Calendar

Today:

11:00 Relevant Women’s Group/Rm 207

Youth Cookout/Pavilion

11 & 12:15 Stop Hunger Now

12:00 SPRC/Rm 204

6:00 Weavings/Library

6:30 Disciple Bible Study/Rm 202

Monday: 05/21

1:30 Monday Afternoon Women’s Sm. Group./Library

6:30 Stephen Ministers/Rm 204

6:45 Monday Evening Women’s Group

7:00 Service to Others Council/Rm 203

Tuesday: 05/22

7 am Men’s Morning Group/Library

6:00 Heaven’s Jubilee Practice/sanctuary

6:30 Welcoming Ministry/Conference Rm

6:45 Women’s Bible Study/Library

7:00 Spiritual Growth Council/Rm 205

Finance Committee/Rm 206

Wednesday: 05/23

10:00 Women’s Small Group/Library

Senior Exercise Class/Rm 204

6:45 What’s Next Small Group/Library

7:00 Adult Choir Practice/Sanctuary

Youth Small Groups:

Agape – Ellen Moore’s home

Sr. High Girls/Rm 202

Grapple/Rm 205

God & Sports

7:30 Recovery Group/Fellowship Hall

8:00 Relevant Practice/Basement

Thursday: 05/24

10:30 Mothers of Young Children/Library

Friday: 05/25

1:00 Pickle Ball/Gym

Monday: 05/28

Church Offices Closed

Connection

Connecting our Congregation with Ministries and Opportunities

Connection Archive

May 20, 2012

“This Week At St. Mark’s” - receive weekly emails of the week’s current events. Call Helen 379-1655 or send an email to handerson @stmarksmidlo.com

“Stop Hunger Now”

Food Package Program

TODAY

11:00 am and 12:15 pm

Community Life Center

Even if you didn’t sign up, you can still help!

** indicates first time announcement

FYI: Worship Services may be recorded.

Volunteer for Children’s Summer Sunday School (sign up sheets are upstairs outside the classroom).

Weekly Devotional Is Online! It’s simple to access: key in

www.stmarksmidlo.com., then click “Spiritual Growth” on the left sidebar, then in the middle of the page, click on “Weekly Devotional”. Connect with God and make your week amazing!

Join the media ministry team and use your talent as media operator. Other opportunities include media development, camera operator, equipment management and team coordination. Contact Dale Pepoon

The Preschool Is Collecting Food for the Puritan Cleaners 100,000 Meals Food Drive until May 23. We will be filmed by Channel 8 when they pick up the food. Boxes will be in the hall by the nursery for your contributions. Thanks so much!

Pictorial Directory All members of the congregation are able to access the directory. Please check the bulletin board for a copy of the directions, if needed. If you didn’t have a picture taken please contact Audrey Garrison or Terri Clifton and we’ll make arrangements to take a photo of you or your family at a convenient time. Additional photo Sundays will be scheduled during the summer; dates will be announced in advance. You also have the option of submitting a personal photograph to be used in the directory. Professional photographs are not suitable for use due to copyright restrictions. Please e-mail digital photos to Audrey Garrison.

Women Of Faith Conference: August 17-18^th. It’s time to sign up. Laura has reserved 50 seats but has to give definite answer by June 1.We have sold or have commitments for about 30 tickets so far. In addition, we are planning to invite Caritas and Embrace Richmond guests & staff. Cost is $200.00 and includes hotel, bus, 2 t-shirts, lunch both days and breakfast. Dinner is on your own. WE NEED the bus to be filled!!!! We are staying at a Marriott Suite hotel - very nice accommodations. Or if you absolutely can't go, consider donating to cover the costs of our guests. See Laura Wert for details or Patty Webb. Its going to be a great trip Sign ups due by May 27.

**Next Sunday is Pentecost Sunday – everyone is encouraged to wear red which is the liturgical color for that day. On Pentecost, we remember and celebrate the giving of God’s Holy Spirit to His apostles.

Stephen Ministry Stephen’s Ministers are trained lay-caregivers who are prepared to be a support to you or someone you know who is struggling with a health issue, grief or any of life’s challenges. To find out more, contact Rev. Karen Hittel at 379-1655, ext.113 or khittel@stmarksmidlo.com or Barbara Hunt.

Couples Ministry

We have a social committee and are planning 4 social events between now and the end of the year. All Couples are invited! Please mark your calendars for the following events:

Couples Salsa dancing at Havanna's 59 on Thursday May 24th at

8:00 PM. Admission $2 per person. Professional instructors

from 8:00-9:00 PM and salsa dancing thereafter from 9:00-12:00 PM.

Hallway. Need to confirm number of attendees by Monday May 21st.

Picnic with games (Hemmis’ home) Saturday, August 11, 4:00 pm.

Everyone bring a dish to share.

Halloween Party (home to be determined) Sat., Oct. 27^th,

8:00-11:00 pm. Costumes required.

Tacky Light Tour – Saturday, December 1.

Any questions please call Steve Hemmis or Vicky Roberson.

CHILDREN

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL - Registration is now open for the Church & Preschool. Forms can be found in the Fellowship Hall, Community Life Center, by the Preschool Door & online. The theme this year is “Dive Deep into God’s Word: Operation Overboard” and will be Monday-Friday, July 30-August 3, 2012. Registration opens to the public, June 3^rd; registration ends July 1st.

A VBS Donation Board is posted in the Fellowship Hall. We also need empty paper towel tubes. A collection bin is in the hallway beside the nursery.

The Preschool is now enrolling for the 2012-13 school year. Please call Betty Mason at the preschool for more information (379-1933) or look on our website (stmarkspreschoolmidlo.com)

Youth

Today: Youth Cookout this morning from 11:00 am -12:30 pm at church pavilion. All St. Mark’s middle & high schoolers, family & guest are invited for fellowship, burgers, hot dogs, outside games. Please join us. Event hosted by Youth Sunday Morning Small Group to help promote hiring of our next youth director. Optional donation of $1.00 or any amount will help this effort!

IMPACT Richmond is July 8-14. Final payment due now (total $250)! We are searching for a male chaperone. (must be able to commit to the entire week including nights) Please contact Janet DiMartino if you are interested.

Check the youth page for upcoming activities

www.stmarksmidlo.com/youth; Want to get a weekly youth activity update? Send your request to Selina at sheslep@stmarksmidlo.com and you’ll be added to the list!!

SILVER STREAKS

**Fredericksburg Trip – Wed., May 23, - bus leaves at 10:30 a.m.!

June -we are heading to Montpelier

July - Squirrels game

August - our traditional picnic

Sept. 10-11 – Lancaster, PA to see “Jonah”; leave St. Mark’s 7 am, Sept. 10^th,

On the way, we will see the historic sites in downtown Philadelphia. Cost is $240.00 and includes dinner Monday night, breakfast Tuesday morning and dinner Tuesday night. Lunch on Tuesday will be on your own. We are staying at the Lancaster Host Hotel. Sign up on the bulletin board sign up sheets in the Fellowship Hallway or contact: Laura Wert.

SERVICE

Peanut Butter Drive Girl Scout Cadette Troop 313 is participating in the GSUSA Common Wealth Council’s peanut butter drive, to benefit the Central VA Food Bank. We will be collecting jars of peanut butter through the month of May. It’s a big tub, so lend the troop a hand and fill’er up!!

Bread of Heaven Ministry: During the month of May, Bread of Heaven is collecting canned soups & stews (Brunswick Stew, Beef Stew) that could be a meal for a family. The Food Bank is stocking more fresh fruits & vegetables thus creating a real demand for these food items. Donation bins are across from our Nursery.

Baby Hats – Anyone knitting or crocheting baby hats for Kim Locke’s

Gold Award, you will find a donation box across from the church nursery.

Friends For A Cure Needs your Help! Our team is participating in the Relay for Life event on June 2, 2012. We are collecting gently used DVD/Movies to help raise money for the fight against cancer. A donation box is the hall near the nursery. Thanks or your help! If you have questions, please contact Mandy Nealy.

FACES (Family Advocacy Creating Education and Services) offers support, education, and resource referral to families with a loved one diagnosed with a mental illness such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder. Located in the St. Mark’s annex building, FACES provides a confidential place for family members to meet.

Support groups meet on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesdays of each month from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Advocacy meetings held on the 4^th Tuesday of most months, also from 7:00-8:30 p.m., provide education opportunities from a variety of speakers on many mental health topics. Knowledge is crucial to relieving the stress and reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness.

**FACES ADVOCACY MEETING

May 22nd

7:00-8:30 PM

Guest Speaker, Cheryl S. Al-Mateen, M.D., F.A.A.C.A.P., D.F.A.P.A.

Dr. Al-Mateen is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. She is currently Director of Inpatient Services at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children, part of the VCU Health System. Dr. Al-Mateen is also responsible for 3^rd year medical student education in the Department of Psychiatry, and previously served as Chair of the Education Committee for the VCU Center on Health Disparities. She is active in the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and serves as Co-Chair of its Diversity and Culture Committee. Dr. Al-Mateen has presented work on topics including culture and the effects of violence and trauma regionally, nationally and internationally. Dr. Al-Mateen is a Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. She is Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in General Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Forensic Psychiatry.

Spiritual Growth

Upper Room Devotional Booklets are available in the foyer.

A List Of Small Groups meeting through the week is available from the information rack. You’re welcome to attend at any time.

ADMINISTRATIVE

Financial Snapshot as of May 13, 2012

MTD Actual Budget thru 5/06 Actual YTD

Income $19,529 $284,536 $286,324

Expense $23,546 $284,536 $267,966

Surplus/(Deficit) ($ 4,017) $ 18,358

Church Offices will be closed Monday, May 28^th in observance of

Memorial Day.

Office Volunteer for the 1^st Friday of the month needed. Hours are 9 – 1:00 pm; duties are to answer phone and collate Sunday bulletins. Contact Helen at 379-1655 or handerson@stmarksmidlo.com. Thank you!