OUR STAFF
Rev. Jeffrey E. Koth
Pastor
Laura Swanson
Youth & Family Ministry 224-619-7758
Victoriya Berezhna
Organist
Eric Aho
Director of Musical Ensembles
Jill Shepherd
Stephen Ministry 847-989-1919
Kathy Anderson
Office Manager
Ken Swanson
Facebook Page
Erv Uhlman
Mission Interpreter
Cody Ammons
Webpage master
CONTACTS
Phone: 847-623-5135
Fax: 847-623-5135 (Call First)
E-mail:
Website: stmarkslutheran.us
On Facebook:
“Friends of St. Marks”
“St. Marks Youth & Family”
“St. Marks Lutheran Church”
“St. Marks Yarns of Compassion”
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Come celebrate the gift of Jesus Christ. Grow together in faith and love.
Share the Good News with all.
The Messenger Come, Grow, Share
May 2015 Vol. 18 No 5
3350 North Delany Rd
Waukegan, II. 60087
Time Tax Hebrews 4:9-11 9So then, a Sabbath rest s ll remains for the people of God; 10for those who enter God's rest also cease from their labors as God did from his. 11Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest In 1970 the average person received 1000 "outside" communica ons in a year. In 1970 that meant phone calls and "snail mail, "actual le ers. In 2014 the average person received 30,000 outside communica ons in a year. These, of course, were emails, tweets, texts, instagrams and other forms of electronic informa on sharing. Obviously this "average number" doesn’t begin to record the number of "outside communica ons" re-‐ceived by 15--‐35 year olds. Their numbers are much higher. It is good to "be in touch." But this "in touch-ness" is a huge " me tax." If our federal taxes keep us "working for the government" un l April 17, how long are we working, how much of our personal me, our personal power, energy and mission, are we giving up to the " me tax?" The Sabbath is God’s gi of “ me out”. Time for silence…for regrouping…for reflec on…for hearing the Word of God. Schedule next Sunday as “ me out” for Sabbath rest. If you don’t, someone/something will take that me from you and your rest…your regrouping…your me for inspira-‐on will be lost. See you this Sunday!
I've only just a minute, only sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon me, can't refuse it, Didn't see it, didn't choose it, But it's up to me to use it. I must suffer if I lose it, Give an account if I abuse it, Just a ny li le minute, But eternity is in it.
---Benjamin E. Mays
W e b t m a r k s l u t h e r a n . u s
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May Anniversaries
Jason & Rebecca Falkinham - May 3rd Ken & Jan Smith—May 14th Michael & Rhonda Sybrandy—May 15th Phillip & Rosemary Tentes—May 18th John & Carolyn Poole—May 25th Ken & Laura Swanson—May 25th Glenn & Mae Smith—May 29th Bob & Julie Harmon—May 31st
05/06 Bridgette Otterbacher 05/07 Mario Garza 05/07 Caitlyn Maennena 05/07 James McFadden 05/07 Brian Sybrandy 05/08 Ted Wells 05/09 Karen Yocius 05/13 Garrett Voss 05/14 Leslie DeTogne 05/14 Paul Durand 05/14 Janet Smith 05/14 Payton Soling 05/14 Hunter Solita 05/15 James Vander Vere 05/17 Fred Plinke 05/20 Riley Soling 05/21 Alfred Wienke 05/22 Brooke Vander Vere 05/23 Amy Fontana 05/23 Joe Fontana 05/23 Mary Lechelt 05/23 Tristan Schmidt 05/24 Kristen Trukova 05/25 Brianna Harmon 05/27 Alson Winter 05/28 Connor Rutherford 05/31 Alexa DeTogne
If your name/s have not appeared in recognition of your birthday, wedding anniversary
or a memorial gift, please contact the church office. We want to include all celebrations
and memorials. 847-623-5135
Marlin H. Meyer Educational Scholarship Fund
A $500.00 scholarship named in memory of +Dr. Marlin H. Meyer+ is available to students pursing a college degree who are members of St. Mark’s or active in Testify or any other Organization affiliated with St. Mark’s.
Applications must be returned to St. Mark’s by June 1st. Applications for the scholarship may be picked up in the church office.
Thank You Dear Friends, It is with sincere appreciation that we acknowledge your generous check in the amount of $549.00 to COOL. We are blessed by your kind-‐ness and would like to thank all who made this donation possible.
Your faithful generosity helps us to reach out to our neighbors in need and to provide a helping hand. Your donation will help us to help more of them.
Thank you for your faithfulness and partnership in our ministry and helping COOL to Feed the Hungry and House the Homeless.
Warmest Regards, Diane Thackston, Executive Director
Mission of the Month— ELCA Church Wide Appeal Your donation today is needed now more than ever. Please help continue fulfilling our call to do God’s work with our hands.
Your gift today will be used where it is needed most through our Vision for Mission church wide offering. Other Ways to Give Check or money orders sent to: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ELCA Gi Processing Center P.O. Box 1809 Merrifield, VA 22116-8009
3 “Come, Grow, Share.”
W e b s i t e : s t m a r k s l u t h e r a n . u s
Easter Flowers Thank you to all who ordered Easter Flowers to adorn the altar on Easter morning. The display this year was breathtaking. Thank you also to Kathy Haapanen, Arnold Aho, Eric Aho, Carol Bonnes, Nancy Inskeep, Bridge e O erbacher and Jill Shepherd for se ng it up.
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STEPHEN MINISTRY Bu erflies and New Life!
Con nuing Our Easter Celebra on
It is you who lights my lamp; the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
Psalm 18:28
Even the saddest things can become, once we have made peace with them, a source of wisdom and
strength. Frederick Buechner
Recently Stephen Ministries sent the following story to share with other Stephen Ministers or those who may need its message of hope and reassurance. The author, Bethel Crocke , wrote this Easter devo on about a year a er her mother passed away. It was originally published in The Lutheran. Frequently I reach out to others suffering the loss of a loved one by providing them with the Journeying Through Grief books from Stephen Ministries. These books focus on the four crucial mes during the first year a er one’s loss of a loved one. An excerpt from Bethel’s story is found in Book 4, Rebuilding and Remembering, the last book of the series, Journeying Through Grief.
Pooky’s Triumph Like a struggling bu erfly, my grief will emerge into
something beau ful and new By Bethel Bretscher Crocke
My mother, Marguerite Bretscher, died suddenly on July 4, 1998, at an airport as she and my father were returning home from vaca on. Just 16 hours earlier she’d called to tell me of my niece’s birth—her 22nd grandchild. When our conversa on ended, I didn’t know that I had told my mother good-bye for the last me.
The months following her death were filled with disbelief, emp ness and u er despair. Despite my upbringing in a Lutheran parsonage, I found that I desperately needed repeated reassurances of God’s love and promises. As the Easter following my mother’s death approached, I yearned for a visible metaphor of resurrec on.
W e b s i t e : s t m a r k s l u t h e r a n . u s
During Lent, our Sunday school youth raise mail-order caterpillars that are med to enter into the chrysalis stage and emerge as bu erflies for an Easter morning release. Maybe I should join them? Our family had released bu erflies at my mother’s burial service. So I brought home three caterpillars and named two of them Dot and Mildred in memory of my great-aunts. The third one I called by my mother’s nickname, “Pooky.” On Holy Saturday morning, my children discovered Mildred, now a bu erfly, hanging beside her chrysalis. Later that day we watched in awe as a newly created Dot appeared. By Easter morning we could see Pooky’s orange and black wings within a transparent membrane breaking through her chrysalis. We hoped she would emerge soon so we could release her with Dot and Mildred in the Sunday school bu erfly ceremony. But on the long ride to church, trauma zed perhaps by the moving car, Pooky violently trembled and struggled to break free. During Sunday school she became very s ll, and the chrysalis that entombed her blackened. She remained mo onless as we drove home a er church, quite in contrast to the way she had writhed on the trip earlier that morning. It weighed on me that the reassurance I so desperately sought was not forthcoming. That a ernoon, as we drove our two children back to college, I couldn’t stop thinking about the dark, mo onless chrysalis. “It’s only a caterpillar. It doesn’t ma er that its name is Pooky,” I told myself. “There will always be other caterpillars that you can name Pooky. Just pretend Dot or Mildred was Pooky. What difference does it make? It doesn’t change anything.” S ll, despair overwhelmed me on the ride home. “I killed this bu erfly,” I thought. “Why did I take it to church and upset it with the car ride? Whatever made me think it was a good idea to name it Pooky anyway?” And then, “Why did God have to do this to me this Easter? Doesn’t God understand what I’m going through right now? Couldn’t God take care of one stupid li le bu erfly?” I decided that in the morning I would take the chrysalis into the woods and leave it. Perhaps the bu erfly was s ll alive and would emerge? I would never know, but I could always cling to that hope.
Con nued on Page 7
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17th Annual Seder Dinner
Dana Lundtveit Silver Award Update! I received my Silver Award for Girl Scouts in March! Ge ng my Silver Award is a big accomplishment. The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Cade e can earn which gives you the chance to show that you are a leader who is organized, determined, and dedicated to improving the community. The Girl Scout Silver Award is a pres gious award earned by Girl Scouts in grades 6 – 8. I am the only girl in my troop to have go en the Silver Award. Very few girls in Girl Scouts achieve the Silver Award. I would like to give a big thank you to everyone that donated pet supplies. The staff at Save-A-Pet were very happy to receive the cleaning supplies, pet food, toys, and money donated by our congrega on and others. Save-A-Pet and I appreciate everyone who donated.
Thanks again, Dana Lundtveit
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W e b s i t e : s t m a r k s l u t h e r a n . u s
COOL FOOD PANTRY— FOOD OF THE MONTH:
Canned Fruit
WSM Bible Study
The final session of this study will be on Friday, May 8th at 10 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. in the home of Ida Dudleston. If you have any ques ons or would like more informa on call Ida. (847-336-5096)
Download the St. Mark’s App The St. Mark’s app is now available for [free] download both for Android and ISI devices. You can use the “quickread” icons OR search yourself at Google Play or iTunes @ “St. Mark’s Lutheran”. Please share this app with all your family and friends!
Thank You To Pastor Koth and Members of St. Mark’s: Thank you for the cards and Pastor Jeff for your visits. They make me feel better while I rehab at Rolling Hills. I have been a member of St. Mark’s for over 60 years and truly appreciate my church family.
Sincerely, Mattias Maki
Thank you for all your prayers during my recent surgery and for the many cards, and visits form so many friends during my rehab stay at Rolling Hills. Thank you, Pastor Koth for your visit, prayers and phone calls. Thank you, Carol Bonnes for the “Little Red Wagon” taxi service for the time I was unable to drive. Thank you, Amy Fontana for all your help with the coffee hour, Seder dinner, and everything you did to cover for me during my recovery period. Thank you to a wonderful church family. God Bless you all.
Lucille Tolonen
7 “Come, Grow, Share.”
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Spare Change Sundays Do you have spare change weighing down your pockets or purse? How about your couch cushions or the seat of your car? The St. Mark's Youth is looking for your loose change!!! We have declared the final Sunday of each month as "Spare Change Sun-‐day!!" please bring your spare change in and deposit it in our bucket outside the Sanctu-‐ary. We will be using that spare change to help cover the costs of our upcoming trip to Detroit for the ELCA Youth Gathering. THANKS!!
Con nued from page 4
That evening I was reluctant to look in the bu erfly cage, but some movement caught my eye. There sat a bu erfly, triumphantly fanning her wings. Instantly I was struck by more than just the bu erfly. Pooky was perched over her empty chrysalis, which was split open and withering. Under the chrysalis were red bloodlike stains of waste material from the hatching. Yet above these signs of death and struggle—a living bu erfly! That image remains a powerful metaphor, reassuring and resurrec ng in its own right: the suffering, the pain, the hopelessness, the empty tomb, the exhilara ng joy, the new and glorious life. I began to see my grief as the trauma zed struggling bu erfly in the hands of a loving, merciful Father. I learned to trust that through God’s grace something beau ful and new would emerge even in the face of my weakness, tears, pain and hopelessness. I, too, would live again, now and forever. The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! (And so has Pooky.)
PS Bethel has recently completed Stephen Ministry training and will soon be commissioned as a Stephen Minister at her church in Colorado!
May You feel God’s Peace throughout Easter Season,
Jill Shepherd Stephen Leader
8 “Come, Grow, Share.”
W e b s i t e : s t m a r k s l u t h e r a n . u s
Happy Birthday—Este Carlson About fourteen members were present to help Este Carlson celebrate her 91st Birthday on Saturday, March 21, 2015. Three of her guests were members of St. Mark’s, who are at Rolling Hills, at the present me for rehab. Jill Shepherd began the cele- bra on with a word of prayer. Pastor Koth gave his blessings for Este and led the singing of Happy Birthday. Coffee and many goodies were enjoyed by all. Thank you for making Este’s Birthday a special day for her.
The Coolest Week of the Summer! Location: St. Mark’‛s Youth Wing VBS will last from: June 22nd—26th Each day’‛s fun begins at: 6 p.m. The VBS day ends at: 8 p.m. For more information, call: Laura Swanson—224-619-7758
¡� New Friends ¡� Amazing Experiments ¡� Glacier Games ¡� Lip-smacking snacks ¡� Surprising Adventures ¡� Incredible Music
9 “Come, Grow, Share.”
W e b s i t e : s t m a r k s l u t h e r a n . u s
Mission Interpreter Mission Interpreter: ELCA responds in a ermath of tornado damage (ELCA News) The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will provide assistance for survivors of the tornadoes and storms that devastated por ons of northern Illinois April 9. In partnership with Lutheran Disaster Response, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois and the ELCA Northern Illinois Synod, the group has created a “Tornado Relief Fund” to be administered through Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. The areas affected include Lee, Ogle, DeKalb, Winnebago, Boone and McHenry coun es in Illinois. Three ELCA congrega ons close to the tornado’s path were not directly impacted but there are reports of members who were affected, according to the Rev. Joseph Chu, associate program director, Lutheran Disaster Response. The congrega ons – St. John’s Lutheran in Ashton, Ill., St. John’s Lutheran in Creston, Ill., and Faith Lutheran in Rochelle, Ill. – will each receive $2,000 from the ELCA Northern Illinois Synod to help in their relief efforts. Lutheran World Relief Receives $350,000 from Starbucks Founda on Apr 2, 2015 - LWR is proud to announce that they have received a Starbucks Founda on grant of $350,000 toward a two-year project that contributes to the protec on of the local ecosystem, provides sustainable livelihoods, and fosters community in Colombia: Pro-Café: Protec ng Ecosystem Services for Sustainable Coffee Livelihoods. Coffee growers’ livelihoods and quality of life in central Colombia are at risk due to deteriora ng environmental condi ons caused by both a changing climate and poor community hygiene and sanita on prac ces. As profitability of tradi onal coffee produc on and agricultural ac vi es decreases, farmers o en adopt unsustainable prac ces that further deteriorate the natural environment. As the nega ve spiral con nues, migra on away from the
coffee-producing communi es increases, and conflict erupts over use and control of natural resources — in par cular over water and land — threatening to reignite forced displacement in the region. Over the past 40 years, Starbucks has been dedicated to helping improve the lives of farmers and their families around the world who grow their coffee. Through a comprehensive approach to ethical sourcing Starbucks is paying equitable prices, providing access to farmer loans and technical assistance to help farmers to navigate the complexi es of agriculture – a long term process. In total, Starbucks has invested more than $70 million in collabora ve farmer programs and ac vi es over the past 40 years. In 2015, Starbucks will achieve the goal of 99 percent of its coffee being verified as ethically sourced. Addi onal details about Starbucks ini a ves in coffee and tea communi es are available at Starbucks.com/Responsibility/sourcing.
Erv Uhlman, Mission Interpreter
1st Communion Maundy Thursday, April 2nd, Saula Chromy had her 1st Communion.
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2015
Su
n Mon
Tu
e Wed
Th
u Fri
Sat
1
2 Prayer Team 9am
3 Sun
day Scho
ol
9:30
am
Worship 9:45 am
4 Fina
l Con
firma
on
Exam
and
Pizz
a Pa
rty 7p
m
5 A.A. 7pm
Re
flec
ons in the
Spirit 7
pm
6 Cub Scou
ts 7pm
Re
flec
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Word 7p
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7 Ministry Team
Mee
ng 7 pm
Bo
y Scou
ts 7pm
8 WSM
Bible Study
at Id
a Du
dleston’s
10 am and
5:30 pm
9
10 M
OTH
ERS’ DAY
Sund
ay Schoo
l 9:30
am
Worship 9:45 am
11
NO Con
firma
on
12 A.A. 7
pm
Refle
con
s in the
Season
Noo
n Ch
urch Cou
ncil
7pm
13
Cub Scou
ts 7pm
Re
flec
ons in the
Word 7p
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14
Choir 7
pm
Boy Scou
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17 Su
nday Schoo
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am
Worship 9:45 am
Te
sfy with
Con
-‐firma
on 6 pm
18
Confi
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Rehe
arsal and
Pictures 7pm
19 A
.A. 7
pm
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Cub Scou
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Re
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Word 7p
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21
Gurnee
Mea
dows
Worship 1 pm
Ch
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pm
Bo
y Scou
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22
Set U
p for E
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Court
23
Eagle Co
urt—
Bran
don Maglio
24 CONFIRM
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Worship 9:45 am
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Office Closed
26 A
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pm
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Cub Scou
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Ch
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Bo
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Worship 9:45 am
Te
sfy 6 pm
Pr. K
oth on
Vaca
on
Kathy Vacation Da
y Office Closed
St. Mark's Lutheran Church 3350 North Delany Rd.
Waukegan, IL. 60087 Phone 847-623-5135
Fax 847-623-5135 (Call First)
E-mail [email protected]
Serving Us This Month
stamp
PLACE MAILING LABEL HERE
Worship Sundays 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sept.—May
THE M ESSENGER St. Mark's Lutheran Church 3350 North Delany Rd. Waukegan, IL. 60087-1343 RETURN ADDRESS REQUESTED
Lectors Sundays 05/03 Ken Swanson 05/10 Tom Wendorf 05/17 Kristen Trukova 05/24 Jill Shepherd 05/31 Julie Wendorf Assisting Minister Ted Wells (1st & 3rd Sundays) Communion Assistant Genie Durand (2nd, 4th, & 5th Sundays) Altar Guild Carol Bonnes, Elise Diaz, Nancy Inskeep, Helen Ostman Mae Smith, Lise Myllymaki Ushers Ida & Al Dudleston Offering Counters 05/03 TBD 05/10 Paul Durand & Kimberly Neas 05/17 Wayne Voss & TBD 05/24 Jensea Chromy & Cindy Keister 05/31 Erin Lundtveit & TBD
Acolyte s 05/03 Annika Swanson & Saula Chromy 05/10 Arielle Jones 05/17 Emily Hanratty & Bayleigh Tienhaara 05/24 Evelyn Fontana & Evan Lundtveit 05/31 Sophia Diaz & David Sparesus
Projectionists 05/03 Magnus Swanson 05/10 Abigail Oye 05/17 Zachary Ammons 05/24 Monique Brikha 05/31 Danyel Sparesus
Sound Technicians 05/03 Cassidy Smith 05/10 Matthew Oye 05/17 Ryan Hopkins 05/24 Nick Fontana 05/31 Giovanni Diaz
Sunday School Teachers 05/03 Senia Sparesus, Sophia Diaz, Rebecca
Rutherford, Elise Diaz 05/10 Amy Fontana & Laura Swanson 05/17 Last Day of Sunday School