All students, teachers, and school staff are invited to bring their backpacks and school bags to our 10:00 worship on Sunday, September 3 for a special “Back to School Blessing.” You will receive a cross charm to remind you that, as you begin (or have begun) your new school year, God is with you where…
A Place of Grace
Worship (Page 37)
Today’s Gospel is by Matthew, the 13th chapter, in which the story of the mustard seed parable is told. Jesus told the crowds many parables. The word parable means to throw aside. These were stories that Jesus threw out to his followers. They were often a mystery that wove the crowds into and then out…
Jesus said to his disciples whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. The world would see Jesus through their hands as it will through our hands. Retired Pastor David L Nelson spoke today of it being a good thing knowing who we are that we belong to…
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…