the messenger · 2020. 3. 7. · contact bridget pudimat at 904-371-0809 or by email at...
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St. Mark’s Lutheran Church 3976 Hendricks Avenue • Jacksonville, Florida 32207
Office: 904-396-9608 • Web: www.stmarksjax.org
The Messenger
Monthly Newsletter of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
May 2017
From the Pastor Dear Christian Friends,
On Easter Sunday, I read a column by Patrick Bu-
chanan in the Florida Times-Union titled “Is Christianity
in danger in its birthplace?” I’d like share part of that
column with you, in case you might not have read it on
that busy day. Buchanan writes, “Today, many Chris-
tians face the greatest risk of persecution and martyrdom
since the time of [Joseph] Stalin.
On Palm Sunday, 44 Coptic Christians celebrating
Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem were martyred in
terrorist attacks in Egypt.
The Islamic State group claims credit for the mur-
ders, and the pictures of dead children from those
churches were surely as horrific as the pictures the presi-
dent saw after the gas attack.
Copts are among the earliest Christians, dating to
the first century A.D., when St. Mark, one of the 12
apostles, established the first church outside the Holy
Land and became bishop of Alexandria.
The Copts make up 10 percent of Egypt’s popula-
tion. They have been targeted for terrorist attacks since
the 2013 overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mo-
hammed Morsi, who had been elected president after the
ouster of longtime U.S. ally Hosni Mubarak.
Whatever they did for democracy, the U.S. inter-
ventions in the Middle East and the vaunted Arab Spring
have proved to be pure hell for Arab Christians.
In Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, Christians were left
alone if they did not interfere in politics. Indeed, they
prospered as doctors, lawyers, journalists, academics, en-
gineers, businessmen.
A Christian, Tariq Aziz, was Saddam’s foreign
minister who negotiated with Secretary of State James
Baker to try to prevent what became the Gulf War.
Before 2003, there were 800,000 Christians in Iraq.
But after a decade of church bombings and murders of
priests, their numbers have plummeted. When the Is-
lamic State seized a third of Iraq, Christians under the
group’s rule had to convert to Islam and pay a tax or face
beheading.
Pope Francis hailed the Iraqi Christians lately liber-
ated from Islamic State rule, noting, ‘They are our mar-
tyrs of today, and there are so many we can say that they
are more numerous than in the first centuries.’”
There are places in the world today where it is ex-
traordinarily dangerous to be a Christian. Please join me
in praying for our brothers and sisters in the faith who
are in danger.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Pat
Messages from Council President Road trip! Common Prayer: Catholic-Lutheran Common Com-memoration of the Reformation
2017 marks the 500th anni-
versary of the Reformation. In
honor of this historic milestone,
Lutheran and Catholic churches
across Florida and the US are
joining together in prayer. We
are all invited to attend a joint
prayer service on Tuesday,
June 6, from 6:30-7:30 pm at
the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of
the Universe, in Orlando, Florida. Bishop Marcus
Lohrmann from the ELCA Florida-Bahamas Synod will
officiate along with Bishop John Noonan, Diocese of Or-
lando and Bishop Felipe Estevez, Diocese of St. Augus-
tine. If anyone from St. Mark’s is interested in attending,
please let Tracy Williams know (904-655-0049 or tra-
cyb78@yahoo.com) or sign up on the sheet on the bulle-
tin board in the narthex. There are also flyers in the nar-
thex and Hart Hall with more information. Depending on
the number of people interested, we can plan on various
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options for getting to Orlando. If you do not drive but
want to attend, please sign up too. Carpooling is an op-
tion to attend this special event. Once we have an idea of
who is interested in attending, we can plan the trip. I am
looking forward to attending this special prayer service. I
hope many others will join me.
Property
You may notice some work going on at the front of
the church. We are in the process of installing a well to
support our irrigation system. More info to come once
this project is complete in May.
WELCA Easter Egg Hunt On April 8, the backyard of St. Mark’s was filled
with excitement as kids of all ages raced to find eggs
filled with candy and treats. It was a fun morning filled
with St. Mark’s Ark families and church families. Our
youth group was available to paint faces, do arts and
crafts, and play games. WELCA provided some sweet
treats and the Easter Bunny even stopped by for a visit.
The number of families who attend gets bigger each year
because of the great organization from Rachel Mumford,
WELCA members, and our youth group. Thank you for
all of the planning, hard work, and fun.
Rachel Mumford with the Easter Bunny.
Top left: Children hunt for eggs Top right: Sarah Jorn and Cassidy Williams Bottom left: Miora and Arold Rambeloarisoa Bottom right: Margaux with grandmother Mary Swart
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Children with the Easter Bunny.
Holy Week Holy Week was a huge success at St. Mark’s. A
huge thank you to
Tony, Pastor Bell,
our Celebrate Team,
our choir and bell
choir. The services
were well coordi-
nated with beautiful
music and wonderful
sermons to remind
us of the importance
of this week. Our al-
tar guild always
stays busy this week
as they coordinate all
changes in services.
Our Fellowship com-
mittee cooked a
yummy breakfast on
Easter and we had a
full gym of families
enjoying the food
and fellowship.
Palm Sunday
Easter
Easter Breakfast
Ushers Nola and Randy Rahe on Palm Sunday.
Left to right: David Williams, Leslie Allen, and Loree Mueller prepare food.
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Below: Fellowship and food in the Fellowship Hall.
Send: Outreach Opportunities Save the Date. “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday
will be held on September 10, 2017. This will be a day
of service for us. A planning group will begin soon to
plan activities, food, and needs for this exciting day. If
you do not have an official St. Mark’s yellow “God’s
Work. Our Hands.” shirt, don’t worry! We will have
them available again this year for this day of service.
—Tracy Williams, Council President
Women of the ELCA
May Circle Meetings:
Deborah Circle: Tuesday, May 9 at 9:30 am in Hart
Hall
Priscilla Circle: Thursday, May 11 at 7:00 pm in Li-
brary
Rebecca Circle will not meet in May due to the conflict
with the Spring Gathering.
All women are invited to participate in circle meetings
and special events. Contact Rachel Mumford at (904)
730-3880, or Joyce Wertz for more information.
Organ Concert with Dr. Laura Ellis Sunday, May 7 at 7:00 pm
This concert includes “Behold a Host” arranged by
John Ferguson and “Variation on ‘Children of the Heav-
enly Father’” arranged by David Dahl. Also included is
“The Three Festivals” by Herman Belinski, which can
also be found on Dr. Ellis’ recently-released CD, “Music
for the Testaments Old and New.”
Laura Ellis is an associate professor of music in the
School of Music at the University of Florida. Dr. Ellis
teaches undergraduate and graduate organ, harpsichord,
and carillon. In addition to her duties as university or-
ganist, she oversees the
Andrew Anderson Memo-
rial Organ in the Univer-
sity Auditorium, the caril-
lon in the Century Tower,
and the historic keyboard
instruments housed within
the School of Music.
This concert is free. An
offering will be taken.
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Annual Dinner Men in Mission will host the annual dinner with the
men's group from St. Paul Lutheran Church (located on
the north side) on Monday, May 8 at 6:30 pm in the fel-
lowship hall. We will grill hamburgers and sausages for
our meal together, a tradition that has continued for over
20 years.
Following the meal and fellowship together (7:30
pm), we will move into the sanctuary for a musical
presentation orchestrated by Tony Cruz. This will be a
mini hymn fest with Tony on both the organ and piano
leading us. All members of St. Mark’s are invited to at-
tend both the meal and the music following it. No reser-
vation is required.
—Jim Dennis
Supper Club The year-end Supper Club gathering will be held on
Friday, May 12 beginning at 6:45 pm. Jane Kilby has
graciously invited the group to her home for the evening.
Please RSVP so we will have an idea of the number at-
tending. We will then send out a blast to everyone for
food requests. RSVP by calling
Jenny Hicks at 904-731-3785 or
email hicks.stephen@att.net. This is
always a fun event before summer
vacations begin.
Family Promise Benefit at the Alhambra Steel Magnolias is about
the strength of love and
laughter in facing life’s chal-
lenges. Set in Truvy’s beauty
salon, where all the ladies
who are “anybody” come to
have their hair done, these
strong southern women draw
on the underlying strength—and love.
Sunday, June 25 benefits Family Promise of Jack-
sonville. The show starts at 2:00 pm, and doors open at
12:00 pm with a meal served from 12:30 to 1:30 pm.
Purchase your ticket from Family Promise or a
board member and help support homeless families with
children. The ticket price of $55 includes the meal, non-
alcoholic beverages, tax, gratuities, and a donation to
Family Promise. Ticket sales end June 12.
For tickets, call Family Promise at 354-1818 or
email bethmixson@familypromisejax.org.
Lion’s Pride On May 12, Lion’s Pride will meet at noon for a
luncheon by chef Leslie Allen and crew. Entertainment
will be provided by the Recycles Band. Fun for adults
and the Ark. Enjoyed by everyone last May. For reserva-
tions, contact Clara Echerer at 737-4480. Everyone is
welcome!
2017 Vacation Bible School We will host VBS for our
St. Mark's children who at-
tend the Ark or church (or
both!) ages 3-6 this summer!
VBS will be held during the
last week of July, July 24-28.
We are so excited to be able
to offer this outreach to
our Ark families again this
year.
This year’s theme is National Parks. Please consider
loaning us any camping gear you may have such as tents,
sleeping bags, canoes, kayaks, etc. that we could use to
decorate the church. We will provide information at a
later date for when to bring items in.
If you are interested in volunteering to help, please
contact Bridget Pudimat at 904-371-0809 or by email at
pudimatb@bellsouth.net.
Summer Movie Series for Children We would like to offer a fun evening once a week for
3-4 weeks this summer to invite St. Mark's children who
attend the Ark and/or Church. We envision a Friday
evening where the children can come in their pajamas
and join us for a meal and a movie. We are currently fi-
nalizing dates, but need volunteers to help with the chil-
dren, meal, and movie. Please contact Bridget Pudi-
mat 904-371-0809 or pudimatb@bellsouth.net if you are
interested in volunteering.
Hospital Visitor Ministry Our Hospital Visitor ministry is now active. Mem-
bers of St. Mark’s who are hospitalized will normally be
visited six days a week. Here is the schedule:
Monday: Mary Swart (1st and 2nd Mondays at Baptist
downtown only); Joyce Wertz (3rd or 4th Monday)
Tuesday: Pastor Pat
Wednesday: Bill Ahrens
Thursday: Pastor Pat
Friday: Steve & Jenny Hicks
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Saturday or Sunday: Mary Cusick
Alternates: Jeanette Snyder (Monday only), Mark We-
ber
We could still use a couple more alternates; if you
feel that you would like to be a part of this ministry, send
a note to Pastor Pat. Thanks to all who have already vol-
unteered!
Devotionals for May “Global Church Minutes are short, one minute or
less, prayers [for] 2017 and serve as a reminder of our
connection to our brothers and sisters around the world.”
Through 2017, I will place a month’s worth of these
ELCA devotionals in each Messenger.
—Gina Olson
May 7 Risen One, who calls to us and we recognize his
voice, guide us to witness to your triumph over death in
our daily lives. Praise to you for the support of the
ELCA in opening two new schools in The Gambia—St.
Andrew’s Lutheran Education Center and St. Luke’s Lu-
theran Education Center. May these schools be places
where students can hear your call in their lives and fol-
low you, in the name of your risen Son, our Lord, Jesus
the Christ, we pray. Amen.
May 14 Risen One, who always makes a place for us where
we go, guide us to witness to your triumph over death in
our daily lives. Counsel Lutheran missionaries as they
provide educational opportunities for students in the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia. Give to them the
knowledge that you go where they go ahead of them,
making a way, in the name of your risen Son, our Lord,
Jesus the Christ, we pray. Amen.
May 21 Risen One, who provides all we need to keep your
commands, guide us to witness to your triumph over
death in our daily lives. Praise to you for the work of the
Rev. Mawien Ariik and the Rev. Wal Reat as they seek
to establish the Lutheran Church African Mission in
South Sudan. May your commands guide their work and
may they trust your support in their work, in the name of
your risen Son, our Lord, Jesus the Christ, we pray.
Amen.
May 28: The Festival of the Ascension of the Lord Risen One, who sits in glory at the right hand of
God, guide us to witness to your triumph over death in
our daily lives. Thanks be to you for the journey and
growth of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania.
May we learn from our siblings in Tanzania the ways to
proclaim your gospel in our place and in this century, in
the name of your risen Son, our Lord, Jesus the Christ,
we pray. Amen.
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Worship Assistant Schedule for May 2017 Date Assisting Minister Lector Altar Guild
Saturday, May 6 Volunteer Volunteer Marieanne Prokop & Ginger Hudson
Sunday, May 7 Fourth Sunday of Easter
Ellen Olson Leslie Allen Susan Jackson & Bonnye Bell
Sunday, May 14 Fifth Sunday of Easter
Ron Eckels Al Voss Susan Jackson & Bonnye Bell
Saturday, May 20 Volunteer Volunteer Marieanne Prokop & Ginger Hudson
Sunday, May 21 Sixth Sunday of Easter
Gary Pudimat John Trainer Nola Rahe & Renee Roath
Sunday, May 28 Seventh Sunday in Easter
Eric Olson Neil Daraskevich Rachel Mumford & Nicki Hassell
Date Altar Flowers Order of St. John Nursery Volunteers
Saturday, May 6
Sunday, May 7 Fourth Sunday of Easter
Naomi & Ian Heneghan Ginger Hudson & JoMarie
Sunday, May 14 Fifth Sunday of Easter
Amelia Jorn Francine Baker & Bridget Pudimat
Saturday, May 20
Sunday, May 21 Sixth Sunday of Easter
Nolan Pudimat Bonnye Bell & Bridget Pudimat
Sunday, May 28 Seventh Sunday in Easter
Tahiana Rakotomandrindra Miora & Arold Rambeloarisoa
Ushers for May: Eddie & Susan Jackson
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May 2017
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2
10:00 am Ark Chapel @ Nave 6:00 pm Yoga @ Hart Hall 7:30 pm Community Band @ Fellowship Hall
3 5:30 pm St. Mark’s Ringers Rehearsal @ Nave 7:30 pm Festival Choir Rehearsal @ Nave
4 6:00 pm Yoga @ Hart Hall
5 6 8:00 am St. Mark’s Women of the ELCA Host the FCC WELCA Spring Gath-ering 5:30 pm Casual/Con-temporary Worship Service @ Nave
7 9:30 am Worship Service @ Nave 7:00 pm Organ Recital at St. Mark’s, Dr. Laura Ellis @ Nave
8 6:30 pm Men in Mis-sion dinner with St. Paul Lutheran Church Men’s Club @ Fellowship Hall 6:30 pm Nourish Meeting @ Library 7:30 pm Mini Hymn Festival to follow Meal @ Nave
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9:30 am Deborah Circle @ Hart Hall 10:00 am Ark Chapel @ Nave 6:00 pm Yoga @ Hart Hall 7:30 pm Community Band @ Fellowship Hall
10 5:30 pm St. Mark’s Ringers Rehearsal @ Nave 7:30 pm Festival Choir Rehearsal @ Nave
11
6:00 pm Yoga @ Hart Hall 7:00 pm Priscilla Cir-cle @ Library
12 12:00 pm Lion’s Pride Luncheon
13
14 Mother’s Day
9:30 am Worship Service @ Nave
15
Content for June Messenger Due 6:30 pm Finance Committee Meeting @ Library
16 10:00 am Ark Chapel @ Nave 6:00 pm Yoga @ Hart Hall 7:30 pm Community Band @ Fellowship Hall
17 5:30 pm St. Mark’s Ringers Rehearsal @ Nave 7:30 pm Festival Choir Rehearsal @ Nave
18 6:00 pm Yoga @ Hart Hall 7:00 pm Executive Committee Meeting @ Conference Room
19
20 5:30 pm Casual/Con-temporary Worship Service @ Nave
21 9:30 am Worship Service @ Nave 10:45 am Confirmation Class @ Library 5:30 pm Youth Group Meeting @ Hart Hall
22 6:30 pm Council Meeting @ Library
23 10:00 am Ark Chapel @ Nave 6:00 pm Yoga @ Hart Hall 7:30 pm Community Band @ Fellowship Hall
24 5:30 pm St. Mark’s Ringers Rehearsal @ Nave 7:30 pm Festival Choir Rehearsal @ Nave
25
6:00 pm Yoga @ Hart Hall
26
27
28 9:30 am Worship Service @ Nave 10:45 am Confirmation Class @ Library
29
Memorial Day
30 10:00 am Ark Chapel @ Nave 6:00 pm Yoga @ Hart Hall 7:30 pm Community Band @ Fellowship Hall
31 5:30 pm St. Mark’s Ringers Rehearsal @ Nave 7:30 pm Festival Choir Rehearsal @ Nave
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May Birthdays
Saint Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Our Mission
We invite all people to our church home to cele-
brate God’s many gifts. Nourished by Christ Je-
sus and led by the Holy Spirit, we send enthusi-
astic servants to proclaim the hope and joy of
life in Christ.
Our Vision We strive to celebrate the rich diversity of God’s people, welcoming all to be nourished in their faith journeys. We live to serve others and fulfill our relationship with Christ in service to community.
St. Mark’s Newsletters St. Mark’s has two newsletters. The Lion’s Roar is distributed weekly
and by email (E-Roar), and The Messenger is distributed monthly (primar-ily through email, but available in print upon request). Gina Olson does layout and editing for both of them.
The deadline for The Lion’s Roar is by noon on each Wednesday, and The Messenger deadline is the 15th day of each month.
Devotionals Are you looking for a devotional? In addition, to the “Global Church
Minutes” included above, you can pick up additional devotionals at St. Mark’s. In the Narthex (church “lobby”), The Word in Season and Christ in Our Home are waiting on the tables. Feel free to pick up one or both. Augsburg Fortress publishes both and both have devotions from multiple writers.
If you’re ever waiting around with an ELW (our Evangelical Lutheran Worship Hymnal), don’t flip immediately to the hymns. An “Additional Prayers” section starts on page 72 and includes prayer for “Before wor-ship,” “After worship,” “Teachers,” “Agriculture,” and more.
And if you’re always on the computer, consider receiving emails with “God Pause” from Luther Seminary or Richard Rohr meditations.
Dylan Kilby May 1 Carl Weidenmier May 1 Terri Hutson May 5 Bernie Jorn May 10 Mike Swart May 13 Cynthia Syverson May 13 Glennis Smith May 15 Charlie Snyder May 18 Jody Harkrider May 20 Aimee Brockett May 21 Margo Phillips May 29 Tahiana Rakotomandrindra May 29 Sarah Jorn May 30 Becca Jorn May 30 Clara Echerer May 31
Anniversaries James & Janis Lumpkin May 2 Becky & Gene Hutson May 19 Bernie & Clara Giancola May 23
Call Committee Alonzo Batson: Co-Chair Person Elizabeth Jenkins: Co-Chair Person Gina Olson Gary Pudimat Renée Roath Mark Weber For updates on the call process, please read The Lion’s Roar.
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Worship & Office Hours
Contact us
Worship Services
Saturdays (Casual/Contemporary)
1st and 3rd Saturdays 5:30 pm
Sunday Morning 9:30 am A nursery is available.
Office Hours Monday-Friday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Closed on national holidays.
Ministry Staff
Pastor Patrick Bell Interim Pastor
Phone: 904-249-9925 Cell phone: 904-229-7438 Email: pbell47@yahoo.com
Tony Cruz Cantor Office phone: 904-396-9608 x 103 Email: vespers@comcast.net
Congregational Officers & Council Tracy Williams President Bridget Pudimat Vice President & Nourish Chair/Youth Leader Jane Kilby Secretary Larry Wertz Treasurer & Stewardship Chair Eric Olson Celebrate Chair Loree Mueller Financial Secretary John Mumford Invite Liaison Leslie Allen Fellowship Chair Randy Rahe Ray Booth Jim Dennis John Trainer
St. Mark’s Ark Preschool Patrice Roux-Neal Director of St. Mark’s Ark Preschool Office phone: 904-346-0404 Email: director@stmarksark.com Web: www.stmarksark.com
Contact us
Church Office 3976 Hendricks Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32207 Office phone: 904-396-9608 Fax: 904-396-3515 Email: admin@stmarksjax.org (for office and council) Web: www.stmarksjax.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/stmarksjax
The Lion’s Roar & The Messenger Gina Olson Email: ginaolson4@gmail.com
We are a welcoming congregation where you can express your love for God and for God's peo-ple and creation no matter your age, race, economic status, or sexual orientation.
St. Mark’s
Lutheran Church
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