1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

Reformation Sunday
October 26, 2014
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
Our Vision: St. Mark’s seeks to spread God’s Word among ourselves and
in the greater Conshohocken community.
Our Mission: We will equip our members with biblical knowledge and spiritual growth
through worship, education and fellowship, in order to share our faith in Christ through
our words, hospitality and deeds of service in the community.
Worship Assistants
Ministers
Presiding Minister
Organist
Cantor
The People of St. Mark’s
Rev. John Stephen Kerr
Bob Fidler
Emily Erb
Assisting Minister
Communion Assistant
Reader
Ushers
Acolyte
Nursery
Altar Guild
Counters
Offering Recorder
Fellowship Hour
9:30am
Kim Kriebel
Joanne Copestick
Theodora Morley
Karen Hanna and Terry Spence
Ana Smith
The Kriebel Family
Jennifer & Karl Schreiter
Susan Dryburgh and Andy Nuffer
Pam Keebler
The Erb Family
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508 Harry St, Conshohocken, PA 19428
Church Office 610-828-0581, Fax 610-828-6659
Church Office Hours: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Email [email protected], www.stmarksconshy.org
Council President, Joseph Jacovino
Email [email protected]
Pastor Bryan Penman
E-mail: [email protected]
Cell: 1.540.287.3663
2
A Warm Welcome to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
We hope that your worship experience this morning is spiritually enriching and
meaningful.
Children are always welcome to participate in worship. “Little Lutheran Activity
Bags” located in the rear of the sanctuary are designed to make your time in the pew
more meaningful for your family. We hope you will find the age appropriate books and
activities helpful. Should your young child(ren) need a change of scenery, the nursery
provides that space.
Restrooms are located through the back left – exit the sanctuary, go up the stairs,
through the first room to the end of the hallway.
Are you new to St. Mark’s? Our congregation is a member of the Southeastern
Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. If you would
like to receive more information about St. Mark’s, we have several methods where you
can leave your information with us. At the entry ways to the sanctuary, you will find
our guest books in which you can leave your name and contact information, or in the
pews we have blue cards that you can fill and place in the offering plate, or if you like,
you can sign our electronic guest book. We’d be delighted to keep you informed about
the many events and opportunities here at St. Mark’s and hope you will
join us again.
For the electronic book, open your mobile device to the bar code scanner
and take a picture of this square QR code; it will take you to our
electronic guest book.
Cell phones and other electronic devices are welcome to be used to post, tweet and
instagram the Good News you hear today, but we kindly ask you to turn the sound off
on them so that they do not cause a distraction to other worshipers. Thank you.
Our team of ushers is available throughout the service to be of any assistance you
might need.
Assistive Listening devices are available. Please see an usher.
Attendance for October 26th - 47
3
+ GATHERING +
The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God
Introduction
Jesus' summary of the law in today's gospel echoes our first reading from Leviticus. We are
called not only to love God with heart, soul and mind, but also to love our neighbor as ourselves.
It is out of such deep care that Paul shares the gospel with the Thessalonian community. In the
confession of sins, we acknowledge that we have not loved God, neighbor and self; yet we gather
to hear the word of forgiveness and to be strengthened by word and meal to be signs of God's love
and mercy in the world.
Prelude
‘Christ is Made the Sure Foundation’
Johnson
Confession and Forgiveness
P:
In the name of the Father and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C:
Amen.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P:
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known and from whom
no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your
Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy
name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C:
Amen.
P:
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if
we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.
Kneel/Stand
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
P:
Most merciful God,
C:
we confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We
have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, by what we have done
and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole
heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your
Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us and lead us, so
that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of
your holy name. Amen
4
The minister stands and addresses the congregation.
P:
In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us and for his
sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the
Church of Christ and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire
forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of
the Holy Spirit.
C:
Amen
5
Entrance Hymn ELW #504
6
‘A Mighty Fortress is Our God’
Greeting
P:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the
Holy Spirit be with you all.
C:
And also with you.
Kyrie
7
Hymn of Praise
8
Prayer of the Day
P:
O Lord God, you are the holy lawgiver, you are the salvation of your people. By
your Spirit renew us in your covenant of love and train us to care tenderly for
all our neighbors, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C:
Amen.
9
+ WORD +
God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching and song
Sit
First Reading: Leviticus 19:1 - 2, 15 - 18
The holiness code in Leviticus urges people to be holy because God is holy. Holiness is lived out in
partiality for and consideration of the poor and the weak. We are to love our neighbors as
ourselves. God's people exercise justice and love in their dealings with one another.
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy,
for I the Lord your God am holy. 15You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall
not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your
neighbor. 16You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people and you shall
not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
17You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor,
or you will incur guilt yourself. 18You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge
against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
The word of the Lord.
C:
Thanks be to God.
2Speak
Psalmody: Psalm 1
Their delight is in the law of the Lord. (Ps. 1:2)
1Happy
are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor lingered in the
way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful!
2Their delight is in the law of the Lord and they meditate on God's
teaching day and night.
3They are like trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with leaves
that do not wither; everything they do shall prosper.
4It is not so with the wicked; they are like chaff which the wind blows
away.
5Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, nor the sinner in
the council of the righteous.
6For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked
shall be destroyed.
10
Second Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 2:1 - 8
Paul uses maternal imagery to depict the caring and nurturing relationship he shares with the
Thessalonian Christians. When he first came to their city it was not to benefit himself but to
share the gospel with them, which was his responsibility as an apostle of Christ.
You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, 2but
though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you
know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great
opposition. 3For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery,
4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the
gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.
5As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a
pretext for greed; 6nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from
others, 7though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle
among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. 8So deeply do we care for
you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our
own selves, because you have become very dear to us.
The word of the Lord.
C:
Thanks be to God.
Stand, if able
Gospel Acclamation
P:
C:
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew 22nd chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.
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Gospel: Matthew 22:33 - 46
Put on the spot by the Pharisees, Jesus displays wisdom by summarizing the law of God in just
two commandments and by demonstrating the Messiah must be more than the son of David.
34When
the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together
one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36Teacher, which
commandment in the law is the greatest? 37He said to him, " 'You shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is
the greatest and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: 'You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.' 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the
prophets."
41Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question:
42What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he? They said to him, "The son of
David." 43He said to them, "How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord,
saying,
44'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under
your feet" '?
45If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" 46No one was able to give him
an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
P:
The Gospel of the Lord.
C:
Praise to you, O Christ.
35and
Sit
Children’s Sermon
Sermon
Stand, if able
Hymn of the Day ELW #729
Rev John Stephen Kerr
‘The Church of Christ in Every Age’
Repeat from the Beginning
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Apostle Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by
the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended
into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and
is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of
saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life
everlasting. Amen
13
The Prayers of the Church
During the prayers we will lift up the names of members, family and friends in their times of
need and in times of joy. If you wish to have someone added, please add them to the list in the
back of the church or you may call the church office during the week. We will carry their names
for four weeks unless otherwise specified.
A:
With the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, let us pray for the church, those
in need and all of God’s creation.
A:
C:
Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
We pray for our family and friends especially for
Don Dunn, Ann Beatty, Katie Gresh, Dottie Woodring,
George and Donna Kobi, Stef Conklin, Joan Metz,
Jenny, Jennifer, Dolores, Dave, Joe,
Lindsay, Kathleen
and all those serving overseas
We lift up our Joys and Thanksgivings for
We give you thanks for the faithful leaders of the Reformation
and all those that continue to lead as faithful witness to our faith.
We pray for those who are grieving
P:
Trusting in your mercy and goodness, we bring before you these prayers and
whatever else you see that we need, in the name of the one who sets us free,
Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen.
C:
Sharing of the Peace
P:
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C:
And also with you.
The congregation may greet one another with a sign of Christ’s peace and use the words -
Peace be with you.
14
+ MEAL +
God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ
Sit
Stewardship Moment
- How we are stewards of God’s grace through our Faith Formation
Nate Ramsden
Offering
Having heard the good news of Jesus Christ in scripture and song we now respond to the good
news offering our gifts of time, talents and treasures, to support the mission of the church.
Offerings collected go to support the mission of St. Mark's and the wider church supporting
those in need.
Stand, if able
Offertory
15
Offertory Prayer
A:
Let us pray. Blessed are you,
C:
O Lord our God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have
blessed us with these gifts. With them we offer ourselves to your service
and dedicate our lives to the care and redemption of all that you have
made, for the sake of him who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Dialogue
P:
The Lord be with you.
C:
And also with you.
P:
C:
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
P:
C:
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Proper Preface
The presiding minister continues:
P:
It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer
thanks . . . . . . we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Sanctus
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Great Thanksgiving
P:
Holy, mighty and merciful Lord, heaven and earth are full of your glory. In
great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son, who reached out to heal the sick and
suffering, who preached good news to the poor and who, on the cross, opened
his arms to all.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread and gave
thanks; broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my
body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks and gave it for all to drink,
saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all
people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection and ascension, we await his
coming in glory.
Pour out your Holy Spirit, that by this Holy Communion we may know the
unity we share with all your people in the body of your Son, Jesus Christ our
Lord.
C:
Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and
honor is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.
Amen
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom
come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.
Invitation to Communion
P:
Come to the table prepared for you. Taste the overflowing grace of God.
The bread may be broken for the communion. As Lutherans we invite all people to the Lord’s
Table no matter where you are on your faith journey. This is Christ present for you – freely
offered in bread and wine.
17
We will receive Communion in a continuous flow around the rail; the pastor will give you bread
and then to receive the cup you may take an empty cup for poured wine or a cup of grape juice
from the center of the tray. When you have finished communing you are invited to return to
your seats by the side aisle.
Lamb of God
Sit
Communion
When giving the bread and cup, the communion ministers say:
The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
and each person may respond -- Amen.
Communion Hymn WOV #705
18
‘As the Grains of Wheat’
Stand, if able
Post Communion Blessing
P:
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in
his grace.
C:
Amen
Post Communion Canticle
19
Post Communion Prayer
A:
Let us pray. Almighty God, you provide the true bread from heaven, your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant that we who have received the Sacrament of his
body and blood may abide in him and he in us, that we may be filled with the
power of his endless life, now and forever.
C:
Amen.
+ SENDING +
God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world
Sit
Announcements
- Ways for you to be sent into Mission this week.
Blessing
P:
Almighty God, Father, + Son and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
C:
Amen.
Stand
Sending Hymn ELW #535
20
‘Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises’
Dismissal
A:
C:
Go in peace. Share the good news.
Thanks be to God.
Postlude
‘Psalm XX’
Marcello
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2013 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #.46440
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserve
The altar flowers are
In Loving Memory of
Eleanor Metz Cory
Thanks to The Rev. John Stephen Kerr,
Retired Pastor and former mission developer and Synodical consultant
for presiding over us today while Pastor Bryan is away.
21
ANNOUNCEMENTS
This Week at St. Mark’s
Monday:
6:00am CNC - Meals on Wheels
5:30pm Music Lessons
7:00pm Boy Scouts
Tuesday:
6:00am CNC - Meals on Wheels
10:30am Pastor’s Bible Study
4:00pm Kids Yoga
7:30pm Cub Scouts
Wednesday:
6:00am CNC - Meals on Wheels
6:00pm Homework Help/Tutoring
Conshohocken Library
7:00pm Yoga
7:00pm Ventura Group
Thursday:
6:00am CNC - Meals on Wheels
6:30pm Dinner Church Service
7:30pm Bell Choir Rehearsal
Friday:
Reformation Day
6:00am CNC - Meals on Wheels
6:30pm Alcoholics Anonymous/Al-Anon Meetings
Saturday:
All Saints Day
Daylight Savings Time end (fall back)
1:00pm Montgomery Youth County Orchestra
Sunday:
All Saints Sunday
8:30am Faith Formation
8:30am Bell Choir Rehearsal
8:45am Adult Choir Rehearsal
9:30am Worship Service
125th Anniversary Celebration
10:30am Adult Choir
10:30am Fellowship Hour
22
Next Sunday,
November 2nd
is
All Saints Day
and
Daylight Savings Time end
Be sure to set your clocks back 1 hour
before going to bed
Pastor Away
Pastor will be away from October 15 - November 2nd for continuing education
and vacation. Should you need pastoral care during that time, please call
the church office to be put in touch with Pastor Patterson who will be
covering in his absence.
Meetings/Events this Week
SAVE THE DATE
Tuesday, October 28th
Pastor’s Bible Study - 10:30am
Saturday, November 8th - 6:00pm
Beast and Ale Night - Manayunk
Wednesday, October 29th
Homework Help/Tutoring - 6:00pm
Wednesday, November 26th - 7:00pm
Ministerium Thanksgiving Service
At St. John’s AME
Thursday, October 23rd
Bell Choir Rehearsal - 7:30pm
23
How we worship God together here at St. Mark’s
CHANGE OF ADULT AND BELL CHOIR REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
The rehearsal schedule for the Adult and Bell Choir has been changed.
This change is being put into effect to increase the number of present and
former choir members and those members of St. Mark’s who would like to sing
in the Adult Choir but are not able to attend a Thursday evening rehearsal.
W
O
R
S
H
I
P
ADULT CHOIR REHEARSALS
In preparation for the November 2nd service, celebrating St. Mark’s 125th
Anniversary and All Saints’ Day, we will have three Adult Choir rehearsals
today, with a final one at 8:45am on Sunday, November 2nd.
All Adult Choir rehearsals will move to Sundays beginning immediately
following the 9:30am Church Service.
BELL CHOIR REHEARSALS
In preparation for the November 2nd service, celebrating St. Mark’s 125th
Anniversary and All Saints’ Day, we will have three Bell Choir rehearsals this
Thursday, the 30th with a final one at 8:30am on Sunday, November 2nd.
All Bell Choir rehearsals will remain on Thursday beginning immediately
following the Thursday Dinner Church Service.
EVERYONE IS INVITED TO SING AND RING WITH ST. MARK’S
CHOIRS.
It is my fervent hope and prayer that you will be able to attend these
rehearsals.
SOLI DEO GLORIA
Bob
Open Sponsorship
Sunday, November 24th is available for Altar Flowers. If interested, please
contact Ann Beatty at 215.482.4132 or the church office for details.
24
How we worship God together here at St. Mark’s
Dinner Church
Are your weekends filling up with activities? Penn State have a home game this
weekend?
Don’t forget we offer a midweek worship service on Thursday evenings – we
will even feed you dinner! “Dinner Church” will continue this fall on Thursday
evening at 6:30pm and is over in time for choir at 7:30pm. “Dinner Church” is
a relaxed worship experience that seeks to gather the assembly around a meal,
much in the same way the disciples and Jesus ate and discussed their faith.
Ways you can help support Dinner Church:
MEAL: We are looking for people to volunteer to make dinner (soup or salad)
to feed between 12 and 18 people.
SET-UP/CLEAN-UP: Pastor Bryan is looking for an individual who will be
willing to learn how to set up the projector and laptop for the service while he
will be away in October. Please contact him if you are able to help to receive
instructions.
Below are the dates and folks who have volunteered to make food. If you can
help by making a meal, there is a sign-up board in the McCarney room or you
can contact Terry Spence home 610.539.9337 or cell 610.804.8604
Meal
October 30th
November 6th
Open
Open
W
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R
S
H
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Set-Up/
Clean-Up
25
How we form disciples at St. Mark’s
Faith Formation Has Started
F
A
I
T
H
Family Class: 8:45am Upstairs
A multi-generational class for children and families meets upstairs each Sunday
to explore the bible stories from worship in age appropriate ways - we learn
about worship, prayer and song! Join us as we learn about what it means to be
disciples!
Adult Forum: 8:30am Library
We gather for an adult forum in the library at 8:30am prior to worship to
discuss the texts that will be used in worship on that Sunday. It’s an open
forum so no experience necessary and we welcome newcomers to the class.
Coming in November:
In November, we will gather after worship to learn some more about our
worship space, explore the symbolism in our Stained glass windows and learn a
little bit about how we worship together. We will plan to meet for maybe an
hour at most - and yes, you can grab something from the fellowship hour first!
F
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M
A
T
I
O
N
Weekly Messages from Pastor Bryan
Each week, Pastor Bryan sends out an email reflecting the upcoming Sunday’s
lessons as well as any immediate events that are taking place. If you wish to
receive a copy of this email, simply go onto St. Mark’s website and at the
bottom of the page, fill out the form with your name and email address and
click submit. You can also offer this to friends and family to receive as well.
For those members that do not have access to a computer, you can call Kathy
at the church office and she will mail out a copy to you.
Call 610.828.0581 with any questions.
26
All the ways we serve God with our hands, our feet and our treasures
Fair Trade Coffee
St. Mark’s continues to serve Fair Trade coffee in support of the LWR Coffee
Project. Fair Trade coffee and candy bars are also available for your purchase.
Buying Fair Trade products through St. Mark’s provides an opportunity to
raise funds for our missions and allows us to take advantage of special pricing
and free shipping offers.
Please visit lwrcoffee.com to see what is available and contact Susan Dryburgh
([email protected]) to place your order by Sunday, November 9th.
Delivery is expected Sunday, November 16th.
Payment can be made by cash or check (payable to St. Mark’s). Be sure to
mark on your payment envelope that the funds are for “Fair Trade.”
S
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Sponsored College Student
Please remember our college student. He is a young man we met through our
Aid for Friends program who is beginning his Senior year at Temple. We have
committed to help him with some of his school and living supplies through his
4 years of college. If you would like to make a donation, please place it in an
envelope marked “college student” and place it in the offering plate or send to
the church. We ask that you keep him in your prayers as he continues to
follow his dreams.
Homework Help Program at the Conshohocken Free Library
We are starting another year of helping school students on Wednesday
evenings from 6-8 p.m. We need at least 2 volunteers each night. The sign up
sheet is now in the back of the church.
Please see Karen Hanna if you have any questions.
27
All the ways we serve God with our hands, our feet and our treasures
Stewardship Moment
In October and November, we are continuing with the “stewardship moment”
before the offering. Council liaisons for Service Ministry, Fellowship and
Evangelism, Faith Formation and Worship will present highlights and
accomplishments for 2014. They will also tell about the goals for 2015 which
will shape our congregation’s budget and determine what time and talents are
needed during the coming year at St. Mark’s.
The Stewardship Team has been preparing a devotional to give to members the
opportunity to reflect upon how God has come DOWN to us in the past year,
how we can respond with our time, talent and treasures (IN) and how we will
look OUT to share God’s love with our neighbors. Look for it in your e-mail
or in a printed copy at church on November 9.
S
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Social Ministry News
Please remember to help keep the Colonial Neighborhood pantry shelves full
by dropping any non-perishable items in the baskets in the rear of the church.
There is always a need for healthy children’s snacks (granola bars, crackers,
fruit snacks) and juice boxes at Colonial Neighborhood Council. Please place
your donations in the baskets as you enter the church.
Reminder, we will also be collecting Gravy jars/cans for CNC’s Thanksgiving
baskets. Please place the gravy in the bin marked ‘CNC’ , through November
16th
Earlier in the year we collected items to be put together for Layette Kits to
give to refugee families overseas - we still need some items for these kits for
newborns.
1 newborn sleeping gown
14 pairs of infant socks
40 cloth diapers
12 bars of baby soap.
6 infant sweaters or sweatshirts
Please place these items in the designated box in the “God’s Work – Our
Hands” corner at the rear of the church.
Silver Springs is currently in need of duffle bags and drawstring cinch saks,
new or used. These are used for the children who visit potential foster homes
on the weekends. Please drop your donation off in the basket at the rear of the
church.
28
All the ways we serve God with our hands, our feet and our treasures
Wawa Coupons
The Wawa hoagie cards are here and ready to be purchased to help raise
money for our "college student". It's a great deal for a great cause. Our
"college student" is entering the home stretch of his college career. This fall
will begin his last year (where has the time gone?) of coursework before he
begins student teaching to earn his degree in Biology as well as a teaching
degree. To help lessen the burden of the many expenses of school, the Wawa
hoagie cards are being sold for $5. Each card will contribute $2 towards the
collection for our "college student". Enjoy a delicious Shorty sandwich while
helping out! Please join us in the effort to sell 150 Wawa hoagie cards. We
encourage all members to sell cards to their friends, family and coworkers.
They can also make great gifts.
S
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Members of the Social Ministry team will be available in the McCarney
Room after Sunday service for you to purchase the cards. Please look for
either Jennifer Ramsden, Joanne Popowicz, Susan Dryburgh, Sandy Portzer
or Karen Hanna. Please make out any checks to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.
Thank you.
Fuel Envelopes Reminder
Now that summer is over we look forward to God’s beautiful palette of color
with fall’s foliage and cooler autumn temperatures. Unfortunately this also
signals the start of the heating season for our homes and for our church. St.
Mark’s is well known for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, not only to our
members but also to our visitors. As we continue to share our mission of
spiritual growth among ourselves and the greater Conshohocken community
through worship, fellowship and hospitality, we would like our facilities to also
be physically warm and welcoming in the coming months. To this end we
would like to remind you of the designated funds envelope for the month of
October to help offset the cost of fuel we will use during the winter. The
envelope can be found in the box of envelopes you received for the year or you
can use one of the Designated Gift Card envelopes found in the pews. Please
remember to mark your envelope FUEL. We thank you in advance for your
generous contributions to keeping St. Mark’s warm in the brutal months ahead.
~ Finance Team, Stewardship, Property
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All the ways we get to know one another & spread the gospel to our neighbors
Fellowship Hour
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A key component to our fellowship and community at St. Mark’s is the
Fellowship Hour after our worship service. It is an important gathering place
in the McCarney room to renew friendships, meet new faces and to get a little
refreshment after worship. Coffee and snacks are just part of what feeds this
lively time of catching up, making plans and getting to know newcomers. It's
the church in microcosm, with or without caffeine.
We also wish to encourage congregational sharing in support of
the coffee hour. If you would like to host or prepare a coffee
hour, check the sign-up sheet in the McCarney Room. Sundays
November 23rd and 30th are available.
Pastoral Care Visits
If you know that you are going to be away from our worshiping community
for an extended period of time either due to illness or a surgery - Pastor
Bryan is asking that you please call the office and let Kathy know so that we
can schedule home visits for you. 610.828.0581
St. Mark’s 125TH Anniversary
Celebration
In the continuing planning of our 125th Anniversary
Celebration, the Anniversary Committee is planning
its next event on All Saints’ Day, November 2nd when
we will give thanks for all the saints that have come
before us and those that will come after us with a special hospitality hour.
Watch for more information in the next couple of weeks’ bulletins.
Know God, Know Ourselves
This is a Sunday packed with beautiful images, deep-seeded ideas and a
rich history. For life-long Lutherans, these things can provoke a sense
of pride in our denomination, but Reformation Sunday is not
"Lutheran Pride Day." Instead it is a day focused on knowing God
truthfully and in the process understanding who we are as people of
faith and children of God in light of God's unbelievable grace.
Luther spent a great deal of time trying to know who God was and to
find ways of expressing what he came to know and believe so that
others would know God too. He used coarse language, drank beer and
wrote hymns using tunes people knew and recognized. When he wrote
his catechism he used language his small son could understand. He
even translated the Bible into the language people spoke. Truth about
God and our faith, as complex as it is, should be something we can
grasp and wrestle with.
Reformation Sunday is certainly a festival day when we celebrate and
remember our history, but it should also be a day to reexamine our
faith. Part of that is recognizing the truth about our inadequacies, our
failings and our sinfulness. The law is like a mirror in a room with
intense fluorescent lights; it shows us who we are with every flaw and
wrinkle. But God doesn't look at us in that mirror. The truth about
God brings us new knowledge about ourselves. God shines a new light
on us, where iniquities are forgiven and sins forgotten.
The message of Reformation Sunday is God's love for us. It is a love
that frees us and redefines us as people of God and as members of the
whole body of Christ. In God's eyes, we are beautiful.
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All Saints Day
Worship Assistants
November 2, 2014
Assisting Minister
Communion Assistant
Reader
Ushers
Acolyte
Nursery
Altar Guild
Counters
Offering Recorder
Fellowship Hour
9:30am
Theodora Morley
Karen Hanna
Mike Sloan
Pam Keebler and Joe Dryburgh
Don Turkowski
The Ruggiero Family
Joanne Copestick and Sandy Portzer
Nancy Saldutti and Matt Fiore
Pam Keebler
The Sloan Family
Lectionary Readings for Sunday, November 2, 2014 Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost/All Saints Sunday
First Reading - Micah 3:5 - 12
Psalmody - Psalm 43
Second Reading - 1 Thessalonians 2:9 - 13
Gospel - St. Matthew 5:1 - 12
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