New Faith Formation Class starting Sunday!

Acts of the Apostles- with James Aydelotte

The Acts of the Apostles is one of the most exciting and challenging books in the Bible. It traces the Church's dramatic growth from sacred Jerusalem to imperial Rome. If possible, read the whole story; it can be done in over an hour. But concentrate especially on Chapters 2, 10, 15 & 26. The class will meet at 9:45 on April 27, and May 4, 11 & 18 in the Library. Come and learn from Peter and Paul!

New Member Sunday

On Sunday, May 4th we will be welcoming new members to St. Mark’s. If you are interested in learning more about joining the congregation, or are ready to join, please contact Deacon Katie (deaconkatie@stmarkslutheran.net).

Red Dress Project

May 4th

Over the last few months, The Racial Healing Team has been presenting a small window into the MMIW crisis. MMIW is an acronym for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and refers to the ongoing violence against the First Nations, Metis, Inuit, American Indian, and Alaska Native. MMIW is an urgent human rights issue and has become the rallying cry for action against such acts of violence.

As part of the RHT educating the congregation, they will be replicating an impactful visual art installation created by Métis artist Jaime Black in 2010. This project specifically addresses the MMIW crisis in Canada by focusing on the issue of missing or murdered Indigenous women. St. Mark’s Racial Healing Team will replicate the REDress Project on Sunday, May 4, by addressing the MMIW crisis on the Qualla Boundary in Cherokee, and they are asking to borrow your red dress. If you have a red dress to lend, please bring your dress to the commons on any Sunday before April 27. On May 4th the commons will have a display of red dresses.

Young Artist Organ Recital

3:00pm, May 3 @ St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Asheville NC

Get ready to be inspired by the next generation of musicians! Students from the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University along with their professor Dr. Joby Bell will present an organ recital at St. Mark's Lutheran Church at 3pm on May 3.

They are playing works by Bach, Gerre Hancock, Franck, Joseph Bonnet, and more. The instrument, Opus 85 built by Martin Ott, is the largest mechanical action organ in Asheville with over 1,300 pipes made from a variety of materials (tin, oak, lead, cherry, and pine), two keyboards, and a full pedalboard. Don't miss your chance to hear these accomplished young musicians make her sing! Free admission -- donations will be split between the church music program and the university scholarship fund.

Explore Nature! Helene through a natural lens w/ Jamie Rhodes 

Session 1 - May 4th

12:00-1:30 in the St. Mark's Fellowship Hall

(Lunch provided)

Session 2 - May 17th

11:00-2:00 @ UNCA Botanical Gardens 

(Carpool available and bag lunch provided)

Why did hurricane Helene cause so much destruction? Is our ecosystem ok? Will it bounce back? Explore these questions and more in a two-part program with Jamie Rhodes, an environmental educator and longtime church member who is working to complete their North Carolina Environmental Education certification. The first session of the program will be a seated interactive discussion and the second session will be an outdoor exploration of the changes to Reed Creek following Helene. Anyone is welcome to attend either one or both of the sessions. You won't want to miss a fun and interesting look at nature in our own backyard!

In order to prepare lunch, please sign up on the bulletin board, or you can email Deacon Katie to RSVP. 

LWR Personal Care Kits

This year, the St. Mark's CAT team has decided to make personal care kits for Lutheran World Relief. This is a very easy kit containing only five items- a bath towel, toothbrush, soap, nail clipper, and comb. LWR is very specific about each of the items. Next to the bulletin board at the bottom of the steps, you will find a folder that says "Please take one." These instructions include everything you need to know and are also linked here.



All items must be new and you cannot add any additional items. This year we request that you either donate a complete kit or make a cash donation designated to LWR Kits to purchase items. This will prevent us from receiving more of some items than others. Thank you in advance for your generosity. St. Mark's always comes through when donations are requested, which is greatly appreciated by the CAT team, but most importantly by recipients of our kits.

Food Ingathering for ABCCM Pantries

St Mark's Church Council suggested to the Christian Action Team (CAT) that they resume regular "Food Ingathering" collections at St Mark's, as one of our Vision 2027 goals. Four times a year (May, August, November, and February) there will be grocery bags in the Church pews on the first Sunday of the month. The bags will list items that are presented in the greatest need at the pantries. Please bring the bags back on the Second Sunday of the listed months, with the items listed and place them in the bins by the indoor play area.  Did you know? CAT meets on the first Monday of each month, at 6:30pm. Please contact Dan Dudde if you are interested in being part of this energetic and giving team!

Weekly Schedule

Wednesday, April 23rd

9am - Property Day

Thursday, April 24th

4pm - Evangelism & Hospitality

5pm - Prayer Team

Friday, April 25th

10am - Archives Team

Saturday, April 26th

10am - Yarn Angels (Zoom)

Sunday, April 27th

8:30am - Worship

9:45am - Faith Formation

11am - Worship

Monday, April 28th

10am - Faith & Fellowship (Zoom)

Tuesday, April 29th

9am - Quilting

10am - Staff Meeting

Worship Assistants, April 27th

 Greeters:

8:30am – Vic and Mary Anne Allwein

11am - Eric and Susan Van Tassel

Ushers: 

8:30am –  Walter Hitch, Ken Clark

11am - Tom and Beth Biltz

Altar Guild:

8:30am – Amy Zellers

11am - Paula Lindsay

Acolyte:

8:30am – Eleanor Schreck

11am - Deacon Katie Rivers

Crucifer:

11am – Eileen Cram and Erick Smith

Assisting Minister:

8:30am – Amy Zellers

11am – Natalie Haynes

Reader:

8:30am – Anne Sites

11am – Donna Turnbaugh

Communion Assistant:

8:30am - Mary Anne Allwein

11am – Susan Denne

Live Stream:

George Hahn

Contact Information

Parish Administrator

admin@stmarkslutheran.net

Our Mission:

Making disciples by loving Christ,

growing in faith, serving all people

Our Vision:

Experiencing and sharing God's grace as an inclusive, intergenerational congregation through Worship, Outreach, Learning and Fellowship