Blog (Page 52)

Can anything good come out of Nazareth?

Today’s Gospel is from John, Chapter 1. Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Pastor Eric drew our attention to two phrases from it: The word ‘found’, which comes from the Greek word eureka, and ‘heavens are open’. He asked us what is something we have found in our life after sharing an example of…

Beloved, Be Loved, Be Love

Jan Richardson, author, says, “Beloved…it comes like a mercy to the ear.” On this Sunday, the baptism of our Lord is remembered in the Gospel of Mark 1:4-11. As Jesus is being baptised by John, the heavens opened up and a voice spoke, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”…

Endings and Beginnings

On the last day of the year, we celebrated together the end of 2017 and the anticipation of the new year.  As we “meditate on endings and beginnings, we watch and keep vigil for the coming of God’s justice”. Our scripture lessons for the service reminded us of the light that Jesus’s birth brings to…

St Mark Christmas Eve Music

The St Mark Chancel Choir and St Mark Bell Choir provided the following Music for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. For those of you who were unable to attend this 10PM service (or just want to listen to it again), the audio of these numbers was recorded and is provided below. (The gospel and sermon…

Christ’s Light Shines

Tonight, we heard the glorious story of Jesus’ birth, as we gathered on Christmas Eve for our traditional candle light service. We were reminded that Jesus was not only born in Bethlehem, but he is born among us, again and again and again. His light reaches us in the darkest corners of our lives, and…

Jesus: The Impossibility of God

Mystically conceived, born in a “nowhere” town, parented by an underaged mother, a King who behaved as a servant. How is this all possible?  On this 4th Sunday of Advent, we hear the story of the angel Gabriel (Luke 1: 26-38) appearing to the virgin Mary saying, “Greetings favored one! The Lord is with you.”…

The Light

Our Gospel reading for today, the 3rd Sunday of Advent, is from John 1:6-8, 19-28, which starts off as ‘There was a man sent from God whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.  He himself was not the light, but he…

It’s a Super Christmas!

The St. Mark Sunday School students shared the Second Sunday in Advent’s hope-filled message.  The students offered their Christmas Program and the debut showing of “It’s a Super Christmas.”  (An original play, “Super Christmas” was written by  Heather Unti.  Pastor Beth rewrote it for the children of St. Mark.)    During the program, joyous songs rang out:  “Is…

God’s love is always shaping us. (includes video)

First Sunday of Advent The First Reading for today is Isaiah 64:1-19, ….“You, o God, are the potter and we are the clay–the work of  your hand.” Pastor Beth ‘threw’ a wedge of clay on the potter’s wheel while she spoke to us of God’s love.  Like an artist, God is always shaping us with…

Art of Christmas – December 17th

The 3rd Annual St. Mark “Art of Christmas” is coming on Sunday, December 17 at 5pm.  The Art of Christmas is a church-wide art show presented by anyone at St. Mark who has some art to share!  Your art can be something you’ve made like metal yard art, painting, drawing, woodworking, singing, playing an instrument,…