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.

The Church and Its People

“Here is the church and here is its steeple; open the doors and see all the people.”

I was never good at memorizing Bible scripture in Sunday School—too many thee’s, thou’s and thine’s for my brain to retain—but simple poems such as this one stuck with me. I was reminded of it this week when I opened my mailbox.

My husband is about one month into a four-month deployment overseas. The first month was full of challenges for the four of us charged with keeping the home fires burning—a broken down van, four cases of strep throat, a rogue thumbnail that’s simply too gross to explain here. Nothing major—thank God, nothing major—but certainly challenging, nonetheless.

Fortunately I’ve had friends and family nearby to lend a helping hand when needed, and church friends and family nearby to listen and offer words of support.

And today, a card in the mail. A card filled with names, packed with names, covered inside AND OUT with names. Too many names to count.

Some of the names I recognized as our pastoral staff, individuals with whom I’ve served on committees or friends I’ve made through my children’s activities. Some, however, were names I did not recognize. They were strangers. And yet they were not.

Like those tiny little clasped hands opening up to peer inside the church, I saw inside our church when I opened that card. I saw all the people. And they were all family.

It’s through these simple actions—a moment to offer support to a friend, or even a stranger—that we share and even spread God’s love. We lift one another up, just as we are called to do. We open the doors of our church and spill out into the world around us.

Thank you for your generosity, and for welcoming my family into yours.

#TBT Hand Bells

Late 1970's

 We have had hand bell choirs for about 40 years.  The first photo is in the sanctuary which is now the Narthex area.  Bob Johnson led this group.  The groups below in the "new" sanctuary and practice room were led by Fred Willman.  Won't you consider joining one of our handbell groups which will begin practicing in a few weeks.  Contact B. Porter or the church office (636-394-2233) if you are interested. Click here for the practice schedule.

1986

1991

Pictured in these photos are R. Gleason, P. Martin, J. Blix, J. Uyesato, L. Donaldson, S. Dougherty, N. Kinder, N. Cleveland, B. Hanson, K. Ferris, N. Fuller.  If you see someone not identified in this list, please leave the name in the comments, contact J. Morgan or leave a note in the Historian's mailbox. (Click on the photos to enlarge them)

"A Psalm of David. I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music" 

Messy Games

WHO: Senior Highs & Mid Highs

WHAT: fun and fellowship while getting
gooey, sloppy, and all kinds of messy

WHEN: September 7th (Srs)
 September 10th (Mid)
Come Dressed Ready to get Messy!

WHERE: meet in the youth room
at St. Mark Presbyterian Church

WHY: Just for FUN!

Bring an extra change of clothes 
& towel!!
(your parents may not let you in the car otherwise!)

Contact Katie Sternhagen with any 

questions or for additional information.

Circle of Concern

There are a number of fund-raisers for Circle of Concern this month, but don't forget the above items are also needed (shampoo, conditioner, canned meat, dry dinners, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce).

SOUPS ON!  Eat out and help Circle!  A portion of the proceeds will be donated---present a flyer from the web-site http://www.circleofconcern.org/orange2.html
9/1 Senor Pique, Ballwin;  9/2 Young's, Valley Park; 9/3 Callier's Home Plate, Ballwin; 9/4 Chili's, Chesterfield, 9/5-7 California Pizza Kitchen, Chesterfield.  Additional restaurants can be found on the web-site.

10TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Our Deacons sponsor this---it will be at The Legends in Eureka Monday September 15.  The are looking for sponsors, donations of prizes, silent auction items as well as teams to play. Click here or  contact G. Corlett or the church office for information.

TELL HUNGER TO TAKE A HIKE This 5K Walk/Run will be September 20.  Register by September 3 to receive a T-Shirt.   Click here for more information.