On Sunday, May 26th, we celebrated the Affirmation of Faith and Rite of Confirmation for our students Lizzie, Evan and Laney. These students participated in Confirmation classes with Pastor Beth and Dan B., met with their Confirmation Mentors, were presented by their families, and affirmed their faith as loved and forgiven children of God. Joined…
“When you are gone, what do you want your children and loved ones to know?” This question, posed by Pastor Beth on the 5th Sunday of Easter, reflects our Gospel reading for the day (John 13:31-35). Knowing his death was near, Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another as he had loved them. His…
Bobby McFerrin dedicated singing the 23rd Psalm to his mom. The first time Pastor Beth heard it sung, it moved her to tears because there is something profoundly beautiful in the feminine image of God. We need to open our hearts to experience the fullness of what God is. God is more than any human…
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. ‘You’ve heard the gospel story today, John 21:1-25, and I want to share my reflection on it’, said Pastor Eric. He read his poem on what he saw in today’s reading on the theme of ‘Follow me’ and then a poem, ‘Speech to the Young’, by Gwendolyn…
Today is the ‘Doubting Thomas’ gospel, John 20:19-31, in which Jesus asks Thomas, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe’. Pastor Beth was the motivational speaker at a recent Altrusa students’ scholarship awards ceremony and she said hearing the students’ stories…
This morning (April 28, 2019), you will notice on the back of the pews some shawls and lap blankets we have knitted or crocheted recently. After they are finished, a label is attached. They are then put in a bag with a card. As each one is knitted or crocheted, a prayer is said. As…
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Alleluia! Luke 24:1-12 tells of the women going to Jesus’s tomb with embalming spices only to find that the tomb was empty because He had Risen! Pastor Eric, for the first time, read his sermon to us. It…
A new worship tradition began at St. Mark on Palm Sunday. At our worship services, those serving communion will now wear a lay stole. The idea came from Pastor Eric. He enlisted two talented members, Jerry C and Dorothy R, to design and sew the stoles. He then asked Gary D, member and resident wood…
On this day we take time to hear the Passion of our Lord as recorded in the Gospel of John. As we hear the story of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion, candles are extinguished as the sanctuary becomes increasingly dark. So then, why do we call it “Good” Friday? When Jesus proclaims, “It is finished!”, we…
April 18th was Maundy Thursday. This night receives its name from Jesus’ mandate, or command, that we love one another. On this day, we gather to remember the final night Jesus shared with his disciples. Together, they broke bread. While they were eating, Jesus washed his disciples feet as a gesture of deep love and…