On Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God’s power among us that heals, forgives, inspires, and unites. On this day at St. Mark, five of our students–Aaron, Erin, Hunter, Lisha, and MacKenzie–affirmed their faith and participated in the Rite of Confirmation. They shared faith reflections, selected all…
This is the Seventh Sunday of Easter and, in John’s Gospel, 17:1-11, Jesus prays to his Father in heaven asking that those who will continue his work will live in Unity. Sticks teach us lessons about the church. We were all given a stick as we entered church and Pastor Beth had two volunteers attempt…
At Sunday service, April 23, we were given a special gift of music! Mya A, one of our beloved and talented St. Mark youth, is a member of the Olympia High School Chamber Orchestra. She and her fellow members of the orchestra took the time to come to St. Mark and perform Tchaikovsky Serenade Suite…
Be prepared to laugh as Pastor Beth tells some interesting ‘stories’ on this Second Sunday of Easter. This Sunday is known by many different names in different congregations, such as Low Sunday because, after the church being full on Easter Sunday, attendance is lower today. It is also known as Doubting Thomas Sunday because of…
Today’s worship included an extended reading from the Gospel of Matthew. Our service began with a palm procession commemorating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The tone of the service changed quickly as we meditated upon Jesus’ passion and death. This story is central to our faith. Today we remember how Christ offered his life for…
The 9th Chapter of the Gospel of John, verses 1-41, is long and tells the story of Jesus using mud in the healing of a man who had been born blind. The congregation joined with Pastor Beth in reading it out loud. Today we are brought back to ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Lent…
Matthew’s Gospel tells the story of Jesus going into the desert where he fasted for forty days and nights. The devil appeared to him and tempted Jesus a number of times but Jesus rebuffed him every time. Pastor Eric told us that Baptism is for us again and again. Jesus experienced temptation the same as…
Today’s Gospel is the 17th chapter of Matthew in which Jesus takes three Disciples, Peter, James and John, up on a mountain and there Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus. When the voice of God came from the heavens, the Disciples became afraid but Jesus calmed them with his own words. Pastor Eric…
Love and Logic Parenting. A way of empowering and guiding children to make good choices. They learn the consequences of those choices that they make. Moses was using Love and Logic when he was talking to his people explaining the joys and struggles of being God’s people. The Ten Commandments were given to guide their…
The 3rd Sunday after Epiphany has Jesus beginning his public ministry by calling fishers to leave their nets and follow him to be fishers of people. Matthew 4:12-23 tells the story of this calling and mentions that Jesus left his home in Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum where he settled in. Pastor Eric…