Welcome to St. Mark’s!
"For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."
Ecclesiastes 3:1
What time is it in your life? Is it time to be planted, time to root, time to grow? If so, St. Mark's may very well be the place for you. We are a congregation planted in the Springfield community, rooted in the word of God, and growing in love for God and neighbor.
“I Brought You Flowers”
… is a combination reminiscing and thank-you note from our organist, Chris Michaelsen—Click HERE to read it!
Sunday, June 30, is Chris’s last Sunday as our church organist. The prelude music will begin at 9:20 AM for the English service and there will be a reception following the service in Chris’s honor. Please join us!
Shall We Sing Your Favorite Hymn?
During the months of July and August, we would like to incorporate into our Sunday liturgies some of our members' favorite hymns. Think about your favorite hymns and then select them in the survey HERE. They are listed in alphabetical order by titles. This survey will be open until June 30th, and we will begin incorporating the most selected hymns on July 7th.
New Opportunity to Add to Your Skills Set Now Available!
When someone calls out, "Does anyone know how to make coffee in the big pots?" (similar to IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?), do you shy away and go looking for napkins or fill water pitchers, or do you step forward with confidence and say, “Yes, I know how."? Well the newly founded HOSPITALITY TEAM is looking for you … both the experienced barista and the ones eager to learn!
Our new kitchenette is fully operational and we are in need of loving, generous people to prepare the coffee before services, to clean up after services, and to help serve cake and doughnuts as the occasions warrant. As we look forward to the revitalization of St. Mark’s, more celebrations will be coming and we are excited to begin this new ministry to step up and serve the congregation and our visitors.
Sign up individually or as teams, all ages welcome … training by skilled veterans will be provided.
Please contact Raelene Long (llong41@verizon.net ) or Linda Pendleton (lgp91@cox.net) if you would like to serve in this ministry.
Draft ELCA Social Statement on
Civic Life and Faith
The ELCA has a task force that is developing a draft social statement on Civic Life and Faith. A link is available in the online E-Messenger. There are hearings coming up in the area on June 19 and August 15. Please see this announcement from our Synod at https://metrodcelca.org/event/civic-life-faith-hearings/. The draft statement has a short version of the statement of about eight pages, and then a full statement that gives the rationale behind each article in the short statement. Click HERE for more information.
VBS 2024: ““Grace Tales: Exploring God's Love Through Parables”
July 13 and August 10 * 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Ages 3 through rising 6th grade
Learn more about it HERE!
It's not too late to register your child(ren) to participate in this year's Vacation Bible Saturday. Our next session is coming up on Saturday, July 13. We'll continue to learn about God's grace in the parables. Each Saturday will be a complete program for that day's story. You can attend one or both remaining Saturdays depending on your family's travel schedule. We'll have story, snack, crafts, music, and games for our Bible-learning fun. Please register at https://forms.gle/WZzasqGzohuB6LCf7.
Food for Others Needs Help on Tuesday Evenings!
Due to members moving away and some others being unable to help distribute food on Tuesday nights, our staff is in need of people to step up and help fill this tremendously satisfying need. The past weeks have had 60-70 people at our church doors needing food … please, can you help? Contact Nan Ackerman or Debbie Brown to volunteer or ask questions.
Congregation Meeting Postponed
Our Congregation Meeting, scheduled for June 23, has been postponed. That date had been selected as a convenient date to hold the meeting, but the supporting information for that meeting will not be ready in time. Council has not set a revised date yet. Read more HERE.
Quarterly Benevolences: New for Quarter Three
Q3: ELCA World Hunger
From July through September, we will be collecting benevolence donations for ELCA World Hunger. This year, ELCA World Hunger is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Please consider making an extra special donation this year to commemorate this enduring ministry of the ELCA. A 50th Anniversary video is available for viewing here. Learn more HERE * …
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Want to know our latest financial Update? … find it HERE!
Annual reports are available and you may obtain a printed copy from the Narthex or request a PDF copy by emailing the church office at info@stmarks-elca.org.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Windows Refurbishment—Courtyard,Lounge, and Office ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Refurbishment of the windows in the Courtyard outside of the Lounge and Office continues. This work should take about two more weeks. During the work day, activities planned in the Lounge may need to move elsewhere. Read All about It HERE!
Pr. Saul’s Mission Trip to Honduras
July 2023
Pr. Saul participated in a mission trip to Honduras and brought back some of the photos taken on that successful trip to share with our congregation.
The generous contribution of $500.00 from St. Mark’s congregation helped to purchase the reusable red bags and provided school supplies for the community of Saint Agustin in Honduras.
At the end of the trip, 11 cement floors and 7 septic tanks were installed in community houses. In addition, the group also taught a Vacation Bible Study class and distributed 300 bags with many needed items as well as school supplies.
The "Watch and Pray" Bunch …
We’re still meeting every Sunday for 10-15 minutes after the English service at 11:00 AM in the Fellowship Hal1 for prayers … won’t you join us?!
Every Tuesday at noon the Lunch Bunch meets in the Lounge for lunch (bring your own) and prayer All are welcome.
An Update to Scams and Hacks
Unfortunately, someone managed to hack into a system that was used at Synod that contained e-mail addresses and phone numbers. They have used this information to clone addresses, phone numbers, or Facebook accounts of many of our church friends. If you receive an e-mail, text, or Messenger message from any of these friends at church DO NOT RESPOND. Instead, delete the email and you can send them a separate e-mail, text, or message that should get to their true account to ask if they just sent you a communication. If you respond to the initial message that was sent or try to open links, it will go to the hacker.
These people have not actually used the account of our friends—instead, they made a copy of the e-mail that is a ghost to a different account. So, let your friends know that you received a message "from them." To be safe, they will want to change passwords. If you accidentally responded to any of these messages, change your passwords on those accounts as well. These people are phishing for weak accounts so they might be able to get into bank accounts or get more personal information like social security numbers. Make your accounts as secure as possible!
St. Mark’s Community Gateway Update … Click HERE for information on the gateway and a simulated drawing of it!!! The signage boards are ready to be installed~!
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2024 FLOWER DEDICATIONS … Click HERE to learn about how our beautiful altar flowers are created
and click HERE for the form to dedicate flowers or one or more Sundays in 2024!
NEW BENEVOLENCES FOR QUARTER 2 OF 2024 … CLICK HERE FOR INFO ON
Caroline Furnace and Mar-Lu-Ridge, our Lutheran-affiliated camps!
* * A NEWEST ADDITION TO OUR CHANCEL—”THE TABERNACLE” … Click HERE to learn all about it! * *
See CHOIR PHOTOS OF CHRISTMAS AND EASTER SUNDAY CELEBRATIONS by clicking HERE!!!
Do you need to change your electronic donation for 2024?
Click HERE to download the form to use to change the amount and/or frequency of your electronic donation to St. Mark's. Download it, print it, fill it in as needed according to the directions, and drop it into our church Treasurer’s box in the church office and the new information will be entered into the Vanco system.
Sacristy Renovation …
Anyone who uses or has been in the Sacristy is aware of its condition and limitations. The space, originally designed as a mechanical room for heating and air conditioning equipment, now serves as a mechanical room, Sacristy, AV closet, and storage area. The space hasn’t been adequate for the church’s needs and needs to be refurbished. We’re looking for ideas and suggestions … Learn more HERE!
From the Council President’s Desk …
Click HERE to see what’s new from the Council!
A Word of Caution!!!
To those of us who have keys to the church—and we all know this is an important responsibility! Please remember to check when leaving to ensure that this and any door you use is properly locked—especially Door #12 to the Fellowship Hall … THANK YOU!
Help for Disaster Relief—Eastern Europe and Ukraine
Looking for ways to help victims of the recent horrific earthquake damage in Eastern Europe and to assist Ukrainian refugees? The stories and images coming from these humanitarian crises are heartbreaking. Click HERE for more information, and you may donate online to assist in their efforts directly at https://community.elca.org/eastern-europe-crisis-response?_ga=2.266466318.1699478920.1646717665-1017767480.1646717665.
Wear Your Nametags
Please remember to wear your nametags to every church service. The nametag "tree" is located in the narthex--pick up your nametag on your way into the sanctuary and return it to the tree when you leave--it helps visitors, new members, and those of us with name recall difficulties. Thank you!
Have you a computer to donate?
Scouts of Troop 881 at Saint Mark’s are starting a computer refurbishment program. They would like to collect old computers, refurbish them, and donate them to low income families in the community. If you have any of the following to donate—laptops and desktops with Windows 7 or higher, any Mac computers, or monitors with power cords (no CRT monitors)—email the troop HERE or call (571) 354-8659 to arrange a time to drop them off at the church.
Find the latest Council actions and meeting minutes HERE!
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2022 Annual Report is available HERE!
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Return to In-Person Worship
Both the 9:45 AM English Worship and the 12:15 PM Spanish Worship are indoor, in person, and on YouTube and Facebook. Masks are optional for Worship and in all other areas of St. Mark’s.
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* * * A Special message from LIRS (Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service):
“Our Afghan Allies need your help.“ Click HERE to learn more … * * *
STEWARDSHIP SURVEY … WHAT GIFTS DO YOU BRING TO THE TABLE?
CLICK HERE FOR ENGLISH SURVEY … CLICK HERE FOR SPANISH SURVEY … AND THANK YOU!
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HOLY COMMUNION… from the elements blessed at the Lord’s table at St. Mark’s on a recent Sunday, continues to be available by appoint. Click here to complete a short RSVP to be added to the distribution list and you will be contacted for an appointment.
Our current schedule is as follows:
9:30 AM, pre-service music
9:45 AM, English Communion Liturgy
12:15 PM, Spanish Communion Liturgy
Sundays: 11:00 AM COFFEE HOUR —
ZOOM MEETING NUMBER:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87620354511?pwd=a1RvTXdMRnNqVUs0ell4MEhDbk4rZz09
Password is 5800.
CURRENT NEWS …
Have news to share with the congregation? Send it via email to communications@stmarks-elca.org to be published in the appropriate publication—E-Messenger, This Week, our website, and our Facebook page. Deadline is Tuesday at 5:00 PM, for same-week publishing.
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Calendar Events and Information
Click HERE to go to our monthly calendar—select your view by Agenda, Week, or Month, or Print the current month.
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