ST. MARK LUTHERAN CHURCH

436 North Oak Avenue, Clifton Heights, PA 19018

610-626-5295

Christopher J. Franz, Pastor - E-mail: pastorcjf@comcast.net - Home telephone: 610-394‑6948

Because our monthly newsletter is mailed, along with offering envelopes,

it is produced approximately two months prior to the month in which it is published.

Therefore, a number of events that will occur in any month will not be

included in the newsletter. Please click on the Current Events icon

above to learn about September events that were not covered in the newsletter.

Thank you.

IMMEDIATELY BELOW THIS MESSAGE IS OUR SEPTEMBER ADULT NEWSLETTER

THIS IS AVAILABLE IN PDF FORMAT FOR EASY PRINTING.

BELOW OUR ADULT NEWSLETTER IS OUR SEPTEMBER YOUTH NEWSLETTER

AND A LINK TO IT IN PDF FORMAT FOR EASY PRINTING

WORSHIP NOTES

             On Sunday, August 29, we again welcome John Sneh's band, The Royal Quintet, composed of Upper Darby High School students and recent graduates, as they lead both the 8:30 am and 10:00 am service. Also, Pastor Chris plans to have his new exchange student from Germany, Raphael, play the violin during Communion at the 10:00 am service. Isn't it wonderful that our youth offer their musical talents to the glory of the Lord?

             On Sunday, September 5, we welcome guest preacher Arden Krych at our 8:30 am and 10:00 am worship services. Since this is Labor Day weekend, all worshipers are invited to wear what they usually wear to work as they come to worship. Its a perfect way to celebrate the many vocations of St. Mark members.

SEPTEMBER 12 - A SPECIAL DAY!

This year's "Rally Sunday" will be on September 12 at 9:30 am. We will celebrate:

● The “official” end of summer ●

● The beginning of school and Sunday School ●

● The beginning of the football season and the baseball season getting hot ●

Between 9:30 am and 10:45 am, during the Sunday School Registration and ministry sign-up opportunities, join us for some summer-time food in a festive atmosphere. Here is a chance for a summer vacation experience and sharing some memories (like those from our awesome youth retreat) right at St. Mark! Be sure to wear your Eagles’ or Phillies’ shirt.

GIFTS OF PRAISE

Gifts of Praise will lead worship at our 8:30 and 11 am services. NOTE OUR RETURN TO 11 AM AS THE TIME FOR OUR TRADITIONAL SERVICE.

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES

Between 9:30 and 10:45 am, representatives from St. Mark’s Worship and Music ministries will be on hand to explain how you can use your Spiritual Gifts at St. Mark.

MEET EXCHANGE STUDENTS

Meet Philip Weiser, the Beaupre’s exchange student, and Raphael Kneffel, Pastor Chris’ exchange student. Both young men are from Germany.

             Lets all plan to worship the Lord and reconnect with our brothers and sisters in Christ at St. Mark on Sunday, September 12 at 8:30 am and 11:00 am. Surely we can fill the church again now that our summer (which hopefully gave us some time to get away to a deserted place and rest for awhile) has come to an end. Gifts of Praise, who now call St. Mark their home church, will be leading worship at our 8:30 and 11:00 am services. This is a wonderful time to again make worship part of your routine, discovering the difference it makes in the rest of your week. How about saying to a friend, co-worker or relative, "Would you consider coming to worship at St. Mark with me this Sunday?" You might be surprised at their response!

             Our 6 pm Worship and Praise service resumes on Sunday, September 12. This is a great opportunity to worship when Sunday mornings do not work or because you enjoy the worship style of this service.

More People Sing at St. Mark!

Now that we have "cantors" at all morning services at St. Mark, many members have become bolder in raising their own voices in worship. New member, Lois Swiderski, leads the singing of hymns at the 8:30 am service, joining liturgist, Tom Williams. Our 11:00 am liturgist/hymn leader is Judy Bell. Special thanks also to Kathy Fernandez for filling in for Judy on weeks when she was not available and for her wonderful solo rendition of "The Lord's Prayer," shared on July 25, a day when we celebrated the adult baptisms of Jen Dryer, Missy Winter and Glenn Werner (the first time in St. Mark’s history that we have baptized three adults on the same day) and helping to make worship more joyful. Many members also commented that it was wonderful to have a few choir members singing throughout the summer, from the front of the church, often joined by our drummer John Sneh, all under the leadership of Faith Woodward, Director of Music.

Back to School, Back to the Word

St. Mark offers several opportunities to connect with the Bible. The Gospel of St. John study continues to meet at 9:30 am on Sundays in the Conference room, led by Fred Naddeo. Pastor Chris leads a mid-week Bible study on the Acts of the Apostles, Wednesday evenings at 7 pm, beginning September 15, also in the Conference Room. The September 15 gathering will include an introduction and summary of the chapters we have already studied, making it the perfect time to join the group. Finally, Pastor Chris and Pastor Cheryl co-lead a weekly Bible study at 12:30 on Fridays at Holy Spirit, Secane. Surely one or more of these opportunities would fit your schedule!

HAPPENINGS AT ST. MARK

New Members to be Received

Thanks be to God - more people have decided to continue their journey of faith by becoming a member of St. Mark. A large group of new members will be received on Sunday, September 26.

Storm Damage

The late June thunderstorm with 75 mile per hour winds, larger than golf ball sized hail and heavy rains caused significant damage at St. Mark. While our insurance carrier paid for roof repairs to our house, flashing/siding damage throughout the church, stained glass window breakage, etc., the cost for removing a large fallen pine tree and major branches from several other heavily damaged trees was not covered. Please make use of the enclosed Storm Damage envelope to help us defray these expenses.

Lunch, Fellowship and More

Our very popular Lunch, Fellowship and More group resumes its month meetings, held on the 3^rd Wednesday of each month, on September 15. We gather at 10 am. If you are a card player, be sure to arrive at 10 am since the groups are formed then. At 10:30 am, orders will be taken and food ordered from Cocco’s or another area food establishment. Each person will be asked to pay for the cost of her/his meal plus $2 to defray the costs of beverages and paper products provided by the Coffee Stop. Alternatively, you may bring your own lunch. We hope that volunteer hosts will provide dessert each month for approximately 20 people (someone has already spoken for September). The gathering ends around 2 pm. Please sign up in the Narthex if you will attend so that we have an adequate number of tables and chairs set up.

Red Cross Blood Drive ✚

Our quarterly blood drive will be held at Holy Spirit, on Monday, September 13 from 1:30 to 7:30 pm. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex. Please help us save a life - it could be yours or that of someone that you love. The blood shortage is at crisis level.

Fund Raiser for our Thrivent/Habitat for Humanity House

On Saturday, September 11, there will be an Applebee’s Flap Jack Fund Raiser to benefit the Habitat house being built in Chester. The hours for the fund raiser are 8 am to 11 am at both the Manoa (1315 West Chester Pike - at the end of the Manoa Shopping Center) or Folsom (320 MacDade Boulevard) Applebee’s. Come on out for some great food and fun. Please also sign up to help out as a food server. Applebee’s cooks!

YOUTH

Kids’ Party Night with DJ

The date for our first Fun Party Night with DJ for all elementary aged kids (grades 1 to 6) is Friday, September 17. The theme is “It’s STILL Summer - Let’s Have A Night of Summer Fun!” Don’t miss it!

Kickball and Kookout

On Sunday, September 19, at noon, we will have Kickball and a Kookout for all youth, in the 8th grade and older. Youth should bring $5 to defray expenses.

First Holy Communion Class

This year’s class is scheduled for Friday, September 24, at 5:00 pm. As always, it is more than just a class with book work and video. We will visit a shut-in and take them Holy Communion, bake bread and even take time out for a late dinner at Pizza Hut - each child should bring $5 for the cost of pizza. (Each one should also be sure to eat before coming to class since dinner will be late!) If your child will be included, speak with Pastor Chris.

Confirmation Gathering

The PARENTS of all youth entering or continuing Confirmation Classes MUST attend a meeting at either 7 pm on Thursday, September 7 or Sunday September 12.. Youth may also attend if they wish. Classes will begin later in the month of September.

FROM PASTOR CHRIS

"I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!" Psalm 122:1

     Have you been to church lately? Maybe you took the summer off? Or maybe you just fell out of the routine? Every Sunday, we have the opportunity to gather as God's Word is read, Holy Communion is shared, prayers are offered and praises are sung in worship. We are invited to come to make contact with the living God in a way that cannot happen when we are alone. We are invited to come just as we are, with our joys and sorrows, with our doubts and questions. We are invited to be the body of Christ assembled as one, if only for an hour. During that hour, we focus our attention on God. Hopefully, at least some of the time, we will feel close to God. Hopefully, we will have a sense that God is bigger than any problem life offers yet close enough in Jesus that we might feel comfortable sharing our hearts and minds. Perhaps we will leave with a new sense of meaning and purpose. Hopefully, we will have been reminded that God is with us as we face the world.

     One of the wonderful parts of worship is the fact that it touches all of our senses. We hear the words being read, prayed, and sung supported by various instruments. We feel the touch of another's hand as the peace is shared and the Lord's prayer is prayed and may touch again the baptismal waters in the font. We taste the wine and the bread. We see the beauty of stained glass and can look into the eyes of others as they too celebrate or struggle with the journey called faith. Worship is therefore to be central in our lives. And, in fact, attending worship is the best way to become and stay connected with the life of St. Mark. For when we come to worship we are regularly reminded of ways we can support St. Mark's many ministries and services as well as all the opportunities that are provided to enable us to gather together to simply have fun.

     So, come to worship. Be prepared to meet the living God. Expect to be changed and to leave feeling different from the way you felt when you came.

Pastor Chris

To print a copy of our September Adult newsletter, click on this link to open a PDF file and then print it

YOUTH NEWS

SEPTEMBER 2010

To print a copy of our September Youth newsletter, click on this link to open a PDF file and then print it