LIFE TOGETHER AT ST MARK
 You can find us at: 
1614 West Fifth Street
Storm Lake, IA, 50588
 Phone: 712-732-5255 
You can email us at hello@stmarkstormlake.com

      You may log into Saint Mark Wi-Fi
Password- devotion

WORSHIP
We gather for worship each Sunday morning at 9:00. You can join us in-person in the Sanctuary, or via livestream on our  Facebook page. Recordings of services may be also found on the St Mark Website.
 
PRAYERS- 
We are all invited to keep the following persons in our prayers:

Prayers for Healing:   
Tony Bodholdt, Clara Samuelsen, Marlon Gasner, Marilyn Jones, Ken Russell, Hildy Clewell, Julie Egland, Val Anderson, Jon Kruse, Donna Schulz, Steve Korner, Jane Evans, Evelyn Messenbrink, Alex Kron, Steve Berg, and all persons seeking healing and wholeness. 
 
Prayers for the Grieving:

• For Susan Thompson and family as they grieve the death of Bob Thompson

IGUMBILO GIRLS SCHOOL UPDATE 
Last Sunday morning we had a delicious brunch, enjoyed fellowship with others, and raised $1025.  These funds will be used to purchase computers for the  students at Igumbilo Girls School in the Southern Diocese of Tanzania. St Mark and the Western Iowa Synod’s relationship with the girls' school dates back to 2005 when the Western Iowa Synod helped found the school.  Computers are needed so students and staff can access resources that are only available electronically.  Thank you for your generosity, together we are changing lives.

PROCLAIM RADIO MINISTRY 
Proclaim is a radio ministry of St Mark and is broadcast every Sunday morning at 7:30 AM via FM 101.7 KAYL. The message and music are from the previous weekend. This ministry is one of the ways we reach out to Storm Lake and Western Iowa with the love of Jesus.  We invite you to consider supporting this ministry in addition to your regular financial support of St Mark. Cost is $38 per week and can be given online, or by check.  You can sign-up for a Sunday on the bulletin board sign-up located on the bulletin board near the west entrance to the building. Call Jane Hartwell 732-5255 if you have questions.
 
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES- 
Methodist Manor- The residents of Methodist Manor are in need of persons to visit. Training will be available to prepare volunteers for the conversations. If you are interested, please contact Maxine Lampe 712-732-1058, or Pat Cowan 712-299-3120.
 
Worship Techs- we are in need of at least 2 more persons (families) to serve one Sunday a month as worship tech.  New tech helpers may include families with junior high or high school aged kids, possibly a great way to involve them more with helping with church service.   If you are interested, you are invited to sit back at the console on a Sunday morning and watch/help the persons working on that weekend.  Contact Pastor Dave if you are interested.  
 
VETS TOGETHER- 
Is an opportunity for veterans of the United States military branches. There is no agenda other than an opportunity for veterans of the United States military services to have a place to be with others who have had similar experiences and who are willing to receive and give encouragement to others. As veterans go through re-entry into civilian life they may experience, short and long term, challenges unique to veterans such as: PTSD; disabilities; reconnecting to family and friends; finding meaningful employment; and other struggles.  Vets Together meet on Wednesday evenings, 6:00 PM in room 128. The gatherings are open to all community persons.  Please share this opportunity with friends. 
 
PROCLAIM RADIO MINISTRY 
Proclaim is a radio ministry of St Mark and is broadcast every Sunday morning at 7:30 AM via FM 101.7 KAYL. The message and music are from the previous weekend. This ministry is one of the ways we reach out to Storm Lake and Western Iowa with the love of Jesus.  We invite you to consider supporting this ministry in addition to your regular financial support of St Mark. Cost is $38 per week and can be given online, or by check.  You can sign-up for a Sunday on the bulletin board sign-up located on the bulletin board near the west entrance to the building. Call Jane Hartwell 732-5255 if you have questions.

2022 GIVING STATEMENTS- are ready to be picked up at the Welcome Center on Sunday morning, and in the church office.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR OFFERINGS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT  
We are grateful for your faithful financial gifts to St Mark as they provide the needed support for all of our ministries, outreach, operating expenses, and staff. We are hopeful that through all of our gifts we will finish our year strong. If you have a financial gift you would like to share today you may place it in the offering box found at the welcome center.  You are welcome to drop off an offering at the Church office or send it in the mail.  You can also go to the St Mark Give Page where there are links and instructions for sharing your gifts:

• Give via EFT, banking cards, and credit cards. Make a one time, or set up ongoing gifts
• Text your gift to 833-643-0608.
• You can also give during the service electronically through the new Vanco Mobile Giving App available at Apple App Store on Google Play Store.
• And a new way to give is through Amazon Smile each time you purchase something online.  

BOOK DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE JANUARY 15-The book for this Sunday (January 15) will be “A Fall of Marigolds” by Susan Meissner. “This book tells the story of two women, a hundred years apart; two spur of the moment decisions that were inspired by joy but instead caused their lives to intersect with tragedy and resulted in the loss of the men they loved; and one mysterious marigold scarf that connects them and changes their lives.” We will meet in the library after worship to share and discuss.  The book for February will be “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah. It is about Trevor Noah's childhood and adolescence in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa. A child of mixed heritage, Noah details the challenges he faced and the peculiarities that existed when he was growing up. The meeting date for discussion is TBD.

 
FRIENDS WITH FOOD THIS WEEK-
Friends with Food is a partnership of St Mark Lutheran Church, SALUD, and other community persons who work together to offer a monthly food distribution to those who are permanently or temporarily homebound and without easy access to transportation.  The next distribution will be this Thursday, January 19th.  If you would like to help, and if you know of someone who could use some food, please contact Jane Hartwell 712-732-5255, Di Daniels 712-299-9863 or Julie Cook- Western Iowa Synod Office 732-4968.

LIFE SERVE BLOOD DRIVE
In spite of the icy weather, LifeServe had a successful Blood Drive at St Mark.  There were 55 appointments, 38 persons registered to give blood (33 were eligible), and 38 units of blood were collected (enough hto safe up to 114 lives). “Thank you a million times over to Pastor Dave for keeping the church open and putting ice melt down for our team. We appreciate your dedication to saving local lives!” The next date is February 7, 2023 at St. Mark from 12:30-5:30.  You can register online or text LIFESERVE to 999-777 to make an appointment to Give Blood.  If you would like to know any other info about donating blood and Life Serve Blood Center, just click on this link, or contact Jane Hartwell in the Church Office.  
 
UPPER DES MOINES FOOD SHELF NEEDS OUR HELP 
The Upper Des Moines Opportunities Food Shelf staff has stated that any food is welcomed at the pantry.  The following items are very low and needed at this time: cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter, canned fruit & vegetables, beans and rice, spaghetti sauce and pasta.  Meat is very much needed (lunch meat, hot dogs, ground beef, ground pork, chicken.  Freezers are available at Upper Des Moines if you drop off there, address below).  Other items needed: laundry soap, dish soap, shampoo, body soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, paper towels. You can drop the food off in the grocery cart by the church office, or at Upper Des Moines Opportunities Food Shelf, 620 Michigan Street, in Storm Lake. 
 
2023- ANNUAL MEETING OF ST MARK LUTHERAN CHURCH
The Annual Meeting of St Mark Lutheran Church will take place on January 29, 2023, immediately following the 9:00 worship service (Time @10:10). In addition to the election of officers, and reports of the Congregation, the Congregation Council has recommended changes to the Constitution of St Mark that will be voted upon at that service. We will have Congregation Conversations on Sundays January 15 and 22 @10:10 in the Fellowship Hall.  Copies of the documents are available in the office and at the Welcome Center. 
 
THOSE COINS REALLY ADD UP
Together, we filled the Global Barnyard coin boxes with $790.27.  The Sunday School students have done their math, and these funds are enough to purchase an entire Family Farm for a family (A cow, a couple of goats, a dozen chicks, two pigs, farming tools, seeds and agricultural training can create a world of opportunity for a family living in poverty. With eggs, milk and meat to eat and sell, and tools and training to increase the harvest, this gift can make all the difference.) And there is still enough to purchase honey bees and some more baby chicks.
 

THIS WEEK AT ST MARK

Sunday, January 15                
7:30AM              Proclaim Radio broadcast on FM101.7
9:00AM              Worship Service- in-person and streamed live
                          on Facebook
10:00AM            Fellowship Coffee time (Fellowship Hall)
10:00AM            Book Discussion (Library)
10:00AM-10:45AM        Sunday School (Sanctuary)
10:10AM             Congregation Conversations (Fellowship Hall)
1:00-2:30 PM      Visitation for Bob Thompson family
2:30 PM              Funeral for Bob Thompson 
 
Monday, January 16
9:00AM                Sew & Do (Sewing Room)
5:00PM                Family Access (Room 128)
6:30PM                Stephen Ministry (Conference Room)
            
Tuesday, January 17
12:00PM               College Student Conversation with Salud
                             (Fellowship Hall)
 
Wednesday, January 18
5:00PM                 Buena Vista County Suicide Prevention
                             (Fellowship Hall)
6:00PM                 Confirmation Class
6:00PM-               Vets Together (Room 128)
                  
Thursday, January 19
@10:30-3:00PM      Friends with Food          
                                (times will be announced during the week)
12:00PM-                 AA-(Fellowship Hall)
 
Sunday, January 22                
7:30AM -                 Proclaim Radio broadcast on FM101.7
9:00AM-                  Worship Service- in-person and streamed live
                               on Facebook
10:00AM-               Fellowship Coffee time (Fellowship Hall)
10:00AM                Sunday School (Sanctuary)
10:10AM                Congregation Conversations (Fellowship Hall)