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Holy Week and Easter at St. Mark's
Palm Sunday -- April 17 -- Worship with Palm Procession at 8:30, 9:45 and 11:00am. Third graders receive Bibles from congregation at 9:45am service.
Maundy Thursday -- April 21 -- Seder Meal, 5:30pm (see article below); Worship with Holy Communion, 7:30pm
Good Friday -- April 22 -- Prayer Labyrinth (in Parish Commons) 9:00am-7:00pm
Worship, "The Passion of Christ in Art," 7:30pm
Easter Vigil -- Saturday, April 23 -- Vigil Worship, 7:30pm (with Lighting the New Fire, Storytelling, Affirmation of Baptism and Easter Vigil Party)
Easter Sunday -- April 24 -- Festival Worship at 8:30, 9:45 and 11:00am. Continental Breakfast served from 8:30--11:30am. No regular Sunday School today. Sunday School resumes May 1. |
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"Come to Us Creative Spirit"
MINISTRY WITH TEXTILES
At St. Mark's, there is a behind the scenes ministry which many have heard about. There is, in the church office, a closet full of prayer shawls, knit by women of the congregation with love and prayer, and waiting to be given to someone who is suffering the pain of a new diagnosis of cancer, someone who just lost a loved one, someone who is facing a serious surgery, or someone who in some other way needs to feel comforted and loved. I first became aware of the Prayer Shawl ministry about 20 years ago when a friend showed me the full closet at her church. Then I began seeing patterns for shawls everywhere, even in my favorite knitting magazines. If you have been the lucky recipient of a prayer shawl, you have experienced the warmth and comfort of a visible reminder of God's love and healing power, as well as realizing the knowledge that in a community of faith, you are not alone in your suffering.
I invite you to join me this Saturday, April 16, at church at 9:00am in the Fireside Room. You will learn more about Prayer Shawls Ministry, and have a chance to look at patterns and even try a few stitches if you'd like. Also, there will be opportunity to check out the art of quilting. See how fascinating it is to put together colored pieces of fabric in different ways to create different patterns.
Feel free to call for more information. Karen Grams (253-389-1886). |
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Sunday, April 17--Adult Faith Opportunities:
9:45am Adult Forum -- in Parish Commons Classroom 1--
Reader's Theater: "Pilate and His Wife" Enter into the Passion of Christ through participation in this dramatic reading and the follow-up discussion. Join host Jim Pence, Arlyn Saathoff, Robert Hasselblad and Kathleen Hasselblad, as we begin our journey into Holy Week and the Great Three Days.
11:00am --
40 Day Journey with Martin Luther -- Parish Commons Classroom 1
40 Day Journey with Maya Angelou -- Parish Commons Classroom 2
There will be no regular 11:00am Adult Classes during the season of Lent. |
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Youth and Family News --
SR ALYVE (9-12th grade)
- Sunday School (April 17) 9:45am-- will meet in the Fireside Room this week with Matt and Courtney Taylor.
- Youth Group, Wednesday, April 27, to Peace Community Center to serve dinner, meet at St. Mark's at 4:30pm. Please sign up by Sunday, April 24 on the Youth Board if you are planning on going OR email Ingelaurie and let her know.
JR ALYVE (6-8th grade)
- 6th grade Sunday School (April 17)- 9:45am--The Life and Ministry of Jesus.
- Confirmation (April 17)-9:45am-- Introduction into Holy Week. Guest presenter, Pastor Jan Ruud.
- Montana Meeting 12noon todayin the Youth Room. 2nd payment of $150.00 is also due.
- Youth Group will NOT be meeting this week due to Holy Week. See you in May!
Please join us for a Continental Easter Breakfast sponsored by the Youth of St. Mark's on Sunday, April 24, from 8:30-11:30am in the Parish Commons.
Adult / Parent Volunteers are needed for the nursery on Sunday mornings in May. May 8 -- 9:45-10:45am; May 15--9:45-10:45am; May 22 -- 8:30-9:30am and 9:45-10:45am; May 29--8:30-9:30 and 9:45-10:45am. Please sign up in the nursery if you are able to help or speak to Teresa Handy or Cindy Johnson for more information. Thank you! |
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You are invited to a Passover Seder Meal
at St. Mark's
On Maundy Thursday, April 21 at 5:30pm we will be hosting a Seder Meal in the Parish Commons and you are invited to join us! This is a great opportunity to learn more about Jewish religious tradition and the significance of this meal that Jesus shared with his disciples on the night before his death. During each part of the meal, we will take time to appreciate the symbolism of the food we eat and to reflect on its meaning for us today. Sonja Ruud will also tell her story of how the Seder meal was shared in 2010 by Jews, Christians and Muslims together at a simple home in West Africa. Please sign up for this meal by Monday, April 18. You can do so by adding your name to the sign-up sheet in the Parish Commons, by calling the church office, or by emailing us with your name and the number of people who will be in your party. The whole evening is very child friendly, so we especially encourage families with children and youth to join us! The cost of the meal is $5.00 per person. |
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Women of St. Mark's
The Spring High Tea was a huge success!
Thanks to all who attended and helped with the Spring Tea. We are please to send to Lutheran Community Services $483.00 collected from our offering.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS...
June 24, July 29 and August 26 -- "Last Friday Craft Nights" --
Come and help us prepare for our Holiday Bazaar, learn new crafts, or bring your own projects. 6:30-9:30pm
September 17 -- Women's Retreat and Luncheon -- home of Carol Paulson. 9:30am.
November 5 -- Holiday Bazaar
December 3 -- Advent Brunch
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Stewardship: Quarterly Financial Report
Church Council is taking new steps to keep the congregation updated and informed about the financial status of St. Mark's. Church Council, via the Finance Committee, will send out financial updates four times a year. This statement includes quarter goals, actual income, and overages or shortfall for both the General Mission Fund and the Grace Upon Grace building fund. Click here for the one page update. |
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Poetry in the Month of May
May is Poetry Month at St. Mark's--The artists-in-residence for the month of May are planning a celebration of poetry as part of our congregation's faith journey. More information is available from Tim Sherry at timsherry@comcast.net or 253-531-3480. |
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What Can We Do to Help the People of Japan?
When Daniel Rift, director for the ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal, was asked this question he said: "Within the first hour we heard requests for prayer from our partner churches. If you'd like to stand with them through your financial support, I would encourage you to give through ELCA Disaster Response. Gifts designated to the Pacific Earthquake and Tsunami fund will be used entirely -- 100 percent -- in response to this disaster Financial gifts for the Pacific Earthquake and Tsunami can be contributed through the ELCA website. Credit card gifts may be contributed by calling 1-800-638-3522. Gifts designated for the Pacific Earthquake and Tasunami can also be sent to: ELCA Disaster Response, 39330 Treasury Center, Chicago, IL 60694-9300. Gifts may also be sent to ELCA Disaster Response where the need is greatest, enabling the ELCA to respond where help is needed most around the world and close to home. Information about the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church is at http://www.ELCA.org/japan on the ELCA website. |
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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. Sign-up for the potluck and look for 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.
For the May shipment the only items needed for Health Kits are hand towels, toothbrushes and bath size soap. We have enough wash cloths, band aids, combs and fingernail files.
Please place items in the big red box. May 1st is Quilt Sunday. Financial donations are appreciated to help ship the quilts and kits. |
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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. |
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Get your tickets soon for the
Mexico Dinner and Auction!
Once again, we will enjoy a festive night together on Friday, May 6 when we gather to raise money for the building of small homes in Mexico. The silent auction begins at 5:30pm. A live Mariachi band will perform from 6:00-7:00pm while we enjoy a fantastic meal of tri-tip steak, chicken, and other favorite dishes. The cost of the meal is only $5.00 per person, and tickets can be purchased on Sunday mornings or on weekdays during normal office hours. Auction items range from trips, meals, ballgames and concerts to gift baskets, crafts, house and garden items and gift certificates to many local establishments. Don't miss this great opportunity to support a worthy cause. The money will be used to buy materials to build four houses for needy families that have been identified by the local Lutheran congregation in the neighborhood of El Florido. |
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Parish Nurse Notes on
Ability to Love Ourselves and Others
The attribute of loving ourselves and others, comes from "the ability to love one self; with self-respect, confidence in our abilities and worth, and an honest acceptance of our limitations. We hope to learn a love that rises above our personal self and to be unselfishly concerned with others. We hope to learn a love that calls for action...not just kind thoughts but deeds and behaviors on behalf of both the strangers and the friends in our life".
Joyce Travelbee, RN Nurse Educator
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Coming April 21 at 8:00pm KBTC --
KBTC's documentary In My Time of Dying explores the way we approach the end of life in America, and brings together diverse voices to ask new questions, and challenge old notions. Interviews with medical experts and spiritual leaders are woven together with intimate portraits of people facing imminent death. The result is a unique and important conversation about how we meet death, how we support our loved ones in their time of dying, how we cultivate hope in these times, and how to engage in conversations that seem too painful to broach. KTBC Information.
You are encouraged to watch this program. Check your channel listing for times of viewing. Preview available on KBTC.org. |
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Healthy for Life is a six week course designed by Dr. Ray Strand to teach the basic principles of diabetes prevention. Diabetes now affects over 25 million people in the United States with another 79 million considered prediabetic. For more information, go to www.releasingfat.com A new class is formint in Puyallup beginning May 6 at 6:00pm and Carol Guenther is the instructor. For more information, please contact Carol at 253-318-7258 or carolg@smlutheran.org. |
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Cook's Club - Episode 3... A Russian Easter
was another culinary success. We will not meet in the month of May. Watch for the next episode! |
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Upcoming Events |
Holy Week & Easter
(see article)
Join with Japan--ELCA & LWR
May 1 - potluck
Mexico Dinner / Auction
May 6
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St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows
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| As a diverse community of people drawn together by God's Spirit, we give thanks for the gifts of all those who join us for worship and witness.
Sunday Services:
8:30, 9:45 and 11:00 a.m.
Lenten Compline Services
Wednesday evenings
7:30 p.m. |
Staff Listing
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Office Phone: 253-752-4966
Jan Ruud- Pastor, ext.101
Rebecca Shjerven- Pastor, ext. 102
Phil Rue - Visitation Pastor, ext. 109
Ingelaurie Lisher,A.I.M.- Youth & Family, ext.104
Danielle Lemieux- Music Ministry, ext. 105
Jan Pence- Office Manager, ext 100
Carol Guenther - Stewardship Development, ext. 110 |
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