Save the Date - Lutheridge Sunday

Sunday, September 8th @ 11:00am



St. Mark's and Western North Carolina Baptist will worship and enjoy lunch and fellowship together at Lutheridge on Sunday, September 8th. You don't want to miss this day! If you cannot attend the Lutheridge service, there will be a brief spoken service at 8:30 am at St. Mark's. Please note that there is no 11:00 service at St. Mark's on this day. 

Directions:

Camp Lutheridge is located at 2511 Hendersonville Rd. Arden, NC 28704. We will gather around 11am in Whisnant Chapel. From the main entrance, keep turning right and driving up the hill. Lunch, games, and fellowship will follow at the Lakeside Pavilion. Hard copies of the property map are located in the commons or by following this link.

Music:

You are invited to help lead the music with Peggy and Cantor David! Please come to a brief rehearsal at St. Mark's on Thursday, September 5 at 6:30pm. All singers, instrumentalists, and enthusiastic clappers are welcome! 

Food:

Lunch will be provided! If you are have dietary restriction, please contact the church office so we can accommodate your needs when we prepare our lunch order.

Children's Faith Formation - Beginning

September 15th @ 9:45am

Faith formation for young people begins on September 15. Meet in the sanctuary at 9:45 as we hand out new Bibles or books to each child (preK-elementary) and meet our teachers before heading to classrooms. Going forward, kids faith formation will continue to meet in the sanctuary at 9:45 for 15 minutes of music with Cantor David. Parents of young ones may pick up from classrooms at 10:45.

New Adult Faith Formation - Rome at the time of Jesus

September 15th @ 9:45am

How often do you think about the Roman Empire? Join Phillip Otterness, St. Mark's member and Warren Wilson Professor Emeritus of History and Political Science as he helps us better understand the world in which Jesus lived. This class will begin on September 15 and meet in the Fellowship Hall. 

St. Mark’s Kids and Youth

September 15 & October 13 @ Lutheridge, 4-5:30pm

Youth and children 3 and up will gather at the Faith Center Porch at Lutheridge before splitting into age groups for games, vespers, SMORES and more led by St. Mark's members and Lutheridge Program Directors Pastors Sara and Drew Yoos. Older youth should come with sturdy shoes so they can hike or take a turn on the climbing wall! Please let Pastor Matt or the church office know you are coming and if you would be willing to help with the younger group. We look forward to growing in faith with you and your children! 

Celebrating Dr. L.C Ray and First Lady Louise Ray

September 15th

There will be a special service held at 3pm at Western North Carolina Baptist Fellowship to honor the work that Pastor L.C Ray has completed over the last 14 years of his pastoral ministry. Guest Preacher, Pastor John Brewster will be preaching and the service will also include a video of an interview with Rev. Ray looking back over his impact in the community. Your presence will be appreciated. Questions? Contact Connie Chaplin! Click here for more information 

Our Million Dollar Walk

September 29th

In 1979, the Asheville area held its first Crop Hunger Walk to raise awareness of world hunger issues.   This year, on September 29th, we will pass the million dollar mark raised!

St. Mark's will participate on that day in the annual Asheville-Buncombe Crop Hunger Walk, showing that we care for people locally and around the world who do not have enough to eat.  Last year, our members raised over $9,000 with this Walk, and we hope to do even better this year and pass the $10,000 mark.  Please sign up at the table in the Commons, or at "crophungerwalk.org/ashevillenc" to join the walk.

Living out our Baptismal Call

This year's fall stewardship campaign will include an invitation to make pledges of time and talent in addition to financial pledges. Not sure what opportunities exist at St. Mark's? Check out our Time and Talent Reference booklet to see what might be a good fit for you and who you can contact to get connected.

Yarn Angels are BACK!!

beginning September 10th @ 11:30am

Interested in joining the Yarn Angels craft their prayer shawls and pocket crosses? They will begin meeting in person again on Tuesday, Sept 10th after a summer break! Questions - contact Barbara Ulrichs.

Let's Sing

beginning September 12th @ 7pm

September is the perfect time to start singing with the choir! Rehearsals begin on September 12 from 7:00 to 8:00pm. All are welcome -- please contact the church office or Cantor David for more information.

Racial Healing Team

DID YOU KNOW? St. Marks has a team committed to Racial Healing?

This group looks for opportunities for our congregation to get involved with communities in Asheville, Buncombe County, and Western North Carolina to promote education, fellowship, service, and advocacy around racial injustice and inequality and our calling to follow the teachings of Jesus to break down barriers and lift up our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Our alliance with WNC Baptist and Living Water’s in Cherokee are just the beginning! We are excited for our part in the Vision 2027 Goals and what God has in store for St. Marks. The next RHT meeting will be on September 16th @ 6pm!

Sign Up today!! Table for All!

Table for All provides an opportunity for you to meet and get to know more people at St. Mark’s. Over the course of the year, you’ll have the opportunity to gather with 3 different groups at people’s homes to break bread and share in conversation. It’s a fun and easy way to get to know your church family better, and build stronger relationships (all while enjoying some yummy food!). Sign up on “Sign-up Central” bulletin board at the bottom of the main staircase, or email Garry and Gina Linton at missginabee@verizon.net

Name Tag Lanyards

The Evangelism and Hospitality Team encourages all members to wear name tags, found on the racks in the Commons, every Sunday. They help us all get to know each other better and help visitors and newcomers feel welcome. If you’d prefer to hang your name tag around your neck, rather than pin it, lanyards are now available. Look in the cabinet near the name tag rack for the first part of the alphabet.

A Summer to Remember

Jessica Cassidy, a resident of ABCCM's Transformation Village, recently sent her two sons, Isaac and Adrian, to Camp Lutheridge, thanks to the generous camp scholarships provided by St. Mark’s. For Jessica, this was more than just a summer camp experience; it was an opportunity for her boys to connect with nature, build their faith, and grow in ways that only a camp like Lutheridge can offer.

Meet the Sawari Family!

As you may be aware, our LSC (Lutheran Services-Carolina) Circle of Welcome here at St. Mark’s has been given a refugee family to support. The Sawari family has five members, Leda (mom), Safiullah (or Safi for short - dad) and three children; two sons, ages 14 and 8, and a daughter, 12. The family arrived in Asheville in late July. To read more about the Sawari family, click below.

Weekly Schedule



Wednesday, Sept 4th

9am - Property Day

Thursday, Sept 5th

5pm - Prayer Team

6:30pm - Lutheridge Choir Practice

Friday, Sept 6th

9am - Library Team

Sunday, Sept. 8th

8:30am - Brief Worship @ St. Mark's

11am - Lutheridge Sunday Worship

Monday, Sept. 9th

10am - Faith & Fellowship (Zoom)

6pm - Council Mtg (Zoom)

Tuesday, Sept. 10th

9am - Quilting

10am - Staff Meeting

11:30am - Yarn Angels

Wednesday, Sept 11th

9am - Property Day

Thursday, Sept 12th

5pm - Prayer Team

5:30pm - Handbell Rehearsal

7pm - Choir Rehearsal

Have a question you would usually ask Deacon Katie?

While Deacon Katie is on sabbatical, she will not be available by phone or email. In order to give her time apart, please contact the following people instead of her with questions.

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