Serve at First Nations Kitchen

This coming Sunday, July 20th

A BIG THANK-YOU to all who have already signed up--experienced and new!!

Only 1 person is needed for each of the shifts below:

Prep Shift 12:30-3pm: Paper grocery bags are filled with vegetables. At least 75 bags are distributed.

Give-Away Shift 3:30-5pm: Volunteers greet guests; bags with produce and an entree are handed out. This shift happens outside on the sidewalk.

Use this link now to sign-up to serve on Sunday, July 20:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0848AFAA28A3F49-54733302-july#/

First Nations Kitchen is located in the basement of All Saints Indian Mission,

3044 Longfellow Ave., at the Corner of 31st and Longfellow Ave. Minneapolis.

Any questions, don't hesitate to contact: Betsy Lee, betsylee108@gmail.com

Small groups and summer reads

We don’t need a calendar to tell us that it’s mid-July and summer is in full swing. We can still be busy, but summer can shift our perspectives and open new possibilities and connections. And in this moment, the importance of connections and possibilities cannot be overstated.

As followers of Jesus, we’re called to love and serve God and our neighbors. Sharing the Good news that we are loved by God is the cornerstone of our faith. The Saint Marks community has been blessed with the opportunity to share that good news for over 100 years. Then and now, we are called to deepen our relationships with God and each other, to equip disciples, and to serve our communities. Then and now, we know that small groups are a cornerstone of that work, and that focus will return for the Program Year beginning in the Fall.

As planning for the program year continues, we invite you to join us in prayer for the days ahead. Additionally, while the small groups are not a book study, we have compiled a list of books related to upcoming discussions. They can offer a different perspective and encourage us in our faith.

We live in a world that rushes toward certainty and control, yet the Spirit calls us into a different posture; one of waiting, wondering, and listening. Summer offers us a wonderful backdrop for that to happen. Enjoy!

Summer reading options:

Signs of Life: Nurturing Spiritual Life in your Church. Jay Sidebotham. https://shop.forwardmovement.org/product/2631

Practicing the Way. https://www.practicingtheway.org/book

Practicing the Way, Companion Guide. https://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Course-Companion-Guide-Eight-Session/dp/0593602730

I in you, and You in Me. Michael Battle. https://www.michaelbattle.com/books/p/ubuntu-i-in-you-and-you-in-me

WELLS FOUNDATION GRANT SPOTLIGHT:

Full Cycle Bike Shop

The Wells Foundation is a philanthropic non-profit managed by Saint Markans, granting funds to organizations serving the needs of our communities.

Here is one of the organizations that received funds in 2024:

As a non-profit social enterprise of Pillsbury United Communities, Full Cycle Bike Shop addresses the fundamental need of unhoused youth to gain work experience and skills in a structured, mentor-focused environment to help them move forward with their lives. With as many as 6,000 unhoused youth on any given night in Minnesota, youth homelessness is a pressing social issue.

Located at 35th and Chicago in Minneapolis, Full Cycle offers six-month paid internships for unhoused youth to repair and refurbish up to 200 bikes each year. The program supports their immediate needs and offers an entry point into the Pillsbury employment training program, which in turn moves them along a path to stability and sustainability.

For more information on Full Cycle Bike Shop, visit https://fullcyclebikeshop.org/. To learn more about the work of the Wells Foundation, visit wellsfound.org.

Dean Search Committee Update

For ongoing progress updates from the committee, click here.

Gospel Based Discipleship

Fridays, 12:15 pm, online via Zoom

Gospel Based Discipleship is a weekly online meeting to read a passage of scripture and reflect on its meaning. There is no curriculum, no instructor. This is not a class, but a space for thought and reflection, a sort of "mini-retreat" from the week's busyness.

Access the Zoom link here. The gathering lasts only 45-50 minutes, from 12:15 pm until about 1 pm.

Encountering Loss:

Downtown Coalition for Grief Support

The Downtown Coalition for Grief Support meets every Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Mark's through the summer.

Each session begins with either a professional speaker or a personal story, followed by small groups depending on the kind of loss experienced: spouse/partner, family/friend, or child. Everyone is invited to listen to the speaker; small group sessions are limited to those who experienced the death of a loved one.

Some upcoming topics: A Gentile Practice for Tough Times, The Courage to Ask: Embracing Help on the Path to Healing, Myths and Grief, Children and Grief, and many more. For more information, visit their website here.

Volunteers are always needed to welcome participants. The hours for volunteers are 9:30- 10:30.

If you have questions on the program or volunteering, email Linda Schelin at lindahneb@aol.com.

Gathering Groups

As a way to connect and to grow as disciples of Jesus, Saint Mark’s has a variety of groups based on interest, affinity, or time. Two groups that meet monthly, with a set schedule, are these:

Women’s group: Second Thursday of the month, 6:00 pm, in the Library. On hiatus July and August, returning September 11.

Men’s group: Fourth Saturday of the month, 9:00 am, in the Library. 

Please join us whenever it fits your schedule!

Summer building hours:

Sunday: 7:30 am - 1:00 pm

Monday: By appointment

Tuesday: By appointment

Wednesday: 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

Thursday: By appointment

Friday: Closed

Saturday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm