Sunday, December 6 Second Sunday of Advent 9:30 A.M. Live-stream Worship Service
11:00 A.M. Remote Sunday School Tuesday, December 8 10:00 A.M. Staff Meeting Wednesday, December 9 9:00 A.M. St. Mark Ringers
7:00 P.M. Confirmation via Zoom
6:45 P.M. Voices of St. Mark - Tenors & Basses
7:45 P.M. Voices of St. Mark - Altos & Sopranos Sunday, December 13 Third Sunday of Advent 9:30 A.M. Live-Stream Worship Service
11:00 A.M. Remote Sunday School | Candlelight Christmas Eve Services
We are planning for six brief candlelight services to be held outside, along with a full worship service online. The outdoor services will include carols, a telling of the Christmas story, prayer, communion, and singing Silent Night with candles. These 20-minute services will be at 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 7pm, 8pm, and 9pm. If the weather and pandemic rules allow, we will gather around fire pits on the east side of the building; otherwise, we can simply remain in our cars. Reservations will be required. See the button below or call the office at 815-398-3557. These will no doubt be special moments for all of us to celebrate the promises God has given through the birth of Jesus. | Live Drive-Thru Nativity
His Name Is Jesus, Live Drive-Thru Nativity 6:00-9:00 P.M. on Saturday, December 19. There will be luminaries, live animals, characters in costumes, music, the manger, the story of Jesus birth. Let’s get together, socially distanced in the warmth of your own car. This will be different and something new at St. Mark. Make an evening of it! | Traditions are Important.
For many years our Primetimer’s group has done an incredible job of hosting “Wassail.” We want to honor that tradition and keep it going. There will be hot cider simmering with mulling spices and cookies! There will be "Wassail and Cookies" at the Live Nativity! Thank you Primetimer’s for leading by example and inspiring others. Please consider helping make cookies at home. We are looking for people that enjoy baking to assemble bags with six cookies in each. Please make as many bags as you like. Have fun with this! Please e-mail and let us know if you will be one of our cookie bakers and how many bags you will make. E-mail Melinda@stmarklc.com | Live-stream Worship Service Sunday, December 6
Join us on this Second Sunday of Advent at 9:30 am. We will be live-streaming our worship service and available anytime after on our YouTube channel. | Home Communion Kits are available during office hours Monday - Friday 9:00 - 1:00 P.M. If you need to come by after these hours, please call the church office at 815-398-3557. Watch this short video from Pastor Chad or read more here. | Don't forget to turn in your planned for giving cards
On October 18, we announced our 2021 Pledged Giving goal of $750,000, which is similar to our budget for 2020. To date, we have received 191 Pledges totaling $582,566. This amount represents 78% of the pledged giving needed to meet our budget goals for the coming year. This year’s stewardship campaign will continue each week until our goal is reached. We thank you for your participation in this important expression of support and gratitude. Together, we can keep our ministry moving forward with confidence and hope. | If you still need to submit a 2021 planned for giving card, you may do so by clicking this link. | We Saved 99 Lives!
Thank you St. Mark and friends! St. Mark had sponsored a blood drive on Tuesday, November 24 and it was a success. We collected 33 pints, there were 20 new blood donors, and had 14 walk-ins that donated blood. Grateful and thankful for you all. We will be hosting another blood drive on March 23, 2021. | Advent Devotional Booklets
This year’s devotional booklet is Heavenly Peace: Daily Prayers for Advent by Sarah Thomas-Tracy. Booklets are available at church. You may pick them up during regular office hours, Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. | St. Mark Mobile App!
This is a perfect time to download our St. Mark App!
If you are having trouble downloading or have any questions, please call Jill Davenport at 815-218-3403 or email jill@stmarklc.com, she will help you through the process. This is different than our church directory app.
Our mobile app is designed specifically for St. Mark to improve our communication with our congregation and nurture our members. We encourage you to download the app. It's about getting involved and staying connected. Click on this link for information on how to download the app! | Poinsettias
Our Sanctuary will soon be decorated for Christmas and our poinsettias add a special touch. We will be recording our Christmas concert and the Christmas Eve worship and would like to have our Sanctuary looking festive. The price again this year is $10.00 per plant. You may pick up your purchased poinsettias on Monday, December 21, and the days right before Christmas during office hours. Click on this link to order yours today. If you would like to stop by the office and fill out a form and pay, you can do that during office hours, Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Due to the most recent round of Covid mitigations, all in-person gatherings at St. Mark must be put on hold.
This includes Bible studies, book clubs, circles, committee meetings, and Confirmation. Small groups are encouraged to meet remotely; please contact the church office for assistance. Please contact the church office if you have any questions. You can read more about the newest mitigations on the state’s website: https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/restore-illinois-mitigation-plan | St. Mark Prayer Chain
Would you like to be a part of the St. Mark prayer chain? Prayer requests come into the church office weekly. As we receive prayer requests we would send out an e-mail and ask that you pray daily for the persons mentioned in the requests. All requests are to remain confidential. Please e-mail melinda@stmarklc.com if you would like to participate in the prayer chain. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Colossians 4:2. | Volunteer Opportunities in December
Youth Ministry is looking for six families to be Luminary Families. We need your help on Saturday, December 19, at 5:00 P.M. for an hour. We also need help on December 24th for one hour. Please sign-up for one or both dates. Please e-mail melinda@stmarklc.com for more information and to sign-up. Volunteer at the Northern Illinois Foodbank
Calling all college-age people, come and volunteer on Wednesday, December 9 from 1 - 3:30 pm. Please text Melinda Alekna if you are interested. 815-871-0390. | Office Hours
Monday through Friday 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. As always, please call the office or Pastor Chad if you have any needs or concerns. | Thank You!
I wanted to say thank you for all the cards, calls and get well messages from my church family after my back surgery. I am getting stronger every day. God's peace to all of you. ~Dennis Howe | Our St. Mark members: Marlow Anderson, Jay Trost, Jan Cotter, John Johnson, Roger Lind, Jim Tooley, Diane Swanson, Nancy Scheel, Billie Reinhold, Sherri Lindquist, Tim Vivian, Bill Jennings, Tim Panjkovich, Bette Patterson, Jerry Cazaniga, David Young, Keith Haggestad. Family and friends of St. Mark members: Dana Long, Butch Cotter, Wanda Adamson, Milane Bagel, Gayle Coffler, Darold Beekmann, Janet Webster, Rae Ann McIntire, Linda Johnson, Robert and Cindy Wilson, Pastor Jane McChesney, Emily Tropp, Katelynn Audette, Eva Love Sherbondy, Norma Comstock, Carolyn King, Ashton Henley, Nathan Gyllin. Those serving in the military and their families: Hunter Haggestad, Tristan Davenport, Scot Hornick, Bailey Panjkovich, Xander Gehrke, Jim Tammen, Brandon Ballenger, Taylor Eversole, Dean Barron. Strengthen and encourage those in public health services and in the medical profession: care-givers, nurses, attendants, doctors, all who commit themselves to care for the sick and their families. | Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.
Telephone: 815-398-3557 Publications
St. Mark Memos, the weekly e-newsletter, is distributed each Thursday. The deadline for submission is Monday by 3:00 P.M.
Please click to send submissions. Sermons Online
Miss a Sunday at St. Mark? Please visit our website and watch the sermons online.
Please click to watch. | |
