Sunday, February 7, 2021

If you have ever been in a boat on the north end of Lake Monroe, there’s a good chance you have seen a bald eagle’s nest high in the trees on the western shore. Eagles’ nests typically measure four to five feet in diameter and two to four feet deep. They are built largely of sticks and branches, with some softer material such as leaves, grass and corn stalks in the center, which helps provide comfort and safety for their eggs to hatch. But when the young are ready to fledge, or take their first flight, the parents will start removing some of the comfortable material from the nest, signaling that it is time to move to the next phase in life.

Eagles are mentioned prominently in the Scriptures. Psalm 91 speaks of being safely covered under the wings of God, like the shelter provided by eagles for their young. But there are also passages that speak of God’s ‘stirring’ the nest, meaning to push the young eagles so they may learn to fly, and then catching them on their wings until they learn to soar on their own. Isaiah 40, in particular, says those who are weary from exile and are also fearful of leaving its comforts shall “mount up with wings like eagles.” Those of us who are weary of the exile of COVID, injustice and political and social tension can understandably long to be sheltered under the protective wings of God. But we can also sense God calling us to leave the nests of safety to move to the next phase of our discipleship.

We’ll talk about this on Sunday, as the sermon for the morning is titled “Exodus, Exile and Eagles: Hope for the Weary and the Homesick”, arising from Isaiah 40: 21-31. The biblical text will be read by Liz McDaniel. We will have a moment for children, hymns and music by the Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Nara Lee, and prayers. We will also celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion virtually. Have bread and cup nearby as we partake together.

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 31, 2021

The traditional baptismal liturgy of the United Methodist Church includes the following question: "Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?" A few weeks back, I said in a sermon that the Christian life was a continuing embrace and living out of the implications of our baptism. So, part of that involves our identifying evil in the world, and resisting it with all of the graces God gives us. And because evil, injustice and oppression present themselves in many different forms, we are called to be as deeply reflective and profoundly curious as we are to be determined and righteous.

In the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark, soon after his baptism and temptation, Jesus encounters a man “with an unclean spirit.” This man cried out when he saw Jesus, asking “What have you to do with us?” Jesus rebuked him, and spoke to the evil within him, telling it to vacate the man’s life. The man convulsed, and the spirit “crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.” This amazed those who witnessed the powerful love Jesus displayed that day.

Clearly, passages like this are hard to handle, and raise all kinds of questions about the interpretation of scripture. But they also invite us to ask questions about the nature of evil and our response to it. Remembering the baptism liturgy, we are called to keep an eye out to note evil when it presents itself, to stare it in the face, and to speak to it, resisting it with all of the graces God gives us. Practically, we may ask…what does that look like?

We will explore this on Sunday morning, as the sermon is titled “Deliver Us: A Primer on Speaking to Evil”. The Biblical text, Mark 1: 21-28, will be read by David McFarland. There will be a moment for children, prayers, and music led by our Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Nara Lee.

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 24, 2021

Years ago, Madeleine L’Engle wrote a poem titled “The Risk of Birth, Christmas 1973”. She painted a picture of the time and context in which Jesus was born, in relationship to the time of Christmas in 1973. Twice she referenced a comet slashing the sky. Earlier in 1973, scientists predicted a stunning appearance of the “comet of the century” around Christmas. However, only a faint spot of the comet appeared, and it was deemed a spectacular disappointment by many.

The word Epiphany may first bring to our minds the story of the magi following a great star in the sky, which led them to Jesus. This Sunday, we are reminded that epiphanies are more often not spectacular, in that way. In the Gospel reading this week (Mark 1:14-20), Jesus was walking alongside the Sea of Galilee. In the course of his walk, he invites four fishermen (Simon, Andrew, James and John) to follow him. There wasn’t any fanfare, but something in them was moved, likely in a way they could not put into words.

Epiphanies of where God may be calling us to grow sometimes come to us when we least expect them, and may feel more intuitive. Yet, we find ourselves seeing or beginning to consider our relationships with God and one another in a new way. Like with the first disciples, there isn’t a flash in the sky that illuminates all we seek. We are invited to not ignore, but nurture epiphany moments in ourselves and in our communities, and help create the beloved community that is rooted in God’s perfect love.

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 (with friend, Nicholas), prayer and reflection, and the reading of the scripture passage based on Mark 1:14-20 from Nicole and Donald Griffin. The sermon title is “Nurturing Epiphany Moments”, and there will be a moment of sharing from Maria Schmidt. 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 this Sunday.

Sunday January 17, 2021

Langston Hughes, African American poet perhaps best known for his poem which begins, “Hold fast to dreams…” had another poem which opens with a question: “What happens to a dream deferred?” Does it dry up, he wonders? Does it sag like a heavy load? Or does it explode? These are deeply powerful question which invites us to be curious and attentive to the heart of our faith and the faith of our hearts. What are your dreams? What is the state of your dreaming? Are you ever discouraged? Are you discouraged now?

Our nation will mark the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on this coming Monday, January 18. In our minds, we may hear the familiar sound of Dr. King’s voice as he proclaimed on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.” And clearly, Dr. King would have noted that, collectively, we have seen some elements of that larger dream fulfilled.

But events of this Wednesday past in Washington, DC, are impossible to separate from a growing meanness among us. Some of the language we heard carried racist overtones, and we are witnessing an increased willingness by some to resort to vicious words and even violence. And so, some have noted another sermon of Dr. King’s, delivered one month before his assassination in 1968, titled “Unfulfilled Dreams”. Though it might be tempting to see Dr. King as always confident, this sermon arises from a clear struggle with discouragement. In it, he compares life to Schubert’s “Unfinished Symphony” and says, “life is a continual story of shattered dreams.”

So we enter this Sunday of remembering Dr. King’s lofty dream at a time when our collective dreaming is on shaky ground. The sermon for Sunday is titled “The Determination of Deferred Dreams”. The Biblical texts are Joel 2: 28-32, read by the Hitchcock family, and John 1: 43-51, read by Beth and Alicia Rosales. We will be guided musically by our sanctuary singers, led by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Nara Lee. We will also have a time for children, prayers and hymns.

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 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.