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St. Mark’s Matters May 2017
May 2 - Grayye Matters
May 5 - Operation Backpack
May 6 - UMM breakfast & mtg.
May 7 - Confirmation Sunday
May 10 - Senior Group
May 15 - Free Lunch
May 16 - Good Lunch Bunch
May 17 - Prayer Shawl Group
May 21 - Senior Recognition Sun.
May 23 - Executive Council mtg.
May 28 - Summer Sunday School
begin
May 29 - Memorial Day
Dates to Remember
Starts in June -
stay tuned for
more info.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Summer is nearly here! Now is the time to dust off those instruments,
find your favorite hymn-tune, or other music selection and share with the
congregation! If you are interested in providing summer music, please
contact Rob ([email protected]) to make arrangements.
Bulletin Folding
Help needed folding bulletins on
Friday mornings. Stop on by at 9:00
a.m. in Fellowship Hall!
If These Walls Could Speak, Volume 3
As the familiar song reminds us, “the church is not a building.” The people of the church embody God’s love and share that love with the world through our words and actions. And yet, the church building is witness to a great deal of ministry. What if these walls could speak? What stories would they tell? So far we’ve heard stories from the sanctuary and the fellowship hall. Let’s listen in as another room at St. Mark’s tells its story…
Have you seen my walls? They are so colorful! It’s been a few years ago now, but I still remember the night that people gathered and threw paint-filled sponges at one of my walls. Then they put their handprints all over another wall! That was just the beginning of my colorful makeover. My colorful walls house wall-to-wall couches and several game tables – table tennis, foosball, and air hockey. Oh, I should introduce myself…I’m the youth room!
As my name suggests, there are often youth gathered here. On Sunday mornings, as the youth gather for Sunday School, I hear them discuss how the teachings of the Bible apply to their lives and what’s happening in the world. I have heard them talk about Harry Potter and Star Wars. There are valuable lessons to be learned about God from many different resources. Sunday evenings it’s youth group time. Games, movies, discussions, snacks – I never know exactly what will happen at youth group, but it’s all good!
Not everyone that visits me is a youth. The youth director, Rob Beland, has a desk here. He’s often around work-ing on his computer. After school on Thursdays, people come to my room to hang out. In addition to youth, there are often children there and some people that, well, let’s just say it’s been a few years since they were youth. It’s fun to watch multiple generations enjoy spending time together.
Over the years I have noticed that I serve as a sort of mission home base for the youth. I’ve heard the youth plan-ning and organizing for both local service projects like raking leaves, and week-long mission projects in other states. Last summer as the youth were preparing to go to Tennessee on a Mountain Top Mission Trip, there were tools spread out all over my floor. Recently there have been planning meetings happening where I’ve heard about a project called Feed My Starving Children. It sounds like a great opportunity. You should find out how you can get involved.
Regardless of the day of the week or the event, I am a safe space for youth to gather. I think that’s pretty awesome, don’t you?
Your financial gifts and offerings to St. Mark’s support ministry that happens in the youth room.
Special Event at Church Land, East of Town
Submitted by Suzanne Krogh
Sunday, May 7 - meet at St. Mark’s at 4:30
The purpose of this event is to honor the land and keep it’s presence in our thoughts and prayers.
It has been 15 years since St. Mark’s purchased land east of Taft Avenue and north of Lower West Branch Road. Although some of the
original land has been sold, 42.5 acres remain. The mortgage on this land has been paid and it is rented to a farmer, with some garden space
reserved for St. Mark’s members. Only 18 acres of this land is suitable for development, although it may be possible to develop more acres
if we use a lift station. The land is outside of the city limits ad has no utilities. So the question is: How is God calling us to use this land?
We encourage you to join us on this journey of our discovery.
Due to limited parking at the land, we will meet in the narthex of the church at 4:30 to car pool. Before leaving the church, we will each
select a stone from St. Mark’s to take to the land to build an altar and Marsha Lowe will lead us in a prayer. Then at the time, we will walk
on the land, hear scripture, participate in some rituals and be open to possibilities of how to best use the land.
8:00 a.m.
Ushers
5.7 - Jeff & Dianne Wasson
Randy Krutzfield, Pam Bleckwenn
5.14 - Tony & Pam Freund, Lavon & Nancy Rutt
5.21 - Chuck & Phyllis Lindemann, Neil & Jeanne Bennett
5.28 - Barb Fisher-Krueger, Barb Smith, Judy Pierson
Chris McMorris
Greeters
5.7 - Melanie Justice, Clarence & Jean Skog
5.14 - Leonard Hixson, Eleanor Carthey
5.21 - Dick & Marlene Lake
5.28 - Earl & Jeanne Phillips
Readers
5.7 - Sally Hoelscher
5.14 - Dennis Preslicka
5.21 - Rebecca Weatherford
5.28 - Jan Soboroff
Communion Servers
5.7 - Jerry & Patti Mitchell, Judy Pierson, Chris McMorris
9:30 a.m.
Ushers
5.7 - John & Carla Melby-Oetken, Bob & Diane DeWitt
5.14 - Bob & Maggie Elliott, Jim & Mardee Wood
5.21 - Judy Brookhaus, Mary Curtis, Kathy Harrison
5.28 - Tom Shepherd & Mary Brown, Gary & Jeanie Nagle
Greeters
5.7 - Barb Nelson, Lynn Dornfeld
5.14 - Marlene Slaubaugh, Kaye Surls
5.21 - Dennis & Wanda Stevens
5.28 - Bill & Janice Thorne
Readers
5.7 - Roberta Caris
5.14 - Ed Krogh
May Worship Servants
5.21 - Jeremy Showers
5.28 - Cheryl Davis
Communion
5.7 -Judy Brookhaus, Bill & Janice Thorne
Tom Shepherd & Mary Brown
10:50a.m.
Ushers
5.7 - Steve & Karen Laughlin
5.14 - Abbie Buhr & Peg Horn
5.21 - Don Anderson & Jane Dohrmann
5.28 Laura Lage & Karen Miller
Readers
5.7 - Rebecca Carver
5.14 - Bob Hoover
5.21 - Peg Horn
5.28 - Marsha Lowe
Communion
5.7 - Karen Miller & Sue Brenneman
5.14 - Steve & Karen Laughlin
5.21 - Bob & Jo Hoover
5.28 - Peg Horn & Jane Dohrmann
Living on Purpose Groups
How about a Living on Purpose group? These groups are designed as Wesleyan class meetings. They help you discover your strengths and then serve as a support and accountability group in living those strengths and growing in your faith.
Living on Purpose groups meet once per month. We are currently forming groups, so if you want to jump in, now’s the time! Contact Pastor Sean or Deacon Chris and we can help you get into one of these groups forming now. HOWEVER...there does not need to be an existing group for you to join. If you feel that a Living on Purpose group is your next step on the discipleship pathway, let us know! We form groups around people who are hoping to enter into this experience. Let us know what times work for you, and we will begin to pull together another group around those parameters. Questions? Contact Deacon Chris at 319-337-7201 extension 103 or [email protected].
Good Lunch Bunch will
meet on Tuesday, May 16
Operation Backpack
You are invited to help fill
food bags for elementary aged
school children in Iowa City.
We will be filling bags on
May 5. Please join us in
rooms 108/109 at 8:30 a.m.
Grayye Matters will meet
on Tuesday, May 2nd at
9:30 a.m. at Pizza Ranch in
Iowa City.
Please pray for:
Insook Matthews in Hospice Care at
the Bird House
Iva Sagert in Hospice Care at Lantern
Park.
Kathy Fountain for health issues
Julie Murray recovering from
surgery
Prayers for Beth Brown Ack-
erson as she continues treat-
ment for Follicular Lympho-
ma
Casey Westlake’s aunt, Deb-
bie Hogan, for the recent di-
agnosis of stomach cancer
Eileen McPherson recovering
at the Solon Nursing Care
Center
UMW is starting a prayer chain. If you or a friend or family member would like some prayers, please contact Judy Brookhaus at 319-330-3858 or by email at rdrun-
Garden space availa-
ble on Taft Avenue.
If interested, please
contact Chuck Linde-
mann at 319-3374-
7126.
A few (more) words about money from your finance team:
Last month your finance team presented information in worship and by email about the current financial situation of St. Mark’s. We shared with you that from January through the end of March this year, our expenses had exceeded our income by approximately $33,000. At the time of this newsletter, financial information for the month of April is not complete. We are hoping that Easter and a 5-Sunday month will give us an income boost. Even if that is the case, we are still in a situation where our expenses are exceeding our income and your finance team is working to stay on top of the situation.
Here are some actions we are taking:
To address the immediate need of paying the bills when the general fund balance is low, we are borrowing from the undesignated memorial fund account.
In March the executive council voted to suspend the $800 monthly transfer from the general fund account to the Trustee reserve account for six months. This is money that is normally transferred each month to a separate account to maintain a reserve fund to address emergency building and maintenance needs.
The executive council also voted to place rental income from the parsonage in the general fund account for six months. It is anticipated that the parsonage will be occupied within the next couple of months.
In addition to these actions, we are continuing to discuss stewardship with the congregation each month. (See “If These Walls Could Speak” elsewhere in this newsletter.) We are making plans now for our annual stewardship drive in the fall.
We welcome your input and ideas about ways to increase our income and/or decrease our expenses as we address these fi-nancial challenges and continue the many ministries of St. Mark’s.
Executive Council News
At the March Executive Council meeting the following items were approved:
Changes to the Endowment Charter, with this revised Charter to be placed on the next Charge Conference
agenda for adoption
Endorse and recommend Abbie Buhr for a Candidate for Ministry
Add $250 for a total of $750 for stool replacement in the women’s restroom
Raise the amount Trustee’s can spend without Council approval to $1,000
Increase Loving Arms and Kids Care usage fee effective September 2017 by 5%
Considerable discussion centered on the financial status of the church with the following temporary measures being ap-
proved:
Place rental income from parsonage in the General Fund for 6 months
Suspend the $800 transfer to the Trustee Reserve Fund for 6 months
The next Executive Council meeting will be Tuesday, May 23rd at 6:30 PM. Please plan to attend, as your input is
important to the life and ministry of St. Mark’s.
Youth MISSION Trip
to Denver, Colorado
July 22-29
Vacation Bible School
Save the Date
July 16-20
Senior Recognition
Sunday is May 21st
Save the
Date:
Saturday,
Aug. 12
May 7th
June 15, 2017
More rubber chicken jokes and info to come!
There are several jackets and coats hanging in
Fellowship Hall; please claim if one belongs
to you. Items not claimed will be taken to
Crowded Closet.
Our next Senior Group will meet on Wednesday, May 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. at St. Mark’s UMC. Rev. Anna
Blaedel, Director of Spiritual Formation at the Wesley Center, will be our guest speaker at our next senior
group meeting, Wednesday, May 10, from 2 to 4 p.m. at St. Mark’s UMC. She will share with us for the
first hour, followed by coffee, snacks and visiting. Please feel welcome to come! For more info, contact
Sage at 319-354-5484 or [email protected].
SENIOR GROUP
Feed my Starving Children’s Iowa City MobilePack is back for the fifth year, and St. Mark’s is helping to host this
year’s event!
So save the dates June 8-9 and come on our to City High School to help us pack 150,000 meals. We promise it will
be the most fun you can have in a hairnet! Stay tuned for your chance to contribute to our fundraising efforts.
icmobilepack.org
FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN
United Methodist Women will meet
on Wednesday, May 24 at 6:30 p.m.
in the Fellowship Hall. The guest
speaker will be Mike Cervantes,
Director of Inside-Out Prison
Reentry.
UMW
SacredSpark Yoga and Restorative prayer,
Monday nights at 6:30 p.m. in
108/109
United Methodist Men will meet on
Saturday, May 6th at 7:30 a.m. in
Fellowship Hall. Breakfast will be
served followed by a meeting. *At
time of print, meeting/presentation
was not known.*
UMM
St. Mark’s United Methodist Church
2675 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52245