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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].
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
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!