Pastor Beth asked the congregation this question in the sermon today. What is worth it to you to be uncomfortable, to work really hard, to not give up? For some it is physical fitness, for others academic or professional success, for some it is healthy relationships. For Jesus it was worth the struggle, even in…
A Place of Grace
Sermons (Page 48)
Miracles are simple things that turn into amazing abundance. In today’s Gospel, we hear of Jesus performing his first miracle. After his mother asks him, he changes water into wine and his Apostles saw the glory of this and believed in Jesus. Pastor Eric spoke of God’s miracles being a way of seeing God’s love…
Ernest Hemmingway is quoted as saying, “We are all broken. That is how the light gets in”. Pastor Beth recounts her own journey as a young pastor, unable to hear God’s voice as she madly worked to become the ideal and perfect pastor. Her spiritual director asked her to quietly contemplate the blessing of God’s…
The theme for the Lessons & Carols and sermon today, the second Sunday of Christmas, was light. “God saw that the light was good and separated the light from darkness…” (Genesis 1); “What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the…
This year (2015) we bring you the complete 1 hour 36 minute audio of the Christmas Eve 11:00PM Choral Cantata Candlelight Service. Included in this service were six bible readings by various members of the congregation which related to the Christmas Message. Also included were numerous Choir Anthems provided by our 44 voice Chancel Choir.…
Today was the Fourth Sunday in Advent and Luke’s Gospel, 1:39-45, recounted Mary and Elizabeth’s meeting. We have heard over the past three Sundays of being generous to God, our family and our church family. Today, Ken A. spoke of being generous to the world out side of our church family and mentioned many ways…
In the third episode of the Advent Sermon Series, “Generosity towards God, our Family, the Church Family and the World”, Ken A and Pastor Eric shared their observations about our generosity to one another within our St. Mark church family. We give strongly of our love and compassion, our time and talents. We give without…
On this Second Sunday of Advent, Ken A. continued the theme of ‘Waiting for Jesus from Thanksgiving to Christmas’ with the Advent Sermon Series on Generosity. Last Sunday, both Pastor Eric and Ken A. talked of the Generosity of God. Today was Generosity toward our family. Ken A. pointed out that giving is good for us and studies…
Using our large media screen to vividly illustrate his words, Pastor Eric invited us to consider our next expression of generosity…our next “Everest Moment”! Pastor cited inspiring examples of generosity like Jeff Shinabarger (Ted Talk: “What If We Could Live A Life of Excessive Generosity?”) and Toby Ord, a Philosophy Professor from England (Ted Talk:…
This was Christ the King Sunday and today’s Gospel Lesson, John 18:33-37, presented two different ways of exercising power. One with force and the other with love. We heard four St Mark members present their Faith Reflections. Arvis O. spoke of her experience with Toni, a special child of the King. Dan B. reflected on life…