Dear friends, I missed worshiping together today. Eric and I hold you in our thoughts and prayers. We are working on ways to stay connected with you. We will be in touch in the next several days about those sorts of things. So, now, I am just going to say it. This is weird. This…
March 14, 2020 Dear friends at St. Mark, After much thought, prayer, and conversation the Church Council has decided to suspend worship services and close the building at St. Mark through the end of March. This is not a decision we have come to lightly. Our hearts are heavy. Worship is central to who we…
First Reading Exodus 17:1-7 1From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel…
Sometimes there seems to be a bad news cloud hovering over the world. We have bad news in our own lives. And sometimes we are the bad news. We contribute to the bad news by the things we say and do, things we don’t say and don’t do. We confess in church each week that…
God loves you. Remember that every time you see your reflection in a mirror. This Sunday’s bulletin cover shows a reflective black and white picture of mountains and a lake. A mirror image. Just like the image we see when we look into a mirror. What do we see? The mirror shows the desires of…
On this Transfiguration Sunday, Pastor Beth explored with us what the transfiguration of the Lord meant then, and what it means for us now. God spoke to Peter, James and John from a cloud, as Jesus was enveloped in a brilliant light. “This is my son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased. Listen…
First be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:21-37 is the Sermon on the Mount in which Jesus exhorts his followers to embrace standards of righteousness that exceed legal requirements and traditional expectations. Much of today’s gospel reading echoes portions of the Ten commandments. Jesus’ instructions to…
Today’s Gospel reading, which includes the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:13-20), shows Jesus encouraging his followers to be the” salt of the earth” and the “light of the world”. What does it mean to be the salt of the earth? As salt flavors our food, God flavors us with His grace and forgiveness. And…
The Beatitudes. Living right-side-up in an upside-down world. Pastor Beth asked us, ‘What does it mean to be blessed?’. Also, ‘What is the opposite of being blessed?’. Who are the blessed ones of God and how does it all work with God? Are the Beatitudes things we need to do to be blessed by God. …
Called to be fishers of people not keepers of the aquarium. Matthew 4:12-23 tells how Jesus begins his public ministry by calling fishers to leave their nets and follow him. ‘What’s the deal with fishing?,’ Pastor Eric asked. You throw out the net and hopefully get good fish. You can catch and release fish. Jesus…