Sunday, July 14, 2024

We've had some pretty serious storms recently. When have you experienced a storm, literal or spiritual, that you found really challenging? What was especially difficult? How did you find your way through?

Deep in the history of the Methodist movement comes a narrative from John Wesley himself. He had boarded a ship bound for America that was staffed by a group of Moravian Christians. Wesley noted their positive and resilient spirit. But during one particular testy time in the voyage, a storm arose, he writes, and I quote, “the sea broke over, split the main-sail in pieces, covered the ship, and poured in between the decks, as if the great deep had already swallowed us up.” During all of this, Wesley observed the steadiness of the Moravians, as they continued to sing through the travail. His English colleagues, unlike the Moravians, were terribly distressed. Later Wesley asked one of the Moravians, “Were you not afraid?” They replied, “Thank God, no.” This stalwart faith impressed Wesley.

In the Gospels, we read a story of Jesus on a boat with his disciples on the sea of Galilee. A storm arose, and the disciples were quite frightened. They awakened a sleeping Jesus, saying, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” Jesus’ response was, Mark tells us, to rebuke the winds, and to say, “Be silent! Be still!” The seas calmed, and Jesus asked the disciples why they were afraid.

In our worship service on Sunday, the sermon continues the series, “And God said, ‘Let There Be Stories.” This week’s sermon is titled, “It Was a Dark and Stormy Night.” It arises from Psalm 42:1-8; 11, which will be read by Mary Beth Hannah-Hansen, and Mark 4:35-41, which will be read by Kristen Hess. Our Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa, and accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs will sing “On Eagle’s Wings.” We’ll sing together, pray and have a time 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, or on livestream on Sunday at 10:30. To join online, visit www.smumc.church, and click on the Live Stream Banner.

Sunday, July 7, 2024

In the fall of 2019, a San Francisco couple named Medha and Vivek, recent MBA graduates from The Wharton School, developed an experience they call “Stories Over Meals.” Each month, they gather a group of individuals from varied backgrounds, identities and life experiences over a meal. At the meals, they always begin with a story prompt question. Previous prompts have included, “What would the current you tell the younger you?” and “How do you address your fears?” What story prompt would intrigue you at such a gathering?

Stories and Meals. It is an ancient pairing. In the Christian story, Jesus spent the last evening with the disciples celebrating the Seder meal. All the Gospels, with variations, tell the story of this meal, complete with warnings of betrayal and promises of divine presence in the breaking of bread.

We also remember that this “last supper” was itself an enactment of a more ancient meal, the Passover, which itself is rich with story. Toward the beginning of the meal, it is tradition, even now, for a child to ask the question, “Why is this night different from all other nights?” This query leads to the telling of the story of the Passover, and how the children of Israel were delivered from bondage. The storytelling includes even the food, as yeast-free (unleavened) bread is eaten to symbolize the haste with which God’s people were to begin their journey.

This is the storied background for the first sermon in the July series “And God said, ‘Let There Be Story.’” The sermon for this week, arising from Matthew 26: 17-30, is titled “Once Upon a Time: Once Upon a Meal.” The Gospel text will be read by Maria Schmidt. We will be led musically by the Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Gabriel Fanelli. Stephanie and Patrick Conklin will sing At the Table of the Lord by Jay Althouse. We will, as always, have a moment for children. We will, appropriately, celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion together.

If this is your first time at St. Mark’s, or if you are a long-standing part of our community, we look forward to connecting with you at this service, which begins at 10:30 in the sanctuary. To join online, visit www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream banner.

Sunday, June 30, 2024

Ned Steele, who served as a pastor at St. Mark’s from 2009-2015, is preaching in our worship this Sunday. He writes, “This Sunday's message is about hope. I want to suggest that hope is a gift we are given in our lives. This hope must be returned by us in as many ways as we are able, as often as we are able. And, if you have ever wished for a mash-up of the 15th chapter of the Book of Romans and Kool and The Gang's song ‘’Celebration,’ well then, this would be your Sunday!”

We are looking forward to hearing Ned’s sermon, “All that is Given.” The lessons from the Scriptures this Sunday are Romans 15: 1-6, 13, which will be read by Kristen Hess, and Matthew 6: 25-33, which Sue Sgambelluri will read. There will be a Moment for Mission brought by the United Women in Faith. We’ll be led musically by the Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Lois Leong. The choir will offer the introit, “As We Sing of Hope and Joy,” and for the anthem, will sing “Holy Spirit, Hope and Healer.” We’ll also have a moment for children.



If you are new to St. Mark’s, or are a long time part of our community, we look forward to connecting with you. Worship begins at 10:30 in the sanctuary. To join online, visit www.smumc.church, and click on the Live Stream banner.

Sunday, June 23, 2024

Our theme for Vacation Bible School, this week, has been Celebrating and Nurturing Community. When you hear the word “community”, what comes to mind? It may be where you live in a town, or a neighborhood, an apartment building, a dorm, or somewhere else. It may also be a school, a place you work, a team, a church, a group of friends, or a volunteer group.

In Sunday School, and Vacation Bible School, this week, we discovered that on the

St. Mark’s property, our community includes cool people to know (of all ages, backgrounds and talents), animals (including groundhogs, rabbits, foxes, deer, various birds, bugs and more), and trees and plants of all kinds. How might each of us, do our part, to nurture and celebrate our community? For, even the small things we do makes a difference.

In our Scripture passage this week, based on John 6:1-13, a huge crowd of people are following Jesus, and are in need of nourishment. Jesus asks his followers where they can find food for all of the people. Andrew finds a boy who has just a few loaves of bread and some fish, but says it is not come close to the amount of food they would need to feed thousands of people. However, Jesus asks everyone to sit down, gives thanks, and tells his disciples to distribute the food. After everyone had eaten, there were 12 baskets of bread left over.

Dr. Wilma Ann Bailey, one of my seminary professors years ago, notes that the church can sometimes be divided. Some people see themselves as activists, while others name themselves as focused on the spiritual. Dr. Bailey notes that these divisions should not exist. ”Those on the front lines of social justice must be spiritually empowered to do that work, lest they limit themselves to what appears humanly possible. Those who are spiritually focused need to be reminded that Jesus commands disciples to actively follow him.”

We will explore our next steps together this Sunday in worship. Children and youth will be participating in worship leadership. There will not be regular Sunday School this week. We will 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. Lois will also share a Bell Solo and Olive Sullivan will offer the Prelude. Children and Youth will help share our scripture passage. The sermon is titled “Celebrating and Nurturing Community”.

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, June 16, 2024

Do you remember a story, perhaps your own, in which faith seemed too small and insignificant for the challenge at hand? The first time I planted a garden, which I hoped would be full of beans and peas, corn and okra (yes, okra), I held the seeds in my hand and wondered how things so small could potentially produce large plants and tasty vegetables. Back then, I remembered that my grandfather, an avid gardener, showed me seeds for mustard plants. I wasn’t very impressed, because I wasn’t a fan of mustard or other greens. But he told me that Jesus had said these were the smallest of all seeds, yet were capable producing big plants. He said that was a lesson for our faith.

In the years and the decades that have followed, like many of you, I have had several challenging crises of faith. During each crisis, faith seemed tiny, flimsy, or even nonexistent. But if the parables of Jesus about seed and soil teach us anything, they help us know that there is a rhythm to the ways God moves in the world and in our lives. Sometimes, faith really is like a seed, and if treated with care, it can grow into something capable of giving shelter and nourishment to our hopeful souls and beloved communities.

Sometimes, during the crises, I wished that God could be more explicit. I suspect Jesus’ disciples felt something similar, because Jesus taught in parables rather than directly answering questions. These parables function as metaphors, but “metaphor” is a linguistic word, and may not seem helpful to someone struggling. It was the poet Jan Richardson who helped me see parables, especially this one, in a more dynamic way. She says, developing the theme, that we could better conceive of the “emptiness” we experience during crises as “dreams of the branches the seed contains.”

The sermon Sunday at St. Mark’s flows from that understanding of the biblical passages. The sermon, “The Mustard Seed Parable: A Dream of What Can Happen,” arises from Joel 2: 23-29, which will be read by Kathy Scheid, and Mark 4: 26-34, which will be read by Jonathan Michaelsen. The Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Lois Leong, will lead us musically. We’ll sing, pray and have a time for children.

If you are new to St. Mark’s, or you have been connected with our church for a long time, we look forward to seeing you in the sanctuary at 10:30. If you choose to join online, visit www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream banner.

Sunday, June 9, 2024

My grandfather, with whom I spent many of my daytime hours when I was a little fellow, had a well-honed habit of quoting scripture to me (and to anyone else who would listen.). One of his favorites was Proverbs 18:24b, which in the King James reads, “There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” More contemporary translations have it, “closer than your nearest kin.” When my grandfather spoke it, he heard the passage saying that the “friend” was God, and I understand that interpretation. Most students of the passage, however, hear it as saying that in the community of faith, there are earthly relationships that are more powerful even than “family”. Have you had the experience that some of your most profound connections are with people that are not, in the strict sense, family?

Once when Jesus was in an intense time of his ministry, he was teaching some demanding things. Someone came to Jesus during these moments and said, “Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you.” Jesus responded, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” He then follows that with “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” In this little question and response, Jesus moves to define what his ministry would impact the way we carry relationships. To be a follower of Jesus means that all our connections must be seen through the prism of that faith commitment. Our deep family, Jesus would say, are those who do the will of God.

In a day in which we see considerable strife around us, these words call us to reflect on what it means to be in relationship with others. The sermon at St. Mark’s on Sunday is titled, “Who Are My Siblings: A Reflection on Community in Christ.” The sermon flows from Psalm 133, which will be read by Amy Thomas, and Mark 3: 31-35, which will be read by Chris Hitchcock. During the service, we’ll also recognize graduates of high school and college who have connection with us. We will be led musically in the service by the Chancel Choir, which is led by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Lois Leong. We’ll sing together and have a moment for children.

We look forward to joining with us, either in the sanctuary at 10:30, or online. To do the latter, visit www.smumc.church, and click on the Live Stream banner.

Sunday, June 2, 2024

An article by Nadia Bolz Weber introduced me to Suleika Jaouad. She is a noted and award-winning author, artist and advocate for many. In her article “Consider the Lilies” she shares that, as a child of immigrants, she felt called to honor her parents’ sacrifices by making something of herself. She earned a full-ride to Princeton, and graduated with honors, while holding down two jobs.

A year later, at age 22, Jaouad was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, with a 35-percent chance of long-term survival, She began four years of treatment, and said “I decided rather than living every day as if it’s my last, I’ve shifted to a gentler approach of living every day as if it’s my first. I want to wake up and meet the day with the wonder of a newborn, to cultivate childlike qualities like curiosity and play.” She was also guided by the words of Jesus, in the Gospel of Matthew “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin.”

This Sunday, we enter into the story of Samuel, then a boy, living in the Temple. He was to be present for Eli, the priest, whose vision had faded. Yet, it is Eli who helps Samuel see that it is Yahweh who is calling him. Where might we, as individuals and as a community of faith, cultivate the wonder of faith, love and possibility that may lead us to discovering and embracing our Call?

When we gather for worship, we are invited to greet one another, and then the children will ring us into worship, with the bells. The Chancel Choir, directed by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs, will lead us in music. There will also be a Children’s Moment, and a Moment of Sharing from the Reconciling Ministries Team. We will pray and reflect. Beth Rosales will read the Lesson from the Hebrew Scriptures (which arises from 1 Samuel 3:1-10). We will also share in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, where all are welcome at the table. We are grateful for those who prepare and serve communion. The sermon is titled “Cultivating our Call, to Self and Community”.

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.

https://open.substack.com/pub/thecorners/p/considering-lilies-with-suleika-jaouad?r=192fw9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

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, May 26, 2024

Father Greg Boyle, who works with gang members in Los Angeles as they seek to change their lives, tells the story of Moreno. Moreno walked into Greg’s office after being released from a nine-month incarceration. After some initial playfulness, Moreno started to weep. His home and family life were still quite rough. Greg said to him, “I know you think you are in a hole, but really, you are in a tunnel leading toward the light. I can see it because I am taller than you.” I love the image, that there is a kind of comfort that helps us realize we are not in a hole, but rather, in a tunnel. There is a way through.

As we approach Trinity Sunday this week, in which we in Christian tradition reflect on the nature of God, I am reminded of a quote from the 14th century mystic and theologian, Meister Eckhart. He said, “It is a lie--any talk of God that does not comfort you." Many of us remember times of crisis when any comfort would have felt lifesaving. At the same time, most of us have found it is only at the point of discomfort that we begin to grow. So what is comfort after all?

In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as “another comforter.” In other words, the coming Holy Spirit will be a presence like Jesus. The word sometimes translated “comforter” means “one called along beside.” And this “comforter”, Jesus said, will guide us into all the truth, and that truth may not always feel comforting. Jesus calls us to take up the cross, to forgive our enemy, to be willing to leave the familiar and the safe for the sake of the Gospel. So, just what kind of comfort are we being invited to embrace?

Let’s chat about this on Sunday, as the sermon is titled, “Holy Comforter: The Grace of a Broken Heart.” It arises from Isaiah, 40: 1-5, to be read by Eleanor Lahr, and John 15:26-27; 16:4-13, to be read by Mike Sonneborn. The Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa, will lead us musically. We’ll have a moment for children as well.

We look forward to seeing you in the sanctuary at 10:30 on Sunday. If you wish to join online, visit www.smumc.church, and click on the Live Stream Banner.

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Have you witnessed a time of despair (read: desperation) in yourself or another, and to your surprise, saw it unfold in more hopeful ways? I wonder if you noted what was the first sign of that hope. Nicholas Wolterstorff is a theologian and philosopher who is best known for his book, Lament for a Son, written as he mourned the tragic death of his twenty-five year old son, Eric. He would write the following in that book: “I own my grief. I do not try to put it behind me, to get over it, to forget it. I do not try to dis-own it. If someone asks, ‘Who are you, tell me about yourself,’ I say–not immediately, but shortly, ‘I am one who lost a son.’ That loss determines my identity; not all of my identity, but much of it. Every lament is a love-song. Will love-songs one day no longer be laments?” It is as though, and maybe is exactly as though, that this despairing father moved toward hope as he allowed himself to embrace the love song that is grief.

That may seem an odd reflection to introduce a sermon for Pentecost Sunday. Indeed, we will look at the often-told story from Acts 2, where the disciples are gathered, and the Holy Spirit descends upon them. While the story is full of dramatic elements, one of the most dynamic is the observation that people of deeply diverse backgrounds can hear others speaking in their own languages.

The lectionary readings for Sunday, however, include a passage from Ezekiel in which the prophet is placed in a middle of a field full of very dry bones. The Lord asks the question, “Mortal, can these bones live?” The prophet is told to “prophesy” to the bones, calling on them to “hear the Word of the Lord.” What follows is a two-stage response in which, first, the bones begin to assemble, and are covered with flesh, and secondly, the breath of life comes into them. As the Lord continues to speak to Ezekiel, he learns that this is a testimony that against all odds, the people who are in exile will return to the land God gave them. In the face of despair, the story is a marker that the people are called forth to cherish a hope that God is not finished with them.

We’ll chat about this in worship at St. Mark’s on Sunday as we remember the Day of Pentecost. The sermon, “Can Dry Bones Live?: A Sermon of Pentecostal Hope”, arises from Ezekiel 37: 1-14 , which will be read by Chris Haynes, and Acts 2: 1-21, to be read by Cooper Tucker. Theo Harrah will sing a solo, and the Chancel Choir, accompanied by Lois Leong, will lead us in hymns. There will be a moment for children, prayers and hymns.

We look forward to connecting with you, whether you are a newcomer to St. Mark’s, or a long-time member. Service begins at 10:30 in the sanctuary. You may also choose to connect online by visiting www.smumc.church and clicking on the Live Stream banner.

Sunday, May 12, 2024

For the last few years, singing the hymn “Draw the Circle Wide” (by Gordon Light; Arr. Mark A. Miller) has become a familiar response to both General Conferences and Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church. Some have lifted their voices as expressions of joy and hope, others with tears and feelings of lament and loss, and others, still, with mixed feelings that tumble over each other in the heart. As part of a global denomination, an Annual Conference, and a local church (all with great and complex diversity), how might we draw the circle wide?

How might we draw the circle wider, still, in our call to nurture, love, and care for all of God’s children, and the whole of creation? For, if we feel we deserve it or not, God still continues to have faith in us. This Sunday is recognized as Ascension Sunday. In Acts 1:1-11, Jesus assures his disciples, that even if he is not physically with them, God’s Spirit will come upon them and be with them. They must be patient and wait in Jerusalem.

It can be hard to wait, but they do. Then, before their eyes, a cloud appears and takes Jesus up to heaven and out of their sight. They are still gazing up at the sky, when suddenly two individuals in white robes are standing by them. They say to the disciples, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?” (Acts 1:11) As Biblical scholar, F. Scott Spencer notes “Their focus is to be outward, not upward.” That is to be our focus, as well.

We will explore this more in worship, on Sunday. Early in the worship service, we will greet one another, and children are invited to ring us into worship with the bells. We will pray and reflect, sing hymns, and share a Children’s Moment. The intergenerational Chimes Choir (directed by Lois Leong) will play “Jesus Loves Me”. Jonathan Michaelsen will lead our Call to Worship and Jeff Huber will offer a Moment of Sharing about CASA. The Chancel Choir will lead us in music, accompanied by Lois Leong. Stephanie Conklin with share a solo. The scripture passage (Acts 1:1-11) will be read by Grace Hillman. The sermon title is “Draw the Circle Wide, and Draw it Wide Still”.

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 live stream.

Sunday, May 5, 2024

In the life of faith, one of the great callings of our lives is the art of dealing with fear. Fear is a human reality we cannot escape, and for long ages has usefully served to warn us of impending danger. Frankly, there are frightening things that really happen. Listening to fear in those moments wisely allows us to take vital, lifesaving action. At the same time, giving over to fear as the dominant motivating force in our lives can lead us to run into hiding, engage in unholy fights, or freeze dead in our tracks. How can we allow our fear to guide us to more sacred places?

Gareth Higgins grew up in Northern Ireland during the “Troubles,”, that period of violent conflict between Catholics and Protestants. Years later, long after he lived in more peaceful times, he found himself dealing with issues caused by PTSD reactions to events from his youth. Working with this, Gareth tells us in his book, How Not to Be Afraid, he realized that there was a way to allow the fear to help us tell more loving and sacred stories.

In the Christian Scriptures, the First Letter of John was written to a community in need of deeper connection with God and each other. In particular, the community’s fear was encroaching upon its loving connection. The writer of the letter wanted to be clear that in real love, there is no fear. In fact, “perfect love casts out fear.” Fear is overcome in the power of community. And as Mary Oliver wrote, when fear lifts its thumb, “We are so alive.”

We’ll talk about this in worship on Sunday, as the sermon is titled “Lifting the Thumb of Fear.” It arises from I John 4: 11-21, which will be read by Sue Sgambulleri. The Chancel Choir, directed by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs, will lead us musically. We will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion, and have a time for children.



If you are new to St. Mark’s, or a long time member of our community, we look forward to connecting with you. We worship in person in the sanctuary at 10:30.

Sunday, April 28, 2024

This week at St. Mark’s, we are keeping in mind and heart our Appalachia Service Project team that has travelled to Johnson City, Tennessee. There they are working with a local family to make their home warmer, dryer and more accessible. ASP got its start through the inspiring work of a United Methodist pastor named Glenn “Tex” Evans. During his thirteen years as director at Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky, Tex witnessed a deep level of poverty. In 1969, he recruited fifty youth and adults volunteers to help repair homes in Barbourville, Kentucky. By the end of the summer, four families had warm homes in which to live, and fifty individuals had experienced the power of loving connection and useful work.

Serving challenges old assumptions, and creates new worlds. In the case of ASP, Tex was able to challenge prevailing myths about the kinds of things that interest young people, and to confront myths that surround people in poverty. It is, in fact, that the greatest creativity occurs in the intersection of seemingly contradictory realities. As Wendell Berry has taught us, “It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings.”

Jesus clearly saw a future for the disciples in which they would be creatively blessing the world around them. He told them that they were to be salt, taking away the blandness that they encountered. He also said that they were the light of the world, and were to bring rays of hope to all around them. On Sunday at St. Mark’s, we’ll engage this, as the sermon is titled, “Serving as an Act of Creation,” arising from Matthew 5: 13-16. The text will be read by James Thomas, who has taken leadership for the ASP team this week. He and other ASP volunteers will bring a report about the work that they accomplished this week. We’ll also receive our latest class of new members into the full fellowship of the Church. We’ll be led musically by the Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs. One of our choir members, Ashley Ruckman will sing “My House” from “Peter Pan”, written by Leonard Bernstein.

If you are new to St. Mark’s, or have connected with us for a long time, we look forward to having you join on Sunday. Worship starts at 10:30 in the sanctuary. To connect online, visit www.smumc.church, and click on the Live Stream banner.

Sunday, April 21, 2024

One day, a farmer spied a little sparrow lying on its back in the middle of the field. The farmer stopped his plowing, looked down at the frail bird and asked, “Why are you lying upside down like that?” “I heard the sky is going to fall today.” replied the bird. The old farmer chuckled. “And I suppose your spindly little legs can hold up the sky?” “One does what one can,” replied the sparrow. This little story evokes some questions as we approach Creation Care Sunday at St. Mark’s: What is our role as people of faith called to be stewards of creation? Can we do enough to make a difference in our world?

Let’s first acknowledge that biblical interpretation matters. In Genesis 1:26-28, where we read that we are created in the image of God, the word to describe human relationship to creation is “dominion,” For centuries, this was understood to mean that humanity could exploit creation in any way it chose. More recent and more wise translation sees the relationship as being more a matter of stewardship. We cultivate and responsibly care for creation, and we thereby realize its vast ability to nurture and sustain human existence. We are still learning what this stewardship will really mean for all of us.

After the birth of his son in April 2020, Bill Weir began writing a series of Earth Day letters for his child to read in 2050, weaving concern and wonder into a resource for other parents. This conversation with his child inspired his book, Life As We Know It (Can Be). He especially wants his son to know that opinion polls that show people do not care about the environment are wrong. In fact, there are many allies “out there.” They just do not know how to start conversations or evoke change. That sounds familiar.

In 1991, New Zealander Shirley Erena Murray wrote the hymn “Touch the Earth Lightly”, in part, to address the negative environmental impact that French nuclear testing in the Pacific would have in the region. The hymn’s title, taken from an Aboriginal phrase, speaks to the way native people viewed creation as being in partnership with humanity. We’ll take this phrase as a titled to the sermon Sunday in the service which witnesses to the call to be good stewards of creation. The sermon arises from Genesis 1: 26-31, which will be read by Charlie Matson. Charlie will also tell the congregation about a budding project for solar power at St. Mark’s. We’ll be led musically by the Chancel Choir, which is led by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Lois Leong. We’ll have a moment for children, hymns and prayers.

If you are new to St. Mark’s, or have connected with us for a long time, we look forward to having you join on Sunday. Worship starts at 10:30 in the sanctuary. To connect online, visit www.smumc.church, and click on the Live Stream banner.

Sunday, April 14, 2024

This year, St. Mark’s United Methodist is seventy years old. We’ll be reflecting on different themes as we move through this year, and it is fitting, that in April, we are concentrating on “creation”. The eclipse this past Monday surpassed the expectations of many, even those of us who knew this was going to be a remarkable moment. It was a time in which creation offered a stunning surprise, as we saw the sun and moon dance together. During those moments, all of creation, from the sounds of birds to the cries of coyotes, offered to us a witness of the power of connection and transformation. The fact that this occurred during the Easter season, which already harmonizes with the greening of the earth, reminds us that there are many kinds of transformational times and spaces. Some of these even involve suffering.

In the resurrection narrative in Luke 24, the disciples were told that the Risen Christ must first suffer. That is, resurrection is necessarily preceded by suffering. In the eighth chapter of Romans 8, the Apostle Paul observes that creation itself groans with all of us, even as it eagerly awaits the longed-for resurrection. Our faith does not proclaim that goodness and resurrection magically happen. Rather, we learn that the Divine One is working even in our suffering, and even in the midst of creation’s groaning, to bring about the grace of the new creation.

Jan Richardson is a contemporary poet and pastor in the United Methodist Church. On December 2, 2013, she lost her husband, singer and songwriter Garrison Doles. In the midst of her grieving, she continued her longstanding custom of writing blessings. These were published in her book, The Cure of Sorrows, and her reflections continue in her book, Sparrow: A Book of Life and Death and Life. She would write, “I have found the most compelling repairs are the ones that make themselves visible, that leave evidence of the breakage and also of the imagination by which the breakage becomes transformed. Such repairs are always provisional, imperfect, and ongoing. Like a nest, they involve continual mending. They ask for a willingness to keep remaking what is perpetually at risk of falling apart. It is this remaking by which a home, and a life, may come: not in spite of what has gone before, but because of it.”

We’ll talk about this in worship on Sunday morning at St. Mark’s, as the sermon is titled, “The Groaning of Creation and the Promise of Resurrection.” The sermon arises from Luke 24:36b-48, which will be read by Jerry Arvesen, and Romans 8:18-25, which will be read by Laura Baich. We will 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 moment for children.

We look forward to connecting with you whether this is your first time with us, or if you have a long connection with St. Mark’s. We meet in the sanctuary at 10:30. If you choose to join online, visit www.smumc.church and click on the Livestream banner.

Sunday, April 7, 2024

When was the last time you saw something that filled you with wonder? By all counts, an opportunity is upon us, and many are intrigued. People will be coming to Bloomington in large numbers on Monday, April 8, to witness four minutes of a total eclipse of the sun. We are told that so many people will be coming that schools and many businesses will be closed. We anticipate crowded roads, and local residents are encouraged to travel as little as possible, and to keep gas tanks filled. We also are told to expect interruptions to internet and cell phone service. All of a sudden, landline phones will be popular again, at least for a few hours. We humans go to great lengths to see something wonderful.

Eclipses, as unique as they are, are hardly new. Thousands of years ago, a Hebrew prophet named Joel spoke of a “Day of the Lord” that would come to Israel. On this day, people would see “the sun turn to darkness and the moon to blood.” The Day of the Lord refers, in part, to a time in which consequences come to Israel due to covenantal unfaithfulness. But more positively, the “Day of the Lord” also refers to a unique divine movement which brings salvation and blessing to all who call upon God’s name. Prophets like Joel, Walter Brueggemann notes, see an alternative future to the existing broken social reality, and the Day of the Lord signals the arrival of that new future. For Joel, these signs were full of wonder.

Ancient people of varied religious traditions had long noted eclipses and, like the Hebrews, interpreted them in two distinct ways. For some, the eclipse meant something ominous coming to the earth. For others, the eclipse was a time to become deeply reverent, and to connect with the divine energy that was bringing sacred moments to the world. On Monday, we’ll be invited to see how we will respond.

Let’s talk about this Sunday at St. Mark’s, on the day before the eclipse. The sermon is titled “The Sun Shall Turn to Darkness.” It arises from Joel 2: 21-32, which will be read by Tom Shafer. We’ll be led musically by the Chancel Choir, led by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Lois Leong. We’ll have a moment for children, sing together, and pray for local and global concerns. As a gift, we’ll also have protective glasses for all who attend so that they may more safely view the eclipse.

Whether you are new to St. Mark’s or have a longstanding connection with the church, we look forward to seeing you at 10:30 on Sunday in the sanctuary. If you choose to connect online, visit www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream banner.