September 18, 2011 – 11:59 pm
Have you looked at our vision for St. Mark’s lately? I have, and it is absolutely ridiculous! We want to make disciples, transform lives of children and youth, update our facilities, relieve hunger in our community and around the world, and launch an alternative worship service. Whew! I get tired just thinking about that list. It is really an impossible vision…if we try to do it alone. Yet, in our scripture passage for this Sunday, Philippians 1:21-30, we hear Paul’s encouraging word to the Philippians Church: “strive side by side with one mind for the faith of the Gospel.” Despite the suffering he is experiencing, he is joyful and passionate for God’s work. It won’t be easy, but if we labor TOGETHER for the Gospel, our unrealistic vision is indeed possible. What is your part in our vision?
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Tawny
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September 4, 2011 – 11:59 pm
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, people of all ages: we have an exciting announcement to make! Reality TV is coming to St. Mark’s. Starting this Sunday with the hit series Rules of Engagement we will experience a wonderful year of Reality TV. For more on this announcement join us on Sunday as we study Romans 13:8-14 and kickoff our fall season.
Blessings,
Pastor Ben
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August 28, 2011 – 11:59 pm
This Sunday our Hot Summer Reads Series starts to really heat up as we encounter the story of Moses and The Burning Bush(Exodus 3:1-15). For many Moses is a big time biblical hero. We hear his name and the image of Charlton Heston in the movie The Ten Commandments comes to mind. But do you know Moses’ backstory? Do you know about his checkered past? In reality he is actually a most unusual suspect for God to use to deliver God’s people. Or is he? What kind of person does God typically call and use to deliver God’s people? Come Sunday as we learn about The Usual Suspects God calls to deliver his people out of bondage and suffering. Who knows – maybe even you are a likely suspect!
Blessings,
Pastor Ben
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August 21, 2011 – 11:59 pm
We continue our Hot Summer Reads sermon series with the second half of Joseph’s story. Last week we read how a family was torn apart by jealousy, revenge, and the ultimate deception, and Pastor Ben challenged the congregation to examine ourselves and identify places where we have feuds within our own relationships. We will now turn to Joseph’s Secret Identity, a heartwarming tale of how one man’s reunion with his family saved the life of a nation -Genesis 45:1-15. The reality is that Joseph isn’t the only one with a secret identity, but once we come clean about who we are, we can begin to grow into who God wants us to be. By understanding how Joseph was able to forgive his brothers, we will consider how we might begin the hard work of reconciliation in our own relationships.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Tawny
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Pastor Tawny??!
August 14, 2011 – 11:59 pm
We begin a three week sermon series entitled Hot Summer Reads with a story from Genesis 37:1-28 - Family Feud: a family torn apart by jealousy, revenge, and the ultimate deception . In week two we will look at the conclusion to the story – a heartwarming tale of how one man’s reunion with his family saved their life. (Genesis 45:1-15) The series will conclude on August 28th with the story of Moses’ encounter with the burning bush. (Exodus 3:1-15 ) If you think it is hot outside wait until you see how hot things get in these three stories! Listen, as we explore the ‘fun’ in the dysfunctional dynamics of Jacob’s family and hear a call to reconciliation.
Blessings,
Pastor Ben
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August 7, 2011 – 11:59 pm
Psalm 126, Habakkuk 2:1-2 , and John 15:1-4
Author, speaker, and workshop/retreat leader Enuma Okoro shares her thoughts on The Discipline of Dreaming.
Enuma was born in the United States and raised in Nigeria, Ivory Coast and England. She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University Divinity School where she served as Director for the Center for Theological Writing. She has served as a Spiritual Formation Leader for seminarians and continues to lead worship and retreats for both youth and adults. Her writing has been featured in ABC News Good Morning America, Christianity Today, The UpperRoom Disciplines, as well as many others. To read more about Enuma, click here..
The Discipline of Dreaming
“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.”
Did you know that the story of Jesus’ multiplying the bread and fish is the only miracle story found in all four Gospel accounts? It must have been an important one for the early Christian disciples! In this week’s lesson, Matthew 14:13-21 , Jesus displays his power by feeding over 5000 men, plus women and children. While it is easy to see how God’s authority is displayed in this miracle, this Sunday we will look deeper into this story to see also God’s love and compassion and how that ties into our commission to love our neighbors. Taking this passage alongside the Gospel texts for the Last Supper, we will explore how communion is both a reminder of God’s love and a commission to give that love to others. Listen as we experience together A Love that Satisfies!
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Usually when we think of heaven, images of mansions and gold streets come to mind, but in our passage this week, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 , Jesus presents a strikingly different picture of the Kingdom of Heaven. Instead of harps and angels, we are told the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed and a little bit of yeast, two ordinary and unlikely objects. It seems that God can multiply the ordinary and unexpected to bring about this kingdom. In His parables we see that the Kingdom of Heaven is not something just far away, but is happening right here, right now, and we (yes ordinary, small and unexpected as we are) can be a part of it. And while it isNot Your Fairytale Heaven, this kingdom is worth giving up your whole life to seek after.
Grace and Peace,
Pator Tawny
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Not only do kids say the darndest things, they also have a knack for asking the darndest questions. But they aren’t the only ones. We adults do it too, especially when it comes to matters of faith. Listen, as we explore the question, Where is God? To guide our search for answers we will read Psalm 139: 1-16 , 23-24 as we Hardly Look For God.
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Do you like to play and or dig in the dirt? We are going to do just that! In the lesson, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, which is often referred to as the Parable of the Sower , Jesus tells about a sower who went out to sow some seed. In that spirit, we are going to sow some seed in some various soil conditions and ponder which soil is likely to produce the greatest yield. Why? Well, it is an apt analogy for describing the condition of one’s soul. God is constantly sowing seed. God is consistently sharing Good News and his will for our lives but is your soul in a condition to receive it and act upon it? That is an important assessment to make. If your soul is not, maybe it is time to get dirty and do a little soul prep! Listen as we dig into these rather Seed-y and Soil-y Matters !
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