A Message from Pastor Joe…

In Christian theology, the Greek word “kenosis” refers to

the “self-emptying” of Jesus as a model of Christian

ministry. Paul uses this imagery in his letter to the

Philippians to refer to the death of Jesus on the cross.

Another way to think about “kenosis” is in relation to how

God is also a self-emptying God. For God poured out

God’s entire being to create the cosmos, our world, and

humans. In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis

compares God to a painter who pours out her ideas and

creative self into her work, and yet remains quite a distinct

being from her painting. As an artist, I like that imagery.

As creatures, we reflect the image of a loving God.

I believe God calls each of us to do the same thing as we

seek to follow Jesus in the way of the cross. No matter

what may happen in our lives. And, of course, that is not

always easy.

As I shared last month, I found out about a serious health

issue related to my neck, and I am going to have surgery

on Tuesday, April 3. As a result, I will be on leave for at

least one month, maybe two, depending on my recovery.

Our church council has been very supportive and

encouraged me to take time needed for healing.

During my medical leave, Pastor Charlie Axness is going

to serve as part-time interim pastor for St. Mark’s. He will

be preaching, leading worship services, providing pastoral

care, and other duties as needed. Feel free to contact the

church office if anything comes up that needs his

assistance during this time.

Some of you may know Pastor Charlie, who just retired a

few weeks ago. Pastor Charlie grew up in Minot, attended

Minot State College, and graduated from Luther Seminary

in St. Paul, Minnesota. He has served much of his ministry

in North Dakota, including congregations in Crosby and

Mandan. Since 2014, Pastor Charlie served as the

Associate with the Bishop of Eastern North Dakota Synod.

Please join me in welcoming Pastor Charlie!

Holy Week begins this Sunday with a celebration of Palm

Sunday, also called Passion Sunday. We will begin this

celebration with a five-block processional from our office

building to the chapel at Prairie St. John’s. For those who

are able, we will gather at 9:15 a.m. at 4th Street and Main

(417 Main Avenue.) We will also be offering services for

Maundy Thursday at Churches United, and Good Friday

and Easter morning worship at our chapel (see page 3 for

details).

Easter Sunday (April 1) marks the one-year anniversary of

being in our new office and worship spaces. When I think

of all wonderful things that have happened with St. Mark’s

during the past 12 months, I feel grateful and blessed to be

able to continue serving this community. And for your

continued faith and support walking in the footsteps of

Jesus, and serving as bold witnesses in the “kenosis”

ministry to which we are called.

THE INFORMANT is published monthly by St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 417 Main Avenue – Suite #401, Fargo, ND

58103. Published on March 22, 2018, this is the April 2018 Informant, Issue No 4.

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church is an inclusive fellowship of God’s people centered in Word and

Sacrament and dedicated to serving our urban neighborhood and the wider community.

But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. I have said, “You are my God.

My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from

those who persecute me. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in

your steadfast love.” - Psalm 31:14-16

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in

the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be

exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in

human likeness. - Philippians 2:5-7

MUSIC NOTES*

One of the familiar Easter hymns is Now All the Vault

of Heaven Resounds #367. This text was written

specifically for the Service Book and Hymnal of 1958

and was passed from that hymnal to the Lutheran

Book of Worship of 1978 to Evangelical Lutheran

Worship that we use today. It had only minor

alterations with each passage. As in other Easter

hymns, the church’s Alleluia here punctuates the song

that resounds throughout the vault of heaven and on

the plain of earth.

Paul Z. Strodach, the writer of the text, was born and

educated in Pennsylvania and after ordination served

in several congregations. He also served on the

Church Book Committee that produced the Common

Service Book of 1917 and the Service Book of

Worship of 1958.

The tune LASST UNS ERFREUEN was specifically

picked by Strodach to fit his text because of its broad

musical sweep with passages that go up and down

scale wise and suggesting breadth of motion and yet

stay within an octave range. Strodach knew what he

was doing when he used this tune for a text that joins

the song of heaven and earth by using the heaven’s

vault on the lower end of the scale and the earth’s

“here” on the high end.

This tune is used several times in our ELW: 393 - A

Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing!; 424 - Ye Watchers and

Ye Holy Ones; and 835 – All Creatures, Worship God

Most High!. Familiar hymns produce familiar and

easier singing!

Alpha Roeszler , Music Director

*Excerpts from ELW Hymnal Companion

GOSPEL READINGS FOR APRIL

Apr 1 – Easter Sunday: Mark 16:1-8

The resurrection of Jesus is announced

Apr 8 – Easter 2: John 20:19-31

Beholding the wounds of the risen Christ

Apr 15 – Easter 3: Luke 24:36b-48

Eating with the risen Christ

Apr 22 – Easter 4: John 10:11-18

Christ the shepherd

Apr 29 – Easter 5: John 15:1-8

Christ the vine

In Memoriam

In the Hope of the Resurrection we give

thanks for the life of Shirley Rourke, who

died on February 23, 2018, in Fargo. Her funeral was

held on February 28 at the Wright Funeral Home in

Moorhead. Shirley was a long-time member who

served in many capacities through the years. She will

be deeply missed. We pray comfort for her family,

including her sons, Erin and Bracken Rourke.

Memorials

In Memory of Charlie Houtkooper

Undesignated Memorial:

Mary Barton

In Memory of Shirley Rourke

Undesignated Memorial:

Gerald & Nora Koenig; Robert & Judy Burner;

St. Mark’s Choir Members; David & Kathy Tietgens;

Phyllis Schreiner; Jane Radig; Karla Mickelson;

Marlene Walkin; Kevin Estenson & Terry Hagensen;

Tom & LaVonne Marubbio; Mary Barton; Robert &

Lynda Backman; Rod & Janel Swenson; Constance

Graber; Meredith Bloomquist; Sandra & Marvin

Walter; Yvonne Condell; Joyce Rude; Roger

Melvold; Mary Jane Haugen; Sandy Knight; Bernice

Pavek; Kermit & Marilyn Jensen; Mark Rice; Galen

& Helen Beth Kuhens; Stan & Naomi Franek

Resurrection…

I love that our one year anniversary of moving to our

chapel lands on Easter Sunday this year! I’ve shared

with several people our story of “resurrecting” the

chapel back into a worship space. It was mostly used

for an “all-purpose room” after the convent closed

and is still used occasionally for trainings and events

for Prairie St. John staff.

It’s uncanny how beautifully our altar, lectern, and

pulpit fit into this new space. We love the acoustics.

Six different art displays have been mounted on the

chapel walls this past year. We have breathed new life

into the chapel, where once again the Word of God is

preached, a community of faith sings, prays and

celebrates communion.

“Is this a permanent move for your congregation?”

we are often asked. “No, we know that it’s

temporary, and that’s OK,” I reply… We have

experienced in “concrete” ways that the church IS a

people. Naomi Franek

April Schedule

USHERS 1: Stan Franek 8: Brian Buteyn 15: Stan Franek 22: Bill Roeszler 29: Charlie Jordan

LECTORS 1: Linda Graf 8: Cindy Roholt 15: “Heart River Child” 22: Brian Buteyn 29: Open

ALTAR GUILD 1: Tammy Lanaghan 8: Elna Solvang 15: Naomi Franek 22: Mary Jane Haugen 29: Tammy Lanaghan

NEW OFFICE SCHEDULE: The church office hours will be extended during Pastor Joe’s sick leave. Hours will be 9 – 4:30, Monday thru Friday, starting April 2. Thanks!

SUNDAY SCHEDULE: Sunday Worship/Communion: 10 a.m. Coffee Fellowship: 11:00 a.m.

DATES TO REMEMBER March 25: Palm Sunday Procession & Worship March 29: Maundy Thursday at CUFH, 6 p.m. March 30: Good Friday Service, 7 p.m. at our chapel Apr 1: Easter Sunday

Apr 15: Special Service with “Heart River Child”

leading worship

Apr 19: Council Meeting, 6 p.m.

Apr 22: Serve at University Lutheran Center,

5:30 p.m.

Apr 26: Newsletter Mailing, 9:30 a.m.

EASTER SUNDAY COFFEE HOUR:

On Easter Sunday we will have our regular coffee hour at 11 a.m. If you would like to bring something special - caramel rolls, cinnamon rolls, muffins, dyed Easter eggs - please feel welcome to do so! Jane Radig

Lenten & Holy Week Services

Palm Sunday: Weather permitting we will process with palms from our office to the chapel on Sunday, Mar. 25, starting at 9:15 a.m. Worship is at 10 a.m.

Maundy Thursday service will be held at Churches United for the Homeless at 6 p.m. on March 29. Good Friday service is at our chapel on 6th Avenue at 7 p.m. on March 30.

Easter Sunday

April 1: Worship is at 10 a.m. and coffee hour is at 11:00 a.m.

“Heart River Child” to Lead Sunday Worship, April 15

St. Mark’s has invited “Heart River Child”, a small group of young musicians, to lead worship on Sunday, April 15, 2018. They play a wide variety of music and have played in numerous churches across the state, raising money for the Heart River Lutheran Church Scholarship Fund, to help support their college education. Heart River Lutheran Church in Mandan is their home congregation, where they have been making music together since they were in Sunday School. Peder Stenslie, a lay minister at Heart River Lutheran Church, will give the sermon. Heart River Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), serving Mandan, Bismarck and the North Dakota Youth Correctional Center. They have a unique mission, worshiping weekly with incarcerated youth in Hope Chapel on the YCC campus. In recent years, their mission has extended beyond their walls to help youth transition into healthier situation upon leaving YCC. The Rev. Renee Splichal Larson is their pastor.

Mosaic News The beautiful mosaic is almost done. The grouting is all that is left! KVRR local news broadcast a wonderful story March 18, 2018, about the community of people who brought the mosaic to life. It will hang in the chapel at Churches United. (The story can be viewed on St Mark’s Facebook page!)

Churches United For the Homeless Update

Bright Sky Apartments

Certificate of Occupancy received on Mar. 14

March 19 - First of households moving in

20 households are in the selection process

Bright Sky Apartments is a 43-unit permanent housing development, consisting of efficiency, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, 3 bedroom, and 4 bedroom apartments.

Shelter Overflow

Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Moorhead will continue to provide space for the Shelter Overflow project for the 2018-19 calendar year

The YMCA has donated a full-sized school bus to the project

Watch for information on becoming a volunteer to come out in September or October. Sheltering will begin sometime in late November or early December.

Community Garden

There is talk of having a community garden this year at Bright Sky Apartments. If you are interested in helping with the Community Garden please call Churches United at 236-0372 and ask for Brady.

Fargo Cluster Meeting The Fargo Conference Spring Cluster meeting will be hosted by the Elim Lutheran Church Women on Saturday, April 7, 2018, with registration starting at 8:15 a.m. and program starting at 9 a.m. “Who Is My Neighbor?” is the theme and Stacy Loegering, Executive Director of the Emergency Food Pantry is the guest speaker. For more information and registration, please call Connie Rawls, Administrative Assistant, Elim Lutheran Church, at 701.232.2574.

Evening Meal at Lutheran Center

St. Mark’s has signed up to serve an evening meal for the students at the University Lutheran Center on Sunday, April 22, at 5:30 p.m. Worship begins at 6 p.m. The menu for the evening has not been decided, although a few ideas have been tossed around. If you are interested in cooking, bringing food or helping to serve, please contact Jane Radig at 701.239.4386. The University Lutheran Center is located at 1201 13th Avenue North in Fargo.

Hope you can join us!

Help Wanted As many of you know, St. Mark’s is a long-standing member of Central Cities Ministries. This ministry provides emergency help to fifteen individuals and families twice a month. We partner with First Link, who screens the applicants prior to the distribution date. I am part of the distribution team and for a time attended the organization’s monthly meetings. Over the past months these meetings have been attended by Pastor Tessa Leiseth. However, Pastor Tessa has accepted a call to be interim pastor at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Moorhead. Therefore, we are again in need of someone to represent our congregation at Central Cities Ministries monthly meetings. These meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month at Olivet Lutheran Church. The meetings begin at 4:00PM and last about an hour. If you would like to volunteer to be our representative at these meetings or would like to have more information of what is involved, please contact me at 701-298-8920 or e-mail me at stanleyfranek@gmail.com. Thanks, everyone, for considering this request. Stan Franek

Emergency Food Pantry Sunday

When we were at the old St. Mark's Building, the first Sunday of every month was designated as Food Pantry Sunday. Beginning the first Sunday in May, we will be reviving that tradition. There will be a cart, either at the back of the chapel or in the area where we have coffee hour, to leave your donations in.

Non-perishable food items: Tuna fish or canned chicken Peanut Butter Cereal Canned Fruit/Vegetable Soup Macaroni, Rice, etc. Beans

Non-food items Toilet paper Bars of Soap (no liquids, please) Diapers (Sizes 4-6 preferred, any size OK) Toothpaste Shampoo Deodorant Feminine Hygiene Products Egg Cartons (dozen size)

If you would prefer to give a monetary donation, you may make the check out to St. Mark's Lutheran Church and put Emergency Food Pantry on the memo line.

Did You Know… …that Bethany Retirement Living offers a support and educational program called “Endings & Beginnings” for family members who have a loved one with a dementing illness living in a nursing home? This multi-session program is offered twice a year and there is no cost to attend. Participants need not have a resident at Bethany. Topics such as change, loss, the stages of Alzheimer’s, behavior, end of life and emotional issues are discussed. For additional information, contact Tara at 701.239.3529 or tcopley@bethanynd.org.

amazonsmile: If you are shopping on AmazonSmile, you can also benefit our church. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to St Mark’s if you use the following link: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/45-0236174

Easter Floral Display If you would like to contribute to the Easter Flower display at St. Mark’s

this year we are asking a donation of $10. Please submit your order by Tuesday, March 27, by mail or call 701.235.5591. We plan to purchase a variety of flowers, including the traditional white lilies. Please make your check out to: “St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.” Our mailing address is 417 Main Ave., Ste 401, Fargo, ND, 58103. The flowers will be distributed to our shut-ins and some will stay in the chapel during the Easter Season. Thanks! Name: ___________________________________________ Phone: _____________________________________ In Honor of: ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ In Memory of: ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________

_____________________________________

Amount Enclosed: _________

Thank You & Have a Blessed Easter