Interested in Becoming a Member

(or Wondering What It Means)?

Are you interested in becoming a member of St. Mark's or just wondering what that even means? Do you want to know more about the United Methodist Church? Rev. Lydia will be leading a four week class that will take place after Sunday morning services in the month of January. We will meet in the New Room dur-ing coffee hour. All are welcome to this class.

Faith Circle

Tuesday, Jan. 8, 7pm

Hostess: Joan Williams 4235 Tacoma St. 858-274-3716

Program: Make Valentines For shut-ins

Friendship Circle

Wed. Jan.9, 9:30am In New Room at church

Hostess: Dorothy Kay 858-277-2917

Devotions: Kay Bays

Program: Martha Hilker & Arlene Dempster History of the sanctuary

Harmony Circle

Wed. Jan. 9, 2pm

Hostess: Beth Dugan 4175 Porte de Merano #158 858-776-6033 (cell)

Devotions: Sylvia Dismukes

Program: Beth Dugan Living & visiting in Jerusalem

Bring hygiene items for CCSA

St. Mark’s United Methodist Women

Scope

January 2019

Special Events UMW Sunday January 27 It's time to celebrate! The organization of United Methodist Women is 150 years old and 800,000 strong worldwide. Our special celebration at St. Mark's will include much more than the installation of officers during the worship service. After the service we will gather to learn the identity of our two newest recipi-ents of the Special Mission Recognition Award. You won't want to miss this announcement! Then, after receiving the proceeds of your Thank Banks, we will close the morning with a potluck. This is an open meeting; family members and other church members are welcome to attend. District UMW Meeting, Saturday, January 19 UMW members from across the South District will gather in Escondido on Saturday, January 19, to re-ceive inspiration to carry out their mission in 2019. Our keynote speaker will be Kim Kelley-Duin, direc-tor of New Entra Casa, a home for women who are rebuilding their lives here in San Diego. Although an hour will be spent in training for local officers, even members who are not officers are welcome to attend any training session that interests them. This would an excellent way to learn more about mission projects, social issues, the reading program or other UMW topics. The morning ends with lunch. Come and enjoy the fellowship with other UMW members. It's freeway close - only 30 minutes away. Registration is $15 before January 15 or $18 at the door. Registration forms are in the UMW mail-box in the church office.

Circle Meetings

Discover Your Calling and Career Release and empower your authentic self by join-ing this four week class in February. In this four week class, you will discover what you are truly meant to do, what's holding you back, and how to pursue your God-given dreams. All are welcome to join this class, from recent college graduates to retired folks who are figuring out their golden years. Classes are February 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. in the New Room at St. Mark's. The registration fee is $25. Please regis-ter by emailing Lydia@stmarksumc.org and she will email you the link to pay the fee. The class will be led by Rev. Lydia Sohn, whose bio can be found on the church website and her blog: https://www.revlydia.com/about/

LGBTQIA Questions? Join Dr. Colette Lord and Rev. Jeri

Who? Anyone want-ing to understand the LGBTQIA community What? Dr. Colette Lord will answer questions about gender identity and what it means to be

transgender or non-binary. When? Third Monday of each month, 6-7 PM January 21 –June 17, 2019 Why? To increase the understanding, com-passion, and empathy for LGBTQIA folks so our community is loving for all. Where? St. Mark’s United Methodist Church 3502 Clairemont Dr., Rm. 10 San Diego, CA 92117 858.273.1480

Want to help build a house but don’t want to cross the border?

On January 6, 2019 you can get information and sign-up for a new Habitat for Humanity home build on March 1and 2. Join Rev. Jeri as she works with and for neighbors. The information table will be on the patio after church. Volunteers must be 16 years old.

Service Event: Healing Arts for Asylum Seekers

Sunday, January 13, 10:45 am - 1:45 pm You are invited to be a part of a small team of

volunteers bring-ing an hour of art to the asylum seekers sheltering at Christ Ministry Center. We'll first meet for training and discussion at St. Mark's, then head to Christ Ministry Center. Space is limited.

Please contact Kris Nieder, Director of Youth and Intergenerational Ministries, at Kris@StMarksUMCSD.org if interested or to get more information.

Bienvenidos Bags for Asylum Seekers

Save the Date of Sunday, January 20! You are invited to help create backpack kits for asylum seekers. Our youth are collecting new and gently used backpacks, travel sized hygiene items, socks, and monetary contribu-tions towards AT&T GoPhones and calling cards. On January 20, come help assemble the kits in the Social Hall from 11 am to noon. We'll hear about Christ Ministry Center's Safe Harbors program. (Thank you to Diana, 13, for coming up with the name for our bags!)

Church Directory photo shoots starting in February! Sign up on patio after church.

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23:

175 MONDAY, DECEMBER 24:

430 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30:

127

♥ Forrest Sedgwick ♥ Phyllis Drewett ♥ Sherry Forrest ♥ Vera Morrison ♥ Al Johannesen ♥ Hope Coleman ♥ Brad Cannon Our military personnel:

Kris Brendal, Army Robert S.Chisholm, Navy Craig Clemans, Marines Paul Clemans, Air Force Blake Cross, Navy Samuel England, Navy Lenny Hezelett, Navy Amanda Hoadley, Navy Michael Hunter, Navy Brady Jackson, Army Jeremy Munson, Navy Milo Riegle, Marines Casper Stalnaker, Navy Nathan Streeter, Army Robert Tarango, Navy

In Our Prayers Next Week @ A Glance

Sunday, January 6, 2019

8:30AM Pastor’s Sunday School/NR

8:45AM Chancel Choir Practice/Sanc 9:30AM Service/ & CommunionSanc 10:45AM Prospect. Member Class/NR 10:45AM Directory Photo Sign-Up 12:00PM Tongan Fellowship/Sanc

Monday, January 7, 2019 6:00PM Carillon Bells/SH 6:45PM AA Meeting-Wmn/RM 9

Tuesday, January 8, 2019 6:30PM School Board Mtg/Lib 6:30PM CCSA Advisory Mtg/CR 7:00PM UMW Faith Circle/Off site 7:15PM AA Meeting/RM 9

Wednesday, January 9, 2019 9:30AM Friendship Circle/NR 5:30PM Bible Study/NR 6:00PM Glory Ringers/SH

Thursday, January 10, 2019

12:00PM Midday Mindfulness/NR 4:15PM Cherub Choir/CR 5:20PM Hallelujah Chimes/SH 7:00PM Chancel Choir/CR 7:00PM Boy Scouts/SH 7:15PM AA Meeting-Wmn/RM 9

Sunday, January 13, 2019

7:45AM Pancake Breakfast 8:30AM Pastor’s Sunday School/NR 9:30AM Service/Sanc 10:45AM Prospect. Member Class/NR 10:45AM Directory Photo Sign-Up 12:00PM Tongan Fellowship/Sanc 12:30PM Healing Art/Christ Ministry Ctr

CR=Choir Room Sanc=Sanctuary Lib=Library SH=Social Hall NR=New Room *If you have any questions about or would like to add an event to the church calendar, please contact the church office at 858-273-1480 or by email at office@stmarksumcsd.org.

You are invited to partici-pate in the St Mark's prayer chain via email. Prayer requests will be sent to you via an email account you provide; you will not be asked to do anything other than offer your private prayers for requests you receive. To participate, please email Donna Newby at donewby@san.rr.com.

858-273-1480

St. Mark’s Messenger (USPS 516-260) is published weekly by St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 3502 Clairemont Drive, San Diego CA 92117. Periodicals Postage paid at San Diego, CA POSTMASTER: Send address changes to St. Mark’s Mes-senger, 3502 Clairemont Dr, S.D., CA 92117

Sunday, January 6, 2019 9:30 AM Service Rev. Lydia Sohn

Child Care, Room 1

Sunday School Rooms 6, 8 &10

Rev. Lydia Sohn Senior Minister in Transition

In Pastor’s Sunday School

we study the lectionary

texts which follow the

church calendar. For

Sunday, January 6:

• Isaiah 60:1-6

• Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

• Ephesians 3:1-12

• Matthew 2:1-12

It’s an informal study,

always open to all, at

8:30 AM in the New Room.

Pastor’s Sunday School

St. Mark’s Messenger

Vol. 46: Issue 1

Keeping In Touch

January 2, 2019

Do you have some free time during the week? Consider becoming an office volunteer. We currently need help on Monday mornings from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. For more information contact the office at 858-273-1480.

Office Volunteer Needed

Did you know there is more information on our website and in the email Messenger? • Need a pick-me-up?

Videos of all sermons are on-line!

If you don’t want to miss a thing, subscribe to the email Messenger at www.stmarksumcsd.org.

On this upcoming Sunday, we celebrate the end of the Christmas season and begin the season of Epiphany. The season of Epiphany is just as it sounds, a season that focuses on the miraculous realization that God has been made flesh in Jesus Christ. This Sunday's gospel reading comes from the gospel of Matthew, where the three wise men come to visit Jesus just by following a star! The wise men first visit the King of Judea, as their natural assumption is that this star would lead them to royalty. But the royalty they are led to are actu-ally three lower-middle class nobodies in a humble abode. This does not stop them from giving them the expensive and luxurious gifts they had prepared for this baby "king." The text reads that when they see Jesus, they are not dis-appointed or confused but they are "overwhelmed with joy" and kneel down before the baby. These three men were indeed wise for they did not see the truth with their eyes but with their hearts. Had it been me and I had made this long trek to this "king," I would have been aghast and perhaps worse, laughed aloud when I saw the situation. But throughout my entire life, I have heard God tell me to look again at people and situa-tions in my life that seem hopeless or not worth my time. Things do not always appear to be as they are. Possibilities and miracles are lying just beneath the surface if we could but have the wisdom to see with our hearts. This is the idea I will be exploring this upcoming Sunday as we celebrate the Epiphany, the celebration of God being made known to us in the most unexpected of ways and how God continues to do so in our lives every single day. I hope you will join me. In this together, Rev. Lydia