St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church
New Administrative Assistant
We are pleased to announce that Kaley Schnarre has been hired as our new administrative assistant. She begins working on November 29 and will be keeping the same office hours, Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to noon.
Meeting
The Annual Congregational Meeting will be Sunday, December 5 immediately following Sunday worship at 11:15. All church members are expected to attend.
On Saturday evening, December 4, immediately following the worship service there will be an informational meeting about all the agenda items so that the attendees will have the opportunity to hear what the plans are and to raise any questions that they believe need to be addressed in the congregational meeting. This meeting is informational only.
The Agenda:
-
Election of Council Members
-
Approval of 2020 meeting minutes
-
Approval of a 2022 Budget
-
Renovation committee update
-
Vote on Architectural Contract: The church council recommends that the congregation enter into a contract with Freytag & Associates to present a modified architectural renovation proposal at a cost of $6,900 with the money coming from the Capital Improvement Fund.
-
Mission Focus and Strategic Planning committee update
-
Capital Fund Appeal Committee Update
-
Receive Committee Reports
Wapakoneta Area Drive-Thru Nativity
December 11, 2021
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Starting Location:
The Wapak Church, 14871 Fox Ranch Road
Sponsored by: Wapak United
Closures
The church office will be closed during Christmas week.
New Beginning’s will be closed December 20 – December 31. Classes resume Monday, January 3.
Advent Gift Envelopes
Advent is a time of preparation to receive Christ. When Jesus came to us, he was not recognized as the Christ for he was born in obscurity and poverty. One of the biblical themes is that if you want to know what God is doing, look among the poor and the marginalized; and if you want to serve Christ, care for the poor.
Here at St. Mark’s we take up a special Advent Collection for the purpose of aiding the poor. We challenge one another to have each family donate $20.
The money collected will help support our mission partner Salem Lutheran Church in Toledo (where our past seminarian Michael Hanck now serves as the pastor there), God’s Storehouse, Mercy Unlimited, and St. Vincent de Paul. Offering envelopes will be distributed the weekends of November 27 / 28 and December 4 / 5.
Formerly this special offering was done by means of a quarter a day and called Quarter Folders.
Discovering the Richness of the Holy Spirit
Winter Weekly Bible Study and Prayer Experience
Pastor Doug will be leading an 8-week immersion experience in discovering the richness of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians have a deep knowledge of Jesus and an awareness of God the Father but frequently the Holy Spirit is mysterious and unknown to many. Through Bible Study, prayer, and experiential encounters Pastor Doug will be introducing the participants to the person and processes of the Holy Spirit.
This immersion experience will happen on Tuesday mornings starting January 4th and ending February 22nd from 10:30 AM to noon and then will be repeated in the evenings from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
January 4 Manifestation of the Holy Spirit
January 11 Characteristics of the Holy Spirit
January 18 Gifts of the Spirit
January 25 Sanctified Imagination
February 1 Centering Prayer
February 8 Discerning the Spirits, 1
February 15 Discerning the Spirits, 2
February 22 The Body as a Temple of the Holy Spirit
Advent Worship Services
On the first three Wednesdays in Advent (December 1,8, & 15) from 7:00 PM until 7:25 PM there will be a Midweek Advent Worship Service. The theme for the worship services is Breathe. Each week we will experience a moment of being calm and centered in the midst of a month which can be so filled with activity that we can lose track of ourselves and of what is most important.
Simple Supper Precedes the Advent Wednesday Worship
Come enjoy the fellowship of being with other church members and enjoy a meal prepared for you. A simple supper will be served in the Fellowship Hall from 6:00 PM until just before 7:00.
The servers are: December 1 Worship & Music Committee
December 8 Kitchen Committee
December 15 Finance Committee & Christian Education Committee
Christmas Eve Worship
Please join us in celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ our Lord!
5:00 pm Candlelight Communion Service
Designed especially for families with children.
7:00 pm Candlelight Communion Service – Bell Choir Performance
Youth Christmas Party
Sunday, December 12th at 5:30 PM will be The Annual Youth Christmas Party. It will be held at the home of Kristi and Dan Fisher, 16644 Conant Road. We will have a gift exchange and a white elephant exchange. Please keep to the $15 maximum for the gift exchange. The white elephant exchange item should be an item from home that is no longer needed by you or your family but is still in good working condition and something your parent says you can give it away. If you drew a name at Thanksgiving Feast, it is important that you come. No one wants to be left out, so if you cannot come make sure your gift gets there. We would like everyone to bring a dessert to share. St. Mark’s will provide pizza and pop.
Member Christmas Help Fund
Each year, we assist families in need in the congregation so that their Christmas might be brighter. Thanks to your donations, $2,500 is shared each year. You can help this year by donating and marking it Member Christmas Help Fund
What to Give Someone Who Has Everything?
You can share ELCA Good Gifts as a perfect Christmas gift for someone who already has more than an abundance of what they need. With ELCA Good Gifts, you and your friends can choose from more than 50 life-changing charitable gifts – such as a pair of goats, school fees or a water well – and give a gift the world needs. Each gift can be given in honor of a friend or loved one and goes on to create transformative change in the lives of people in need. Go online to: https://community.elca.org/ELCAGoodGifts. (The ELCA has a fabulous website with many resources available with a mouse click. Start at ELCA.org.)
December & January Choir Schedule
Dec 1 Choir rehearsal @ 7:30 pm; Bells @ 8:15 pm
Dec. 5 Choir Performance
Dec. 8 Choir rehearsal @ 7:30 pm ; Bells @ 8:15 pm
Dec. 24 Bell Performance @ 7:00 pm Christmas Eve service
Jan 5 Choir rehearsal @ 7:00 pm
Jan. 9 Choir Performance
Jan 12 Choir rehearsal @ 7:00 pm
Jan. 16 Choir Performance
Jan. 23 Youth Sunday
Jan. 30 Choir Performance
Christmas Decorations
Christmas decorations will be removed after the Sunday, January 2 service. Volunteers are needed!!
New Baby
Chase Robert Alexander was born on September 3, 2021 to Zeek and Morgan (Miller) Alexander. Congratulations!
Baptism
Chase Robert Alexander was baptized on November 21, 2021 during the 10:15 am Service. His parents are Zeek and Morgan (Miller) Alexander. He was born September 3, 2021. His baptismal sponsors are Hayley Miller (Aunt) and Mason Francis (Family Friend).
Catechism Classes Time Change
The catechism classes on December 1, 8, and 15 will be from 7:30 to 8:30, immediately the following the Advent worship services which begin at 7:00 pm. There is no class on December 22 and 29. January 5, 12, and 19 will be held at the normal time of 7:00 pm. A confirmation movie will be shown on January 26 at 5:00 pm.
