Good News for November 17, 2024

If you are age 11 and above, you can join the Acolyte Squad and do God's work in the church. Rev. Keith will be training new members after the 10AM service in the church. Meet him at the altar at 11:15.

Celebrate the St. Nicholas Dinner with Your St. Mark's Community!

Join us on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. for our beloved St. Nicholas Dinner at St. Mark’s! This evening promises festive fun and fellowship for all ages.

We’ll kick off the celebration with cookie decorating—a joy for both the young and the young at heart! Santa will be making a special appearance, and we’ll have a good old-fashioned Christmas carol sing-along to get everyone in the holiday spirit.

Dinner will feature delicious tri-tip with all the classic sides, all for just $15.00 per person. And in the true spirit of St. Nicholas, we invite you to bring an unwrapped toy for a child or teenager. With this generous donation, the cost of your meal is reduced to $10.00.

Please see Susan Mackall in the Parish Hall to sign up for this event. Seating is limited. Please sign up as soon as possible to insure your spot at this wonderful festive holiday event!

We hope to see you there for this wonderful evening of holiday fellowship! Betty Farrell and Susan Mackall

Volunteers Needed for Nativity Play

All ages welcomed to participate to be readers, angels, shepherds, kings etc. in the Sunday Dec. 22 10 am service. If you are interested, please see Susan Mackall in the Parish Hall by room 18 on Sunday Nov 10 and Nov 17.

Advent and Christmas at St. Mark's

St. Nicholas Dinner, Dec 8 at 4PM

Christmas Dedications in by Dec 15

Blue Christmas, Dec 22 at 8AM

Nativity Pageant, Dec 22 at 10AM

Set up for Christmas, Dec 22 following the 10AM service

Christmas Eve, Dec 24 at 2PM w/Band, 9:30PM w/Choir and Prelude Music Concert

Christmas Day, Dec 25, one service at 10AM w/Organ and Cantor

Christmas Lessons and Carols, Dec 29

The Memorial Doves Have Landed

The All Saints'/All Souls' Day doves have flown down from the ceiling and are roosting in baskets in the Narthex to the right of the door into the church. If you gave the office the name of a loved one to remember, there should be a dove with that name on it. Please feel free to find and take your doves. If you cannot find one or you need an extra, blanks are available in another basket near the stained glass windows. If you want to let them fly again at home on a Christmas tree or in a window, a binder clip on the back between the wings makes an excellent way to tie a string to them.

Ministry Group & Activity Photos for the Bulletin Board

Dear Ministry Leaders: please consider a group photo of your ministry for the electronic bulletin board: a zoom meeting and a screen shot; at a gathering of all the members in the same place and time; individual pictures in a collage. Also please consider up to 5 additional pictures that represent the purpose or an activity of your ministry. Many thanks

Intergenerational Learning

The Napier Initiative oﬀers seniors the opportunity to experience intergenerational classes at the Claremont Colleges at no expense. In addition to learning from assigned readings, class “Elders” participate fully in class discussions and projects. My class last spring introduced me to exciting new ideas and critical thinking on important issues while I shared my relevant life experiences with the class. I experienced ﬁrsthand the talent and inspiring personal values my younger classmates brought to the classroom. The following courses are oﬀered this spring:

(1) “People & Power: The History and Practice of Community Organizing”; (2) “Political Economy of Food”; (3) “Feminism and Science” and (4) “Human-Centered Design”.

If you would like further information about the classes and/or how to apply for admission to them please contact Paul Turner or call the office, (909)920-5565.

St. Mark's Book Club, Dec 21

On Saturday, December 21st we will meet to discuss Kate Morton's 2008 novel, "The Forgotten Garden" at Nancy Kinney's home. I hope all can attend to ring out the year in good cheer.

The plot of this novel is driven by the mystery of why a four-year-old girl is abandoned on an Australian wharf in 1913. Told from three perspectives, it is the story of Nell's search to find her birth family interwoven with her mother's efforts to create a meaningful life and her grandchildren's endeavors to finally solve the abandonment mystery. Inspired by Morton's own family history, it explores living with and overcoming loss - of trust, of identity and loved ones. According to Goodreads, this Gothic genre-inspired tale "is a captivating, atmospheric and compulsively readable story of the past, secrets, family and memory."

Please contact Maggie Vizio at: bookclub@stmarks-upland.org

Children's Chapel

Children from the ages 3-10 are welcome to attend the children’s chapel at the fount of the church on the south side. We begin at 9:50 AM with sign-in, and lessons begin at 10 AM. Your child will join you for communion.

Attention Knitters and Crocheters

If you wish to be of service to St. Mark's and the wider community, the Fiber Arts Guild makes prayer shawls and men's lap robes for those who are sick or facing difficult situations. We also make baby blankets for those celebrating an addition to their family. For More Information...

Men's Coffee Fellowship - Wednesdays, 10:30AM

Meet at Starbucks located at the Colonies Crossroads, 1943 N Campus Ave, Unit D, Upland, 91784. For info, contact John Flasher.

Outreach

Toys for TOUCH Toy Drive, Nov 24 - Dec 15

St. Nicholas exemplified generosity, especially towards children and those in need. In the spirit of St. Nicholas Day, St. Mark’s invites you to carry on his legacy of compassion by participating in our Toys for TOUCH Drive. From November 24th through December 15th, please donate an unwrapped toy for a child or teenager in need. You can drop your gift in one of the collection boxes located in the Narthex or Parish Hall.

If you’re joining us for the St. Nicholas Dinner, bring an unwrapped toy to the event to reduce your ticket price from $15.00 to $10.00. Thank you for helping us spread the joy and generosity of St. Nicholas to those who need it most.

Thank you, Betty Farrell

Helping Hands Hot Meal Ministry

Can you provide a meal for a parish member? You don't need to be a gourmet chef - just a person with compassion. You can cook or call UberEATS. Please contact Jennifer Stone at helpinghands@stmarks-upland.org

Creation Care

Digging in the dirt for your mental well-being.

Trees have a profound, positive impact on our mental health, and research has made that clear. It has been proven that spending time among trees lowers cortisol levels. And simply living within 100 meters (about 300 feet) of a tree reduces rates of depression.

More recently, science has uncovered another way tree planting affects our mood and mental health: digging in the dirt. In addition to benefits that fresh air, physical exertion, and natural beauty provide, Mycobacterium vaccae – a microbe naturally found in soil – is also improving people’s temperaments.

This microbe’s primary role is to help break down organic matter like decaying leaves and needles, for example, but it can also increase brain serotonin, which can produce antidepressant – like effects in humans. This Happens when people are merely working in the soil – tree planting included.

Researchers are still actively studying this phenomenon. While there are many working hypotheses as to why this happens, the amazing thing is that it does happen.

“We should all be really excited about that, and we should not underestimate the power of nature,” said Dr Christopher Lowry, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and prominent researcher of this bacteria.

Arborday.org/fall

Episcopalchurch.org/creation

Worship Videos

Praise, my Soul, the King of Heaven

King of Glory, King of Peace

Come with Us, O Blessed Jesus

The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns

Stewardship & Finance

Giving Update through September 30, 2024

Thank you very much for your donations to St. Mark's -- and for supporting the recent program to purchase mugs and help the planet. We ask for your prayerful consideration of St. Mark's this fall. Our summer electricity and water bills spike in the summer, just when there is usually a summer giving lull. We also have a large structural deficit that we are striving to close. Operating fund contributions were about $200,000 through September 30 and we will need a robust fall to meet our budget. We have also received donations of about $40,000 for the building fund and $5,200 for Haiti outreach along with countless donations for outreach and small projects. Every donation is appreciated! We will be emailing quarterly donation statements and you can check your giving at any time through Breeze. Please contact Rose, our office administrator, at parishadmin@stmarks-upland.org if you wish to set up access through Breeze, wish to update your pledge, or have questions.

Donating from IRA Accounts

Required minimum distributions (RMD) are the least amounts of money you must withdraw from your traditional IRA account each year, once you reach a certain age. If you make a qualified charitable contribution directly to St. Mark's for some or all of the RMD, that amount will not be taxed. Your financial advisor or IRA customer service can provide additional details on how to make this type of donation to St. Mark's.