Living As God’s People
St. Mark Lutheran
Church
March 2015
Lent Continues to Inspire St. Mark
Inside this issue:
Lenten Disciplines
p. 2-3
Council Officers
p. 4
The Book Marks
p. 4
WELCA
p. 5
Renter Search Update
p. 5
Walk for Water
p. 6
Elementary Youth
p. 7
Passion/Palm Sunday
p. 8
The season of Lent is off to a wonderful start, as we of St. Mark pray
for the renewal of God’s Spirit and align ourselves with the needs of a
hungry world. Our midweek worship and soup suppers feature stories
from both the ELCA Hunger Appeal and from local ministries. Join us
each Wednesday in March at 5:30 for soup and at 6:15 for worship
around the tables in the Social Hall. Our daily Lenten disciplines
(pages 2-3) correspond to each week’s theme.
WATER FOR LIFE (March 4)
1 in 4 people do not have access to clean water and many children
continue to die of water borne illness. Discover what the church is
doing to address this need in Jesus’ name, hear stories from our Walk
for Water, and pray for the Water that does not run dry.
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE (March 11)
Learn how Christ’s people are helping communities to develop sustainable farming techniques so that they can raise food for themselves
and their neighbors. Area residents, Chuck and Pat Stiers, spent years
in Africa and will share their stories as part of our worship.
A COMMUNITY MEAL (March 18)
Each Wednesday in Lent, we share a
delicious soup supper as a way of
enjoying fellowship and remembering
those who are hungry and would be
glad for a simple bowl of soup.
As we have learned at St. Mark, helping those who are homeless or
poor can build community that is a blessing to all. Jim Bjorgo will
speak on the monthly breakfast ministry of Grace Lutheran as we worship our God who unites us in Christ.
Members are asked to sign up in the
Narthex to bring a crock pot of soup
to one or more of our soup suppers.
(Please bring a list of your ingredients for those with food allergies and/
or copies of your recipe to share.)
Separate signups will be posted for
cleanup volunteers.
WELCOMING THE STRANGER (March 25)
Soup is served beginning at 5:30, but
come when you can. Soups are left
out until just before worship at 6:15.
Starting life over in a new country after escaping the horrors of war
and oppression is made easier because of the work we do through
Lutheran Services Florida and the ELCA Hunger Appeal. Hear engaging refugee stories and join in prayer that we may always welcome
those God brings into our lives.
It’s not too late to donate soup or to volunteer for cleanup for one
of our Soup Suppers! Please help if you can! Details are to the
left.
Page 2
Living As God’s People
Lenten Disciplines for March
The following Lenten discipline ideas follow the themes of our Lenten midweek services. Try one discipline
each day as you deepen your walk with Jesus by remembering his brothers and sisters in need. Adjust the
schedule as needed.
Week 3, March 4-10: Water for Life
Every day:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Continue using your Feed the World coin box.
Attend the Soup Supper and midweek worship.
Tape your Cross Card near your shower, kitchen, laundry or bathroom sink and pray for
God to cleanse you by the Holy Spirit. Pray for those without easy access to water. (If
you do not have a cross card, pick one up in the Narthex or simply draw your own.)
Think of how water is used, misused and wasted in our lives. Be mindful of the gift of
water from God. Choose one way to be a better steward of this gift (e.g., turn off the
sprinklers when it has just rained).
Sit or walk beside a creek, lake, ocean or any body of water — thank God for the beauty
and notice the peacefulness.
Attend Sunday worship; let water from the baptismal font remind you of God’s blessings.
Stop by the Memorial Garden at church and notice the fountain. Pray for the families of
those who are remembered there and for all who grieve.
Mindfully drink a glass of water and, as you quench your thirst, remember that God
provides what we need to quench our thirst for life in Christ.
Week 4, March 11-17: Sustainable Agriculture
Every day:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Continue using your Feed the World coin box.
Attend the Soup Supper and midweek worship.
Tape your Cross Card to your pantry or food cupboard. Think about where your food
came from and who had a part in nourishing you.
Be mindful of the food you are eating...slow down and feel the texture; taste the
experience and give thanks for those who grow and deliver your food.
Prepare a meal using food that has been raised locally (local fish, Ruskin tomatoes,
Plant City strawberries).
Attend Sunday worship; buy a chick picture from the Sunday School kids for $1, which
provides a real chick to small farmers in a developing country.
Pray for the migrant workers in our area and learn more about their needs / concerns.
Learn more about Fair Trade coffee, chocolate and tea. David Lose has a good article
about Fair Trade chocolate from a faith perspective on his blog with links to Lutheran
World Relief videos. (www.davidlose.net/2015/02/why-i-only-buy-fair-trade-chocolate/)
March 2015
Page 3
Lenten Disciplines for March (continued)
Week 5, March 18-24: A Community Meal
Every day:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Continue using your Feed the World coin box by putting in an offering each day of Lent
toward a special offering to be received on Easter Sunday.
Attend the Soup Supper and Midweek Service.
Tape your Cross Card to your refrigerator door and pray for those in our community who
are hungry or homeless.
Remember the homeless in prayer before each meal you eat.
Invite someone to join you for a meal.
Attend Sunday worship; as you receive Holy Communion, remember that Christ unites
us through this meal with all those he loves.
Learn about Pinellas Hope or other local homeless ministries (www.pinellashope.org).
Prepare a donation for Grace’s homeless ministry which we will collect at our midweek
worship on March 25. (Suggestions: hygiene item, men’s or women’s socks).
Week 6, March 25-31: Welcoming the Stranger
Every day:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Continue using your Feed the World coin box by putting in an offering each day of Lent
toward a special offering to be received on Easter Sunday.
Attend the Soup Supper and midweek worship.
Tape your Cross Card to your bathroom mirror. Remember that, though you did not
deserve it, Christ gave himself for you in death and has promised you an eternal home
with him.
Mindfully seek to understand someone different than yourself.
Read a book or article about another culture. (An example is our last book club book,
Where the Wind Leads, described on page 4 of this newsletter)
Attend Sunday worship; greet someone you don’t know; introduce yourself and learn
something about the person. Pray for them when you get home.
Demonstrate a random act of kindness toward a stranger.
Learn more about the LSF Refugee program by following this link (www.lsfnet.org/
Services/Pages/Refugee-Resettlement.aspx).
For the remainder of Holy Week (April 1-4), read the story of Jesus’ Passion according to Mark, chapters
14 and 15; continue filling your Coin Box; pray that the power of Christ’s death and resurrection will lead
you to a new life of faithful service and love in Jesus’ name.
Page 4
Living As God’s People
Council Officers and Ministry
At the February 10 Congregation Council Meeting, Council / Congregation
officers were elected and Ministry Team assignments made.
Richard Dahmer
Robin
Bower-Miller
Pete Horvath
Dieter Dirks
Richard Dahmer, president and Generosity Team
Pete Horvath, vice-president and Property Team
Robin Bower-Miller, secretary and Fellowship Team
Dieter Dirks, treasurer and Strategic Planning Team
Connie Feig, WELCA and Congregation Care Team
Jennifer Grumbling, Generosity Team
Helen Henwood, Strategic Planning and Property Team
Susie Peterson, Strategic Planning and Fellowship Team
Jerry Rude, Property Team
We thank God for the talent, faith and dedication of these leaders. Please
keep them and our pastors in your daily prayers. Speak to them if you’d
like to serve on a Ministry Team or if you have ideas for the mission and
ministry of St. Mark.
The Book Marks
“My name is Vinh Chung. This is a story that spans two continents, ten
decades, and eleven thousand miles. When I was three and a half years
old, my family was forced to flee Vietnam in June 1979, to a place we had
never heard of somewhere in the heartland of America. Several weeks
later my family lay half-dead from dehydration in a derelict fishing boat
jammed with ninety-three refugees lost in the middle of the South China
Sea. We arrived in the United States with nothing but the clothes on our
backs and unable to speak a single word of English. Today my family
holds twenty-one university degrees. How we got from there to here is
quite a story.”
Where the Wind Leads is the remarkable account of Vinh Chung and his
refugee family’s daring escape from communist oppression for the chance
of a better life in America. It’s a story of personal sacrifice, redemption,
endurance against almost insurmountable odds, and what it truly means
to be American.
Join the Book Marks, St. Mark’s book club, on Thursday, March 19 to
discuss this fascinating true story. The book can be ordered through Amazon by following this link. An audio version is also available.
March 2015
Page 5
WELCA
The WELCA monthly meeting will be Tuesday, March 3 at 10:00 AM. Sue
Zenk will present “A View of China” and share pictures from the trip that
she and Darrell recently took. Everyone is welcome to attend.
“World Day of Prayer” will be held Friday, March 6 at the St. Mark Village
Chapel. Registration begins at 10:00 AM with the program beginning at
10:30 AM.
The Suncoast Conference Spring Gathering is Saturday, March 21 from
9:00 AM-1:30 PM at Prince of Peace Lutheran in Largo. See Connie Feig
for details.
Regular WELCA meetings are the first Tuesday of the month, Women’s
Bible Study is the second Tuesday and Christian Service is the fourth
Tuesday of the month. All meeting times are at 10:00 AM.
Renter Search Update
St. Mark’s search for new renters was dealt a setback when the school
that had made an offer was denied a charter revision which would have
allowed them to relocate. Our Strategic Planning Team continues to work
with our realtor to explore every option. Keep St. Mark in your prayers in
these uncertain times, that God would guide us with wisdom, strengthen
our trust, and keep us rooted in the mission of Jesus Christ.
Feed the World
Many of us are already using our special Feed the World Coin Boxes,
making a daily offering to help feed the world as part of our Lenten discipline. Remember to pray for the hungry as you drop your change into the
box. This daily act of generosity and prayer can motivate us to live in
ways that are generous and compassionate. Coin Box Offerings will be
collected on Easter Sunday, April 5 or may be brought to the church office. (Boxes have all been distributed, so if you didn’t get one, just use a
jar or some other small container.)
Remember that all our midweek offerings during Lent are designated for
the ELCA Hunger Appeal. We are exploring the work we do together
through the ELCA at our midweek services. We learn, give and serve in
Jesus’ name!
Page 6
Living As God’s People
Water Walk
The global water crisis doesn’t always make headlines, but the
truth is that it claims more lives each year than war.
ELCA Youth throughout the country have made water a priority
this year. On Sunday, February 22, 14 members of St. Mark,
led by our high school and middle school youth, walked three
miles on the Pinellas Trail to raise donations and awareness
about the need for clean water throughout the world. By toting
up to five gallons each (40 pounds) on the return trip, they simulated the journey taken daily by women and children in Africa
who need to gather water for their families. Even with that
journey, the water is often unsafe. Our youth will speak about
their experience and we will learn more about the hope and
help we bring as a church at our March 4 midweek service.
Thanks to all who donated (~$400) in support of this project.
March 2015
Page 7
Elementary Party at Future Flipz
13 children and 21 members of their families had a blast at Future Flipz gym in Clearwater last month! It’s so
exciting to have so many children and young families active at St. Mark. Your faith, your joy, your questions,
and your love mean so much to all of us! Watch for details (coming soon) on our Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt
on Saturday, April 4.
Like St. Mark on
Facebook
St. Mark is on Facebook. To find us, please visit
www.facebook.com/stmarklutheranchurchelca,
do a search for “St. Mark Lutheran Church
ELCA” or scan this QR code with your smart
phone. Let us know that you “LIKE” St. Mark.
St. Mark Lutheran Church
1120 Curlew Road
Dunedin, Florida 34698
Phone: 727-733-0474
Fax: 727-736-2357
email: [email protected]
www.stmlc.com
Rev. Alan Wolkenhauer
Rev. Phyllis Wolkenhauer
Cheryl Burton, Cantor
Willie Hobbs, Office Administrator
Jim Boyter & Beverly Entwisle,
Property Stewards
Worship Times:
Sundays at 9:30 AM
Wednesdays at 6:15 PM
(preceded by soup at 5:30)
Office Hours
Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM—4:00
The Mission of St. Mark
Gathered around Word and water, bread and wine,
we spread God’s Word by living our faith daily and
welcoming all with open hearts and minds.
Our Statement of Welcome
St. Mark is a spiritual community that celebrates the gifts of God
that empower us to engage in the struggles of life, to care for
each other, and to serve Christ where we work and live.
We welcome the participation of people of all ages, faiths, ethnic
backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, educational
backgrounds, and economic conditions – all who want to join in
community to honor God and be of service to people. We
recognize that each person is a unique creation of God and by the
grace of God is called a “child of God.”
Passion / Palm Sunday March 29
Wave your palms and shout Hosanna! as we
celebrate Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
(We have invited Chica the Donkey to join us
again.) Then experience the dramatic reading of
Jesus’ passion through the moving participatory
drama, Worship for the Way of the Cross. This is
one of the most beautiful services of the year, so
invite your family and friends to join us on Sunday, March 29 at 9:30 AM.
Holy Week details will be included in the April
newsletter, but plan now for worship on Maundy
Thursday, April 2 at 6:30 PM, Good Friday, April
3 at 1:00 PM and 6:30 PM, and Easter Sunday,
April 5 at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM with Easter
breakfast offered between worship services.
Living as God’s People
In Your Prayers
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK OR IN NEED OF
SUPPORT:
Cheryl Burton
Jack Travis
FOR THOSE WHO GRIEVE: (Family and friends of)
Ron Hormes
Kathy Robbins (friend of Arnie Dano)
Bert Piatt
Rita Paltoo
FOR THOSE WHO SERVE:
Amy Switalski
Andrew Amstutz (friend of the Langenbacks - US Navy)
John Shaw (brother of Charlotte Nizer)
Andy Bloch (son-in-law of the Polaks in Border Patrol)
Bill Martin (husband of Dorothy)
Joel Elliott (stepson of Carolyn Elliott - in Germany)
Jim Gorman (friend of the Reeds)
Tierney Froelich
Bill and Jeanne Huntington (friends of the Plasketts)
Steven Klein (USCG)
Marcy (niece of Allen and Mary VanHaute)
Bobby Ryan (godfather of Kaeden Delerme - in Ethiopia)
Steven Plaskett (grandson of Jeanne and Jerry Plaskett)
Tricia (niece of the Zenks)
Sinjon & Manning Pagley (friends of the Grumbling-Delerme Mitch Shellenberger
family)
Enid Giesow (friend of Laurie Reed)
Cathy Raisbeck (sister of Claudia Travis)
Connie Romano and Rose (friends of Suzanne Bryant)
Norm Knaack (stepfather of Connie Bonner)
Elizabeth Randolph (friend of Carol Bernstein)
Missy Martin (sister-in-law of Suzanne Bryant)
David Miller II (son of David Bower Miller)
Carrie Leone (niece of the Walthours)
Anita Hans (friend of Sue Nelson)
Heather Booth (daughter of the Plasketts)
Worship Servers March 2015
March 1
March 8
March 15
March 22
March 29
Ushers:
Acolyte:
Offering Bearers:
Lector:
Communion Assistants:
Ushers:
Acolyte:
Offering Bearers:
Lector:
Communion Assistants:
Ushers:
Acolyte:
Offering Bearers:
Lector:
Communion Assistants:
Ushers:
Acolytes:
Offering Bearers:
Lector:
Communion Assistants:
Ushers:
Acolyte:
Offering Bearers:
Lector:
Communion Assistants:
March Altar Guild
Set up:
Clean up:
Tracy and Bill Scott
Milla Grumbling
Kaeden Delerme and Max Mitzlaff
Gay Lynn Horvath
Lisa Rude and Arnie Dano
Janice Froelich and Carol Kitchen
Ryan Cain
Ella and Ainsley Horvath
Cory Cromarti
Wayne Morris and Steve Miller
Kathie and Ken Chernes
Breana Bryant
Aubrey Grassick and Hannah Williams
Wendy Dahmer
Linda Peterman and Helen Henwood
Wendy and Richard Dahmer
Connor Jensen
Ava and Olivia Catlin
Sue Zenk
Delaine Roberts and Sue Zenk
Laurie and Jay Reed
Stephanie Anderson
Max Mitzlaff and Madison Seiter
N/A
Ruth Titus and Darrell Zenk
Janice Froelich
Kathie Chernes and Claudia Travis