From the Council President’s Desk … November 2023

~ Colleen Struss

As I write this, I’m looking out at the beautiful fall colors we have been graced with this year. Before we know it, the leaves will be gone as seasons change—and we’ll enter Advent and begin to prepare for the coming of Christ. While we enter this season of preparation and the hustle and bustle of the holidays, It’s good to pause periodically remind ourselves of the glory of God’s creation in all its ever-changing beauty.

This year has flown by. It’s been my privilege to serve as Council President, and I am deeply grateful to the Council members for all their hard work and dedication. I’m also deeply grateful to you—the members of St. Mark’s—for your faithful and prayerful support of the church and the Council.

Thank you to all who attended the Congregation Meeting this past Sunday and to all who provided food and fellowship. What a joy to be able to join in fellowship! And huge thanks to Erik Long for running the meeting while I was traveling to visit family. This meeting was called primarily to discuss and approve the 2024 budget and conduct elections. Thank you to all who have stepped up to serve—and thank you to those whose terms are ending for your faithful service!

Speaking of terms, Pastor Saul has agreed to continue his service at St. Mark’s for 2024—please join me in both thanking and congratulating him! Pastor Saul has truly been a blessing for St. Mark’s and we’re extremely pleased he will be part of our ministry for another year.

In other news, we have seen terrific progress on the Narthex Project, with some minor hiccups along the way, but nothing that couldn’t be handled in the normal course of events. Many thanks to Carl for his outstanding leadership on this major project! We’re approaching five years (!) since the planning began for this project—how rewarding to see it well underway. Not only is the project nearing completion, we have fully funded the project from contributions—no debt has been incurred!—and we expect that with continuing contributions and pledge fulfillment for the project that no debt will be required. It is only because of your generosity that St. Mark’s that this has been possible. Thank you!

The next “major” project for our Congregation will be to upgrade the airflow systems for the sanctuary, to repair the roof over the sacristy, and to improve the sacristy space to maximize its utility. This project has been called the “Sacristy Renewal” but as noted it’s not limited to the Sacristy—it’s multi-faceted. A team, led by Carl, is working on the budget for this project to ensure needs are met and costs kept down. The incoming Council will evaluate options and make a recommendation to the Congregation early in the new year. 

On the positive side of the proverbial ledger, a small team has been preparing the parsonage for leasing. That effort is largely complete, and the property should be leased soon. As noted in the 2024 budget, this will provide a nice “lift” for the church’s finances and reflects good stewardship of our property. 

Finally, I want to thank Steven Carlson for his ten years of dedicated service as Treasurer. Steven will end his formal role at the end of this calendar year. We have located a replacement, but Steven’s shoes most assuredly won’t be filled. Thankfully, Steven has agreed to continue to advise his replacement and his advice and wisdom will continue to benefit St. Mark’s. Thank you, Steven! 

I hope you’re all enjoying the wonders of Fall, and thank you for all you do for the St. Mark’s community of faith!

Guidelines for Use of the Education Wing

As we return to Sunday congregation activities in the Education Wing, we are being respectful of the St. Mark’s Montessori School’s needs for the safety of our SMMS students and staff, as well as the need to provide safe conditions for our youngest members and their families. At present, the only congregation activities being scheduled in the Education Wing are Sunday morning age-group Sunday School/Confirmation classes, Youth Group on the Upper Level, and the Nursery on the Lower Level.

Keep in mind the following Rules of the Road:

  • Please don’t come into the Education Wing (or the rest of our building) if you are feeling ill. We will be doing touchless infrared temperature scans in the Education Wing

  • Masks are mandatory (Age 2+) and must cover the nose and mouth.

  • Use the main entrance, Door 5, to enter and leave the Education Wing for the activities taking place on the Upper Level. Only those using the Nursery should be using the playground entrance door and the lower hallway. Please do not enter the Education Wing from the Lower Level hallway coming from the Fellowship Hall

    • We are trying to minimize our footprint in the Education Wing on Sundays and clean up after ourselves.

  • Use the hand sanitizer station at the entrance.

  • Activity leaders are asked to keep attendance of who is using the rooms.

  • Sanitize the bathrooms after each individual use.

  • Please don’t linger in the hallways.

Council Update

Highlights from the Council meeting of Monday, January 8:

Council noted with great pleasure the report of the Treasurer that we finished 2023 with a small surplus of just under $2,600. We give thanks to that God has blessed our congregation so abundantly, giving wisdom to our Finance Committee, fiscal discipline and a sense of mission to everyone who has spending authority, and generosity to our members. The Council appointed Steven Carlson as Assistant Treasurer, so he can continue to assist and mentor Colleen Struss as she begins her tenure as Treasurer.

Council approved our 2024 Quarterly Benevolences:

  • Q1 ECHO/Food for Others

  • Q2 Caroline Furnace/Mar-Lu-Ridge

  • Q3 ELCA World Hunger

  • Q4 FACETS/The Lamb Center

Council voted to approve a covenant grant agreement from the Metro DC Synod, accepting a grant award of $10,000 from the Synod for our Community Gateway. These resources will go toward paying for the message boards, bike racks, signs, paving, and landscaping that will be installed.

Congregation Meeting, Sunday,11/19—Recap

Thank you to all who attended the Congregation Meeting this past Sunday and to all who provided food and fellowship. What a joy to be able to join in fellowship! And huge thanks to Erik Long for running the meeting. This meeting was called primarily to discuss and approve the 2024 budget and conduct elections (see links below). Thank you to all who have stepped up to serve—and thank you to those whose terms are ending for your faithful service! * Agenda and Elections info * Budget info * Constitution *

Learn more on a recap of the past year on the left side of this page under the heading “From the Council President’s Desk … November 2023”

Long Term Planning—Property

A Property Review Team (the “Team”) has been convened to evaluate the full breadth of properties owned by St. Mark’s. This team will make recommendations for potential new uses that may generate income, benefit the church body, benefit the community, or the like. The Team will consider both current and long-term needs of the Congregation. Team members include Ken Anderson, Bill Dinnison, Kay Graff, Ray Griswold, Pastor Triolo, and me, with valuable input from Steve Carlson. The team will ensure the Congregation is kept informed and provided opportunities for input. Please include our Team in your prayers as we undertake this important work. Thank you!

Narthex Renovation Update … What’s next:

Please note the changes for access to St. Mark’s parking and buildings during our construction phase for both Sundays and weekdays that can be found at https://www.stmarks-elca.org/narthex-project along with updates on the project!

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Narthex Renovation Fundraising Update!

We are continuing to make steady progress toward our fundraising goal for the Narthex Project! As of 5/31/23, we have received pledges through 2023 totaling nearly $148,000, with only 25% of those pledges still outstanding but they have been reconfirmed … but with those pledges fulfilled, we will have reached our fundraising goal.

Thanks to everyone who has participated so far in our original fundraising campaign, and in this new campaign! Please send any additional pledges in to the Treasurer. Pledge forms are available in the Narthex, the Church Office, and here.