st. mark’s messenger · st. mark’s messenger july 2016 ... kay kervin, and erica lorine. your...

St. Mark’s Messenger

JUL Y 2016

“Saved by Grace, we are called to Celebrate, Serve and Make Disciples for Christ”

RELATIONAL EVANGELISM & CHRISTIAN HOSPITALITY

Each Sunday at St. Mark’s, we conclude worship with these words, Saved by grace, we are

called to celebrate, serve, and make disciples for Christ. We know what to say, but we

often do not know what to do. So I pray and encourage you to attend this month a helpful

workshop on Relational Evangelism and Christian Hospitality. I will offer these from 10:00 –

10:30 a.m. on July 17, 24, and 31 in fellowship hall. Please sign up soon!

Pastor Gary

Would you like to be a part of our VBS team this year?

VBS is such a great way to celebrate Bible stories with our kiddos and with the community. This year we journey to Egypt and learn Joseph’s story.

Going back to a marketplace style,

we’d love to have you be a part of this great program.

Join our VBS team and celebrate with us!

See Traci for more details.

ST. MAR K’ S MESSEN GER

Grace and Peace from Pastor Gary

How grateful I am for these members of St. Mark’s who have stepped up and

provided worship leadership during those Sundays I have been away from you: Kathy Sieja and Julie Satterfeal [May 8], Louise Brooks and David Provancha

[June 19], and Tom Duncan [July 10]; Cindy Conrad and members of our Homeless Camp Ministry will provide a Mission Moment that day, too. Speaking of Mission Moments, we have had some dynamic presentations in recent weeks from Rob Caple, Barb Reinartz, Jed Deason, David Provancha, and Darryl Palm.

I especially wish to commend Darryl for his devotion to St. Mark’s and his wonderful work for our celebration of St. Mark’s 65th anniversary. The display

wall and slide show in the narthex are just “a foretaste of the things to come.”

Our family had a wonderful and memorable time together as we celebrated Mary’s 60th birthday on June 23! Thank you for your prayers and kind words. The reading from The Word In Season for that day resonates well for Mary and me,

and we pray God will encourage you through these words:

I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Confidence is gained bit by bit through little successes and triumphs. Confidence

comes all of a sudden where once it was absent. Confidence is created when we are willing to trust a process, a person, or in the case of the psalmist, a promise.

Such confidence should be contagious. It should saturate our insecurities and

turn them into all-out adventures. To say that God is at our right hand is to say that our source of strength comes from something other than ourselves. Isn’t that a comforting thought? Out of all of God’s creation, God considers us. God calls us

by name. God’s word speaks promises of life and purpose and blessing. What then in this fallen world could possibly be said or done to us that should cause us to

hang our heads or be discouraged? If the God who made the universe is delighted in us, then what could make us move from that spot? For that spot is what we call the sweet spot of assurance - no matter what we face, we do not face it alone.

Draw near to God and experience unmovable strength.

God of my right hand, be the first thought of my walking and the final thought of my day. Amen.

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Gary

P.S. – We will be celebrating our 35th wedding on July 11! Please pray for our traveling mercies. We leave on July 6, and I’ll fly back on July 15 for a wedding

rehearsal that evening and marriage service the next day.

Church Family News We give thanks to God for Dale Johnson, husband of Mary Lou

Johnson, who entered the Kingdom of Heaven on May 29.

Please remember Mary Lou in your prayers; they were married

for 65 years.

Please remember in your prayers these couples who will be united in Christian marriage

at St. Mark’s later this year:

Taylor Camp & Kevin Bailey – July 16

Kristen McCall & John Busse – September 24

Kim Meeks & Jesse Carroll – October 22

Rachel Simmons & Joshua Cutter – November 5

Please pray for healing and renewed strength for these women during their

rehabilitation following surgery: Gisela Galzerano, Almut Herkert, Meg Jones,

Kay Kervin, and Erica Lorine.

Your prayers for God’s mercy and healing are encouraged for Patti Cutter,

Sue Haenisch, Barb Kocher and Linda Hogan as they continue treatment for cancer.

Praises go up for Lydia Gann’s good news of surgery removing all cancer!

Please remember to wear your church nametag when you come for worship.

It is helpful for promoting Christian hospitality in God’s House for everyone!

July 3 - Harvest Time July 10 - Tom Duncan will be preaching on The Good Samaritan

July 17 - A Tale of Two Sisters July 24 - Lord, Teach Us to Pray

July 31 - Are You Rich Toward God?

July

JUL Y 2016 PAGE 3


Children, Youth & Family

Would you like to be a part of our VBS team

this year?

VBS is such a great way to celebrate Bible stories with our kiddos and with the

community. This year we journey to Egypt and learn Joseph’s story.

Going back to a marketplace style, we’d love to have you be a

part of this great program.

Join our VBS team and celebrate with us!

See Traci for more details.

This year, we invite you to travel with us to Egypt, to the time of Joseph, and learn how Joseph’s journey took him from the prison to the palace. Joseph’s story is pretty amazing: see how trusting in God, can lead to spectacular results!

Come visit the Egyptian marketplace: decorate yourself with hair beads, eye make up & jeweled collars; learn what a sarcophagus is; and how to write hieroglyphics. We’ll even take a look at how our gifts can help those in need in our own country.

Vacation Bible School is a wonderful opportunity for everyone: you are encouraged to invite, invite, invite! A free program, we want you to bring your friends and neighbors and introduce them to St. Mark’s.

Senior High

JUL Y 2016 PAGE 5

Wednesdays With the Word will take a break this summer and resume on August 3.

We are all so busy in the summer with jobs, camps and vacations, it is easy to lose touch.

I would like to challenge each of you to utilize GroupMe this summer. Send a note on GroupMe for folks to meet up. Let’s get together!

Youth Standards Classes For ALL volunteers, we are

requesting that EVERYONE take a Youth Standards class and

receive a new background check.

Our policy has undergone several changes including volunteers receive a new background check every five years. While many folks have had both the class and the check in the last five years, most of our volunteers exceed that time frame. Ideally, everyone should have a ‘refresher’ on our youth standards each year.

In an effort to bring everyone up to date, we have set multiple dates and times for you to attend a class. The current list of ‘screened’ adults will be purged this year, beginning with those who have not had a check or class within the last seven years. Our mission is to provide a safe place for all of our kiddos and adults. One way to do that is to keep everyone informed and keep our records current. Please plan to attend one of the classes listed below. Tuesday, July 5, 6 pm Wednesday, July 6, 6 pm Thursday, July 7, 6 pm Sunday, July 24, 9:45 am Sunday, July 31, 9:45 am Tuesday, August 2, 6 pm Wednesday, August 3, 6 pm Thursday, August 4, 6 pm Sunday, August 7, 9:45 am

We’re going to Six Flags! July 30. Cost $20 + the cost of your food. RSVP

by July 27—we will go and come back in one day (leaving at 6 am, returning

at 11 pm—tentatively).

Remember in your prayers: Our campers and leaders at Lutheridge the week of July 17-23.

Parents of Young Children It’s back! Meeting monthly, beginning

on August 6, young families are invited to come together for a

social gathering - kind of like a family play date. Look for more

details to come.

Adult Education Sunday School

Faith and Discovery: Your God Is Too

Small by J. B. Phillips. Phillips explains the trouble facing many of us today is we have not found a God big enough for our modern needs. The book explores the ways in which we can find a truly meaningful and constructive God, big enough to account for our life experiences. Coordinated by Mike Hamilton. (basement choir room).

Lectionary Bible Study: What is a

lectionary? A lectionary is a list of scripture readings assigned to be read on a particular day. This class will study and discuss the week’s readings used in Sunday worship. Led by Tom Duncan. (old narthex area)

Mid-week

Wednesday: 6:06 AM Devotions, Prayer & Fellowship, in the chapel

Thursday: Coffee, Tea & Thee:

Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted by Priscilla Shirer. Interruptions. They're aggravating. Sometimes infuriating. But how we handle inter-ruptions actually tell us more about ourselves. The prophet Jonah's existence was interrupted by a call of God that would require a complete change of life. Led by Didi Kearney at 1 PM, in SS Room # 8.

Opportunities to Serve

Food Pantry

A long-time ministry to serve hungry

families and individuals in the Huntsville

area. Make food donations (please check

“best by” dates if bringing from home) by

bringing this month’s item or any non-

perishable and placing it in the blue bins

in Communication Central. Homeless Camps

An ongoing ministry to serve the homeless

in our area once a month. Contact Cindy

Conrad for more information. The next

visit will be July 10.

These are opportunities for you to share your time, money, and of course, your prayers all year long.

On break for the summer, please let Jed

Deason know if you would like to help with

Blessings in the fall.

Blessings in a Backpack mobilizes communities,

individuals and resources to provide food on the

weekends for elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry.

This month’s food pantry item is…

Canned Fruit (15 oz)

Please recycle your clean, unused contribution envelopes by donating them to the Altar Guild. There is a white box in Communication Central for your old envelopes. The Altar Guild will black out your number and date and use the envelopes in the pews. THANK YOU!!


JUL Y 2016 PAGE 7

Congratulations to Arlene Deppensmith on the birth of her

11th great grandchild - Rowan Elizabeth Pittman!

Approximately 450 voting members attended the Southeastern Synod Assembly, held in Birmingham, AL, May 27-29, 2016. Pastor Soop, Sue Volz, and Ted and Susan Mueller represented our congregation, attending various workshops (33 offered), numerous vendor exhibits, all Assembly Worship services, and voting on synod resolutions and memorials (10), and ELCA and Synod nominees.

The Assembly provided diversified participation, was well organized and ably led by Bishop Julian Gordy. Congratulations to Pastor Soop who was installed as Dean for the Diaspora Conference, 7. Deans work without financial compensation as an extension of the Office of the Bishop. They provide pastoral care to rostered leaders in their deaneries and also serve as communication liaisons to rostered leaders on behalf of Bishop Gordy. Also, Jed Deason is congratulated for his election as Conference 7 representative. He will serve on the Synod Council for a two-year term.

Highlights of the Synod Assembly included the attendance of Bishop Aaron Yap from the Lutheran Church in Malaysia, Bishop Terry Lee from the Lutheran Church in Singapore, and the groundbreaking ceremony for the McKenna-Sandrock Retreat Center at Lutheranch. Synod churches placed dirt from their church grounds into a wheelbarrow at the Assembly. While Bishop Gordy led a symbolic groundbreaking at the Assembly, a live simulcast was broadcast at the site of the retreat center at Lutheranch. The event was perfectly coordinated and successful.

The Synod Assembly will be held in Chattanooga, TN for the next five years. Please contact the church office if you are interesting in attending a future Synod Assembly.

Ted Mueller


Attendance Faithful Giving Weekly Giving

(weekly) to Meet Budget

May 29 155 $15,044 $17,132

June 5 215 $26,041 $17,132

June 12 212 $14,770 $17,132

June 19 202 $15,671 $17,132

June 26 196 $14,011 $17,132

Year to Date Totals: $439,235 $445,442

Hannah Circle will take a break for the month of July. We will meet again Monday, August 1 at Big O’s (next to Sam & Greg’s on the courthouse square) to wrap up Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers and collect a ‘double’ offering for Just Cause. Come and visit with us!

Ruth Circle will meet on Wednesday July 6 at 9AM at the church in room 8. The Bible study is from Gather magazine. Jean James is our hostess. Please join us!

Rachel Circle will meet for dinner on Monday, July 11th at 6:00pm at Pane e Vino at the Huntsville Museum of Art downtown. We welcome new members and guests.

Deborah Circle will meet for lunch on Tuesday July 12-11:00 AM at Another Broken Egg. It is located in the Target Shopping Center at Carl T. Jones Dr. Please contact Glenda Churchey to make your reservation: [email protected] or 256 883-1953. Look forward to seeing each of you for friendship and fellowship. Martha Circle will meet on July 7th at Bonefish Grill at 6:00PM. Cathy Ontiveros will be this month’s hostess.

Circle Meetings

mailto:[email protected]

tel:256%20883-1953

tel:256%20883-1953

JUL Y 2016 PAGE 9

Recently, a Girl Scout Troop from Minnesota contacted St. Mark’s about using the building as a resting spot on their way to Space Camp. The Board of Witness and Outreach orchestrated an overnight visit, with one of our members’ local troop coming to stay as well.

Hosting this group was a huge success, and they wrote a heartfelt thank you note (on the bulletin board in Communication Central). They were overwhelmed with St. Mark’s hospitality and spirit. Special thanks to Rachel Simmons and Chris Myers for their efforts in making this a wonderful experience for both troops, from MN to AL!


St. Mark's Supper Club

Whether you've been before or not, join us for July's Supper Club

night out! Mark your calendars and sign up on the bulletin board

across from the playground.

This is for any and all adults at St. Mark's, young or old, parents or

single, we will all come together for some fun, food and fellowship. If

you do have children, there will be childcare at the church. Drop your

kids off at 6pm (after they have eaten) and join us at the restaurant

at 6:30pm.

When: Saturday, July 16th

Where: Pane e Vino (300 Church St. SW)

What time: 6:30pm reservation (child drop off at 6pm at the church)

Who: Adults, couples, parents, singles, etc.

So we have an accurate headcount to make a reservation (and for

childcare purposes), please sign up in Communication Central (on the

bulletin board), or contact Courtney Spadaro ([email protected]).

Pane e Vino is a casual, family-friendly pizzeria situated below the

Huntsville Museum of Art overlooking Big Spring Park near Church

St. Entrees range from $9 to $15.


St. Mark’s Faith & Fiction Book Group

The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende will be our reading selection

for Saturday morning, July 2. The group will meet in Room 8

at 9:30 a.m.

Our pick for August will be Queen Sugar by Natalie Baszile. Anyone who enjoys reading and discussing books is welcome to join us.

JUL Y 2016 PAGE 11

"Spiritual Fitness for the Care Giver" with Dr. Dale Fletcher of The Faith and Health Connection, 8:30 am - 2:30 pm, August 20, Fellowship Hall, First Baptist Church, 600 Governor's Dr. (Entrance 6). Cost: $35 (includes continental breakfast and lunch!). CEU's available for nurses and social workers at no extra charge (6 for nurses; 5 for social workers)! Sponsored by Health Ministries of First Baptist Church, the Huntsville Association for Pastoral Care, and the Congregational Health Program, Center for Faith and Health, College of Health Sciences of Samford University. To register for this event, click on the link below and then click on "Register Now" at the bottom of the page. Or reply to this email or phone 256 883-6539. Registrations due byAug. 17. Registra-tion fees may be mailed to HAPC, PO 16032, Huntsville, AL 35802 (Please write "Fletcher" on the lower left memo line) or may be paid the day of the event.

The next HAPC-sponsored School of Applied Ministry class will be "Broken: The Spiritual Care of the Divorced," Tues., Sept. 13, 6:00-8:30 pm. (supper and registration at 5:30), Community Room, First Baptist Church, 600 Governor's Dr. (Entrance 7). Presenters: The Rev. Jim Norris, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Pastoral Counselor, The Vine Pastoral Counseling Center and Kathy Sieja, Licensed Professional Counselor (Retired). CEU's will be available for nurses and so-cial workers. Cost: $35 (includes supper!). No charge for those from sponsoring churches! For more information or to pre-register:[email protected] or 256 883-6539.

tel:256%20883-6539


tel:256%20883-6539

July 3, 2016 8:30 11:00

Asst. Minister Brenda Holsopple Frank Craig

Lector Bonnie Mueller Pat Barber

Acolyte Reagan Paulus Sesalie Satterfeal

Lay Communion Assistants/Servers

Katie Jaramillo Anne Knowles, Sesalie Satterfeal, Katie Folgmann, Ivey SIegel

Greeter Judy Jung Emma Lou Demirjian, Joyce Brown

Greeter Mandy Hiller Chris Myers

Usher Mary Wiley Chris Myers

Usher Harry Wiley Janet Duncan

July 10, 2016 8:30 11:00

Asst. Minister Gwen Dornbos Dave Schultz

Lector Karen Petersen Nancy Lorine

Acolyte Haley Sharpe Lorelee Black

Greeter Penny Krell Emma Lou Demirjian, Joyce Brown

Greeter Allen Krell Chris Myers

Usher Mike Price Anna Lloyd

Usher Michelle Price Butch Lloyd

July 17, 2016 8:30 11:00

Asst. Minister Louise Brooks Pam Birkholz

Lector Lynn Redington Brianne Sieja

Acolyte Robbie Caple Austin Harris


Grace Billman, Abby Williamson Gisela Rieger, Sarah Thornton, Brooke Harris,Zoe Falkenberg

Greeter Karen Cunningham Emma Lou Demirjian, Joyce Brown

Greeter Glenn Cunningham Chris Myers

Usher Brandon Hiller Peg Skrenes

Usher Bill Weiler Norm Skrenes

July 24, 2016 8:30 11:00

Asst. Minister Brenda Holsopple Jed Deason

Lector Barry Rogers Herb Hocutt

Acolyte Austin Harris Holly Hiller


Lynnsey Bodin, Gabriel Pittman Sesalie Satterfeal, Polly Falkenberg

Greeter Mary Grace Evans Emma Lou Demirjian, Joyce Brown

Greeter Karen Fletcher Chris Myers

Usher Marlin Williamson Glenn Dasher

Usher Eric Bale Wayne Falkenberg

July 30, 2016 8:30 11:00

Asst. Minister Barry Rogers Anne Knowles

Lector Andy Sieja Peter Loux

Acolyte Anya Schappell Isabel Folgmann


Assistants Needed Jean Loux, Server Needed

Greeter Gwen Dornbos Emma Lou Demirjian, Joyce Brown

Greeter Bob Dornbos Chris Myers

Usher Norwood Cutter Frank Craig

Usher Barry Rogers Carol Craig

Worship Assistants

If you are unable to serve as scheduled,

please make arrangements for a substitute

and notify the church office.

If you are unable to serve as scheduled,

please make arrangements for a substitute

and notify the church office.

August 7, 2016 8:30 11:00

Asst. Minister Traci Billman John Mahony

Lector Judy Jung Ellen Brusick

Acolyte Sean McNeill Lorelee Black


Katie Jaramillo, Katelynn Bodin Frank Craig, Susan Wright, Brooke Harris, Reagan Paulus

Greeter Norwood Cutter Craig Satterfeal, Gloria Woody

Greeter Bob Dornbos Jan Overton

Usher Norwood Cutter Andy Sieja

Usher Bob Dornbos Tim Sieja

August 14, 2016 8:30 11:00

Asst. Minister Roberts Abele Jim Birkholz

Lector Karl Leo Austin Harris

Acolyte Wyatt Billman Brooke Harris


Grace Billman, Abby Williamson Peg and Norm Skrenes

Greeter Michelle Price Craig Satterfeal, Gloria Woody

Greeter Mike Price Jan Overton

Usher Mary Wiley Janet Duncan

Usher Harry Wiley Chris Myers

August 21, 2016 8:30 11:00

Asst. Minister Mary Soop Kathy Sieja

Lector Louise Brooks Kathy Emmerson

Acolyte Lynnsey Bodin Isabel Folgmann


Lija Abele, Aija Abele Polly and Wayne Falkenberg, Sesalie Satterfeal

Greeter Connie Jaramillo Craig Satterfeal, Gloria Woody

Greeter Judy Weiler Jan Overton

Usher Michelle Price Don Sieja

Usher Mike Price Jim Mullin

August 28, 2016 8:30 11:00

Asst. Minister Barry Rogers Frank Craig

Lector Andy Sieja Mike Hamilton

Acolyte Gabe Pittman Acolyte Needed


Lynnsey Bodin, Gabe Pittman Dave Schultz, Jed Deason

Greeter Bruce Hiller Craig Satterfeal, Gloria Woody

Greeter Liz Hiller Jan Overton

Usher Bill Weiler Anna Lloyd

Usher Marlin Williamson Butch Lloyd

Worship Assistants

Please contact the church office if your birthday is in July and it is not listed.

We would love to include you next year.

Lija Abele

Charley Arm-strong

Helen Armstrong

Linda Bennett

John Brown

Tyler Caple

Kayla Carter

Mary Cramer

Jonathan Cutter

John Dasher

Jane Engle

Hilda Fakes

Don Gutknecht

Mike Hamilton

Libbie Hicks

Michael Ise

Barb Kocher

Ellie Lienau

John Mahony

Karlie Markle

Karen Miskelly

Julie Moen

Amy Newland

Jan Overton

Tim Paddon

Lauren Palm

Sandy Parks

James Phillips

Lucas Price

Brian Robinson

Olivia Schappell

Don Sieja

Beth Stevens

Mike Swenson

David Troutman

Michael Volz

Denise Williamson

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1

9AM Altar Guild

2 9:30AM Faith & Fiction Book Group

3 8:30AM Contemporary Worship

9:45AM Sunday School

9:45AM Bd of Prop Mgmt

11AM Traditional Worship

Independence Day

Church Office Closed

5 9AM VBS Prep Week

1PM Knit & Crochet

6PM Youth Standards Class

6:30PM Winds

6 6:06 Prayer & Devotion

9AM VBS Prep Week

9AM Ruth Circle

12:45PM Ukulele Choir

5:30PM Handbells


7

9AM VBS Prep Wk

1PM Women’s Bible Study

2PM Balance/Tai Chi Class

5:30PM Praise Team


6PM Martha Circle

8 9AM VBS Prep Week

9AM Altar Guild

9 10AM Quilt Guild



11AM Traditional Wor-ship

1PM Homeless Camp Visits

11

VBS 5:30PM Bd of Learning

5:45PM TCMM

6PM Executive Committee Mtg

6:00PM Rachel Circle

12

VBS 9AM EGA

11AM Deborah Circle

1PM Knit & Crochet

5PM Stewardship Committee Meeting

6:30PM Winds

13

VBS 6:06AM Prayer & Devotion

4PM Bd of Worship

5:30PM Handbells

14

VBS 1PM Women’s Bible Study


5:30PM Praise Team

7PM Board of Witness & Outreach

15

VBS 9AM Altar Guild

12:30PM DRM - Kitchen

6:30PM Wedding Rehearsal

7:30PM Rehearsal Dinner

16

4:00PM Camp/Bailey

Wedding

6:30PM St. Mark’s Supper Club

17

Lutheridge 8:30AM Contemporary Worship


10AM Relational Evange-lism


18

Lutheridge 9:30AM Staff Meeting

5:30PM Church Council Meeting

5:45PM TCMM

19

Lutheridge 10:30AM Deliver Meals on Wheels

1PM Knit & Crochet

6:30PM Winds

20

Lutheridge 6:06AM Prayer & Devotion


5:30PM Handbells

21

Lutheridge 1PM Women’s Bible Study


5:30 Praise Team

22

Lutheridge 9AM Altar Guild

Newsletter Deadline

23

Lutheridge



9:45AM Youth Standards Class

10AM Relational Evangelism

11AM Traditional

Worship

25

9:30AM Staff Meeting

5:45PM TCMM

26 9AM EGA

1PM Knit & Crochet

6:30PM Winds

7PM EGA

27 6:06AM Prayer & Devotion


5:30PM Handbells

28 1PM Women’s Bible Study


5:30 Praise Team

29 9AM Altar Guild

30 Sr. Youth - Six Flags



9:45AM Youth Standards Class

10AM Relational Evangelism


St. Mark’s Staff Directory

Church Address: 200 Longwood Dr. SE, Huntsville, AL 35801

Church Phone: 256-539-4361 Church Fax: 256-539-4388

Senior Pastor: Extension 15……….…………..……..…..Gary Soop ([email protected])

Music Director: Extension 17………..………………...Ferdinand Murati ([email protected])

Dir. of Christian Education: Extension 16………….….….Traci Billman ([email protected])

Office Manager: Extension 14……..……................………...Emily Jacobs ([email protected])

Office Assistant: Extension 10…………………....Connie Jaramillo ([email protected])

Organist/Pianist: ………………......………….. …..,,,,……………..Dr. Mira Kruja ([email protected])

www.stmarkshsv.org

July’s Requested Item

Canned Fruit

15 oz cans







st. mark’s messenger · st. mark’s messenger july 2016 ... kay kervin, and erica lorine. your...

Documents