144 th Year December 15 & 16, 2018 THIRD 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 For the family and friends of Elizabeth Middendorf who died on December 11, 2018. 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 Lavera Biermann Mildred Eggemeyer 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 The Church gathers to thank God and ask for faith to trust in His gift of a Savior. For the following, we pray Lord, have mercy. For opportunities to proclaim the Gospel in this season. When the world is open to hearing the story of Christmas, may we be unashamed in our witness. That all Christians might see the needs of their neighbor and love with the love of Christ. Poinsettia Order Forms are located at each door and the deadline for orders is December 19 th. 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, 12/16... Isaiah 32:1-20; Revelation 4:1-11 Monday, 12/17... Isaiah 33:1-24; Revelation 5:1-14 Tuesday, 12/18... Isaiah 34:1-2, 8 35:10; Revelation 6:1-17 Wednesday, 12/19... Isaiah 40:1-17; Revelation 7:1-17 Thursday, 12/20...Isaiah 40:18 41:10; Revelation 8:1-13 Friday, 12/21... Isaiah 42:1-25; Revelation 9:1-12 Saturday, 12/22...Isaiah 43:1-24; Revelation 9:13 10:11 3
Our Stewardship of Time & Talents December 22/23 Altar Guild: Loretta Luedemann, Sharon Vallett Acolytes: Sat. Logan Bartens, Evan Buch; Sun. Cayton Cratch, Jaret Ehlers Greeters: Sat. Christa Parker; Sun. Herman & Darlene Mayer Elders: Sat. Willard Knop, Verlin Lorenz; Sun. Marvin Bartens Organist: Carol Lowe December 15/16 Altar Guild: Carol Hamilton, Loretta Luedemann Organist: Carl Handel Acolytes: Sat. Andrew Welten, Christian Zimmer; Sun. Carter & Cooper Wasson Greeters: Sat. Leonard Lampe; Sun. Shirley Hornbostel Elders: Sat. Verlin Lorenz, Steve Smith; Sun. Jim Mevert, Andy Gerlach Attendance Worship, 12/8-9; Sat.: 396; Sun.: 83 Midweek Advent, 12/12: 45 Bible Study: Sun.: 15; Wed.: 5 Accessible Service 12/13: 39 Upcoming Holiday Services Wednesday, December 19 7:00 pm. Heavenly Peace: Hope Choir Concert Saturday, December 22 6:00 pm. Fourth Sunday in Advent Sunday, December. 23 9:00 am. Fourth Sunday in Advent Monday, December 24 6:00 pm. Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship 10:30 pm. Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Tuesday, December 25 9:00 am. Christmas Day Worship 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. 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. 5
ST. MARK S LUTHERAN SCHOOL NOTES Pastor William Engfehr will lead us in chapel on Wednesday, December 19th. Our offering will be designated to the Lutheran Hour Ministries. Everyone is invited to attend our weekly chapel service that begins around 8:25 am at the church weather permitting. Monday, December 17th is the last day to bring new mittens, gloves, hats, scarfs, and socks of all sizes to put on our warming tree. The items collected will be taken to Peace Lutheran Church in conjunction with their Angel Tree program. Thanks to everyone who has already donated. St. Mark s Beta Club will be having their Christmas movie themed party Monday, December 17th from 5-7 pm! Members are asked to dress up as their favorite Christmas movie. If you wish to participate in the game, please bring a white elephant gift for the gift exchange. Don t forget your items to make homemade pizzas too! All students in attendance on Thursday, December 20th, will be treated to free pizza from Casey s for lunch provided by the school! This will include any Pre-k 3 students through 8th grade. Also, in addition to their class parties grade K-8 will be going bowling at the American Legion Bowl in town. Kindergarten through 4th will be bowling from 11:00-12:00 and 5th-8th will be bowling at 12:00 noon. There will be no cost for pizza or bowling on this fun day! St. Mark s wishes each of their families a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year! December dismissal times for Pre-K through 8th grade: Thurs., Dec. 20 PreK 3 ONLY! Its Christmas party time and PJ/stuffed animal day! Dismissal is at 1:25 pm. Thurs., Dec 20 1:30 pm K-8 Early dismissal for Christmas break! Have a blessed Christmas and a great New Year! 6
St. Mark s Weekly Calendar Sat., Dec. 15 6:00 p.m. 1-8 Grade Christmas Program Sun., Dec. 16 9:00 a.m. Worship Service w/communion 10:15 a.m. Bible Study Mon., Dec. 17 2:00 p.m. Randolph County NH Tues., Dec. 18 Wed., Dec. 19 8:25 a.m. School Chapel 10:00 a.m. Bible Class 6:00 p.m. Adult Choir 7:00 p.m. Advent Worship/Choir Concert Thurs., Dec. 20 Fri., Dec. 21 Sat., Dec. 22 6:00 p.m. Worship Service w/communion Sun., Dec. 23 9:00 a.m. Worship Service 10:15 a.m. Bible Study NOVEMBER 2018 FINANCIAL SUMMARY Income: Church -------------------------------------------- $ 39,769.40 School -------------------------------------------- $ 12,095.91 Total Income -------------------------------- $ 51,865.31 Expenses: --------------------------------------------- $ 48,611.10 Net Gain in November ------------------------------ $ 3,254.21 7
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. 8