St Mark's ELCA

Take me out to the Ballgame!

2016-06-04T16:00:00.001-05:00

June Sociables event is the game between the River City Rascals and the Gateway Grizzlies at 6:30pm in O'Fallon, MO! Come out for a night of fun at the ballpark! Please contact Eunice Halverson for ticket information.

Update to Taize Worship Service Date

2015-10-22T21:28:00.001-05:00

*****UPDATE - The Taize Worship Service is Saturday Nov 14th, not the 17th!*****

St. Mark's Taize Worship Service is Saturday November 14th at 7 p.m. This is a service of meditation, reflection, song, and prayer. It is a momentary pause to refresh the spirit with the waters of God's love. Join us before the service for chili at 6 p.m.

Taize Worship Service

2015-10-21T21:49:00.001-05:00

St. Mark's Taize Worship Service is Saturday November 17th at 7 p.m. This is a service of meditation, reflection, song, and prayer. It is a momentary pause to refresh the spirit with the waters of God's love. Join us before the service for chili at 6 p.m.

Blessing of the Pets

2015-10-21T21:25:00.001-05:00

Join us on Saturday, October 31st at 10 am for the annual Blessing of the Pets. Halloweenie Costumes and all varieties of pets are welcome! The entire event usually lasts only half an hour. Please come and give your pets blessings from the Creator of all pets and people!

Make a Difference Day

2015-10-21T21:21:00.001-05:00

Make a Difference Day is Saturday October 24th! We will be helping Immanuel-St. Phillips by creating hygiene packets for needy individuals. We will be meeting at St. Mark's at 9:30 a.m. Please come for this all ages service project! God's Work Our Hands!

August Sociables

2015-08-01T09:39:00.001-05:00

The August Sociables will be at the Sorrell lake house in Bonne Terre from Noon-? on Saturday, August 15.

Details to be sent soon by email

For further info, contact the Sorrells.

July Sociables!

2015-07-12T16:04:00.001-05:00

We're off to the Races! Once again the July Sociables will be off to Fairmount Park Racetrack to enjoy an evening of dining on great food and watching horse races. Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 25. We'll be seated in the Black Stallion Buffet - doors open at 6:00 pm and dinner is served from 6-8:00 pm. Cost per person is $22.00. Children are $11.00. This includes entry fee, a program brochure and the meal, starting with appetizers, loads of entree's and ending in dessert.

See you there!

June Sociables!

2015-05-07T21:58:00.001-05:00

Baseball is in the air! The Sociables are going to the Grizzlies' baseball game on the evening of Saturday, June 20. Tickets are only $9 each (assuming we have a minimum of 20 people). We need to reserve soon. Please contact Eunice Halverson for reservations -- bring your friends!

September Sociables!

2014-08-20T20:54:00.001-05:00

September Sociables Activity—the 150^th anniversary re-enactment of the battle that saved the Union

The re-enactment will be Saturday, Sept. 27, with events all day Saturday and Sunday, with the battle of Fort Davidson beginning at 1pm.

BACKGROUND: In September 1864, the Confederacy attempted to attack St Louis, hoping to weaken the resolve of the North to fight and vote Abraham Lincoln out of office in November. Major General Sterling Price (a former governor of Missouri) led a force of 12,000 cavalry (including future Missouri Governor John Marmaduke, who was son of former Missouri Governor Meredith Marmaduke). Price's army came upon Fort Davidson, guarded by only 1,500 Union troops, who despite being outnumbered eight-to-one, rejected several demands by Confederate leaders for the fort's surrender. Southern losses at the Battle of Fort Davidson were approximately 1,000. That, along with the three days of fighting, caused General Price to decide not to attack St Louis.

There are small diners in Pilot Knob for lunch/dinner, or you can bring a picnic lunch.

It is highly recommended that you stop at Elephant Rocks State Park on the way to or from Ft. Davidson, as it offers spectacular views on a one-mile ADA accessible trail, and lots of climbing opportunities on granite rocks, some of which are bigger than a house. Elephant Rocks was the quarry from which most of the cobblestones in downtown St Louis came.

From 270, take Missouri 21 (Tesson Ferry) 76 miles south to Elephant Rocks. Fort Davidson is 4 miles south of Elephant Rocks, then 3 blocks east on Highway 221.

For more info, go to http://mostateparks.com/page/61836/battle-pilot-knob-civil-war-sesquicentennial , http://mostateparks.com/park/elephant-rocks-state-park

or Darin Sorrell

Food Pantry Help in Ferguson

2014-08-16T18:47:00.001-05:00

PLEASE HELP! The unrest in Ferguson is having a ripple effect on other parts of the community. The shelves of the food pantry at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church are almost bare.

The church, located at 33 North Clay in Ferguson, Mo., is looking for canned goods and boxed food. If you can, please bring whatever you can to church tomorrow. Phyllis Atkins has agreed to transport the donations to the pantry.

Let's show how BIG the generosity of St. Mark's truly is. Share this with your family and friends! Let's spread the word.

announcements

2014-05-15T11:04:00.001-05:00

Choir

Last choir rehearsal will be Wednesday, May 28, however, the choir will sing through June on Sunday mornings. Congregation members…plan ahead to join the Chancel Choir next fall beginning the first Wednesday, in September!

Service Opportunity

Mother's Day/Father's Day service project with A Little Bit of Haven. This is the house for parents of hospitalized children where WELCA has "adopted a room". Council's goals this year included getting more involved in with our neighbors and also to find projects and causes that cross committees. This sounds like a great project to get the whole congregation behind. They need some landscaping. We already have some volunteers. Date: May 31^st, 9-noon. Contact Ruth Sorrell at 314-324-1352 if you have any questions or would like to participate. Come, give a few hours and help make this Haven a bit brighter for the families that stay there!

May Food Barrel Focus

May is Children's Food Month – the children are home for the summer and many of them are used to receiving breakfast and lunch at school. Let's help the families that are unable to budget for these extra meals. Examples: foods such as mac & cheese, peanut butter, jelly, pudding, canned fruit, oatmeal, cereal, etc. Think kid-friendly foods!

Confirmation Schedule

Confirmation this year will be on Pentecost Sunday, June 8.

Mark Your Calendars!

Church Picnic Sunday June 1st!

Shaw Park in Clayton is the place for worship service, lunch, games, Bingo, cake walk. Bbq meat, corn-on-the-cob and drinks provided. Potluck side dishes, white elephants for bingo prizes (some left from last year), and cakes (etc) for cake walk are welcome. Also, Bring Your Own picnic ware, plates, utensils, even tablecloth, lawn chairs if you want to be comfy. Chuck Yokota will be face painting (need a new look, anyone?). Volunteers to help with games and cake walk please contact Jan Mueller jmue56@aol.com or 314-368-6866 text or call.

Shaw Park is only about 3 miles from church off Brentwood Blvd. We have our usual great pavilion reserved with picnic tables, restrooms.

Vacation Bible School - June 12 - 14

God made some WEIRD ANIMALS! Do you happen to be one of them? Everyone feels different at one time or another. Come find out how JESUS LOVES US NO MATTER WHAT!

Join us for Vacation Bible School on June 12, 13, & 14 (Thur - Sat). We will begin with dinner at 6:00pm on June 12 & 13 with the evening events winding down around 8:15. Saturday morning we'll start with a light breakfast at 9:15 and close with lunch at 11:30. Please call the church office ph#721-6974 or Mary Dallmann ph#646-1504 to register.

Carol Johnson

2014-05-05T19:46:00.000-05:00

Get ready for the Annual Church Picnic!

Sunday June 1, 2014 our worship service, lunch, games, Bingo, face painting, Cake Walk and fellowship will all take place at the beautiful Shaw Park in Clayton, just off Brentwood Blvd at Forest Park Pkwy.

We have a picnic shelter reserved with picnic tables, rest rooms, electric outlets, water source.

BBQ meat, drinks and corn on the cob will be provided. Bring a potluck side dish, your own picnicware, lawn chair and cake or other item for the cake walk. Wrapped white elephants also welcome for bingo prizes.

Jan Mueller for info 314-368-6866

announcements

2014-04-10T11:43:00.001-05:00

Seder Dinner

Join St. Mark’s Lutheran Church for our annual Seder dinner on Holy Thursday, April 17 at 6:00 PM. We will celebrate a complete Seder in a family style setting. The celebration includes a delicious dinner of lamb, salad, potatoes, and a variety of desserts. A free will offering is requested but not mandatory. No one will be turned away. Please contact Marsha Balluff to make reservations to join us in this ancient celebration to thank God for His Mighty acts in leading His people out of slavery in Egypt.

April Food Barrel Focus

Hygiene supplies in conjunction with the Girls Scouts April showers. Think soap, shampoo, toiletries, toilet paper, etc.

April Sociables - Dinner & Theater – Saturday, April 26

Everyone is invited for an Italian dinner at the home of Lou and Wilma Prifti, Saturday, April 26 at 5:30 PM. Enjoy dinner from 5:30 to 6:45 and then enjoy ‘Into The Woods,’ book by James Lapine with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Cost is $7.00 per person that includes dinner entrée, drinks, and tickets to the theater. We ask you to bring a salad or dessert. Please make reservations by April 22 with either Lou or Wilma at wprifti@att.net or 314-821-1261.

Easter Tree To Benefit St. Philips Neighborhood Outreach Ministry

This Lenten Season the Service Committee is collecting school supplies to benefit the Immanuel/St. Philip Neighborhood Outreach Ministry. This organization is housed at St. Philips ELCA (the organization is separate financially from the church, but is a part of the ELCA), located at 2424 Annie Malone Drive, St. Louis, in the historic Ville Neighborhood about 5 miles NE of St. Mark’s. This organization provides the following outreach activities for the community in which it is located - a Sunday breakfast weekly, clothing giveaways 2x annually; school supply giveaways 3x annually; Thanksgiving food baskets; Christmas toy giveaway; VBS; etiquette classes; GED classes; resume assistance, etc. Please take an Easter egg ornament off the Easter tree and purchase $5 to $10 of the designated item and return to church in the labeled containers. Supplies will be delivered to the organization a few days after Easter. Additionally, the Service Committee will host a Fellowship Hour today to benefit this organization. They have a part-time social worker whose salary has been paid the last several years by a grant from a grass roots organization. The grass roots organization provides seed money to new ministries. Once the ministry is established, the ministry needs to provide its own funding. St. Philips Neighborhood Outreach Ministry has reached this level starting next year and has asked all local ELCA congregations to pledge support of its ministry. Unfortunately the request came to St. Marks after the budgeting process for 2014.

Please donate at this fellowship hour. We hope to raise a couple hundred dollars for the ongoing success of this ministry. Thank you.

The Service Committee

Central States Synod Assembly Delegates

Thank you Mark and Emily Endres for being our voting members to attend the 2014 Central States Synod Assembly. We appreciate your willingness to represent St. Mark’s!

Carol Johnson

Holy Week Schedule

2014-04-10T11:42:00.001-05:00

Holy Week Schedule

Seder Dinner, Thursday, April 17, 6:00 PM

Join St. Mark’s Lutheran Church for our annual Seder dinner on Holy Thursday, April 17 at 6:00 PM. We will celebrate a complete Seder in a family style setting. The celebration includes a delicious dinner of lamb, salad, potatoes, and a variety of desserts. A free will offering is requested but not mandatory. No one will be turned away. Please contact Marsha Balluff to make reservations to join us in this ancient celebration to thank God for His Mighty acts in leading His people out of slavery in Egypt.

Good Friday, April 18, 7:00 pm

On this day of powerful meaning for God’s people and the whole creation, we gather to ready the account of Jesus’ crucifixion and death as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.

Prayer Vigil, Saturday, April 19, 1-3:00 pm

Holy Week is a period of time in which we generally reflect on our lives in Christ and His ultimate sacrifice for our sins. In keeping with that spirit the church will once again be open from 1-3:00 pm for somber prayer and reflection. As in previous years there will be meditative music and prayer literature available. All are welcome.

Easter Sunday, April 20

We celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, the center of our faith and hope, with festival worship and praise.

8:30-9:45 am - Easter Breakfast. Donations support our Youth Ministry.

9:30 am – Easter Egg Hunt for young children.

10:15 am – Festival Worship

Bring a friend to join in our joy!

Carol Johnson

announcements

2014-03-13T10:33:00.000-05:00

Announcements

Lenten Services

The midweek Lenten services will continue through April 9^th. Prior to each service there will be dinner at 6 PM. The worship service will feature Holden Evening Vespers.

March 19: Change of Habit Luke 6:46-49

March 26: Change of Circumstances Luke 12:22-34

April 2: Change of Heart Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

April 9: Change of Plans Mark 10:32-34

Dinner hosts:

March 19^th Mark Endres

March 26^th John and Marian Bleeke

April 2^nd Andy and Arlene Ford

April 9^th Jan Mueller

Choir

During Lent, the Bell Choir will rehearse on Sunday mornings following the worship service. Chancel Choir will continue to rehearse on Wednesday nights at 7:15 pm following the Lenten service downstairs.

This Easter season, the choir will once again sing the Faure´ Requiem on Palm Sunday since the program was snowed out last year.

Easter Tree To Benefit St. Philips Neighborhood Outreach Ministry

Additionally, the Service Committee will host a Fellowship Hour on Palm Sunday to benefit this organization. They have a part-time social worker whose salary has been paid the last several years by a grant from a grass roots organization. The grass roots organization provides seed money to new ministries. Once the ministry is established, the ministry needs to provide its own funding. St. Philips Neighborhood Outreach Ministry has reached this level starting next year and has asked all local ELCA congregations to pledge support of its ministry. Unfortunately the request came to St. Marks after the budgeting process for 2014.

Please donate at this fellowship hour. We hope to raise a couple hundred dollars for the ongoing success of this ministry. Thank you.

The Service Committee

Facebook Friends!

Be a friend of St. Mark's on Facebook! Did you see photos from our ice skating event or our trivia night last month? Become our friend on Facebook and never be out of the loop again. We share church news and ELCA news, events, reminders, scripture and encouragement. If you have any questions about our Facebook page contact Matthew Hibbard.

March Food Barrel Focus

Green Foods (green beans, brussel sprouts, peas, jello, lucky charms, canned corned beef, box potatoes, rice packets with herbs or broccoli, etc, etc)

Attention Thrivent Members

Some benefit members may still have dollars in the Choice Dollars Program from 2013 that have not been directed to your desired location (ie, St Marks or favorite charity). This needs to be done by the end of March or Thrivent will dispense it to one their charity programs. You can do this on-line or by telephone to Thrivent Choice Dollars.

Seder Dinner

Join St. Mark’s Lutheran Church for our annual Seder dinner on Holy Thursday, April 17 at 6:00 PM. We will celebrate a complete Seder in a family style setting. The celebration includes a delicious dinner of lamb, salad, potatoes, and a variety of desserts. A free will offering is requested but not mandatory. No one will be turned away. Please contact Marsha Balluff to make reservations to join us in this ancient celebration to thank God for His Mighty acts in leading His people out of slavery in Egypt.

Carol Johnson

2014-03-08T11:14:00.001-06:00

Seder Dinner

Join St. Mark’s Lutheran Church for our annual Seder dinner on Holy Thursday, April 17 at 6:00 PM. We will celebrate a complete Seder in a family style setting. The celebration includes a delicious dinner of lamb, salad, potatoes, and a variety of desserts. A free will offering is requested but not mandatory. No one will be turned away. Please contact Marsha Balluff to make reservations to join us in this ancient celebration to thank God for His Mighty acts in leading His people out of slavery in Egypt.

Due to weather, Sunday School has been canceled for today, March 2nd. Thank you.

2014-03-02T08:05:00.001-06:00

announcements

2014-02-27T13:34:00.001-06:00

Ash Wednesday Breakfast—March 5, 2014

We invite all of our members to attend this inspiring event at St. Mark’s on Wednesday, March 5. Begin your Lenten Season with this meaningful communion service followed by a breakfast that includes egg casserole, hot cross buns, fruit and your choice of beverage. RSVP to Kathy Steinke at 314-843-5257 or cell 314-422-2835 or kathy_aka_patho@hotmail.com. Please indicate if you are reserving for the 7:00 AM or 9:30 AM service/breakfast. Proceeds from the free will offering will benefit a local charity. There will be an Ash Wednesday evening service at 7:00 PM.

Safe Connections Guest Speaker at WELCA General Meeting

St. Mark’s Women of the ELCA will have a general meeting immediately following the Ash Wednesday breakfast (after the clean-up). WELCA voted to donate proceeds from the Ash Wednesday breakfast to Safe Connections. Deb Cottin with Safe Connections will join us at the meeting at about 11:00 AM to give us information about the organization. Please plan to join us. Because we’ve had the breakfast, there will be no luncheon following the meeting.

Communications Committee

The Communications Committee is looking for a couple members to join the team. Our main goals are to dispense important information within the congregation as well as represent St. Mark's to the community. If you've been looking for an opportunity to serve, this is a great chance to get involved! If you are interested or have any questions please contact me at jps130@hotmail.com or talk to me after church. -J.P. Schott

Security Alert! Security Alert!

Please make sure when you leave the church building that the doors are closed and latched behind you. Even if you’re not the last one out! There has been more than one occasion in the last couple of weeks where both the front door and back door are left ajar. They will automatically lock when pushed shut. Let’s all be vigilant about locking up and checking the doors after walking out before we have an incident that could have been avoided.

Choir

This Easter season, the choir will once again sing the Faure´ Requiem on Palm Sunday since the program was snowed out last year.

Carol Johnson

Sociables Trivia Night

2014-02-13T13:06:00.001-06:00

Trivia Night

Saturday March 1, 2014

7 pm—doors open at 6:30

Word of Life Lutheran School (Willy Sorrell's school)

6535 Eichelberger

St. Louis, MO 63109

Soda, water, popcorn, and pretzels, provided

$20 per person or

$150 per table of 8

Contact Darin Sorrell darinsorrell@hotmail.com for more information

Carol Johnson

announcements

2014-02-13T10:41:00.000-06:00

Fair Trade Sale

Students from Lutheran Campus Ministry St. Louis are visiting on Sunday Feb., 16. They are going to Guatemala in March to help build 3 houses. They will sell fair trade crafts in Fellowship Hall to help fund the trip.

Service Committee

February Food Barrel Focus-Cold Weather Foods (Soups, Stews, Chili, Pasta Meals, Canned Vegetables and Fruits, Instant Mashed Potatoes, Oatmeal, Peanut Butter, Hot Chocolate Packets, etc).

Area Food Pantry List-a comprehensive new area list is now available to reference. (Thank you Shanon).

Sociables Activities for 2014-15

Feel free to invite friends and family. Events are GENERALLY the 3rd Saturday of the month. Contact Program Chairman Darin Sorrell, or the event sponsor for information.

*March 1 (note different weekend than normal) Trivia Night at Word of Life Lutheran School; Jamieson and Eichelberger; see Darin Sorrell for info

*April 26 (note different weekend than usual) “Into the Woods” play at Webster University, sponsored Wilma Prifti

May Gateway Grizzlies baseball game, sponsored by Darin Sorrell

June Anheuser Busch brewery tour, sponsored by Fred Steinke

July Fairmount Park, sponsored by Marsha Balluff

August Swing-Around Fun Town, sponsored by Mary Dallman and Emily Endres

*September 27 (note different weekend) Battle of Fort Davidson 150^th anniversary reenactment, and Elephant Rocks trip, sponsored by Darin Sorrell

October bike riding on the Katy Trail, sponsored by Jan Mueller

November (exact date TBD) Tamburitzans, sponsored by the Kuglers

December 20, Christmas Caroling, sponsored by the Bleekes and Davises

January 2015 planning party at Fred & Grace Steinke’s house

February 2015 Bowling, followed by game nite; sponsored by Mary Dallmann

Exact times, dates, details tba. Watch the bulletin for more information

Carol Johnson

Announcements

2014-01-23T10:12:00.001-06:00

2014 Congregational Meeting & Dinner

This Sunday, Jan. 26, immediately following Worship we will be receiving reports for 2013 and electing a new 2014 Council. Please join us for our Congregational Dinner immediately following the meeting.

Southside Youth Cluster

The Sr. High youth group at Trinity Lutheran, Kirkwood, is hosting a Super Bowl party on February 2^nd. All Sr. High youth from the Southside Cluster churches are invited to join us. The party will begin at 5:30 pm and end after the game. Trinity will provide pizza and youth are invited to bring a snack or drink to share. No need to RSVP. Come as you are and we'll have a good time!

Sociables - Ice Skating (and history) at Forest Park - Feb. 15

Come join us for a winter adventure at Steinberg skating rink in Forest Park on Saturday, February 15. We'll meet at 3:00pm at the ice rink. (See Mary Dallmann for a map) Admission is $6 per person if you're going to skate and $5 for the skate rental. ($11 total per skater unless you have your own skates). If you don't wish to skate, join us anyway. There is no fee and you can enjoy watching the rest of us try to stay upright while you sit inside sipping hot chocolate! The Snowflake Cafe has a simple menu with pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers and other assorted appetizers and snacks; beverages include hot chocolate, sodas and beer. Steinberg rink is a cash only establishment (an ATM is available). Also, if you don't wish to skate (or even if you do), you might enjoy a visit to the history museum before joining us at Steinberg Rink. It is the opening weekend of the exhibit celebrating St Louis' 250^th birthday. Admission is free and there will be family activities all day from 10am to 3pm. Contact Mary Dallmann for more information or if you're interested in carpooling from the church. Ph# 314-646-1504.

Carol Johnson

Sunday Morning at 9:00AM

2014-01-16T14:13:00.001-06:00

Jonah is one of the shortest books in the Bible, but it might be much more important than you realized. The familiar part about Jonah being swallowed by a whale (a fish, actually) that most of us learned in Sunday School is far from the most important aspect of this book. It speaks powerfully about who God is and about the role of God's people. Jesus mentions it at an important moment in his ministry.

Want to know more about it? Come to the adult class on Sunday morning at 9 am. All questions welcome.

Fair Trade Sale Announcement

2014-01-16T09:23:00.001-06:00

Fair Trade Sale

Have you run out of the chocolate and coffee you bought at the last fair trade sale? You can re-stock at the sale the Service Committee is holding this Sunday, January 19. We still have a large selection of chocolates, coffees, nuts and teas. So please stop by after the service today and replenish your goodies. Come prepared with your $$$$! Thanks!

The Service Committee

Carol Johnson

January Sociables

2014-01-14T13:30:00.001-06:00

January Sociables

January Dinner & Planning Event. Mark your calendars for the annual potluck dinner and fellowship get together on Saturday, January 18 at 6:00 pm hosted by Fred & Grace Steinke at their home, 9713 Fall Ridge Trail, Sunset Hills (63127). Meat and beverages will be provided and you are asked to bring a side dish or dessert to share.

This is the time when we plan our monthly events for 2014. Be prepared to bring your ideas for activities that you want to do. Everyone is invited to come!!

Please RSVP to Fred & Grace so they can have enough seating. Telephone: 314-843-5053 or e-mail: fhsgems@aol.com If you have ideas for events, e-mail them in advance to Fred and he will compile them as a starting point for the planning.

Carol Johnson

Annual Meeting

2014-01-14T13:29:00.001-06:00

2014 Annual Meeting & Dinner

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Immediately following 10:15 am worship

Mark your calendars now!

And please try to make this a priority!

Agenda: We will receive reports for 2013 and elect

new Council Leaders.

All Council members, Committee Chairs and Organization Leaders need to turn in their report to the office as soon as possible.

Dinner will be a potluck. Meat, bread & drinks provided.

You are welcome to bring a dish!!

Carol Johnson