St. Mark's Weekly E-blast

We gather, connect, and serve so all may experience the love of Christ.

By Rev. Lynn Bartlow

Lead Pastor

As I write this I'm sitting in my parents’ condo in Central Florida. It's Fall break, and my kids flew here on Friday. This week started with a day with my sister at Universal Studios, then a surprise trip to Epcot for the first time ever. The reason for this trip, however, is not theme parks or even family, but visits of two colleges my son is interested in attending. Both colleges are an hour or so away from family, offer the marine Biology degree he's interested in pursuing, and are great schools.

The problem? As you know from watching the news, Hurricane Milton will make landfall tonight, a powerful, major hurricane. If predictions are true, it will be the worst storm since Andrew made landfall in Homestead in the early 1990s. Needless to say, college tours are cancelled.

I don't know what the rest of this week will bring. I can tell you that we will be safe at my parents' condo outside Orlando. Storm surge and flooding is not a concern here, but wind and flying debris may be a issue. Regardless, we have done all the things to prepare, and we will be okay no matter what. We've done this before, even if we find it's far worse this time!

In Psalm 71, we read these words:

“You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. (vv. 19b-20)”

In this passage, the psalmist looks back on his life, recognizing that even through troubles and hard times, God has done great things.

This is the hope that gives me a calm assurance as we wait. All the troubles and storms of this life give way to God’s goodness in one way or another. And so I trust. My trust is not that we won’t face troubles, but I trust that God will be with us in the middle of the troubles. I trust that when I look around, I will see God. 

We can know from our past that God has been with us in all things. May you discover God even in the midst of your strongest storms. 

I plan to be home on Friday. Pastor Tu’ulauena will preach on the Magee campus and Pastor Kim will preach on the Sanctuary campus.

See you soon,

Pastor Lynn

This week's dinner will be barbecue chicken with homemade mac & cheese and a salad.

Dinner begins at 5:30. Rev. Deborah Christine will begin our time of prayer and communion at 6 p.m. and we will have start our discussion of the book, Earn, Save, Give afterwards with Harold Putt. Join us for some or all of the evening!

Prefer to join us online? Use the zoom link below. Bring your own communion elements! 

Want to join online instead of in person? Use this zoom link:

https://dscumc.zoom.us/j/81074485416?pwd=QBaxQm2tB3AhW9ot1aSqW6ov2WOlhe.1

Meeting ID: 810 7448 5416

Passcode: 016308

Don't Forget!

Ukulele lessons tonight at 4:30pm in Room 20!

Red Volunteer Shirts!

Do you need a red volunteer shirt to wear when you are out volunteering? Do you already have one and don't like how it fits? ...Or does it just plain not fit? How frustrating!

Bring Your Red Shirts To The Office!

• Turn in the ones that don't fit for someone else to use or borrow
• Bring in a red shirt of your choosing with your name on the tag or safety pinned to the collar. Give us a week to heat press the logo onto your shirt and pick it up the following Sunday or during office hours.
• Don't want to wait a week? Stop by during office hours to take home a transfer sheet and instructions to press your shirt at home! (Please note that transfer may last longer when pressed using a heat press as opposed to a clothes iron)

No one is immune to mental health challenges. Taking charge of your mental health doesn’t have to mean drastic lifestyle changes. You may be surprised at how the smallest of actions can cause a huge, positive reaction in your mind and body. Some ideas adapted from Mental Health First Aid (https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org)

1.       Spend time in nature.

2.       Volunteer at a local organization.

3.       Attend a religious service.

4.       Take a nap. Sleep is critical to your mental health!

5.       Schedule a wellness check-up with your doctor or reach out to a local counselor.

If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms like: shifts in mood, sadness, anxiety, irritability, low energy, delusions, hallucinations, or sleep problems, reach out to a mental health professional for help. Effective treatment options exist. To reach St. Mark’s counselor in residence, call the church office or Susan Proebsting at 520-221-7766.

For emergencies:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: For free and confidential support from trained crisis counselors 24/7 nationwide, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org/chat.  

SAMHSA’s National Helpline: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7 information service that provides referrals to treatment and support to people facing mental health and substance use challenges. Call 800-662-4357 (HELP). 

For more information on mental health support:

https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health-treatment-works

https://www.namisa.org/

Are you missing items? Reading glasses? Did you bring a water bottle to an event and leave it behind? Sunglasses? Did you take off a ring to wash your hands and leave it by the sink? Back up reading glasses? Have you looked in the office during the week? We might have your missing item here, please come and pick them up!

Art Show Update

If you haven't had a chance to check out the current art show in the Welcome Center, don't miss out! The art will be on display until Nov. 17th and is available for purchase as a fundraiser for our youth.

If you are interested in:

• Purchasing the youth art, click the image above or visit tinyurl.com/SMYouthArtShow
• Allowing us to display your own art at a future date, contact Tricia@umcstmarks.org
• Knowing more about a current or past Art Show, contact Tricia@umcstmarks.org

Please join us for "On Your Mark's Walking Group".  We will meet Friday, October 11, at 7:15am in the church's North parking lot. Bring water, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen. Plan 2 hours, (includes travel time) for under 3 miles. Remember no rain/only shine! Contact Cheri Schwartz 602-320-2152.  

Back by popular demand we are having another Crazy Cards night on October 11th at 6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall on the Magee Campus! There will be 50 spots available and we will be taking reservations at both campuses on Sundays, September 29 and October 6. The cost is $5 per person which must be paid at the time of reservation. Each family will be asked to bring a dessert to share and all monies will go towards prizes. So Mark Your Calendars. Questions contact Carol Fouch.

This Sunday is the second Sunday of the month!

If you have been collecting Hard To Recycle Plastics in orange bags, this Sunday is the day to bring them to church.

Have you cleaned out your closet lately? This Sunday the TMM Collection Bins will be in the courtyard for your gently used items.

Meet The Pastors Upcoming Dates:

10AM 10/15 at the home of Pastor Kim and Mike Ogle

10/19 at the home of Bill and Chris Shafer, time to be determined

1PM 10/20 at the home of Ray and Ainsley Legner

Ask a pastor for details!

A Celebration of Life service for Mary Feldsien will be held at 1p.m. on Sunday, October 13th at The Highlands of Dove Mountain banquet room at 4949 W Heritage Club Blvd, Marana, AZ 85658.

Memorials may be donated to: P.E.O. Chapter CV- In memory of Mary Feldsien

c/o Marie Jones; 12228 N. Golden Mirror Drive, Marana, AZ 85658

SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE

·    8:30 and 10 a.m. Traditional service in Magee Campus sanctuary and child care in Rm 15

·    10 a.m. Modern service at Sanctuary Campus with Children's Sunday School and childcare

·    10 a.m. Magee Campus youth and children's Sunday School (except fifth Sundays) and childcare

·    10 a.m. Traditional service and Modern Service live stream airs on YouTube and our Website

Worship online at 10 a.m. on Sundays at YouTube UMC St. Mark's AZ. You can also watch the service at a later time. 

Office Hours – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mon-Thurs, closed Friday - Sunday

Our monthly Messenger newsletter (for October) is available here: LINK

*For our friends who worship with us online, you will see on the front page an invitation to worship online, and it gives you the option for each campus. We have the bulletin, a section for prayer requests, sign-ins, and more right there on the same page. Please go check it out before Sunday!