Presidents Message

The year already seems to be flying by …. and it’s only the end of February! I think it feels this way because many of us are very busy, not just with stuff, but with good St. Mark stuff.

The Lenten season provides us with renewed opportunity for service. Some serious commitment and time management is required if one were to be involved with all means of fellowship and worship offered in a typical week during Lent: Sunday service and Bible study, Committees’ and Council Meetings, Choir practice, mid-week Lenten supper and service, small-group meetings, serving alongside Ladies Aid members at a Memorial Service, Scrapbooking, and Men with Integrity breakfast and meeting. That seems like the perfect, well-balanced LCMS diet for those who have the feeling in their hearts that there’s more to church than what they’ve done in the past.

As Pastor preached recently, it all boils down to balance and how we view our lives and how we view doing God’s work in one way or another.

Please already mark your calendars for our Quarterly Meeting to be held Wednesday evening, March 26. Agenda items include a 2007 Year-End Financial Review; a presentation and discussion regarding Second Service ideas, options, and plans; serving opportunities as officers, committee chairs and members, and other ways of helping inside and outside of St. Mark, and a look at Strategic Planning-suggested targets and goals for 2008. More news regarding the meeting will follow in the interim.

Your continued consideration of joining others who are already serving in Outreach and Evangelism efforts is most appreciated. Such efforts, or work, are most rewarding, an opportunity for fellowship, helps others, and express’ one’s gratitude for a multitude of God’s blessings. I know that each and every one of the Committee Chairs would be thrilled to learn of your interest and for the chance to discuss what they do and what they would like to be able to do were there more help.

Thanks for your continued support and prayers for all we try to do for the Glory of God.

God’s blessings,
Guenther Heiss 

Elders Message

“I ain’t as good as I once was.” – Toby Keith"

Many of you recognize that as a line from a country song. But it’s also the thought that ran through my head the other day when I was working around the house.

I was trying to turn a screw that was close to the floor. I tried squatting and then kneeling. I tried sitting on a low stool and bending wayyyyyyyyyy over. And in the middle of all of this, it occurred to me that I’ve done this hundreds of times. I don’t remember it being this hard!

And that’s when I remembered that song and the lyrics “I ain’t as good as I once was.” Well, I guess I ain’t as good at some things. While I was trying to catch my breath I also wondered why God had played this trick on me - slowed me down, made it harder to do simple things? I’m sure that there have been whole books written to explain that question. But what I wanted to share with you was what I thought of next.

I guess I might have been trying to make myself feel better, but I started thinking of the things that I could still do well. In making this very short list, one of the things that I came up with was – pray. Talk to God. Ask him what he wants me to do. I don’t need to be able to run a mile or lose 20 pounds to do that!

This coming month, please keep St Mark and all of its friends and members in your thoughts and prayers. Help us to learn what God’s plans are for us. Pray for us to direct all of our efforts in making those plans a reality. As Mr. Keith might say, maybe that way St Mark will be “as good once as it ever was”!