St. Mark's Weekly E-News

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Bible Study Tonight, Wednesday, February 28 at 7:00 pm on Zoom

There are four bible study options each week at St. Mark’s. Starting this Sunday, we will be studying the Gospel of John. There are copies of the Gospel of John in the narthex or there is an electronic version below. There are also copies of A Guide for Observing a Holy Lent in the narthex or there is an electronic version below.

Weekly bible study options:

• Sundays at 9:00 am in the library or via Zoom (#483-170-780)
• Tuesdays at 9:00 am via Zoom (#483-170-780)\
• Wednesdays at 7:00 pm via Zoom (#483-170-780)
• Thursdays at 6:00 pm (Spanish) in the library or via Zoom (#483-170-780)

Questions? Contact Father George at (630) 858-1020 or [email protected]. 

ASP Flower Sale - Order Now Through March 5

The snow has begun to melt, so it's time to start planning your summer garden! The ASP flower sale will begin Sunday, 2/18 thru Tuesday, 3/5. Many of your favorite bedding plants, herbs & vegetables along with planters and hanging baskets will be available for sale. Your purchase will help send St. Mark's volunteers to Appalachia to make homes warmer, safer & dryer for families in need. This is the 10^th year for the flower sale and the 11^th year for partnership with ASP…the first trip was in the summer of 2013. Please help support this mission and place an order for flowers by 3/5.

Order form will be coming soon. For questions about the flower sale, contact Cindy Glavin (630)956-0530 or [email protected].

ReVive Christmas Basket Sponsor Thank You Cards

For those of you who were able to sponsor a family (or two, or three) this past season, the thank you cards from the families are now in our hands. The box of cards, ordered by family code number, are on the welcome table in the narthex along with a list. Please refer to the list to find your name (alphabetical by your last name) to see what family number you sponsored, then take the envelope with that code number on it. Keep in mind that the notes were written before they received their boxes, so they are not gift-specific but are heart-felt, nonetheless. Thank you again for your generous contribution.

Questions? Contact Ginnie Judd at [email protected].

Donut Date for Preschool Aged Students & their Parents at St. Mark's!

Saturday, March 2, 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Library

Join us Saturday, March 2nd, 10 am - 11 am at St. Mark's for coffee, milk, & donuts!

We will meet in the library (Main St. parking lot) at 10 am for donuts, and a meet and greet with other preschool aged families! Then we will tour the St. Mark's Sunday School classrooms, and briefly hear about all the opportunities available to families for their children. Parents are welcome to bring their preschoolers! If you have any questions, or to RSVP to the event, please email Children's Ministry Director Gina Wood at [email protected].

St. Mark’s Women’s Group 

Wednesday, March 6, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Mahon Hall

Each month the women’s group offers a thoughtful program that reflects cultural issues and the church calendar. Gatherings may include meals, interactive exercises, and crafts. All women of St. Mark’s are invited to join in the fun and fellowship with other St. Mark’s women!

Our meetings are held on the 1^st Wednesday of each month and the 3^rd Saturday of each month. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Women’s Group at [email protected].

Thank You for Volunteering at the Northern Illinois Food Bank

Thank you to the 26 volunteers from St. Mark's who visited Northern Illinois Food Bank to pick and pack 322 orders for the Food Bank's online food pantry My Pantry Express. They packed 8,100 pounds of shelf stable food and volunteers will add another 6,750 of perishable milk, eggs, meats and fresh produce at time of pick up or delivery totaling 13,728 pounds the equivalent of 11,440 meals. We will be planning another volunteer event soon!Check out our FB page and private FB group for additional picutres.

Questions? Contact Hester at [email protected]. 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Calling all Men and Women of St Mark’s…Volunteers Needed

We need more volunteers for the Altar Ministry and baking for funerals. 

• Love to bake??? Sign up to be a volunteer baker for funeral receptions.
• Sign up for Altar Ministry.

DOK provides the training and takes care of scheduling. 

For either of these two options contact Beth Quoss [email protected] or (630) 319-7812.

Volunteers Needed for Coffee Hour

Join us for a cup of coffee and treat on Sundays. We need volunteers to sign up to host the coffee hours. Doesn’t have to be much and we encourage TWO people to sign up each Sunday. Our sign-up sheet is bare! It’s such a great way to get to know people and meet NEW friends! There’s always a sign-up sheet in the narthex and on the coffee table. And you’ll be called mid-week to remind you and answer any questions you might have. THANKS FOR SIGNING UP!

Questions? Contact the church office at [email protected]. 

OUTREACH

Appalachia Service Project 2024

Register Now!

St. Mark’s is going on our annual ASP summer service trip, and it is time to register! We have been making the homes of people in Appalachia warmer, safer, and dryer, for over ten years. We hope that you will take part in continuing this legacy of caring for some of the neediest people in the United States.

Here are some specifics: 

• Dates June 15-22, 2024.
• Youth participants need to have completed eighth grade by June 2024. 
• The trip is free because of the generosity of the members of St. Mark’s and the number of flowers they buy at our main fundraiser. We also share the cost of the trip with First United Methodist Church because we combine into one group.
• Our goal is to send two crews. We have enough chaperones for one crew, but we will need a couple more adults to join us if we have enough youth to form a second crew. 
• Adults need no construction experience; just patience and a willingness to drive a 15-passenger van.

Click on this link to watch a video about the 2023 ASP Trip. 

If you would like to join us, or simply have a question, please email John Zelman [email protected].

St. Mark's Meals to Go

March 2, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm, Hillside Entrance

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church will be giving out a hot meal to go to anyone who wants or needs one on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. All are welcome! Please enter through the double doors on the Hillside entrance. If you have problems walking, we will take your meal out to your car, please pull up to the curb in front of the Hillside entrance. www.stmarksmeals.org.

Our next March Meals to Go lunch will be on March 16.

Questions? Contact David Dornblaser at [email protected].

St. Mark’s Monthly Community Dinner 

March 21, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Mahon Hall 

Our next community dinner will be Thursday, March 21^st. This is a change due to Maundy Thursday being on March 28.

Would you like to pass on making dinner one night? St. Mark’s is hosting a monthly community dinner on the 4^th Thursday of each month. Everyone is invited! A freewill offering collection is entirely optional and purely for offsetting the cost of the meal. Joining us will give you an opportunity to meet some St. Mark’s members you may not know, meet some new people from our community, and get a night off from cooking. Would you like to be a volunteer or food donor to help put this together?

Contact David Dornblaser at [email protected].

2024 Outreach Grant Results

In February, the St. Mark’s Outreach Committee awarded $7,500 in grants to local non-profits doing vital work in our community. These agencies are Awakenings Project, CREO, Faith in Place, Family Shelter Service, LOVE, Inc., Toliara Child Scholarships, Teen Parent Connection, The Outreach House, and Young: Equal. 

Questions? Contact Hester Bury at [email protected].

ART

Lenten Photography Exhibit in Mahon Hall

From now through the end of Lent, St. Mark's is hosting a photography exhibit titled “When My Other Normal Isn’t Normal - Looking at mental health issues through photography.” It is displayed on the south wall of Mahon Hall.

Presented by The Ella Bragg Boyer Endowment Fund of the Central DuPage Counseling Center of Wheaton, the exhibit is traveling between various churches in the Glen Ellyn/Wheaton area. The photographs express each artist’s understanding of mental health disorders whether through a loved one’s or friend’s journey or the artist’s personal journey with the Other Normal of mental illness. Central DuPage Counseling, and St. Mark's as well, believe that public art can help improve general understanding of these deeply personal issues that many contend with every day. Take a moment during Lent to spend time with the images for contemplation, awareness, and prayer. We are grateful to Central DuPage Counseling Center for including us in the journey.

Questions? Contact Cecilia Smith at [email protected].

GIVING COMMITTEE NEWS & INFO

Be Generous, Be Strategic and Save on your Taxes!

Did you know that St. Mark's is able to accept gifts of stock?  With the stock market hitting all-time highs, you may wish to make a gift to St. Mark's with appreciated stock. In addition to supporting the ministries of the church, other possible benefits are a tax deduction and avoiding capital gains. For instructions on to make a gift of stock, please contact our bookkeeper, Elise Brinich at [email protected] or 630-858-1020, ext 224.

Make a tax-free gift to St. Mark's from your IRA: If you are over 70 1/2 and subject to RMD's, consider directing a transfer of funds from your IRA directly to a qualified charity. Those funds would count toward your RMD, but not be included in your taxable income. 

These messages are not meant to be a substitute for legal or financial advice. As always, please consult your professional adviser regarding individual situations.

By Karen Hill, Chair, St. Mark's Giving Committee and Leo Lanzillo, St. Mark's Treasurer

WORSHIP AT ST. MARK'S

Sunday Fall Worship Schedule

• 9:00 am.  Worship Service - In-Person
• Nursery (ages 0-3)
• Pre-K through 5th Grade - Sunday School with Miss Gina
• 10:30 am. Worship Service - In-Person & Online
• Nursery (ages 0-3)
• Pre-K - Sunday School with Miss Diane
• K through 5th Grade - Sunday School with Miss Gina
• 12:00 pm. First Communion class for 2nd grad through 5th grade will meet in Room 123 for Godly Play and Art Reflection. - Spanish Group Only.
• 12:00 pm. Confirmation class for students 12 years and older will meet in Lehman Parlor. - Spanish Group Only.
• 1:00 pm.  Worship Service - In-Person & Online
• Nursery for ages 0-3

All bulletin announcements should now be sent directly to Wes Clay-Anderson at the email address below.

The deadline for announcements is Tuesday at 9:00 am.

Please submit to [email protected].

Thank you.

Share Your Pics and Videos with Us!

Please share your pics and videos of events by sending an email to [email protected]. Please remember to include a brief caption of each submission. 

If you have any questions, please contact Wes Clay-Anderson, Communications Coordinator at [email protected]. 

St Mark's Choirs

• Coro de Alabanzas rehearses Saturdays at 4:00 pm.
• The Children's Choir (for 1^st - 5^th grade) meets for rehearsal on Wednesdays at 4:30 pm. 
• St. Mark's Singers 10:30 Choir rehearses Thursdays at 7:30 pm.
• 

Upcoming Events

• This Sunday, March 3, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Choral Evensong for Lent
• May 5, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Choral Evensong for Eastertide

If you have any questions, please contact Seth Luna at [email protected].

Bible Study/Estudio Biblico

The Tuesday Bible study meets on Zoom and is led by our rector, George Smith. Everyone is welcome to join in for a lively discussion of the selected Scripture passage. We are studying the Gospel of John.Their strong messages of critique and hope offer guidance for our current world and to people of all faiths. Use Zoom #483-170-780. Questions? Contact George at [email protected]

CLICK HERE TO JOIN VIA ZOOM

How to join? On Zoom, 483-170-780 on Tuesday at 9 am. Questions? Contact George Smith at [email protected].

Estudio Biblico (Bible Study in Spanish)

Jueves de 6:00 pm a 7:30 pm 

Vaya a Zoom.us o abra la aplicación de Zoom en su teléfono o tableta y únase a la reunión con el número 795-9302-1740. Comuníquese con el Rev. Miguel Briones al (630) 502-0051 o [email protected] para más información. 

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA UNIRSE A TRAVÉS DE ZOOM

Sunday Morning Youth Group!

All middle schoolers and high schoolers are invited for a fun time exploring faith and life. Led by Wes Palmer, recent graduate from Wheaton College graduate school and youth worker with Wheaton Youth Outreach, Sunday Morning Live meets after the 10:30 am service and before the 1:00 pm service from 11:45 am - 12:30 pm in Lehman Parlor. Get to know other St. Mark’s youth, explore topics relevant to your life, and enjoy some snacks.

For more information, contact Joyce Fletcher at [email protected].

Youth Night at St. Mark’s

Tonight, Wednesday, Feb. 28

6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

All youth, in 6th – 12th grade, are invited to join the fun at Wednesday Youth Nights! There will be pizza, fun games, and an interactive faith-based discussion. Grow in your faith and have a great time with other St. Mark’s young people. Friends are welcome! 

Our next meetings are on:

• Wednesday, March 20 (change from normal schedule due to spring break).
• Wednesday, April 10
• Wednesday, April 24

Youth Nights meet in Mahon Hall from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. If you have any questions, please contact David Profitt at [email protected]. 

VBS Save the Date!

This year, VBS will be held the week of July 15 – July 19, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. More info to come!

Questions? Contact Gina Wood at [email protected]. 

First Communion – Save the Date!

Our First Communion Dates are (this is MORNING ONLY for the classes) April 14, April 21, & April 28 - all at 10:30 am. Students come to Miss Gina’s classroom then Ms. Sarah will take them to the First Communion classroom before she brings them back to parents in the sanctuary.   First Communion Celebration is May 5th. More info to come!

Please contact Gina Wood with questions at [email protected]. 

Glen House Food Pantry

Please pick up a grocery bag from the shopping cart outside the

St. Mark’s library.



We invite you to drop off donations just inside the door of the Pantry, at 55 N. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn. You may also bring donations to St. Mark's and put them in the shopping cart inside the front doors and we will make sure your donation gets to the Food Pantry. Donations dropped off at church are welcomed throughout the year.

Call the Pantry at (630) 469-6988 if you need to arrange another drop off time. Any questions, please contact St. Mark’s representative to the Food Pantry, Joyce Frawley, at (630) 476-5655.

BOY SCOUTS & CUB SCOUTS

BSA Scout Troop 44

BSA Scout Troop 44 has been a part of St Mark's for over 100 years. Whether you're continuing from Cub Scouts or brand new to Scouting, Troop 44 provides leadership and life skills for all youth, ages 11-17. From camping & canoeing, science & technology to art & culture, Troop 44 does more to create experiences for all children to "Be Prepared" for a lifetime.

Troop 44 Scoutmaster - Dan Blaim  [email protected]

Troop 44 Committee Chairperson - Jolly Martinson

 [email protected]

Cub Scout Pack 158

The Pack has 35 Cub Scouts, ranging from kindergarten thru 5th grade. The Cubs come from Ben Franklin, Churchill and St. Petronille schools. The pack, in existence for 64 years, is a great addition to the Scouting program we charter, Troop 44, in existence for 104 years. 

Pack 158 Cubmaster - John Maillet  [email protected]

Pack 158 website - http://scoutpack158.org

12-Step Groups at St. Mark's

For many years, St. Mark's has welcomed twelve-step groups. There are currently eight groups that meet each week:

• Sunday Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) at 7:30 pm - Library
• Monday Al-Anon (for families and friends of alcoholics) at 8:00 pm - Lehman Parlor
• Tuesday AA at 8:00 pm - Mahon Hall
• Wednesday Alateen (mutli-cultural) at 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm in Lehman Parlor
• Wednesday Ala-Anon (in Spanish) at 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm in St. Mark's basement.
• Thursday AA at 8:00 pm - Mahon Hall
• Saturday AA at 7:30 am - Mahon Hall
• Saturday CoDA (a program of recovery from co-dependence) at 9:30 am - Room 202
• Saturday Al-Anon (for families and friends of alcoholics) at 10:00 am - Lehman Parlor



The Wednesday Alateen is called “Together Forever”. This multi-cultural group of teens meets in Lehman Parlor every Wednesday from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. If you know of any youth between the ages of 12 and 18 who have been affected by the addiction of a parent or loved one, this is the program for them.

REALM