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On Saturday, January 25, 7:00pm at First United Methodist Church Sacramento Singer/Songwriters Jim and Jean Strathdee, The Sacramento Women’s Chorus and The Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus will perform a concert that benefits The Trans Queer Youth Collective, founded by Julie Strathdee.

For more information contact Margie Shunk, margieshunk76@gmail.com or 916.771.3204.

St. Mark’s Crab Feed is on February 29! Tickets will be available for purchase starting in January! The next planning meeting is on Sunday, January 12, (time to be announced) in Room E-4.

Thank you for all of the donations but clothing is still needed: jeans, men’s color t-shirts, hoodies, warm jackets, socks, rain ponchos, knit hats and mittens, sturdy walking shoes. Items should be gently used, clean and in good condition or new. If you have questions about items you want to donate, please contact either of us at 916.376.7637.

Thank you from the Food Closet for all the donations. In addition to individuals who give on a regular basis, special thanks go out to the St. Mark's Youth Group; the St. Mark's Mark Twain group;

; Salvation Army for its continued weekly donations; and Panera (for Mercy Pedalers) donations. The Food Closet clients were overjoyed with the food that was provided during the 2019 holiday season, which they would not have been able to do without all the generosity.

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The Sacramento County supervisorial District 3 encompasses much of northeast Sacramento, including Arden-Arcade, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, and parts of Citrus Heights. With responsibility for numerous services and an annual budget of over $4 billion, the Board of Supervisors is a very powerful elected body. With the retirement of the incumbent supervisor, Susan Peters, seven people are on the March primary ballot to replace her. On January 23, from 7:00pm – 8:30pm the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento 2425 Sierra Blvd., Sacramento meet and hear from the candidates running to fill this vacant seat. Sacramento Area Congregations Together is hosting this forum, and will be asking candidates their views on key issues. Childcare will be provided. To register and for more information: https://tinyurl.com/sacactd3.

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It’s a joy to have you here today. You are invited to enjoy brunch and fellowship after the service in MacMurdo Hall, located downstairs to the left as you exit the Sanctuary. If a large print bulletin

or hearing device would be helpful, you’ll find them on the west side of the Lobby.

Sunday, January 5 8:15am Choir Rehearsal-CR 8:45am Faith Pilgrimage Class-E25 Quest-E24 9:00am Worship Team Rehearsal-SA 10:00am Worship Service-SA 11:30am Brunch-MH Youth Group-GC

St. Mark’s has a Blood Pressure Clinic on the 1st Sunday of each month after church, in MacMurdo Hall. For more information, please contact Pam Taylor, Faith Community Nurse at ptaylor@stmarksumc.com.

Christmas season

Today we are assisted in our St. Mark's celebration by Mariachi Americana. Many of us in this community don't realize that a central part of the mariachi tradition is sharing in the music of the mass, and especially on Epiphany Sunday.

Plan now to share in this time of fellowship with a delicious meal. There is no set fee, but donations are welcomed. To sign up to host a brunch please call Sandy at 916.784.9376.

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The sanctuary is in need of new or gently used artificial Christmas trees for next year, please only five feet or taller. If you have one to donate please contact Mary Czech at 916.488.8130.

*Lois Adamek * Ginny Baldauf * *Peggy & Paul Blankenship* *Jim & Johanna Brownell*

*Pat & Gordon Close* Lola Cruz * *Celina Davin * Doug & Charlotte Gardner*

*Debbie Kenngott * Vivian Noble* *Barbara Peterson* Shirley Reese*

*Terry Travis* Fred Stallcop* Al Vopata* *Laura Warren *

With the New Year, several adult education classes are resuming or starting new materials:

• Faith Pilgrimage is starting a book, The Common Good by Robert Reich on January 12

• Companions in Christ is starting the book Between the Dark and the Daylight by Joan Chittister on January 12

Numerous other opportunities exist, so consult the Winter 2020 brochure in the pew racks.

Companions in Christ returns on January 12 and would be delighted to have you join them. They will begin reading and discussing Joan Chittister’s book, “Between the Dark and the Daylight—Embracing the Contradictions of Life”. Join them as they reflect on the writings of this Internationally known Spiritual author. They meet Sunday from 4:00pm - 6:00pm in Room E-24. For more information contact Ruth Reynolds at 209.603.4473.

The new all church study organized by the Racial Justice Task Force will begin in February. The focus book is White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin Diangelo. This book is a significant reading for this time especially with the increased level of hatred in communities and the nation. This will be a powerful reading followed by important study groups. If you have not committed to this essential work, there are a few copies of the book available for sale ($13, cash or check payable to St. Mark’s UMC). Book sales and group study sign-ups will be available after church today and next Sunday, January 12, 2020.

On the first Sunday of every month children will remain in worship with their families. The Sunday School table has activity sheets available for them. If you are sitting in a pew with children, please make them feel welcome and introduce yourself to them.

On Tuesday, January 14, general meeting of St. Mark’s United Methodist Women (UMW) will be at 10:00am in MacMurdo Hall. Marlene von Friederichs-Fitzwater will present the story of Joshua’s House, a hospice for terminally ill homeless men and women of Sacramento.

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If you like to dine out with church friends, come for lunch at Back Forty Texas BBQ, 1201 Orlando Ave., Roseville, on Friday, January 17, at 12:00pm. For more information and reservations, contact Margaret Ann Dukleth, 916.961.9514, by Sunday, January 12. Please call before 2:00pm daily.

Super Seniors theme is Snow this month. Come on January 9, enjoy a great potluck lunch, fellowship with friends, and share your snow experiences. Bring your stories, a

luncheon dish to share, and your own tableware, and join them in Wesley Hall at 12:30pm.

All are welcome!

Marsha Spell, Sacramento Family Promise Director will give an update and in service on Sunday, January 12, at 11:15am after church. Room to be announced. For more information contact Joyce Estes, 916.481.0418 or Jill Dawdy 916.743.9516.

Please note that because of a calendar conflict, the farewell event for Pastor Mahsea Evans will be held at 12:00pm on Sunday, January 19 in MacMurdo Hall and not on the date previously announced.