St.

Mark’s Lutheran Church

A Faith Family Celebrating and Sharing God’s Grace for 150 years!
400 S. 6th. Street, Atchison, KS 66002 (913) 347-0417
www.stmarksatchison.weebly.com

February 2018 Newsletter

“Ash Wednesday is in February!?” “It’s on VALENTINE’S DAY?!” That’s the
reaction that I received from most people when I would mention that Ash
St. Mark’s Officers
Wednesday, the first day of Lent, was February 14th this year. I agree, it seems
President: awfully early, but Lent is upon us. It also seems funny that a day associated with
Sarah Dunning love and romance would be the beginning our season of repentance. So we have
sackcloth and ashes rather than hearts and candy. (Well, okay, I don’t know
Vice President: anybody who does sackcloth now days.)
Cathy Crockett
Lent is the traditional time of preparation for Easter. You can’t have the
Secretary: Resurrection without the Crucifixion.
Amelia Kaczmarek I have often been asked why the Crucifixion had to happen. The answer to this
question is to be found in Lent. More accurately, the answer can be found if we
Treasurer: Kim Smith
practice the discipline of Lent. The reason for the Crucifixion was that people had
Finance Secretary: gone far astray from the way of God. We were hopelessly lost to sin, death and the
Patsy Porter Devil. Where our hearts should have been filled with love for God, there were only
ashes. It took a monumental effort to pull us back to life and hope. God paid the
Council Members ransom for our souls with the blood of Christ.
Carlie Clary Part of the discipline of Lent is to take a good, hard look at ourselves, and really
be honest about how we look spiritually. When we do this, it becomes obvious why
Mike Crockett God had to go to such lengths to save us. As violence, war, bigotry and hatred fill so
much of our world, we see how far short people have fallen from what God intended
Shelby Kremske us to be. It is not really all that hard to admit that this just isn’t good enough. This is
Alice Murray the first step to the solution to the real and serious problems that beset our world.
Every now and then, most of us take a hard look at our
Rev. Craig Lantz appearance in a mirror. It is not easy. You see all the
imperfections, blotches, wrinkles, sags, blemishes, gray hair (or
lack of hair), and such faults. You then (hopefully) decide to
make corrections or improvements and think about how you might do this. The best way is
to find an expert to guide and direct you. The discipline of Lent is this process for the whole
of our life. It calls us to see and admit our own sins and to turn to the only one who can fix
us. Lent calls us to the lifesaving cross of Jesus on which our sins are put to death.
In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer.
Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come
from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus…
-- Acts 3:18-20
This Lent, take a good, hard look at yourself, and with the Grace of God, become more the person that
God intended. Work to make yourself presentable as a Valentine to God.
 ST. Mark’s Lutheran Church – Newsletter February 2018
January 28 Annual Meeting Lenten Services begin on Wednesday,
Completing their term on Council were April 14 at 5:30pm for Ash Wednesday
Harold Kuhnert, Dee Duttweiler, and Barb Worship. At noon the community Soup and
Stutheit. Thank you for your service. Sermon series begins at United Methodist.

Newly elected members are Mike Crockett 150th. Anniversary Celebration

Kim Smith, and Alice Murray. On Sunday, September 23 we plan to
celebrate St. Mark’s 150th Anniversary. To
The 2028 Council and its officers are: help plan the event, please contact Cathy
President: Sarah Dunning Crockett. If you would like to help defray
Vice President: Cathy Crockett the cost, mark your donation for the 150th
Secretary: Amelia Kaczmarek Anniversary,
Treasurer: Kim Smith
Finance Secretary: Patsy Porter February Birthdays
Carlie Clary
Austin Smith 2/02
Mike Crockett
Gary Bewley 2/03
Shelby Kremske
Kiersten Bahr 2/08
Alice Murray Jennifer Wohlgemuth 2/16
Rev. Craig Lantz John Wohlgemuth 2/18
Barb Jaegle 2/24
Minutes from 2017 Congregational Jessie Vandeloo 2/26
Meetings, Committee Reports, and a Derek Wohlgemuth 2/29
proposed Budget for 2018 were distributed,
reviewed, and approved. Copies of this
information is available in the narthex for February Anniversaries
those who might have missed the meeting. Dee & Eunice Duttweiler 2/19

Central States Synod Convention

This year’s convention is at Bethany College
in Lindsborg, Kansas. Council will review
the practicality of attending and seek
delegates if deemed appropriate.

Fill a Sack and Bring

It Back resulted in 544
pounds of food being
donated to the Food
Pantry.
 St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
February 2018 Calendar
Preaching - Rev. Craig Lantz
Organist - Catherine DeVillier
Altar - Marilyn Falconer

Sunday, February 4 Sunday, February 18

8:30 AM- Worship & Music Committee
9:00 AM - Adult Bible Study
9:00 AM - Adult Bible Study
10:00 AM - Refreshments & Fellowship
10:00 AM - Refreshments & Fellowship
10:30 AM - Holy Communion
10:30 AM - Holy Communion
Assisting Minister: Sarah Dunning
Assisting Minister: Barb Stutheit
Lector: Mary Ann McBratney
Lector: Chris Ricklefs
Ushers:
Ushers:
Tuesday, February 6 Church Council will meet following
WELCA and Social Ministry will meet at 2:00 PM
at Trinity Place with Marilyn Falconer as hostess, Worship Service
devotions by Sarah Dunning. Wednesday , February 21
ALL WOMEN OF THE CONGREGATION ARE 12:00 Noon - Soup & Sermon at the United
INVITED Methodist Church
Thursday, February 8 Thursday, February 22
9:30 AM - Quilting 9:30 AM - Quilting
Sunday, February 11 Transfiguration of
our Lord Sunday, February 25
9:00 AM - Adult Bible Study 9:00 AM - Adult Bible Study
10:00 AM - Refreshments & Fellowship 10:00 AM - Refreshments & Fellowship
10:30 AM - Worship (Service of Word & Prayer) 10:30 AM - Holy Communion
Assisting Minister: Eunice Duttweiler Assisting Minister: Cathy Crockett
Lector: Amelia Kaczmarek Lector: Tricia Clark
Ushers: Usher:

Wednesday , February 28
Wednesday, February 14 Ash Wednesday 12:00 Noon - Soup & Sermon at the United
12:00 Noon - Soup & Sermon at the United Methodist Church
Methodist Church

5:30 PM - Worship
Assisting Minister: Marilyn Falconer
Piano: Patsy Porter