Introducing our summer intern!

As the youth ministry at St. Mark grows, we’re constantly looking for ways to develop the ministry and to equip others for service. Accordingly, we recently hired St. Mark member (and former youth) Andrew Karrmann as a summer youth ministry intern. I’m excited about the possibilities before us, and I’d like Andrew to share some background on himself below.

My name is Andrew Karrmann, and I just started a new and exciting part of my life. I recently changed my major from Mechanical Engineering to Classics and Religious Studies in my quest to become a youth minister. What better place for me to begin my journey than the place where I spent a large part of my childhood, St. Mark Lutheran Church, as a Youth Ministry Intern.

I’ve been a member of St. Mark since birth. I was baptized, received my first Bible, took my first communion, and was confirmed at St. Mark. While I was attending St. Mark, I was very active in the youth group. I went on four summer trips with the youth group, including the 2006 ELCA Youth Gathering in San Antonio, Texas. Apart from the youth group, I was a member of the Choir, Band, Bell Choir, and was the High School Representative for Church Council. I participated in every church musical and most of the Vacation Bible Schools during my time at St. Mark.

Outside of St. Mark I attended Theodore Roosevelt High School on the west side of Des Moines. There I participated in Band, Jazz Band, Choir, and Show Choir. I was also a varsity letter winner in wrestling and baseball, and participated in cross country and football. Currently I am a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where I am a member of the Club Baseball team. I was also recently elected to the position of Philanthropy Chair for the Gamma Beta chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha.

I look forward to the next few months when I will get the chance to grow in faith, share Jesus Christ, and serve others alongside the youth of St. Mark Lutheran Church.

Introducing Arista

Arista is a new weekly gathering for high school students at St. Mark. We’ll be meeting at 7:00am on Thursday mornings at Panera Bread in West Des Moines for breakfast, fellowship, a devotional, and prayer. What better way to start your Thursday?

Arista begins this Thursday, November 13, and we will meet at the same place and time every Thursday that school is in session thereafter. We will not meet during school breaks, snow days, etc.

Underclassmen who aren’t old enough to drive are encouraged to come to Arista and hitch a ride from an upperclassmen to school.

Don’t know where Panera is? No worries. Click here for a map.

As the Psalmist says in Psalm 90:

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Mission Trip Video Log: Days 7 & 8

We’re home!

When the moon hits your eye…

Sunday nights before Eikon (the high school youth group), we’ll be meeting at 5:30 for a time of fellowship and every teenager’s favorite word: PIZZA.

What does this mean for you?

For students, it means free pizza every Sunday right before Eikon. It doesn’t get much better than that.

For parents, it means that we’re looking for volunteers to sign up for a Sunday or two to bring a few fresh pizzas to church for students to devour. If you’d like to support St. Mark Student Ministry in this way, please contact Jake, and he can work with you to fill holes in the pizza schedule.