 Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay "God Loves a Cheerful Giver" You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
Things are really getting exciting here at St. Mark's! Fall and cooler weather are in the air. Our ministries are ramping up awesome projects and events for the season. We are thinking about Thanksgiving and what it means to be thankful for our blessings from God. Everything we have comes from God. Without His moving us and prodding us, we would not be who and what we are today. He leads us down the right paths and helps us find those paths when we think we know what is best and stray. How is God calling you to respond to those blessings? How is He calling your to give to His Glory through St. Mark's? We make it easy to give through our website, by mail or through our offertory at worship. Your gifts to God will further bless his ministries here at St. Mark's and in the community. We do this together to praise God! New Consecration Sunday November 26, 2023: Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes. Our congregation’s finance committee has selected the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program as a way to teach the biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving in our stewardship education emphasis this year. New Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. New Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?” During morning worship on Consecration Sunday, we are asking our attendees and members to make their financial commitments to our church’s missionary, benevolent, and educational ministries in this community and around the world. Every attendee and member who completes an Estimate of Giving Card does so voluntarily by attending morning worship on Consecration Sunday. We urge people to attend who feel strongly opposed to completing a card. The procedure is done in such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card. We will do no home solicitation to ask people to complete cards. During morning worship our guest leader will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, climaxed by members making their commitments as a confidential act of worship. We will encourage participation in Consecration Sunday events through the Consecration Sunday team and governing board members. Since we will make no follow-up visits to ask people to complete their cards, we will make every effort to inform, inspire, and commit everyone to attend Consecration Sunday worship. Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events. Food Pantry: Food Pantry volunteers will be at the Narthex entrance accepting donations toward Thanksgiving gift cards. If you would like to donate, donations will be accepted each Sunday leading up to the November 14 distribution. The following is the distribution schedule for November:
MarkDowns Thrift Store: Check out the St Marks Facebook Page for photos of the Thrift Store. Thanks for all your support. Support our church with your shopping, donations, and offering to volunteer where you can with the thrift store. See Diane Lewis for more information. We also welcome volunteers who basically want to help us from home, doing such projects as ironing, sorting through our greeting cards, all at the leisure of your own home. Open every Friday and Saturday 9:00 to 1:00 and in conjunction with the Food pantry distribution schedule every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 8- noon. Show your love by supporting our thrift store! CURRENT SERVICES: You can join us for services live at the following times, or watch the recording any time at your convenience:
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