WORSHIP FOCUS:

"Baptized with Fine Wine"

On this Baptism of our Lord weekend, we take a moment to reflect upon Jesus' baptism and our own. Yet our main reading this weekend is about the Wedding at Cana, which seems an odd choice. What does Jesus performing his first miracle of turning water into wine have to do with baptism? This weekend, we reflect upon how the Wedding at Cana and baptism are linked and how both reveal the glory and abundance of God. 

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Patrick Fish

SPECIAL MUSIC: 

Since the Gospel reading this week focuses on the Wedding at Cana, the special music for our worship will add to the "wedding vibe." This Sunday's music will feature pieces commonly chosen for weddings not just here at St. Mark’s, but all over the world: 

"Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring" by J. S. Bach

"The Gift of Love" by Hal H. Hopson

"Allegro Maestoso" by G. F. Handel

COMMUNION

To fully participate, please have a cracker or piece of bread, plus wine or juice, available for Communion.

WORSHIP FOCUS: 

"Star Search"

Sermon for the Epiphany of our Lord

by Bishop Yehiel Curry

"In our quest for answers, we often look to the cosmos (somewhere 'up there') for hope - searching far and wide for what we think we need, the 'next big thing' that will propel our ministry forward and balance our budgets for another year. We search far and wide, and we miss the Christ in our own communities that shines brightly in our midst.' "—Bishop Curry

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Bishop Yehiel Curry

SPECIAL MUSIC

Kristin Young

COMMUNION

To fully participate, please have a cracker or piece of bread, plus wine or juice, available for Communion.

Please download the Order of Worship at https://bit.ly/3enKw5D to follow the readings, prayers, and carols.

Wrap up your Christmas week with a special “Christmas Story Sunday” service. Watch the livestreamed service from the comfort of home (in your jammies and robe, if you like!) and listen to the retelling of the birth story through a children’s storybook and the beautiful piano duo artistry of Rosemary Hauser and Kristin Young. Let yourself truly feel the joy of Christ's coming to be among us.

We invite you to participate in communion from home. Have bread or crackers, plus wine or juice, available. St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table!

WORSHIP FOCUS:

"Advent 4: Joy"

Experience the telling of the story of the light coming into the world through the multi-media presentation of Joseph Martin's Christmas cantata "Tapestry of Light." The traditional melodies and carols woven throughout, along with pre-recorded orchestral accompaniment, images on the screens, candle lighting, and readers, will warm your heart. Come, experience the gift of Christmas through this beautiful music. You will be filled with the joy that God desires for all the world.

"Tapestry of Light: A Celtic Christmas Celebration"

by Joseph M. Martin

The Lion's Voice Choir

Kristin Young, director

Download the Order of Worship here.

COMMUNION

To fully participate, please have a cracker or piece of bread, plus wine or juice, available for Communion.

WORSHIP FOCUS: 

Advent 3: Love

COVID positivity rates rising. Gun violence in schools. 900 people fired over Zoom. This is the news we hear, and it leaves us feeling empty and joyless. This Saturday, we will hear God's promises and response to the despair of this world. God proclaims: 'I will provide and give you the living water so that you can rise above the darkness.' This Sunday, we will be lifted up by our young people proclaiming the gospel through the Christmas program. All will leave joyful and strengthened to share Christ's love in the world. 

Download the Order of Worship here.

CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

"From Bethlehem to Aurora"

SPECIAL MUSIC: 

Men's Handbell Choir, Glory Ringers Handbell Choi

WORSHIP ASSISTANT

Amy Runge

COMMUNION

To fully participate, please have a cracker or piece of bread, plus wine or juice, available for Communion.

WORSHIP FOCUS: 

Advent 2: Peace

Ezekiel 37:1-14

How foolish this must have looked: the Lord's prophet Ezekiel standing in the middle of a pile of dead bones. God calls us to believe without seeing because the Lord’s words always make room for hope. And it is hope that brings us back to life. Hope rises from our bones and chooses to believe, despite how it is, and this hope will lead us to peace.

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Charisse Jensen

SPECIAL MUSIC: 

Lion's Voice Choir, Kristin Young (Sunday)

WORSHIP ASSISTANT

Kevin Warns

COMMUNION

To fully participate, please have a cracker or piece of bread, plus wine or juice, available for Communion.

WORSHIP FOCUS

"The Hope We Need"

How do you respond to defeat and despair? How do you move on after experiencing devastation? The prophet Jeremiah is responding to a people who are struggling and searching for answers. His message is one God's people needed then and one we, as God's people, need now. Jeremiah proclaims the important message: Even in the last place you want to be, God speaks, acts, and provides. Even in the last space you want to find yourself, you can draw on resources for God promises God will always be available. 

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Patrick Fish

SPECIAL MUSIC

Lion's Voice Choir; Bradley Reimer and Laura Chen, percussion

WORSHIP ASSISTANT

Don Friend

COMMUNION

To fully participate, please have a cracker or piece of bread, plus wine or juice, available for Communion.

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Shine, Jesus, Shine"

Where and how do you experience darkness? Where do you experience fear, a sense of defeat, a sensation of overwhelming opposition? How might God shine the light into that situation?

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Charisse Jensen

SPECIAL MUSIC

Glory Ringers Handbell Choir, Roar Teen

WORSHIP ASSISTANT

Miriam Hicks

COMMUNION

To fully participate, please have a cracker or piece of bread, plus wine or juice, available for Communion.

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Compelling Worship Matters"

Repentance. Punishment. Anger. Hate. Not words we like to associate with God, and yet they are words spoken by the prophet Amos to God's people in this week's scripture reading. BUT, this isn't a passage solely on judgment nor is the takeaway to preach on fire and brimstone. This is God who cares deeply about injustice and cares deeply that God's people are connected to society. Good worship is compelling worship, and it leads to justice. Good worship doesn't stop at the doors. Good worship sends us out into the world to care for the vulnerable and voiceless. This weekend, we remember worship is always connected to justice. 

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Patrick Fish

SPECIAL MUSIC

Sunday School children, FDL students, Roar, Roar Teen, and Lion's Voice Choir

SPECIAL PRESENTATION

Adventure Bibles presented to 2nd graders

WORSHIP ASSISTANT

Anna Gonzales

COMMUNION