We welcome Rev. Eric Wangen-Hoch as our preacher this Sunday.  Pastor Eric serves Living Stones Congregation at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton.  Stop by the display table in the narthex to find out more about how you can be part of this unique ministry.

Sunday, March 27--Adult Faith Opportunities:

9:45am Adult Forum -- in Parish Commons Classroom 1--Sarah Moore, co-author of "Turbulence:  Boeing and the State of American Workers and Managers" (Yale University Press, 2010), will share the findings of a ten year study of the well-being of Boeing employees during a time of dramatic transition.  Come, be a part of a discussion on work and well-being, and get a glimpse of the book the New York Times called, "a meticulous and illuminating case study of the nation's largest manufacturing exporter."

There will be no regular 11:00am Adult Classes during the season of Lent. 

Also--

Gig Harbor Bible Study Group meets10:00am, Thursday, April 7 at Helen Huseth's home.  All are welcome.

The St. Mark's Prayer Labyrinth

You are invited to stop by the Parish Commons for a quiet time of reflection and to walk the labyrinth.  A host will provide you with helpful materials for your prayer journey.  The labyrinth will be open again March 25 and 26 -- Friday 6-9pm and Saturday morning 9-noon.

Practicing Hospitality at St. Mark's 

It was amusing yet sad when a couple who usually atted the 8:30 service and came at 9:45 and sat in "their" pew only to be stared down by another couple who came to sit in "their" pew but found it occupied.

Have you every been either of those couples?  What did you say or do?  Instead of giving the "this-is-my-place" glare, try sitting next to them and getting acquainted.  And if you are the recipient of the glare, move over a bit and ask them to sit down beside you so you can find out who they are.

Hebrews 13: 2  "Don't forget to show hospitality to believers you don't know."  (God's Word translation)

Youth  and Family News   --

SR ALYVE (9-12^th grade)

• Sunday School (March 27) to Chambers Bay Prayer Labyrinth at 9:45 (return to church at 11:15). 
• Yard work volunteers needed - Sunday, April 3, 12noon-4pm (lunch provided).  Please contact Ingelaurie ASAP if you can help out.

JR ALYVE (6-8^th grade)

• 6^th grade Sunday School (March 27)- 9:45am--10 Commandments (4, 5, and 6).
• Confirmation (March 27)-9:45am-- Calling of the Disciples.   

M&M's for Montana are available now in the Narthex.  Please pick up a tue of M&M's, eat, enjoy and then once you've collected a tube full of quarters, dollars, etc. please return.  Your donation goes to support the Middle School youth going to the Rocky Boy Reservation, July 22-29.  Thanks.

Children's Faith Formation

   

Women of St. Mark's -- Spring High Tea

Time:   3:00-5:00pm

Date:  April 2, 2011 -- Tickets available in the narthex Sunday, March 27. 

Cost:  $5.00 each.  (You may also reserve a table of 8).

Wear your finest hat and gloves!  Vintage items on display.  Do you have a vintage wedding dress?  How about an interesting tea pot, tea caddy, tea strainer, tea cozy?  We invite you to bring a tea cup and saucer of your china pattern for display.

Sign up to help with cooking on Friday evening or Saturday morning. Or help with set-up, table decorations, or clean-up.  Or volunteer to make a dessert.  Questions?  Contact Bonnie Wascher, Carol Paulson, Helen Conroy or Linda Cerbone

Secret Prayer Pals will be revealed.  Bring a friend, neighbor, daughter, mother, etc. Nursery care will be available.

More information later.

Narrows Cluster of the Women of the ELCA-- Potluck Luncheon

Date:      Saturday, March 26th

Time:       9:30am to 1:00pm

Where:   United Lutheran Church, 1231 S. 76th St.,                   Tacoma, WA 98408

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Stewardship of the Body

Faithful stewards recognize that all the good things we enjoy in life are gifts from God.  Stewardship reminds us that we are called to receive, nurture and share our material possessions, abilities and talents, friends, family, faith and even our physical bodies.  This Lent, as we enter into a time of spiritual renewal, you are invited to explore a Christian spirituality of the body and renew your commitment to nurture your physical health on Thursday evenings, 5:30-6:30pm until April 14.   Questions?  Call Carol Guenther, 752-4966, ext. 110.

Lenten Prayer Wall

The prayer quilt is hanging in the Parish Commons again this Lenten season.  If you wish to add a prayer to the quilt, please see instructions on the table nearby.  This quilt serves as a reminder during the season of Lent, to pray constantly and for one another and for the needs of the world around us. 

Cook's Club - Episode 3

Episode 2 was a gastronomical success!  The next meeting of Cook's Club will be Sunday, April 10 at 3:30pm.  We will be preparing (and eating) a Russian themed dinner.  Please let John Wascher (jwascher@mac.com or call 503-6765) know if you plan to come so he can purchase the proper amounts of food. 

Join with JAPAN... ELCA and LWR

May 1 -- 4:30-6:30pm - Potluck

Join us in prayer for the people in Japan and all those affected by the Pacific Earthquake and Tsunami at a Japanese themed potluck on May 1 from 4:30-6:30pm.  Donations will be accepted and sent to the ELCA's Pacific Earthquake and Tsunami fund, 100% of which will be used for disaster response in Japan. 

We will be assembling Health Care Kits for LWR...as the need is urgent to continue to supply these essential kits to those affected by disasters worldwide.  Starting on March 20 there will be a sign-up sheet for the potluck and our LWR box to collect Health Care Kit supplies.  All are welcome!  Thank you for your continued support of these events to help those in need, share in prayer and make a difference in our world. 

Each Kit contains:  Hand Towel and Washcloth (dark colors), bar soap (4-5 oz), in original wrapping; toothbrush in its original packaging; one sturdy wide-toothed comb; one metal nail clippers, band-aids.

Poetry in the Month of May 

May is Poetry Month at St. Mark's--The artists-in-residence fo the month of May are planning a celebration of poetry as part of our congregation's faith journey.  To help them, Paula Friedman, Sally Ann McLean, Tim Sherry, Emilie Rommel-Shimkus, and Robert Hasselblad invite everyone to fill out a poetry interest form after services this week at the table in the Narthex--so that in April they are better able to plan activities in May that will appeal to all ages and interest groups in the congregation. More information is available from Tim Sherry at timsherry@comcast.net or 253-531-3480.

Save the Date!

From the Parish Nurses --"Can Spiritual Beliefs Enhance Parenting?"

Attending organized religious services may help some families connect with their spiritual values, but it's not the only way.  Less traditionalpaths also can help kids and parents find spiritual meaning.  To foster spirituality within your own family, you may want to examine your own values.  Ask yourself:  What is important to me?  How well do my daily activities mirror my values?  Do I neglect issues that matter to me because I'm busy spending time on things that matter less?

Credit:  kidshealth.org/Nemours/Reviewed by Steven Dowshen,MD

Give your kids the best gift they can get--parents with a great marriage. 

Your whole family deserves the love Mom and Dad will bring home from a Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend!   Marriage Encounter is 44 hours where husbands and wives can get away from jobs, kids, chores, phones and computers--and focus on each other.  If you'd like greater depth, growth, and enrichment in your relationship, you'll like the different a Marriage Encounter weekend can make.  The next Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend is April 1-3, 2011 in Seattle.  The registration deadline has been extended for this weekend, so a quick response is encouraged.  Visit www.GodLovesMarriage.org for more information and register today.  

Lutheran World Relief

Layettes -- we need baby caps and flannel (for diapers)

Health Kits-- we need toothbrushes and soap  (See article above about helping assemble Health Kits for Japan -- May 1 potluck).

Quilts--we need people who can sew tops at home

Our next shipping date is May 6 -- contact Vangie Billingsley (or the church office) for other ways you can help our LWR efforts.

Join "Citizens for a Healthy Bay" 

Help plant native marsh species, repair fencing and remove non-native invasive plants from the surrounding uplands.  Saturday, April 9, 1:00-5:00pm, Tahoma Salt Marsh, 1741 Schuster Parkway, Tacoma.  Water and snacks will be provided and a light dinner will be served after the event.  Bring your rubber boots and get down and dirty in the mud!  Please pre-register at jriss@healthybay.org or 253-383-2429.