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Pastors
Rev. Dr. Mark Hagen
Rev. Scott Stolberg
Rev. Donald E. Lavelle
Sunday Morning Schedules
8:00 A.M. Worship service in the Nave
9:30 A.M. Worship service in the Nave
11:00 A.M. Worship in Fellowship Hall
Staff Email Addresses
Pastor Mark Hagen
PrHagen@stmarklc.com
Pastor Scott Stolberg
PrStolberg@stmarklc.com
Pastor Don Lavelle
Donald.Lavelle@comcast.net
Melinda Alekna
melinda@stmarklc.com
Dave Blunt
dave@stmarklc.com
Jill Davenport
jill@stmarklc.com
Margaret Dean
margaret@philandmargaret.com
Karen Kammer
karen@stmarklc.com
Kristen Reick
Kreick16@hotmail.com
Jim Tooley
jtht1950@comcast.net
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Youth News
Youth Group Meets...
High School Youth Group enjoyed a "tasty" summer on the "ice cream tour." We visited as many as nine as cream stops on the tour around northern Illinois. Check out the YOUth bulletin board across from the nursery for updates.
Everyone reading this encouraged to drop off a pic of you/family enjoying ice cream this summer. We will display them next to the youth bulletin board. You may also e-mail your picture to melinda@stmarklc.com.
SAVE THE DATE!
Save the Dates for upcoming Youth Connect events...these are for both middle/high school youth.
October 13, Hayride
October 20, Cropwalk
November 17, Turkey Trot
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Women's Bible Study
The women's Bible study class will resume on Wednesday, September 4, at 9:00 A.M. in the Adult Ministries Room. Questions? Interested in joining us? Call Dixie Simons at 815-877-6549.
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Confirmation starts:
We are excited for confirmation to start up again. Orientation and registration is Sept. 4 or 11 at 6:30 P.M. with an acolyte training and refresher at 7:30 P.M. The orientation is for parents and confirmands. Please contact Pr. Scott with any questions, 815-398-357 or PrStolberg@stmarklc.com.
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Empty Nesters
The Empty Nesters are going to the annual Screw City Beer Festival, Sat. Sept. 7.
If you would like to sample area micro-brewery products, this is the time and place to do it!
We are meeting at 1:00 P.M. in front of Octane in downtown Rockford. The event runs from 1:00 - 5:30 P.M.
The cost is $30 for those sampling and $10 for those not sampling. Contact Dave Blunt for tickets.
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Outreach Committee
The Outreach Committee would like to thank all who contributed school supplies this month. Rock House Kids and the Rockford Public Schools were the recipients. They were very thankful for the supplies as the needs are great.
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Mark your calendars!
Rally Day will be held on September 8.
The first day of Sunday school will be September 15 at 9:30 A.M. Sunday School is available for students 3 years old through 6th grade. If you did not pre-register your child last spring, please contact karen kammer at karen@stmarklc.com to register your child or stop by the registration table in the narthex.
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Bible studies are forming.
If you are interested in participating in a Bible study on Tuesday at 6:00 - 7:30 P.M. and/or Wednesday at 1:00-2:30 P.M. please contact Karen Kammer at karen@stmarklc.com or stop by the table in the narthex. The Wednesday study will explore Exodus and the Tuesday study topic will be chosen by the participants.
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Sunday School Teacher . . .
welcome and orientation will be held on Thursday, September 5 at 6:30 P.M. in the Adult Ministry Room.
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Needed: A few volunteers!
August is the month that St. Mark helps at the PA Peterson birthday party. We need 5 cakes and 3 volunteers to help cut and serve the cake. Please call Harriett Anderson at 815-633-2324 for more information. Thank you.
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Collecting Empty Pill Bottles.
We are collecting empty pill bottles that area doctors will be bringing to Haiti. Please drop them off in the church office by August 25.
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“I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.”
Philippians 1:3-5
As I return from my sabbatical on a Monday morning, this is my first task…addressing you, the saints of St. Mark. I share in Paul’s expression of thanksgiving, as I have likewise been remembering and praying for you during my time away these past twelve weeks. The universal question that confronts anyone returning to work is, “How does it feel to be back?” I must say that it feels absolutely great! My sabbatical time was filled with many blessings, including travels with Naomi (via motorcycle to the East Coast and car to the West Coast), precious time with family and friends, generous opportunities to read and reflect, and necessary space for quiet discernment of my pastoral vocation and call. I look forward to sharing some of these reflections with you down
the road (in small doses, of course).
The biggest highlight of the summer for us was becoming grandparents! On July 10, David and Rickie gave birth to Elaina Naomi Hagen. Of course, we think Elaina is a gorgeous baby girl, and we cherish having them live so close to us. Naomi and I chose to announce this birth after my return so that we could share the news with all of you at once. Naturally, pictures are available on my iPhone! Following Elaina’s birth, Naomi and I headed west to Seattle to visit our other son, Brett, and his dog, Grace, with whom we shared four marvelous days. On the way back, we spent two weeks tent camping in both Glacier and the Grand Tetons National Parks. These were unforgettable adventures for us…serving to refresh our spirits and bask in the beauty of God’s
creation.
I want to thank our church staff for their excellent leadership during this time. I especially want to thank Pastor Scott for his expanded pastoral leadership in my absence…what a blessing! Finally, I want to thank all of you for the generous gift of sabbatical time. The benefits to both pastor and congregation are significant as we continually strive for a healthy, productive, and enduring relationship as the Body of Christ.
Yup…it’s great to be back!
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Remember in Your Prayers:
When you submit names for the payer list, please let us know the length of time you would like the individual to be listed.
Our St. Mark Members: Sheri Anderson,Sharyn Dietmeir, Keith Haggestad,
Pat Jacobsen.
Our condolences to: the Allton family upon the death of Vickie's mother, Doris Neumann-Franklin.
Family and friends of St. Mark members: Kay Brickey Parisella, John Bauer, Abby Figi, Jim Belk, Mark Netherland, Richard Fry, Roger Steege, Mae Hullinger, Jeff Ahlstrom, Ray Bare, Liesel Landgraf, Margaret Johnsen, Marena Peterson.
Those serving in the military and their families: Dean Barron, David Albaugh, Brandon Ballenger, John Bullington, Kevin Cronin, Timothy Folkers, Kellen Hietpas, Ty Hosler, Philip Light, Sean Sullivan, Patrick Sullivan, Chad Swenson, Dan Waterton, Zach Hayes.
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Sunday School Teachers Needed:
Sunday school is in need of several new teachers this fall. Teachers teach twice a month and serve with a partner. If you are willing to share your love of God with our children in this manner, please contact Karen Kammer at 815-398-3557 or karen@stmarklc.com.
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Alzheimers Caregiver's Group:
The group will begin meeting the second Monday of the month on September 9 at 4:00 - 5:30 P.M. in Fellowship Hall. We will continue our discussion of, I'm Still Here: A New Philosophy of Alzheimer's Care, by John Zeisel, Ph.D. This is an opportunity to share with and support those who currently have or have had family and friends with Alzheimer's Disease.
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Good News Bearers:
Students 2nd - 6th grade are invited to become a Good News Bearer. Good News Bearers is the elementary drama group that meets weekly on Wednesdays from 6:15-6:45 P.M. Bearers perform monthly during the 9:30 A.M. service. The first meeting will be Wednesday, September 11 in the sanctuary. Please contact karen Kammer at 815-398-3557 or karen@stmarklc.com. |
Third graders:
Third graders are invited to walk through the Bible with Pastor Scott on Sunday, October 6 at 10:45 A.M. in the sanctuary. This will be an opportunity to ask all of your questions regarding the Bible from Genesis to Revelations. Parents are encouraged to attend.
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Cooks Needed:
Cooks are needed for the planning and preparation of food for Rock House Kids on September 16 and 18. Some 225 children will be served. if you would be willing to help with the planning and/or preparation, please call Beth or John Johnson at 815-332-4570.
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ELCA Celebrating 25 Years! God's Work Our Hands Sunday September 8 - Rally Day:
 (click the logo to visit the ELCA website)
Everyone is encouraged to invite a friend, family, neighbor, co-worker to worship on September 8, "Rally Day." We have invites with Mrs. Fisher's chips attached for you to take this Sunday. If you would like more invites, stop at the table in Fellowship Hall or in the church office.
We will CELEBRATE "Rally Day" and the "Day of Service" after second service with an extended time for fellowship, a free lunch (hot dogs, chips drink) and celebratory music by our praise band.
Saturday, September 7, is a scheduled "Day of Service." Sign up in Fellowship Hall for service projects, organized by Rockford Area Lutheran Ministries.
Roadway clean-up: 9:00 A.M. at Walgreens, E. State & Mulford.
Becca's Closet : 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Food Bank: 9:00 - 11:30 A.M.
Park District : TBD
Food donation collection at the Labor Day Parade on Sept. 2.
Between services on September 8, there will be opportunities to make cards, for St. Mark members who aren't able to be at church, assemble toiletry bags for the Rockford Rescue Mission, and sign up for service and ministry opportunities that go on throughout the year.
We are still collecting foam cups for Carpenter's Place during the month of August.
The ELCA 25th Anniversary t-shirts are HERE! If you ordered a t-shirt, please pick them up in Fellowship Hall. Please make your check out to St. Mark or bring cash. The t-shirts are $7.00. There are a few t-shirts available for purchase.
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Attention small groups and ministries:
Small groups, committees, ministries, groups that are formed at St. Mark or meet here are welcome to put out a sign-up sheet on Sunday, September 8, between services. Groups are encouraged to put out a simple display or simply a sign-up sheet. For more information and to say your group will participate, please e-mail Melinda Alekna at melinda@stmarklc.com or call 815-871-0390.
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St. Mark Marksmen:
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Any men from age 16-100+ are invited to join in singing with the Marksmen. There are no mid-week rehearsals. We meet for rehearsal at 7:00 A.M. on each scheduled Sunday and sing for worship at the 8:00 and 9:30 services. The scheduled dates for the first half of this season are: Sept. 29, Nov. 27 and Dec. 22. We have new music that will be sure to appeal to everyone. Please join us for singing fun and fellowship. If you are interested in singing with the Marksmen, you can pick up a printed fall schedule on the table outside of the music room.
Voices of St. Mark
(VSM):
If you like to sing in a choir, please join the Voices of St. Mark for a fantastic fall season. We especially are hoping to add sopranos and altos; but tenors and basses are welcome too. Rehearsals are Wednesday nights 7:00 - 8:30 P.M. beginning on August 28. We usually sing in worship twice each month. We hope any would be choir singers will consider joining us. The music is new and exciting. - Margaret Dean
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Book Study at Panera:
You are invited to join Pastor Mark for a new book study, Waiting for Gospel, by Douglas John Hall. Please order your book now so you will be ready for the first meeting, Thursday, Sept. 12, at 7:30-8:45 A.M. at Panera. Discussion questions are available online at our Panera Book Study blog at www.stmarklc.com. Please join us for this engaging study.
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