L I F E A Publication of St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church

2363 West Third Street, Davenport IA 52802 Phone: 563-322-5318 Pastor Travis Fisher-King: 563-676-8160

Annual subscription of $1.00 per year is included in payment of weekly pledge of members. Email: stmark@stmarkcares.org

March 2020 Volume 53 Issue 3

As we begin the Lenten Season, I often reflect on the past year’s ministry to the community. This happened in a more direct way this year as Deacon Becky Weise came to my office to learn about our ministry here at St. Mark.

Deacon Becky, a member of Grace Lutheran Davenport, is embarking on a project in her retirement. She is beginning with the ELCA churches, because she knows many of the rostered leaders, and will be putting together a document of sorts with the information of all of the ministries churches are doing in the Quad City Area. This will help churches and their members to best help those who are in need, as many of our churches do not have services for each type of need.

For instance, last year our food pantry served nearly 5,400 individuals; as well as we sent food to two non-profits with our Reverse Advent Calendar Food program that our social ministry committee spearheaded. We also served 11 months at the Churches United Share a Meal serving no less than 550 people last year. We should recognize that our food ministry makes a difference in many lives.

While we have a food pantry and participate in Share-A-Meal as well as Crop Walk, and Souper Bowl of Caring. Our neighboring Methodist Church, Grace, has a clothing closet for those who cannot afford clothes. And the church down 3rd street, Christian Memorial has a breakfast program for those who are hunger insecure to start off the day with food in their bellies.

Understand that each congregation can not meet all the needs out there, she is confident that with the knowledge of knowing what other congregations and houses of faith are doing, we can best ascertain what services are not being met and what may be being replicated. This will help us work more efficiently and effectively as we care for the hungry, thirsty, homeless and naked.

The world is hurting in so many different ways, but we as a church are called to help them with the most basic needs, and to proclaim the love of Christ in word and deed. They will know us as Christians by our love. During Lent, we often think of giving something up. I ask you to reflect on what can you be doing to help show Christ’s love to those who are in need or do not know that love of God. How can you help? Are their needs you see that are not being met, and would like to start a way to help meet those needs? What is Christ calling you to be and do in this stage of your life.

Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness tempted by the devil and fasting. Perhaps you will reflect for 40 days, during our Lenten season, and even start to plan how you may bring forth the love of Christ to others. Together we make a difference to many and show the world the LOVE Jesus has for all of God’s creation.

Journeying with you,

Pr. Travis M. Fisher-King

From Pr. Travis

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Our BIG Saturday Night will be held on Saturday March 14th starting at 5pm. All Youth and their families are welcome to attend. Youth are also encouraged to bring a friend. A theme for the night will be sent to soon for please keep your eyes peeled to your e-mail and on our group FB page.

Our Community Impact Night at Pizza Ranch is coming up on March 16th. We invite you to come out at dine with us as the Youth Group buses tables, refills drinks, and runs pizzas all while raising funds for their upcoming mission trip. The Youth will receive 10% of the sales from 5pm-8:30pm as well as any tips. Please invite your family and friends to join us in fellowship, food, and fun!

Ignite Lock-In

QC area ELCA churches are coming together to host a Lock-In for Middle School and High School Students Friday, March 20th beginning at 8PM – Saturday March 21St ending at 7AM. We will begin at St. Paul Lutheran Church. There will be a rotation of students going to two other sites during the late evening/early morning. Then all will return to St. Paul for worship and “quiet/movie/sleep” time. What to bring …Overnight supplies (sleeping bag, pillow, pj's, tooth brush...), snacks/drinks to share, and a water bottle... and a friend!

In order to prepare for food and enough materials for activities planned we ask that you let Lisa, Amber or Pr. Travis you will be attending by Sunday March 15th.

Summer Programs • SAVE THE DATES!! Planning has started for an exciting

summer of learning God’s Word!

June 22nd – June 26th 9:00am until noon. The Knights of North Castle will venture on a quest for the King’s armor!

Throughout the week we will learn how to “Armor up with…Truth, Justice, Peace, Faith, and Salvation!” Children between 3 years of age and 5th grade (completed) are welcome to join our quest. (children must be potty trained)

M.A.D. Camp MAD Camp will begin working on the production of Jonah the week of July 6th. Rehearsals run through Friday, July 10th from 9:00 until noon. After focusing on Music, Art, and Drama, the full production will be presented during one of our weekend church services. Those that have completed 3rd grade through high school are welcome.

*Oh, Jonah! Artwork used by permission © Choristers Guild

The preschool board has conducted interviews, and they have hired Becky Dankert (Ms. Becky) as the new preschool director. Becky brings not only familiarity of our St. Mark Preschool and Kid’s Crossing but also, she has embraced new ways of teaching and learning for the St. Mark Preschoolers.

Ms. Becky has been piloting a new model of teaching this year in with her Monday thru Friday students this year. Becky, like all of our preschool teachers and staff, have a love for children and education. We welcome Becky to her new role, and ask your continued support for our preschool program.

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A total of 494 people were served at our food pantry in January 2020. Items were donated from: St. Mark Lutheran Church members, Grace United Methodist Church, Midwest Food Bank, and Popcorn Charlie & Co.

Thank you!

We offer the Family of Wanda Wriedt

words of love, support, and comfort. May they rest assured in the midst of their challenges and adjustments

that God will sustain them in the loss of their loved one through faith

in our Risen Lord. Because He lives, we too shall live.

Hospitalized In February

Desiree Gillespie

Terri Fogel

June Olds

Doreen Ruby

Share-A-Meal Share a Meal is March 26, 2020 at 6PM at Zion Lutheran Church. The winter time sees an increase in the number of people who are hungry. Please take time to help in this ministry.

Please sign up in the lounge, so we know we will have enough food and helpers to serve.

Please let PN Bev know if you are interested to save your place in the class.

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Perhaps my greatest regret as the director of music at St Mark Lutheran Church is a mistake I made very early on: I made the decision not to sing the psalm each Sunday. Though some of the psalms tend to go on a bit too long, and many of them suggest a style of worship (and a view of God) quite alien to our own, the beautiful parts of the psalms far outweigh the negative parts. Moreover, in our lectionary readings the psalm often complements the other readings of a given Sunday.

Take the third Sunday of Lent this year (which falls on March 15th), for example: the psalm for that day is Psalm 95, which neatly unites both the Old Testament and Gospel

readings. In Exodus, the wandering Israelites are encamped at a place called Meribah, where they complain (rather reasonably, I think) that there is no water. Moses strikes a rock, and God causes water to flow from it. In the Gospel of John, Jesus talks with the Samaritan woman at the well, offering her "living water". She then goes away, testifying to her neighbors that he is the Messiah. Psalm 95 encapsulates all this:

O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! ... For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would listen to his voice! Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah...

Our response to the living water that Christ offers us should be the same as the Samaritan woman, and the psalmist: praise and thanksgiving. The hymns I've programmed for March 15th all touch on these themes, but not quite as elegantly as the psalm does.

With this in mind, I figured I should let you all know: don't be surprised if we start singing the psalm of the day on special occasions. You can look forward to it on Easter Sunday!

Notes from the Organ Bench by Ross Jallo…March 2020

Friendship Group is cancelled for

March. If will resume if April.

Stay tuned for more details.

At our Annual Meeting February 2nd we adopted our Mission Plan 2020 for $396,527.50. Unfortunately, like last year, we will need to be subsiding it with endowment monies allocated for 2020.

We also elected Thomas Liebold and Rick Martin to the church council. We welcome them into the leadership of this congregation. We are no longer listing

contact information in the monthly life, due to scammers getting ahold of the information as the newsletters are placed on our website. Please refer to you most updated directory or call the church for their contact information.

At their February 20nd meeting the Church Council

elected the following officers: President, Rick Flynn; Vice President, Amber Sherrod; Secretary, Nancy Beaderstadt; and Treasurer, Barb Jakubowski. We are also looking for volunteers who are willing to serve on

committees for the 100th anniversary celebration(s).

“Synod Assembly is May 1st through 3rd in Iowa City. This year we will be electing a bishop. If you are willing to attend as a voting member please let Pr. Travis know by calling him in the office. Your registration and housing will be covered by the church”

A BIG thank you to Phyllis Wilford for her work over 30

years in reconciling the bank statements each month and working closely with those

who were staff members who worked with our financials. She has handed

over this “double checking” to our Current Treasurer Barb Jakubowski. Phyllis

will still be entering in the offerings and financial gifts you give to the church. I am grateful for her many years of service! Pr. Travis

A BIG THANK YOU to all who came and dined at Texas Roadhouse in support of our youth who

are going to Work Camp this summer.

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Theology on Tap March 3rd

6PM Barrel House 211

E 2nd St, Davenport

Discussing: Traits of a Healthy Spirituality by Melannie Svoboda, SND.

Recommended by Bev. Blake. Sister Melannie defines and describes 20 specific indicators of a healthy spirituality. The indicators: self-esteem, wonder, joy, friendship, courage, tol-erance, and the like, are "signs" rooted in life, yet solidly based on Scripture. She demonstrates how to use these "signs" to help judge just where we stand in terms of our Christian spirituality.

If you would like to honor or remember a loved one during this Easter season by sponsoring our Easter decorations, please use this form and include it and

$15.00 in an envelope and bring or mail it to church. On Easter weekend we will include all the names of the loved

ones in a special insert placed in the bulletin.

Thank you!

Your Name:_______________________________________________________________

Offering Envelope#_______________

Given

In memory of: _____________________________________________________________

-or–

In honor of: _______________________________________________________________

Given by: ______________________________________________________________

The Form and payments are due in the office by March 30

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March is National Professional Social Workers Month

March is National Professional Social Workers Month, a time to recognize social workers and thank them for all they do. At Lutheran Services in Io-wa (LSI), we’re grateful for the many social workers who have dedicated their lives to serving our communities across the state! Maybe you’ve never had a social worker involved in your life. Yet, wheth-

er you realize it or not, you’ve had the benefit of their behind-the-scenes work in your community. Social workers help people help themselves in overcoming life’s most difficult circumstances or managing challeng-es of everyday living: poverty, abuse, mental illness, depression, addiction, disability, and many other situa-tions. Iowa wouldn’t be the same without the patience, guidance, and empowerment that social workers provide. Happy National Professional Social Work Month!

Our Mission: Lutheran Services in Iowa responds to the love of Jesus Christ through compassionate service. LSI is an affiliated social ministry partner of the Iowa congregations of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and a member of LSA (Lutheran Services in America). We proudly serve people of all ag-es, abilities, religions, sexes, gender identities, national origins, ethnicities, races, and sexual orientations. Learn more at www.LSIowa.org and www.facebook.com/LSI.iowa.

Caring for Christopher

When Christopher struggled with crippling anxiety at a young age, his mom, Cheyenne, didn’t know where to turn. Even going on a simple trip to the grocery store was almost impossible. She knew something needed to change.

That change came in the form of LSI’s Behavioral Health Intervention Services. Each week, Christopher’s BHIS worker, Jose, visited the family in their home or met with them at the local library. He brought activities to engage Christopher and help him develop the coping skills he needed to feel better when he left the house. And at the same time, he provided words of encouragement and helpful parenting tips Cheyenne could use to help her child.

Christopher recently celebrated his seventh birthday, and his confidence continues to grow. He feels more comfortable going out in public. He has graduated out of LSI services, and he recently made a new friend all on his own.

Cheyenne feels confident that even on the tough days, she has the knowledge she needs to help her child thrive, thanks to Jose.

“LSI gave us the tools we needed to help him succeed, and the reassurance that we were doing the right thing, even when it was hard,” she says.

Before recently closing to tourists, Australia’s majestic Uluru (formerly called Ayers Rock) was popular with climbers. Many took home illegal souvenirs, sometimes later mailing them back to park rangers after experiencing what they considered bad luck.

So many pilfered mementos were returned, often with notes of apology, that rangers called them “sorry rocks.” The returns merely created more work for park staff, who urged visitors not to take specimens in the first place.

“Sorry rocks” is a fitting image for our sins, which the Bible describes as weights and entanglements (see Hebrews 12:1). As sinners, we can’t remove those heavy burdens on our own. But through Christ’s

redeeming work on our behalf, we can “return” the rocks of wrongdoing. When we repent and seek forgiveness, God promises to “remember [our] sins no more” (Hebrews 8:12). -Newsletternewsletter

Of Rocks and Repentance

2020

ST. MARK LIFE

St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church

2363 West Third Street,

Davenport, Iowa 52802

Address Service Requested

Non-Profit Org. US Postage

PAID Permit No. 909

Davenport, Iowa

Worship With Holy Communion (Unless Noted Otherwise) Saturdays at 5:00pm

Sundays at 9:30am

Daylight Saving Time Begins

Sunday, March 8

March 4 - April1, 2020 Wednesdays at 7:00pm

The Theme Is: “The Witness” The Midweek

service is 30 minutes in length.

All are Welcome!

If you or your child would like to receive the sacrament of Holy Baptism please contact the church

office at 563.322.5318 or email stmark@stmarkcares.org. We will have a special Rite

of Baptism Service on Easter Saturday, April 11th at the 5pm service.