St. Mark s Church 701 S. Wolcott Casper, WY 82601 December 2018 St. Mark s Church~ Joyfully & Unconditionally Welcoming All People What s Inside? Kitchen Remodel Progress Cookie Exchange Annual Christmas Caroling Blue Christmas Advent Soup Suppers Veteran's Day Getting to know me Laura Nickerson with Children s Chapel Telling Stories from Tanzania Vestry Highlights Oil City Slickers 50th Anniversary Lord Prayer Greeters Office Hours Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Friday s in December 9-2 pm Office Phone: (307) 234-0831 Email address: stmarkscasper5@gmail.com Website: stmarkscasper.com
New Parish Hall Entrance with Kitchen Remodel Progress With the help of Christmas Angels we hope to be done by Christmas! Cookie Exchange In December, the Fellowship Committee will be sponsoring a fifth Annual event - A Christmas cookie exchange. Bring a dozen and take home a dozen. December 16th will be the Sunday for all to participate in a stir-up pudding event after the service. Everyone is encouraged do some stirring of the pudding that will then be served following the Christmas Eve services.
Mark your calendar for December 16 and join us for our Annual Christmas Caroling. We hope to reach those unable to get out to enjoy some of the holiday joy. Please call the office if you have a request or know of someone we can visit. We will meet at St. Mark's at 5:00 pm and be taking the church bus. Refreshments to follow at the Hrnicek home, 1200 Hawthorne Ave. Caroling Blue Christmas December 18th 5:00 PM Not everyone is up and cheery for the Christmas holidays. This service hope to address those who might be grieving a loss of any kind, a death, separation, divorce, critical illness or any other reason. Advent Meals Back by popular demand We will share soup and bread meals with the Lutherans down the street. (Our Savior s Lutheran). During three Wednesdays in advent. (Dec. 5th,12th,19th). Dinner and fellowship from 6-7 pm at OSL. And the beautiful and beautifully sung Holden Evening Prayer Liturgy from 7-7:30 pm at OSL. Please bring a donation towards the meal.
Veteran's Day November 11th 2018 In honor of Veteran's Day, the children gathered with Fr. Jim and the Veterans of St. Mark to thank and pray for the Veterans. Upstairs in Children's Chapel, the children discussed how Veterans gave a piece of themselves for us, just as Jesus gave himself for us. Then, instead of making their own art pieces as they usually do, each child made a unique piece to give to each other, and then they used the pieces from each other to create something unique. Laura Nickerson with St. Mark s Children s Chapel Laura Nickerson grew up in St. Mark s and is now helping other children learn how to worship. Children s Chapel is not a traditional Sunday school with lessons: it is a worship service designed for and led by children 3 to 12 years old. They light candles, have a morning prayer, sing a morning song, and have a wonder session based on the scripture read and sermon Father Jim talks about in the adult worship session. Laura has four children of her own (Carlin, Harvey, Arthur and Mable) ranging from one to five years old, and two of them attend the Children s Chapel. Though she attended Episcopal churches during college in Laramie and Tucson, she felt right at home to come back to her family s church. As a speech language pathologist with a background in early childhood education, she brings experience of her studies to the Children s Chapel. One of our worship lessons is to teach and practice the Lord s Prayer so that children feel they can join the adults or pray on their own, Laura explained. Children s Chapel meets right after the Children s sermon at St. Mark s. A nursery is also available for younger children. All 3-12 year olds are encouraged to join in their own unique worship session, according to Laura.
December Schedules MINISTRY SCHEDULES LESSONS Acolytes: Altar Guild: Coffee: Goodies: Tellers: Ushers: Lector: HP: Acolytes: Altar Guild: Coffee: Goodies: Tellers: Ushers: Lector: HP: Chalice: Acolytes: Altar Guild: Coffee: Goodies: Tellers: Ushers: Lector: HP: Deacon: Acolytes: Altar Guild: Coffee: Goodies: Tellers: Ushers: Lector: HP: December 2nd, 2018 Jackson Schroeder, Lea Miller, and Abby Miller Claudia Wilson, Sandi Aeilts, & Dyann Durst Kurt Gilbert & Susan Massey Vickie Jasmann Lara Gilbert Nimi McConigley, Meganne Acres, & Laurie Reese December 9th, 2018 Addy Harris, Lea Miller, Aiden Schroeder, and Rowan Harris Cheryl Nickerson & Kim McAtee Kathy Morton & Cheryl Nickerson Jane Clemmons Susan Massey Steve Johnson, John Kerns, & Dick Lindsey Barb Milligan December 16th, 2018 Emma Muir/ Jackson Schroeder, Abby Miller, and Lea Miller Elaine Hough & Elizabeth Jennings Steve Johnson & Dick Lindsey Lyn George Donna Mathern Clint Hernandez, Bob Tanner, & Susan Massey December 18th Blue Christmas Lara Gilbert Lara Gilbert, Nancy Johnson, & Steve Johnson December 23rd, 2018 Emma Muir/ Lea Miller, Aiden Schroeder, Rowan Harris, and Abby Miller Claudia Wilson, Sandi Aeilts, & Elaine Hough Kurt Gilbert & TBA Barb Milligan Steve Johnson Claudia Wilson, Laurie Reese, & Meganne Acres Jeremiah 33:14-16 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36 Psalm 25:1-9 Baruch 5:1-9 or Malachi 3:1-4 Philippians 1:3-11 Luke 3:1-6 Canticle 4 or 16 Zephaniah 3:14-20 Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:7-18 Canticle 9 Micah 5:2-5a Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 1:39-45, (46-55) Canticle 15 (or 3) or Psalm 80:1-7 (Continued )
Acolytes: Altar Guild: Coffee: Goodies: Tellers: Ushers: Lector: HP: December Schedules MINISTRY SCHEDULES Christmas Eve Services 4 :00 pm TBA Sandi Aeilts, Claudia Wilson, & Elaine Hough Volunteers Volunteers Mark McAtee & TBA Bobby Kittinger Steve Johnson Kathy Morton, Nancy Engstrom, & Barb Milligan LESSONS Acolytes: Altar Guild: Coffee: Goodies: Tellers: Ushers: Lector: HP: Christmas Eve Services 9:00 pm TBA Sandi Aeilts, Claudia Wilson, & Elaine Hough Volunteers Volunteers Mark McAtee & TBA Sue Blevins Steve Johnson Susan Massey, Bob Tanner, & John Kerns Christmas Morning Prayer 10:00 am Nancy Engstrom Acolytes: Altar Guild: Coffee: Goodies: Tellers: Ushers: Lector: HP: December 30th, 2018 Emma Muir, Jackson Schroeder, Isabelle Brown, and Aiden Schroeder Jane Cassel & Kim McAtee Traute Gilbert & TBA Kurt Gilbert & Pam Lesino Traute Gilbert Steve Johnson & Kathy Morton Lessons and Carols TELLING STORIES FROM TANZANIA with Peter Nicolaysen and Meganne Acres December 9th, 2018 following worship in the Guild Room St. Mark s guest Wi-Fi password: John3:16
November Vestry Highlights: Reviewed and discussed the Proposed 2019 Budget. Contact Kim McAtee, Fr. Shumard, Rev. Gilbert or any vestry members if you have input for next year's budget. Accepted a Bus Usage Proposal for use of the church bus. Parishioners are encouraged to use the bus for ministry travel, which will increase our visibility in the community. Contact church office for more details on bus usage guidelines. Discussed recent vandalism in the church and possible ways to deter further activity. The number of children attending St. Mark s Preschool has increased and Board President Donna Mathern expressed her appreciation to the Vestry for the donation of space for the preschool. The next vestry meeting will be held Sunday, December 16 ten minutes after the conclusion of worship. We welcome visitors to our meetings! (Winter vestry meetings have been moved to Sundays so vestry members don t have to travel in adverse conditions in the dark.) Please join us this Christmas Season at St. Mark s Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist Services at 4:00 pm and 9:00 pm Christmas Day Morning Prayer Service at 10:00 am Sandy Updike s Beautiful Great Grandchildren
Into Christ 2018 Dece Sun Mon Tue 2 9 am Sunday Service with Children s Chapel 3 12 pm Al-Anon 6:15 pm Tri-Parish Book Group @ St. Stephen s 7:00 pm Worship Leaders Mtg. 4 9:30 am Engaging Scripture 12 pm Soul Knitters 4-5:30 pm CCC 5-8 pm Cub/Boy Scouts 5 7:30 am 9-3 pm 11:15 am 12:15-12:45 4:30 pm 6:00 pm 6:00 pm 7:00 pm 9 9 am Sunday Service with Children s Chapel 10:30 am Telling stories from Tanzania w/meganne A. & Peter N. 10:30 am Basic Episcopal Basics 10 12 pm Al-Anon 6:15 pm Tri-Parish Book Group @ St. Stephen s 11 9:30 am Engaging Scripture 12 pm Soul Knitters 4-5:30 pm CCC 6:30 pm Daughters of the King 5-8 pm Cub/Boy Scouts 12 7:30 am 9-3 pm 11:15 am 12:15-12:45 4:30 pm 6:00 pm 6:00 pm 7:00 pm 16 9 am Sunday Service with Children s Chapel 10:30 am Cookie Exchange w/ Stir-up Pudding 10:35 am Vestry Meeting 5:00 pm Christmas Caroling 17 12 pm Al-Anon 6:15 pm Tri-Parish Book Group @ St. Stephen s 18 9:30 am Engaging Scripture 12 pm Soul Knitters 5-8 pm Cub/Boy Scouts 5:00 pm Blue Christmas 6:30 pm CCC Concert @ Highland Park 19 7:30 am 9-3 pm 11:15 am 12:15-12:45 4:30 pm 6:00 pm 6:00 pm 7:00 pm 23 9 am Sunday Service with Children s Chapel 10:30 am# 27th Diaper Day & Food Pantry 24 Christmas Eve! Office Closed 4:00 pm Holy Eucharist Services 9:00 pm Holy Eucharist Services 25 Christmas! Office Closed 10:00 am Morning Prayer 26 7:30 a 9-3 pm 30 9 am Sunday Service with Children s Chapel 31 New Years Eve! Office Closed 12 pm Al-Anon
mber 2018 Out to Serve Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 7:30 am Brotherhood of St. Andrew Eucharist 6 7 8 Office Hrs. Human Condition Bach Lunch EFM Youth Group-OSL OSL Soup OSL Holden EP 5-6:30 pm CCC 6:00 pm Choir 7:00 pm Barbershop 9-2 pm Office Hrs. 2:00 pm Engstrom Rehearsal 7:30 am Brotherhood of St. Andrew 9:00 am Acolyte Meeting Soren and Ashton s Wedding Eucharist 13 14 15 Office Hrs. Human Condition Bach Lunch EFM Youth Group-OSL OSL Soup OSL Holden EP 6:00 pm Choir 7:00 pm Barbershop 9-2 pm Office Hrs. 7:30 am Brotherhood of St. Andrew Eucharist 20 21 22 Office Hrs. Human Condition Bach Lunch EFM Youth Group-OSL OSL Soup OSL Holden EP 6:00 pm Choir 7:00 pm Barbershop 9-2 pm Office Hrs. 5:30 pm Brass Rehearsal m Eucharist 27 28 29 Office Hrs. 6:00 pm Choir 7:00 pm Barbershop
All Saints Sunday November 4th 2018 with Baptism
Holy Baptism
Cross Roads Ministry is back in full operation Alleluia!! The new director is Brenda Boles, whose other callings includes Victim Services work and a Detention Center women s ministry, leads our group of 8-12 women in bible study, building community and service projects. We meet Wednesdays at Restoration Church and are part of the lunch crew that serves Kelly Walsh students. Other community service we have done: for Rescued Treasures inventory and restock of merchandise; stuffed Suicide Prevention packets for the Casper Police Department; plus weighed and packed school and medical supplies for Vision Beyond Borders. Once a month we have a craft project recently we made autumn wreaths for the guests at Wyoming Rescue Mission and table candles for the Daughters of the King ceremony. Kitchen has dropped from our name but we are still women rising up from distressful situations, blessed by God and supported spiritually, nutritionally and financially through Cross Roads. We welcome service, work, or craft ideas along with those interested in Meal Provider (served once a month) or the Prayer Ministries to contact Brenda Boles cross307roads@gmail.com. Thank you for your continued prayers and support of Cross Roads, Nancy Stanley Casper Cross Roads Ministries, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 non-profit that began at St. Mark s through the Mustard Seed Project and gifts from the Foundation for the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming. Currently our board members are Mark Mathern, Cindy King, Sam Knight, Jill Smylie, Robert Johnson, and Meganne Acres Brenda Boles
Every girl deserves a chance to live, to dream, to love Our Little Roses is a home for girls located in San Pedro Sula, Honduras a huge sprawling industrial city currently listed as one of the poorest and most dangerous places in Latin America. Founded in 1988 - the vision of Dr. Diana Frade - Our Little Roses rescues children from impossible situations of abandonment, abuse and neglect adopting them into the home where they become a part of a large extended family. Starting in a small rented house with 26 girls. Its unique ministry drew the attention of officials in the city of San Pedro who donated land where the home was able to expand to provide a home for 76 girls. To this day there is no other institution in Honduras dedicated to building lives, while preparing and equipping once homeless girls to enter middle class society. Other ministries housed within the walled campus include Holy Family Bilingual School, chapel and B & B hostel. Since its inception, a retreat and a medical and dental clinic have been added to its outreach ministries. It is also the place where my daughter Christine served as a missionary for two years teaching English in the Bilingual School. It was during that time that Don and I got the chance to see the wonder of this home. OLR is a ministry that has become close to our hearts. It changes lives. But maybe even more importantly, it is a symbol that brings hope in the midst of despair showing what can happen when we Our Outreach Committee has been supporting this ministry for many years now. If you would like to join them by learning about and supporting a girl at the home please see their website at www.ourlittleroses.org. In Christ s Love, the Rev. Kathy Robinson People of faith both within and from without a community work together to show Christ s love.
Oil City Slicker s 50th Anniversary
Rector s Schedule Annually, I like to remind you that I am usually in the office at on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings unless someone has invited me to breakfast and yes that is a hint. I usually work from home on Monday mornings and of course I celebrate Eucharist every Wednesday morning at 7:30. You can always see me on Wednesday evenings at Youth Group at 6:00 or our discussion groups on Monday nights at 6:15 at St. Stephens (That too is a hint.). I try to take most Fridays off but I am always available by cell phone (912 844-7412) and the cell phone is the best way to get in touch with me anytime. As most of you know, my other offices are gathered around various coffee houses throughout Casper and I like to visit you in your homes or offices. Matthew and I will fly to Savannah after the Christmas Eve service and return Friday, January 11th. I will maintain daily contact with our office through email and with you through phone, text or email if you need to contact me. I am sure the Vestry and I will be in regular contact as well. Fr. Jim+ Deacon Lara Gilbert will handle any Pastoral Emergencies while I am gone but she and I will be in constant contact. Let s Pray Together every day during the season of Advent We installed a new order of the Daughters of the King a few weeks ago and their focus for this next year will be on The Lord s Prayer and I would like to suggest that our entire parish agree to pray the Lord s Prayer twice daily, when we wake an before we sleep. We were reminded in our Monday night Book Study that the Israelites prayed the Shema daily in their waking another sleeping: Hear O Israel the Lord your God is one! This kept them grounded in their faith. I believe The Lord s Prayer can do that for us! I remember at Princess Diana s funeral when the Lord s Prayer was said, that the TV cameras split the screen between those saying it in Asia, Africa, the Americas, etc. What a powerful icon of unity. I pray you will join me in that unifying prayer that Jesus gave to his disciples which includes you and me. Fr. Jim+ Do you have 20 extra minutes on Sunday mornings? That s the amount of time we are asking greeters or volunteers to welcome people each Sunday morning. We are seeking pairs of people whether they be a couple or two single people. There will be 2 individuals just outside the new parish hall entrance door off the parking lot and 2 individuals on Wolcott Street. If you are interested in being a greeter (no more than once every 2 months), please fill out one of the service cards in the pews or call the office.
Coffee Hosting Please give Coffee Hosting and/or Ushering a try! Not sure what to do? Come in and help people who are already signed up. They will be happy to share what they know. Then please sign up! Kathy Mortimer 307-265-2541 Sign of the Lion Be an angel and visit the Sign of the Lion during the holiday season! We have inspirational reading, Cave Man jewelry, and much, much more! We are in the closet next to the elevator! We are currently hosting Bach Lunches at St. Mark s. Wednesday afternoons from 12:15 pm to 12:45 pm. Grab your lunch and join us in the sanctuary for some wonderful Bach! The Rest of the Story class will be meeting at 11:15 am in the Guild Room with Colonel Mustard and the candlestick! Casper Children s Chorale This year marks 40 years the Children s Chorale has been rehearsing at St. Mark s Church! They will be having there Chorale and Bel Canto Concert at Highland Park Church on December 18th at 6:30 pm Basic Episcopal Basics Our Basic Episcopal Basics Class has been a huge success! We will focus on how the episcopal church does outreach. Press Steven with the Foundation for the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming will be our guest speaker on December 9th at 10:35 am in the Guild Room with professor plum with a bible! Grant Review The Foundation of the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming approved a $10,000 grant to St. Mark's Hearts to Hands Ministry and $45,000 for Seton House, a grant put together by St. Mark's and St. Stephens. The boxing club of Casper and PAL Police athletic league present Rich Wilson as Sr. Volunteer of the Year! Way to go Rich!