Little Dresses to Haiti and Operation Christmas Child

This year 50 dresses have been delivered to

CONVOY of HOPE to be distributed in Haiti and 75 dresses have been given to Operation Christmas Child for their shoebox distribution worldwide. So far St. Mark Presbyterian has donated 304 dresses.

There are kits and instructions available in the Narthex. If you can help in this ministry by sewing dresses or by donations of KING SIZE pillowcases, double fold bias tape (.25” wide”) or money to purchase those items (please mark donation for LITTLE DRESSES and leave in PW box or give to M. Powell or S. Naylor) it would be greatly appreciated.

Savers Thrift Shop donates their unsold pillow-cases to us for this project. Please support them.

Questions, call S. Naylor.

Blood Drive

Our third drive of the year will be held on Sunday, August 21 from 9 AM to 1 PM in Gleason Hall.

The need is great for your donation.

If you want to save time and not sit in that little room for what feels like hours visit: redcross-blood.org/RapidPass to do the pre-reading and answer the donation questions from the comfort of your own home. The catch is you have to do it the morning of the drive.

This is a great opportunity for us to help save lives. Each unit can help 3 people. We out did our 20 units from last time. We did 30. Let's see if we can get more this time.

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

Worship Prayers for August 7

PRAYER IN PREPARATION:  On this day of worship, we call upon you, O God.  We gather with neighbors and strangers to hear your hope and to hear our own invitation to work for the good of all.  In this place of praise and prayer, may we receive that grace, which is as old as creation, yet as fresh as each new morning.  Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                                                                                          

Give thanks to the Lord, and call upon God's name.

         We will sing God's praises, telling all the good things the Lord has done.

Rejoice in God's holy name, delight in seeking the Lord.

         We seek God's strength, we seek God's presence always.

Remember the wonderful things God has done, remember God's faithful love.

         God's name be praised! 

   THE CONFESSION                                                                                                                                            

   O Holy God, you know us better than we know ourselves.  You know the ways we scheme and manipulate for our own advantage.  You are aware of how often our deeds fail to match the faith we claim.  Help us to face ourselves with honesty.  We yearn for the treasure of your kingdom.  Give us the will and courage to change our ways.  Forgive us, save us, Holy God, that our lives may demonstrate your kingdom.

Daily Prayer for August 13

SATURDAY

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Judges 16:1-14; Acts 7:30-43; John 5:1-18

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation. In the beginning you separated light from darkness and placed all your works in our hands. You have given us the light of day that we might see your wonders in all we say and do; you give us the gentle darkness of the night that we might rest from our burdens and be refreshed in body and spirit. How great is your love, how wide is your mercy! Never let us board up the narrow gate that leads to life with rules or doctrines that you dismiss; but give us a Spirit to welcome all people with affection, so that your church may never exclude secret friends of yours, who are included in the love of Jesus Christ, who came to save us all. Keep us close together in your Spirit, breaking bread in faith and love, one with Jesus Christ our Lord and Master. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.)

Marsha Medley, Music Director

The Session has named Marsha Medley as the new Music Director at St. Mark beginning on August 1. She has been the Organist since 2012, coming to St. Mark from Ivy Chapel UCC in Chesterfield, and will continue as Organist in her new role. Marsha replaces Bud Clark who left St. Mark in July.

Marsha is trained as a classical pianist but has worked as a professional organist for over 30 years. Self-taught on the organ, she first started playing at the “big” Mass in the Catholic Church of her childhood at age 13. She has directed vocal choirs and bell choirs and conducted church orchestras for more than 20 years. Marsha is a published composer and arranger and has taught piano privately for many years.

“Music and congregational singing is such an important part of a meaningful, spirit-filled wor-ship experience,” Medley said. “I see the potential for everyone to become more involved in the music ministry here, being part of the choir, bells, or even just making a joyful noise to the Lord in pews.”

Rally Sunday

 On August 14, the Fellowship Committee along with Children's Ministries are celebrating Rally Day. 
Although summer isn't quite over, this will be a celebration of new beginnings at St. Mark.  We return to our regular worship schedule:  Saturday 5:00PM  Sunday 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM

The Sunday church school schedule begins with backpacks being blessed at 10:30.

Join us in Gleason Hall following the 10:30 service for a BBQ. We will serve hot dogs, brats, hamburgers and ice cream! Please bring a salad or side dish to share. Meat, plates & utensils, drinks, and ice cream will be furnished. A free will offering will be collected to alleviate expenses.

In order to have some idea on how much food to purchase, please sign up in the narthex by the coffee table. All are welcome. Questions, call Sally Shepherd.

Educational Events for the Fall

Sunday, August 14 Rally Day!

• *worship schedule resumes
• *backpack blessing at 10:30
• *Sunday school kick-off for all ages *hot dogs and ice cream!!!!!!

Sunday, August 28 Bible Sunday

Saturday, September 17

• 8 am Men’s Fellowship Hosts Breakfast
• 9—11 am “God of Abraham” - Judaism, Christianity and Islam
• Interfaith Panel Discussion

Sunday, September 25 All Church Crop Walk for Hunger Eden Seminary; registration 12:30 pm; walk 1:30 pm

Sunday, October 2 All Church Apple Picking

Sunday, October 9 Annual Fall Festival

Wednesday, October 12

Family Educational Event 7-8:30 pm

‘Bullying’ speaker TBA

Saturday, November 19 9-11 am Adult Education Presentation

Wednesdays, November 30- December 21

6:15-7 pm

Advent Worship

(light supper served 5:30 pm)

Daily Prayer for August 9

TUESDAY

If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Judges 13:1-15; Acts 5:27-42; John 3:22-36

Merciful God, in Christ you make all things new. Transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory. Eternal God, we praise you for your mighty love given in Christ's sacrifice on the cross, and the new life we have received by his resurrection. We thank you for the presence of Christ in our weakness and suffering, the ministry of Word and Sacrament, all who work to help and heal, sacrifices made for our benefit, opportunities for our generous giving. God of grace, let our concern for others reflect Christ's self-giving love, not only in our prayers, but also in our practice. We pray for those subjected to tyranny and oppression, wounded and injured people, those who face death, those who may be our enemies. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.)

Save the Date: PW Brunch

I love August! I’ve always loved August. My calendar year will always be August to July. August means It’s back-to-school-time. What’s more fun than a trip to get new school supplies? (Could have lived without the saddle oxfords K-12.) Then there were new bulletin boards to put up and first day activities about the Social Studies Spectrum. But then I retired. August was not a time of excitement. I must admit I had a couple of bad years. Then I met the Women’s Fall Brunch for St. Mark Presbyterian ladies! So now I again anticipate back-to-school-time. That means it’s time to move planning for the St. Mark Presbyterian Women’s Fall Brunch to the front burner!

This is an event that is low key, low-stress and most of all fun for everyone involved. The PW Board hosts the Fall Brunch to say thank you in advance for all the time, energy and effort that our St. Mark women will devote to PW activities this coming year. The event has a simple (almost routine), seemingly successful format. It is always surprising to me how it comes together. Once a theme has been selected at the spring board meeting, thinking hats appear. We could…or we could even…. So now ladies,

Don’t wait for pigs to fly! (See Proverbs 6:4)

Please join us as we celebrate the start of a new PW year

at the annual Fall Brunch on Saturday, September 10

at 10:00 a.m. in Gleason Hall.

Plan now to be our guests for a morning of fellowship, delicious food, entertainment and reflection. This is always a time to catch up with friends and make new ones. Miss Piggy et al. will star in this year’s “musical experience.”. As always, we guarantee smiles and a few laughs along the way. PW Board members will begin calling St. Mark women later in August. Be ready to make your reservation then or call the Church office to add your name to the guest list. If you have any questions, give me a call.

Remember, start the new year with lots of hogs and kisses and St. Mark PW!

Godspeed my friends,

Mary Beth Powell