September 2024 Lion's Roar

 I pray that you had a wonderful summer with lots of fun and time with loved ones.  Hopefully we all come back to the school year routine all ready and refreshed.

As things start to fall into a new pattern, it is also important to not get so busy that you and I do not take time out for what truly matters.  Spending time with family and friends.  Deepening our relationship with God and with others at St. Mark’s.  Loving our neighbors through CHOW, Canteen, and other outreach ministries.

If it has been a while, we’d love to see you again at St. Mark’s this fall.  Nursery and Sunday School will start back up on September 8th.  We’ll also have our monthly youth group gathering that afternoon from 4p-6p.  A new Bible study will begin on Tuesday, September 10th with our friends at All Saints’.  Our women’s brunch bunch will also kick off on the 10th at 8:30a in the Undercroft.

If you have only been attending occasionally, this might be the perfect time to increase your attendance.  Even a small step, such as going from once a month to (say) twice a month, is a positive move in the right direction.  And, if you are a regular attender, consider how you might up your involvement with St. Mark’s.  Our Canteen ministry, our Altar Guild ministry, and our Corps of Lectors are always welcoming new members.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"The Curse and the Cure" *a sermon for 4 Lent, 10 March 2024*

  “Snakes!   Why does it always have to be snakes?”             These words, of course, come from that daring adventurer, Dr. Indiana Jones.   Going through a booby-trapped cavern– no problem!   Taking a leap of faith across a giant chasm- piece of cake!   Nothing can stop Indy . . . except for snakes!   Indy speaks for many of us.   An estimated 36% of Americans are afraid of snakes.   I know I am!   Noah could have left them off the Ark.             So it is no wonder that a plague of poisonous snakes causes panic in the wilderness.   A pit of snakes causes sheer terror in the Israelites’ camp.   To put this scene in context a little bit, Israel is on their way to the Promised Land.   Moses has led them out of Egypt to freedom.   Then the whining begins: are we there yet?             No, that is not really what they say.   God’s people start to complain.   Where is the food?   What about water, we need water?   With miles and miles of wilderness ahead, things take on a differ
Read more

March 2024 Lion's Roar

I heard a most welcome sound the other day.   The wonderful chirping of bird song greeted me.   A sure sign the Spring is on its way!   (I sure hope anyway).   I love Spring with the beautiful flowers and the songs of baby birds.   Spring always reminds me of the beauty of God’s creation.   Most welcome after the darkness and gloom of winter. Another part of Spring that I really enjoy is the longer periods of daylight.   The word Lent actually comes from a Germanic root that means “the lengthening of days.”   As you and I enjoy more sunlight, we are also given a foretaste of the end of Lent’s journey.   There is hope, there is new and unending life.   There is the power of resurrection! Jesus’ power over sin and death is earthshattering.   You and I, through trust in Jesus, are set into right relationship with God.   The early church believed that Jesus’ resurrection is so transforming, so powerful that one day cannot contain the celebration.   The Easter season, therefore, lasts f
Read more

"Not Who You Think" a sermon for 2 Lent, 25 February 2024

            “Finding your Roots” is a favorite show of mine.   Genealogy fascinates me and I love to see the featured celebrities learn more about their identities.   Sometimes there can be huge shocks as stories are uncovered.   Julia Roberts, for example, learned that she is not Julia Roberts but Julia Mitchell! Our Gospel has a similar shocking identity revelation.   To back up a little, Jesus and His companions are at Caesarea Philippi.   Jesus asks them about who the people say He is.   The obvious answers come fast: Elijah, a prophet, or even a resurrected John the Baptist. Jesus then gets more personal.   He asks His followers who THEY say He is.   Peter is quick to speak up for the group.   “You are the Christ!”   Jesus tells them not to tell anyone.   Jesus also uses the moment to teach about what it truly means for Him to be the “Christ.” Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew for Messiah, or “Anointed one.”   Based on the Prophets, the Anointed one would be the
Read more