Mark 4:26-34 is the mustard seed parable gospel. Pastor Beth pointed out that we hear hopeful images in all our readings today. She spoke of the Redwood trees in California that have a shallow root system but the roots spread out widely and intermingle with other Redwood tree roots to support each other. We need…
Today’s sermon, as Pastor Beth described it, was “fraught with F words”. And each scripture reading and the Gospel were portrayed as examples of “keeping it honest and real”. The first reading from Genesis shows the fall of Adam and Eve, each finding fault with someone else, fearing being honest with themselves, with each other…
The 2015 growing season at the St. Mark Community Garden has commenced. The garden is starting to look absolutely beautiful! Thanks to our new garden intern, Grace, and Haldor, the potatoes are weeded and hilled, thanks to the volunteers at our two work parties, most everything is weeded and looking wonderful. We are growing 10…
An update of the Liturgical Art page has been completed. A slideshow of the recent Easter – Pentecost Art has been added. A Huge debt of gratitude is owed to Retired Pastor David I. Nelson for continuing to bring our church alive with art during all seasons of the year! God Bless you David!
On this, Holy Trinity Sunday, Pastor Eric gave us many images of the trinity. There is the familiar “Father, Son and Holy Ghost”. But what about “Creator, Liberator and Advocator”, or “Baker of the Bread, the Breadstick, and the Server”? We all have powerful images of God and we use those things around us as…
The celebration at St. Mark on this fiftieth day of Easter, Pentecost Sunday, was four fold: Pentecost and the church was ablaze with the color red acknowledging God’s Holy Spirit that is sent to all people baptized in His name, the Confirmation of Drew and Nick, recognizing the high school graduation of Grace, and reaffirming St Mark’s love…
Pizza with Jesus is the new (and improved?) name for Thursday Church. It really captures what we do on Thursdays at 6:00pm in the parish hall: We gather in a come-as-you-are kind of way (informality is normal here) and pray for the food that is prepared, which is, in fact, usually pizza. We remember our…
Today’s gospel reading, John 17:6-19, speaks of Jesus asking his Father in heaven to sanctify in truth and bring joy to His followers and Pastor Eric talked of the meaning of joy and being sanctified in truth. Pastor compared not noticing what happens within our Synod with not noticing the Rhododendrons in his yard until they burst into bloom.…
In today’s Gospel, John 15, Jesus says, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.” This concept of intentional friendship, i.e. one soul dwelling in two bodies, was the foundation of Pastor Beth’s message this morning. It has been said that the best way to develop character is to become friends with those…
In a vineyard, grapevines are drastically pruned to preserve energy and concentrate the nutrients in order to yield a crop of grapes that is up to its fullest potential. The best grapes grow closest to the vine. Jesus says that he is the vine. God is the vine grower and we are the branches. …