Proclaiming Christ’s Abundant Love

This Week at St. Mark’s

SUNDAY, APRIL 6 COFFEE SALES 9:00a WORSHIP 9:00a Sunday School 9:00a First Communion Class 10:30a WORSHIP

MONDAY, APRIL 7

7:00p Naomi Circle - Arlene Flynn 7:30p Fox Valley Festival Chorus

TUESDAY, APRIL 8 10:00a Lenten Study - The Jesus Creed 1:00p Staff Meeting 2:00p Thrivent Retirement & Estate Planning Workshop 6:00p Lenten Study & Soup - The Jesus Creed 7:00p Glory Ringers Rehearsal 7:30p LENTEN WORSHIP

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9

9:15a WVMTA Meeting 10:00a Bread Wrappers 10:00a Thrivent Retirement & Estate Planning Workshop 5:00p Roaring Ringers 5:30p Joyous Praise Bells 5:30p FDL, Confirmation, & Youth Group 5:30p First Communion Class 7:00p Holden Pray Around the Cross 7:30p Academy Youth Singers

THURSDAY, APRIL 10

6:00p Brewing Questions-Feed My Starving Children 6:30p Girl Scout Meeting 7:30p Lion’s Voice Choir

FRIDAY, APRIL 11

6:30p Al-Anon 7:30p Crookshank / Young Recital

SATURDAY, APRIL 12 HOLY SATURDAY 3:15p Organ Lesson 4:15p Blood Pressure Screening 5:00p Shemansky Baptism 5:00p WORSHIP

SUNDAY, APRIL 13 PALM SUNDAY 9:00a WORSHIP 9:00a Sunday School 9:00a McGuire Baptism 9:30a Pancake Breakfast 9:45a Blood Pressure Screening 10:30a WORSHIP 10:30a Bonnes Baptism 11:30a Congregational Meeting 12:00p Council Meeting 1:00p Principle Chamber Series

Lenten Worship - Holden Prayer Around the Cross

On Wednesday, April 9th at 7:00pm we will hold a special prayer service, not only all our FDL families, but for anyone in the congregation wanting to experience a form of prayer that may be new to you. This special “Holden Prayer Around the Cross” service will be a wonderful opportunity for our kids to see prayer in action, using music, and reflection. The Sanctuary will be lit by candlelight, the music will be moving and meaningful. It is a Lenten experience not to be missed, give yourself and your families the gift of Prayer.

All Wednesday night students K-12th Grade will be attending; please bring the whole family to share this experience with them.

Congregational Meeting - April 13th

We will have an important Congregational Meeting on

Sunday, April 13th following the 10:30am Worship.

We will be voting to lease our Parish House to LSSI to be used as a home for developmentally

disabled adults in a community integrated living arrangement with 24 hour per day staff on site. The lease would be for a three year term. If you would like to read the entire lease agreement before the meeting, copies will be available at the church office. Please join us! (Childcare will be provided.)

Lenten & Jesus Creed Study Schedule

Seder Feast

Palm Sunday Breakfast Fundraiser

Equal Exchange Coffee Project

Easter Sunday Breakfast

Easter Schedule

Books Needed at CDC Nursing the Spirit NAMI - DKK

Missing Church Objects Wednesday Cooks Needed Thank You

Here Is Our Upcoming Lenten Worship Schedule & Jesus Creed Reading Schedule:

Lent 5 - "Participation" 1 Kings 3:5-12 and Luke 5:1-11 / Session 5 - Read Chapter 10 by Tuesday, April 8th

Adult Fellowship Meeting If you are interested in doing something new, please consider attending an adult fellowship event. We meet once a month and do something new and different each month. Any adult is welcome to attend.

On Thursday, April 24, we will meet at the St. Mark’s parking lot at 8:45 am. We will leave no later than 9:00am for the tour of the Lizzadro Museum in Elmhurst. Joseph Lizzadro collected many interesting gemstones, which are on display at the museum. We will be watching a short video and taking a tour. Later, we will have lunch at Café Amano in Elmhurst. The cost for the museum is $4 person. Lunch is the responsibility of each individual. Mark your calendar and sign up. For questions call Laurel Haase or Phyllis Jessick.

Doughnut & Coffee Connection Update Coffee and doughnuts after services is coming back! We'd love your participation and there are a variety of ways you or your group can get involved. We are looking for individuals and groups to sign up for either the first or third Sunday of the month to bring baked goods or make the coffee before the 9:00am service. We would also love a few more hands for set-up and we will be collecting paper goods and cups.

Groups who participate can "advertise" their ministry on their week too. There will be a sign-up sheet at the Welcome Center where you can let us know how/when you'd like to be a part of this ministry. Please call Linda Schau at (630) 859-2720 for more information.

Books Needed at the Child Development Center The CDC is looking for donations of factual books; books about different races/cultures; books depicting people of other abilities: eyeglasses, wheelchairs, sign language, hearing disability, and blindness; books with animals: real, not cartoon; and books with familiar objects or routines: brushing teeth, going to bed, etc. Please avoid books depicting violence or fighting. This would include: Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Captain Underpants, super hero books, or Pokemon.

Books from the following authors would be greatly appreciated: Mo Williems, Laura Numeroff, Joanna Cole, Julia Donaldson, Dr. Seuss, Mark Teague, Eric Carle, Cynthia Rylant, Lois Ehlert, and Bill Martin Jr.

If you have any questions please contact the CDC director, Merrilee Parkhurst, at (630) 897-6063.

Doughnut & Coffee Connection Update

Adult Fellowship Meeting

Women’s Brunch - Save the Date

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless

Please Join Us For Easter Breakfast

Breakfast will be served from 8:00am to 10:15am on Easter Sunday, April 20th. Scrambled eggs, sausage, pancakes, hash browns, bagels & cream cheese, fresh fruit, donuts, juice, milk, and coffee will be served. Free will donations will be accepted with all proceeds going directly to this year’s High School Youth Mission Trip to Oaks, OK.

All Women of St. Marks Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 17. There will be a women’s group brunch at 10:00 am. More information to come. Please contact Nicky Draves with any questions.

Join Us For Palm Sunday Pancake Breakfast

Palm Sunday Breakfast will be on Sunday, April 13th from 9:30 - 11:00am. There will be a free will offering with proceeds going to fund the Pillowcase Dress Ministry. Thank you for your support and we hope to see you there! Sign up at the Welcome Center in March.

The Pillowcase Dress Ministry has made over 1,000 dresses so far, and will continue to put smiles on little girl’s faces all over the world as they continue to sew more dresses.

Seder Feast - Tuesday, April 15th from 6:30 - 8:00pm

This traditional Passover meal is shared as if we were a family gathered at home. It is a very meaningful experience for young and old alike. We will learn about and taste traditional foods such as matzos, eggs, charoseth, and bitter herbs. As we move through the evening, we will make the transition into the words that Jesus spoke to his disciples on the night in which he was betrayed. This meal is for adults, teens, and children second grade and up. Please sign up at the Welcome Center to attend, help set up, help serve, or help with clean up.

Equal Exchange Coffee Project

There will be no coffee sales on Easter so please plan to make your Easter coffee and chocolate sales the first weekend in April, on the 5th or 6th. Also this will be your only opportunity to purchase Organic Decaf Coffee for fifty cents off. Thank you.

Easter Day - The Festival of the Resurrection - Saturday, April 19th & Sunday, April 20th

On Saturday, April 19 at 5:00pm, Academy Singers, Joyous Praise, and Roaring Ringers will share music. On Sunday, April 20 at 7:30am, 9:00am, and 10:30am there will be communion and special music; including Glory Ringers, Lion’s voice choirs, and Easter brass on Sunday morning. You are welcome to join us in this life giving feast, worship is a “thin place” where heaven and earth meet.

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless St. Mark’s members signed 125 letters asking Gov. Quinn to restore $3 million for homeless education and $2 million for homeless prevention. We went to the State of Illinois Office in Chicago, delivered over 900 letters, and prayed. The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless had delivered many letters on two previous occasions. After all of our combined efforts, Gov. Quinn restored the asked for figures in his Budget presented to the legislature.

27 South Edgelawn Drive Aurora, Illinois 60506

St. Mark's Lutheran Church

Phone: (630) 897-6891 Fax: (630) 897-4842 Web: www.stmarksaurora.net April 5th & 6th, 2014

Welcome!

We’ve been waiting for you! Our mission at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church is to proclaim Christ’s Abundant Love. We are called to reach out to persons of all ages and life situations with Christ’s own hospitality and acceptance—to invite you to be our companion on the spiritual journey as we discover together the ways that Christ is offering hope, healing, and a renewed sense of meaning for our lives.

If you are not a member, we would love to talk to you about our ministry. We invite you to talk to one of our pastors or stop at the Welcome Center near the church entrance.

May your worship experience here at St. Mark’s draw you closer to Christ and His Abundant Love!

Today’s WORSHIP FOCUS

This week we conclude our five week

Lenten series on the Jesus Creed and

Spiritual Formation. Even though the

series ends, we hope that the Creed

continues to be part of our daily lives.

The theme for the week is PARTICIPATION.

As people called to the Table, Truth, Transformation and Forgiveness, we are equipped

and empowered to participate in the REALM of God.

Pastor Rich Zawistoski is our guest preacher.

Next Week’s WORSHIP FOCUS

Palm/Passion Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. Undergirding the Palm/Passion

narrative are different understandings of and responses to Jesus. The narrative illustrates

the faithfulness of God and the wavering faithfulness of human beings. We gather

throughout Holy Week to remember Christ's Passion. Please join us as we celebrate God's

love for us and the world through the Three Days of Jesus' death and resurrection.

For More Information… Call the St. Mark’s office or email if you have questions about the following areas of ministry. You also may visit our web site for more information about St. Mark’s.

Pastoral Staff Pastor Patricia Geiseman Ext. 15 pgeiseman@stmarksaurora.net Pastor Brian Wise Ext. 13 bwise@stmarksaurora.net

Ministry Staff

Kristin Young Ext. 16 kyoung@stmarksaurora.net Director of Worship & the Arts Sue Hilderbrand Ext. 24 shilderbrand@stmarksaurora.net Bell Choir Director Tina Goodacre Ext. 22 tgoodacre@stmarksaurora.net Director of Children’s Ministries

Support Staff Deb Arcilla Ext. 10 darcilla@stmarksaurora.net Office Manager John Themanson Ext. 19 jthemanson@stmarksaurora.net Finance Administrator Gregg Kobliska Ext. 12 gkobliska@stmarksaurora.net Facility Manager Nicole Ferrier Ext. 27 nferrier@stmarksaurora.net Communications Coordinator Tracy McClure Ext. 11 tmcclure@stmarksaurora.net Intern Terese Ruppel 630-466-1036 ter60554@att.net Nursery Coordinator

Faith Community Nurse

Jean Clementz Ext. 23 jean.clementz@presencehealth.org

Financial Secretary

Jim Erickson 630-897-0291 jerickson@stmarksaurora.net

St. Mark’s Child Development Center

Merrilee Parkhurst 630-897-6063 stmarksdir@att.net Director

Council Members

Rebecca Mueller (President), Preston Runyan (Treasurer), Roger Shields (Property), Jeanne Flynn (Care & Nurture), Melvin Smith (Worship), Julie Simpson (Stewardship), Nicole Ferrier (Welcoming), Alan Jacobs (Small Group), Don Friend (Worship)

Prayers

5:00 p.m. Grant Allen, Vivian Chase, Mike & Pam Daly, Rita Gannon, Bob Johnson, Terri Mantzke, Barb Nielsen, Izzy Rosa, Sharon Ross, Andrea Waddell & Family

9:00 a.m. Denny Beallis, Bill Beattie, Madi Beetham, Barbara Brown, Craig Fauth, Danny Frank, Ron Ganske, Kay Leonard, Elouise Soukup, Charles Swords

10:30 a.m. Matt Adorjan, Wade Barrett, Michael Bradley, August Ann Bryant, Rosalie Hanks, Jeffery Henderson, Jim Kalish, Phil Kassinger, Margaret Mueller, Karen Reed, Merks Smith

Continuing Care Dave & Valerie Dykstra & Family, Nick Fahrlander, Jim Ferrier, Gerd Gunnarsson, John Lange, Terry Mueller, Pr. Gerald Rygh, Charlie Walters, Lorene Wood

Paul’s Ministry We give thanks to God for the ministry at Lutheran Memorial Church (Minnekirken) in Chicago, IL and Lutheran Church of the Cross in Arlington Heights, IL.

Check us out online!

Be sure to head to www.stmarksaurora.net and “Like” St. Mark’s on Facebook to get the latest updates!

Proclaiming Christ's Abundant Love

Submissions for the weekly Courier are due each Wednesday by 4pm for that weekend’s publication. Submissions for the May Vineyard are due by 4pm on Wednesday, April 16th. Submissions will be added in the order in which they are received. Early entry of your submissions is welcomed!

Please email articles for the Vineyard and Courier to Nicole Ferrier at: nferrier@stmarksaurora.net or place handwritten articles in her mailbox. If you have any questions please email or call Nicole at: (630) 897-6891 ext. 27.

Please send all 2014 photos from any St. Mark’s ministry or event to: smyearinreview@gmail.com.

Thank You I would like to take this opportunity to send my thanks for all the wonderful cards, prayers, and visits, during my hospitalization. The cards were read many times over and brought Sheila and I great comfort and peace. It's going to be a while until I get my stamina back, but I am working on it every day. Thank you for your concern, love and sharing of God's precious healing grace.

Yours in Christ, Bob Johnson

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) NAMI - DeKalb, Kane South, & Kendall Counties (DKK) has grown to become a strong affiliate whose goal is to provide support, education, and advocacy to all those affected by mental illness. They invite you to check their calendar for NAMI DKK general meetings, support groups, and education programs and to sign up for their monthly email newsletter at: www.namidkk.org. The support groups are for people who are living with mental illness as well as groups for their families. Please call (630) 896-6264 for more information.

Nursing the Spirit: Alcohol Awareness Month was established in 1987 to help

reduce the stigma so often associated with alcoholism by encouraging communities to reach out to the American public each April with information about alcohol, alcoholism, and recovery. Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive disease, genetically predisposed and fatal if untreated. However people can and do recover. In fact, it is estimated that as many as 20 million individuals and family members are living lives in recovery! If you or someone you know needs help with alcoholism visit: http://www.ncadd.org/index.php/get-help

Have You Seen These? A few months ago a few things disappeared from the Columbarium display in the Narthex. A brass urn, about the size of a taller upright tissue box, and five engraved granite stones, approximately six by six inches have gone missing. Several of us conducted a “treasure hunt” to no avail. These items must be returned to Homecoming, Inc. or a significant fee will incur. If you have seen them or have any knowledge of their whereabouts, please let the church office know. Better yet, return

them to the office or the chair in the office lobby…no questions asked! No harm, no foul, no questions.

Kitchen Assistance Needed for Wednesday Night Programing Each Wednesday evening our kids K - 12th grade come together to grow in our relationship with Christ, St. Mark's, and each other. We all share a meal together, coordinated by Susan Manning, our fearless Kitchen Leader. As we head into the last quarter of our programming we need your help! We are looking for individuals/families to cook a meal for an upcoming Wednesday night. Not a cook? We could also use help prepping the meals before the students arrive. Please contact Susan at (630) 897-8214 or susan@learningtimes.com and she’ll happily walk you through the process.