Katherine s Friend, Cathy; and Geoff s family. If you would like to be included in the prayer chain or if you have a prayer request, you can email the office at: officeadmin@sm-lc.net Weekly Adult Bible Study Please join us for a weekly Bible Study at 10 am on Friday mornings, open to all. We have begun studying the Book of Mark, which is also the focus of the current lectionary. Please contact Lisa Farnitano (lisa.farnitano@gmail.com) or Nicole Coggiola for more information. Martha Circle Study Tuesday, January 2, 2017 ~ 1:30 p.m. At such a gathering are multiple opinions. Share yours with the group. Please join us in the meeting room. All are welcome.