1. family and parenting
2. children

LIFE
A Publication of St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church
2363 West Third Street, Davenport IA 52802
Phone: 563-322-5318 Pastor Travis Fisher: 563-676-8160
Email: [email protected]
November 2014
Volume 47 Issue 11
From Pr. Travis
A little over 5 years ago, in October, I was installed as the
Pastor of St. Mark. In July, I was called, having served as
your interim pastor for a year and two months prior. Over
the 6 years we have experienced a number of deaths in our congregation. I always think
about the fact that I came to St. Mark from Hospice and nursing home chaplaincy, where I
was directly involved with less deaths on a yearly basis than I have experienced on a yearly basis as the pastor
of St. Mark.
Along with the chaplaincy ministry preformed at St. Mark, I have the opportunity to lead worship, preach and
preside, officiate at weddings, baptize, teach confirmation and two bible studies, attend meetings and more
meetings, journey with you in service to the community through the food pantry, share-a-meal, preschool,
youth ministry, hosting Safer Foundation Impact Program, participating in VBS, and our summer music
concert series.
But none of the aforementioned is accomplished alone. First, we have a devoted and dedicated staff that
supports these ministries day in and day out. Second, we have wonderful volunteers who extend the ministries
of this church beyond the limits of our financial constraints. Third, we have generous givers who contribute
through tithes and offerings. These tithes and offerings help maintain our church, the programming, and
ministries. Lastly, we have members and friends of this church who pray fervently for our church, our
ministries, the leadership, and staff.
The first Sunday in November is All Saints Sunday when we remember those who have died since last All
Saints. This year, I believe we will read the shortest number of names in recent history. This being said, we
still mourn the loss of the dead as we celebrate their eternal peace and rest.
The next three Sundays we will focus on Stewardship. This is the giving of ourselves to God for all God has
entrusted to our care. Many of those who have died in the faith over the last 6 years (and throughout the
history of St. Mark) were faithful givers to the church, often foregoing pleasures in life to be able to give back
to God in abundance. Some were giving not only in life, but also in death with the willing of estate money or
property, life insurance policies, IRA’s or other financial policies. Each gift helps sustain the mission and
ministry we share in Christ. Some of these gifts are legacy gifts given to help sustain the church and its
mission and ministry for many, many years to come.
As you prayerfully consider your pledge this year, and as you meet with your tax preparer, lawyer or financial
advisor as you plan for your future, please consider leaving a portion of what God has entrusted to you in life
to St. Mark. Consider this quote as you discern: "I have observed 100,000 families over my years of
investment counseling. I always saw greater prosperity and happiness among those families who tithed than
among those who didn't." Sir John Templeton, chairman of Templeton Funds. Each gift does make a
difference in how many people are reached with the Good News of Jesus Christ and his love.
I close with his quote, which is very “Lutheran”: “Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege.” — John D.
Rockefeller, Jr. (1874-1960), American industrialist and philanthropist
Journeying with you,
Pr. Travis Fisher
God looks at the heart, not the hand--the giver, not the gift.
Volume 47
Page 2
FAMILY RESOURCES and PREGNANCY RESOURCES
FAMILY RESOURCES, PREGNANCY RESOURSES and LUTHERAN WORLD
RELIEF THANK YOU so much for all the help and donations for our LUTERAN WORLD
RELIEF PERSONAL CARE KITS. We have a total of 43 kits. These were delivered to
Cedar Rapids on OCTOBER 18th. We are very thankful for your generous response to
those in need all over the world!
One hundred seventy three items were donated to FAMILY RESOURCES for the month of
SEPTEMBER. They received clothing, bleach, laundry detergent, paper towels, toilet paper, paper plates,
laundry detergent, lots of personal care products and miscellaneous items.
PREGNANCY RESOURCES received 8 items; baby powder and formula. We thank you again.
The needs for NOVEMBER are as follows:
FAILY RESOURCES; pots, pans, dishes, utensil, towels, diaper wipes, baby lotion, powder, shampoo, bed
linens, paper towels, dish soap, laundry detergent, cleaning and personal care items
PREGNANCY RESOURCES; Boys and Girls size 18, 24 Mo., 2T Fall/Winter clothing, diapers sizes
newborn & 2-5, towels & Strollers
Isaiah 43:1b "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine."
MISSION ACTION: Fred and Milly Heskett
A total of 552 people were
served at our food pantry in
September,2014.
Items were donated from
St. Mark, Grace United Methodist, Grace Lutheran,
Trinity Lutheran, Faith United Methodist, Heritage
Church, Midwest Food Bank –Peoria Division, Kids
Against Hunger, Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild,
Good Samaritan, and other generous individuals.
Thank you!
GIVE THEM A
HELPING HAM
This Thanksgiving, we
want to help our food
pantry families by making
sure they have some
protein along with their
potatoes, mac & cheese, canned veggies and fruit,
etc. Like we did at Easter, we are collecting the little
canned hams in our food pantry to give to these
individuals and families. Your generosity will make
Thanksgiving-time a little more enjoyable for many
folks. Thank you.
Wellness Opportunities for
November
ÍSoulfit exercise class weekly
on Tuesdays at 9:30 AM in Luther
Hall.
ÍUnityPoint at Home Flu Clinic
Wednesday, November 5, 10 AM12 Noon in the Lounge. Flu shots
are no cost to those enrolled in
Medicare Part B or one of the
Medicare Advantage plans. Flu Shot is $35
Cash, credit card and checks are accepted as
payment. Private insurance coverage will not be
filed by UnityPoint staff.
ÍHealing Prayers at all three worship services
during communion November 8-9.
ÍLife Together group will meet at Heritage Court
for lunch and devotions on Monday, November
10 @ 11:15 AM. Cost of lunch is $5.00. Please
let PN Bev know if you would like to attend or
need a ride.
ÍUnityPoint at Home Foot Clinic Monday,
November 24, 1-3 PM by appt in the Bride’s
Room.
Page 3
Volume 47
November 2014 - LSI News
November is National Adoption Month
November is National Adoption Month, a time to celebrate the power of
adoption and to raise awareness about children waiting to be adopted into a
forever family.
Nationally, there are more than 101,000 children waiting to be adopted from the U.S. foster care system. LSI
is a partner agency in Iowa KidsNet, the statewide collaboration of agencies that helps find safe homes for
foster children. LSI foster care and post-adoption support staff are helping families every day to care for
children in the foster care system, whether for a few days or for a lifetime through adoption.
Thank you for being a partner in helping Iowa children feel safe, secure and loved during difficult times!
LSI is proud to be an affiliated social ministry organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA). Learn more at www.LSIowa.org and www.facebook.com/LSI.iowa.
“Our three special children”
With their oldest children grown, Shirley and her husband Ed decided the time was right to fill up their home
again. They began taking foster parent classes in Mason City, never imagining they would later adopt three
young children. First, Shirley and Ed worked to help those children reunify with their birth mother. When it
became clear that children would need an adoptive home, Shirley and Ed stepped up.
“When we got into foster care we never imagined we would adopt,” Shirley said. “The birth mother was very
appreciative that we would do that for the kids. We talked to our biological kids to see if they were on board
with us, and we did a lot of praying.”
It’s a story that shows how foster parents not only can help kids, but birth parents, too. The siblings’ birth
mother continues to visit them weekly.
“This family was truly champions at birth family interaction,” said Josh, an LSI foster care staff. “Adoption
was never their intent, but these children touched their lives, and they made great decisions. They did things
the right way without ever losing sight of their role in actively working towards permanency for these
children.”
“I think their mother said it perfectly,” Shirley recalled. “She said, ‘This isn’t the perfect solution, but you
will only have that many more people to love you. Shirley and Ed will take good care of you.’ And she is so
right. If we can keep working together, they will have a whole tribe of people to love and care for them. The
ultimate goal for my whole family is to make a difference in the life of a child, and in this case, the lives of our
three special children.”
See more stories, past and present, at LSI’s anniversary website: www.LSIowa.org/150.
Jeff Anderson
[email protected]
Jeff Bass
[email protected]
Nancy Beaderstadt
[email protected]
Maureen Currier
[email protected]
Pr. Travis Fisher
[email protected]
344-7558
505-7525
381-4386
386-5584
676-8160
Bob Garman
332-1199
[email protected]
Steve Hines
391-8986
Barb Jakubowski
381-2030
[email protected]
Robb Kauffman
579-7285
[email protected]
Paul Thorndyke
381-2662
[email protected]
Page 4
Volume 47
Notes from the Organ Bench
by Ellen Bowlin…November 2014
On All Saints Sunday, November 2nd, we remember those who have died this past year.
When we sing the “Holy, Holy, Holy” on this day and each Sunday, we join in singing
with all the saints who have died, saints who are living and saints yet to be born.
Another hymn included in our ELW for All Saints’ Sunday is # 425, “Behold a Host
Arrayed in White.” As a child, I remember this hymn played on the piano at our home
by my missionary uncle who would stay at our house frequently when he was on
furlough from his work in Hong Kong. It is a beautiful hymn, both text and tune and
presents a glorious vision of heaven.
On Thanksgiving Eve at 7 PM, our Joyful Ringers and Singers and Chancel Choir will
present special music. More information will be forthcoming about the service.
God bless our worship together and keep singing…
Baptized
October 2014
Hospitalized
in
October
_______________________________________
Caroline June Fisher
Born June 16, 2014
Parents:
Angela Beth Fisher
&
Ross James Fisher
Ruth Ann Brown
Janice Bunge
Alice Danielsen
Meldon Gugelmeyer
Robert Lantau
June Strohbehn
Joyce Wilder
We offer the Family of:
Alfred C. Darell
words of love, support and
comfort. May
they rest assured
in the midst of
their challenges
and adjustments
that God will
sustain them in
the loss of their
loved one through
faith in our Risen Lord. Because
He lives, we too shall live.
Our Church Staff
Pr. Travis Fisher
Bev Blake
Ellen Bowlin
Pam Carstens
Mick Carstens
Pastor
Parish Nurse
Minister of Music/Organist
Dir. of Preschool &
Asst. Dir. of Music
Administrator
Lisa Willey
Milly Heskett
Paul Regginello
Steve McCalester
Trianna McCalester
Emilee Droegmiller
Office Coordinator
Event/
Facility Coordinator
Sunday Custodian
Sunday Custodian
Nursery Supervisor
Nursery Attendant
Volume 47
Page 5
All Hands On Deck!!!
Saturday, November 1st,
at 10am in the St. Mark
Gym, we will meet to set
up tables and prepare
food for the All Saints Breakfast. Please bring
your food items, drinks and baked goods on
Saturday morning.
The month of October has been a whirlwind……
Open House and Scholastic Book Fair, Student
Assessments and Parent/Teacher Conferences,
Field Trips to the Pumpkin Patch, Cookie Dough
Fundraiser and Halloween Parties! We will settle
things down a bit in November as we focus on
family and for all that we have to be Thankful. We
will be collecting food for our St. Mark Food
Pantry and the children will host a family
luncheon in celebration of Thanksgiving.
God’s Blessings!
Pam Carstens
Save the Date:
Sunday, December 7th,
from 11:30am to 5pm.
B.I.G. Youth Group will
be hosting a day out for
Parents to Christmas Shop. The youth group will
be watching children in the Gym for a donation.
Volunteers
Needed!
Our decorating committee
is getting ready for the
Advent/Christmas season,
which will be here in no
time. Maureen Currier and
Barb Erickson will need
extra hands when they start
decorating the church
grounds in preparation for
the birth of our Lord.
Watch your bulletins for
more information!
Sunday, November 2nd, at 7am, we will begin
serving the All Saints Breakfast in the St. Mark
Gym.
-Angi Kauffman
MOPS NEWS
It's time for the St.
Mark MOPS Fall
Bazaar and Luncheon!
Saturday, November
15th, from 9am to 2pm, in the St. Mark Gym.
The Luncheon will be served from 11am to 1pm.
Serving: Chicken/Stuffing Casserole, rolls, drink,
salad and a dessert.
We have 40 Vendors with 42 tables this year.
One stop shopping for the entire family!
40 Raffles to choose from. Tickets for the raffle will
be 1 ticket for $1.00 or 6 tickets for $5.00.
We want to thank you for supporting our Mom's!!!
Any questions please see or call Angela Kauffman
(563)579-7285.
There is a sign up sheet in the Lounge for anyone who
would be willing to make either an dessert or salad or
help out with the MOPS Bazaar and Luncheon. Any
questions please contact Angela Kauffman (563)5797285
Social Ministry
Social Ministry Committee will have the annual
mitten/hat and socks tree. We will have the
“Angel” families from our preschool as well.
Watch for the trees in December!
Volume 47
Page 6
le
age Sa
m
m
u
R
Reformation Sunday
Our Third Grade Bible Recipients
Our
Confirmands
Trunk or Treat
Page 7
Volume 47
Library News
Just a reminder—To check a book out from the
library, date & sign the borrowers card. This card is
located just inside the front cover of the book or in
some cases, the back cover of the book. File the
card by the author’s last name in the file box on top
of the counter. For example: author Jan Karon
would go behind K for Karon.
When returning books, place them in the basket
under the counter. Please check your homes for
long overdue books. Books should be returned after
a month or sooner.
The following books are long overdue:
Dear God, What Can I Tell You?
I Have a Lot of Questions
By Annie Fitzgerald
New In the Library
The Bible Companion
by Calamari & DiPasqua
Deeper Life by Hobart Freeman
The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas
by Madeleine L’Engle
The Bible in Contemporary Language
by Eugene Peterson
Orphan Train
By Christina Baker Kline
A powerful tale of upheaval and resilience, second
chances, and unexpected friendship.
Prescription for a Healthy Church
by Eugene & Jolene Peohlkepartain
The Bible: A Reader’s Guid
By Henry Wansbrough
Daniel in the Lion’s Den by Jane Latourette
Maria by Maria VonTrapp
Manage your giving online!
St. Mark is excited to announce you are now able to manage your giving online! Giving
online is easy and allows you to set up automatic recurring contributions and view your
complete online giving history from anywhere you have access to the Internet. Simply
follow these easy steps:
x Visit the church website at www.stmarkcares.org,
x Click on the Give Now button,
x Click on the Create Profile button, then
x Follow the onscreen instructions to create an online profile and to schedule your recurring
contributions.
General Fund Summary
Finance Sept. Income
Corner
Sept. Expenses
Regular Offerings Year to Date
Food Pantry Report
$ 33,136.37
Budget Amount $307,500.03
8/31/14 Balance
Sept. Income
$ 2,975.51
Amount Ahead $
Sept Expenses
$
9/30/14 Balance
$ 3,662.94
$ 36,111.88
Received
$314,454.41/102.26%
6,954.38
$ 2,832.76
$ 1,748.67
918.49
Page 8
Volume 47
Happy Fall!
I Thought it would
be good to get
some scrappin'
done before the
holiday rush. If
you can find time
in your schedule to
stop by and catch
up on some projects or maybe get ahead on some
holiday gifts, our group always has a good time.
The date is November 1st. A Main dish will be
provided for lunch; bring a side or dessert to share
if you'd like, or 'brown bag' it if you prefer. As
always, you are welcome to bring a friend and
please contact me with any questions,
[email protected] or call the church office,
563-322-5318. -Julie Schumann
Just a note...A big thank you goes to Pastor
Travis and Parish Nurse Bev for their visits to me
in the hospital and Manor Care. They were
deeply appreciated.
A big thank you to Peace Circle for all your
cards, prayers, and caring.
It has been a long struggle and still is.
In God’s love,
Mary Davis
____________________________________
Thank You, Thank You,
Thank You!
Bible Study for November
Theology on Tuesdays at 6:30pm in Library
Nov. 4th How to Receive Communion
Nov. 11th The Steward’s Identity
Nov. 18th The Steward’s Purpose
Nov. 25th The Steward’s Lifestyle
Our rummage sale was a big success. Special
thanks to Janet Martin, Rick Martin, Sue Nelson,
and Pat Thode for leading this effort. A huge
thank you to Rich Ricketts who receives and
organizes the treasures in the basement, so that it
comes out organized in “departments”. We had
more treasures than ever. We are blessed with
many material things, God has been good to us.
Thanks to all who donated for the sale and
worked during the set-up, sale, and clean-up.
Special thanks to the IMPACT clients who
helped Connie set up the tables.
_______________________________
Searcher’s Bible Study on Fridays
At 10:00am in the Library
Nov. 7th The Steward’s Identity
Nov. 14th The Steward’s Purpose
Nov. 21st The Steward’s Lifestyle
Nov. 28th No bible Study/Thanksgiving Break
Trunk or Treat Thank You
What a fun time had by all! Thanks for all of
those who participated in one form or another
with the 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat; especially to
the Social Ministry Committee who organized
this community outreach event.
PERIODICAL
St. Mark LIFE
ST. MARK LIFE (USPS 312-300) is published monthly by St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church,
ELCA, 2363 West Third Street, Davenport, Iowa 52802. Annual subscription of $1.00 per year is
included in payment of weekly pledge of members.
Periodicals Postage paid at Davenport, Iowa
POSTMASTER: Send changes to St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church,
2363 West Third Street, Davenport, Iowa 52802
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St.Mark Lutheran Church,
Davenport
1st and 3rd
Saturdays
10:00am –11:00am
Saturday Worship with
Holy Communion: 5:00 pm
Sunday Worship with
Holy Communion:
8:00am & 10:00am
WOW : WORSHIP ON
WEDNESDAY
Casual, Come As You Are
Wednesdays at 7:00 pm
Beginners are welcome!
Join us for fellowship, sharing and
praying!
The Friendship
Group will meet at
the Family
Restaurant located on
W. Kimberly at 11:30am on
November 4th. Everyone is welcome
to join us for lunch! If you would
like to come, please sign up in the
lounge and indicate
if you need a ride. Hope to see you
there!
All Saints Breakfast!!
Come let the B.I.G. Youth
Group serve you breakfast on
Sunday, November 2nd! The
youth will be serving from 7am
to 10:30am in the
St. Mark Gym.
Donations are welcome.
Thank you so much for helping
the 13 kids on their journey to
Work Camp 2015.