Worship from Sept. 21

PRAYER IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP:  Lord, I know that You have been calling me all of my life.  You want me to come into Your presence and share my very soul with You.  The problem is I am afraid that if I do that, You will reject me.  Help me to set aside my fear of You so that I will come to You just as I am.  Fill me with a sense of Your Love, so that I can come to know You more fully.  In the name of Your Son I pray, Amen.      l                                                            

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:      Let us sing of the loving kindness of the Lord forever;

People:      To all generations we will make known Your faithfulness.

Leader:      The heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord;

People:      Your faithfulness will be praised in the assembly of the holy ones.

Leader:      In Your name, O Lord, we will rejoice all day long,

People:      And by Your righteousness we will be exalted.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord, You show Your faithfulness to us in so many ways and all you want from us is to be faithful in return.  The problem lies in the fact that so often we put our own interests ahead of our relationship with You.  Forgive us for putting You in the "optional" part of our life.  Teach us through Your Spirit, to respond to Your faithful love of us with faithfulness on our part.  This we pray in the name of Jesus, AMEN.

Click here for Steve Ranney's sermon  for September 21 

Pork Tenderloin and Brownies at Midweek

 St. Mark Presbyterian Church has begun Midweek Dinners again.  This week, we had pork tenderloin,  roasted potatoes, green beans, cheesy biscuits, green salad with apples and pecans.  Yum!

 The recipe for the tenderloin:  2 pork tenderloin, Marinade  1/4 c. fresh lemon juice, 2 large cloves garlic, minced, 2 t. coarse salt, 1 t. black pepper, 2 T chopped fresh rosemary, 1/2 c. extra virgin olive oil.

 Place marinade ingredients (see note below) in a ziploc bag with tenderloins, refrigerate for 4-6 hours.  Line a baking pan with foil and then spray the foil with non-stick spray.  Place the tenderloins in the baking pan (discard the marinade).  Roast in pre-heated oven at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.  Let the tenderloins sit for 10 minutes before slicing.

 For dessert were brownie "bowls" for ice cream.  Basically brownies were baked in muffin tins.  Then while they were still warm, another muffin tin (sprayed) was placed on top to make the bowls which held ice cream---see below for details.

Youth and Children's Events

Middle School and High School Events

The youth of St. Mark Presbyterian are ready for the program year! Our overall theme is Hospitality. We are using the scripture:

“Above all, maintain constant love for one another…Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold of grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” 1 Peter 4:8a, 9-10.

This program year, Middle School Sunday School will be at 9:30 am in the Youth Lounge to allow students to participate in worship with the Senior Highs. 6th and 7th graders, JOIN US!!

Senior High Youth Group will be meeting weekly at 11:30 am—1 pm on Sundays beginning SEPTEMBER 7th, and the Middle School Youth Group will meet 6-7 pm weekly on Wednesdays beginning SEPTEMBER 10th.

Looking ahead, please SAVE THE DATE for: 

• September 26th: All Youth Lock-In at church
• October 12th: CROP Walk at Eden Seminary
• October 26th: All Youth to Six Flags Fright Fest
• Stay tuned for additional dates, as we will send a full calendar soon!

Saint’s & Sibling’s Fellowship 2014-2015

Welcome to St. Mark’s Fellowship for children. We hope to see you twice a month during the school year for fellowship and mission projects.

• September 28 Eckert’s Fun Farm Watch Billy Bob’s Pig races and enjoy an afternoon picking apples for the Fall Festival.
• October 5 Pet Blessing
• October 12 St. Mark’s Fall Festival
• November 9 Lunch at church and decorate Angel Tree
• November 23 Epic 6
• December 7 Children/Youth caroling 
• December 14 Lunch at church/wrap Circle of Concern gifts followed by tour of Tilles Park

Worship September 14

PRAYER IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP:  

Eternal God, you have called us to be members of one body.  Join us with those who in all times and places have praised your name, that, with one heart and mind, we may show the unity of your church, and bring honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:      Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.

People:      We will serve the Lord with gladness; and come before Him with joyful singing,

Leader:      We are God's people and the sheep of His pasture.

People:      We will enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.

Church Office

 St. Mark Presbyterian recently installed new office furniture giving the office a sleek 21st century look.

Carol and Doreen have been loyal church staff for a few years. . . .we decided to do a Throwback Thursday to honor them and the others who have worked "behind the scenes".

The first office was across from Fellowship Hall (which was the sanctuary) in 202 (a pre-school room).  The second office was in 106 (the conference room).  Then, it moved to 102 while we waited for funds to build the current office in 111.  The current office looked finished from the outside but was just gravel on the inside---affectionately known as "the rock garden".

L-R The Wus, Jan Fisher, Ruth Fortel, Elsie Clark and Howard Gleason

Doreen and Paula Walls,1986

Doreen and Carol Murphy,1986

Doreen, 1986

These photos above were all taken in what is today the Conference Room

Carol Pfeil, Pam Jenks, Doreen Manhal, 1999

Carol Pfeil, Becca Pecher, Doreen Manhal, 2002 (above and below)

Carol Pfeil 2000
 Thank you to all of you who have made a wonderful contribution to the life of St. Mark Presbyterian Church:  Dorothy Scheifer 1968-1971, Carole Hackman 1971-1973, Darlene Hayes 1973, Elsie Clarke 1973-1981, Doreen Manhal 1981-present, Barbara Bush 1982-1985, Carol Murphy 1984-1986, Tammy Guerke 1986-1986, Paula Walls 1986-1987, Pam Jenks 1985-1986, Pam Jenks 1987-1999, Norma Lockman 1990-1992, Carol Pfeil 1992-present, Becca Pecher 2000-2003.

Red Cross Blood Drive

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE - Sunday, Sept. 21 - 9 AM to 1 PM in Gleason Hall

It's time to roll up our sleeves again for our last blood drive of 2014. It will be held on 

Sunday, September 21, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM in Gleason Hall. 

Please bring your Driver's license and Blood Donation Card if you have one. 

Congratulations St. Mark.  We gave 22 units of blood at our June drive. This is two more 

than the minimum requirement.

The Red Cross makes is very convenient for us to donate by showing up at our doorstep. 

This is a great opportunity for us to help save lives. Fact about blood needs: Blood cannot 

be manufactured - it can only come from generous donors like you. 

Little Dresses in India

Mary Beth:  The dresses arrived and the girls have them.  Will have more pictures at the PW Table this weekend.  Thanks for all you did to make this possible.  See the letter and photo below from Terri Rider.

24 August 2014

Feed a Fellow Feeling Foundation – Habsiguda, Telegana India

Mary Beth & Others,

Christmas came early this year for the girls of the Children’s Home in the town of Habsiguda. These girls are coming from lives of neglect, abuse &/or extreme poverty, living in tattered tarp tents. They very seldom receive anything new. If they do receive new clothes, it is only (1) set per year.

When the girls were told they would be receiving new dresses, how their faces lit up! One by one the girls came forward to be dressed in their new outfit. Once dressed, they would look at their dress in more detail and smile. The girls ranged in ages from 3-11/12. The older & middle girls, the dresses fit them nicely. The younger girls, well, adjustments will be needed to shorten the length. It was such a cute site to see all the girls wearing new clothes and wearing a smile. Both are a rarity. There was sufficient amount of dresses for ALL the girls to receive two each! They were so excited about that!!!

In addition, the luggage was left for the owners to use for storage or other use. They too were very appreciative to receive that gift. [the dresses, made by St. Mark women, were packed in suitcases from the ABC Sale:  click here]

A couple of the photos are not as clear. However, I tried to capture their happy appreciation. When people here have their photo snapped, they are instructed to not smile. That is why there are few smiles seen. After photo is finished, they carry on with the smiles and laughter. One photo has me, a man & woman in the back row. These are the founders/manager of FFFF.

Thanking You again for sharing the love of Christ in such a tangible way to these girls who are less fortunate.

For His Glory

Terri [Rider]

A Season of Peace

“A Season of Peace” begins September 7 and completes October 5, World Communion Sunday. The Peacemaking Offering will be collected during that time.

What does “A Season of Peace” mean? PCUSA has made a commitment to be active in working to transform cultures of violence into communities of peace. That may mean working to end violence against women, children or others, establishing lines of communication with groups and communities with whom there is little contact, and many other initiatives.

Our participation in the Peacemaking Offering provides funds for those programs and St. Mark will retain 25% of the total for local use. Session voted that those funds would go to the Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services of Missouri and St. Martin Peace Meal.

Worship September 7

PRAYER IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP:  Thanks be to you O God that I have risen this day to the rising of life itself.  May it be a day of blessing, O God of every gift, a day of new beginnings given.  Help me to avoid sin and the source of every sin to forsake.  And as the mist scatters from the crest of the hills may each ill haze clear from my soul O God.  Amen  (celtic prayers from Iona)

                                                                            

CALL TO WORSHIP

One:          Gather us in, the lost and the lonely, the broken and breaking, the tired and the aching who long for the nourishment found at your feast.

Many:        Gather us in,

One:          the proud and pretentious, the sure and superior, the never inferior, who long for the leveling found at your feast.

Many:        Gather us in,

One:          the bright and the bustling, the stirrers, the shakers, the kind laughter makers who long  for the deeper joys found at your feast.

Many:        Gather us in,

One:           from corner or limelight, from mansion or campsite, from fears and obsession, from tears and depression, from untold excesses, from treasured successes, to meet, to eat, to be given a seat, be joined to the vine, be offered new wine, become like the least, be found at the feast.

All:             Gather us in.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

O God, to repent is to turn away from everything that separates us from you.  We are imperfect people, and yet you love us.  We are distracted people, and yet you come near to us.  We are lost, and yet you find us.  Draw near to us, in your saving presence and power, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

For Susan Hayes sermon "Losing It", click here.

Men's Fellowship Breakfast

Recently there was an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about the baseball Cardinal logo being inspired by decorations at a Men's Fellowship Breakfast at Ferguson Presbyterian Church.  Briefly, in 1921 Branch Rickey attended a Men's Fellowship Breakfast which was decorated with cardinal birds sitting on twigs.  He and Edward Schmidt were both inspired by those decorations to create the iconic birds on a bat logo. Sometimes church events inspire us in ways we can't imagine!

Although our Men's Fellowship Breakfasts are usually held at church, this month's event on September 20 will be a BBJ Fundraising Breakfast.  Won't you consider attending the BBJ Fundraising Breakfast from 8 AM - 10 AM at the Corner Pub and Grill at 15824 Fountain Plaza Dr.  The cost is $10 with BBJ receiving 50% of the ticket price with the sale of 50 tickets.  Invite your friends and family.  Tickets will be on sale in the Narthex on September 14 or in the church office (no credit cards please).

Plan to attend St. Mark Presbyterian's Fellowship Breakfast---good food for a good cause----and you may be inspired!

Monkey Bread Recipe

1 cup white sugar
2 T cinnamon
3 cans (12 oz) Pillsbury Grands Jr. Biscuits
1 cup butter
1.5 cups packed brown sugar

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9 inch or 10 inch ridged tube pan.
• Mix white sugar and cinnamon in a plastic bag.  Cut Bisquits into small pieces.  Shake 6-8 biscuit pieces in the sugar/cinnamon mixture.  Arrange pieces in the bottom of the pan. Continue until all biscuits are placed in the pan (you may need to mix more cinnamon and sugar---sprinkle any extra on top)
• In a small saucepan, melt the butter.  Add brown sugar.  Bring to a boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Pour over the biscuits.
• Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.  Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes before turning onto a plate.

These were served at the St. Mark brunch "PW Knocks Your Socks off!" along with monkey cookies, smoothies, quiche and salad. Click here for more recipes and information on the brunch.

Midweek Begins

Come for St. Mark Presbyterian's dinner at 5:15, stay for choir, youth activities or adult education:  Click here for a list of activities and meeting times.

St. Mark Adult Education Committee Presents:

A conversation about…

World Religions

Wednesday, September 10 ‘Islamic Tradition and Culture’:  Maysa Albarcha from the Islamic Speakers Bureau

Wednesday, September 17 ‘Eastern Orthodox’:   Rev. Sean Butler, St. Mark

Wednesday, September 24 ‘Hindu Tradition and Culture’:   G.V. Naidu from the Hindu Temple Ballwin, Mo.

All Adult Education programs begin at 6:15 pm in Rooms 304 and 305.

Brunch: PW Knocks Your Socks Off!

Each year St. Mark's Presbyterian Women has a "kick off" brunch inviting each woman in the congregation---whether or not she is active in PW.  This year's theme was with Sock Monkeys.

The menu included banana smoothies, monkey bread, monkey cookies, quiche and salad made by M. Holt, M. Fruechte, N. Kinder, S. Weir, L. Adams, D. Bosenbecker, S. Cardwell, S. Tharp.  The recipes were photographed in the kitchen. Click on the photos to enlarge.  The monkey bread recipe will appear on Friday.

There was time for mixing and fellowship before the program began

The Monkettes performed a dance number to "Daydream Believer". (S. Boeker, J. Horner, B. Pierce, K. Reed, S. Naylor, M. Powell and J. Stewart)

After brunch, S. Rodney and L. Smith read a piece called "Butterfly Kisses and Sock Monkey Wishes" with photos of various sock monkeys in fun situations in church and around the area.  Thank you to all of the ladies who made this a fun Saturday event!

Worship August 31

PRAYER IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP:  God of each new day:  We come in worship seeking again to hear the good news of your unceasing love.  May that love permeate every aspect of our living.  Grant that our worship may renew us, and that our lives may participate in the renewal of your world.  We ask this as your people, and because you are our God.  Amen

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:      How can we repay the Lord for all of His goodness to us?

People:      We will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.  We will fulfill our vows to the Lord in the presence of all God’s people.

Leader:      Let us open our hearts and worship our God.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord, You are painting a living masterpiece in our world and You have invited us to help You.  You invite us to take our place in Your beautiful work, but we get impatient.  We try to take the brush out of Your hand and make ourselves the focus of Your work.  Forgive us for hijacking Your plan and trying to make it happen on our terms.  Please use us as You see fit to accomplish Your masterwork.  This we pray in the name of Your Son, AMEN.

For the sermon "Calling Sylvia", Click here.