Dining Out with St. Mark Presbyterian

We have several opportunities to dine out with St. Mark friends.

McAlester's Deli:

Join the Children’s Ministries Team for a FundraisingNight at McAlister’s Deli, 14848 Manchester Road Ballwin, MO 63011  September 12, 5-9 pm. 

Enjoy take out or eat in. This is our fundraiser which supports Operation Christmas Child and offsets the cost of mailing the shoeboxes.

Go-getters:

Please mark your calendars to join us for lunch on September 13, 2016.

Our first Fall luncheon will take us to Big Chief Restaurant, 17352 Manchester Road, Wildwood, MO. Info@bigchiefstl.com, 636/458-3200.

We will meet at the church at 11 am. Please let S. Tharp or J. Graves know of your plans to attend. Invite a friend and join us for special food, fun, and Christian fellowship.

We look forward to seeing you!

Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services 

The annual fund-raising luncheon will be hosted at St. Mark Presbyterian on Thursday, November 3, 2016. 

For over 100 years this amazing organization has been sharing God’s unconditional love and giving hope to thousands of helpless children who have been abused, neglected and abandoned. Hear heartbreaking personal testimonials of former and current clients and meet the staff that’s making it possible for desperate children to find their strengths, overcome obstacles and build better futures.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Registration at 11:30 am

Luncheon from Noon to 1:00 pm

Seating is limited, RSVP to Debra Paulus at (314)

227.4545 or e-mail debra.paulus@pchas.org

Worship Prayers Sept. 4

PRAYER IN PREPARATION:  Almighty God, whose ways are far beyond our understanding,

help us to trust your judgments so that we may do your will by loving you and one another.  In the name of Jesus we pray.  Amen  

CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                                                                                          

Turning, turning, turning: the clay on the potter's wheel comes round.

         And the turning of the seasons brings us round to this new day.

Gripping, molding, forming: the hand of the potter shapes the clay.

         In the grip of God, we are formed anew.

Lifting, shaping, stretching:  the hope of the potter is brought to life.

         God’s hope is us renews and transforms.

Opening ourselves, in faith, to God’s action in our lives we worship God.

  

   PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                                                                                                             

O Fountain of Every Blessing, who pours the holiness of your divine self into every corner of the world and into our very lives: we confess to you that the vessels of our lives are made of fragile clay.  Sometimes we are like cracked pots that cannot hold the measure of compassion you pour out, jugs that leak patience, crocks where hope seeps dry.  Our lives become dust; we chip, crumble, and are empty.  God of mercy, we confess that we are poor vessels.

   SILENT CONFESSION

   Divine Potter, who first knelt in the dust and formed our being, return to that dust and refashion our lives, so that we might hold the fullness of your image once again; we pray through Jesus Christ.  Amen.

  

SCRIPTURE READING                                                                                          

Jeremiah 18:1-11, p. 720

St. Mark Youth Fall Schedule

St. Mark Presbyterian Youth

Middle School (grades 6-8) will meet Sundays from 11:30 am-1 pm unless otherwise noted.

Senior Highs (grades 9-12) will meet on Sundays 4-6 pm unless otherwise noted.

Date Event

• Sept 11: Superheroes: Covenant 
• Sept 17: Adult Education Event
• Sept 18: Superheroes: Mission Capes
• Sept 25: CROP Walk—Congregation Event  www.crophungerwalk.org/stlouismo
• Oct 2: Apple Picking at Eckert’s Belleville Fun Farm
• Oct 9: St. Mark Fall Festival
• Oct 12: Bullying Speaker—Parents and Students Welcome
• Oct 14-16: Senior High Mound Ridge Retreat
• Oct 23: Mystery Clues, Katie out of town
• Oct 30: Halloween Party
• Nov 6: Dessert Auction & Lunch Fundraiser?
• Nov 13: Superheroes: Mission Capes
• Nov 20: Giving Thanks Dinner
• Nov 27: Advent Prayer Stations
• Nov 30: Advent Mid Week—5:30 pm light supper; 6:15 program

Daily Prayer September 8, 2016

THURSDAY

Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving; go into the holy courts with praise; give thanks and call upon God’s name.

Job 29:1; 31:1-23; Acts 15:1-11; John 11:17-29

Almighty God, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross: Give us faith to perceive his glory, that being strengthened by his grace we may be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory. O God, we pray for all international organizations of goodwill that their efforts may lead to a strengthening of those influences which make for peace. Great sacrifices have been made for war; awaken in us and in all people, O God, the willingness to make great sacrifices for peace, so that the day may be hastened when no nation shall draw the sword against another, and people no longer shall learn to fight. O Lord God, look with mercy on all whose increasing years bring them isolation, distress, or weakness. Provide for them homes of dignity and peace; give them understanding helpers and the willingness to accept help; and, as their strength diminishes, increase their faith and their assurance of your love. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

The God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, make you complete in everything good so that you may do God's will, working among us that which is pleasing in God's sight.

(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.)

Bunko! Bunco!

It's time to play Bunko!! Join us on Saturday night,

September 10 at 6:00, following the 5:00 service. 

Our theme this year is Missouri Sports Teams. Wear your Cardinal, Blues, Mizzou and (maybe Royals gear) and join us for a fun evening. 

What is Bunko? A very easy dice game that we will teach you in five minutes to play. The cost is $3 per person. Sign ups will be in the Narthex just to give us an idea of how many to expect. Join us for fun and fellowship.

Your fellowship committee will furnish drinks and prizes, please bring a finger-type sports-related snack to share. 

Questions, or to sign up, call or email S. Shepherd.

Don't Wait for Pigs to Fly

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.

Presbyterian Women Board members at St. Mark Presbyterian are now calling women of the church.

Make your reservation when you get the call. If you do not get a call soon, please sign up at the PW table or call the church office.

Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study, to support the mission of the church worldwide, to work for justice and peace, and to build an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and witnesses to the promise of God’s kingdom.Upcoming 

Presbyterian Women Events

September 10 PW Fall Brunch, 10 am

September 21 Third Wednesday/Thursday Circles

September 28 Book Club: 9:30 am Select books for the coming year. Send ideas to Linda Doane.

October 5 Board Meeting 9:30 am

Music Notes

Soli Deo Gloria is the phrase humbly signed at the

end of compositions by master composers such as Bach, Handel, and Haydn.

It means "To God Alone the Glory."

It is a great mantra for choirs, worship leaders and congregants.

When we focus on worshiping and humbly serving God, we listen to God's voice and we hear and see the needs of others.

When we each start to focus on ourselves in worship or the life of the church -- what do I want, what do I like, what do I dislike, where is the praise I deserve --division begins. We forget why we are in church, worshiping.

We forget God.

Soli Deo Gloria -- To God Alone the Glory.

Hymns, Preludes, Choir Anthems, Bell Offertories are for the pleasure of God, not for ourselves. Hopefully we find this music expressive of our faith, calming to our spirit, inspiring to our minds, but ultimately it should all be for the Glory of God Alone.

Soli Deo Gloria.

If someone like Bach can say it, someone like me can try it.

Trying my best to serve God. Marsha Medley

Worship prayers for Aug. 28

PRAYER IN PREPARATION:  May the strength of God pilot us.  May the power of God preserve us.  May the wisdom of God instruct us.  May the hand of God protect us.  May the way of God direct us.  And may the shield of God defend us, now and evermore.  Amen.  
          Patrick of Ireland 

CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                                                                                          It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the Most High.

         It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,

         your faithfulness in the evening.

You Thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me!

         I sing for joy because of what you have done.

   PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                                                                                                             

God of love, in the wrong we have done and in the good we have not done, we have sinned in ignorance; we have sinned in weakness; we have sinned through our own deliberate fault.  Have mercy on us, O God.  We are truly sorry.  We turn to you now to forgive us and renew our lives through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

Click here for Gary's sermon "Blessed are the Persecuted."

  

Operation Christmas Child

Each year our congregation generously donates small toys, hygiene items, school supplies, and other fun items for this mission project. The filled shoeboxes are sent to children in need around the world. Last year we packed 189 boxes which was an increase of 69 boxes from the previous year. This year we have a goal of packing 250 boxes.

How can you help? Here are some items that are “most needed” but feel free to donate other appropriate items. (No breakables, no liquids, no food other than hard candy. No Pokémon, Harry Potter or military related items.)

Small cars like Hot Wheels and Matchbox 

Bar soap

Soccer/Basketballs (We’ll deflate them. Five Below sells them.) 

Washcloths

Hand pumps for balls (Dollar Tree has them.) 

Toothbrushes & toothpaste

Dolls (for girls ages 2-4 and 5-9) 

Water bottles or plastic drinking cups

Toys/puzzles/games for ages 2-4; 5-9; and 10-14 

Empty shoeboxes

Crayons and colored pencils 

Coloring books

Spiral notebooks and/or loose leaf paper 

Pencils, erasers, sharpeners

Donations to cover cost of shipping boxes ($7/box)

We’ll be collecting through early November and packed boxes will be ready for National Collection Week, November 14-21. If you have any questions, please contact J. Northrip. Thank you for your help!

Daily Prayer Sept. 1

THURSDAY

Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving; go into the holy courts with praise; give thanks and call upon God’s name.

Job 16:16-22, 17:1, 13-16; Acts 13:1-12; John 9:1-17

Almighty God, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross: Give us faith to perceive his glory, that being strengthened by his grace we may be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory. O God, we pray for all international organizations of goodwill that their efforts may lead to a strengthening of those influences which make for peace. Great sacrifices have been made for war; awaken in us and in all people, O God, the willingness to make great sacrifices for peace, so that the day may be hastened when no nation shall draw the sword against another, and people no longer shall learn to fight. O Lord God, look with mercy on all whose increasing years bring them isolation, distress, or weakness. Provide for them homes of dignity and peace; give them understanding helpers and the willingness to accept help; and, as their strength diminishes, increase their faith and their assurance of your love. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

The God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, make you complete in everything good so that you may do God's will, working among us that which is pleasing in God's sight.

(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.)