All of us at St. Mark’s share a commitment to our faith and to our community, and we welcome visitors regardless of religious background, race, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Everyone is welcome!

Ascension, 2003, Mural of Christ ascending to heaven on a graffiti wall in Bristol, England. from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

Rector's Message

Dear Church,

On Sunday, June 2nd from 2-5pm, at Raymond Park, all are invited to a celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride with a festival called Interfaith Family Pride Fest.

Organized by a committee of Evanston’s Interfaith Clergy and Leaders group, the Pride Fest is intended to be a warm message of love and celebration of the queer community in Evanston. Now more than ever, we (faith communities inclusive and affirming of LGBTQ+ persons) need to bear witness to God’s love in our world. 

From the organizers: "This event will honor LGBTQ+ families, while recognizing the importance of repairing relationships and building bridges between faith communities and the LGBTQ+ community....This family-friendly festival will feature captivating performances by renowned artists including Flamy Grant, Artemis Singers, and The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus, along with engaging activities for children. Additionally, don't miss the inspiring Youth Showcase, highlighting the talents and voices of our younger generation. All are welcome to an afternoon filled with love, acceptance, and celebration of diversity."

I have been honored to represent St. Mark's on this committee. The event page is on Facebook HERE. If you'd like to subscribe to receive updates directly about the Pride Fest, click HERE. The planning committee is gladly accepting donations as well, and St. Mark's is sponsoring a table at the event, too. To that end, if you have ideas of any giveaways, swag, prizes, treats, etc., send them my way, too!

But at the very least, bring your sunscreen and good cheer, and plan to be with us the larger community of houses of faith on June 2nd for an afternoon in the park celebrating our LGBTQ+ siblings.

Blessings,

Greg+

This Week at St. Mark's

Save the Date

Saturday, May 18

• 11:00 am - Funeral for Maryallen Estes. Followed by a Reception in the Parlor

Sunday, June 2

• 2-5:00 pm - Interfaith Family LGBTQ+ Pride Fest at Raymond Park, Evanston (See flyer below)

Sunday, June 16

• Race Against Hate 2024

Announcements

Remembering Maryallen Estes (1926-2024)

Parishioner Maryallen Estes will be memorialized on this date:

Saturday, May 18, 2024

11:00am

Followed by a Reception in the Parlor

If you are available to help with the reception, please contact Joanne Greene.

The choir is also invited to confirm with Westley if individuals are available to sing.

Click HERE to read Maryallen's obituary.

Adult Forum 9am Series: Easter Themes and the Movies!

Greg+ leads an Adult Forum series each week at 9am in the Parlor over coffee and breakfast treats, and the topic is Easter Themes and the Movies. This week we look at scenes and themes from the Pixar 2020 film Soul, and we conclude on May 19th with The Tree of Life, directed by Terence Malick from 2010. All are welcome to attend, even if you’ve never attended one before.

The film is available for rent on Apple TV, but we are providing a link to watch on your home device HERE.

All are welcome to attend, even if you’ve never attended one before. On May 12th, we look at the 2020 Pixar film "Soul," found easily on Disney+. We conclude on May 19th for the summer break with "The Tree of Life," available for rent on Apple or if you have a Hulu subscription.

Spring in the Garden

We are looking forward to having you join us on Pentecost Sunday, May 19, after the 10am service and coffee hour for the annual mulching party, which usually takes about 30 minutes (see next announcement). It is OK to wear your jeans and yard clothes to church. :) Thank you to Chris Schultze and Ellie Bergman who are providing and planting annuals to brighten planters in front of the main entrance and leading up to the Parish House. If you are separating your hostas this year, please let Lola know at lhimrod@comcast.net, We can always use more. In a few weeks we will have some coneflowers to share with anyone who wants some. Contact Lola Himrod at Lhimrod@comcast.net or 847-864-7815 if you have any questions or requests.

Shower-Up Makes a Stop at St. Mark's - Monday, May 13th

Shower Up is a mobile service that provides a free showers in their trailer to the community’s unhoused population. They will be present at St. Mark’s for a test drive of their services to the Evanston community, parked in our front semi-circle entrance with their trailer set- up on Monday, May 13th (beginning approx. 10am, last for 2- 3 hours). Shower Up brings a trailer with hot and cold private showers, amenities, towels, some clothes, and other sundries for those neighbors and visitors who need freshening up. We hope to have them back with some regularity, pending tomorrow’s outcome. Shower Up is always looking for volunteers, too – please read more about their incredible work at showerup.org/chicago.

SnapGap Donations Needed

You are invited to assist with the collection of items to bridge the gap for individuals and families in our community in great need. Your participation and generosity are greatly appreciated. For May we are collecting: Toothpaste + Toothbrushes. These items will be distributed at the Tues., May 14th Producemobile. Items may be purchased online. If you buy these items locally, you can drop them at: First Presbyterian Church of Evanston, 1427 Chicago Ave., Evanston. Drop-off Hours are: Mon – Thurs. 8am-7pm; Fri., 8am-5pm; Sat. & Sun., 8:30am-12.30pm.

Education for Ministry Open House - Wednesday, May 15th

Interested in deepening your relationship with God? Want to study scripture with other committed people? Looking for an intimate intentional spiritual community? Consider joining an EfM group. Education for Ministry is a four-year seminar course in which you’ll study the Old and New Testaments, church history, and theology while engaging in the weekly practice of theological reflection. The EfM program is designed to help us prepare for the ministry we are all called to as Christians. You’re invited to participate in an existing group’s session at our open house on Wednesday, May 15 from 6pm until 9p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 939 Hinman in Evanston. Please contact Laura Jenkins at laura.m.jenkins@icloud.com for more information or to register for the session.

Race Against Hate Set for June 16th

Join with our Episcopal kin in saying NO! to Racism in Evanston as we support our friends at the YWCA in their battle to End Racism. St. Matthew's, St. Augustine's (Wilmette), St. Andrew Pentecost, St. Luke's and St. Mark's are participating again in this annual event, a walk/race for a cause: to support the equity work of the YWCA. Last year, the Episcopal team was the top fundraising team. What will we do this year? To register, go to tinyurl.com/racehate2024 and look for the team: Episcopalians Unite Against Hate. And Save the Date, June 16th.

Red Cart Sunday - Sunday, May 19th

Help the Wednesday Lunch Program! Bring jugs of juice/non- carbonated drinks (apple juice, cranberry juice, lemonade, or iced tea) or powdered mix for iced tea or lemonade. Package cookies (Oreos, windmill, and fudge stripe, etc. are preferred). We also need grocery style plastic bags that we use to pack lunch items for people who request a lunch to go. Place items in the cart at the back of the sanctuary.

Thank you to everyone who attended our Annual Evensong this past Sunday. If you missed it, you can hear the music on our Youtube Channel.

2024 Fall Concert Series:

9-23, Noon

Brad Conroy, guitar

10-12, 7pm

Amethyst Winds, woodwind quintet

10-28, Noon

Vannia Phillips, viola

11-18, Noon

Du Jour, clarinet, violin, & piano ensemble

12-7, 7:30pm

Coriolis, a cappella choir

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Creation Care Corner

In Our Prayers

Celebrating Birthdays

Motoko Maegawa (5/3)

Nick Easton (5/3)

Martha Lettner (5/4)

Sam Consiglio (5/9)

Vittorio Laudati (5/16)

John Sagan (5/18)

Anne Heinz (5/19)

Mary Koss (5/22)

Bob Molumby (5/22)

Dalia Benz (5/28)

Nasim Alexander (5/29)

Donald Koss (5/29)

Celebrating Anniversaries

Fred and Susan Lewis (5/31)

Have we missed your birthday or anniversary? 

If so, please send an email to elion@stmarksevanston.org

so we can correct our records and include you in the next issue of the eLion.

Clergy, Staff & Ministry Chairs

The Rev. Gregory L. Millikin, Rector

(847) 864-4806, ext. 114

(310) 721-6356 (mobile)

rector@stmarksevanston.org

Westley Art Hodges, Director of Music Ministries

(847) 864-4806, ext. 118

(312) 241-5308 (mobile)

music@stmarksevanston.org

Andrew Schaeffer, Interim Parish Administrator

(847) 864-4806, ext. 102

office@stmarksevanston.org

Rudy Burke, Sexton

(847) 687-9172 (mobile)

(847) 864-4806, ext. 103

sexton@stmarksevanston.org

Tim Heuer, Senior Warden

srwarden@stmarksevanston.org

Nancye Kirk, Junior Warden

jrwarden@stmarksevanston.org

Chris Schultze, Treasurer

(847) 864-4806, ext. 112

treasurer@stmarksevanston.org

Allison Ashley, Creation Care Team

creation@stmarksevanston.org

Donna Richardson, Outreach & Social Justice Committee

outreach@stmarksevanston.org

Patrick Furlong, Investments Committee

investment@stmarksevanston.org

Vestry

Gretchen Constantine, Adrianna Dangremond,

Julia Ferguson, Aina Gutierrez,

Kathy Hart, Deane Johnson,

Hardy Murphy, Chris Schultze

and Dan Whitmore  

vestry@stmarksevanston.org

Have news to contribute to the eLion? Send it to elion@stmarksevanston.org