3051 Putnam Blvd. Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church November 2016

Greetings Friends of St. Mark’s,

November is nearly upon us! It is that glorious time of year when it is entirely permissible for an entire stick of butter to make its way into the mashed potatoes. By the time you read this, we will have celebrated Reformation Sunday. We know that next year marks the 500th anniver-sary of the Reformation. What a timely moment for us to think about where the Lutheran church and our confes-sional writings might take us in the next 500 years! Did you know that Namibia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and India are among some of the countries in the world with the high-est number of Lutherans? Our faith tradition will continue to be enriched and strengthened by these growing com-munities of global Lutherans.

In peace,

Pastor Bekah

Saturday Nov 6th 2am

Highlights from the October meeting

Christian Education- Sherry looking for 1 permanent and two backup Sunday school teachers

Social Ministry: no report. Outreach this month is the Monument Crisis Center Property: Hearing loop has been installed. System is on and functional but not yet

working with the sound system. Many thanks to the Crafty ladies who have funded the costs of the hearing loop.

Fellowship: Potluck will be planned for Pastor’s installation. Pictorial Directory. Directories and complementary photos should arrive at St.

Mark’s soon. Purchased photos will be mailed to homes of individuals. Budget draft-Copies are in the Narthex. Budget discussion sessions between

services are scheduled for Oct. 16,23 and 30. Final budget will be voted on at the Congregational meeting on November 20

New Council candidates. Still seeking additional candidates for the 2017 Council year. Slate of candidates will be presented at November 20 council meeting.

Pastor Bekah's installation will be Feb 19th, 2017 at 1:30. 3rd quarter endowment received: $1,397.14 directed to Shelter Inc.. 4th Quarter

endowment will be directed to Youth Homes.

September Financials

Monthly Budget YTD Actual YTD Budget

Giving 14,817 15,341 152,865 138,069

Monthly Outreach Giving 290 2,385

Total Expenses 17,160 15,341 144,641 138,069

Congregational Meeting Nov 20th

9:45a in the sanctuary to vote

on the 2017 budget

Outreach for November

Lutheran World Relief for Hurricane

Matthew Relief in Haiti

Lutheran World Relief has been working in Haiti

since 1997 and is currently responding to immedi-

ate and long-term needs following the recent dev-

astation from Hurricane Matthew, which killed hun-

dreds and left 175,000+ in over 300 temporary shelters. The country was still

struggling to bounce back from the 2010 earthquake. Over 800,000 people are at

an extreme level of food insecurity and 1,250,000 people, including children,

need access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Immediate response by Lu-

theran World Relief has been distribution of 10,000 hygiene and shelter kits and

100 community water filtration units (reaching 4,600 people). Longer term re-

sponse will focus on food security in the North West through distribution of

seeds, livestock and fishing equipment and a cash-for-work program to continue

cleaning roads and irrigation canals.

For more detailed information, there are Situation Reports detailing the Hurri-

cane Matthew Response on the Lutheran World Relief Website (lwr.org).

In Other Social Ministry News: The children of the congregation and Charlie

spearheaded our September Outreach for Heifer, and the congregation raised

over $800. The children are excited that we will be able to provide a whole

“farm” worth of animals, including a goat, water buffalo, llama, sheep, pig, flock

of chicks and bees. Thanks to all who participated!

Thank you to all who participated in the packaging of Lutheran World Relief kits.

We donated 36 school kits and 9 personal care kits! Thank you to Thrivent for

providing the materials to make the kits.

Holden Evening Prayer (mostly sung 30 min long service)

Wednesdays 7pm

Nov 30th

Dec 7th

Dec 14th

Dec 21st

Christmas Eve Saturday Dec 24th

7pm Candlelight Casual Style with our band

10pm Candlelight Traditional Style with Organ and Choir

Christmas Day Sunday Dec 25th

ONE service at 10:00am

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

3051 Putnam Blvd. Pleasant Hill,

(All proceeds go to non-profits…)

November 12th from 9AM - 3PM

...Come and see our handmade goods…

Including:

Fall and Thanksgiving Items

Christmas Items • Wreaths

Dish Towels • Gift Baskets • Baby Quilts

Aprons • Sock Monkeys

Homemade Baked Goods

And much more!

PINK SMOKE OVER the VATICAN

The voices of these women must be heard.

This film is dynamic and powerful, chronicles the controver-

sial movement of women who are seeking to be ordained as

priests in the Roman Catholic Church.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016

10:00 a.m. refreshments & coffee

SHELL RIDGE COMMUNITY CHURCH

200 LA CASA VIA, WALNUT CREEK

Sponsored by:

CHURCH WOMEN UNITED

OF

CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

Community News

Pastor: Bekah Davis

(319) 883-1071 Email: pastor@sm-lc.net

Office Administrator: Karen Klingelhafer

Directors of 2nd Service Music: Sherry & Mike Doyle

Choir Director/Organist: Joyce Porter

Pianist: Lisa Farnitano

3051 Putnam Blvd. Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

(925)934-6114 ▪ www.sm-lc.net ▪ officeadmin@sm-lc.net

If you would like to be included in the prayer chain or if you have a prayer request, you can

email the office at: officeadmin@sm-lc.net

We pray for Nancy Markham; Tom; Ed; Lee, Jan; Sean; Lupe ’s wife Judy and Geoff’s family

Tuesday, Nov 1, 2016 -- 1:30pm

In the November session of the Bi-ble study, we will discuss the Apos-tle, Paul. No one on earth would ever have looked at Paul’s resume and thought, “apostle.” In fact, no one on earth did! But God chose Paul, a man with a dubious past and a shaky present, to lead and guide the early church into the future. How can Paul’s failings help us to come to terms with a God who chooses the unlikely—including you and me?

Please join us in the meeting room. All are welcome. Please remember to bring your Bibles with you.

Bible study leader: TBD Refreshments: TBD