Worship and 155th Annual Meeting 

On Sunday, January 27th, St. Mark's will hold its 155th Annual Meeting. There will be one worship service which will begin at 9:30 a.m. The Annual Meeting will take place immediately afterwards in the parlor. Join us as we receive reports, nominate vestry members and delegates to diocesan convention, and celebrate who we are as St. Mark's.

Noisy Collection:  This Sunday as we gather for worship at 9:30 a.m. before the annual meeting, the children will be gathering a noisy collection as part of our Annual Campaign Drive to raise $281,000. . . . . every pledge counts and so does every penny! So, please bring some coins (or bills) to make the collection festive and loud!

Sunday School Resumes on February 3

After a successful but busy autumn and early winter, our Sunday School volunteers needed a winter break. but on Sunday, February 3 at 9:15 a.m. Sunday School for all ages resumes!  At that time we will begin meeting every other week. We hope that this way more children will be able to participate. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Debra.

Note for Teens: The class for Middle School and High School students will continue to meet in January!

Aging Well

Approximately 10,000 Americans will turn 65 every day for the next 20 years. People are living longer and want to maintain active and productive lives. Aging well requires us to be more mindful about the choices we make. The benefits of choosing to age well are greater energy, better relationships, and an overall sense of greater vitality. On Sunday mornings from 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 3, Feb. 17, Mar. 3 and Mar. 17, Pastor Debra will be facilitating a 4 session wellness circle on Aging Well. If you would like to be part of a wellness circle but cannot attend on these dates, please email Pastor Debra at [email protected] and a weekday group may be added.

Lay Ministers for Sunday, January 27

Eucharistic Ministers: Andy Howard, Lisa Montgomery, Dorothy Szczepaniak, Andrea Nowack

Lectors: Donna Richardson, Eva Sondgeroth

Acolytes: Bruce Gaede, Vince Pappas, Eva Sondgeroth

Altar Guild: Trish Barr, Julia Ferguson

Ushers: John Fitts, Dave Himrod, Tacia Johnson

Coffee Hour Hosts: Your Vestry

Coffee Hour Snacks: Last names beginning with T-Z (1/27), A-F (2/3)

Vestry Person of the Day: Anne Heinz, Doug Sondgeroth

Jubi-latte and Tea Deum (a/k/a Coffee and Conversation with the Priest) happens each Wednesday from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. at Cupitol (812 Grove Street). Pastor Debra looks forward to visiting with you then!

Winter Got You Down? Games & Pizza Party Come to St. Mark’s on Sunday, February 10th at 3 p.m. for an afternoon of board games followed by pizza. All ages are welcome!!!! We will have some games and feel free to bring any favorites (full disclosure: games in picture may or may not be present! But we promise games for all ages!). If you have questions, please contact Rachel Easton at [email protected] or Pastor Debra at [email protected]

Vision Keeper: St. Mark’s is pleased to announce that Allison Ashley has been named this year’s Vision Keeper of the Year for her work in establishing and moving forward the work of the Creation Team and for her creativity in taking the Wednesday lunch packing ministry to 1020 Grove once a month so that the residents could participate in serving our neighbors in need. Allison will be honored at a banquet and fundraiser for Interfaith Action of Evanston on Sunday, February 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hilton Orrington in Evanston. If you would like to join in this celebration, please make a check payable to Interfaith Action of Evanston for $75 and give it to Pastor Debra no later than January 31 ^st . Everyone is welcome!

Midweek Lunch: Each week, volunteers from St. Mark's and St. Matthew's work together to prepare and serve meals for our neighbors who struggle with hunger and homelessness. On Tuesdays from 6-6:30 p.m. volunteers prepare sandwiches. On Wednesdays, volunteers gather in Cunningham Hall from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. to serve the meal and talk with our guests. If you would like to help, please contact John Lucadamo or Donna Richardson for more information.

For Social Justice and Outreach Ministry (SJOM) questions, contact Donna Richardson by email or phone at 847.677.0701

Birthday Blessings:

Jonathan Greene (1/23)

Will Suvari (1/25)

Lindsay Chase-Lansdale (1/28)

Byron Scott (1/28)

Anniversary Blessings:

Hardy & Lynette Murphy (1/25)

Richard & Carolyn Brooks (1/27)

We bid your prayers for: Veronica Braithwaite, Tony Campise, Gerritt Dangremond, Caroline Frowe, Cyndi Hefler, Judy Kopp, Charlie Lettner, Grace Lettner, John Lucadamo, Jan and Jeri Offutt, the Babbitt-Lewis family, Herschel Brooks Lowe, OJ Mabwa, The Nacey family, Judy Lyons, Martha Burns, Melanie Lee and her Family, Gladys, Marc Haidle, Leon Robinson, Bob Finster

We pray for those who have died: Tom Lansdale (brother of Lindsay Chase-Lansdale); Dionne Bagsby (friend of Lynette and Hardy Murphy), Clara Etta Williams (cousin of Lynette Murphy)

If we have missed your birthday or anniversary, or if you have a name you would like added to the prayer list (or removed from the list) please send an email to Timothy at [email protected]