Worship & Congregational Activities

NEXT MONTHLY COFFEE HOUR IS MAY 4: St. Mark’s next monthly Coffee Hour is following worship on May 4, which is a week earlier than when it is normally due to May 11 being Mother’s Day. It is a time to enjoy some hot beverages and treats, and enjoy some fellowship time together.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!: In honor of all women at St. Mark, the Activities Committee has made a monetary donation to Centre Safe in State College, which among other things helps empower women who are or have been in abusive relationships. We have all been blessed by strong women of faith in our lives at St. Mark, and we thank you for continuing that tradition now.

ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC: St. Mark’s annual church potluck picnic will be held following worship on Sunday, May 18. Hot dogs, condiments, paper plates, napkins, cups, and utensils will be provided. Please bring a chair and a dish to share. A signup sheet is in the narthex for bringing food and/or beverages. Additionally, the Service and Snacks youth service group will be filling buckets with soil for portable gardens that will be donated to St. Mark’s Food Pantry. If you have any questions, you can contact Pastor David.

MENTAL HEALTH AND THE BIBLE: Pastor David is leading an online Bible study that looks at mental health through the lens of scripture and faith. The study, Lifting the Lid: Six Bible Studies Exploring God’s Heart for Mental Health, ties into May’s being Mental Health Awareness Month. The study begins 6pm May 7 on Zoom and will be held each Wednesday through June 11. If you have any questions, contact Pastor David.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: With summer approaching, we are getting ready for another season of outdoor worship at St. Mark. The schedule for June through August will be the following: indoors at 10:30 on the first and fifth (if there is a fifth) Sunday of each month; outdoors under the pavilion at 10:30am on the second and fourth Sundays of each month; and outdoors under the pavilion at 6pm on the third Sunday of each month. Don’t worry, we will keep reminding you of the time and place!

Outdoor services happen, of course, weather permitting. If weather conditions or something else causes us to change anything happening at St. Mark, we will use our Call Multiplier system with an announcement, send out an email to anyone on our email list, and post on our social media platforms — Facebook and Instagram. If you aren’t on our Call Multiplier list and/or email list, and would like to put on them, message Pastor David.

COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS: Some of the items discussed at the April 10 council meeting include:

• The church had a service call from Dick’s Medical Supply on both stair chairs. The upper chair had a loose connection and the lower chair required a new battery and a new indicator bulb. Both items were installed and the chairs are back in use. Expected coast around $750.

• Pastor David explained the Allegheny Synod’s initiative Go Tell It In the Mountains and the possibility of obtaining a grant to upgrade streaming equipment for worship services.

• The internal audit of the church’s finances has been completed.

• The humidity evaluation in the Fellowship Room has begun.

• The church is getting a sound bar for the television in the Fellowship Room to improve the sound output.

A more detailed description of the council minutes is hanging in the narthex. You may make a copy to take home if you wish.

SUMMER CAMPS: If you or someone in your home is interested in attending Camp Sequanota or Camp Mount Luther this summer (or another Christian camp), St. Mark has money in its budget to help with the cost. Contact Pastor David if you are interested in having someone attend a camp this summer.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION HELP: St. Mark is celebrating its 200th anniversary as a Lutheran congregation in 2025! A celebratory weekend will be held July 26-27 (please pencil that into your calendars). We can use your help! We are asking anyone who has been a part of St. Mark to make a short video to talk about how they came to be a part of the church, what the church has meant for them, etc. Anything you’d like to talk about regarding St. Mark. We are going to put the videos together in one video that will be showing at the July 26 event.

We also are looking for people to help with various parts of the celebration. If you are interested in helping, contact Pastor David.

Also, if you have any photos or memorabilia pertaining to St. Mark, contact Pastor David. The Worship and Music Committee is putting together photo collections to be displayed during the weekend.

KEEPSAKE TO CELEBRATE THE BICENTENNIAL: St. Mark has been breaking bread together as a Lutheran congregation in Snydertown since 1825! This is truly something to celebrate — and commemorate! To honor this event, we are offering breadboards/cutting boards that are engraved with, “St. Mark Lutheran Church, 850 Snydertown Road, Howard, PA. Breaking Bread Together Since 1825”.

The boards are 11 inches long, including the handle, and 7 inches wide. Each breadboard is made of bamboo, and is environmentally friendly. The cost is $12 each. You can place your order by contacting Pastor David, or write your name on the order form in the narthex. Cash or check will be due by the end of the May, and bread boards will be delivered to you. Checks can be made to St. Mark Lutheran Church, and write “Bread Boards” on the memo line.

We have a limited number available now, so order soon! Additional orders can be made with a three-week wait time. The price of $12, however, can't be guaranteed for additional orders due to the economic changes in the world. These breadboards make great gifts for family members and friends.

COME A LITTLE EARLY ON SUNDAYS TO EXPLORE YOUR FAITH WITH FAITH EXPLORERS: Our Faith Explorer (Sunday School) class offerings for all ages will wrap up on Sunday, May 18, before they take a break for summer. The classes meet at 9:30am in the second floor classrooms. The younger group watches fun videos and does activities, all centered around a faith lesson. The older group engages in a book study and discussion. If you are interested in helping with either of the classes when they start up again in the fall, contact Pastor David.

YOUTUBE CHANNEL: Yes St. Mark has its own YouTube channel @stmarksnydertown. Currently, the site has several worship services. We are looking to include content that would be meaningful to you and your faith formation/journey. If you have ideas, please contact Pastor David.

CALLING ALL THRIVENT MEMBERS: If you currently hold Thrivent contracts, you are entitled to direct some of their charitable funds to organizations of your choice at no additional cost to you. You need to direct these funds each year so please consider choosing St. Mark as your recipient. It is easy and costs you nothing additional.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Volunteers to help with copying the monthly newsletter and mailing it to those who don't have email. If you would be interested, please contact Pastor David.

ENJOY SINGING? JOIN THE CHOIR: St. Mark Choir welcomes anyone who is interested in singing. Choir practice is held 7pm Tuesdays. Anyone who is interested in joining either the St. Mark Choir or Christians with Rhythm Choir, or both, is invited to join! If you have any questions, contact Pastor David.

HELPERS ON SUNDAYS: Thank you to everyone who volunteers to help on Sundays — greeters, readers, etc. It is much appreciated and needed! If you would like to help on Sundays, you can contact Pastor David. Thank you!

GIVING ONLINE: Did you know you can make offerings to St. Mark online and also set up a schedule for continued offerings online using a credit card or bank account? This is done through the church’s online giving platform Tithely. Visit https://bit.ly/3bhr907 to give online. If you have any questions, contact Pastor David.

MEETING WITH PASTOR DAVID: If you would like to meet or talk with Pastor David about anything, either in person, on Zoom, or a phone call, you are invited to contact him to set up a time.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH ST. MARK: Whether you are a member or friend of St. Mark, you can easily keep in touch with important announcements, prayer requests, and even receive brief daily devotions over your home phone or cell phone. If you would like to be included in the church’s Call Multiplier calling system, just give your name and phone number to Pastor David. Those who share the same home address but have different phone numbers can each receive calls on their phones.

Another way to stay informed of happenings at St. Mark is by being on the church’s email list. The church sends out a brief e-news item that goes out weekly, and you also can receive St. Mark’s monthly newsletter through email. If you would like to be added to our email list, contact Pastor David.

And you also can keep in touch and stay informed through St. Mark’s website and by following St. Mark on Facebook and Instagram (@StMarkSnydertown).