Life Together in Lent The penitential season of Lent offers us the opportunity to hear God’s Word and respond in repentance and faith. We often speak of Lent as a journey—one that leads us to the cross, and, ultimately, the empty tomb of Jesus. These are important concepts and can be very personal, as we take a close look at ourselves in relation to our Savior. However, Lent does not have to be exclusively internal. It can help us evaluate issues that take place outside of ourselves, and equip us to address those issues as God gives us opportunity. To that end, our Lenten series this year is entitled “Life Together.” Beginning with Ash Wednesday, February 18th, the messages are designed to help worshippers think about and respond to ‘postmodern’ claims about spirituality and identity. As you might suspect, Holy Scripture not only anticipates such issues, but has been speaking to them for thousands of years. The series will continue through Holy Week, leading up to our celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. Please join us each Wednesday at 11:30 am and 7:00 pm to strengthen our “Life Together.”
Ministry Clarity Update The Ministry Clarity Team has been active in the new year. Late last year, the team finalized a revised Guiding Statement, which reads, “Empowered by Gods’ Word and Sacraments, the St. Mark fellowship makes Christ-like, caring connections with our community and beyond.” In addition, the team has worked diligently to list all of the ministries of St. Mark (defined as something you could invite a friend to participate in) and to give them a rating. Further analysis of those ratings has given the team a sense of our strengths and opportunities for growth. The next step is to present their findings to the congregation and to solicit further input. That event is coming soon, so please watch for updates!
St. Mark’s Book Club: For our February meeting, we will be revisiting last year’s very popular theme “Can you believe I have never read . . . . .?!” Pick ANY book you never read in school or for a book club – but should have! Read it, complete the optional, simple (first grade level) book report from Sue, and come to the meeting ready to share why you’re glad (or not) to have finally read your selection. We will be meeting at 1 p.m. on February 11th in the small dining room off of St. Mark’s Fellowship Hall. For our March meeting, we will be reading J.R.R Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Come and discuss with us this classic entry into Middle Earth. We will be meeting at 1 p.m. on February 11th in the small dining room off of St. Mark’s Fellowship Hall. Feel free to pack a lunch and join us after the midday midweek Lenten service for some extra fellowship time. Due to changes at the Fairport Harbor Public Library, book club titles will no longer be available to borrow from Sue. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Please contact Sue Matzke with any questions about either month. All are welcome. Bring a friend or two!
January Community Lunch. In 2026, our Women’s League will once again be hosting free monthly community lunches on the last Wednesday of the month from 11am-1pm. The menu for January 28th will be ham & cheese sliders, potato soup and an array of delicious desserts. The winter months can be an isolating time for many people, so be sure to invite your friends and family to our free lunch to enjoy warm fellowship. Keep in mind that we follow the West Geauga school schedule – if their school is cancelled for inclement weather, the community lunch will be cancelled.
St. Mark Prayer Group. Did you know that a group of St. Mark members meet in the conference room at church each Tuesday morning at 9:30am to pray for our congregation, community, and world. All are welcome. Our Lord promises to hear our prayers and answer them! Questions? Contact Pastor Mark or Pastor Chris.
The next gathering of New Life, a group for women who have lost their spouses and have experienced similar journeys, is Thursday, January 22nd at 11am. Please join us for sharing Jesus in our new lives. Light refreshments will be served. Questions? Contact Jamie Nicoletti
Check out the St. Mark Library. If you have made a resolution to read the Bible or Christian literature more regularly, we can help! More than one hundred books were added to the library after the B3 book sale and we have all kinds of materials for Christian discipleship – many Bible translations, a large selection of books on Christian parenting, grieving and inspiration/encouragement. We also have many books by popular Christian authors, like Max Lucado, Beth Moore and Billy Graham. And, we have books that your children/grandchildren will love – Bible Stories and hard cover inspirational books. You can take the books home and re-shelve them when done.