ELCA World Hunger's 40 Days of Giving
Pastor Mark Hagen The season of Lent is soon upon us . . . read more. | Sunday, February 16 8:00 A.M. Worship
9:30 A.M. Worship
9:30 A.M. Installation of Council Members
9:30 A.M. Sunday School
11:00 A.M. Worship Monday, February 17 9:00 A.M. Classic Chorale Rehearses
4:00 P.M. Deadline for MEMOS articles to be submitted
6:30 P.M. Emotions Anonymous Tuesday, February 18 8:30 A.M. Staff Retreat
11:00 A.M. St. Mark Duplicate Bridge
6:30 P.M. Executive Meeting | Wednesday, February 19 9:00 A.M. Women's Bible Study
9:00 A.M. Men's Bible Study
2:00 P.M. Barnabas Ministry
5:30 P.M. Good News Bearers
6:00 P.M. Bible Study
6:30 P.M. Confirmation
7:00 P.M. Voices of St. Mark Thursday, February 20 7:30 A.M. Panera Book Study
9:00 A.M. Cherry Valley Bridge Group
6:00 P.M. Diakonia
6:30 P.M. Emotions Anonymous
6:30 P.M. Blue Lights
7:00 P.M. Praise Band Rehearses Friday, February 21 7:30 A.M. St. Mark Men's Breakfast at Denny's Saturday, February 22 8:30 A.M. Council Retreat
10:30 A.M. Healthy Cooking Demo
6:00 P.M. Train Group Sunday, February 23 Bold Women Day 8:00 A.M. Worship
9:30 A.M. Worship
9:30 A.M. Sunday School Singers
9:30 A.M. Sunday School
11:00 A.M. Worship | New Member Orientation
The spring New Member Orientation dates are March 8 - 22 from 10:45-11:45 A.M. Please contact Pastor Chad McKenna at prmckenna@stmarklc.com if you are interested in becoming a member of St. Mark. We will receive new members on March 29 at the 9:30 A.M. service. | Ash Wednesday Worship Services
We will have two worship services on Wednesday, February 26 at 12:00 noon and at 6:45 P.M. This will include the disposition of ashes on individuals’ foreheads, as well as Holy Communion. Mid-Week Lenten Services
Join us on Wednesday evenings, starting March 4 at 6:45 P.M. in the sanctuary for worship. | Lydia Circle
The first meeting of the Lydia Circle was a great success! We'll be meeting again on Thursday, February 27, at 7:00 P.M. at Andrea McKenna's house (1840 Harlem Blvd in Rockford), and we'll be discussing the book "Inspired" by Rachel Held Evans. If you need a copy of the book, email Andrea at andrea.mckenna1@gmail.com. Please join us, even if you're not able to read the book beforehand. Lydia Circle will always be open to any women who would like to come, so if you couldn't join us in January, we welcome you to join us in February. Sunday, February 23, is Bold Women's Day in the ELCA, and to commemorate, we are collecting items to donate to Remedies Renewing Lives domestic violence shelter. Haircare products for African-American hair and women's underwear in sizes M, L, XXL are most needed at this time, but any toiletry donations are welcome. Find our donation box in Fellowship Hall, and encourage others to donate, as well. | Healthy Cooking Demonstration
“What’s for dinner?” You either get asked that question everyday or ask it yourself. What if you had all the ingredients you needed to prepare an easy healthy meal in less than 30 minutes, start to table? Join Nutritionist and Chef, Lynn Dugan, Saturday, February 22 at 10:30 A.M. to learn just how easy it is! This session will explore how to create a shopping list for success, and Lynn will show us how to efficiently cook with ingredients from the same shopping list to make several healthy recipes for you to taste. Seating is limited. Cost is $5 per person. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex. You can also pay using our St. Mark Mobile App! See the information below about our app. | SAVE the DATE Sunday, March 22, 3:00 P.M. We are having a Talent Show and everyone is invited! Sign-up and say you’ll put together a musical number, an act, a skit, etc. This is going to be GREAT! | 2020 Congregational Resourcing Event
Join others from around the Northern Illinois Synod on Saturday, March 14, at Kishwaukee College. Bishop Elizabeth Eaton is the keynote speaker at 10:00 A.M.
Congregation members are invited to check out the resourcing event. There are workshops and speakers. You may participate for some or all of the day. Topics include congregational leadership, communication, outreach, faith formation, global mission, worship, youth, health, and wellness. You can find more information at cre.nisynod.org There will be carpooling from St. Mark if you are interested. More information will be posted soon! | Lenten Devotionals
Free Lenten devotional booklets are available on the name tag tables in the narthex. This year’s devotions are entitled, From Suffering to Salvation, by Henri J. M. Nouwen. | St. Mark Mobile App!
This is different than our church directory app.
Our mobile app is designed specifically for St. Mark.
It will improve our communication with our congregation and nurture our members. A mobile app is important in the digital age. Never wonder how to get involved at St. Mark. You will use this app for everything! You will be able to sign up for events, stay connected to your ministry group, give, send prayer requests, have an updated calendar, learn how to get involved and so much for. We encourage you to download this app. The St. Mark app will be such a viable asset for you. It's about getting involved and staying connected. Click on this link for information on how to download the app! If you have any questions, please call the office at 815-398-3557 or email Jill at Jill@stmarklc.com. | Summer Intern Applications Now Available!
Every summer, our intern takes a central leadership role in Vacation Bible School and plans events for children, youth, and college-aged adults. This year our intern will also aid in leading the youth group on their mission trip. This 10-week position is a unique opportunity for college-age members of our congregation. Applications will be accepted from any St. Mark member under the age of 23 who graduated from high school in 2019 or earlier. The application deadline is February 15, 2020.
Appy Now. | Sign Up for 2020 Altar Flowers
There are many open dates on our 2020 altar flower chart. The chart is up in Fellowship Hall on the cabinets next to the coffee station on Sunday mornings. The arrangements will be $35. This is a great way to honor or remember that special someone or that special anniversary. | 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. | Yoga Flow
Join us on February 24 at 4:30 p.m. in the St. Mark Café space for Yoga. Dress comfortable, if you have a yoga mat bring it…otherwise, we have mats you may borrow. Also, bring a water bottle. Betsy Hornick is our yoga instructor and she is doing a great job of leading us through the workout. | Mission 2020 will be July 12-17th. We will be on a road trip to Ohio. We will be stopping at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the dunes and Cedar Point Amusement park. If you would like more information, please see Melinda Alekna. (815-871-0390 or melinda@stmarklc.com We need a verbal commitment by February 15. | It’s so surprising: often, we are blessed – as we bless. I experienced this blessing in a place I least expected it. I was calling on a St. Mark member who's a mid-late stage Alzheimer’s patient in a facility. I was debating whether to give her communion. When I had given communion to some Alzheimer’s patients they didn’t know what to do with the bread and wine. It was humiliating for them. But I decided to try it, so she could have the wonderful benefits of the sacrament. She received the bread, and then I prayed, Dear Father, we join our hearts in thanking you for the wonderful salvation you give us as we trust your son Jesus… As I spoke those words she joined in – and said, so true… She was understanding. She was grateful. She felt blessed – and so did I. We have a wonderful saying in our Evangelical Lutheran Church – God’s work, our hands. God blesses – through us. Come to our next Barnabas Reunion Group on Wednesday, February 19th, 2-3 p.m.(Note date change!) and be blessed-to bless. Pastoral Care Pastor Chuck Olson(815-342-6064) | Our St. Mark members: Gary Campbell, Sandy Olson, Bill Jennings, Joe Fink, Pam Cottrill, Tim Panjkovich, Carolyn Lee, Bette Patterson, Jason Carlson, Beverly Wright, Jerry Cazaniga, David Young, Keith Haggestad. Family and friends of St. Mark members: Robert and Cindy Wilson, Rich and Diane Kryzanski, Pastor Jane McChesney, Sheryl Swanson, Emily Tropp, Louis Fivaz, Mike Leonard, Katelynn Audette, Eva Love Sherbondy, David Lundine, Clay Heinrich, Mary Graham, Kim Menke, Norma Comstock, Carolyn King, Ashton Henley, Nathan Gyllin. Those serving in the military and their families: Tristan Davenport, Scot Hornick, Bailey Panjkovich, Xander Gehrke, Jim Tammen, Brandon Ballenger, Taylor Eversole, Dean Barron. | Office Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 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 4:00 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. | |
