December 8, 2011 – 1:25 pm
Have you ever noticed that your gas gauge is low, but then something unexpected comes up and you don’t make it to the gas station before running out of gas? The reality is that unexpected things happen all the time in life, and our debt that we thought we had control over can quickly overpower us. Instead of experiencing freedom and living for Christ, we find ourselves serving another master, unable to give ourselves fully to God. While we don’t want to live in constant fear of those unexpected situations, we can do our part in watching our gas gauges and knowing what we can afford now and what we might have to wait for. This Sunday, we will immerse ourselves in the story of a widow’s desperate situation because of her debt from 2 Kings 4:1-7, and see how she found freedom through her community and the power of God. So come join us on The Road to Financial Freedom as we exit to re-fuel so we too don’t find ourselves sitting on the side of the road, unable to be the disciples God has called us to be.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Tawny
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December 5, 2011 – 3:22 pm
What U.S. Department of Defense project was begun in 1973, was completed in 1993, is 95% accurate, and was released for civilian use in 1996 that forever changed how we move around our world? Can you name it? Come Sunday for the answer! But wait… there is more. Believe it or not there is a version that was released thousands of years prior to 1973 that is even more accurate? What is it? You’ll have to come on Sunday to find out! See you Sunday as we study Matthew 25:14-30 and continue our journey off debt highway and onto God’s Road to Financial Freedom!
Blessings,
Pastor Ben
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November 28, 2011 – 1:01 am
It is that time of year again! Shoppers are out in full force trying to take advantage of Black Friday deals, travelers are stuck in bumper to bumper traffic attempting to return home from Thanksgiving feasts, and my neighbor is busy transforming his front lawn and house into a winter wonderland of snow! He includes not just characters from Santa’s workshop but also carolers from the Dickens’ era, penguins and snowmen, and of course right in the middle of it all he mixes in a nativity scene! It is enough to make Clark Griswold of The National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation movie envious. But what was it like leading up to the first Christmas? We’ve heard the story hundreds of times and we think we know it by heart but do we really? I’m afraid that over time we’ve so overdramatized it and embellished it that perhaps we’ve missed some of its most important lessons. This Advent join us at St. Mark’s as we set out to explore the real story behind Christmas. Join us for our sermon series Star Trek: A Journey to Bethlehem and Beyond! This Sunday we will begin nine months before Christmas – in an out of the way place – with a shocking announcement from one of God’s messengers - Luke 1:26-38. “Now, Who Wants to be Mary?”
Blessings,
Pastor Ben
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November 21, 2011 – 1:01 am
The Christmas parade might be this Saturday, but don’t forget that before Christmas comes Advent. And before Advent comes… Christ the King Sunday where we celebrate the work of Christ that already took place and we look forward to Christ’s second coming and final reign. This Sunday is also the last Sunday in our sermon series Fear Factor: What’s Next? In the first two weeks, we explored the difficult subjects of heaven and hell. This week, we find ourselves in John 5:19-29, and so we turn our attention to eternal life. Have you ever read these words, and wondered “what in the world is he saying?” or hear Jesus’ talk about an Eternal Life NOW! and yet also a future reality and wonder, “Did Jesus even know what he was talking about?” Explore the subject of eternal life more deeply and celebrate Christ our Lord and King!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Tawny
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November 14, 2011 – 1:01 am
Today we will continue our sermon series Fear Factor: What’s Next? Last week we explored questions about Heaven. This week we will take a look at Hell. For centuries folks both inside as well as outside the church have debated and raised all kinds of questions about Hell. Artists and Authors have tried to depict what it is like. On the whole our thoughts about Hell have actually been shaped more by folklore than by Scripture. This Sunday we will take a look at what the Bible actually says, what Jesus teaches, and what we believe as United Methodists. Specifically, we will look at Luke 16:19-31. Join us as we seek to Put an END to Hell!
Blessings,
Pastor Ben
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November 7, 2011 – 1:01 am
What happens when you die? What happens to your body? What is heaven really like? Where is heaven? What do you do all day? Who will be there? Do we have anything to fear? Listen as we celebrate the saints who have gone before us and begin a 3 part sermon series entitled, Fear Factor: What’s Next? We will look at historical depictions and pop-culture descriptions of heaven. Then we will turn and search God’s Word (John 14 and Revelation 21 ) for answers. If you’ve ever wondered about heaven, hell, and eternal life, you will not want to miss the next three Sundays at St. Mark’s.
Blessings,
Pastor Ben
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October 30, 2011 – 11:59 pm
Have you ever looked at all of the prescribed maintenance suggestions in the owner’s manual for your vehicle? It takes a lot to keep a car drivable and in good repair. But, just doing maintenance and repair will not ultimately get you there – to your desired destination. There is still one more step you have to take! Listen as we conclude our Road to Financial Freedom Series and put our faith in drive! Together we will read and study Malachi 3:6-12. Don’t forget that this is Commitment Sunday. We will have an opportunity during worship to discern our commitment to God for 2012. What a gift it is to be able to respond to God’s generosity towards us! Let us commit individually and collectively to accelerating our joyful generosity. Let us Put It In Drive! Following worship we will participate in a ribbon cutting for the newly renovated St. Mark’s Park and enjoy a Financial Freedom Reception in the Triunda.
Blessings,
Pastor Ben
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October 9, 2011 – 11:59 pm
Life is a highway and we do ride it! This Sunday we begin a four part sermon series entitled, The Road to Financial Freedom. We will look at the current financial highway we are barreling down and talk about where it leads. For way too many of us it is debt highway and it leads to bondage and brokenness. But Scripture tells us that God wants us to be free – free to follow his lead and to pursue his will. So how do we get off of debt highway and onto The Road to Financial Freedom? Come find some answers, some help, and a new mapyou can follow on Sunday. We will study the story of The Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-26), listen as Jesus diagnoses his problem, and seek to learn from the remedy Jesus offers him. If you or someone you know is in financial bondage, you will not want to miss these next four Sundays. No matter where you may be on debt highway, please know that it is never too late to turn around and head in a new direction. Remember – with God all things are possible! Come and hear how to be set free!
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October 2, 2011 – 11:59 pm
Ever feel like you are running the rat race or at a minimum that you are running in the wrong direction most days? The apostle Paul did but then one day he ran smack dab into God when he least expected to and discovered that what he needed was to make a major course correction. So he stopped running the wrong race and instead turned and set out on the original Amazing Race toward life in Christ. Along the way he invited others to join him. This Sunday, as we conclude our Rules of Engagement sermon series, we will read Philippians 3:4b-4:1 and hear the invitation to lace up our shoes and join The Amazing Race. Come prepared to run!
Blessings,
Pastor Ben
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September 25, 2011 – 11:59 pm
Do you remember as a child playing dress-up, putting on crowns, waving around wands, and pretending you were the prince or princess of your own kingdom? Most of us eventually grew up, stopped dressing up, and left the magical fairy tale world of make believe behind. While we may have stopped wearing crowns, have we really outgrown the mentality or do most of us still live in our own little kingdoms? Do we still live with the idea that we are in charge and that we call the shots? In our text for Sunday - Philippians 2:1-13 – we are going to hear a call to leave our own kingdom behind and to enter into the Kingdom of God. The invitation will be to put down our crowns and follow after the example of Christ. You might call it a LIFESwap. Come Sunday and hear about life in a different kingdom with different rules and values. Come and learn that life in the Kingdom of God is so much better than any kingdom we might create!
Blessings,
Pastor Ben
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