Connections 5-18-11

Construction update 2

Take note 3

Prayer requests

St. Mark’s Calendar

4

4

Thank you letters 5

Children’s Ministry 6

Youth Ministry 7

Vacation Bible School 8

Inside this issue:Inside this issue:

May 18, 2011

Issue 176

IMAGINE Preparing to Move In! Do you want to make an impact at St. Mark’s?

Do you want to invest in the future of St. Mark’s in

some tangible way?

As the construction project

enters its final stage and

rooms are taking shape, it’s

easy to get caught up in the

excitement and anticipation of

actually using our expanded

space. The reality of this is very

near indeed. As a community of

faith, we all need to rally to-

gether to ensure our new build-

ing space is warm, welcoming,

and furnished.

Our capital campaign, IMAGINE, be-

gan in 2009 as pledges were made to meet

the financial needs of this project. Our

theme verse has been, “No eye has seen, no

ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God

has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians

2:9). We began the Designated Giving phase of this

campaign earlier this year, and the items needed to com-

plete our project were included in a special booklet. Posters of these items

are being displayed in the Fellowship Center on Sunday mornings. The Designated Giving

brochure and a list of our highest priority needs are viewable on our church web site.

Thank you to all who have given so generously both to IMAGINE and to IMAGINE Desig-

nated Giving, but there are many items yet to be given, some of which are critical to open-

ing our doors for worship and ministry. This is our opportunity to let our light shine for the

community and for each other. Please prayerfully consider how you can help. Cash dona-

tions to specific ministry areas are also welcome if you cannot decide on the perfect item.

If you have questions, please call or e-mail:

Kathy Toborg 350-4884 [email protected]

David Hagstrom 447-0100 [email protected]

Page 2

North stairway, upper entrance takes shape

Tom Brennom

Project Construction Manager

There is observable progress in our con-

struction project, but also lots of noise as

work continues on the new upper-level en-

trance to the current Worship Center.

This long-awaited project includes a new

stairwell (in the old office store room), a

bridge across the atrium, and a second-floor

entrance into the worship center. It will look

just like the south second-floor entry. The

north entry was actually part of the original

building plans, but removed at the time to

reduce costs.

The north entrance to

the building is only open

on Sundays, so please

continue to use the south

entrance during the

week. Please note that

the north entrance will be

closed on Sunday, May 29 (hopefully only one or two Sundays) while work-

ers pour a new sidewalk. Work on the south entrance sidewalk will com-

mence when the north side is complete.

The rough-in of the electrical, plumbing and HVAC is nearly complete as

is the installation of sheetrock. Shower rooms are being installed down-

stairs. Painting has also begun, primarily in the lower level, and will again

make a significant visual change to the areas there.

The new doors, openings and hallway from the current children's area to

the new, wider hallway are largely completed. Finishing the walls and

painting the rooms isn't far behind. The lower level is basically complete,

and the main level is not that far behind.

In the new worship center, most of the sheetrock is nearly prepped for

painting. Also, just this week, the piece of sheetrock on which many of you

wrote your prayers in March 2010 has been installed in the new worship center. Your prayers are now captured for

eternity within these walls of worship.

Outside the building, metal panels, siding, soffits and fascia are getting installed. When this work is done, the re-

maining grading around the building can be completed.

Next time...more information on the pond, stained glass and our new kitchen.

ABOVE: Workers install the dry-wall of prayers in the new wor-ship center. RIGHT: This will soon support the north entrance to the upper level of the current worship center.

The north entrance

will be closed on Sunday, May 29

Page 3

Items sought for house fire victims The home of St. Mark’s member Tanya Caldwell and her

daughters, Kristin and Emily McCarthy was damaged in a

fire last week. We are collecting kitchen items of all kinds

for them as well as full- and queen-sized bedding and pil-

lows. If you have items that you would like to donate,

please contact the church office. Your prayers for the fam-

ily and your generosity are appreciated.

St. Mark’s volunteers ‘shine' Aid to Women complimented St. Mark’s volunteers as

“Volunteers That Shine” in their May newsletter and

nominated them for the Live United Awards in the group

category. These volunteers came to ATW during the

"Beautiful Day" program last fall. Volunteers power

washed the building, removed overgrown brush, painted

and assembled shelves. “They did in several hours what

would have taken more than a week for our maintenance

staff to accomplish,” says Dawn Brouwers, development

director. “In addition several members volunteered their

time to gift wrap during the Christmas season at Parable

Lemstone bookstore raising donations for ATW. St. Mark's

Lutheran Church members came to Aid to Women for a

day, but continue to make an impact on the ministry.”

-- Submitted by Val Wolter

CrossRoads seeks donations, helpers Due to the continued high need for food to pass out to our

guests, and the continuing shortage of food availability for

purchase through HACAP, we are grateful for your support

to help keep our food pantry filled. We need: volunteers

to work at the mission; financial donations; toilet paper;

personal care items (body soap, shampoo, toothbrush,

toothpaste, deodorant, etc.); canned meals (stew, Spa-

ghetti O's); canned tuna; canned meat; Hamburger Helper;

Tuna Helper; and mac & cheese. Please keep our needs in

your prayers. Contact Chaplain Pat Kane, 365-2724.

50+ planning June 2 theater trip Come join 50+ Fellowship as we enjoy "G.I. Jukebox" at

the Old Creamery Theater in Amana on June 2 at 3

p.m. Cost per person is $23. Sign up on Sunday in the Fel-

lowship Center or call Sharon Staton at 447-9130. We will

try to carpool and may eat out after the play.

Ice cream, cookies and FUN! How about a chance to serve this summer? The Local

Missions Team is planning a service project for the mem-

bers of the ARC of East Central Iowa. We welcome you

and your family to join us Wednesday, June 8, from 6:30

to 8 p.m. at St Mark's. We will be socializing, entertaining,

and sharing God's love with them! Last year we had

nearly 100 people attend, and we believe we can double

that this year! Please contact Maria Peck at Peck-

[email protected], by June 1 if you would like to help by

making cookies, brownies or assisting with set-up. Other-

wise, we look forward to seeing you on June 8!

Sign up to give blood May 29 It takes only one pint of blood to save up to three lives.

Please consider donating. Sign-up begins May 29 in the

Fellowship Center. The Red Cross blood drive runs from 1-

5:30 p.m. Friday, June 17. For more information, contact

Sally Ficken, [email protected].

[email protected]

Help with construction,

medical & vision clinics

Page 4

SUNDAY, MAY 22 All morning VBS sign-up 9:45 AM Men’s Fraternity 11:00 AM Crossways

MONDAY, MAY 23 6:30 PM Chancel Bell Choir rehearsal

7:00 PM Boy Scouts

TUESDAY, MAY 24 9:00 AM Quilters 12:00 PM Crossways 1:00 PM Crafters

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 6:00 AM Crossways 7:35 PM Chancel Choir 7:40 PM Men’s Fraternity 7:45 PM Crossways Bible study

THURSDAY, MAY 26 11:30 AM 50+ potluck 5:00 PM Celebration rehearsal 5:15 PM Crossfire! Prayer 7:00 PM Impact band rehearsal

SUNDAY, MAY 29 All morning Blood drive sign-up 9:45 AM Men’s Fraternity MONDAY, MAY 30 Church offices closed for Memorial Day. For a complete listing of St. Mark’s

monthly calendar, go to our web site: www.faith-life.org.

Selected Items from St. Mark’s Calendar

Grieving The family of Marcia Morris, who

passed away May 14.

Hospitalized Kathy Bennett, hospice Eunice Lee, Mercy Dolores Nickels, Mercy

Recovering at home Lynwood Dahms

Health concerns Linda Wood

Military Addresses If you have a loved

one who is serving

in the military,

either overseas or

stateside, please

let the church of-

fice know. We

would like to keep

these men’s and women’s names

on our prayer list, and we send

greetings to them at various

times of the year, as well.

Vera named Director of Worship Ministries Impact Worship

leader Jessy Vera

has been named

Director of Worship

Ministries. Please

pray for him as he

begins his new role. Questions

pertaining to worship ministries

can be directed to him at

[email protected]

Page 5

Thank you for donation of blankets Thank you for your caring donation. Your donation of

15 fleece blankets for the Foundation2 After Hours Food

Pantry (valued at $400) helps us to help those in crisis.

Last month our After Hours Food Pantry served 372 in-

dividuals and 120 households. We sincerely appreciate

your commitment to support us in helping others.

Each year Foundation2 advances its mission to be a

trusted, compassionate resource for people in crisis by

offering counseling, safety, and support during difficult

times. Crisis services include mobile crisis outreach, the

After Hours Food Pantry, as well as counseling and sup-

port groups. Our youth services include counseling,

shelter care, transitional living, and independent living

options. With these services, we have seen many lives

changed for the best.

The goal of Foundation2 is to continue to be a re-

source for people in crisis. We were created by a group

of Coe College and Kennedy High School students in July

of 1970, and this year we celebrated our 40th anniver-

sary with a display at the Carl and Mary Koehler History

Center. With the help of donations from supporters

such as you, we will continue to provide these neces-

sary services for many years to come.

Thanks for helping Foundation2 to continue provid-

ing relationships of hope for those who need it.

Elisabeth Kissling, Foundation2, Cedar Rapids

Thank you for partnering with us In John 17:20 Jesus prays for his disciples,

“As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into

the world. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for

those who will believe in me through their message.”

It is such a joy, as we give our lives to students, to see

their love for Jesus grow. What is even more exciting is to

see them turn around and do the same for others like

Amanda has done.

Amanda said,

“Earlier this year, Kristen started attending the Bible

study I am leading in my dorm. It was obvious that she was

interested in learning more about who God is and what He

tells us in His Word. I have been finding that because I have

developed the habit of regular time with God in the Word

and prayer, I have been able to share with Kristen the

things in the Bible that God has been teaching me.”

Over the last two years it has been so much fun to see

Amanda grow in her knowledge and love of Jesus, and to

see God start a chain reaction through her life. As Kristen’s

love for Jesus has grown, she found herself in a conversa-

tion with her roommate about Jesus. Kristen explained the

message of the Gospel, and how someone could be as-

sured of their salvation through faith in Jesus. Kristen’s

roommate understood and said she would like to receive

Christ. Now as Amanda continues to encourage Kristen,

Kristen has begun to show her roommate how to get into

the Word, and begin the foundation of her new relation-

ship with Jesus Christ.

What a wonderful picture. Who would have known

2000 years ago when Jesus prayed for those who would

believe in Him through the disciples’ message, that He was

praying for Amanda, Kristen and her roommate. What an

amazing God we serve!

Imagine the impact the college campus could have on

the world if more students were graduating and going out

into the world having learned to walk with Jesus and teach

others to do the same. This is exactly what we see God

doing at UNI with students like Amanda. Thank you so

much for partnering with us in this life-changing work.

Kyle and Katie Nelson, The Navigators

Thank you for Easter basket Thanks for the Easter stuff when I was in St. Luke’s Hos-

pital. I really enjoyed it.

Autumn

Thank you for helping with Build days Many thanks to all St. Mark’s members who made the

Thrivent/Habitat for Humanity Build days Friday and Satur-

day a big success. There were 37 members involved doing

the building and 11 who provided food, drink and snacks.

Everyone had a good time

and the weather cooperated.

Again THANKS for a successful two days.

Dick Spencer Dale Thompson

Help your children

memorize this verse:

Proverbs 3:5-6—a great

verse to remind us that

God will guide us when we

trust Him.

Write the Bible verse in large letters on a piece

of paper. Read it aloud. Cut the verse into four (or

more) parts and pass them out to the kids. Have the

kids put them in order on the table and read the

verse aloud as they do so. Collect the pieces and

shuffle them. Allow the kids to rearrange the pieces

once again.

What are we supposed to do? (Trust, don't rely

on ourselves, submit to God)

What will God do? (Direct our path/steps/way)

Family Devotion We Trust, He Directs

Page 6

Pick a Sunday to help and attend with your children!

Contact [email protected] for more information.

Helpers still needed for summer Sunday school

Be part of the future! Get involved and make a difference An “Interim Team” is forming to help with the tasks necessary to help us prepare for using our new Children’s Ministry

space this fall. This is a short- term assignment. We’ll need help with things like: painting, washing and sanitizing all

toys and surfaces, building shelving, moving furniture and boxes, setting up worship stage, organizing storage closets,

putting together room dividers, etc. Email [email protected] for more information or to request an assignment!

OUR EXPANDED NURSERY IS IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS! Please email [email protected] for more information.

Registration

is under way! Vacation

Bible School

Don’t Miss

Out!

Toy drive June 12

The Nursery Planning Team is sponsoring a Toy Drive on Sunday, June 12. If you have baby or toddler items that your children have outgrown and would like to donate to your church family this is your opportunity. Look for the big tent outside and bring your items on your way to church!

Page 7

For those impacted by St. Mark’s 6th – 12th Grade Ministry

Middle School Ministry High School Ministry

Praise the Lord for an

incredible year! God moved mightily in each of our lives,

and we look forward to a special summer together.

Come and join a movement

of students who are pursuing, encountering, and learning together how to live

for Jesus!

THE EDGE HAS ENDED FOR

THE YEAR.

FAN THE FLAME

WILL MEET

BI-WEEKLY STARTING

JUNE 1

Oh, What a Year!

God richly blessed this ministry during the 2010-

2011 school year. We are so grateful to have been

able to experience more of God’s love and grow in

our knowledge of our amazing Triune God!

As we journeyed through The Lord’s Prayer, The

Old Testament and a variety of other topics, we

laughed and celebrated and were moved by the Holy

Spirit.

Incredible thanks to all the volunteers that helped

to make this year one who impacted students’ lives.

(Watch for a full listing of all of these amazing peo-

ple next edition.)

Thanks too, for the awesome celebration night on

May 4 with so many family members joining us as

we recounted the highlights of the year!

We now look forward to what God has for us in

the 2011-2012 school year!

More information coming soon on a couple cool

events this summer!