FEBRUARY 12, 2017 CONGREGATION ANNOUNCEMENTS RENOVATION UPDATE ASBESTOS REMOVAL Work on removal of asbestos from the chancel construction area started on Monday, Feb. 6th. We are pleased to report that the asbestos removal project has gone very efficiently, and all work was complete as of Friday, Feb. 10th. With asbestos removal complete, the rest of the project will be initiated. Our contractor will be performing work per the contract. Even though there aren t asbestos concerns from this time forward, the church proper will be dusty, with construction equipment in that area. Please refrain from walking into church to have a look at the progress. We will let you know when there is something that can be seen. Thanks in advance for your cooperation on this item. We will continue to meet in the basement for church services. Come early and enjoy the hot coffee that will be available before each service in the basement! FELLOWSHIP TIME Today after our church service, we will gather for an extended time to enjoy refreshments and fellowship. We invite you to remain in the basement during this time. SUNDAY SCHOOL/BIBLE STUDY All are also invited to attend the Adult Bible Class and Sunday School which will begin at 10:30 AM. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY? The St. Mark Strategic Planning Committee would like to gauge the congregation's interest in starting small group Bible studies of 6-10 people hosted in member homes or meeting at an arranged location. Would you be interested in participating in one of these small group Bible studies? Please be sure to fill out an interest survey and return it to Greg Holzhueter or another member of the St. Mark Strategic Planning
KINDERGARTEN ROUNDUP Mark your calendars for our annual kindergarten roundup March 9th a chance for potential students and their families to see what our classroom and curriculum is like. If you know of anyone that may be interested in attending, please let them know of this opportunity on the evening of Thursday, March 9. RISEN SAVIOR SCHOOL BUDGETS ST. MARK PORTION St. Mark & St. Paul s churches are responsible for the portion of the Risen Savior budget that is not covered by tuition from the families. This school year, those ratios by church were shifted significantly, since Risen Savior enrolled several mission students that come from St. Mark families. St. Paul s portion of the budget dropped by $15,000 this school year, while the St. Mark portion jumped to over $100,000. It was an unusual circumstance with one church dropping by a large amount while the other had a large increase. It was never intended that one congregation get a large drop because the school added mission students from the other church. Our brothers at St. Paul s gave this situation some careful consideration. At their Jan. 29th Voters Meeting, they voted to increase the St. Paul s contribution to the churches portion by $10,000. That means the St. Mark portion for this school year is now $10,000 less than what is reflected in our church budgets. This is an extremely generous showing of support from St. Paul s, and we are very thankful to them for their actions. Now our objective is to provide the lower amount we need for the Risen Savior budget prior to June 30, 2017. We pray that our members continue to generously support our church and school operations. Light of Faith is organizing a PROGRESSIVE DINNER for Saturday, February 25, 2017 beginning at 4 PM. Look for the sign-up sheet at the bottom of the basement stairs, and use this to indicate interest in hosting (may co-host) and/or attending so that we can plan accordingly. This is an event for those over age 21. Please indicate your interest in this event by February 19. 2
Adrian Lo Faculty Recital, Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 7 pm in the YFAC Theater - Adrian Lo performs a faculty recital with a full slate of guest musicians, plus Mankato's RakStar Fusion belly dancers. The music of Peter Ostroushko, Steve Cloutier, Beats Antique, Dreadnaughts, Taraf de Haïdouks and more will be performed. Free, and open to the public. Art Lecture and Reception - Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 pm in the YFAC gallery. Painter Anna Leigh Biedenbender is an artist currently working in St. Paul and Minneapolis, MN. She received her Bachelor of Art in Art at WLC in Milwaukee, WI, and in 2016 received her Master of Fine Arts degree in Visual Art at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Beidenbender's work will be on display February 16 - March 25. New Music Recital, Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7 pm in Trinity Chapel. In this recital, Bethany students showcase compositions they have written during the academic year. All pieces, representing many musical genres, are performed by Bethany students and Bethany music ensembles. Free, and open to the public. UPCOMING EVENTS: Wind Symphony Sacred Concert February 12, 3:00 pm, Chapel of the Christ Winter Play: Agatha Christie s Mousetrap: February 17-18, 7:30 pm, and February 19, 2:00 pm, MLC Auditorium, Admission - $8 and $4 (at the door only) MVL FOOD SERVICE ASSISTANT OPENING Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School has a part-time position open in the food service at MVL. This position is for about 6 to 6.5 hours per day during the school year. Tasks include: food prep and service, washing dishes and clean up. Individuals interested in this position should contact MVL Principal Tim Plath at 507-354-6851 or tplath@mvlhs.org. 3
MUCH NEEDED WATER Help train and send mission-minded refugees from North America to Ethiopia to spread the Gospel and health education KingdomWorkers.com/SouthSudan HELP SHARE GOD S LOVE IN ETHIOPIA Thousands of South Sudanese refugees live in camps like the one in Gambella, Ethiopia pictured above. Help send 8 WELS volunteers to assist with access to clean water and to minister to the spiritual needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Your gift will help offset the $3,000 per volunteer cost of this project. Text KWSUDAN to 41444 on your mobile phone to donate directly to this project. Or find out more at: www.kingdomworkers.com/southsudan. SOUTH SUDAN CRISIS QUICK FACTS Approximately 100,000 refugees live in the U.S.A. Around 750,000 refugees have scattered to Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda Nearly 1.7 million people are displaced inside of South Sudan THE GOAL 1) Kingdom Workers will train up a team of South Sudanese refugees in WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) along with community development principles. 2) The South Sudan Ministry Team (WELS Project) in partnership with KW will send the team to facilitate various health-related workshops regarding WASH and helping to train other community health advocates that are members of Gambella, Ethiopia community and friends of the church. 4
FINANCIAL STATUS AS OF 1/25/17 Cash and Pledges: Remaining Debt: $1,207,878 $370,971 The recent Matching Challenge was a great success! Thank you for your contributions. ST. MARK CONTRIBUTION REPORT January Total Received: $15,008.08 February General: $4,759.00 February Narthex: $365.00 Total received month to date: $5,124.00 Needed monthly to cover expenses: $20,361.17 CHURCH ATTENDANCE: 2/5/2017 87 5
T W S S Sun 2/12 9:00 AM Worship 10:30 AM Sunday School and Bible Class Ushers: Doug Elling Roger Hauch Greeters: John and Ruth Schwertfeger Mon 2/13 3:45 PM Public School Confirmation Class Tues 2/14 Pastors Conference in LeSueur 6:30 PM Handbells Matt Johnson Hank Johnson Wed 2/15 8:20 AM RSLS Chapel 6:30 PM RSLS School Board Meeting at RSLS Thurs 2/16 8:20 AM RSLS Confirmation Class Fri 2/17 8:15 AM Women s Bible Class Sat 2/18 New 2 You Workers Sun 2/19 9:00 AM Worship 10:30 AM Sunday School and Bible Class Ushers: Robert Klindworth John Scholtes Andy Matthews Matt Schumann Greeters: Walt Baumann 6:00 PM Elders Meeting 7:00 PM Church Council Meeting ELDER OF THE MONTH: Mark Sexton M : Millie Gunnink Keystone Communities P P In order to submit items for publication in our church bulletin, please send to StMarkSecretary01@gmail.com. Items for use on the projection screen can be sent to StMarkProjection@gmail.com. To receive these announcements in your email, please indicate your interest with a message to StMarkSecretary01@gmail.com. 6