Table of Contents
Celebrations of Life
May
Birthdays
01- Marge Williams
08 - Bob Wisnieff
10 – Peter Laube
12– James Briggs III
18– Kevin Fleig
18– Robert Shraeder
19– Paul Zuber
25– Adam Broadwell
26– Aaron Kuehnert
29– Shea Slade
29– Harold Ryan
30– Ilse Rueckmann
30– Evelyn Wright
31– Mike Miller
Anniversaries
03– Ron and Jen Killenbec
08– Walt and Norma Helm
10– Mike and Kathie Monnat
13– Carl and Marilyn Waterstram
25– Roger and Patty Potter
28– Paul and Beth Krause
29– Carl and Betty Goodberlet
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Worship at St. Mark
Elder: Dave Harris
Ushers: Scott and Kathy Stranford
Acolytes:
May
06 Kelly Lovejoy
13 James Briggs
20 Peter Lovejoy
27 Alana Holt
Lectors:
May
06 Jenna Smith
13 Mary Ann Gollin
20 David Hampson
27 Deb Harris
Communion Helpers:
May
06 Mary Ann Gollin
13 Barb Done
20 Marlene Hampson
27 Norma Helm
Greeters:
May
06 Barb Done
13 June Schneider
20 Kathy Stranford
27 Effie Steingasser
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Pastor
Let’s Get to Work!
Churches often fall prey to the myth that being busy (e.g. programs & a full calendar of events) is being faithful to God; on the contrary, being busy can get in the way of our being faithful! Does your boss care how busy you are or how productive [fruitful, to use the biblical term] you are?
Matthew 28:18-20 records the last words of Jesus to his disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me; therefore [you] go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” This is not the mission of the church, but the methodology by which we carry out the mission of our Lord: “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) If we are to be faithful to God, our focus cannot be on a busy calendar or more programs; rather, we must be about the Great Commission. In his book, The Purpose Driven Church, Rick Warren shares, “God expects not only faithfulness but fruitfulness.”
We have a single mission to share God’s Law – exposing sin and our damnable condition before God – and Gospel, the wonderful news that we have the very favor of God on account of our Lord Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for us.
The result is that God’s kingdom grows in number and our church grows. If our growth is only by ‘swapping sheep’ within God’s fold (believers who join), then we have failed part of our Lord’s Great Commission to make disciples; on the other hand, if our lives are Christ-like examples that lead people to saving faith in Jesus Christ – that is being faithful and fruitful. It’s time for us to ‘get to work’ on being a church of the Great Commission. It means moving out of our comfort zones and trusting in the promise of Christ to be with us always. It means viewing God’s church (His church…His rules) in Mendon as existing for the next person who has not yet come. It means trusting that this ‘new’ church is where people (including ourselves) are welcomed and equipped to be a new creation in Christ.
Pray for the mission of St. Mark….our mission.
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Vice President
Update On the Phase 1 Renovation Project
We made it, and what a beautiful church service and breakfast it was, on Easter morning, April 8, 2007. There are still a few things that the Contractor has left to do on a “Punch list” but he is looking to be complete by the end of April. Guenther and I are planning to update the congregation on the project on Sunday May 6, 2007 after church, as part of the continuance of the Congregational Meeting called in November as we started the work on the renovation project.
There are a few additional items we have identified that need to be potentially incorporated in the new facility that weren’t figured in as a part of the renovation project. And they are as follows:
1) New mailboxes in the Narthex; 2) Protective curbing and landscaping around the two sides of the new entryway; 3) Re-sealing paved driveway and re-stripping vehicle parking spaces; 4) Re-stoning and rolling the back parking lot, behind the Parish House; 5) A couple audio visual enhancements to the new AV System that was installed, 6) Shelving and layout of new storage closet next to the Women’s Restroom on the main floor of the church; and 7) Possibly adding storage cabinets in each of the bathrooms. It is our intentions of having estimates for as many of these things as possible by the Congregational Meeting on May 6, for discussion.
I want to thank everyone that helped out during this huge undertaking and also thank the Congregation for being so patience during the renovation, due to complications and delays that we ran into along the way. Below I have updated the status of the other committee’s I am currently working with.
The Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) did not meet in April as planned due to members conflicting schedules, but the SPC plans to meet in early May as soon as a date can be agreed upon.
The Finance Committee will meet again on Monday May 7, 2007 at 7:00 PM in the Parish House.
The Trustee’s Committee met on Thursday April 12, 2007 to start planning for a outside Spring Cleanup Day to behold tentatively on Saturday May 19, 2007. The Trustees will meet again on Thursday May 10, 2007, to finalize the plans for this event. There will be announcements forthcoming in the Sunday Bulletins about it
The Nominating Committee for 2007 at 6:30 PM, just prior to choir practice to give an update on where the nominating process stands, so that a report can be given the following Monday May 14, 2007 at the Church Council Meeting.
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Social Ministry
Spring is in the air, the daffodils and crocuses are in bloom, and God’s creation is coming to life after a winter of ice, snow and cold weather. What a joy it is to look out our window and reflect on all what God has created and cares for each day. An amazing array of things can be seen in even a short time of reflection, each one planned to perfection by our Creator.
Can we ever cease to wonder at the beauty of our world, at the changing of seasons, and at the variety of creatures that fill our world? The psalmist tells us in Psalm 147:7 “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp” for all the many blessings we have received. This song of thanksgiving needs to be constantly on our lips, not necessarily in the form of a musical melody, but in the rhythm of our daily lives as we have opportunities to serve Him in love and those with whom we come in contact each day. May our lives become a prayer of praise for God’s sustaining love and one in which we have the desire to serve others.
Mary Ann Gollin
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Prayer Post
A wonderful reminder for us "after" Easter
Live for Me; I died for you. --GOD*--
We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4
*Borrowed from God Speaks
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Coffee Hour
Hosted by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Please join us for a special coffee hour hosted by Joe Mynio & Georgette Peterson, Financial Associates for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Joe & Georgette are the representatives assigned to our area and will be visiting with us on Sunday, May 20th in the Mendon area. To get to know more about Joe & Georgette, Thrivent Financial, & what they can offer you, please introduce yourself.
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Evangelism
Wow!! What a year for St. Mark culminating in an inspiring Easter experience.
I am sure most of us now realize it is time to transition to another focus for St. Mark. From an Evangelism standpoint this will involve promoting and organizing a Evangelism/Stewardship seminar, supporting Thrivent activities similar to last year (Habitat volunteers/financial support/baseball game/special fund raisers, etc.), an effort to support a major regional effort to reach youth with the help of Search Institute and local schools, a process to encourage fellowship, an effort to encourage outreach by having small group discussions, and identifying education opportunities to attract both members and non-members.
We will also encourage more outsiders to share our new facility. This will start with the Thrivent Board meeting at St. Mark in May.
But there is no need for any of us to wait for organized activities to make a transition from an intense focus on renovation to something different. Individually we can all make that change now by inviting others to visit our new facility, maintaining the positive, caring attitude evident during the renovation and helping to identify the “what now” question.
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Ladies Aid
All -
We had a wonderful turn out for the April Ladies Aid meeting! Everyone had good input, suggestions, and ideas! We now have an interim crew for the Ladies Aid. Anyone who would like to participate in an “official” position please let me know! There is a renewed excitement! Our main mission is to SERVE our church, community, and others. (Helping each other as well as reaching out.) Any ideas are appreciated!
Here is an appropriate quote from “Hand Me Another Brick” by Charles R. Swindoll:
“This sweet lady lost her husband in 1946, and since that time she had been one of the busiest ladies I knew. Her volunteer help was invaluable to our church and the community. Even in the twilight years of her life, she could be found working as a volunteer for the cancer society, working in the ladies auxiliary, doing civic work, helping out at the local hospital – the list went on and on. She was involved in other’s lives. And she never got old. I never saw her discouraged!
Retirement in America means, ’Don’t bother me. I’ve no time for others.’ I suggest an alternative. Just think of the ministry of encouragement God could give you when he releases you (through retirement) from the work-a-day world and uses you as a servant!”
I would like to add, that this should pertain to all of us … at any age!
Ladies, please join us at the monthly meetings (7 p.m. on the first Monday of each month). Fun and rewarding things are in store for us here at St. Mark!
In His love and service,
Barb Done
Interim Ladies Aid President
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Thrivent Builds
Please consider signing up as a work group volunteer as part of St. Mark’s support of Thrivent’s commitment to Habitat for Humanity.
Since 1991, Thrivent Financial and Habitat together built 500 homes. And with Thrivent Builds, the goal is to build up to 500 homes per year in the near future with Thrivent Financial members, Lutheran congregations and other volunteers around the United States and around the world.
Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity has been featured recently in national media: March 2007 Good Housekeeping, February Habitat World, and in a new book by Jonathan Reckford,
Creating a Habitat for Humanity: No Hands but Yours.
Join up with others from St. Mark for this tremendous outreach ministry.
See Dick Krause or Guenther Heiss for details.
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Posted on
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
by Chris Monnat