The Messenger St. Mark s Lutheran Church 1900 St. Paul Street Baltimore, MD 21218 Phone 410.752.5804 www.stmarksbaltimore.org JANUARY 2016 St. Mark s Lutheran Church Staff Dawns another year, Open it aright; Thou shalt have no fear In its fading light. Pastor... The Rev. Dale W. Dusman Cantor...Mr. James Harp Administrator... Mr. Stephen Kohler Sexton... Mr. Jeffry Spangler Congregation Council Officers President... Mr. Daniel Wilkey Vice President... Ms. Teri Bennett Secretary... Mr. Woodland Pomeroy Treasurer... Mr. William Krim St. Mark s Mission Statement The mission of St. Mark s Church is to embrace diversity, practice hospitality, and make known Christ s presence in word and deed. Newsletter Editor ~ Joseph Krauskopf Mr. Stephen Kohler Webminister... The Rev. Stuart Wright
The Messenger Page 2 JANUARY 2016 Birthdays /Anniversaries January 2016 5 Thomas Barry 6 Gene Miller & Don Zimmerman (A) 7 Phillip Bernache 10 Jimmy Myers 14 Pastor Tom Davison 17 Sue Romanic 23 Ralph Welsh 27 Joyce Moser 31 Pastor Bob Mack FELLOWSHIP HOUR HOSTS January 2016 3 Waetina Coles, Paul Walker 10 Louise & Gil Ricketts 17 Connie & John Lisch 24 Joe Blout, Austin Lee 31 Christine & Warren Bentley
The Messenger Page 3 JANUARY 2016 Indeed, we are at the very beginning of a new year, and with that, Pastor Dusman and Staff wish to give you our best wishes for the year just beginning and ask, too, for your prayers and good will as we continue to work with you to do God s will here at 20 th & St. Paul Streets. If you have not picked up your 2016 offering envelopes, you may find your box of envelopes in your mail slot in the main hallway. If there are questions or concerns, please speak with Paul Walker. While you are in that hall, please not that there is a flower calendar for the year 2016 posted on the bulletin board. The year stretches ahead, pretty much a blank canvas, so signup today for a date that would suit you and sponsor altar flowers. The suggested contribution is $55 per contributor. You may sign up for as many dates as you would like. And, as always, your generous support is very much appreciated. Thank you! Keen Agers Wednesday, 20 January, 10 AM Join us for a program called The First Days of Christianity (DVD). Beginning with Christmas and the early years of Jesus life, this program uses a mixture of science, history, faith, and scholarship to look at Biblical mysteries, and texts, and sacred places associated with the Holy family. Lunch will be served ($5). Make a reservation by calling the church office. ELCA NEWS a letter from Bishop Eaton Dear Muslim Sisters and Brothers, Grace and peace to you. I am writing on behalf of many Christians in this country who wish to share a word of solidarity, love and hope with you in these difficult days. In this season of Advent, we, your Christian neighbors, are preparing to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who commanded that you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart [and] you shall love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31, NRSV). In our love for you, our Muslim neighbors, we are distressed by the ways in which you are being forced to bear the fears held by many in our nation. Therefore, we renew our commitment to find even more effective ways to protect and defend you from words and actions that assault your safety and wellbeing. We believe God calls us to resist what is divisive, discriminatory, xenophobic, racist or violent, and we want you to look to us as allies and friends. The global refugee and migrant crisis and the acts of terror committed in this country and around the world are challenges that demand our collective efforts and our common prayers. Therefore, we will seek to stand shoulder to shoulder with you as agents of peace, justice, understanding, welcome and reconciliation for the sake of the world that God so loves. In this holy season, when we anticipate the light that the darkness cannot overcome (John 1:5, NRSV), we are reminded of God s gift of life abundant for all. Together with you, we are committed to building a stronger society based on the dignity of each human being, the value of diversity, the holiness of creation and the common good. We pledge our partnership and invite our local communities into continued dialogue and engagement to this end. In peace, The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton Presiding Bishop Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Messenger Page 4 JANUARY 2016 Several Questions to ask ourselves at the start of the year... How might I help St. Mark s become a more effective witness to Christ s love? What might I do to welcome the stranger in our midst? Is there a volunteer position I might take on or agree to assist with? Might I consider serving on the Congregation Council? A Committee? Am I willing to pray for guidance with respect to these questions or any other issues pertaining to the church? These questions are meant to be suggestive only, and are intended to help us all take a look at our commitment to membership at St. Mark s Church. A Word of Gratitude At the risk of forgetting someone, I will issue a general THANK YOU to all those who showed up to help decorate and otherwise prepare for our Christmas celebrations this year. It took a lot of hands and we were pleased to welcome some new hands to the endeavor of decorating and setting up. Once again, we have proved that many hands make light work. Stephen Kohler I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. [Psalm 122, vss. 1-2] Souper Bowl of Caring Once again we plan to participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring this month in support of our neighbor organization the At Jacob s Well. This year there is a reward opportunity for all who participate. Each time an individual makes a $5 donation to Souper Bowl of Caring they will be entered into a drawing for a hand-crocheted afghan. The drawing will take place on Super Bowl Sunday, February 7th. For more information, please contact Paul Walker. HOPE-FULL LIVING The Daily Devotion booklet, Hope-Full Living is now available for you to take home with you. We have a limited number of these devotionals available at a first come, first serve basis. Hope-Full Living is a devotional designed specifically for Seniors and is especially appropriate for many of us here at St. Mark s. You may want to take a look at a copy and if interested order a year s subscription for yourself. Thank you! Prayer List We are happy to publish (weekly) a list of members and friends who have asked for our prayers. To add a name to the list, please contact the office. Thank you!
The Messenger Page 5 JANUARY 2016 Serving Schedule January 2016 3 January Epiphany of Our Lord Assisting Minister Deacon Sue Romanic Sub Deacon Paul Walker John Schultz Torches L. Flake, A. Huka Thurifer Woodland Pomeroy Waetina Coles Petitioner Mark Schultz N. Hunt, P. Walker 10 January - Baptism of Our Lord 31 January 4 th Sunday after Epiphany Assisting Minister Deacon Sue Romanic Daniel Wilkey Louise Ricketts Ralph Welsh Petitioner James Hicks B.Hanson, J. Hoyle 7 February Transfiguration of Our Lord Assisting Minister Petitioner Teri Bennett Richard Spittel Louise Ricketts Paul Walker Barbara Hanson J. Hoyle, A. Huka Assisting Minister Petitioner Paul Walker Teri Bennett Louis Flake Charlotte Floyd Barbara Hanson Carole Conors L. Flake, A. Lee 17 January 2 nd Sunday after Epiphany Assisting Minister Paul Walker Audrey Huka Graham Poole Susan Payne Petitioner Stephen Kohler L. Flake, G. Ricketts 24 January 3 rd Sunday after Epiphany 14 February 1 st Sunday in Lent Assisting Minister Deacon Connie Lisch Richard Spittel John Schultz Adam Dundore Petitioner Daniel Wilkey Carole Conors J. Lisch, S. Surrey Assisting Minister Petitioner Deacon Connie Lisch Louis Flake John Schultz Woodland Pomeroy Sharon Manson C. Byerly, P. Walker
The Messenger Page 6 JANUARY 2016 Daily Lectionary January 1 Name of Jesus Numbers 6:22-27 Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:15-21 2 Psalm 147:12-20 Proverbs 1:1-7 James 3:13-18 3 Epiphany of our Lord, celebrated Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12 4 Psalm 72 Isaiah 6:1-5 Acts 7:44-53 5 Psalm 72 Jeremiah 31:7-14 John 1:1-18 6 Psalm 72 Job 42:10-17 Luke 8:16-21 7 Psalm 29 Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 8 Psalm 29 Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 1 Corinthians 2:1-10 9 Psalm 29 Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 1 Corinthians 2:11-16 10 Baptism of Our Lord Isaiah 43:1-7 Acts 8:14-17 Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 11 Psalm 106:1-12 Judges 4:1-16 Ephesians 6:10-17 12 Psalm 106:1-12 Judges 5:12-21 1 John 5:13-21 13 Psalm 106:1-12 Numbers 27:1-11 Luke 11:33-36 14 Psalm 36:5-10 Jeremiah 3:1-5 Acts 8:18-24 15 Psalm 36:5-10 Jeremiah 3:19-25 1 Corinthians 7:1-7 16 Psalm 36:5-10 Jeremiah 4:1-4 Luke 11:14-23 17 Second Sunday after the Epiphany Isaiah 62:1-5 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 John 2:1-11 18 Psalm 145 Isaiah 54:1-8 Romans 12:9-21 19 Psalm 145 Song of Solomon 4:1-8 1 Corinthians 1:3-17 20 Psalm 145 Song of Solomon 4:9 5:1 Luke 5:33-39 21 Psalm 19 Isaiah 61:1-7 Romans 7:1-6 22 Psalm 19 Nehemiah 2:1-10 Romans 12:1-8 23 Psalm 19 Nehemiah 5:1-13 Luke 2:39-52 24 Third Sunday after the Epiphany Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Luke 4:14-21 25 Psalm 119:89-96 Jeremiah 36:1-10 1 Corinthians 14:1-12 26 Psalm 119:89-96 Jeremiah 26:11-26 2 Corinthians 7:2-12 27 Psalm 119:89-96 Jeremiah 36:27-32 Luke 4:38-44 28 Psalm 71:1-6 2 Chronicles 34:1-7 Acts 10:44-48 29 Psalm 71:1-6 2 Chronicles 35:20-27 Acts 19:1-10 30 Psalm 71:1-6 2 Chronicles 36:11-21 John 1:43-51 31 Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany Jeremiah 1:4-10 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Luke 4:21-30
The Messenger Page 7 JANUARY 2016 We are Grateful for These Gifts to St. Mark s Church: To the Music Fund: By Deborah Schultz Woods By Patricia & Robert Welch in memory of Anne R. Ely A Reminder: We have several liturgical calendars for the year 2016 remaining. These are available to you for $5 each. A copy of the calendar is posted on the main bulletin board. Please take a look. If you like what you see, please speak with Stephen Kohler or Pastor Dusman to purchase a copy.