The Bridge
        
The weekly newsletter of St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows                  
   July 7 , 2017 
        
 
Sunday Worship      
8:30am-Blended
9:45am-Contemporary
11:00am-Traditional
 
 
To hear podcast recordings of our Sunday Sermons
Click Here
St. Mark's Staff
Pastors
Phil Rue, Visitation
Staff
Ingelaurie Lisher, Youth and Family
Music Ministry
Contemporary Music Ministry
Manager of Finance and Operations
Office Coordinator
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Just Shopping

Just Shopping is an Internet Fundraising Program at St. Mark's. It's part of a three-tiered plan to eliminate our building debt by 2023. On-line purchase made through our website with affiliate companies helps pay off our building loan. Thank you for your support and please share this internet shopping opportunity with your family and friends! For more information, click here to visit our website. 


 

 
       Contact Us  
St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows

6730 N. 17th St.
Tacoma, WA 98406

Office: 253-752-4966
Preschool: 253-752-4929
Join our mailing list.
Wednesday Night Church Night is on hiatus and will resume in the Fall! 

One Great Song

We dnesdays, 6:30-7:30pm.  

July 19th-Luther and the Reformation
July 26th-JS Bach and contemporaries
August 2nd-Lutheran Choral Tradition
August 9th-The past 50 years

Over the course of four Wednesdays we will explore 500 years of music in the Lutheran Church.  Thirty minutes of worship and learning will be followed by refreshments and a chance to visit.  
Faith, Sexism & Justice

Thursdays , 6:30-7:30pm.  July 20 & 27, August 3, 10, 17 & 24

The ELCA Task Force on Women and Justice: One in Christ invites you to join a growing conversation and to add your input. After receiving feedback from more than 100 Listening Events and hearing from several dozen specialists, the task force has written the study "Faith, Sexism, Justice: Conversations Toward a Social Statement" as way to invite broad engagement with the questions and issues.

At St. Mark's we will be reading through this study over the course of six Thursdays.  Each week individuals will have the opportunity to respond in writing to the ELCA task force as a draft social statement is prepared.  Questions?  Contact Pr. Shjerven

Backpack Supplies for Incarcerated Women and their Children

Once again this year Empowering Life will be collecting school supplies for the women at Mission Creek Correctional Center to provide for their school age sons and daughters.  Printed supply lists can be found on the table in the narthex.  Items need to be returned to church at the end of July.  Thank you!

Backpacks for K-4
Backpack
1 Composition book (wide lined)                                       
Paper (wide lined)
Set of fat water color markers
Box of water color paints
Crayons (24 preferred)
Package of #2 pencils (Ticonderoga & Office Depot; cheap ones crumble)
Pencil Box
Eraser
Scissors - must say "blunt"  
1 Scotch tape
Pkg of glue sticks                                                              
Small plastic bottle of Elmer's glue
Ruler

Backpacks for - 5th-12th grade
Backpack
Composition book(s)
Spiral notebook(s)
3-ring binder(s)
Paper (college rule)
subject dividers
eraser
ruler
pens (blue/black/red)
pencil box/pouch
pencils (Ticonderoga & Office Depot good; cheap ones crumble)
colored markers       
highlighter(s)        
colored pencils
glue sticks                     
pencil sharpener
calculator with advanced functions ($10-15 type)


Interfaith Summer Women's Tea

Interfaith Summer Women's Tea sponsored by St. Mark's.  Wednesday, July 12 at 6:30pm at University Place Library.  Come experience the sisterhood of women and learn how we practice our faith in our daily lives.  If you can help by bringing dessert contact Diane Herforth, 253-752-5978, 253-223-8594

Reflections on 2017 SWWA Synod Assembly

A blog by Char Leone

Attending the 2017 Synod Assembly was a joyful and enlightening experience for so many reasons, not the least of which was the opportunity to see how our Synod and its many (90) congregations are at work in this current era of change.  At a time when many see the churches of the Reformation as shrinking in numbers, the vitality of renewal is palpable in this 500th Reformation anniversary year.

Summer Story Time

Summer story time runs through Sunday, August 27 during the "Word" portion of the service at 9:45 a.m. Volunteers are still needed, see the table in the Narthex. 

Tacoma Rainiers

Tacoma Rainiers-Tuesday, August 8 11:35a.m. (game time). Cost: $13.00 per person, includes hot dog, chips and a beverage-if we get 20 or more to sign up. Sign up in the church office and pay by Wed. July 26-tickets will not be purchased if we don't receive your $$ by that date. Tickets will be available for pick up at the church July 30-Aug. 7. 

Help Wanted

We are looking for volunteers to help plan an Interfaith Picnic on July 30 at Whittier Park in Fircrest.  You will enjoy the chance to work with members of our neighboring Christian, Jewish, and Muslim congregations in this endeavor. Please contact the church office if you are willing to help.  

Seeking Shalom Conference

Seeking Shalom Conference 2017 is a day of ecumenical examination of what it means to be Christ in a changing world. Sat. July 29 10am-8pm at Mt. View in Edgewood, Cost: $25.00(includes lunch and dinner)-geared towards Young adults and Faith Formation leaders. For more information and/or to register www.seekingshalomconference.com .

Ring in Some Summer Fun with St. Mark's Summer Bells!

Summer is a GREAT time to try something new and if you have ever wondered what it is like to ring a bell, I have just the thing!
St. Mark's Summer Bells happens every Thursday evening from July 6 th through August 24 th, 6:00pm - 7:30pm in the bell room (upstairs music wing.)
 
This blurb may start to sound Suessical, it's true, but anyone can ring a bell - yes anyone! And that's YOU!
You can ring one - or two --  or sometimes three! Little bells, big bells or even a bell tree.
Come with your can-do attitude for fun to all of the sessions, or maybe just one.
If you are 16 or older drop in just to play a beautiful bronze bell on any Thursday!
 
I hope you can experience the good vibrations with us this summer.
Previous bell experience is not necessary. Come and check it out, see what it's like. Who knows, maybe YOU are a born ringer and don't know it!
For more information contact kmoats@harbornet.com
 
Karen Moats
Handbell Choir Director

Empowering Life Rummage Sale

The annual Rummage Sale to support our Lutheran mission and ministry at the Washington state women's prisons, through Empowering Life, will be Friday & Saturday, July 21 & 22, 8am - 4pm, at Peninsula Lutheran Church (PLC), 6509 38th Ave NW in Gig Harbor. 

Donations may be delivered to Peninsula Lutheran starting Tuesday, July 18, 10am - 7pm.  Sale will include clothes, household items, books, sports equipment, furniture and much more.  Questions?  Call PLC @ 253-851-3511.

Marimba Camp

Marimba Registration is still open for the children and youth camps!
  • Summer Youth Marimba Camp: Mon-Fri, August 21-25 (grades 2-12)
Cost: $50 per person
 
Forms are available on a table outside the church office, and can be turned in to Linda or Nicole in the office. Space is limited, so get your registration in soon!
 
Questions? Send to: cooper.sherry@smlutheran.org

Care of Creation Summer Hikes

The Care of Creation committee is sponsoring three more hikes this summer--one per month alternating between Fridays and Saturdays. The heavy precipitation (snow) this year will likely preclude getting above 5,000 feet until late July or early August. We can adjust the destinations as we get closer and know the conditions better.  The dates and tentative destinations are listed below.  

Friday, July 21:   Summit Lake

Saturday, August 5: Chinook Pass
 
Friday, September 8: Sunrise (Rainier) or Hurricane Ridge (Olympics)

We will meet at the church at 8 a.m. on the appointed days and form car pools.  Hikers should have water, sun cream, sun glasses, lunch, first aide, camera, extra clothing, good hiking shoes, and money to help defray the costs of gas for drivers.  We will not go if it is raining.
For more information contact: Tom Hulst thulst@live.com 

Prayer Chain

We are re-establishing our Prayer Chain at St. Mark's and we welcome your participation.  The mission of the Prayer Chain is to communicate requests for prayers to a network of individuals who are committed to the ministry of prayer for people in need. If you would like to be a part of this ministry, please send us your email and we will add you to the list. 
Vacation Bible School 2017

Mark your calendars!  VBS July 31-Aug. 4 Maker Fun Factory!  For children 4 years old (by July 1, 2017)-5th grade (2017-2018 school year). Registration opened April 30. Taking youth and adult volunteers who want to teach or lead. Contact Ingelaurie with questions or for more information.  Click here for the registration form. 

Children and Youth Faith Formation

 
Faith Formation for children Summer 2017!
Summer story time begins Sunday, June 25 through Sunday, August 27 during the "Word" portion of the service at 9:45a.m. Volunteers are needed to lead the following Sundays: 7/23, 8/6, 13, 20 & 27. Assistants are needed for each week.  Please see the table in the narthex if you can help.
 
Vacation Bible School-Maker Fun Factory will be held July 31-Aug. 4 9:00a.m.- 12:15p.m. See the table in the Narthex for more information and how you can get involved in this fun faith formation program.
 
  • Leaders Training/Orientation: Sunday, July 23 12noon in the Fireside Room and Tuesday, July 25th 6pm in the Fireside Room. You only need to attend one.
 
2018 ELCA Youth Gathering!   June 26-July 2, Houston TX. Details are on the youth board. Registration opens September 15.
 
Annual Music on the Lawn Fundraiser and Event will be held August 19th 3:00p.m. at Bob and Suzy Reynold's home. Youth and parents contact Jean Steingrebe to sign up to help and earn $$ for your trip.

Adult Faith Formation

Adult Forum-Sundays 9:45am in the Fireside Room
Adult Forum is done for the year, join us again in the Fall.

Adult Class- Sundays 11am in the Fireside Room
Adult Class is done for the year, join us again in the Fall.

Wednesday Midweek Renewal; 6:15pm
Midweek Renewal is done for the year, join us again in the Fall. 

Tuesday "Fully Alive" Bible Study; 5:15pm in the Fireside Room
Fully Alive is done for the year, join us again in the Fall. 

Women's Bible Study; 9:30 am in the Parish Commons Classroom
 Women's Bible Study is done for the year, join us again in the Fall. 

Noon Wednesday Text Study Luncheon in the Parish Commons Classroom.
Noon Wednesday Text Study is done for the year, join us again in the Fall.  

Member Notes and News

Senior member St. Mark's urgently needs a good used car.  Can you help? Need Automatic, 4-door, low mileage.  Please call Pam Olson, 752-7525.  nutmeger2@gmail.com

Have an item for the bridge?
Send it to communications@smlutheran.org by 8am on Tuesday. All items will be run for 2 weeks prior to the relevant date and will be edited for length. Don't forget to send your member notes and news!