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…
A Place of Grace
Sermons (Page 51)
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…
Pastor Eric showed us one of his crosses in the sermon today. It says “Amazing Grace” on the front of it. He decided that it needed something on the back of the cross to complete it so he roped on the word HOPE. The Gospel today was from the Gospel of John and was Jesus…
The Gospel Lesson for today from Mark 12 describes a widow who is the poorest of the poor, having to beg to survive. Yet she gave everything she had to the church. Not a tithe, not a percentage, not a portion…but everything! Two copper coins. We are not told why. Was it out of respect? Religious…
This All Saints Sunday we celebrated the life of all saints. Pastor Eric reminded us that we are all saints (and sinners) – whether living or deceased. He took a picture of the children during their sermon and taped this to the front of the Candle Cross to signify the “living saints”. The names of…
Reformation Sunday! Wear RED! This was a Sunday with balloons, books on wheels and two pastor’s preaching God’s word. Pastor Eric and Pastor Beth explained to the congregation what SMART means and took turns illustrating each letter…. S-Stewardship; M-Music; A-Art; R-Relationships; T-Theology; and an extra letter…K-Kids ……because we are all kids of God. You’ll have…
In biblical times, wealth was seen as a blessing from God. But our Gospel for today turns this thinking upside down. Jesus says, “Sell what you own, give everything to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.” For mortals, this is impossible; about as likely as a camel fitting…
We are all created in the image of God. But we have tendencies toward sin, tendencies towards what is not God-like, turning away from God and towards ourselves. We are like hooks; we bend over, and curve into ourselves. In today’s sermon, Pastor Eric suggested we need to be more like a bungee cord…signifying partnership,…