St. Mark's Weekly Bridge Newsletter

We are pleased to share that our sanctuary is now equipped with a Hearing Loop System! This loop system gives greater accessibility to those with hearing challenges to hear scripture readings, the sermon, and music. All seating in the pew areas is covered by the system. Hearing loops have been widespread in public venues in Europe for some time, but are just now starting to catch on in the United States.

Hearing loops broadcast sound from the PA system wirelessly to hearing aids equipped with telecoils (T-coils) or portable receiver units. If you wear hearing aids, to benefit from the hearing loop in our church, you will need to find out if your hearing aids have a telecoil built in. The telecoil program is accessed by pushing a button on a hearing aid or smart phone. This T-coil program must be activated by your audiologist, so talk with your hearing care provider to find out if your instruments can have the telecoil activated to hear well in our church.

If you do not have a telecoil in your hearing aids - or are experiencing hearing difficulties but you don't use hearing devices - we also have the option of portable receivers that are linked to the loop system. The receivers can be picked up in the back of the sanctuary by the sound board.

Please ask the ushers for assistance with the receivers. Click here for the instruction sheet, also available at the church. If you have questions about the loop system you can direct your questions to Laura Moran. Thank you!

Produce Palooza! Sunday in the Courtyard, 9:45-11:00 a.m.

We had an enthusiastic response to our first Sunday of sharing the harvest! The Greening the Congregation Team will continue to host this fun way for gardeners to share what they have been growing and nurturing in their gardens this summer. We invite all gardeners and those who appreciate fresh produce and flowers to meet at the tables outside the office area in the courtyard. Gardeners can give away their extra bounty of veggies, fruits, herbs, flowers, etc. to those who have not had the opportunity to garden this summer. It's a time to share the abundant harvest. Contact the office for more information.

Volunteers Urgently Needed!

Moving for Installation of New Flooring

We will be moving all of the pews back into the Sanctuary ( Saturday the 25th, 9:00 a.m.-noon).

Please follow this link to sign up for a shift:

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/409044FAAAD2DA0F49-pewmoving

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Fall School Kit Drive - Lutheran World Relief

It's time for St. Mark's Annual LWR School Kit Drive and to shop for school supplies at great prices!

Last year St. Mark's delivered 225 school kits to LWR, and LWR delivered 214,690 school kits to 17 countries! Starting August 25 through September, you will be able to pick up and fill one or more ORANGE bags that will be delivered to one child OR just pick up a supply list and shop for the items you choose. This St. Mark's ministry of collecting supplies, packing, and shipping kits allows children to attend school in their communities! Pencils and paper help write a positive future ! Contact Catherine Terrill with ? at 253-732-3479. Blessings!

EACH KIT INCLUDES :

(4) Spiral bound notebooks (8" X 10 ½")

(1) 12" ruler (metric/inches)

(1) pencil sharpener

(1) blunt scissors

(5) pencils -unsharpened

(5) ballpoint pens (blue or black)

(1) 2 ½" pink eraser

(1) box crayons (16 or 24 crayons)

Urgent Needs for Refugee Support-Update

A huge thank you to the many generous donors who have contributed to furnishing an apartment for the Ukrainian family we are welcoming this week. We still have a short list of items which would help:

2 twin mattress covers

Night stand(s)

Vacuum cleaner

Carving knife and fork

Muffin tin

Cookie sheet(s)

Cake and loaf pans

Blender

Pot scrubber

Computer

Small items can be dropped off at the church office. Please let us know what you plan to donate and if you need help moving it. Thank you! Paula Friedmann, 253-222-4019, [email protected].

Stewarding the Earth document

Please click here to access a digital copy of the Stewarding the Earth document, compiled by the Greening the Congregation committee.

Third Quarter Group

Those in the third quarter of life, ages 50-75ish, are invited to share hope, laughter, and love through active events.

Thursday, September 13, at 6:00 p.m. Potluck in Parish Commons. We will review our past year's activities and get your ideas for 2018-2019 monthly events.

Walking 4 Wellness

All are welcome! We have a fun, social time. Meet the group for friendship and fresh air. Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m. (approx). Meet at the TLRC Art Center, near the fountain. No sign up required. Questions? Contact Pastor Sigi at: [email protected].

Women of St. Mark's

We had a very productive and fun Craft Night! This time it was on Monday night in the Youth Room. We had our sewing night making table mats from the new 2018 Scandi line of fabric. Thank you Bonnie Wascher for the lovely fabric! Lots of fun and conversation! We also finished decorating the Bath Salts Jars, thank you Linda Buhr!

Our September Craft Night will be on Friday, September 28, in the Youth Room. Lots of tables, room and cooler! We will be assembling the Snowman Chocolate Bars, a favorite at the Bazaar. Hope to see you there!

We have fabric ready for all of you sewers that would like to help the Quilters. We need quilt tops sewn together for the Quilters.

If you have a question, please call Barbara Meyers at 253-756-9352 or send me an email at [email protected].

Children and Youth Faith Formation

LAST DAY of Summer Story time, this Sunday: 9:45 hour for children 5 years old to 3rd grade (incoming). Younger children need to bring an adult. Sunday's leader: Julie Milasich. Thanks to Everyone who was a part of our Storytime team this summer!

Sunday morning classes for children and youth begin September 16.

You are INVITED to join the Sunday morning Children's Faith Formation fun! Be a member of a teaching team for 5-6 weeks during one or more sessions September 16 to June 16 . See the table in the Narthex or contact Celesta Smith at [email protected] for more information.

Youth grades 6-12 and parents: don't forget to sign up to help with Music on the Lawn, August 25 at Bob and Suzy Reynold's home.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0a48aca728aafc1-upcoming

Speak Up: Moral Voices

The Peace and Justice Committee at St. Mark's suggests we all consider using our moral voices to advocate for justice in the following areas: food, housing, creation, and immigration.

St. Mark's supports Associated Ministries, which has an advocacy group working with the City of Tacoma to encourage more affordable housing. You can join the group and/or contact your city council member to take action on affordable housing. Read more about it here.

Free Pierce County Film Series Focuses on Family Caregiving

Films on Caregiving - Happy Tears

September 8 - Two sisters help their crude but endearing father deal with age-related health and mental problems. Upon returning to their childhood home to help their father, they face difficult, frequently comic situations. The sisters also bicker over the seriousness of their father's condition and his caregiving needs. The struggle to balance familial duties with their own strained lives suggests a more meaningful family connection they may not have had as children. Free film held at the Grand Cinema, 606 Fawcett in Tacoma. Doors open 10:30 a.m. Film shows at 10:45 a.m. Free popcorn. Tickets at www.PierceADRC.org (click on News & Events) or call 253-798-4600.

Member Notes and News

To our many donors, hard workers, and fellow believers at St. Marks: We write to express our gratitude for the new telecoil (loop) installed for the hearing impaired. I have the telecoil setting on my hearing aids, and it enabled me to hear every word last Sunday at worship. Today I will get my telecoil fine tuned at Puget Sound Hearing Aid. The only problem remaining for me, now that I can hear well, is that I will have to learn to listen attentively. I have lost some of that ability over years of hearing failure. -Dick Rodning

Church Office Hours

The church office is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-noon, 1:00-4:00 p.m . and Sunday from 9:30-11:00 a.m.

*The door to the office is locked during preschool hours (8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.); please knock or ring the doorbell and someone will let you in promptly!

Have an item for The Bridge?
Send it to [email protected] by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. All items will run for two weeks prior to the relevant date, and will be edited for length. Don't forget to send your member notes and news!