 Bike the Ridge is this Sunday, Sept. 27! Thank you for your donations of water and granola bars and for signing up to volunteer. Everyone is encouraged to bring their bikes and join in the fun! Or if you prefer to watch, grab a lawn chair or blanket from home and enjoy a beautiful fall Sunday on the lawn. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Anna Holladay at [email protected].
At 9 a.m. and 12 noon there will be a blessing of the bicycles (and scooters and roller skates and skateboards and. . . . ) at the front of the church.
Be sure to give yourself a few extra minutes to get to church if you will be driving as Ridge Avenue will be closed between Howard and Church Street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Worship & Formation
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Lifelong Christian faith formation is important for lifelong growth in the knowledge, service and love of God as followers of Christ. Regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey, no matter what season of life you are in, you are invited to enter into a prayerful life of continuous learning. Worship is the primary way in which we are formed in community. But what follows is information about our worship and other opportunities for enriching your journey in faith.
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Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22; James 5:13-20; Mark 9:38-50
"Our help is in the Name of the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth."
-Psalm 124:8
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This Sunday's Lay Ministers
Thank you to the following parishioners for sharing their time and talent with the congregation this week. If you would like to become involved, please contact Pastor Debra at [email protected].
- Lector: Hardy Murphy, Lynette Murphy
- Eucharistic Ministers: Motoko Maegawa, Milner Seifert
- Acolytes: Tyler Maegawa-Goeser, Betsy Johnson, Leela Gaede
- Eucharistic Visitor: Ric Ashley
- Altar Guild: Beth Johnson
- Flower Guild: Michael Schoen
- Vestry Persons of the Day: Lori Goede, Dale Seifert
- Ushers: John Fitts, Alison Walsh
- Sunday School Teachers / Assistants: Liz McElhatton & Tyler Maegawa-Goeser (ages 3 - 5), Beth Johnson, Milner Seifert, & Luke Urbanowski (ages 6 - 8), Lori Goede, John Lucadamo, Rima Lockwood (ages 9 - 11), Chad Goeser & Deane Johnson (ages 12 -14)
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 If you would like to honor or remember a loved one by dedicating altar flowers to them, a new flower chart is available in the Parlor for Sundays from October 2015 - September 2016. The minimum suggested donation for one week is $25. Instructions for completing the form and envelopes for payment are next to the chart. Monies received are used for altar flowers and for landscaping around the church.
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Making Music at St. Mark's
Sing to the Lord a New Song: An Invitation to Sing in St. Mark's Choir -
Rehearsals take place every Thursday evening from 7:30-9:00 in the Choir Room, and Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:15. We hope you'll find singing with the choir welcoming, fun, and rewarding.
The Ringing Begins Again! -
We're welcoming new handbell ringers to St. Mark's! Rehearsals resume on Sunday, October 4 at 12 noon. Regular rehearsals are on Sundays from noon-12:30 pm in the balcony in the sanctuary. St. Mark's handbell choir is intergenerational, so anyone interested over the age of five is welcome!
For more information about either choir, p
lease contact David Plank: [email protected] or (402) 650-9266.
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Upcoming Adult Forums
The Big Class: A Christian Response to Gun Violence -
The grief around senseless killings involving firearms has put a pall over our nation, and many concerned Christians wonder what we can do. St. Mark's will be taking place in a free online class called "A Christian Response to Gun Violence." The course is taught by Episcopal bishops Eugene Sutton (Maryland) and Ian Douglas (Connecticut) who are co-founders of Bishops United Against Gun Violence. On Sunday, October 4 we will participate in the online class and on Sunday October 11 we will reconvene for conversation. Both classes will take place from 9:30 - 10:15 a.m. in Bethlehem Chapel. If you cannot join us for both sessions, please plan to participate instead on Monday evening, October 26 from 7 - 9 p.m.
Forgiveness, Is It the Hardest Choice? -
Science now tells us what has seemed intuitive all along, holding on to anger, hurt or hatefulness is not good for our well-being. This 4-week class strives to help us to confront places in our lives where we need to forgive others or ask forgiveness when we have been the one who has created the hurt. It examines the healing power that comes when forgiveness is realized. The curriculum is provided by The Living Compass and the class will be led by one or more of St. Mark's Congregational Wellness Advocates. We will hold the class on Sunday mornings from 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. in Bethlehem Chapel on Sundays, October 18, November 1, November 8, and November 15. Note: there will be no class on October 25.
Fliers for both forums are available on the table in the Parlor.
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Social Justice & Outreach Opportunities
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St. Mark's continues its commitment to our community through its many social justice and outreach activities. Following are ways in which you can get involved with the St. Mark's community in helping to create a better world.
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The CROP Hunger Walk
is quickly approaching! This year it will be held on Sunday, October 18. The CROP walk raises awareness and funds to fight hunger locally as well as internationally. 25% of the total money raised will stay right here in Evanston to support 5 local organizations that are fighting hunger. Interfaith Action, who runs the Hospitality Center from our building, is one of those recipients! This fundraiser is something all ages can be involved in. There are many ways you can plug in: you can sign up to walk, sponsor a walker, volunteer at the Rest Area, or donate snacks. To walk with the St. Mark's team or to support the team financially, please visit http://hunger.cwsglobal.org/goto/saintmarks. If you have any questions, contact Anna Holladay, Community Engagement Director,
[email protected].
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Lunch Packing Volunteers Needed
Come spend a Tuesday evening packing sandwiches for our neighbors in need. We pack lunches on Tuesday nights at St. Mark's from 6:00-7:00 PM.
We also need volunteers to serve lunch on Wednesdays. Volunteers to serve Wednesday lunch are asked to arrive by 10:45 a.m. and stay until 1:00 p.m.
To sign-up or for more information contact Anna Holladay, Community Engagement Director at [email protected] or click the links below
:
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This Week at Saint Mark's
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| Wednesday, Sept. 23 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Lunch, Cunningham Hall 7:00 p.m.
Evanston Creative Writing Meet-Up, Library
8:00 p.m. Evanston English Country Dancers, Cunningham Hall Thursday, Sept. 24 5:30 p.m.
Evanston Jr. Wildkit Cheerleaders, Front Lawn / Cunningham Hall
7:30 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal,
Choir Room
Sunday, Sept. 27 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Lady Chapel 9:00 a.m. Bike Blessing, Front Lawn 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music, Sanctuary 12 Noon Bike Blessing, Front Lawn Tuesday, Sept. 29 5:30 p.m.
Evanston Jr. Wildkit Cheerleaders, Front Lawn / Cunningham Hall 6:00 p.m. Midweek Lunch Packing, Kitchen Wednesday, Sept. 30 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Lunch, Cunningham Hall |
September 3
Dale Seifert
September 7
Alice Lele, Jack Suvari, Austin Suvari
September 11
Sarah Lettner
September 12
Susan Laws
September 13
Karen Cornelius
September 14
Wesley Urbanowski
September 15
Michael Schoen
September 17
Mary O'Dowd
September 18
Compton Chase-Lansdale, Peter Dangremond
September 20
Gerald Offutt
September 21
Rebekah Lettner
September 22
Debra Bullock
September 24
Alex Gallegos
September 25
Colin Nesburg
September 26
Sile (Malone) Greene, Peter Heinz
September 27
David Baker
September 28
Catherine Rocca, Rachel Easton, Nadia Oussenko
September 29
Jim Carver
September 30
Pat Bent
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September 1
Jonathan & Sile Greene
September 2
Cas & Dorothy Szczepaniak
September 5
Bob & Mary Pat Buckley
September 8
Jake & Noni Morris, David & Lola Himrod
September 10
Jim & Lynn Carver, Jay & Kate Hayes
September 24
Doug Sondgeroth & Aina Gutierrez
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African Team Ministries Gift Sale
On Sunday, September 27, d
uring Coffee Hour, St. Mark's will offer the unique gifts and jewelry of African Team Ministries for sale in the Parlor. African Team Ministries is a Christian ministry working as an intermediary between African and American churches. With help from Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Anglican denominations, they provide funding for orphan and refugee relief missions and
evangelism in East Africa. The support they receive through the sale of gifts is sent directly to our partnering Bishops to provide school fees, tuition, books, uniforms and irrigation kits for aid during the current drought. You have perhaps seen African Team Ministries gift table at Diocesan Convention o
r during visits to other Episcopal Churches.
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2015 Fall Gathering
Lisa Todd, Community Relations Manager at Connections for the Homeless will challenge assumptions about poverty and homelessness at Interfaith Action of Evanston's Fall Gathering on Monday, Oct. 12 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 2120 Lincoln Street, Evanston. St. Mark's is a member congregation of Interfaith Action and everyone is welcome to attend this gathering.
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Office Hours
Thank you to Beth Johnson who will be filling in for us on a temporary basis until a new administrative assistant is found for the office. Beth's office hours will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. She will be using the office e-mail which is [email protected].
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Social Media and St. Mark's 
If you have your mobile device it would be good if you put it on silent when in worship. But if anything in Sunday's service-a prayer, reading, hymn or the sermon-moves you, please feel free to tweet it or post it to Facebook #StMarkEvanston. St. Mark's website has up-to-date information on all that's new at St. Mark's - including a current calendar of events - check it out at
http://www.stmarksevanston.org
. Also, we are on Facebook and Twitter! Find us at http://www.facebook.com/StMarkEvanston and follow us @StMarkEvanston.
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Diocesan Convention is November 20-21
The 178th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Chicago will take place on Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21 at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Lombard. The theme of this year's convention is "Love Heals," inspired by keynote speaker Becca Stevens and her ministry with Magdalene House and Thistle Farms. You do not need to be a delegate to attend. Learn more and download a preliminary convention schedule at
http://www.episcopalchicago.org.
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In The Community
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God calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Loving finds all of its meaning in relationship. The following are opportunities to be in relationship with one another and with the community of Evanston.
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Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
In conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Chicago Field Division, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) will host the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant, 3500 Howard Street, Skokie. The event aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means for disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications and harm to the environment. For more information, go to evanstongreenbuzz.org/drug-take-back-day-sept-26th/
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Men's Book Club at Second Baptist
 A Men's Book Club will begin at Second Baptist Church, 1717 Benson Street, Evanston beginning Wednesday, October 7th. The book club will meet from 6:15 AM to 7 AM each week in the Fellowship Hall. The early hour selected was to ensure that there would be no conflict with schedules. We will be finished at 7 AM. Parking fees do not begin in downtown Evanston until 9 AM. The first book is Between the World and Me by Pulitzer prize winning journalist, Ta-Nehisi Coates. Coffee will be provided. The book club is open to men of all ages, races, cultures and ethnicities. For further information please direct your calls to our church office, 847.869.6955. - Dr. Michael Nabors, Senior Pastor
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UPDATE:
If you would like your loved ones to remain on the prayer list in October, please send a message to Pastor Debra at [email protected]. Thank you.
We bid your prayers for:
Helen Baker, Tom Bergman, Veronica Braithwaite, John Burnham, Karen Cornelius, Bob Easton, Lynn Erickson, Hal Griffith, Mary Hair, Charlie and Judy Kopp, Grace Lettner, Kathy Lettner, Ayden Lettner, Ann Lettner, Ted Loda, Janet Mack, Jane McCarron, Jake Morris, Mary O'Dowd, Jan and Jeri Offutt, Char Wiss, Betty Augustinos, Carol Albertson, Dot and Miek Alston, Diana Austin, Mark Babbitt, Arthur Bauer, Doris Bauer, Tim Bauer, Carol Beatty, Roy Brooks, Karen Bullock, Roger Cain, Susan Murrell Castaneda, Mila Clark, Kim Duffy, Vicki Garvey, Dave and Jan Gurniak, Erma Johnson-Hadley, Andre King, Allison King, Marc King, OJ Mabwa, Fannie Maier, Carl Messier, Andy Michels, Garrett Moody, Scott Moody, Tricia Moody, Lillian Rice, Leon Robinson, Barbara Rosenbloom, Helen Snow, Leo Stuyt, Tim and his family, Jill Vannatta, Richard Walsh, the Weiss family, Jordan White, Essie and Earl Woods.
We pray for the people in:
the Diocese of Southeast Mexico and in the Diocese of Renk.
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Stay Connected
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