The Church in 2020

The nation’s response to the Coronavirus has us all rethinking what our lives are about.

Do we have to go to gyms to exercise?

Can I stay in touch with friends without being near them?

Can there ever be too much toilet paper and frozen pizza in the house?

Can I get the same uplifting message from online church?

Will life go back to what it was before the Coronavirus was in America?

Not likely. Any event that is as far reaching to all aspects of our lives will change us. But we go forward just like those before us did in uncertain times.

Our spiritual lives have changed, how we worship and congregate. There may be a plus side to our virtual church. There are people that may be searching for deeper meaning in their lives. The world in crazy mode has that effect. But, those same people might be reluctant to go inside a building filled with strangers who may or may not look like them. It is all too much bother to figure when to stand and shake hands(pre-March 2020 reference)---not to mention all those songs that aren’t familiar and announcements about people and events that are unknown. Does the phrase “I’m spiritual not religious” really stand for I’m spiritual, looking for understanding, but I don’t want to join the organization?

Maybe virtual church will connect with those that the 21st century church hasn’t yet. This time of staying home, cherishing family and what we have, not of what we think we should acquire, sounds like the perfect opportunity to embrace some Christian ideas. Maybe fifty years from now the faithful will look at the 2020 pandemic as the event that took modern Christianity from Sunday in the pews to a bolder outlook. A church focused on justice, kindness and a mission to include all in creative ways, that we can’t even imagine now. A church not tabulating membership losses but rejoicing in the number of people touched by the love of God and fellowship of other believers in the church building or beyond. With all crises there is an opportunity on the other side for those that visualize what can be.

Linda Larimer

For St. Mark Presbyterian's On-line worship and classes, click here.  We welcome all.

Congregational Nominating Committee

“The most important role in any Presbyterian (PC-USA) church,” as expressed by Pastor Jim during a
Session meeting, “is the Congregational Nominating Committee. They, through the work of the Holy Spirit, will select leaders from the church members who will oversee St. Mark and guide it into the future.”

The St. Mark Congregational Nominating Committee will soon begin its work to identify these new leaders – the people who are called, by the congregation and the Holy Spirit, to serve as elders, deacons, and other positions in our church.

Do you feel this call to serve? Would you suggest names of people that you think have gifts and skills that can guide our church into the future?

 Nomination forms for submitting your name or others are available at the Welcome Center. The Congregational Nominating Committee has a mailbox in the office to deposit your suggestions. You can also contact V. Sherman or L. Larimer, who are nominating committee members.

IT íS NOT TOO LATE !

Lifetouch has added two additional Photography Session  dates:  September 28 and 29

Photography Session Dates & Times are:
Wednesday,
Sept. 28 2:00 PM to 8:50 PM

Thursday,
Sept. 29 2:00 PM to 8:50 PM

Friday,
Sept. 30 2:00 PM to 8:50 PM

Saturday,
Oct. 1      10:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Click here to sign up.

Pictorial Directory

Our church is in the process of producing a new pictorial directory for 2017. We would love to have everyone included. There is no cost to have your photograph taken. For participating, you will receive a complimentary 8x10 portrait and pictorial directory. You may schedule your photography session online at www.discoverstmark.org or call the church office for more information (636-394-2233).

Photography Session Dates & Times are:

Aug. 16-19 2:00 PM - 8:50 PM

Aug. 20 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Sept. 30 2:00 PM - 8:50 PM

Oct. 1 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Message from Pastor Jim

“Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple . . . with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number . . .” Acts 2:46-47

May was an amazing month. The Holy Spirit is definitely on the move at St. Mark. On May 1, we officially welcomed 10 new members to our congregation. And we ended the month with a Pentecost celebration that included welcoming the 8 members of our confirmation class into our church family as full members.

The Holy Spirit is also at work through our Mission Study Team as they continue to gather information that will shape the next season of ministry at St. Mark. I have not been involved in any of the writing of the Mission Study Report, which will be presented to the session and then the entire congregation sometime this summer. But I have been aware of some of the feedback the Mission Study Team is receiving; it seems there is quite a bit of concern about attracting “younger families” to St. Mark.

Just like St. Mark, almost every church wants to attract young families. The (unstated) rationale behind this usually includes the following:

• “We are getting older. Without younger people, the church will eventually die.”
• “It’s energizing to have young people around.”
• “Younger members can do the work that older members can’t/won’t do anymore.”
• “Older members are on fixed incomes. Younger, working families are needed for their pledges.”
• “Young families remind us of church when were part of a young family.”

But let’s be real. Are churches saying they want young families for what they can give to us? Instead, what if churches sought out young families to nurture their faith journey and share with them in authentic community?

How can St. Mark be the kind of congregation that welcomes young families for more than their energy and wallets? How can St. Mark shift its perspective and create a rationale that includes the following:

• Asking young families how we can pray for them, and then actually pray for them.
• Be genuinely welcoming, even accepting the running and squirming, noise and messiness that comes with kids.
• Not expecting everyone to be “the church” like we have always been “the church.”
• Inviting younger people to serve by actually asking them how they want to serve, and then making serving easy.
• Giving them real input into the direction the church is going, and give them a real opportunity to make a difference.

I’m looking forward to the results Mission Study Report. I’m looking forward to how the session will respond to these and other questions the MSR will raise. I’m looking forward to the Holy Spirit continuing its good work among us, and how we will live it out.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jim

DEACONS of St Mark Presbyterian Church

"The opportunity for service and caring for God's people is great.  Through the example set by Jesus Christ, the Deacons continually find ways to mobilize the strengths and resources of the congregation.  In so doing, through faith, Deacons lead the congregation to accomplish tasks that serve the greater congregation and community."

In order to accomplish and fulfill our mission the St Mark Presbyterian Church Board of Deacons primarily lead 9 committee's and three main fundraising events made possible by the participation and efforts of the congregation.  Deacons also support the following community outreach:

Beyond Housing
Board of Religious Organizations
Bridge Bread
Businesspersons Between Jobs
Circle Of Concern
Habitat for Humanity
Isaiah 58 Ministries
Lafayette Industries
Lydia's House
Matthew 25 Hunger Fund
Mound Ridge Camp
Peace Meal
Presbyterian Children Homes and Services
Room at the Inn
Solea Water Project
UKIRK

Acts 2:42   And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

One is Silver. . . .

Pastor Jim greeting new member Carol C.

 Several weeks ago, St. Mark Presbyterian welcomed 17 new members and a new pastor to our church community.  At the same time, I (the historian) received a photo directory from 1975 and realized that was 40 years ago.  Thumbing through the directory, I was warmed at seeing so many familiar faces.  This is part II of spot-lighting those individuals who have been with St. Mark Presbyterian for over 40 years (one reminded me it had been almost 48 years)

The Bob McLuen Family

 The children of some of the members pictured above are also members.  Remember to thank Fred, Terry, Wray, Diana, Mae, Jack, David, Ethel, Kenny, Bob, Carolyn and Flo for their faithfulness, service and for laying such an excellent foundation for St. Mark Presbyterian today.  Click here for those featured last week.  There will be more to follow.

Pastor Jim greeting Carolyn S., one of our long-time members.

Join the Family

Acts 2: 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Our Membership Committee invites you to become a member of St. Mark Presbyterian Church (PCUSA).  If you know someone who might be interested, extend an invitation to them.  If you are a member, please wear your name tag to make it easier for our new members.  Order forms are in the office if you need one.

Sunday, September 6 at 10:30 am Continental break-fast and gathering in Room 102 for an informal conversation about our ministry and mission.

Sunday, September 13 at 9:30 am Meet our Pastors and learn more about serving Jesus at St. Mark Church.

Sunday, September 27 (Date Change) at 10:30 am New members received at 10:30 worship followed by a celebration brunch in the gym.

Call or email Pastor Susan(shayes@discoverstmark.org) or Elder Sharon Tharp (edwardtharp@sbcglobsl.net) for more information or to sign up.

Why Do We Attend Church?

Saturday Evening Worship

When I was a little girl, my mother told me, "The best friends you'll ever have are found at church."  Sure, I have high school, college, teaching friends that I love going out to lunch with, but now that I am retired, most are not here on a daily basis when I feel low or need encouragement.

"Church friends" are a special kind of friend.  If you think "church friends" are those you say hello to when passing the peace at worship, you are missing out on so much.  They are the people you share your joys and sorrows with in prayers. They are the people who send you cards when it's your birthday or a casserole when you are recovering from illness.  They are the people you work beside at the ABC Sale or plan the next luncheon with.  They are the people you study the Bible with.  They are the people you share your special skills with:  decorating, gardening, finance, teaching, music.  They are part of your community of believers.

Go-getters Going Out to Lunch

I have two friends whose husbands are handicapped.  Oddly, they both attended the same nearby church.  They both confess they have stopped going to church because it's just too hard.  My response to them has been they are missing out on so much.  When your life becomes difficult is EXACTLY the time your church becomes an important element in your life.  To stay at home can be so isolating.  Just coming to Wednesday evening dinners can open up a person's world.  If anyone understands messy lives, the church people do.  We have all been there and can help with prayers, Stephen's Ministry counseling, a meal or two.

I have read many statistics on how our country while remaining "spiritual" has stopped going to church.        This makes me sad for those people.  On Facebook the other day, a friend posted a link to a blog which also discusses the importance of going to church.  Click here.

Children's Ministry delivering boxes for needy children

Encourage neighbors, friends and acquaintances to attend church.  We will soon be starting a new programming year with a new interim pastor.  What a great time for someone to start attending.  We have Sunday School classes, Midweek, Go-getters, the PW Brunch and New Member classes beginning.  Click here for more on what St. Mark Presbyterian has to offer.

Small Group going out to dinner

Book Club

Jaclyn Morgan

Reaching Out

We all know about the reach of the internet----our blog, website, facebook page, twitter, pinterest pages and #discoverstmark on Instagram all being ways we reach out to the world and let people know we are an active caring congregation.

Our new bus is also a great method of "spreading the word".  Last week it went with our youth to Montreat and Pastor Susan received this e-mail:

Dear. Ms. Hayes,

On our way to church this morning (in Knoxville, Tennessee), we passed the church bus for St. Mark's church! I'm not altogether sure why that was such an encouragement, but it was an unexpected blessing to me to see the presence of one of our sister churches so far from its "home base."

 I don't know what brought your folks this far East, but I'm guessing it was some sort of retreat or mission trip. In any case, I pray that the journey and its purpose will be a blessing, both to those within the bus and to those who greet them at their destination.

 If ever you or anyone else from St. Mark's finds themselves in Knoxville again, please let me know. I would love to break bread with you and enjoy to hear about what is happening within the congregation and in Baldwin [sic].

 May our Lord continue to bless you and the ministries of St. Mark. If you're serving as interim pastor, that probably means there is a PNC hard at work behind the scenes. I will pray for them.

 Your brother in Christ, Wyn BryantPastor, Spring Place Church (PCUSA), Knoxville, Tennessee

What are some other ways we can use the church bus to promote St. Mark and its missions? What are some other ways we can use it to help our members and others in our community?  How important is it that we, also, reach out to other congregations in our denomination with words of encouragement and offers of prayer?

Changes in Church Dynamics

Bethlehem Baptist, Jefferson County, Missouri

When my ancestors attended church in southeast Missouri, they had to travel by horse and wagon
which sometimes took hours.  When they got to their meeting place, they didn't stay for an hour and go home, but camped out attending a month of church services and meetings in a weekend.  Sometimes they met in a field, but sometimes they would hold worship on one another's farms.  To have an ordained pastor to marry them or baptize them, they often had to wait for several months.  But they loved these gatherings which were more like family reunions since they were all related "one way or another."

As civilization caught up to them and there were more permanent pastors, worship was held every week, with Sunday School and good attendance pins.  As permanent structures were built, my families' members started attending the church that was closest to their homes.  They no longer had those family reunions, but now were attending three different churches.  That had to have been hard for them   That had to be a cultural shift that made some uncomfortable. And yet permanent neighborhood churches are the churches many of us remember.

Think of how life has changed since the 1950's and 1960's.  In my case, my cousins lived in the same subdivision in North County.  We no longer attended the same church---one aunt had married a Catholic, another aunt's family attended the Evangelical and Reformed.  So, we didn't all attend the same church like my ancestors did with their cousins, but I could ride my bike to their houses.  We visited my grandparents every Friday night in South St. Louis.  My softball team played other Khoury League teams in North County.  We rarely vacationed outside of Missouri.  I recall a cousin saying before he went to Viet Nam that he'd never been out of Missouri.  Life was different then:  my world was still in about a 20 mile radius.

The church dynamics many of us grew up with have changed since the 1960's just as our personal lives have changed.  Our daughters live in Kansas City and Texas.  My siblings and many cousins are from one coast to another. Our church lives have also changed as a result of changes in our personal lives.  click here to read how one person has outlined the changes and how it impacts Sunday morning worship.

Briefly, here are some of the changes  he addresses:

-Greater affluence means people have the money for technology, the money to travel often, living one place in the summer and another in the winter
-Higher focus on children's activities which often travel out of town
-More travel visiting relatives who live somewhere else
-Blended and single parent families

At St. Mark Presbyterian we have addressed many of these issues  for those traveling on Sundays, by having Saturday night worship and often Wednesday night worship and educational opportunities.

We keep our members engaged through various social media:  Facebook, Twitter and the Blog, which encourage our members to engage in conversations with church members even though they may be out of town.

Our church web-site is available with sermons and announcements if individuals cannot attend worship.

But, I think these changes go much deeper than just Sunday worship attendance:  they impact our giving and our leadership roles as well.  For those who are out of town a lot, it is sometimes hard to remember that the church depends on our fulfilling our pledges to pay the bills.  Many pre-pay for a month or a year, so the church has the income to operate.  Others are using an automatic payment plan available through some financial services.

It is often difficult for small groups to continue over the winter with members on cruises, in Florida or in Arizona.  One small group used Skype to stay connected with their Florida members.  But, it is difficult to serve as a Deacon or an Elder while living out of town part-time.  Some committees have an elder chair person but a "lieutenant" who can take over, lead meetings, or work with the chair person on the agenda.

What are some other ways St. Mark can stay "in touch" and relative during this cultural shift?  We welcome your suggestions.  Please contact one of the pastors, C. Weber (clerk of session), or V. Sherman (chair of communications) if you have suggestions. Or, you can comment below!

Printed with permission of Jaclyn Morgan for St. Mark Presbyterian Church.

What does the blog say about St. Mark?

Several weeks ago, someone asked what my vision is for the St. Mark Blog. In addition to serving our congregation, I want someone to go to the blog, look at the posts and determine who we are.  Many years ago, I attended a workshop in which someone said, “When you walk through the door of your building, what do you see? Visitors are going to walk in, look around and determine what kind of community this is.”  Look at the blog post titled "What do you see?" to see the St. Mark Presbyterian Church physical building a visitor might see.   Does this represent who the St. Mark community is?

The blog and website are virtual looks through the front door of St. Mark.  I have always considered St. Mark a balance of mission, worship, fellowship, study which has always been open to various points of view---a safe place.  That’s what I want our blog to be---a safe place with many contributors who feel free to share God’s word.  Although many churches have a blog which is totally written by pastoral staff, I see ours as more of a reflection of the people of St. Mark Presbyterian Church not just one person’s vision.  Click here for someone else's discussion of Social Media and Church Leadership.

See the list of topics on the right?

What do you see?

 Once at a workshop, someone said, "What does a person see when he walks into your building?  What does this say about you and what you think is important?"

 If someone comes to our church for a funeral, a Scout meeting, a basketball game, the House Tour, pre-school, what do they see and what does it say about St. Mark Presbyterian Church and what we think is important?

Updates Needed for Church Directory

Does our Church database have YOUR family membership record correct?

Here is your chance to update YOUR record for our annual Guide Book & Directory (if you haven’t already done so).

It is time for us to update our database with any changes, additions, or deletions that may have occurred in YOUR family over the past year.  This book will be the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How of our Congregation. 

Have you changed your phone number? Have you moved? Are you preparing to move soon? Are all of your children still at home and are they all included in your membership record? Do you want your record published?

If you have not already informed the Church Office about changes to your record, please let us know now so that the information in the Guide Book & Directory is correct. The Church Office number is 636-394-2233.

Recent survey results by Guide Book Publishing show that 92.1% of families would rather patronize a Guide Book & Directory advertiser over a non-advertiser. It “will pay” to advertise in our new Guide Book & Directory.

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The book is being provided at no cost to our Church, including the mailing to each family, and again is being subsidized by local busi-nesses that advertise in it. If you own or manage a business and would like to find out about advertising in our book, please call the Church Office.

Invite a Friend to Church

From one of our members who has moved out of state:

"The other Sunday, we visited a church for the first time.

 During the sermon, the relatively new minister shared thoughts on his observations of his first seven months.  What caught my attention was his listing of sources for new members at mainline churches.  Here’s what he shared:

• 3% came through evangelistic crusades or revivals
•  
• 4% came through church programs
•  
• 4% came through Sunday school
•  
• 5% came as walk-ins
•  
• 8% came because of the pastor
•  
• 76% came through friends or relatives"

Do you think this applies to St. Mark Presbyterian as well?  You have probably noted that "Discover St. Mark" has become our "brand".  Our church is not easy to find, but once people find it, they have found a treasure.  Don't you want to share this "treasure" with your friends and family?  Invite them to an event, to worship, to your small group.  Let them discover the warmth, the caring of our church.

Chicken

Chicken

The link above (the word "Chicken") will take you to a devotional - a quick read -  if you've ever had fears about sharing your faith. [OK, that should include just about all of us 'frozen chosen'!]