The Messenger St. Mark s Evangelical Lutheran Church A Heritage of God s Grace Since 1910 December 2016 God s Winter Wonderland is the theme of the annual WELCA Christmas Brunch. Women and men, young and not-so young, of the congregation are invited to join us for fellowship and food at the church on Saturday December 3, 2016 at 10 am. Guests are welcome. Please call the church or use the signup sheet in the narthex. Volunteers are always appreciated. We are looking for two-three volunteers who would bring an egg bake. Please speak to Kathy Sukalski, Deb Moon, or Olive Weber if you would be willing to do so.
Intern Pastor s Report Happy Advent to you all! This is, perhaps, my favorite season in the church year. A new beginning a hopeful future anticipation for exciting things to come. During this time of year, we are all caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations. We shop, we mail cards, we eat (and eat some more), and we run from one event to the next. In all of this holiday craziness, we easily forget to stop and ponder how we are preparing for the coming of Christ, and what this means. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if my preparations for Christ s coming were as intentional and as exciting as my preparations for the Christmas holiday. What might this look like? Christ came into a world that was dark and broken. Christ came as light IN the darkness. Christ brought people together, from all different walks of life. What would Christmas look like if we found ways to bring people together from all different walks of life TODAY? What would Christmas look like if the lights we put on display were not just for a tree or a house, but were for others to see and experience through our daily living? In other words, what would Christmas look like if we prepared the kingdom of God by being active in the kingdom, illuminating our dark world with Christ s light? As we venture into Advent, my hope and prayer is that we will prepare the way for Christ by preparing a way for our neighbors to experience the love, grace, and peace that Christ has freely given to us. We can do this I know we can! In doing so, Christmas will truly be about Christ, Emmanuel God with us. Dave Adams, Interim Pastor The Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship will be held December 24 th at 5:00 p.m.
Highlights from the November Council Meeting Contributed by Jeanette Gratton +++ Don t miss it!! St. Mark s Annual Meeting is scheduled for January 22, 2017 +++ Warm for the Holidays---The boiler project is complete! +++ New Scoutmaster Perry Vogel has been approved as the new Scoutmaster for Troop 130, replacing Tom Henderson after years of faithful service. +++ Handywork- Discussed replacing the child size toilets upstairs and raising the counters to average height. Discussed needed roof repairs. (HIGHLIGHTS OF EACH COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THIS NEWSLETTER FOLLOWING THOSE MEETINGS. FULL MINUTES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CHURCH LIBRARY) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ST MARK S FINANCIAL REPORT - 01/01/16 through 10/31/16 BUDGETED GIVING: $ 151,600.00 10/31/16 YTD GIVING: $ 119,940.00 (2015 YTD Giving $ 126,531.00) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 10/31/16 YTD General Fund Income $ 126,310.00 10/31/16 YTD General Fund Expenses $ 125,447.00 YTD GENERAL FUND Difference $ 863.00 2015 YTD difference $5,397.00 Concordia Christmas Concert Dec. 4th 2 pm "Gather Us In Oh Child of Peace" The bus for the Concordia Christmas Concert will leave the St. Mark s parking lot at 12:00 noon sharp. Please plan to be at the church no later than 11:45. If you haven t paid for your $20 ticket yet, please send that to the church office, or bring your payment the day of the concert. There are still a few seats available on the bus. Contact Sandy in the office if you have questions or would like to check on availability. 701-772-4807
From Your Stewardship Committee - - - Stewardship Nuggets Dear Friends in Christ, In November and December we have two wonderful celebrations, Thanksgiving in November and Christmas in December. Thanks is the key word in Thanksgiving and its celebration. On October 20, 1864, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln set apart the last Thursday of November that year as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God. Thanksgiving retained its importance for our country as the special celebration President Lincoln envisioned, until it became just another day off. The word thanks is widely used in both the Old and New Testaments. A great example in the Old Testament is that both verses Psalms 106:1 and 107:1 of the King James version contain the phrase O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever, a verse commonly memorized by children in Sunday Schools of prior years. As we proceed to December, we pause for God s greatest gift to us for all time, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Through that wonderful gift of a Savior God shows us his generosity. In Thanksgiving we ought also to be generous. And so in these two celebrations we have descriptions for gifts which we receive, gratitude, and our response for giving, generosity. Stewardship Committee: Patrick Luber, Mark Moon, Brad Rundquist, Tom Robinson Gifts for Baby Jesus Sunday (White Gifts Sunday) The Salvation Army has designated Sunday, December 4 th, as Gifts for Baby Jesus Sunday (formerly White Gift Sunday). If you are able, please wrap a gift for a boy or girl ages 0-17, in simple white tissue paper and bring it with you to worship December 4 th (There is a great need for the teenagers.) There will be a time during worship to bring those gifts forward and place them under the trees in the front of the sanctuary. The gifts will symbolize a present for baby Jesus and will be distributed by the Salvation Army with their Annual Christmas Food and Toy Baskets. Thank you! J.O.Y. - A Christmas Potluck will held Wednesday, December 14 th, at 11:30 am. Dave Adams will present a program following lunch. Please bring personal items to be donated to the residents of the Northland Rescue Mission. A sign-up sheet is on the table in the narthex.
Board Meeting Minutes November 7, 2016 Sandy McCleary, Deb Moon, Kathy Mutcher, Marsha Oss, Kathy Sukalski-Johnson, Olive Weber, and Linda Simmons November 9 we were responsible for the program, devotion, and food for the Bethesda Society meeting at 4000 Valley Square. Pastor Janice Jenson gave devotions and Dave Adams provided musical numbers. The following brought Cherry Cha Cha and serve the dessert: Audrey Glick Nancy Harstad Lil Larson Sandy McCleary Cheryl Nerby Olive Weber Kathy Wyum Our Christmas brunch will be December 3 starting at 10:00 a.m. with the theme God s Winter Wonderland. Dave Adams will sing a few musical number and Sandy Buchmann will play the piano. Kathy Sukalski-Johnson, Olive Weber, Deb Moon, and Marsha Oss will bring egg bakes. Deb Moon will purchase the orange juice and grapes and Linda Simmons will see that muffins will be provided. Confirmation was held November 20 and WELCA provided a cake for the confirmands. Our next meeting will be on November 29, 2016, at 5:30 p.m. We closed with the Lord s Prayer. Submitted by Linda Simmons, Secretary Parents of Loss This support group will meet Wednesday, December 14th, at 7:00 pm. The Parents of Loss is for anyone who is experiencing the grief of losing a child or grandchild. Please contact the office if you would like more information. Bethesda Society meets Wednesday, December 14th, at 2:00 pm at 4000 Valley Square. Miriam Circle will meet Thursday, December 15 th, at 7:00 pm at the home of Olive Weber. The deadline to submit information for the December newsletter is December 23 rd Thank you to all of you who took an ornament from the GF County Social Services Angel Tree. Please be sure to return your gifts to the church office by December 1 st.
Education News Community Action Gift/Candy Bags: The Sunday School is collecting items for children who are staying the Community Action house (a Grand Forks shelter for homeless families) during the holidays. There are 30 bags in the narthex of the church. Most of these items can be purchased at Dollar Stores. If you do not want to fill an entire bag, each bag will have a checklist and simply check off the items that you have put in the bag. The Sunday School kids will assemble and deliver the gifts bags on Dec. 19th. 4-5 boxes of Candy Canes Several Bags of Xmas Ribbon Candy 30 Gift Bags: bottle of nail polish or lip gloss (girl) or Matchbox car or bouncy ball (boy) markers or colors coloring book body wash toothbrush toothpaste deck of cards or Suduko/WordSearch book pair of light gloves hat small stuffed animal- will accept used if clean and in good condition Sunday School Schedule Nov. 27 No Sunday School 6:00 PM Guitar Lessons (rehearse for Advent Worship) Dec. 4 10:40 Sunday School Advent Worship Preparation 6 PM Guitar Lessons (rehearse for Advent Worship) Dec. 11 10:40 Sunday School Advent Worship Preparation 5 PM Rhombus Pizza at church. Assemble Community Action gift bags 6 PM Guitar Lessons (rehearse for Advent Worship) Dec 18th 9:30 am Sunday School Advent Worship 10:30 Church Potluck - Sunday School will provide cupcakes Dec.25th and Jan. 1 No Sunday School or Guitar Jan. 8 Sunday School and Guitar Resumes A grateful thank you to the Sunday School children and all those who donated food items for the Northlands BackPack Program.
Call Committee Report The Ministry Site Profile has been submitted to the ELCA. This document will now be available to potential candidates to view, and they may submit their application materials. The synod will review the candidates before advancing them to the call committee. If members of the congregation know of clergy who might be interested in the position, please direct them to the ELCA website. CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC We pray for peace and healing as these members mourn the recent death of their loved ones: Chris Barnes as he mourns the death of his mother, Joyce Kathy & Lynn Wyum as they mourn the death of Lynn s brother, Jules The church office will be closed December 26 th and January 2 nd. Annual Reports -- It is time to start thinking about preparing your annual reports. Please submit those to the office by January 5 th. Report packets will be distributed at a Forum following worship on January 15 th. The Annual Meeting will be held following worship on January 22 nd. Reports for every committee/ministry at St. Mark s should be included in the Annual Report packets. Financial reports should be submitted for all areas who have their own checkbook. Please contact the office if you have questions. Thank you! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Recipe Request: Many of you requested Jane Rodacker s recipe for Apple Crisp that she brought for coffee on November 27 th. So, we decided to include it in the newsletter. Thanks, Jane! Slow Cooker Apple Crisp 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 pinch salt 1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 T. cornstarch 1/3 cup white sugar or to taste 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 6 cups apples - peeled, cored and chopped 2 tablespoons lemon juice Directions: Mix flour, brown sugar, 1/2 cup of white sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together in a bowl. Combine butter with the flour mixture using fingers or a fork until coarse crumbs form. Stir in walnuts and set aside. Whisk together 1/3 cup sugar, cornstarch, ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Place the apples in a slow cooker, stir in the cornstarch mixture; toss with lemon juice. Sprinkle the walnut crumb topping on top. Cover and cook on High for 2 hours or Low for 4 hours, until apples are tender. Partially uncover the slow cooker to allow the topping to harden, about 1 hour.
It's Poinsettia time again, with beautiful plants from All Seasons! 6 ½ plant with 5-7 blooms- $14 7 1/2 double plant with 10-15 blooms $21 10 Triple plant with 15+ blooms $37 3 colors available and three different sizes for you to choose from Red @ $14 @ $21 @ $37 Please place your order by December 11 th to ensure a plant is available White @ $14 @ $21 @ $37 Pink @ $14 @ $21 @ $37 Name phone email In memory of In honor of Please make check out to: St. Mark's Altar Guild I would like to take my plant home Christmas eve Please keep my plant at church and display as needed
MARK THESE UPCOMING EVENTS ON YOUR CALENDAR: Men s Breakfast Thursday, December 1 st, at 7:00 am at Butterwicks WELCA Christmas Brunch Saturday, December 3 rd, at 10:00 am Altar Guild Friday, December 2 nd, at 5:00 pm Finance Committee Sunday, December 4 th, at 10:40 am Concordia Christmas Concert Sunday, December 4 th -leave at Noon Call Committee Monday, December 5 th, at 5:00 pm Council Budget Meeting Sunday, December 11 th, at 10:40 am J.O.Y. Wednesday, December 14 th, at 11:30 AM Bethesda Society Wednesday, December 14 th, at 2:00 pm @ Valley 4000 Parents of Loss Wednesday, December 14 th, at 7:00 pm Miriam Circle Thursday, December 15 th, at 7:00 pm at Olive Weber s home Sunday School Advent Worship Sunday, December 18 th at 9:30 am --Followed by Congregational Potluck Newsletter Deadline December 23 rd Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship December 24 th at 5:00 pm The office will be closed December 26 th and January 2 nd. -------2016-2017 Members of St. Mark s Council------- President Miles Rodacker 746-9438 Vice President Patrick Luber 746-7900 Secretary Jeanette Gratton 757-4022 Treasurer Deb Moon 772-1570 Council Members Jerry Bear 701-740-1337 Iver Buchmann 701-361-6617 Ann Henderson 775-6471 Ray Mutcher 218-779-2951 Michele Peterson 701-330-0297 Dean Spicer 775-9982 Intern Pastor David Adams 218-779-8482 David Adams, Intern Pastor Office Hours: Sunday 8-12, Monday-Thursday 8:30-3:00 Email: stmarkselca@msn.com 701-772-4807 www.stmarksgf.org