144 th Year December 1 & 2, 2018 FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT St. Mark s Evangelical Lutheran Church & School St. Mark s Lutheran Church St. Mark s Lutheran School 105 North Garfield Street 504 North James Street Steeleville, IL 62288 Steeleville, IL 62288 Phone: (618) 965-3192 Phone: (618) 965-3838 Fax: (618) 965-2232 Fax: (618) 965-3060 stmarks.steeleville@gmail.com sfortner.sml@gmail.com Rev. Bill Engfehr, Interim Pastor John Hostert, Administrator Cell: (618) 973-4309 Email: pastor@engfehr.com Website: http://stmarksteeleville.com
Welcome, Guests! We have a gift mug for you available at all three of our entrances. Please pick one up after the service. We are glad to have you in worship today. May God bless you with his love and grace. --Board of Evangelism Special Prayers Continuing Prayer Concerns Leslie Duvall Elijah Rabacchi George Salger Debra Guebert Norlyn Kingsten Ali Gerlach Alice Knop Linda Ethridge Delbert Koen Julie Heil Tiffany Troue Denyer Jim Mevert Connie Kirkland Sondra Mahnken Michael Vallett Don Ritter Delbert Joost Judy Wedemeyer Randy Bierman Ann Vallett Genna Biermann (Connie Kirkland s sister-in-law) Andy Schorr (Carol Mayer s brother) David Jensen (Karen Chamness brother) Roy Thornton (Vicky Potter s father) Daniel Bell (Lisa Greatting s brother) Robert Holley (Norlyn & Jane Kingsten s grandson) Michelle Thies (Gerald & Ruth Ann Thies daughter-in-law) Care Center Residents Delores Doss Elizabeth Ernsting Norma Wolters Irma Wente Eileen Clements Anita Rohlfing Norma Rodewald Judy Clasen Betty Middendorf Mildred Eggemeyer Lavera Biermann Wayne Mueller We respect the privacy of our members and friends and will not pray for you publicly unless it is requested, and we know we have your permission. 2
Military Personnel & Their Families Justin Asbury Casey Vallett Matt Kraus Tim Eichenseer Bill Ingles Justin Parker Andrew Grab Cory Jeffers Richard Thompson Denny Ernsting Kevin Kahre Ethan Pierce John Magelitz Zach Mogavero Rodney Anderson Mission Prayer Give thanks as you pray: For hearts that imitate the generosity and graciousness of Jesus. Pray that God s people would be eager to show forth the love of God through their good works for their neighbor. That the Lord would preserve His Word and Sacraments in our midst, so that we may be kept strong in the one, true faith until Christ s return. Elders Meeting moved from Dec. 6 to Dec. 10 at 6:00 p.m. Thank You You bought 12 grave pillows and made $600 for the Organ Fund. Thank you for your orders and support Bible Study Opportunities Wednesday @ 10:00 a.m. in Meeting Room Sunday @ 10:15 a.m. in Fellowship Hall Bible Readings From Lutheran Service Book Daily Lectionary, pp. 299-304 Sunday, 12/2... Isaiah 8:9 9:7; 1 Peter 4:1-19 Monday, 12/3... Isaiah 9:8 10:11; 1 Peter 5:1-14 Tuesday, 12/4... Isaiah 10:12-27a, 33-34; 2 Peter 1:1-21 Wednesday, 12/5... Isaiah 11:1 12:6; 2 Peter 2:1-22 Thursday, 12/6... Isaiah 14:1-23; 2 Peter 3:1-18 Friday, 12/7... Isaiah 24:1-13; 1 John 1:1 2:14 Saturday, 12/8... Isaiah 24:14 25:12; 1 John 2:15-29 3
Our Stewardship of Time & Talents Organist: Carol Lowe December 1/2 Altar Guild: Julie Tiemann, Carol Hamilton Acolytes: Sat. Brenden Lindenberg, Jackson Knop; Sun. Kathrine Pierce, Summer Hassebrock Greeters: Sat. Karen Chamness; Sun. Scot & Sheila Alms Elders: Sat. Jim Mevert; Sun. Andy Gerlach, Mike Mayer December 8/9 Organist: Janet Wicker Acolytes: Sat. Canon Ruby, Gillian Valleroy; Sun. Trenton & Tyler Ingles Greeters: Sat. Ruth Waeltz; Sun. Olin and Erna Edler Elders: Sat. Brian Smith, Steve Smith; Sun. Dale Rice Attendance Worship, 11/17-18; Sat.: 56; Sun.: 108 Bible Study: Sun.: 13; Wed.: N/A Alumni Choir The Alumni Choir will begin rehearsals at the church on Sunday, December 2 nd at 6:00 p.m. Pre-Advent Service Dinners Come and dine out prior to the Advent services. Meals will be served in the Fellowship Room from 5:30-6:30 PM Wednesdays. The meals will include drinks, entrée and dessert. A freewill offering will be accepted. The entrees are: December 5 Pizza & Salad December 12 Pulled Pork Dinner December 19 Choral Christmas Concert - No Meal Provided 4
2019 Envelope Packets St. Mark s Members, the 2019 GIVING PACKETS are ready and waiting for you to pick up in the Fellowship Hall. Those who are using the envelope packets, will retain the same envelope numbers for 2019. Please pick up packets for your family, too. They are in alphabetical order, plus a list is available for you to look up your number, etc. If you desire to use an envelope packet for 2019, and find no packet available, please contact the church office or Ruth. Attention Members Who Do Not Use the Packets! For those members who have requested to not use the envelopes, we have a special box with your giving number and address information. Please do stop by the Fellowship Hall and pick up this information card. All member giving is recorded each week by using your assigned number. It is most important that you use this number when submitting your stewardship gift. If you have a question, please contact Financial Secretary, Ruth Waeltz (317-2678). If you desire to use an envelope packet for 2019, and find no packet available, please contact the church office or Ruth. The Angel Tree Program is complete! The Board of Evangelism THANKS ALL OF YOU! who participated in this year s Angel Tree drive. It was very successful, and we appreciate all the time, money and effort you spent in this worthwhile endeavor. Your shared gifts of love make the families who struggle this time of year feel filled with joy to make their Christmas special instead of sad. God Bless you for your commitment to serving Him in this way. And on behalf of each child that you supported this year, we wish you all a wonderful and Blessed Christmas too. 5
ST. MARK S LUTHERAN SCHOOL NOTES Our Preschool and Kindergarten will lead us in chapel on Wednesday, December 5th. Our offering for the next few chapel services will be designated to the Orphan Grain Train. Everyone is invited to attend our weekly chapel service that begins around 8:25 am at the church weather permitting. St. Mark s will have early dismissal at 11:15 am on Friday, December 7th. Buses will run but there will not be after school Latchkey. Please make other arrangements for your child/children. Come and celebrate the birth of Christ with the PreK and Kindergarten students on Saturday, December 8th at 6:00 pm at St. Mark s Lutheran Church. The program they will be presenting will be, The Very First Christmas! The evening will include several songs and the students will be portraying characters from the nativity story. Don t miss out on this heartwarming event so mark your calendar now! The students in grades 1-8 will be presenting their Christmas program entitled, Color It Joyful on Saturday, December 15th at 6:00 pm at St. Mark s Lutheran Church. Colors play a big part in our lives. God created color for our enjoyment as we view the wonders of nature s colorful animals and plants. God also gave us color to represent our sin and salvation. Colors are often mentioned in scripture, from the reddest crimson to the whitest snow. Come and see the students present this color-filled Christmas worship service and celebrate the birth of Christ! There is an undecorated Christmas tree just inside the front door of the school by the office called our Warming Tree! The children are encouraged to bring new mittens, gloves, hats, scarfs, and socks of all sizes to put on the tree. The items collected will be taken to Peace Lutheran Church in conjunction with their Angel Tree program. As you do your Christmas shopping, consider purchasing an extra pair of mittens, gloves, socks, or a warm hat for our Warming Tree. It would be greatly appreciated. Let s see how full we can get our tree! 6
St. Mark Sports Sun., Dec 2 B BB Red Bud Lutheran C Tourney continues Away TBA Mon., Dec 3 B BB @ St. John, Chester (C, B, A) Away 6:00 pm Thurs., Dec 6 B BB vs St. John s Lutheran, Red Bud (C, B, A) Home 6:00 pm Fri., Dec 7 & Sat., Dec 8 B BB C team tournament @ St. John s, Catholic, Red Bud continues Away TBA Community Calendar Check the bulletin board in the narthex for more information. December 30, 3 p.m. To mark the Christmas season, the musicians of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church are presenting a special service featuring John Leavitt s A Midnight Clear. The service features favorite carols interspersed with scripture lessons and includes the choir, the orchestra and congregational hymn singing. Please join us on Sunday, December 30, at 3pm at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1300 Beltline Road, Collinsville, IL. For additional information please call 618-344-3151. 7
Christ Our Savior Lutheran High School Thank you for supporting our End of the Year Giving Campaign! The gifts you have shared are greatly appreciated. FFA Fundraiser: The COS FFA is selling beef sticks and summer sausage from now until December 4. Contact FFA advisor Lisa Luebkemann at enroll@coslhs.org if you would like to make a purchase. Toy & Food Drive: The COS Student council is holding a toy and food drive as well as adopting a needy family. If you would like to help by donating non-perishable food items and/or a new toy please drop your donation off at COS. Toys may also be dropped off at Dollar General in Waterloo. Help us promote COS: Stop by COS and pick up a free yard sign to put in your yard or business. Calling Thrivent Members: If you are a member of Thrivent and are willing to help COS at no cost to you, please consider organizing or participating in a Thrivent Action Team. Each Thrivent member is eligible to lead two project teams per year. Every project team is given up to $250 along with organizational materials to help make their project successful. We have many projects that would help further the mission of COS. We can even help you fill out the application. Contact mchristman@coslhs.org for more information. 8
St. Mark s Weekly Calendar Sat., Dec. 1 6:00 p.m. Worship Service Sun., Dec. 2 9:00 a.m. Worship Service w/communion 10:15 a.m. Bible Study Mon., Dec. 3 1:00 p.m. Coulterville Care Center 7:00 p.m. Board of Trustees Tues., Dec. 4 7:00 p.m. Board of Evangelism Board of Stewardship Wed., Dec. 5 8:25 a.m. School Chapel 10:00 a.m. Bible Class 5:30 p.m. Fellowship Meal 6:00 p.m. Adult Choir 7:00 p.m. Advent Worship Thurs., Dec. 6 Fri., Dec. 7 Sat., Dec. 8 Sun., Dec. 9 Food Pantry Donations 6:00 p.m. Pre-K/K Christmas Program Food Pantry Donations 9:00 a.m. Worship Service 10:15 a.m. Bible Study 9
MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, through worship, education, outreach, fellowship, and service. WORSHIP SCHEDULE Saturdays @ 6:00 p.m. Sundays @ 9:00 a.m. Accessible Service @ 10:00 a.m. on 2 nd Thursdays HOLY COMMUNION Holy Communion is celebrated every weekend, the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month at the 9:00 a.m. service and at the 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening service before the second and fourth Sundays of the month. ST. MARK S IS A MEMBER CONGREGATION & SCHOOL OF We believe and confess the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church is faithful and true to the Bible and we strive for a balanced Law/Gospel practice of same. 10