All you need is love…. dah – dah – dah – dah – dah…. On Sunday, October 23rd, at both worship services (8:30 and 11:00am), all our worship music will be songs from The Beatles. The liturgical format will be a “Lessons and Carols” service with Holy Communion. PraisRing (St. Mark’s handbell choir) will be…
A Place of Grace
Worship (Page 44)
On Sunday, October 30th, we are celebrating Reformation Sunday. We give thanks that we are part of a “reforming” church that continually seeks to be faithful to how the Spirit is at work in this time and place, shaping us to be the Body of Christ. On this day you are encouraged to wear RED as…
On Sunday, October 9th, during our 8:30 worship service, the debut of a new, original song, “Breathe Deep,” written by Trudy Hoy (lyrics) and Terry Shaw (music) was performed by our Chancel Choir. What an amazing gift! Thank you Trudy and Terry for putting a beautiful song in our hearts! (Soloists were Dave E. and…
This Sunday’s gospel talks about Faith being the size of a mustard seed. In the gospel, the apostles say to the Lord increase our Faith. Help us to be better. Pastor Eric said the key to a sermon is to ask: So what? Now what? Everything we do is Faith formation as we are building…
Born into the family of a wealthy merchant, Francis gave up his inheritance to serve poor people. He formed the Order of Friars Minor (called Franciscans), who took on poverty and the task of preaching “using words if necessary.” Francis had a spirit of gratitude for all of God’s creation. We celebrated St. Francis and…
Today we hear the story of the rich man and Lazarus in the gospel. This is the only parable where someone is given a name. The rich man didn’t pay attention to Lazarus. He was indifferent to him. The truth is, we pass Lazarus every day. How are we going to respond? We need to…
Pastor Eric had preached the night before at the prison in Shelton and he asked that congregation if it was easier to love in prison or outside of prison. He asked us the same question but in reverse. It was a trick question because you can love anywhere. God’s love for us changes us and…
On Sunday, August 14th, Amanda W was baptized and welcomed into the family of God! Amanda was surrounded by her sponsors who promised to nurture her in her faith: Boyfriend, Matt B; Bob and Diane M; Don and Karen G. Other members of St. Mark joined in the celebration and stood with Amanda in Christian…
Luke 13:10-17 tells the story of Jesus, on the Sabbath, healing a woman who had been bent over for eighteen years. She has no other name other than ‘bent over woman’. Jesus is preaching in the synagogue to the men, all seated in the front, and the women, all seated in the back, but he…
The Gospel reading for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost, Luke 12, 49-56, cites fire, water, and division. Fire signifies warmth and gathering; Jesus laments that he wishes the fire “was already kindled” on earth, that his people were already a community of God. Jesus speaking about water reminds us that in baptism, the spirit washes…