Sunday, November 3, 2024

This Sunday, November 3, we will celebrate All Saints’ Day in worship, as we remember those who have blessed us, our community and our world. As part of the worship service, we will share the name and light a candle of remembrance (as a bell tolls), for each person, in the St. Mark’s fellowship, who has died in the past year. We will then invite all present, who wish, to remember other loved ones, and to light candles honoring and celebrating their lives, and the gifts of their spirit that live on through us.

Our scripture passage, this Sunday, arises from the Gospel according to Mark (12:28-34). Jesus is asked “What is the greatest commandment?” He responds “You shall love the Lord your God and with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” And the second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” We are fortunate that are saints who have come before us, and those who share the journey will us now, who model for us how to ways to live that love in our daily lives.

Kim Wolf, and his wife, Cheryl have blessed this community of faith for many years. For a time, Kim regularly volunteered to be a part of worship leadership: sharing a scripture reading, offering a prayer or sharing a reflection or sermon. While I don’t remember all the wise words he shared, I do remember he would start with the same greeting, “Good Morning, Saints!” Kim would remind us that each of us is a member of the community of Saints.

We will reflect on what that might mean for us today. We will also share a Children’s Moment, pray and reflect, and sing hymns. Our Chancel Choir will sing TBA. Our Scripture reading (Mark 12:28-34) will be read by Brenda Tewel. The sermon is titled “Finding our Place in the Community of Saints”.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for a long time, a short time, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the livestream.

Sunday, October 27, 2024

Winston Church once said, “First, we shape our buildings. Then they shape us.” Such is the history of architecture, and in a way, the history of the established church. Of course, one stream of the church’s longer life has suggested that buildings and locations do not matter so much. As Jesus told the woman of Samaria in the fourth chapter of John, true worshippers would not debate about the place of worship, for they worshipped in Spirit and truth.

Another stream of tradition, however, emphasizes that space can be holy and that it can be hallowed by the things said and done there. Most of us sense deep connection with particular places of worship. We have experienced the presence of the divine there, and ache for them when we are away. They may vary greatly from one another, and that is part of their power. Roy Morgan, who was once a member of the staff of St. Mark’s, put together a small booklet describing the architecture of our sanctuary. The vaulted ceilings, he said, tell us of the vastness of God. The moveable seating helps us realize the varied ways the will of God may take shape. Most notable, he would say, is the offset brick wall behind the chance, with its alternating colors and jutting arrangement of bricks. These declare the brokenness and the variety of life and community. Indeed, our buildings are shaped by us and shape us.

In the sixteenth chapter of Matthew, Jesus told his disciples that God would build the church on the foundation of the faith proclaimed by Peter, who said, “You are the Christ.” Every building of the church, regardless of variety, proclaims that. What does that mean as St. Mark’s observes its seventieth year? We’ll talk about that in worship on Sunday, as the sermon is titled, “Building the House of Belonging.” The sermon arises from I Corinthians 3: 9-15, to be read by Karen Korn, and Matthew 16: 13-20, to be read by Keith Korn. During the service, we’ll have a time of sending blessing for the Korns, who are moving from our community. Brenda Bailey Hughes will present a stewardship moment, and we’ll have a moment for children.

We hope to see you at 10:30 Sunday morning in our sanctuary, whether you are a first time visitor or a long time member of our community. To join online, visit www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream Banner.

Sunday, October 20, 2024

Many know the hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God, written by 16th century German theologian and protestant reformer, Martin Luther. It envisions God as a “place” where we can find safety and refuge in times of great challenge. I thought of it this week as I noted responses of many who came to our Stewardship and 70th Anniversary Lunch this Sunday past. In answering the question, “What do you wish others know about St. Mark’s?”, many said that they want others to know what a welcoming community St. Mark’s is. And it is true, in perplexing and difficult seasons, and regardless of who you are or who you love, St. Mark’s has determined to be a place of holy welcome. Our congregation deeply believes, “Whosoever will may come.”

But the Gospel does not just say, “Come.” It also says, “Go!” To know the St. Mark’s seventy year story is to know that we have been called to view the church as something other than an impenetrable fortress. Rather, the church moves beyond walls of safety to undertake the risk of doing good in the world. Jesus made clear that the disciples were to be salt and light in the world, agents of change bringing hope and help in a spirit of faith and courage. Throughout our history, saints in our congregation have shown many the way to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community. They have addressed such human realities as doubt, food insecurity, inadequate housing, incarceration, environmental degradation, racial injustice, war, the needs of children, and the rights and needs of the LQBTQI community. In so many ways, these disciples have helped us be salt and light, witnesses of the goodness of Jesus all around us.

Let’s work with this on Sunday. The sermon is titled, “Salt and Light: See the Path They Make.” It arises from Isaiah 58: 1-12, to be read by Chris Haynes, and Matthew 5: 13-16, to be read by Jonathan Michaelsen. The Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Lois Leong, will lead us musically. Stephanie Conklin and Linda Crawford will preview an upcoming family fellowship night, and cheeseball making event. We’ll sing, pray and have a moment for children.

If this is your first time at St. Marks, or whether you have long been a part of our church community, we look forward to connecting with you this Sunday. Join us at 10:30 in the sanctuary, or if you are connecting online, visit www.smumc.church, and click the live stream banner.

Sunday, October 13, 2024

This morning, I watched some news footage of the incredible storm damage in Florida, North Carolina and other states. Sadly, it also included reports of known injuries and deaths. At the same time, there were inspiring news stories of neighbors helping neighbors. There were also accounts of those who reached out to others, who had previously been strangers, and who now will always be part of each other’s life stories. These kinds of experiences reside not only in our memories, but also in our hearts.

St. Mark’s story has also lived in both the memory and hearts of generations. It began as a church with a pastor, Rev. Dick Hamilton, but without a congregation or building. As Rev. Hamilton knocked on hundreds of doors inviting individuals and families to come to a church, without a building, stewardship took many forms.

There was a culture of stewardship, born both out of necessity and desire, for everyone to give of their time, talents, prayers and resources. Sunday School classes, for children, were held in the homes of church members. The greater community contributed, as well. This included Day Mortuary, which offered a space for the first St. Mark’s worship services (at no cost).

This Sunday, after worship, all are welcome to come to Garton Hall and share a special meal together as we mark St. Mark’s 70th Anniversary as a church community. We hope you can be here to join the celebration and dream into the future ahead, as we enter into this Stewardship season. Together, we will reflect upon who we are called to be as we enter the first days, weeks and years of the next 70 years,

In worship, we will reflect on what this also might mean for us as individuals, as a community of faith, and in the gifts we bring the creative, complex, caring and challenging world we share. We will also share a Children’s Moment, pray and reflect, a stewardship moment offered by Charlie Nelms, and sing hymns. The Children’s Chimes Choir (joined by some of the “young at heart”) will share a musical piece, under the direction of Lois Leong. Our first Scripture reading (1 Peter 4:7-10) will be read by Kristen Hess, and our second Scripture reading (Acts 20:32-35) will be read by Mollie Lemon. The sermon is titled “Embracing the Heart of Stewardship”.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for a long time, a short time, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the livestream.

To connect to our livestream worship Sunday morning,

click the link on our website www.smumc.church.

The service starts at 10:30am. Livestream starts at 10:25am.

Sunday, October 6, 2024

As we enter the month in which we at St. Mark’s celebrate our seventieth anniversary as a congregation, a distinct memory comes to me. It was approximately 1992, and I was a pastor at a Baptist Church in Bloomington. I decided to take a Sunday off from my church to attend other worship services. That was my first time to ever attend St. Mark’s. I still remember the sermon David Owen preached that day, a proclamation marked by his deep and very human sense of the spiritual. An equally powerful memory is the experience of Holy Communion that came near the end of the service. Taking turns, all gathered at the altar rails surrounding the chancel area to receive communion. I had never received the sacrament in that manner. To me, it was very powerful for all of us, any who wanted, to kneel and be served with others. These saints were, in my case, intimate strangers in the experience of eating the holy meal together.

Why do we continue to celebrate Holy Communion? Nora Gallagher recalls being asked to write an article about Communion as a spiritual practice. She said she was surprised, because she hadn’t thought of it as practice but only a sacrament. She then realized that a practice was a “place” where the heart and mind wrestle to discover and embrace what is life giving. In the sacred table, we discover and embrace the many ways Christ is present with us. One of those ways is in the community that gathers with us.

Once Jesus’ disciples were asked why their “teacher” ate with “tax collectors and sinners.” The question led them, and still leads us, into the very basic experience of not only communion, but of our faith. We’ll talk about that Sunday in worship, as the sermon is titled, “No Matter What, We Must Eat to Live: The Power of Our Shared Table.” The sermon arises from Psalm 34: 1-8, which will be read by Leigh Richey, and Matthew 9: 9-13, which will be read by Suzanne Godby Ingalsbe. We will have a stewardship moment offered by Ken Beckley, and an anthem by the Chancel Choir, directed by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Lois Leong. In addition to a moment for children, we will celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion.

To connect to our livestream worship Sunday morning,

click the link on our website www.smumc.church.

The service starts at 10:30am. Livestream starts at 10:25am.

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Miriam Wright Edelman, founder and president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund, reminds us that sacred texts and teachings, across faith traditions, call us to care for and to protect children, and to address their most urgent needs, This Sunday, we observe Children’s Sabbath and are encouraged, again, to embrace that call. We also celebrate the gifts children bring to our lives, how they teach and guide us, and ways they bless the world and all who live upon it.

Edelman was inspired by Rev. James Forbes Jr., who had been the senior minister emerita at Riverside Church in New York City. Forbes described an old tradition in the church, where he grew up, called a “Cradle Roll”. Any child born to anyone in that church community immediately got their name placed on the Cradle Roll. He said it was the faith community’s way of acknowledging that “these children had been entrusted to our care.” Dr. Forbes called on all people of faith to reinstate a community-wide “Cradle Roll” for all children.

We will reflect on what this might mean for us in worship on Sunday. We will also share a Children’s Moment (with our new Children’s Ministries Director, Madison Sinan, and her trumpet), pray and reflect, and sing hymns. The Chancel Choir, directed by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Lois Leong, will lead us in music. The Bell Choir, directed by Lois Leong, will also share a piece. Children and youth will be a part of worship leadership. This will include leading our Call to Worship, Gathering Prayer and sharing our First Scripture reading (based on Jeremiah 29:11), and our Gospel reading, based on Mark 9:33-37. They may also serve as acolytes and other roles, as well. The sermon is titled “Unleashing Joy and a Future of Hope”.

(After worship, all are welcome to come to a light reception, in Garton Hall, to welcome Madison Sinan, in her new role as Director of Children’s Ministries.)

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for a long time, a short time, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the livestream.

To connect to our livestream worship Sunday morning,

click the link on our website www.smumc.church.

The service starts at 10:30am. Livestream starts at 10:25am.

Sunday, September 22, 2024

Every Friday afternoon in my late teens, the local newspaper would print a religion section, and in it, there was an article published by a specific religious group in town. In this document, the writer would engage in an argumentative discourse detailing the spiritually fatal doctrinal mistakes of other groups, including Baptist churches like mine. I was in a spiritually intense period of life, which I now realize was a prelude to my becoming aware of my call to ministry. My response back then was to become highly engaged in analyzing the errors of this religious group, and in cementing my view that my own church had it right. It took many years before I realized that spiritual growth meant more than discovering “accurate” truths about God. It included, among other things, developing a deep understanding of the value, gifts and graces, and strengths of other people, those who were “neighbors” we are called to love.

Jesus’ disciples were called to make this same discovery. Once on a preaching mission, they encountered someone who was “casting our demons” in Jesus’ name. The disciples were disconcerted by this, because the exorcist did not identify as one of the disciples. They then demanded that this upstart cease and desist his spiritual ministry. When Jesus heard this, he urged his disciples to know that those who were not against them, were in fact not to be feared. In fact, Jesus concluded, “Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose their reward.” Sometimes, in their hard journey of discipleship, Jesus was saying, these very disciples would need a kindness, an act of hospitality, a cup of cold water. And quite often, they would be surprised who it was who offered them that grace.

We’ll talk about all of this as we discuss our own calls to discipleship in the Sunday worship at St. Mark’s. The sermon is titled, “Surprising Sources of Refreshing Water,” and arises from Psalm 19:7-14, which will be read by Avery Shackleford, and Mark 9:38-41, which will be read by Gwyn Richards. The Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs, will lead us musically. We’ll have a moment for mission, a time for children, prayers and congregational singing.

If this Sunday will be your first time at St. Mark’s, or if you have been a part of our community for a long time, we’ll look forward to seeing you in the sanctuary at 10:30. If you are connecting online, visit www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream banner.

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Nearly twenty years ago, Lillian Daniel was the pastor of a small United Church of Christ congregation just north Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut. She developed a growing sense that the congregation was growing hungry for the practice of testimony, though no one knew exactly what to call it. So they began asking individuals, one per week, to tell in worship how they experienced God in the world. They had wide latitude on what they could say, but they did need to say how their faith impacted what they were sharing. The practice was so warmly received that when she transferred to a larger church in Illinois, she invited folks there to offer testimony as well. They, too, embraced it. Once, she said, one of the lay leaders spoke. He was quite experienced in public speaking, but when he began to talk about how being a lay leader had enriched his faith, he began to weep. He turned around and said to Lillian, “Wow, this is really different from other kinds of speaking, isn’t it?” Lillian said that as he continued, “the tears accompanied him as he told a beautiful story that trumped any sermon I could give.” What does faithful speech entail for us today?

The biblical witness speaks to this. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus seeks to elicit faithful speech from the disciples. After inquiring what others are saying about who they think Jesus is, he asks, “And who do you say that I am?” Peter responds, “You are the Messiah.” Peter would soon learn that true testimony would be a mark of the living church.

We’ll discuss this in worship on Sunday, as the sermon is titled, “Bearing the Light in Unbearable Times.” The sermon arises from James 3:1-12, which will be read by Rick Scheid, and Mark 8:27-38. The Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs, will sing, “We’ve Come This Far by Faith.” Lois Leong will present “Plink, Plank, Plunk” as a solo bells piece. We’ll have a moment for children, and sing and pray together. Make your plans to join us for breakfast sponsored by the St. Mark’s Library Team.

If you have a long-attended St. Mark’s, or are joining us for the first time, we will look forward to seeing you in the sanctuary at 10:30. If you are connecting online, visit www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream Banner.

Sunday, September 8, 2024

I love Mary Oliver’s poetry for many reasons, not the least of which is that she loved dogs. In the collection, Dog Songs, the poet lyrically unpacks that love. In one of her poems, she muses, “A dog can never tell you what she knows from the smells of the world, but you know, watching her, that you know almost nothing.” In other words, dogs know plenty. In another poem, when the household dog has conned an unsuspecting human into offering a second breakfast, she humorously writes, “Be prepared. A dog is adorable and noble. A dog is a true and loving friend. A dog is also a hedonist.”

Dogs and people have long sought creative ways to get that for which they long. That said, those of us who love dogs, and people, have a major hitch with something Jesus once said. A woman who was not Jewish came to Jesus, the Jewish rabbi, and asked for help healing her daughter from an oppressive spirit. But Jesus hesitated, speaking on the assumption that his mission was to the people of Israel. He said, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and give it to the dogs.” But not to be so easily put away, the mother replied, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” These abrupt words of Jesus are met with the fierce determination of a prophetic mother who would not be deterred from seeking her child’s blessing. He received these words, and changed his way of responding to the woman. Sometimes a solitary and determined voice is what is needed to shift worlds of understanding.

This passage raises many questions for us and invites us to consider what we shall do with the earnest and compelling voices that reach out to us. The sermon on Sunday is titled, “Breaking the Ropes That Hold Us.” It arises from James 2: 1-10, which will be read by Jerry Burton, and Mark 7: 24-37, which will be read by Laura Baich. The Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Lois Leong will lead us musically. We’ll pray, sing and have a time for children.

If this is your first time at St. Marks, or whether you have long been a part of our church community, we look forward to connecting with you this Sunday. Join us at 10:30 in the sanctuary, or if you are connecting online, visit www.smumc.church, and click the live stream banner.

Sunday, September 1, 2024

In the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses tries to prepare the people of Israel to enter the land that the LORD, the God of their ancestors, had promised them. Yet, Moses will never enter the land of promise.

On April 3, 1968, in Memphis, TN, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. told an overflowing crowd of those supporting striking sanitation workers - “I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But, I want you to know, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land!” Less than 24 hours after these prophetic words, Dr. King was assassinated by James Earl Ray. Moses, Dr. King, and others who followed them, may also not have seen their “promised land”. Yet they paved the path and the way for those who followed. They were part of building a foundation that holds us up still. They were followed by pastors and others from St. Mark’s and the greater community, who were part of the March on Washington and Selma. Today, those of all ages, backgrounds and stories strengthen our foundation here. What are the next chapters, of our story, that we will write?

We will explore this in worship on Sunday. We will also share a Children’s Moment, pray and reflect, and sing hymns. The Chancel Choir, directed by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Lois Leong, will lead us in music. Lisa Kurz will share our first scripture reading, based on Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9, and Eleanor Lahr will share our second scripture reading based on 1 Corinthians 3:1-9. The sermon is titled “Unwrapping the Gift of Story.”

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for a long time, a short time, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the livestream.

To connect to our livestream worship Sunday morning, click the link on our website www.smumc.church. The service starts at 10:30am. Livestream starts at 10:25am.

Sunday, August 25, 2024

Rollie Martinson, Professor Emeritus at Luther Seminary, tells of a conversation he had with fellow he met on an airplane flight. After Rollie told the fellow traveler that he was a pastor type, the conversation quickly turned to church attendance. The man said, “It’s funny. We’ve gone to church all our lives, but six weeks ago, we just quit.” He said after returning home from worship one day, they asked themselves whether the worship and church connection made any difference in their real lives. They discovered, he said, that their experience at church had little impact on their lives, and so they quit.

We’ve all heard the numbers. Church attendance and membership is down. Church closures are up. One source suggests that approximately forty million people have stopped going to church in the last twenty-five years. Some of the reasons include lack of engagement, as was the case with the family mentioned above. Other reasons include greater affluence, higher focus on children’s activities, online options, and a greater emphasis on self-directed spirituality.

Clearly societal changes are behind some of this shifting. But it’s also true that this isn’t an altogether new phenomenon. In the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel, we read that some of Jesus' followers decided, when things had gotten difficult, that they had to turn back. Jesus said to the remaining ones, "Do you also wish to go away?" Peter responded, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” In other words, something in their deep connection with this upstart rabbi was compelling to them, and shaped their faith decisions.

What might this mean for us in the time and in the place in which we live? We’ll chat about this on Sunday, as the sermon is titled, “The Power of Connection in the Life of Faith.” The sermon arises from Psalm 34, which will be read by the Brass family, and John 6: 56-69, which will be read by Jonathan Michelsen. We’ll be led musically by the Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Lois Leong. We’ll have a moment for children, sing, and pray together. After worship, we’ll join together for our annual church picnic.

If this will be your first time at St. Mark’s, or if you have long connected here, we look forward to seeing you in the sanctuary at 10:30. If you will be joining online, visit www.smumc.church and click on the online banner.

Sunday, August 18, 2024

Do you know how to fix things? I confess, when things break at the house, I’m not especially useful. A clogged drain does not respond in a happy way when I read a poem to it. Most of the time, a car that won’t start doesn’t suddenly turn over when you pray for it. When the refrigerator stops working, it does not really help it to say to it, “Tell me how you feel about that.” Thankfully, there are those who through aptitude, training and practice have a developed knowledge that helps all the people like me.

What then, do we do, when our hearts are broken, and our relationships are strained? What can we do when our culture is so broken that we feel our ability to relate to each other is damaged? Can we trust our impulses to help when we are not sure what to do with our own rage and despair? How do we fix that? Can our wisdom help us in the midst of these challenges?

Long ago, Jesus told a story about a farmer. This farmer noticed that, right there among the good wheat, were weeds that to the casual observer looked like exactly like the wheat. But to the farmer’s wizened eye, it was apparent that among the wheat an invasive plant was growing. Those who helped the farmer offered to pull up the bad weeds. But the farmer said, basically, “No. Let’s wait until the harvest. Trying to pull the weeds now would do damage the good wheat.”

Jesus told stories like this one so we would see a sacred wisdom that would guide us. In service on Sunday, we’ll talk about that wisdom. The sermon is titled, “How Do We Fix This: The Way of Wisdom.” It arises from I Kings 3: 3-14, and Matthew 13: 24-30, which will be read by Maria Schmidt. We’ll be led musically by the Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Lois Leong. We’ll sing, pray and have a time for children.

If this is your first time to visit St. Mark’s, or of you are a seasoned member of our church, we’ll look forward to connecting with you. Services begin at 10:30 in the sanctuary. If you are joining online, visit www.smumc.church, and click on the Live Stream banner.

Sunday, August 11, 2024

We are looking forward to the Blessing of the Backpacks and School Year this Sunday! The start of a school year can bring new opportunities, friendships, adventures, and ways to care for each other and our world. It can also bring some nervousness, excitement, challenges, fun, new and renewed friendships and invitations to try something that opens a new perspective.

This Sunday brings me back to memories of my years as a teacher. I was fortunate to teach in a number of settings, and with learners from preschool and elementary school, to undergrads in college. I learned from them all, and particularly with a multi-age class of 5th & 6th graders in the late 1980’s. Most of the students were around 11 or 12 years old then, and they asked the best questions.

In our scripture passage this Sunday (from Luke 2:41-52), Jesus is said to be 12-years-old. He, and his family, were taking a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, with many others, for the Festival of the Passover. Instead of staying with his parents and relatives, Jesus remains in Jerusalem in the Temple with the teachers, sitting among them, listening to them and asking them profound questions.

This Sunday, we celebrate and recognize teachers and learners (of all ages), bus drivers and administrators, helpers in the office and those who bandage scraped knees with care, counselors and custodians, parents, grandparents and volunteers, and all who care for children and youth, and those who support adult learners.

During the Children’s Moment time, we will offer a special blessing for students, of all ages, who are starting a new year in learning environments (public, private or homeschool), and for all who teach, guide, support them, and learn from them. You are invited to bring your backpack, another school item- or just bring yourself to worship on Sunday (in-person or on livestream).

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for a long time, a short time, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the livestream.

To connect to our livestream worship Sunday morning, click the link on our website www.smumc.church. The service starts at 10:30am. Livestream starts at 10:25am.

Sunday, August 4, 2024

St. Mark’s is delighted to welcome Rev. Mary Ann Moman to our worship service this Sunday, August 4. Mary Ann served as pastor of St. Mark’s from 1998-2000. This Sunday, in her sermon, she will invite us to consider what it means for us, as a congregation, who have in our previous seventy years as a congregation, to follow Jesus now.

Mary Ann writes, "This week we look at the story of the people following Jesus in the boats. Are they looking for bread that fills their stomachs or the bread that is Jesus? Jesus announces, "I am the bread of life." He has just fed 5000 people. Unlike the barley loaves they ate, Jesus talks about bread that endures. Is it possible to never go hungry?”

Mary Ann’s sermon is titled, “Back in the Boat: Another Seventy Years”. It arises from Psalm 78: 23-29, to be read by Liz McDaniel, and Mark 6: 25-35, to be read by Tory Puntarelli. We will be led musically by the Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa, and accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs. Tenor soloist Patrick Conklin will sing “Come To Me”, by Dan Forrest. There will be a moment for children and a time of prayer, and we will celebrate Holy Communion together.

If this is your first time at St. Mark’s, or if you have a long connection with us, we look forward to connecting with you at 10:30 Sunday morning in the sanctuary. If you are joining online, visit www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream banner.

Sunday, July 28, 2024

Do you believe in the power of stories? If so, how should a good story end? Arthur Frank, author of The Wounded Storyteller, believes that seriously ill individuals are wounded in body and soul, and need to become storytellers to recover the voices deep challenge can take away. He names three different types of stories we tell when in crisis. Restitution stories anticipate getting better, concentrating on the techniques and practices that help us improve. In chaos narratives, the problem seems to go on indefinitely, with little respite or resolution. Quest stories are about finding whatever insight allows for us to become new people in light of our new circumstances. The “ending” of each of the stories can vary greatly, but are influenced by the overall hope of the story.

In Mark 16, there is a different ending following the resurrection of Jesus than is found in the other three gospels. Mark’s ending is so abrupt that later manuscripts, sometimes incorporated into translations, show several different attempts to “finish the story.” But in the best manuscripts of Mark’s Gospel, the passage ends in verse 8, with the earliest witnesses to the empty tomb running away in excitement and fear. What are we to make of such a sudden ending that includes none of the “follow up” material of the other gospels? Could it be that we, the church are to compose our own ending of the story?

We’ll talk about this in Worship Sunday, as the sermon is titled, “After All, Tomorrow is Another Day.” It arises from Psalm 15: 1-9, to be read by Deb Smith. Mark 16: 1-8, to be read by Eric Metzler. We’ll have a moment for mission about an Eagle Scout project intended to support a local food pantry. The Chancel Choir, directed by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs, will lead us musically. We’ll sing together, pray and have a moment for children.

If this will be your first time at St. Mark’s, or you have long been connected to our church, we look forward to connecting with you. Join us in the sanctuary at 10:30, or online by visiting www.smumc.church, and click on the Live Stream Banner.