Last day to fill-out All Saints’ Day forms – Forms can be found on the table by the front entrance to remember loved ones on All Saints’ Day, next Sunday November 1st. Or, you can scan the QR code to complete the form online. Please return the forms today.
From the Outreach at Trinity: THANK YOU to all who helped with making meatloaf last Saturday. The people enjoyed it so much and couldn’t stop saying how good it was. We were able to serve both body & spirit that day. What a blessing!
Beyond the Pulpit: Week 5 — Looking Back & Looking Forward We’ve reached the final week of our Beyond the Pulpit series! As we wrap up Pastor Appreciation Month, Pastor Mark and Pastor Chris reflect on their time at St. Mark, share some of their favorite memories, talk about what they’ve learned from our congregation, and look ahead to what God has in store. And there may even be a few surprises along the way! Find out more in this week’s Friday Update FYI email.
Good News – In October, Pastor Chris began a new session of “Good News,” a class designed to introduce participants to what we believe, teach, and confess in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. All are invited to attend, especially those considering membership at St. Mark. We meet in the Matthew Room, near the back/north entrance, from 9:15 to 10:00am.
Operation Christmas Child – Our Campaign Ends Today! All filled OCC shoeboxes must be turned in immediately following late service today. We will be clearing out the narthex and delivering our boxes sometime this week to the OCC Area Drop-off site. If you forgot to bring in your box(es), please contact Debbie.turk@yahoo.com for instructions on where to drop it/them off.
The next meeting of New Life, a group for women who have lost their spouses is on the fifth Thursday, this month, Oct.29th at 11am. Please join us for prayers, a devotion, and a lively discussion. Questions? Contact Jamie Nicoletti.
VBS Recap and Discussion – This meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, November 4th at 7pm as a ZOOM meeting. The congregation is invited to hear the statistics behind this year’s attendance and share their thoughts on what worked and what can be improved next year. We hope to have all of the Summer 2026 volunteers participate in the online meeting, along with any members who are just curious how it went. A link will be sent out via FYI closer to the meeting date.
Our annual Gift of the Magi Christmas Boutique will be here before you know it. The boutique is scheduled for Friday November 13th 7-9 pm (preview party) and Saturday November 14th 9-4. This is a major Outreach Ministry to the community and needs the support and the participation of the entire congregation, young and older, men and women. There are many ways to participate: making or baking items to sell, helping with set-up and take-down, pricing used Christmas items, or working during the sale. Please publicize the Boutique by giving your family, friends, co-workers, whomever a “mini” flyer available on the Narthex entry table. . You can contact Briana McCrudden with any questions.
Needed for the Boutique – Jewelry and Decorations – Please check your Christmas jewelry – earrings, pins, necklaces, bracelets, and watches. We also need “bling” jewelry for Christmas parties and New Year’s parties. Please put it in the container marked ‘Ellen’ in the room off the kitchen. Questions call Ellen Gilbert. Seasonal decorations you can no longer use are also wanted. We gladly accept items for ANY holiday! Also needed are regiftables that you don’t want! Please place them in the library or let the office know if you need help getting them to church.
St Mark Book Club – For our November meeting, we will discuss books that have FOOD in their titles. Read ANY book that has food in the title. Examples include a cookbook, a cozy mystery, or nonfiction book about a common ingredient. We will be meeting at 1 p.m. on November 11th in the Gilson Room at the Geauga West Public Library. For our December meeting, we will be discussing Amanda Peter‘s The Berry Pickers. We will be meeting at 1 p.m. on December 9th in the small dining room off of St. Mark’s Fellowship Hall to discuss this showstopping debut novel about an unsolved mystery in Maine. Feel free to pack a lunch and join us after the midday Advent service for extra fellowship and fun. 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!
Community Lunch – Join us for our Community Lunch this Wednesday the 28th from 11 – 1. If you can make a dessert, please drop it off by Wednesday morning. Due to the holidays, the remaining Community Lunches in 2026 will be earlier in the month than usual – Wednesday, Nov 18th and Wednesday, December 16th.
From Laurie Deau – Thank You for all the prayers, cards, and calls during my recent surgery and recovery. It meant the world to me. Thank You!!
Time change – Remember to set your clocks back one hour Saturday night October 31st