In Christ, we reach up,

reach out, reach in.

December 31, 2017

Weekly Announcements

Service Times St. Mark’s Lutheran Church 315 S. College Drive Bowling Green, OH 43402

Saturday: 5 pm

Sunday: 8:30 & 11 am

“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’”

From January through April we

will be reading through much of

the Gospel of John – in Sunday

worship and in daily readings.

The Narrative Lectionary moves

into the New Testament

“This is the disciple who testifies to these

things and who wrote them down. We

know that his testimony is true. Jesus

did many other things as well. If every-

one of them were written down, I

suppose that even the whole world

would not have room for the books

that would be written.” John 21:24-25

Join us in January as we

meet Jesus in the

book of John!

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WORSHIP VOLUNTEERS Dec. 30, 2017 Jan. 7, 2018

Scripture Reader Karen R. Cheryl H.

Worship Assistant(s) Denny L., Jodee P. Roger & Cheryl H.

Dec. 31, 8:30 am Dec. 31, 11:00 am Jan. 7, 8:30 am

Pray with Pastor, 8 am Ed & Sally B.

Greeter (s) Joan & Dean A. Scott & Karen S. Coann D. Dave & Shirley H.

Communion

Communion Setup Kelly J. Kelly J.

Communion Clean up Barb F.

North Railing

Bread Pastor Pastor

Wine Crucifer Crucifer

Cup Acolyte Acolyte

South Railing

Bread Gerry K. Cindy A.

Wine Diana B. Marty A.

Cup Cindy S. Ardy G.

Acolyte Luke J. Alyssa R. Trevor H. Elsa C.

Call to Worship (Youth) Mimi U. Abigail U. Ethan L.

Crucifer Asa L. Heath H. Don R. Dave H.

Scripture Reader(s) Larry W., Robin S., Tim S.

Larry W., Robin S., Tim S.

Moja K., Martha W., Emily G., Don R.

Moja K., Martha W., Emily G., Ethan L.

Assisting Minister Robin S. Bob J. Robin S. Patti H.

Ushers Ed B., Kent S., Jeff H., Larry L.

Ken & Pat M. Gary M., John K., Cheryl K., Mark S.

Joe M., Ken & Pat M., Bob W., Larry Z.

Welcome Center Host(s) Sandy K. Otis S. Belva K. Kelly R.

Coffee Hour Host(s) Joan S., Donna P. Jim & Martha W.

Kitchen Monitor(s) Donna P. Cindy T.

Welcome Ministry Visitor(s)

Joan S. Terry M., Kim W.

Counters Bob J., Fran W. Fran W.,

Reach Up Worship

Creation

Fall

Redemption

New Creation

Season: Christmas

Sunday, Dec. 31

1st Sunday after

Christmas

Reading: A Voice in the Wilderness John 1:19-34 Psalm 19-34 Color: White

Sunday, Jan. 7

Baptism of

Our Lord

Reading: Jesus Says Come and See John 1:35-51 Psalm 66:1-5 Color: White

Sunday, Jan. 14

1st Sunday after

Epiphany Reading: The Wedding at Cana John 2:1-11 Psalm 104:14-16 Color: Green

Sunday, Jan.21

2nd Sunday after

Epiphany Reading: Jesus Cleanses the Temple John 2:13-25 Psalm 127:1-2 Color: Green

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Sunday, December 31 8:00 am Prayers for Pastor 8:30 am Worship Service - Worship Center 11:00 am Worship Service - Worship Center Monday, January 1, 2018 Church Office Closed - New Year’s Day Tuesday, January 2 9:00 am Wood Area Ministries - Room 103A 3:30 pm BG Christian Basketball - FLC Wednesday, January 3 9:30 am Bible Study - Room 103 1:00 pm Wood Area Ministries - Room 103A 5:00 pm Puppets - Loft 6:00 pm WNL - FLC/Kitchen 6:30 pm Joy of Discovery—Continuation - Room 102 6:30 pm Joy of Discovery—Beginners - Room 104

Thursday, January 4 9:00 am Wood Area Ministries - Room 103A 9:30 am Joy of Discovery—Continuation - Room 102 3:30 pm BG Christian Basketball - FLC Friday, January 5 8:00 pm AA Meeting - MPR Saturday, January 6 9:00 am Horizon Youth Theater - SS Stage 5:00 pm Saturday Worship - Worship Center Sunday, January 7 8:00 am Prayers for Pastor 8:30 am Worship Service - Worship Center 9:45 am Children’s Sunday School - SS Wing 9:45 am Adult Sunday School - Room 102 10:00 am Adult Sunday School - MPR 11:00 am Worship Service - Worship Center 11:30 am NWO Arctic Wolves Sled Hockey - FLC/Kitchen

2:00 pm Baby Shower - FLC/Kitchen 4:00 pm Middle School Youth Group 5:30 pm High School Youth Group

Hospital Stays

If you, or someone you know is hospitalized, please be sure to contact the church office. Laws of confidentiality may prohibit the hospital from calling us, so we are counting on you to let us know. We would rather have several calls giving us the same information, than no calls at all. Thank you for your help!

December Noisy Offering is designated

to Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity undertakes work to demonstrate the love and teachings of Jesus, acting in all ways in accord with the belief that God’s love and grace abound for all, and that we must be “hands and feet” of that love and grace in our world. In response to the prophet Micah’s call to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God, we promote decent affordable housing for all, and we support the global community’s commitment to housing as a basic human right.

Habitat’s Vision: A world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Habitat’s Mission: Seeking to put God ’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Please give generously to this vital ministry.

Reach Up Events

Have you missed seeing someone lately?

As Jesus Christ says to love one another, we want to demonstrate that love by giving a call to someone you haven't seen in church lately. Let them know that you miss seeing them and hope they are doing okay. When you speak to them and there is a concern that the family of St. Mark's can assist with, please contact the church office. If they request prayers, please remember the HIPPA laws and ask permission to put them on the prayer chain. Thank you!

Are You Willing To Share The Lord’s Supper?

If so, the St. Mark’s Homebound Communion Ministry Team could use your help. The demand for homebound communion to our shut-ins is growing. More volunteers are needed to help meet this demand. You only need an hour or so once a month to share communion with a church member that is unable to make it to a regular service. If you are interested in being a part of this valuable ministry or would like more information on how it works, please call or email St. Mark’s Care Ministry Coordinator, Ann Cremar, at anncremar@gmail.com or call 419-344-3166. Thank You.

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Sunday School

Classes will resume on Sunday,

January 7. See the January

newsletter for more details.

Homebound Communion Available

The St. Mark’s Homebound Communion Minis-try Team is available to provide communion to you or a loved one if he or she is unable to attend a church service. If you or a family member are homebound and would like to receive communion at home, please call the church office at 419-353-9305 to be sched-uled for this ministry of St. Mark’s. You will then be contacted by one of the Homebound Communion Ministry Team members to set up a time for your visit.

Holy Communion will be served next Sunday at both services of worship. Regu-larly scheduled ushers will serve the remain-der of the month.

Next Sunday is the regular monthly col-lection for the Bowling Green Food Pantry. Donations of food items—particularly canned soups, vegetables, fruits, meats, breakfast cereals, and single meal items should be placed in the boxes located in the coat room next to the church office. Thank you for your contributions.

Lost and Found Have you lost anything? Small items, such as glasses, are often left on the Welcome Center counter. Larger items are put in the Lost and Found box located in the coat room next to the church office. Check the kitchen counter for dishes and platters you may be missing. Unclaimed items are donated to charity about every six weeks.

Flowers for the Sanctuary: Would you like to present flowers for the sanctuary to remember or honor someone on a birthday, anniversary, baptism, or any other meaning-ful date or occasion? Please call Shirley McGee, 419-352-9125, to reserve the date.

Noisy Offering for January will be the St. Mark’s Quilters.

The St. Mark’s quilters have been quilting since February 1996 with the attendance be-ing anywhere between three and fifteen indi-viduals. One hundred twenty quilts were sent this year to Lutheran World Relief. Lutheran World Relief distributes the quilts to families in need. The materials for the quilt tops are mostly donated, with the materials for back-ing and batting purchased by the quilters. Please give generously to this worthy cause. Thank you!

Year End Contributions must be re-ceived in the church office or postmarked no later than December 31 to be recorded on your year-end contribution statements for tax purposes. Please contact the church of-fice at 419-353-9305 if you have any ques-tions. Thank you.