When Jesus tells the disciples that someone will betray him and that he will be killed (Mark 9), they are confused by this message. Fearing being rebuked like Peter was, they do not ask questions that may reveal their ignorance of who Jesus really is. So, Jesus tries to teach them through an example of…
Those involved with the St Mark Community Garden, Mountain View Elementary School, and the Thurston County Food Bank hosted author Katherine Pryor on Sept 21 to celebrate Food Literacy Month. Featured events included a reading of the book “Zora’s Zucchini”, a visit to the pumpkin patch in the St Mark Garden, and a picnic of…
Saturday September 15th was the annual potato harvest at the St. Mark Community Garden. This year we planted a new potato variety, Red Lasoda, hoping to have a better harvest – and we did!! The potatoes were large and beautiful and we harvested about 1500 pounds. We also harvested 500 pounds of pumpkins. Two…
The Gospel for today, the 17th Sunday after Pentecost, is from Mark 8:27-38. Jesus issues a strong challenge to all by connecting discipleship and the cross, by saying, “If any wants to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Pastor Eric gave us a four-word example of…
A summary of the Welcome Home worship as the pastors return from their sabbatical is presented below. Audio of “What Makes Your heart Sing” sung by congregation. Audio of Litany written by and read by Pastor David, Poem “Sabbatical Report” written by and read by Pastor David, and Welcome Home ceremony read by…
In Mark’s gospel, Mark 7:24-37, Jesus has a conversation with a Syrophoenician woman which marks the beginning of his mission to the Gentiles and the world. A turning point. Pastor David Nelson asked us how many of us grew up with the perfect Jesus. A Jesus who was never rude, grouchy or offensive. Never messed…
Mark’s gospel, 7:1-8,14-15, 21-23, depicts Jesus as challenging the traditional ways in which religious people, the Pharisees, determine what is pure or impure. Aren’t we like the Pharisees? We don’t like change or challenges to evolve. We police our boundaries. We are self righteous. We decide who’s in and who’s out. Sometimes based on political…
On this 14th Sunday after Pentecost, our Gospel (John 6:56-69) tells of the disciples being offended by Jesus’s claim that his followers must eat his flesh and drink his blood. Jesus told them he is the bread that comes from heaven and whoever eats this bread will live forever. With that, Jesus gave his disciples…
Do you know what’s fun about St. Mark Softball? I mean – REALLY fun? It’s having a group of players come together on Friday evenings throughout the summer and play some power-packed games of softball with other church teams from around the Thurston County area. We get to share in spirited fellowship, do some laughing, giggling,…
Pastor David Nelson’s sermon brought us the “back story” of King Solomon and his request for wisdom (1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14). God grants Solomon’s request and he becomes known far and wide for his great wisdom; his ability to understand and govern great numbers of people. The Bible shows, however, that there were other versions of…