St. Mark's Weekly News

Friday, March 13th, 2026

4th Weekend of Lent

Saturday, March 14th, 5 pm

Sunday, March 15th, 10 am

"Growing Into Grace Filled Community"

The gospel for this weekend is the story of the man born blind healed by Christ. “I was blind, now I see,” declares the man. Trying to make sense of this, the Pharisees put the man on trial calling the healed man’s neighbors and parents to find some kind of explanation. When the Pharisees ultimately kick the man out, Jesus finds him and reveals who he really is- the Messiah. Jesus shows him grace and restores him to community. This weekend we will take a look at our final mission pillar- Fellowship.  Fellowship is about building relationships. How do we continue growing into a grace filled community?  

Order of worship click here

Watch live on YouTube (Sunday) click here

Growing Into...

Lent 2026

This Lent, Deacon Dave and Pastor Krista will be doing a sermon series on our four mission pillars: Spiritual Growth, Community Engagement, Worship and Fellowship. These are our priorities on how we live into our mission statement; "Sharing Christ's abundant love with each other and the world." These were identified by the congregation during the "What's Possible" process in 2024 and adopted by the congregation in January 2025. When Pastor Krista and Deacon Dave were called to serve St. Mark's they affirmed these priorities. Now, we are growing into these priorities as a congregation. How is God calling us to live these out? Join us this Lent as we discern and grow together. You are invited to add your ideas in word or art to the pillars in the Narthex!  

• Special Guest Preacher! On March 21 and 22 we are very excited to welcome Bishop Wayne Miller back to St. Mark's! Bishop Miller served as St. Mark's senior pastor before being elected bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod. He is currently our Interim Bishop since our former Bishop, Yehiel Curry, was elected Presiding Bishop of the ELCA.

Lenten Offering for Mutual Ground

This year, our Lenten Offering will be for Mutual Ground. You can donate online here or by scanning the QR code at the Welcome Center. Donation envelopes will also be available and can be placed in the wooden Welcome Center box.

Mutual Ground supports individuals and families impacted by domestic violence, sexual violence, and substance use through education, awareness, and life changing services.

In 1974, the Women’s Development Council met at Waubonsee Community College to discuss the challenges facing women in our community and the ideation of Mutual Ground began. Mutual Ground became incorporated in 1975 and began offering counseling and advocacy services to victims of domestic violence. Since then their services have expanded to include support for individuals impacted by sexual violence and substance use.

Today their services include counseling, emergency shelter, prevention education, community trainings and more.

Order Easter Flowers

Last day to order is Sunday, March 29th 

This is a wonderful opportunity to help us fill the sanctuary and narthex with festive hydrangeas, azaleas or mums! We’d welcome your contribution. Flowers are $20 each, and you can give your plant in honor or memory of a loved one, or a special occasion. You’ll be able to take your plant(s) home with you after the 10 a.m. Sunday service on April 5th. 

Please order your flowers online here or by using the form and envelope at the Welcome Center and placing them the wooden Welcome Center box.

Giving Envelopes

The annual giving envelopes have arrived at Church and you may pick them up in the Narthex over the next 3 weeks. If you are unable to locate your package of envelopes, please send an email to Beth. 

If you are unable to pick up your envelopes, please send an email to Joni or call the church office.

This Weekend

Pancake Breakfast THIS Sunday!

Sunday, March 15th, 8:30 am

Sanctuary Hall

Join us for breakfast before worship featuring pancakes, sausage, applesauce, coffee, juice and milk.

There will be a free will offering to benefit the Pastor's Discretionary Fund.

Next Week

LSSI Downer Place Food Distribution

Monday, March 16th, 9:30 - Noon

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Monday, March 16th!

Come and volunteer along with your fellow St. Mark’s members.

LSSI Downer Place needs volunteers to distribute food for local low-income seniors. The mobile food pantry provides nutritious options, including meats, vegetables, and fresh fruits. Please sign up at the Welcome Center to volunteer.

Evening Bible Study

Wednesdays, March 18th and 25th

6:30-7:30 pm

Music Library (downstairs from offices)

Dave Gibson will be leading a talk and discussion about the creation of the Biblical Canon and differences in the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Bible Canons. He will also discuss how different English translations have come about and the philosophies about translating the Bible. Come learn and join the discussion!

Annual Bingo Chili (ABC) Night

Saturday, March 21, 6-8 p.m.

Chili Bingo is March 21st at 6 pm (after worship). Come try all the amazing recipes! Share your award-winning special Chili. Play Bingo and test your luck! The proceeds go to this year's High School Mission Trip to Brooklyn, NY. There will be great prizes and lots of fun. 

To purchase tickets, you can buy them online here. Tickets can also be purchased at the door or in the Narthex after worship on March 14/15, for $15/adult for unlimited chili tastings, cornbread, salad, dessert and drink. Each meal comes with 3 voting tickets. Additional voting tickets are $1 each. Kids meals are $10 and include a hot dog or 2 chili tastings, cornbread, salad, dessert and drink. We will vote on the best chili and the winner will receive a Ream's gift card. After we eat, BINGO will begin. Cards will be sold for $1 each.

There will be a signup sheet at the Welcome Center or online here if you would like to contribute "your chili" or other food items.

Bingo Prize Donations: You can also help us out by donating Bingo Prizes.  Donate gift cards or other prizes valuing approximately-$20-$25. Please indicate on the Welcome Center signup whether you plan to donate a prize for the bingo winners.

We will be having TWO SPECIAL RAFFLES this year! Prize #1: "Glow" Bowling Party for 10 at Parkside Lanes.  This includes shoes, pizza and soft drinks, and 1 1/2 hours of bowling!  Prize #2: Queen Sized Quilt (96x96 inches) created by Virginia Biltgen of Lydia's Piecemakers. Raffle tickets will be on sale throughout the night, and the next two weekends before and after worship.  $5 each or 5 for $20.  All proceeds go to Youth Mission Trip. Winner does not need to be present to win the special raffles!

Adult Fellowship March Outing

Thursday, March 26, 10 am

Shingoethe Center (Aurora University)

Adult Fellowship will be visiting the Shingoethe Center to see the exhibit of 32 artists from the Pilson area of Chicago. This exhibit was first seen in Paris, France. It explores the migration, identity and community through various techniques: linocuts, etching, woodcuts, serigraphs and dry point. See more about the exhibit here. Cost is $5 per person.

Out donation this month will be to LIBBY's PLACE (click here for more info). All students have access to the on-campus Food Pantry. Items recommended: hygiene items or protein items, peanut butter, tuna fish, individual mac and cheese. We will collect the items after our museum visit.

We will enjoy lunch at Spartan House after the exhibit. Please sign up by March 22nd. Contact Clare Toynton for more information.

Sharing Christ's Abundant Love

Do you have a guess as to how St. Mark’s benefitted from Thrivent Choice Dollars last year -$50.00, $200.00 or even a $1,000.00?

In 2025, without prompting or outreach from our church community, members gave $6,718.00 of their Choice Dollars to St. Mark’s. Of that amount, members designated $243.00 be given to the Endowment Fund and $1,400.00 to Lydia’s Piecemakers (that’s a lot of quilts!). Want to join in the fun this year? Last week, we provided the step-by-step instructions as to how to designate your Choice Dollars. Whether on-line or by phone, simply choose:

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 27 South Edgelawn Drive, Aurora, Illinois 60506

Once the funds are received, they automatically go into our general fund unless you identify a specific group/cause within St. Mark’s to receive the benefit. If so, please contact John Themanson, Finance Administrator to make that arrangement.   Finally, please remember that the deadline to designate your Choice Dollars this year is March 31, 2026.

A hearty thanks to the all the St. Mark’s members who designated their Thrivent Choice Dollars to St. Mark’s last year!

Want to designate your Choice Dollars for this year? Attached here you will find step-by-step instructions on how to do that both online and by phone. Just interested in learning more about Thrivent? Keep reading your Friday e-mails through March as we further explore Choice Dollar designations for St. Marks, action teams and much more.

Reminder: Articles are normally run for two consecutive weeks and no more than two to three weeks prior to the event. After being run for two weeks, articles may appear in the section below at the discretion of the Communications Manager.

Sign Up to Help in Worship

All in one link!

Click here for sign up sheet.

Adult Bible Study

Click here to learn more.

March 18, 25 - First Communion Instruction

March 21 - Chili Cook Off/Bingo Night (6-8 pm in Sanctuary Hall)

April 8 - First Communion Instruction review/make-up session

April 19 - First Communion (during 10 am worship)

June 13-20 - High School Mission Trip (Brooklyn, NY)

July 13-17 - VBS

March 14 - PADS Dinner (6-9 pm at Hesed House)

March 15 - Pancake Breakfast (8:30 am in Sanctuary Hall)

March 15 - Council Meeting (11:30 am)

March 16 - LSSI Downer Place Food Distribution (9:30 am)

March 21 - Chili Cook-off/Bingo Night (6-8 pm in Sanctuary Hall)

March 28/29 - Palm Sunday (during 5 pm Saturday & 10 am Sunday worship)

April 2 - Maundy Thursday (7 pm)

April 3 - Good Friday (Office Closed at Noon)

April 3 - Stations of the Cross (3 pm)

April 3 - Good Friday Worship (Tenebrae - 7 pm)

April 4 - No Worship

April 5 - Easter Sunday Worship (10 am)

April 6 - Office Closed for Easter Monday

We remember in our prayers . . .

Jean Bauman, Richard Brackett, Lynnette Brent, Linda Castaing, Chuck, Annie Craig, Martha Egeland, Jim Frank, Letty Godinez, Marge Gugerty, Roald Haase, Lorrie Kobliska, Cora and Ralph Lienert, Priscilla Offhaus, Roliardi Schwass, Mike Sherer, Wayne and Edie Standorf, Kevin Stockwell, Lois Swan, Pat Walters, Joe W.

Comfort for Doug Nord and family on the loss of Sharon.

The prayer quilt in the Narthex this weekend is for Dianne Ries. Please stop by, say a prayer, and tie a knot.

If you have prayer requests you would like named or listed here, email them to Joni or leave a message on the church phone: 630-897-6891. Names will be kept on for 2 weeks and then removed unless you request it to stay on longer. Thank you!

Lydia’s Piecemakers Ministry: The Prayer Quilt

Know someone who could use a prayer quilt? Click here to learn more.