The Weekly Connector

November 3, 2025

COMING UP IN NOVEMBER!

Sunday, Nov. 9, 11:45 am. Newcomers' Gathering - Heritage Room (see below)

Sunday, Nov. 9, 2:30 pm. Music Series Organ Recital featuring Richard Gray. Free admission. More information

Sunday, Nov. 9, Second Sunday Night Supper, Plymouth Congregational Church. More information. More information

Monday, Nov. 10, 6:00 pm. Mixed Blood Equitable Dinners presents Affordable Housing, registration required. More information

Sunday, Nov. 16, 11:45 am. Soup Luncheon supporting GEFS Soup Drive (see below).

Sunday, Nov. 16, 2:30 pm. Music Series String Recital featuring Mill City Quartet. Free admission. More information

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 7:00 pm. Voices of Reconciliation; Rev. Craig Lemming, Associate Rector of St. John the Evangelist in St. Paul, will present, followed by Q & A.

Thursday, Nov. 27, 10:00 am. Thanksgiving Interfaith Service, Basilica of St. Mary.

Sunday, Nov. 30, 5:00 pm. Advent Service of Lessons and Carols.

NEW MONTHLY CONNECTOR:

Complete information on worship, events, and more can be found in the new Saint Mark's Monthly Connector, available in the Welcome Center and many places around the Cathedral, or online by clicking here.

Annual Giving Campaign Update:
Pledges for 2026 are rolling in!

Have you made your 2026 pledge to Saint Mark's yet? Many Saint Markans already have! So far, early pledge commitments for 2026 are at $196,000, with more pledge cards coming in every day.

There are so many great reasons to make a planned pledge to Saint Mark's. We'd love to hear your Saint Mark's "why." Share it with us at mypledge@ourcathedral.org!

Be sure to submit your pledge card as soon as possible, but no later than Sunday, November 16th. You can:

* Drop it in an offering plate during Sunday services, or

* Mail it to Saint Mark's using the envelope included with the annual giving campaign letter that was recently mailed to your home address

Can't locate your pledge card? No problem! Supplies are available during Sunday services. Or, you can also print a pledge card here.

Look for the Annual Giving Campaign pledge thermometers at Saint Mark's for updates on progress toward our pledge goal. We'll provide updates each week in the Monday Connector as well. Thank your for your generous support of our Cathedral, our parish, and the communities we look to serve in the year ahead.

Donate soup to Groveland Emergency
Food Shelf's NOVEMBER SOUP DRIVE

Reliance on Groveland Emergency Food Shelf has drastically increased, now serving about 5,000 people per month. Higher food costs, decreased access to food rescue options, and government funding uncertainty make this an especially challenging time.

Each Sunday in November, Saint Mark's will be collecting canned soup for Groveland. Please drop your donation off in the Narthex or Community Room. Pop-tops are preferred, but single serve microwaveable containers or boxes of soup or ramen noodles will also be gratefully accepted.

More information

Migration Ministry Working Group

Are you interested in how Saint Mark's can support our immigrant neighbors? Join fellow parishioners on Zoom at 7 pm on Monday, November 3, for conversation on how Saint Mark's can build relationships, support our community, and be part of ECMN's ongoing work around migration ministry. Please email Rev. Clara Sanders for the Zoom link - claras@ourcathedral.org

SOUP LUNCHEON supporting Groveland Emergency Food Shelf Soup Drive

Sunday, November 16

Sunday November 16, from 11:45 am - 1:00 pm, please join your Saint Mark's community for a comforting soup luncheon.

Help feed the hungry while sharing a simple meal of soup, bread and desserts. Free-will offering will be accepted to support Groveland's soup drive, and to cover luncheon costs.

You can help further by bringing canned soup for the soup drive, each Sunday in November.

Volunteer Help Needed

Author Anne Lamott has reminded us that we need only three words to pray: Thanks, Help, and Wow. My daily prayer is “Thanks” for each one of you who are part of Saint Mark’s Community. Today my prayer also includes “please help us find people whose passions will fit with the work that needs to be done.” Notice the word passion: we hope that people will volunteer to assist in areas where they are interested! Please consider:

Nursery. We are looking for people who enjoy spending time with children, to support the nursery team on Sunday mornings, maybe once a month, from about 10 am – Noon. This will help deepen connections in the congregation when the children see a nursery volunteer in worship or elsewhere.

Welcome Center Staff. Do you like to welcome guests, and help answer questions? How about considering the Welcome Center desk. You would join a team of dedicated volunteers to support Saturday or Sunday hours, and possible fill-in at other times. Shift would be around 3 hours.

Both positions require Safe Church training, which would take up to 6 hours.

Thanks for considering. Wow, we appreciate you! Contact Mary Lusk for further information: maryl@ourcathedral.org

WELLS FOUNDATION GRANT SPOTLIGHT

Tubman

The Wells Foundation is an independent non-profit charitable foundation managed by Saint Markans, granting funds to organizations serving the needs of our communities.

Here is one of the organizations supported:

Tubman has been a leader in domestic violence intervention and prevention for fifty years, and its services have expanded over time to address homelessness, trafficking, and mental or chemical health challenges. Throughout the Twin Cities, Tubman provides safe shelter, housing, legal services, counseling, youth programming, violence prevention, and community education. Over 18,000 people utilize its services each year.

Wells Foundation supports Tubman's Youth Supportive Housing program, which offers 12 units of transitional housing and 10 units of scattered-site rapid rehousing for youths up to age 24 who have experienced violence or exploitation. Tubman case workers help them develop goals and map resources to regain their footing, heal from trauma, strengthen financial stability, and create healthy cultural connections.