From the pastor...Recently, I had the privilege of spending time with a 92 year old who was in her last chapter of life. This woman was surrounded by her four children who now have families of their own, but had put their lives on hold while they gave honor to their mother, who was succumbing to her battle with cancer. As this family shared stories of their past, together we looked with open eyes at the present and considered what the future might look like. It is always amazing to me how time seems to stand still around a death bed.

How do you think of time? In our culture, time has a “what’s happening now” emphasis. This hasn’t always been true. In biblical times, the present was much more connected to the past and future. As Christians, is it possible that we are too focused on the here and now? It seems to me that we are called into a future that needs to be as concerned for those coming after us.

I had a high school teacher who liked to remind his students that life wasn’t all about us. He would get really excited about the future and about what might be discovered in the future. In Advent, we shall again pray the ancient prayer, “Come Lord Jesus.” It

is in faithfulness that we think of how Jesus will come to our children and our children’s children. What new thing will Jesus do in the future? What old things will remain the same? As we get caught in the frantic holiday rush, I wonder what will matter tomorrow.

Consider this Advent, how what you are doing today will affect the future. Do the gifts you buy have anything to say about the future…or is it again only a message about satisfying the now? Hebrews 18:3 reminds us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” As Christians this message is to provide comfort for us when the struggles of our day seem too much and so important.

To this family who lost their mother, I hope they heard from me the promise that God continues to hold their mother in the promise of everlasting life, just as we are held today in that same promise. In the midst of another season that promises to lead to a holiday hangover from too much to do, may you hold firmly to the future that is yours in Jesus Christ our savior, a future that is just as important to him as today is to us.

See you in church,

Pastor Eric

MessengerSt. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Spokane, WA December, 2012 VOL. 2012, NO. 12

Take a breath this AdventOn Wednesdays December 5, 12, and 19, we will be using the service of Night Prayer also known as Compline. This worship lasts between twenty and thirty minutes. Following our worship time we will serve wine, juice, crackers and cheese for a brief fellowship time.

FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP GROUPS

First Saturday Potluck First Saturday of the month December 1, 6:30 pmOn the first Saturday of the month there is a potluck immediately following the 5:30 service. Bring your favorite dish (serving 8-10 people) and join this fun group for eating and socializing!

Theology on Tap First Mondays December 3, 7:30 pmIf you are 30 years or younger you are welcome to join this group at Two Seven Public House in Lincoln Heights. Great discussions and food!

Eat, Pray, Laugh First Tuesdays December 4, 7:00 pmAll women of the congregation are invited for conversation, laughter, and refreshments in the Parish House. At the end of the evening Pastor Kate leads some faith reflections around one of the spiritual disciplines and some prayer concerns. Eat, Pray, Laugh will combine with Elizabeth Circle for the December meeting. There will be a Christmas cookie exchange at the conclusion of the meeting. If you chose to participate in the exchange (don’t feel obligated!), please bring six-dozen home baked Christmas cookies (all one kind). Bring your cookies ready to go on the table for the exchange. Bring another tray or container to gather up the six-dozen cookies you will take home. We hope you’ll join us!

Elizabeth Circle December 4, 7:30 pmThis group will not meet on the regularly scheduled date in December, but will combine with the group Eat, Pray, Laugh on Tuesday, December 4, at 7:00 pm in the Parish House. Please note the information in the Eat, Pray, Laugh paragraph above.

Mom’s Group First Wednesdays December 5, 6:00 pmJoin us on December 5, in the Parish House, for some fellowship with other moms. We meet from 6:00 - 8:00 pm and babysitting is always available. Bring a snack to share and slow down during this busy season. Contact Heavin Maier at 464-2012.

Walking Circle Second Fridays December 7, 10:30 amFor the December gathering the Walking Circle will meet at the church and carpool to the Davenport Hotel. The group will tour Christmas Tree Elegance and have lunch either in the Fireside Room or Palm Court. All women are welcome!

Go Deeper Today Second Tuesdays December 11, 10:30 amThis women’s group studies the Scripture texts with Pastor Kate for the following Sunday. Join us in the narthex for stimulating discussions!

Go Deeper Tonight Second Tuesdays December 11, 7:00 pmDifferent theological topics (selected by the group) are covered at each session. This women’s group meets in the narthex and would welcome additional participants. Talk to Pastor Kate if you would like more information.

Men’s Group Second Tuesdays December 11, 7:30 pmVarious speakers selected from the community join this group each month in the Parish House. All men are welcome and asked to bring a beverage of their choice. Watch the Sunday Bulletin for details on the monthly speakers.

2! St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

More Faith and Fellowship Groups

Ruth Circle Second Thursdays December 13, 10:00 amA women’s group meeting in the narthex alternating Bible studies and programs. There are brief business meetings and snacks.

Stitchin’ Sisters Third Wednesdays December 19, 2:00 pmAlong with conversation and all kinds of needlework being done, Pastor Kate concludes with a devotional meditation continuing the theme with gardening images of cultivating faith. If you quilt, crochet, knit, cross-stitch, do any other kind of handwork, or just like to sit and visit, you would be most welcome to join this group, in the Parish House.

Book Group Last Wednesdays December 19, 7:00 amBook Group will meet on Wednesday, December 19, at 7:00 am (note change the group will not meet on the last Wednesday of the month for December) to discuss A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas. Watch the Sunday bulletin for the location. In January we will return to our usual schedule of meeting on the last Wednesday of each month at Forza Coffee in Lincoln Heights at 7:00 am. On January 30, the selected book is State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. On February 27, we will discuss Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka. All book lovers are welcome!

Diakonia Guild Fourth Tuesdays Diakonia is an auxiliary of Lutheran Community Services. The members meet monthly with a speaker from LCS. Anyone is welcome to attend the meetings which are regularly in local Lutheran Churches. The Diakonia Guild will not meet in the month of December but will resume in January at Central Lutheran.

December Messenger! 3

MONTHLY MONEY TALKYTD - 2012 Operating BudgetYTD - 2012 Operating BudgetYTD - 2012 Operating BudgetYTD - 2012 Operating Budget

October Giving Income Expense Budgeted NetGeneral Fund $61,128 $519,189 $569,173 $589,593 ($49,984)Mortgage Fund $7,838 $75,401 $85,268 $85,260 ($9,867)

We continue to chip away at our debt, but we still have a long way to go. We only have one more month to make up the difference.

Thank you to Kevin Benson for chairing our stewardship campaign. A lot of pledge cards have already been turned in, including several first time “pledgers”. If you have misplaced your pledge card, just let me know. I have many extra cards. Traditionally, I only receive around 200 cards back. That is less than half of our active families. My goal is to get 250 back this year. Help me make this goal.

Jane Somersfinance@stmarks-spokane.orgFinancial Secretary

Jim & Wendy Fitzgerald recently moved back to Spokane from Woodinville, WA, after being away for 18 years (Wendy is from Spokane, Jim is from San Jose, CA). They were married at St. Mark's 14 years ago and have two daughters, Jamie (3rd grade) and Katherine (2nd grade). Jim is the Academic Coordinator & Life Skills Coach at the EWU Athletic Dept. and Wendy is a 2nd grade teacher at Regal Elementary. They enjoy snow skiing, camping, biking, getting ice cream at The Scoop and have an active and busy life.

Rhonda Clapp has two married children, one adorable grandson and another grandson due on Valentine's Day. She is from Lincoln, Nebraska and is a retired first grade teacher and aesthetician. She enjoys traveling, music and theater, jewelry making and rowing. Rhonda states, "there is no better day than spending time with my family, friends and dogs".

Robert (Bobby) Farmer is from Grand Coulee where he is a Planner at the Grand Coulee Dam. He is pictured here with his wife, Janet Gullickson who is already a St. Mark's member. They both enjoy the diversity of this area and spend time on the beaches of Lake Roosevelt. They enjoy St. Mark's very much & look forward to sharing their faith in this house of worship.

Burt & Connie Finch are from Wilbur, WA and have three adult children. Burt loves anything to do with airplanes, belongs to EAA, Felts Field local EAA and reads anything to do with WWII and aircraft. Connie likes computer work, reading and has traveled to 48 countries around the world. They love going to movies, getting out, exploring & doing different activities.

Brad & LeAnne Hunter have three kids and four grandkids. Brad is from Spokane and LeAnne is from Soap Lake, WA. Brad is a business consultant for Supervalu Inc. and LeAnne "retired" from Harvest Foods Marketing. Brad likes golfing and reading about politics and military history while LeAnne enjoys sewing, watching old movies, reading and she loves the Atlanta Braves. LeAnne had a stroke three years ago but she is bouncing back with Brad's help.

Arnold Bos has two adult children and is from Little Rock, Iowa. He is retired from Farm Credit Banks and is also a retired business owner. He enjoys camping, boating, mechanical work and woodworking. He is enjoying retirement and is keeping busy with projects around the house. The weekends are for getting out for recreational activities and he enjoys being with his family and friends.

New Members

4! St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

Donna Nelson is from Tillamook, OR and retired from the OSU Extension Service where she was Program Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator in Recruitment. She enjoys reading, walking and gardening. Donna grew up in Spokane, attended Finch, Glover and Shadle Park, continued with schooling and career in Higher Education and was an Asst. Professor at Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR. She retired and moved back to Spokane six months ago.

Roger & Avelina Reed are from Riverside, California. Roger is the manager of Institutional Effectiveness/Community Colleges of Spokane. Avelina is retired as an ESL Instructor. They like to explore new places on the weekends, watch movies, go to the theater and enjoy gardening.

Ben & Elizabeth Richardson have two children, Henry (5 years) & Bridgette (22 months). They are from Marietta, Ohio. Ben is Director of Management Reporting at American West Bank. Elizabeth is a stay at home mom and was a CT/Radiologic Technologist prior to moving to Spokane. Henry attends preschool @ EWU's Domino Project. They enjoy traveling, cooking, reading & sports and cheering on The Ohio State University Buckeyes!

Dave (Buzz) & Bernie Rodseth have four adult children and seven grandchildren. Both are retired. Buzz owned Motor Works and Bernie from Holy Family Orthopedic. They are both from Spokane but have spent the last 15 years in Detroit Lake, MN.

Greg & Shanna Peterson. Greg is an electronics technician and Shanna is an insurance agent. Greg enjoys riding motorcycles and Shanna enjoys reading and sewing.

New Members

December Messenger! 5

Deirdre Phillips (not pictured) is a retired social worker, teacher, executive assistant, bookkeeper, cook, etc. She is from Minnesota, Seattle, Anacortes, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, points south, west and east. She enjoys travelling and is now exploring some new interests in retirement. Deirdre is a long-term volunteer at Holden Village.

“THE FABRIC OF FAITH”

ST. MARK’S RETREAT FOR WOMEN

January 11-13, 2013

Franciscan Place – St. Joseph’s Center –

Spokane

Friday, 7 pm until

Sunday, 11 am

$95 for two nights and four meals

(Option: $55 for one night and 3 meals)

Devotions and discussion on the

theme by Pastor Kate.

Accommodations for only 16. Sign up by

January 2 withSt. Mark’s office.

Contact Pastor Kate for more information:

747-6677.

UPCOMING EVENTSOffice ClosedThe church office will be closed Monday, December 24 through Wednesday, December 26. The church office will also be closed on Monday, December 31 & Tuesday, January 1, in observance of New Year’s Day.

Lefse making It’s time to make more lefse for our smorgasbord! We have another fun lefse making session scheduled on Saturday, December 8, from 9:00 am to noon on the 8th. Please bring any equipment you have, or come to learn! Join us for this great event even if you’ve never made lefse before!

The German American Society has scheduled their annual German Christmas Service in English and German at St. Mark’s on Sunday, December 9, at 3:00 pm. Pr. James Stern will preach. All are welcome!

St. Mark’s Church Council will meet on Monday, December 10, at 7:00 pm in the Parish House.

Lutheran Community Services Giving TreeThe tree is up and covered with the Christmas wishes of the LCS foster children. Each child has a wish or two on the tree, including something practical like clothing, and something for fun. Some wishes cost a bit more, so perhaps a couple of our families could go together and purchase a gift. Just take a tag from the tree, purchase and wrap the gift beautifully. Put the original tag on the gift and return it to the church by Sunday, December 16. Have a wonderful holiday and give a child a wonderful Christmas.

A new flower chart will be posted by the front door in the narthex soon! Thank you to those who provide flowers for our services in memory or honor of someone, or in celebration of a special event. Please sign up and include your phone number next to the date of your choice.

SMORGASBORD

Mark your calendars for this year’s festive feast at St. Mark’s known as the Smorgasbord! This gastronomical event will take place on December 16, 2012, in the fellowship hall with seatings at 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm. The Sunday School kids will present their Christmas Pageant between seatings, and Lucia Brides will deliver cookies at the end of the meal. Fine accordion music will provide appropriate background music for the meal. Everyone is invited to this tasty “potluck” where you can sample the Scandinavian delicacies known as lutefisk and lefse, along with your own family favorites! Look for sign-up sheets and recipes posted in the narthex in the next few weeks. Lefse will be made on Saturday, December 8, from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. Experienced lefse makers are welcome, but we love having people come to learn. Sampling will be done before you leave! Recipes are on the bulletin board. If you would like to help with this St. Mark’s Smograsbord tradition please call Kris Hendron (448-4076) or Cathy Thornton (991-3677).

First through sixth grade retreat February 1-3, 2013

We would like to send a group to Jumpstart 2013, A Wild Winter Extravaganza at Lutherhaven, but, we need parent help to make it happen!

Sign your kids up on the youth board by December 20. The cost is $65.

6! St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

S.M.A.S.H. Servant Corps

Meeting

December 2 9:45 am

Spread the word...we are meeting and building on ideas we talked about last

time. Bring new ideas for future projects too. Meet in the Parish Counselor’s office,

upstairs across from the elevator.

December Servant Corps Project

Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery Santa Express

Sunday, December 16 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

Sign up now to help children shop to support this great Spokane organization.

It’s a fun holiday tradition.

“Whoever wants to be first of all must be last of all and servant of all.” ~ Jesus

DECEMBER 2012

Saturday-Sunday December 8-9 8:00 p.m. to…

S.M.A.S.H. “Lock-In”

The adventure begins and ends at St. Mark’s! The Youth Leaders

have some great ideas to keep you up ALL night!

Cost is $20. Bring a snack to share.

Friends are welcome. This event will end with early service worship on Sunday !

Sign up on the Youth Board or call Susan or one of the Youth Leaders.

747-6677 or youth@stmarks-spokane.org

SAINT MARK'S LUTHERAN CHURCH

Youth News

UPCOMING S.M.A.S.H. EVENTS...

December 2 ~ New!

Youth Worship (worship just for you)

6:30 pm

followed by…

Café Night 7:00 pm

Bring your friends!

Not really!

“All  earth  is  hopeful,  the savior comes at

last!”

~

No S.M.A.S.H. Dec 23 & Dec 30

MERRY CHRISTMAS &

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Questions about Youth Programs at St. Marks? Call Susan Hagen 747-6677 Church 220-7250 Cell phone Or by email at youth@stmarks-spokane.org

Thank  you… to Jane Kinkel for being our Coordinator

Extraordinaire! Also to our fabulous cooks:

Michelle Phelan, Tawny Arensmeyer, Cathy Crowson, Donna Evanson, Stacy Kraby, Katie Dull,

Aurora Perez, Tom & May Pinyo, Cindy Pascua, Jane Kinkel, Stacey Smith & Loris Stupel!

Your hard work & delicious meals are so appreciated.

To all the parents who set up, clean up and got their kids to church…thank  you  too!  We  had  a  great  fall  session!

Winter session begins Wednesday, January 2!

Ski Retreat at Flathead Lutheran Bible

Camp

January 25-27, 2013

Get it on your calendars now. Cost is $150 which includes 2 nights

lodging, food and two days of ski-ing. We will be joining other youth groups at Flathead Lake for this fun weekend! (Chris Nevers...you have

a Bunko trophy to defend!)

Contact Susan if you want to go or if you have questions. 747-6677

Calendar of Youth Events

An example of the exchange of goodwill between our Junior High kids and our

neighbors on Manito Blvd. - all on behalf of SPEAR! Thanks to all of our youth, neighbors  and  members  of  St.  Mark’s  

who helped to fill Thanksgiving baskets and the pantry shelves at SPEAR this

“Turkey”  Treating  season!  

Junior High is going SKY HIGH

Wednesday, December 5 6-8 pm, 1322 E Front Street

Meet your Youth Leaders at Sky High for jumping fun. Make sure you have

a  St.  Mark’s  Medical  Release  on  file.  You  need  a  Sky  High  waiver signed by your parents too. Go to http://

spo.jumpskyhigh.com/downloads/Spokane%20Waiver.pdf to get one (or Youth Board.) Cost is $10. Friends welcome!

Sign up on the Youth Board or call Susan at 747-6677.

DECEMBER 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 9:45 Servant Corps

Mtg. 6:30 Youth Worship 7:00 Café Night

3 4 5 6:00-8:00 pm

Jr High @ Sky High

6 7 8 8:00 pm S.M.A.S.H. Lock -in begins!

9S.M.A.S.H. Lock-in ends after 1st service

10 11 12 13 14 15 7 & 8 Graders- Sign up for Jan. Retreat by tomorrow!

16 10:30-2:30 Servant Corps at Vanessa Behan Santa Express

17 18 19 20 21 22

23 No S.M.A.S.H. 24 Christmas Eve

Come worship!

25 merry

christmas!

26 27 28 29

30 No S.M.A.S.H. 31 happy

new year!

7th & 8th grade “PpLlUuGgGgEeDd IiıNn’’ RrEeTtRrEeAaTt

at Lutherhaven

January 25-26, 2013

Sign up on the Youth Board or RSVP to the church by December 16. Cost is $55. This retreat is a require-

ment for all youth in 8th grade confirmation.

Additional parent chaperones are needed for this trip. Contact Pr. Kate or Susan Hagen if you are interested!

VOLUNTEERSDo you know what a Service Coordinator does? This person helps the pastors by making sure each volunteer has arrived for his/her scheduled activity, necessary supplies are available for volunteers, a crucifer and two communion assistants are secured, and the refreshments are ready for the end of service. It is helpful when volunteers check in with the coordinator, who is identified by her name tag, so she doesn't have to track them down. If anyone would like to be the crucifer (carry the cross in the procession) or communion assistant all you have to do is tell the coordinator... she will heartily thank you!

A personal 'thank you!' to Rick & Tammy Zimmer, Laren Sunde, Donna Nelson, Frank Polito, Deidre Phillips, and Norm Thorpe for helping with the yard clean up day. It was a muscle workout with great fellowship! Continued thanks to Laren Sunde and Donna Nelson who helped with the leaf raking once the leaves finally fell.

Danke schoen! (Thank you!) for making Oktoberfest memorable to Brian Shute, Barb & Randy Belstad & family, Ross & Dinah Coble, Jerry Nelson, Tim Hansen, Lisa & Mike & Bryn Van Mansum, Val & Jim Davis, Dione Bishop, Jake Schumacher, Lars Hendron, Liz McGaughy, Sally Dominguez, Gib & Karen Dominguez, and Gail & Ed Newman (our extraordinary polka teachers). A very "hoppy" thank you to our brew masters: Ross Coble, Barb Belstad, Brian Shute, and Jennifer & Chris Kipp. It was fun to taste a wide variety of brews!

Our lefse bakers for the bazaar deserve a tasty thank you for all those treats! We couldn't have done it without Cathy Thornton, Randy Darst, Sonja Scrawford, Avelina Reed, Ronna & Gail Heide, Karen Nelson, Sue Luppert, Roger Chase and Ellen Rapkoch. Thank you!

A special thank you to our wonderful Messenger crew in October: Mary Harder, Donna Nelson, Deidre Phillips, Ronni Tvedten, Jeanne Wennes, Don Donaldson, Helen and Roy Jeremiah, Nancy Tiffany, Mary Dey, Diana Pickering, Wendy Eacret, Janet Ryden, and Patti Berg. I love how we can work and visit at the same time so successfully!

Thank you to all the people who helped make our November services so wonderful. More than 200 people gave their time and energy to make the twelve November services meaningful and friendly. You are all saints!

Thank you to everyone who helped make the congregational Bazaar and Bake Sale such a great success! You know who you are: Jeanne Wennes, Janet Ryden, Donna Nelson, Deidre Phillips, Wendy Eacret, Elaine Orness, Ida Felton, Mary Ellen Peterson, Mardella Henry, Susan Hagen, Carol Tiegs, Ev Nyholm, Laren Sunde, Aurora Perez, Cliff & Donna Fender, Lauren Bray, Jackie Sachse, Carol Nelson, Vange Moeller, Martha Arneson, Jan Nelson, Chloe Spedden, Sharon Olson, Darleen Fitzgerald, Sue Luppert, Verna Eucker, Jo Ballou, Connie Dix, Alma Vogt, Joyce Cutler, Mary Hyde, Sharen Robertson, Shirley Vold, Tammy & Emma Marshall and everyone who donated and bought the beautiful Silent Auction Baskets. St. Mark's is extremely thankful for your dedication and hard work.

Congratulations to the Raffle winners: Pastor Kate's quilt—Kathy Nowland, Bob Schmidt's wood platter—Sue Gilman Stern, and Sande Paulson's handmade paper calendar—Art & Alma Vogt. What gifted craftspeople we have!

We are in need of volunteers for our Christmas Eve services. If you would like to volunteer for one of the services, just let me know.

Blessings, Kris Hendron, Volunteer Coordinator

December Messenger! 7

St. Mark’s Feeds and Clothes PeopleSocial Ministry and Volunteer Opportunities

CrosswalkCrosswalk is a Volunteers of America program that provides a variety of services including meals to downtown’s street kids. St. Mark’s provides the food and volunteer cooks for Crosswalk on the fourth Thursday of the month, which falls on December 27. Watch for the sign-up sheets in church.

Shalom Ministries Dining with Dignity Program at Central Methodist Church Shalom Ministries serves a hot breakfast five days a week and dinner on Monday nights to low-income downtown residents and homeless folks. This is the ONLY breakfast and Monday meal that is served to downtown’s most vulnerable folks. Volunteers are needed to help serve dinner on the fourth Monday of the month. Steve Nash has asked that people who are available in the mornings consider volunteering to help serve breakfast on Friday mornings at 7:15 am. You can just show up at Central United Methodist any Friday morning at 7:15 am or call Steve Nash at 536-4136 for more information. Shalom also has a need for board members with marketing, sales, fundraising and grant writing skills. If you are interested in joining the Shalom Board, contact Steve Nash.

All Saint’s Lutheran Soup DinnerAll Saint’s Lutheran Church serves a soup supper every Tuesday night in the West Central Neighborhood. St. Mark’s helps on the fourth Tuesday of the month which falls on Christmas Day. Please call Steve Nash at 536-4136 if you’d like to volunteer on Tuesday, December 25.

Neighborhood Sunday Dinner at St. Ann’s Catholic ChurchA hot nutritious meal is served every Sunday afternoon at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. St. Mark’s organizes cooks and serves the meal every eight weeks. Call Kathy Hammonds at 990-0167 to volunteer for the next meal on December 30.

SPEARSPEAR is an after-school program serving kids who live in East Central, which is one of our poorest and most isolated areas. St. Mark’s helps provide meals for the SPEAR kids on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as well as collecting food, hygiene and other items for the kids and their families. Contact Claudia Holtz at 244-2479 for more details about how you can help.

Social Ministry CommitteeWe are always looking for people who are interested in helping us identify areas of need and service within our community. Please consider attending our next meeting on Sunday, December 9, at 9:30 am in the Counselor’s Office upstairs.

Food and Clothing Drive - Please leave your donations in the narthexThe Food of the Month for December is CANNED CHILI, SOUPS and STEWS.

The Clothing of the Month for December are blankets and sleeping bags for the Men’s Warming Center at First Covenant Church. Warming Centers open in Spokane when the temperatures drop below 17 degrees.

We will continue to collect disposable diapers and hygiene items on an ongoing basis to be distributed to the groups with the most need, i.e., SPEAR, Mission Community Outreach Center, Inland Northwest Baby and emergency shelters/transitional housing. We continue to hear of this great need in the community because food stamps do not cover diapers and hygiene items. 8! St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

Thank YouThank you to Milt Snyder for taking such great care of our technology needs at St. Mark’s. We appreciate all of the time and energy he puts into our computers sound equipment, and other property items, by keeping them all in tip-top shape!

To Our St. Mark’s Family,Our deepest thanks and undying gratitude to all of you for the service for mom. It is so much more special when your loved one is known to all. Thank you Pastors Dick, Eric & Kate for all your kindness shown mom. She was born & died a Lutheran! The church was the core of her being—right up there with family and friends. And a special thanks to Verna for her countless visits and to those of you who also visited—It made her day. Her final resting place on earth will be in Sioux City, Iowa—the place she never left! Right next to her husband and infant son. Thank you again for making our day so very special. Mom would have loved all the beautiful music, too. Servine & Boehnke families

St. Marks volunteers help serve meals to the low income and homeless at Dining with Dignity/Shalom Ministries on the fourth Monday of each month at United Central Methodist in downtown Spokane. However, this year October had a fifth Monday, so we helped serve at two Dining with Dignity meals, on October 22, and October 29. Thanks to those who helped on October 22: Sue Luppert, Donna Alford, Rich Algeo, Darlene Fitzgerald, Lori Ghering, Sharen Robertson, Joann Stewart, Loris Stupel, and Steve Nash. And thank you to those who volunteered on October 29: Loris Stupel, Mark Nelson, Margaret Witter, Doug Wolford and Steve Nash. By the way, for those of you who don't know her, when Sue Luppert volunteers to help out, she literally gets to Central Methodist around 10:00 am and doesn't leave until 6:00 pm or later on Monday nights! She is the head chef for Shalom on the 4th Monday of each

month, and with a crew of several other volunteers under her, she turns out hot nutritious meals for up to, and sometimes exceeding, 200-plus guests. She's a God-send to Shalom's feeding program and much appreciated by everyone, most especially our guests, some who otherwise would not eat an evening meal! In addition to Monday night (and now, Thursday night) dinners, Shalom also provides hot breakfasts five mornings per week. St. Mark’s helps to provide volunteer servers for the Friday morning meals, starting at approximately 7:15 am. Thank you to those St. Mark’s volunteers who in October were willing to get up a little early and help serve some of our most marginalized neighbors in Spokane, including Diedra Jacobson, Lance Jacobson, Ken Bridgeman, Harry Fuhs and Steve Nash. St. Mark’s volunteers always help serve meals to the low income and homeless at All Saints Lutheran on the fourth Tuesday of each month at All Saint’s Lutheran in Browne’s Addition. However, this year October had a fifth Tuesday, so again we helped serve at two All Saints meals, on October 23 and October 30. Thanks to those volunteers on the 23rd: Evelyn Creager, DeeDee Pike, Norm Thorpe, Carol Weems and Steve Nash. And thanks to those who volunteered on the 30th: Barry Fisher, Cathii Nash and Steve Nash.

Your Social Ministry Committee would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those wonderful and generous people who donated time, money, food and clothes to St. Mark’s Feeds and Clothes People Programs during 2012. It is because of you that St. Mark’s is able to help so many needy neighbors in our community.

As you serve, donate, and volunteer during the year, please take a couple of minutes to fill out the bright yellow “Tell us how you helped serve” card (found in the pews) and drop it in the offering plate or church office. This will help us keep track of all the ways we are helping in the community and perhaps identify some new areas to focus on.

December Messenger! 9

Army of AngelsAn army of angels, that’s what you are;Heavenly helpers and bright shining stars.Your unselfish devotion, we proudly hail…With your commitment and loyalty, to every detail.

We applaud your compassion,Your generosity sublime,Your most precious gift…Is giving your time.

Your spirits all shine, with amazing grace…You are making a difference for the whole human race.

-Betsy ConrathThis poem was written by a neighbor for and about St. Mark’s.

Return to BudapestThe writing of Return to Budapest was a labor of love for Barbara Filo, member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church since 1975. The work of historical fiction took seven years to write, much of the time spent in research. It follows the lives of three Hungarian families from the waning days of the great Austro- Hungarian Empire to the end of World War II. Barbara traveled to Hungary in 1992 and 1995 to visit her husband Robert’s family. She became enchanted with the culture, the people and the beauty of the country. In 1999 Barbara, an art historian at Whitworth University, spent a spring sabbatical at Galeria mesta Bratislavy and had the opportunity to tour Budapest. She was inspired by the architecture of the city and the characters came into her mind. She began writing vignettes, created a timeline and started the process of weaving her characters into the setting and the history of the region. The result is a 553 page novel set in real places, among real events and interwoven with appearances by real people. Published by San Juan Publishing, the book is available at Aunties Bookstore or by contacting the author. Return to Budapest is a must read! Deidre Jacobson

Stewardship Drive Continues

“For All the Saints: Honoring our Heritage and our Future”

Thanks to all who responded to our stewardship drive in November by returning your pledge cards. Your generous response helps the church council as it makes budget decisions for 2013. For those who have not yet made a commitment, please consider how you will be able to support the programs and mission of St. Mark’s next year. Pledge cards may be mailed to the church, placed in the offering plate, or left in the office. Blank pledge cards are available from the office.

Sunday SchoolThere will be no Sunday School during Christmas break from December 19 – January 1. On January 6, we will have our Epiphany Party in the fellowship hall. Regular Sunday School will resume on January 13, at 9:45 am.

Questions? Contact Jane at 747-8791.

10! St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

Advent Breakfast

Mark your calendar! The Advent Breakfast is December 1st from 9:30-11:00 am. All families are invited to attend this annual event. Come and kick off this special time of waiting, and learn about how your family can celebrate Advent at home. Enjoy a tasty breakfast, learn Advent traditions, make Advent crafts and join in devotions and singing.

Contact Jane Somers, at the church during normal office hours, to RSVP or to answer any questions. (747-6677)

If you attended last year’s Advent Breakfast,don’t forget to

BRING BACK YOUR BRASS ADVENT WREATH, and we’ll set you up with new

greens and candles.

FROM THE BISHOPGod’s Beloved People,An advent poem as greeting, blessings, and anticipation for you!

To hope is to risk your hearton that which has not yet made itself fully known.Hope smells like beeswax meltinginto the white, chipped-paint windowsill of my childhood home.As autumn days shortened, darknesspiling high like dusty leaves,my mother would retrieve a set of candlesticks, mismatched brass well-polished,and place them in the street-facing windows.A protest against the darkness,her way to say: there is a lightthat will not be overcome. This wordis not the last, and we will risk our hearts,our little flames, to proclaim what is yet unknown:the light of Christ that does not falter,how ever long Earth’s winter night may stretch into the year.My mother lit the honeyed wicks to set the street aglow, praying with each trembling flame,come, Lord Jesus, come.Reformated for this placement Mary Emily Briehl Wells

From our family to yours: We pray the ancient prayer of Advent: Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus, and we join you in prayer for this new year and all that God will show us starting with Luke’s picture of our infant savior Jesus.God bless and keep you as you light your own candles in hope. Pastor Martin WellsBishop

Ev Nyholm Retirement at the End of 2013 Pre-school Year

Evelyn Nyholm, St. Mark’s Preschool teacher, has decided to retire from teaching at the end of this school year. Her husband, Will, will also be retiring from teaching at this time. This is something they have planned to do for some time as they enter this new phase of their lives together and look forward to family time with their children and grandchildren. Ev has been the teacher at our Christian preschool for the last 31 years and has been instrumental in shaping our program and our children. St. Mark’s will be celebrating Ev’s retirement at a special event this spring. She would like it to be a party for all preschool families, both current and past, as well as our congregational members and friends. We hope for a huge gathering of all the wonderful children who have experienced our program and Mrs. Nyholm’s teaching. We hope you will join us for this celebration of Ev and her

ministry to pre-school children. More details to come.The church council, in reviewing this situation and considering the need for more classroom space for our growing Christian Education program, has decided to close the preschool with Ev’s retirement in May. Much discussion was made over this topic because the preschool has been such a strong part of our church history. But the council recognizes our need to have more space for classrooms on Sunday morning and throughout the week. The council has also initiated a task force to evaluate the needs of our families with young children. If you have any questions about this, please contact one of the pastors or Tim Hansen, Church Council President.

Tim HansenCouncil President

December Messenger! 11

ST. MARK’S LUTHERAN CHURCH316 E 24th AvenueSpokane, WA 99203

Phone: 509-747-6677Fax: 509-458-2757

EMAIL: office@stmarks-spokane.orgWEB-SITE: WWW.STMARKS-SPOKANE.ORG

Pastors: Kate LePard, Richard D. Finch, Eric Dull

MESSENGER

Published monthly September-Juneby St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

Submissions Due bythe 15th of Month Prior to

PublicationNewsletter Editor:

Ross Coble - 509-534-6217 rosscoble@me.com

Sunday Services8:30 am and 10:45 am

Saturday Evening Services5:30 pm

Nursery Provided All Services

Office HoursMonday-Thursday

9:00 am - 12:00 pm, 1:00 - 4:00 pmFriday

9:00 am - 12:00 pm, 1:00 - 3:30 pm

Christmas Worship At St. Mark’sMonday, December 24

4:00 pm Holy Communion, Candlelight Family Worship6:00 pm Holy Communion, Candlelight and Carols

11:00 pm Holy Communion, Candlelightand Carols with the Chancel Choir

Announcing Auditions for theTHIRD ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL PLAY

All are welcome!!

For the past two years we have produced an annual play and participants have had a GREAT time! We hope some of you will consider joining us.

This year we’re going to put together a play called Frog and Toad and Friends, which is a collection of stories by Arnold Lobel. You may not know him by name, but if you’ve been a kid or had a kid in the last 30 years, you’ve probably read a bunch of his books. The stories are funny and touching and reach people of all ages.

One difference between this year’s script and past years’ is that the cast will be pretty small (5-8 people) and that all of the parts will be of equal size. So, while it has been possible in the past to be in the play with a fairly minimal time commitment, this year is going to require quite a bit of time from each of the cast members. Additionally, because of the larger load carried by each cast member, you must be 7th grade or older to audition for the play. The whole thing will be auditioned and performed within five weeks! So, it’s intense, but over pretty quickly.

We will also need folks to work backstage, so if you’d like to be out of the spotlight but part of the action, be sure to let Ann know!

AUDITIONS: Sunday, January 6 • 1:00pmPERFORMANCES: Friday, February 8 • 7:00 pm Saturday, February 9 • 10:00 am Saturday, February 9 • 1:00 pm Saturday, February 9 • 3:00 pm

Please note: An additional date of weekday daytime performances will be scheduled at area schools during the week of February 11. Date TBA. Any questions? Contact Ann Benson – annmbbenson@gmail.com or 443-4366.