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Midweek Extra: Finding joy and making reparations

Interim Pastor David Mueller

Where’s the joy when we’ve got a virus?

Where’s the joy when we’ve got storm troopers in Oregon?

Where’s the joy when we have such animus between various peoples in our own country?

Where’s the joy when we have economic concerns about how we’re going to manage economically and financially?

Where’s the joy?

Interim Pastor David Mueller attends to that subject in today’s Midweek Extra, an informal video discussion of questions sent to him and his thoughts on assorted issues of the day.

He also discusses making reparations for slavery and other injustices.

Have your own questions for Pastor Mueller? Send them to the church office for future consideration.

Thanks to John Lasher, director of music and worship arts, for producing these videos.

 

 

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March and Rally for Justice

Synod leaders marching in Washington D.C. with a banner that reads 'Racism is a sin.'

Bishop William Gohl of our Delaware-Maryland Synod ELCA and others in our family of faith plan to participate in the March and Rally for Justice in Wilmington on Friday evening.

The event starts at 6 p.m. at Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park, 80 Rosa Parks Drive.

If you participate, look for the Synod’s banners and wear a mask.

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Ash Wednesday

Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return

Please join us for a special Ash Wednesday worship service as the Lenten season begins. Pastor David Mueller will be preaching.

We will meet for worship every Wednesday throughout Lent.

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Service of Lessons & Carols

Christmas star

Gather with us at 10 a.m. Sunday as we join our neighbors at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant for a joint Service of Lessons and Carols.

Savor the readings, the special music and the fellowship we have in Christ.

PCOC is at 503 Duncan Road, Wilmington 19809.

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Thanksgiving Service

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God!

We all have many reasons to give thanks and it is especially wonderful to give thanks together! Join us and four other congregations in our area for a special Thanksgiving Service, starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 26.

The service will be hosted by our next-door neighbors at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 503 Duncan Road. Three other congregations will join us, including Calvary Episcopal Church, Hillcrest-Bellefonte United Methodist Church and St. Helena’s Catholic Church.

Our Interim Pastor David E. Mueller will bring the message. Combined choirs will provide special music.

As an offering, we are invited to bring canned goods to help stock St. Helena’s Food Closet.

We’re excited about this! Join us!

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Legislative Night with Rep. Debra Heffernan

Representative Debra Heffernan

Please join us for Delaware Legislative Night at St. Mark’s at 7 p.m. Sunday, November 17, when our guest will be State Representative Debra Heffernan, who represents the district in which our church resides.

You are welcome to ask Rep. Heffernan questions about the church’s neighborhood and the wellbeing of its residents and especially about issues and pending legislation that will come before the Legislature when it returns to Dover in January. The Delaware Lutheran Office on Public Policy will be focusing on issues related to Education and Environment next year. Rep. Heffernan has expertise in both of these critical areas, so please be thinking of questions for her about these two topics especially.

Rep. Heffernan is the former President of the Brandywine School Board and an environmental toxicologist with more than 30 years of experience. She has served on the state’s Brownfields Advisory Committee, which is working to protect Delawareans from pollutants while making the state greener and more economically viable. She graduated from Caesar Rodney High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Delaware and a master’s in environmental toxicology from Duke University.

Rep. Heffernan volunteers with the Girl Scouts of Chesapeake Bay, the Mary Campbell Center, and Special Olympics of Delaware. She and her husband, Pat, live in Edgewood Hills with their three children.

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Putting muscle in the message!

Runners at the start of the Lutheran Community Services Walk-Run Fundraiser

More than 160 people showed up at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd on Saturday, Sept. 21, to participate in Lutheran Community Services’ 2019 Walk/Run to end Hunger and Family Fun Day. In all, they raised $52,300 to benefit LCS’ food pantries in New Castle County.

St. Mark’s had another strong showing with 31 members registered and a fundraising total of $15,300!

In addition to the 5-kilometer walk/run, there were fun and games for children, including a bounce house, face painting and a chance to explore a fire truck from Talleyville Volunteer Fire Company. There was plenty of food, including hot dogs, brisket, watermelon, chips, cookies and drinks.

Musicians, including St. Mark’s own “Souls on Fire,” showcased their talents.

Many thanks to all those who helped with planning, including Barbara Breisch, Fred Melton, Margie Dodson, Brian Schmidt and Kyle Schuldt. Thanks also to Gwen Wisniewski and her mother, Kathleen, for cooking and Brian Schmidt for providing the smoked brisket. Finally, many thanks go to the hosts at Good Shepherd and their chairperson Linda Ulmanis for all of her vision, planning, and leadership.

— Kyle Schuldt

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Worship and a picnic!

The grillmaster at work during the 2018 picnic.

You could call it our kind of block party! Once a year we join our neighbors at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant to worship our God and enjoy each other’s company.

We start with worship at 10 a.m. — just one service that Sunday — and then gather under the shady trees on PCOC’s lawn for a big ol’ picnic.

Expert grillmasters deliver sizzling burgers and hot dogs and everyone brings a dish or dessert to share.

Dwight Novotny, coordinator for St. Mark’s, says there will be Irish music this year, by the two-man band known as the King Brothers. Does it get any better?

Hope to see you there!

Shot of 2018 picnic
There is always great food at the annual St. Mark’s-PCOC picnic, but the best part is getting together and getting to know each other!
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ROAR: The Mane Event!

Vacation Bible School lion logo

ROAR is an epic African adventure that engages the whole herd!

At ROAR, kids explore God’s goodness and celebrate a ferocious faith that powers them through this wild life.

All children, ages 4 through 11, are welcome. They must be registered by an adult.

The five-evening event goes from 5:15 to 8:30 p.m. from Sunday, July 21 through Thursday, July 25. Our host is Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 503 Duncan Road, our next-door neighbor.

Teens and adults are needed to make this year’s Vacation Bible School another success!

Please contact Elaine Murphy (semurphy@comcast.net) if you can help in any way.

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Community VBS planning meeting

Vacation Bible School lion logo

It’s time to ROAR about our love for God and plan for another exciting summer Community Vacation Bible School.

An organizational meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 1 at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant at 503 Duncan Road, right across the street from St. Mark’s.

We need many volunteers to help share God’s love with children of our community. Please plan to attend and learn more about ROAR!