Sunday January 10, 2021

Yesterday we witnessed distressing unrest in our nation’s capital. At the same time, we have been living through a pandemic, and are having a national conversation on racial justice. We are sadly discovering we are not nearly as advanced as we had hoped. In the midst of all of that, there are also more personal human aches: conflict in families, stresses with work and finances, addictions and depression, hunger and poverty. Facing those dilemmas, this week the Church approaches “Baptism of the Lord” Sunday, in which we are to encourage each other to “Remember your baptism.” What can that do to help us respond to challenges so great?

The late Fred Craddock, Disciples of Christ pastor and revered preacher, used to tell of a church he served in East Tennessee that would conduct their baptisms in a nearby lake. After the baptisms, all would form a circle, and the conversation to the newly baptized would go something like: "My name is Earl. If you ever need anybody to chop wood, please ask." "My name is Bernice... if you ever need a ride into town, I'm happy to help." "My name is Beverly and if you ever need somebody to sit with someone who is sick, call me." "My name is Jonathan and if you ever need somebody to watch the kids, they can come to our place. One by one by one. A name and a way to serve. As one member told him, “Folks don’t get no closer this.”

You may not be able to remember the event of your baptism, especially if it occurred when you were an infant. Perhaps you have not been baptized. But we all need to be reminded of the promises of love that we have received. However our baptisms may have occurred, promises of love, blessing and support were made. Promises from God, from the community, and promises by, or on behalf of, the one being surrounded with the love of the community. With all we are facing, it will do us good to remember those promises and blessings. And this Sunday, we will do so.

The sermon Sunday is titled “Getting Our Feet Wet in the Ocean of God’s Connectedness”, arising from Mark 1: 1-11. The biblical passage will be read to us by Dot and David Owen. (David was a pastor at St. Mark’s from 1990-1996). The Sanctuary Musicians will lead us in hymns and special music, and there will be prayers and a children’s moment. And near the end of the service, we will have a “Remembrance of Baptism.” Whether or not you have been baptized, we want this to be a time of blessing and hope. You are invited to have a bowl of water near you as we move through this observance.

Whether you are new to St. Mark’s, or have been a part of the community for years, we look forward to connecting this Sunday. Visit www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream banner at 10:30 AM.

Sunday January 3, 2021

A few years ago I heard Dr. Craig Koester, a New Testament scholar, talk about the story of the magi. He noted that while we might first think that gifts they bring are gold, frankincense and myrrh, a greater gift they bring is genuine wondering. The magi brought a question, “Where is the messiah to be born?” They then allowed this question to lead them to seek further and consider new questions about the one they came to find. They embraced a sense of wonder. In her book, Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others, Barbara Brown Taylor writes, “I asked God for religious certainty…and God gave me human beings instead—strange, funny, compelling, complicated human beings—who keep puncturing my stereotypes, challenging my ideas, and upsetting my ideas about God, so that they are always under construction.”

In Christian terms, Epiphany can mean manifestation, appearance, revelation: God revealed in Christ as Jesus walked with us on the earth. This Sunday, we will explore what it might mean for us to wonder and seek together in this time and place that we find ourselves.

In our time of worship, we will share inspiring music including hymns and musical offerings from our singers (accompanied by Nara Lee), a children’s moment, prayer and reflection, and the reading of the scripture passage (Matthew 2:1-12). The sermon title is “Embracing the Gift of Wonder”. If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with you on the live stream at 10:30am on this first Sunday of 2021!

Sunday December 27, 2020

Perhaps you have heard of Jacques Lusseyran, a blind French resistance fighter whose memoir is titled. And There Was Light. During one period of hard play, when he was eight years old, he fell hard against the corner of a desk, and the breaking of his glasses severely damaged both eyes. When he woke up in the hospital, his sight was completely gone. At the age of seven he was completely and permanently blind. While his parents were urged to send him to a school for the blind, they refused, and sought to keep him. They never treated him as “less fortunate”. His mother learned Braille so that she might teach him, and the school principal made special effort to enhance his education. And his father, encouraging his son’s special gifts, said, “Always tell us when you discover something.” Lusseyran said that ten days into this experience, he made a life saving discovery: “I had completely lost the sight of my eyes; I could not see the light of the world anymore. Yet the light was still there.”

Every Christmas Eve, we light the Christ Candle, and read a line from the Gospel of John that says, “The light shines in the darkness.” Note, it does not say ‘The light shines instead of the darkness.” Christian theology has sometimes overdone the distinction between light and dark, so as to suggest that darkness is always bad, and that light is always good. But the mystery of Christmas is that the “dark” is full of “light”, but like the French Resistance fighter, we have to learn new ways of seeing. It has always been true, but is especially true now, that the flame of the Christ Candle calls us to welcome the goodness and love of Jesus into our world, and into our lives.

The sermon for the first Sunday after Christmas is titled, “The Glory of God Wrapped in Human Darkness,” arising from John 1:1-5, and Luke 2:8-14, read by Kati and Mason Oard. The Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Nara Lee, will lead us musically, and Patrick Conklin will present a solo. There will be a children’s moment, prayers and Christmas Carols.

We look forward to your joining us on the Live Stream at 10:30.

Sunday December 20, 2020

Mary Beth always says you can never tell what characters are going to show up for the Christmas pageant, or what they might say.(And she likes it that way.) I suppose that’s appropriate, because if you read the stories of Jesus’ birth in Matthew and Luke, there are some pretty big surprises. There were unexpected guests that evening, according to the narrative. But even in the genealogies, there are some head scratchers. But all of these form part of the community of energetic influence for Mary and Joseph, and thus, for Jesus. Through their courage and their creativity, they make story and character come alive.

Who has surprised you with their unexpected ability to sustain and inspire you? Perhaps it was a family member or friend whom you did not expect to be influential in your life. Maybe it was an overlooked figure from history whose story has been retrieved, and you found to be deeply impactful? Could it have been a member of the community, even the church, whose powerful gifts you never saw coming?

The sermon Sunday is titled, “O Come, All Ye Unexpected” arising from Matthew 1: 1-6; and 17-21. The scripture will be read by Benjamin Quint, and Brenda and Brian Lewis will offer the reading for the Advent Candle. Our Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Nara Lee, will guide us musically, and Pat Conklin will sing “I Wonder as I Wander” during the decorating of the tree. There will be a special video presentation by the Bloomington Chamber Singers of “See, Amid the Winter’s Snow”, the text written by Edward Caswall, and arranged by Dan Forrest. And we will sing carols, pray and have a children’s moment.

Join us on the Live Stream at 10:30 AM by visiting www.smumc.church.

Sunday December 13, 2020

Can you think of someone who has been an important presence in your life, and whose example, guidance or story you find yourself leaning into these days? This past week, I was on a Zoom call with some clergy colleagues. The daughter of one came and sat down by her mom. She looked at our names on our Zoom boxes and asked, “Why are there so many Marys?” Of the six of us remaining on the call, three of us had Mary as a part of our name.

Her question reminded me that I was named after my grandmother. Even though she died when I was in elementary school, I recognize what an important presence she was in my life with her deep faith, care, kindness and strength in good times and very challenging times. This Sunday in worship, we spend some time leaning into the story of Mary, Jesus’ mother, whose life was anything but one dimensional. She knew joy, ordinary days, and great challenge and sorrow. Perhaps, she was named after Miriam (sister of Moses) who, like Mary, put herself at risk for others, was a prophet and an individual of great faith, love and strength. This is reflected in our scripture reading, which is known as the Magnificat or Mary’s song (Luke 1:46-55).

In our time of worship, we will share inspiring music including hymns and musical offerings from our singers (accompanied by Nara Lee), lighting of the Advent Candle by Amy and James Thomas, a children’s moment, prayer and reflection, and the reading of the scripture passage by Maria Schmidt. The sermon title is “Why Are There So Many Marys?” If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with you on the live stream at 10:30am on Sunday!

P.S. There is still time for all children and youth to be part of the Christmas Eve Pageant. We are recording the scenes (all of which are short) on Zoom this weekend. Sign up via the link in the article, below, or contact Mary Beth Morgan or Alayna Gray.

Sunday December 6, 2020

A pastor named Carrie Ballenger Smith tells a great story from her days as a pastoral intern. She was scheduled to preach on a particular Sunday in the pastor’s absence. She was driving herself and her children to church that morning when she looked at her watch, and realized she was ahead of schedule. Proud of this accomplishment, she decided to treat herself to coffee and doughnuts. Her cell phone rang while in the drive through, and a voice on the other end said, “Carrie, are you alright?” And she said, “Yup. Just down the road. Stopped for some doughnuts.” The voice at the other end said, “Well…okay. It’s just that it is time for the sermon. Should we sing another hymn?” She immediately realized that she had failed to account for the shift to Daylight Savings Time. She said she hung up the phone and raced to the church, her stomach churning with anxiety the entire way, expecting angry parishioners to accost her when she arrived. But instead, when she walked in, she was playfully welcomed with grins and questions like, “Hey, Carrie, how were those doughnuts?” There were smiles and laughter all around. And of course, many months of teasing. And Carrie said, “Love was born that day.” (From Carrie Ballenger Smith)

How did this happen? It happened because of long years of preparation to trust, to play, to be patient, and to be loving. These long years of preparation to be human and loving in God’s name allowed for something gracious to happen when someone had made a mistake.

Many remark at the signs of tension and anger all around us. And it is important to realize that this kind of response does not just happen either. It takes long periods of time of unchecked suspicion, less than charitable conversation, and shaky connection. But the good news is that this does not have to be our ultimate destiny, because the Season of Advent calls us to a different kind of preparation. Advent calls us to prepare to have open minds, larger and more noble dreams, more loving commitments.

We’ll talk about this in worship on this second Sunday of Advent, as the sermon is titled, “A Prayer for Preparation: How to Make Room for Every Experience of the Holy,” arising from Mark 1:1-8. The Advent Candle reading will be offered by Jon, Maryjane, Corinne and Leah McNabb. We will also have a Stewardship moment by Ken Beckley, and we’ll celebrate Holy Communion virtually. We will sing hymns, pray and have a children’s moment. Our singers, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Nara Lee, will bring special music to us.

We look forward to connecting with you in our online worship this Sunday at 10:30. Visit www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream.

Sunday November 29, 2020

One day, one of the disciples of Buddha, the founder of the Buddhism, came to Buddha and asked a question: “Are you a God?” Buddha replied, “No.” Again, the disciple asked, “Are you an angel?” Buddha said, “No.” And again, the disciple asked, “Are you a Prophet” Buddha said, “No.” Then the disciple asked, “Who are you?” Buddha answered, “I am the one who is staying awake.”

I get it. Being spiritually awake is a deep virtue. And I’ll also name the opposite, that sometimes sleep is absolutely delicious. Good, restorative, deep REM sleep can bring a kind of personal refreshment that nothing else can. But not all sleep is so healing.

Dr. King once said that when Rip Van Winkle went up a mountain to go to sleep, he passed a sign with the picture of King George. But twenty years later, when he came down the mountain, he passed the same sign with a picture of George Washington, the fledgling nation’s first president. And in Dr. King’s matchless way, he said that the great shock was not that Rip slept for twenty years, but that he slept through a revolution.

Sunday, we enter the season of Advent. The Mark apocalypse passage suggests that when we are spiritually asleep, we can miss great movements of God among us. “Therefore, keep awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come.” The sermon this Sunday in our online worship is titled “Awakening: Remembering the Other World in This World”, arising from Mark 13:24-37. The passage will be read by Glenn and Allison Santner. Mark Cox and Michael Seyller will read a passage associated with the lighting of the Advent Candle. Special music will be provided by the Sanctuary singers, accompanied by Nara Lee and directed by Gerry Sousa. And in the children’s moment, we’ll begin decorating the Christmas tree with the ornaments you will be sending in during Advent.

We look forward to connecting with you on the first Sunday of Advent. Connect with the Live Stream by visiting www.smumc.church.

Sunday November 22, 2020

In her book, “What Do We Know” (2002, De Capo Press), poet Mary Oliver shares a lovely and thoughtful poem titled Gratitude. Each section begins with a question to help pay closer attention on our journey: What did you notice? When did you admire? What astonished you? What was most tender?

On this Sunday before Thanksgiving, our scripture passage comes from the Hebrew Bible. Psalm 100 is a familiar song of praise and thanksgiving. When we say or sing the words, we become part of large diverse community of faith that stretches across time and place. The generations that came before us, and journey with us now, have known times of great joy and times of hardship. We are not alone.

Individually and together, we are invited to pause and pay attention in the spirit in which Mary Oliver poses her questions. When we do, we may notice ways God’s love is moving though our lives and in the world, that we had overlooked, and for which we give thanks.

We are grateful to be able to share time in worship this Sunday. Our service will include pictures of thankfulness that some of you sent, inspiring music including hymns and a solo by Brianna Murray, accompanied by Nara Lee, a children’s moment including a special time of sharing from Aaron Comforty, prayer and reflection, and reading of the scripture passage from the Mitsdarffer family (in English) and sung by Aaron (in Hebrew). The sermon title is “Watch Out for Glimpses of Grace along the Journey”. If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with you on the Livestream at 10:30am on Sunday!

Visit www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream banner.

Sunday November 15, 2020

Do you enjoy taking risks? I don’t count myself an especially brave person, so when my son who lives in Los Angeles suggested that we hike Mt. Baldy in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, I had, shall we say, questions. I knew it was around 10,000 feet, that it was a rocky and physically demanding hike, and that some hikers experienced some pretty unpleasant physical distress due to the height. But something in me was intrigued. To make a long story short, I had a great time, but did not quite make it to the top due to an unfortunate case of elevation sickness. But next time I am able to go back, I want to give it another go. Some risks just seem worth taking.

But which ones? It would seem foolhardy to take all of one’s retirement account, and try to make a killing at the race track. And at whose risk? As COVID infections rate rise, engaging in culture without regard to wise protocols such as masking and social distancing is not just a risk to ourselves, but to those others we love, and even to the already stretched medical community. And how does faith play a role? When Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer went back to Germany to engage Hitler’s regime, he understood the risks, but he wrote, “There is no way to peace along the way of safety. Peace is the great adventure. It has to be dared.”

Jesus told a story about a person who went on a journey and gave different amounts of wealth to three different individuals. To one he gave five measures, to a second, two, and to a third, he gave a single measures. As the story unfolds, the ones with the larger sums multiplied their investments, and the third put his in a hole in the ground. The “master” upon discovering this, commends the first two, and sharply criticizes the third. Historically, there have been two primary ways of interpreting the story. But in either interpretation, it is the willingness to risk, to brave a different path, that the story celebrates. The parables of Jesus are intended to shake up our settled world, and invite us to some really difficult choices.

We’ll take this up in worship on Sunday. The sermon is titled, “Inviting the Right Kind of Peril”, arising from Matthew 25: 14-30, which will be read in the service by Torry and Lisa Hamilton. We’ll also receive ten new members into the St. Mark’s community, as we watch a zoom call in which they make the promises of church membership. We’ll have a children’s moment, hymns and prayers. And we’ll be led musically by our Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Nara Lee and directed by Gerry Sousa.

We look forward to connecting with you at 10:30 Sunday morning for an online worship experience. Visit www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream banner.

Sunday November 8, 2020

She is one of the most familiar symbols in our legal system, though few of us have a specific name to call her. Most call her “Lady Justice” and since the sixteenth century, she has been blindfolded, representing the idea of impartiality, suggesting that justice should be applied without regard to wealth, power, or other status. But is justice really blind? If justice is to be, as Wendell Berry has said, the intent to “do unto those downstream as you would have those upstream do unto you,” then justice must be able to see and take note…to see very deeply. It is only by seeing people and actions as they really are that we can hope to practice justice, especially a justice that is restorative.

In Isaiah 58, we read that God loves “the loosing of the bonds of injustice, and the undoing the thongs of the yoke”. And in Luke 4, Jesus declared that his ministry involved enacting the promises of the Year of Jubilee, where captives were released and debts were forgiven. This was a justice that looked at the world as it was, and said, “This is not the world as God created it to be. Let’s make it right.” This justice is anything but blind, but sees things both in their brokenness and in their promises. This justice looks upon the world with eyes wide open and a heart full of passion.

In worship on Sunday, we’ll have an interview with Dr. Raymond Wise, conductor of the Indiana University African American Choral Ensemble. Among other things, Dr. Wise will tell us about a song he composed Titled, “See Me”. Then we’ll be privileged to have a video of the Choral Ensemble sing that song for us. The sermon for the morning is titled, “See Me: An Eyes Wide Open Justice,” arising from Isaiah 58:6-12 and Luke 4:16-18. We’ll also have prayers, hymns lead by our singers and accompanied by Nara Lee, a moment for children, and scripture readings read by Tony and Trina Mescher. We will also celebrate Holy Communion virtually. You are invited to have elements of bread and cup with you, and we will bless those together.

We look forward to connecting with you on the Live Stream Sunday morning at 10:30. Visit our website at www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream Banner.

Sunday November 1, 2020

Madeleine L’Engle’s poem “Lines After M.B.’s Funeral” includes these words:

“There’s a hole in the world . . . Let me look through this new empty space To where The wind comes from And the light begins.”

On this All Saints Sunday, we remember the saints who came before us, and those who journey with us now, who guide us in word and example of what it means to be blessed. Together, we spend some time with the Beatitudes from the Gospel of Matthew (5:1-12), in which Jesus reminds us that there are many ways to be blessed and to be a blessing. We are more than one story, or one snapshot in time. That is important for all of us to remember in this election week, as well.

In worship, we will read the names of those, from the St. Mark’s community, who have died in the past year, toll a bell and light a candle for each. In this unique year, as we gather virtually, it is just as important to have an opportunity to remember and honor other family members, loved ones and friends who have died since last November. Names you have sent us will be shared on the screen while candles are lit celebrating their lives and the gifts they brought to the world. You are also invited to light a candle in your home, in this time of remembrance, if you wish and it is safe to do so.

The lights of each of these saints who came before us do not go out. They teach us still by their examples of when they soared and when they stumbled, and guide us in how we might live in our every days, those that are ordinary and those that are anything but ordinary. Our time of worship will also include inspiring music (from our singers, organist, Nara Lee, and oboist, Rebecca McGuire), a children’s moment, prayer and reflection, and reading of the scripture passage and sharing from Anna and Dillon Cron. The sermon title is More than a Single Story. If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with you on the Livestream at 10:30am on Sunday! www.smumc.church.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2020

“Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence.” This is one of the many things psychoanalyst and philosopher Eric Fromm wrote in his 1956 book, The Art of Loving. Fromm’s larger point was love, rather than being a mysterious gift that cannot be understood, is actually a skill that can be taught and developed. He also noted that in the modern era we live alienated lives, and that our longing for interpersonal connection is deep and profound. So, love is both an urgent necessity, and is a capacity that must be nurtured with great intentionality.

Some of what Fromm wrote sounds a great deal like some of the basic teachings of Jesus. Once, when asked (he was being tested) what was the greatest commandment, Jesus quoted from the Shema, found in Deuteronomy 6, that we are to love the Lord with all our heart and soul and mind. And before anyone could ask a question, he said, “And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” In other words, if you want to know what is at the center of living the faith, see these two commandments. Everything else must correspond to those, or we have departed from the faith.

Jesus’ teachings about love are at the same time lovely and demanding. Jesus did not just teach us to have a sentimental regard for the other. Jesus went so far as to teach love for the enemy…love for those with whom you do not easily connect. How in the world do we do that? How can we do that as a community of faith? How can we come close to that in a world in which so many seem to be at each other’s throats?

We’ll talk about that in the online service on Sunday. Mary Beth and Jimmy will co-preach a sermon titled “Stronger Together: Reflections on Learning to Love”, arising from Matthew 22:34-40. The scripture lesson will be read by Dana Thomas, with great help from Dean, Cam and Maia. And a “Stronger Together” stewardship moment will be shared by Charlie Nelms. We will pray, sing hymns, share a children’s moment, and hear wonderful music by our Sanctuary Singers, led by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Nara Lee.

We look forward to connecting with you on the Live Stream, which you will find by visiting www.smumc.church.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2020

One of the deep affirmations of our faith is that we are made in the image of God. And for generations, theologians have wrestled with the meaning and implications of those words. Some have suggested that it refers to something in our being, or to our capacity to be in relationship, or to some Godlike function we possess, such as creativeness.

Episcopalian theologian and author Barbara Brown Taylor once wrote, after returning from a long flight, that she loves watching travelers returning from international flights, being greeted by their adoring family and friends. She said that seeing their faces reminded her why she loved being alive. She also said that it reminded her “that the truest thing about being human—the thing deepest down in us—is not sin but the divine image.”

In an attempt to trip him up, Jesus was once asked if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. Taking a coin, Jesus pointed out that it was the Emperor’s image on the coin. He responded, “‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” It was a response that evokes even more questions, and in particular, it asks us what it means that we are bearers, not of the image of Caesar, but of the image of God. What does it mean that we are capable of honoring deep truth, of practicing profound goodness and love, or creating and relishing great beauty?

In our worship service on Sunday, we’ll explore this theme. The sermon, titled “Stronger Together: Spotting the Image of God Among Us”, will work with some of those questions that the passage draws out of us. We’ll have a time for children, a stewardship moment with Brandt and Dian Ludlow, and music from our Sanctuary singers, accompanied by Nara Lee and directed by Gerry Sousa. We will also have a brief update of the recent meeting of the Indiana United Methodist Annual Conference.

We look forward to connecting with you on the Live Stream, which you will find by visiting www.smumc.church.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2020

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 10:30 AM

WORSHIP SERVICE

Joseph Scriven was an Irish poet who was best known for writing the beloved hymn, “What A Friend We Have in Jesus.” Joseph’s life was punctuated with heartache. He was engaged to be married at the age of 23, but his fiancé died tragically the night before their wedding. During his days of grieving, he connected with the Christianity of the Plymouth Brethren, and perhaps because of this influence, left Ireland and migrated to Canada when he was 25. Many years later, when he heard that his mother was sick in Ireland, and he was financially unable to travel there, he composed this hymn and sent it to her as a prayer. He never dreamed the hymn would be published in the newspaper, and eventually become so well known to so many. Joseph spent much of his later years walking the Canadian country side seeking to do good for others.

A line in the hymn reads, “Are we weak and heavy laden?” There’s no need to specify the challenges 2020 has brought us all, and how the feelings of weakness and being laden with heavy loads is so deeply common. We all know them. The hymn’s response is “Take it to the Lord in prayer.” So we have to ask, how is it that prayer helps us when we are feeling weakened and wearied, and when the challenges of the pandemic, the protracted quest for racial justice, when the contentious political season drags on? How does prayer strengthen us? What kind of prayers might better equip us to live as the children of light in a season of darkness?

It is clear that Jesus believed prayer to be essential to the spiritual tasks facing disciples. One of the most well known passages in the Gospels is a brief modeling of how those who followed Jesus were to pray. There is much guidance in these few verses in Matthew 6:9-13, but one thing is clear: while we are invited to ask for what we want, prayer is so much more than that. The soulful prayer life to which Jesus points is one of linking up to what the Divine is doing in the world. And what if our very first response to the brokenness is around us is to pray, finding the strength and guidance and forgiveness we need to leave our world more reflective of the Divine will.

We’ll talk about this in worship on Sunday. The sermon is titled, “Are We Weak and Heavy Laden?” The Scripture from Luke will be read by Mike Sonneborn. There will be a Stewardship moment from Jonathan and Brittany Purvis as we move forward with our “Stronger Together” campaign. We will sing hymns, pray and have a children’s moment. And the Sanctuary Singers, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Nara Lee, will sing “This is the Day”, an anthem John Rutter composed for the occasion of the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. 

We look forward to connecting with you on the Live Stream, which you will find by visiting www.smumc.church.

Sunday October 4, 2020

Eighteenth Sunday of Pentecost
Rev. Mary Beth Morgan, preaching
Stronger Together: Planting Seeds of Grance and Community by Saying “Yes”
Galatians 6:1-6, 9-10

As I write this, there is creativity and joy under a set of open canopy tents on the church lawn. Six “family units” (a parent, guardian or caregiver with a child/children) are safely socially distanced in defined areas. Wonderful teachers, from our Nursery School & Kindergarten’s Connect Program, are leading them in activities. They are safely engaging in their family units, while still being “connected” with everyone present. There is excitement, discovery, wonder and care for each other.

This month we are focusing on stewardship, with the theme Stronger Together. On this World Communion Sunday, we will spend some time in worship reflecting on the letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians. In the Message translation, it begins with the invitation “Live creatively, friends.” (6:1) Stewardship invites us to share our resources, and the gifts and talents we all have to share. This time of pandemic calls us to live creatively, and discover new ways to live God’s call to us. Paul reminds us to reach out to those who are oppressed, share each others burdens, not tire of doing good, and to work for the benefit of all people. Often, opportunities to embrace these are right in front of us. When we say “yes”, we may be planting seeds of grace that become deeply rooted and make us stronger together.

Our time of worship will include inspiring music from our singers and organist, Nara Lee, a children’s moment, prayer and reflection, reading of the scripture passage from Hyun Kwon and Yena Park (in Korean and English), a Stewardship Moment from Kevin Theile, and the celebration of Holy Communion. You are invited to have bread and juice, or other items, on hand. The sermon is titled Stronger Together: Planting Seeds of Grace and Community by Saying “Yes”.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with you on the livestream at 10:30 am. www.smumc.church.