St. Mark s Lutheran Church January 2019 3051 Putnam Blvd. Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 Dear Friend s of St. Mark s, "On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage." Matthew 2: 1-12 Many years ago, I bought a Nativity set for a few dollars at a church rummage sale. All of its figures were thrown in a paper bag. When I got them home, I discovered there were five Wise Men, an extra baby Jesus, and no Joseph. There was a sheep twice the size of the camel. Nevertheless, every year I set it up, using a spare Wise Man for Joseph. This coming Sunday is Epiphany, when we celebrate the Magi visiting the infant Jesus. As the scripture says, the three wise men did not visit the baby Jesus on the night of his birth and were never there in the stable amidst the hay with the camels and the sheep. They actually came to Jesus' house later on. All of our nativity sets are wrong. Not just mine. Most of the time, getting the details right is important. But sometimes it just doesn't matter. Sometimes you can have all the right parts in all the right places at all the right times, and still...something is wrong. Especially at Christmas, when so many work so hard to make things just right. That's why many people are relieved this week. Now we can get back to regular, imperfect life, with its mismatched or missing people, places, and things. Now is when the Wise Men come to see Jesus, the Savior of the world. Epiphany blessings, Pastor Bekah
St. Mark s Congressional Meeting is January 13th between services. We need teachers to volunteer for Sunday School. January Council Retreat coming up on January 12th. Monthly Budget YTD Actual YTD Budget Offering 17,656 17,988 197,868 107,928 Monthly Outreach Giving 2,395 9,128 Total Expenses 17,234 17,988 206,346 107,928 Current financial statements and council minutes are available in the binder on the shelf in the back of the sanctuary. Rwanda Book Club January 27th at coffee hour
January 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 Nursery Care Available 10:30 am Sunday School 11:40 am Confirmation Class This Month January 12th, Council Retreat 8:00 am-1:00 pm January 13th, 9:40 am Congressional Meeting for the Annual Report January 20th, 9:40 am Social Ministry Forum for the Juvenile Hall, Harold Leffel, speaker January 27th, 9:40 am Rwanda Book Club Meeting 2nd Tuesday of the Month Social Ministry Meeting 10:00 am MR Wednesday Crafty Ladies 10:00-2:00 SMC Thursday Night Choir Practice 7:30 pm in SAN Friday Morning Adult Bible Study 10:00 am SMC Saturday Worship Band practices at 10:00 am in the SAN Upcoming Events February 17th, 9:40 am Rwanda Book Club February 24th, Tom Carter, of the San Francisco Night Ministry preaches February 22-24, Sierra Pacific High School Retreat at Mt. Cross March 6, 7:00 pm Ash Wednesday Service Starting Lenten Wednesday Services on March 13th, 7:00 pm March 31st, 10:00 am Combined Service
January Birthdays Date 5 Lois Hickson 9 Guy Erickson 13 Alec Doyle 14 Edith Yuh 21 Daniel Farnitano 27 Joyce Porter
January 2019 Outreach: Juvenile Hall Auxiliary The Juvenile Hall Auxiliary is dedicated to giving young men and women in the juvenile justice system in Contra Costa County a second chance. Through donations and the efforts of volunteers, they are able to provide scholarships, internships, career development, financial assistance, and much more. Their programs were designed to reduce recidivism by forming positive relationships with the young people in our community who need it most, arming them with the skills they need to start over, while offering assistance at every step of their re-entry into society as productive adults ready for a new life. On Sunday, January 20, we will welcome the Executive Director, Harold Leffall, from the Auxiliary, who will speak at the Adult Forum in between the services. Please join us at 9:45 am to learn more about this important organization in our community. He will also do a temple talk at the second service at 10:30 am. How can you help? 1. Attend the forum to learn more about how to offer your time or talents, prayers and advocacy. 2. Consider a monetary donation through St. Mark s (indicate J. H. Auxiliary on your check). 3. You can also donate to or shop at the Hall Closet Thrift Store, located at 100 Glacier Drive, Martinez. Please check the website (www.reachingouryouth.org) for 2019 hours of operation. 4. Finally, just spread the word about the Hall Closet Thrift Store at 100 Glacier Drive, Martinez. It is a really neat thrift store and does so
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 Pianist: Lisa Farnitano 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 1 Corinthians, which is also the focus of the current lectionary. Please contact Lisa Farnitano (lisa.farnitano@gmail.com) or Nichole Coggiola (ncoggiola@hotmail.com) for more information.