January 2019 – St. Mark's Online

January 26, 2019January 31, 2019

Ash Wednesday Service

Our Ash Wednesday service includes a special guest preacher, a deaf Bible drama, the imposition of ashes and holy communion.

Join us as we hear from Bishop Peggy A. Johnson, who serves as the episcopal leader of the United Methodist Church’s Philadelphia Area, which includes the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference and the Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference.

Her sermon title is: “Can You Keep A Secret?”

“I am looking forward to taking part in this service as we continue to model our ‘full communion’ relationship with the ELCA and the UMC,” she said. “My hope is that the deaf community’s involvement will spark some interest in deaf ministry at your church and further collaborations.”

Bishop Johnson is a native of Baltimore, Md. She is a graduate of Lebanon Valley College, Asbury Theological Seminary and Wesley Theological Seminary, where she earned the Doctor of Ministry degree.

Prior to her election to the episcopacy in 2008 she had served as a pastor in the Baltimore-Washington Conference for 28 years. Her churches included a four-point rural circuit in Frederick, Md., a suburban Baltimore congregation, a campus ministry at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., and for 20 years she was the pastor of the Christ United Methodist Church of the Deaf.

Bishop Johnson has a passion for ministry with people with disabilities and her years as the pastor of an all-deaf congregation led her on paths of experience with not only the deaf and deaf-blind communities but also with those who have mobility, intellectual and mental health challenges.

She is married to the Rev. Michael C. Johnson, a United Methodist pastor. They have two adult sons, Peter and Gabriel.

We hope to see you there!

January 26, 2019April 8, 2019

Midweek Lenten Series: Unafraid

This is the final session of our Mid-Week Lenten Series, which has focused on Adam Hamilton’s book “Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times.”

Throughout the series, we have gathered at a different church in the Brandywine Collaborative each Wednesday, starting with supper at 6 p.m., then a time of prayer and worship at 6:45 and a time of study and discussion from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. This week, we’ll host the meeting at St. Mark’s, 501 Duncan Rd., Wilmington, Delaware 19809.

For anyone struggling with fear or wondering how families and communities can thrive in troubled times, “Unafraid” offers an informed and inspiring message full of practical solutions.

Join us as we conclude this conversation.

January 26, 2019

Compass Team gathering information for strategic plan

The St. Mark’s Compass Team, which is working to develop a strategic plan to guide our ministry and life together, wants to send a big “thank you” to all who have participated in the Compass Team Survey.

The deadline to complete the survey is Sunday, Feb. 3, so — depending on when you read this — you may still have time to submit your survey if you haven’t done that yet. Please weigh in! The survey will give the team essential information about the St. Mark’s family and provide a profile that we have not had in this amount of detail.

Why does it matter? We’re called to be good stewards of the resources God has given us — the human resources, the financial resources, the time and talents and all of the goodness He has given us. That doesn’t happen by default. Good stewardship requires careful thought and a good plan.

To expedite our work, the team is working with Vibrant Faith Coach Jim LaDoux, who has worked with many other congregations in similar efforts. He will visit St. Mark’s on Sunday, April 14, speaking in both worship services and also during the Adult Forum at 10 a.m.

In addition to analyzing responses to the survey, the team is in an information-gathering phase now — collecting data about our community, drawing from Census reports and other research and official government planning documents. This is the first of four phases of the team’s work and will include meetings with church committees and interviews with many in the St. Mark’s family and the greater community to expand our understanding of the needs and goals we have.

The second phase is a period of discernment, which includes a leadership retreat, planned during the weekend of April 13-14. In the third phase, the team will design a strategic plan, with tasks, timelines and accountability measures for key objectives. During this time the plan will be submitted to Council for review and approval. The fourth phase is used to develop systems that will support the plan and ensure that its objectives are reflected in staff and ministry goals and are informing our decisions and actions.

Our website — www.stmarksonline.org — and newsletter (The Lion) will carry periodic updates on our process and progress. We plan to share the results of the survey with you and also will post other data to let you know what we’re learning. We would love it if you would follow these reports and keep in touch with us throughout this process, which we believe will continue at a formal level through December. Going forward, the plan will be a living document, with continuing growth and refinement.

We need and welcome your prayers for this effort. We believe this work will provide healthy interaction, new insights and a clear, responsible roadmap for our future.

Please contact any team member if you have questions or wish to offer suggestions or email us at Compass@stmarksonline.org. The better our information and collaboration, the better our plan.

The Compass Team includes: Nancy Wilkerson (convener), Nichole Bishop, Peg Bradley, Pastor Scott Maxwell, Beth Miller, Dwight Novotny and Mike Patterson.

We meet monthly, with our next meeting on Feb. 17. Much more to come!

January 26, 2019January 31, 2019

Family Night

The Family Night event planned for Friday, Feb. 1 at Calvary Episcopal Church has been CANCELLED. But we are hosting the next one on Friday, March 15.

These events are sponsored by the Brandywine Collaborative Ministries Group, which St. Mark’s is part of. The Brandywine Collaborative is a group of area churches linked to strengthen the community of faith in our area.

The Collaborative’s Family Nights are typically held on Friday nights and are meant to bring kids and adults together for supper, a brief worship service, activities for the kids and a time of discussion for parents. Families are the focus of these gatherings, but singles and all ages are welcome to participate.

There is no cost to attend. The evening typically goes from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

In addition to St. Mark’s, the collaborative includes Calvary Episcopal Church at 304 Lore Ave., Grace Episcopal Church at 4900 Concord Pike and Episcopal Church of the Ascension at 3717 Philadelphia Pike.

January 22, 2019

Connecting with EDGE for Tomorrow

Ginny Jones, executive director of EDGE For Tomorrow will be with us during the Adult Forum hour to bring us up to date on that ministry of our neighbors at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant.

Founded in 2009, EDGE For Tomorrow provides services, support and advocacy for social justice, education and empowerment for those living below the poverty level in our local communities.

The EDGE After-School program is almost 8 years old and now provides free after-school care for about 30 children four days each week. It touches the lives of more than 100 families with programs that address illiteracy, poverty, parent education, family assistance and early childhood education.

Join us Sunday to learn more about this ministry and see how you might be involved.

January 22, 2019

St. Mark’s serves families, makes new friends in new partnership with Family Promise

St. Mark’s partners with Family Promise of Northern New Castle County again from January 27 to February 3, our second week of “hosting” families at the Hospitality Center.

Our first week of service — Christmas Week 2018 — was a great introduction to this ministry, which serves families who are in transition and in need of housing. Scores of volunteers participated — preparing and serving meals, planning activities, providing overnight security and bringing special gifts and other essentials for this holiday week.

We made many new friends and one of them — Hector (seen in the photograph above) — was featured in Family Promise’s recent report on the things accomplished during 2018. His story, which was also covered by several local news outlets, was shared this way in Family Promise’s report:

“Hector had a full-time job and was supporting his four kids. But when his job was cut to just 25 hours, he couldn’t make ends meet. He had to give up his apartment, and his family bounced between houses of friends and family members — eventually ending up in a motel. The day before our new Hospitality Center opened in November, Hector had just enough money to pay for one more night in the motel. For a family like his — one headed by a single father — it was difficult to find resources, and he faced the grim choice of living in his car or splitting up from his kids. Supporters like you gave Hector a third option: our new Hospitality Center. He was able to keep his family together while receiving shelter, food, and hospitality. He shared his story on WDEL and Community Issues with Omar Rashada, and just this week, he moved back into permanent housing!”

What a glorious testimony to God’s provision — and what amazing timing for Hector and his family.

The Family Promise Hospitality Center, which opened in November 2018, shares space at The Jesus House and Retreat Center on Milltown Road. It has capacity for up to six families with children — about 20 people in all — giving them a way to stay together while they pursue new housing.

Each congregation that partners with Family Promise provides seven days of “hosting” services, which include meals, washing linens, activities for the kids (as desired by residents) and other things as needed. Our commitment is for four weeks each year.

There are many ways to participate. Connect with our coordinators, Barb Gilbert and Pam Waters, if you’d like to join us!

And if you’d like to help with supplies, here is a list of needed items which can be dropped off at the Family Promise Day Center at 2104 St. James Church Rd., Wilmington DE 19808 or stored in a (yet-to-be-established) Family Promise Ministry storage area at St. Mark’s: twin comforters, twin sheet sets, new bed pillows, towel sets (bath, hand, wash), dish sets, flatware sets, plastic drinking cups, sets of glass drinking glasses.

Thank you for caring for families such as Hector’s! Working with Family Promise and the many other congregations and groups who support this work, we can do so much more. Hope to see you at the Hospitality Center!

Photo: Courtesy of Family Promise of Northern New Castle County

January 21, 2019January 21, 2019

Lutheran Community Services seeks help to address food emergency

Lutheran Community Services is asking for help as the potential for a food emergency increases during the lengthy government shutdown.

In a recent email to supporters, LCS said the shutdown threatens to upset the safety net for many low-income households. More than 2,500 low-income households come to one of LCS’ 15 food distributions for nutritious food each month. Many also rely on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, formerly known as Food Stamps, to obtain food. February’s SNAP benefits are being paid early, on January 20, but after that no further benefits will be provided as long as the shutdown continues.

If SNAP benefits cannot be funded, LCS expects a dramatic increase in the need for food assistance as LCS becomes a primary source of food for those in need. As one pantry client expressed it, “there will be a line down the street and around the corner!” LCS estimates needing to buy up to three times the amount of food normally purchased to meet the emergency. This would include providing more food to existing clients and meeting the needs of new ones. Even if the shutdown is resolved, LCS expects a surge in February because of the early distribution of that month’s SNAP benefits.

In order to get ahead of this situation, LCS is asking for financial help. Please visit the LCS website — www.lcsde.org — for more information on how you can help or call (302) 654-8886.

Also on the LCS website is information about how to organize a food drive as well as a grocery list of the food most often needed, including:

Ravioli, spaghetti, meatballs in sauce
Tuna/chicken/salmon
Beef stew
Corned beef hash
Ham and other canned meats
Canned fruit
Canned vegetables – spinach, yams, carrots etc.
Soup/stew
Beans
Pasta
Crackers
Macaroni and cheese
Cereal, grits, cereal bars, oatmeal
Peanut butter
Fruit juice
Dry or evaporated milk
Baking mixes for pancakes, waffles

January 1, 2019

Twelfth Night Concert

Our friends and neighbors at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant are hosting the Wilmington Handbell Ensemble for a “Twelfth Night” concert.

According to WHE’s website, the ensemble is celebrating its 19th season. It has performed at Longwood Gardens, First Night Wilmington, Christmas in Old New Castle, Christmas Open Houses in Salem and Woodstown, N.J., Brandywine River Museum and the Delaware Art Museum. The ensemble also has been featured with the Newark Symphony, the Rainbow Chorale of Delaware and the Wilmington Madrigal Singers.

All are welcome. A $15 donation is suggested.

PCOC is at 503 Duncan Road, just across Villa Place from St. Mark’s.