Worship Focus

"Jonah - Our merciful God of outrageous grace" 

What happens when we are asked to do something we really would rather not do? This weekend we hear about the prophet Jonah. Most remember the tale of the whale. That wasn't the only time he tried to avoid what God asked him to do.  

How can we react to God's love? 

This weekend is the start of our response to God's light we've seen in the stewardship project. Also, Jacob Everly is being brought on Sunday for baptism. And there are many who will be reacting from elections. May we respond to each other with the love of God in Christ. 

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table!  We hope that you will join us.

Worship Focus

"God Cares for the Widow" 

Today God sends Elijah to help a poor widow. Elijah asked her for some food. She had nothing. And by a miracle her jar of flour was not empty. She gave Elijah some food. God provided for her. 

When we have nothing left, how is it that we are able to go on? 

When tragedy strikes, how can you go on? 

When the unexpected happens, how can God's providing yet be seen? 

This weekend we remember those who have died in the past year. For each person, a bell will toll and a candle will be lit. In the narthex there will be a table of votive candles that anyone can light in remembrance of a loved one.  

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table!  We hope that you will join us.

Worship Focus

"That's Not How Any of This Works!"

Those times when you are listening to someone explain a thing or watching people do something and you just have to scratch your head and wonder whether he or she or they actually know that the boat has been missed? 

This Sunday, as we celebrate the Reformation and as eight young people Affirm their baptism, we are going to see how Solomon, Jesus, and Martin Luther responded to such situations with people of God. Then we will see how we can follow any or all three of their examples when we see it today.  

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table!  We hope that you will join us.

Worship Focus

"Unconditional Love" 

No strings attached. Ever? Is that really possible? How can we ever love unconditionally?  

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

St. Mark’s welcomes all to the table!  We hope that you will join us.

Worship Focus

"Is it a Boon or a Boom?"

This week we hear Hannah's plea to be a mother and her response when her request is granted. Her prayer is full of gratitude and promise. Not unlike that of the yet to come Magnificat of Mary, it speaks of God empowering the faithful from their place of social inferiority while pulling down those whose own power and authority has replaced their faith, respect, and sometimes common sense.  

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Golden Calf" 

Moses is away for more than a month. He’s up there on retreat with God. People put pressure on Aaron, urging him to do something, anything. They want a god they can see, and they want it now! Caving in, Aaron collects gold jewelry from the people, melts it down, and crafts a golden calf. Then he puts it on an altar and announces a festival. 

How do you think Moses, and of course God, reacts? 

What do we do when we cannot see God acting fast enough for us? This is the story and song of humans.  

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Family Hold Back"

What traditions does your family have for meals? 

Were they different at special events or holidays? 

Jesus ate with his disciples all the time. We don't hear a lot of stories about the everyday meals. However, Passover, specifically the one he knew would be his last, gave us tradition born of older tradition. This weekend we look at that tradition and how it fits both special events and everyday meals.  

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"No one likes a know it all dreamer" 

When one acts against another, it can start a cycle of violence. That's how wars start. One group invades another's turf. Frequently, the other then responds. Before long those two sides are at war. Our personal lives are like that too. People say, don't get mad, get even. God's people too can be caught up in that same back and forth cycle. Joseph's story is about acting in a different way.  

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Like the Stars in the Sky" 

God makes big promises. The one God made with Abram seemed impossibly big. Abram believed God's promise instantly. In fact, Abram is known for his belief and trust in God. Do we follow Abram's lead? Can we? How and where does it lead for us?  

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"In the Beginning" 

The summer sermon series on worship had come to an end. Now that we are moving into Fall, we return to the Narrative Lectionary for the final year of the four-year cycle. Remember the Narrative Lectionary was created to provide a way to tell more of the Biblical story than does the traditional Revised Common Lectionary. Focused on "story," this week we begin with Creation, specifically one of the two biblical versions of the creation of humanity.  

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Worship Through the Moments of Life" 

We've talked about how our weekly worship works throughout the summer. 

Is once a week enough to be gathered as the family of God, hear the Story of God's work in Jesus Christ, be strengthened through God's grace, and respond to God's gifts with celebration and Spirit-guided service? The early followers of Christ did not think it was enough. For the first century church worship was incorporated as part of a regular meal, often daily. For centuries, the most devoted worshiped 3-7 times each day, following a schedule called the Divine Office. It would be difficult in our modern world to be so devoted to worship. 

This weekend we will look at some of the ways we meet God in formal worship other than our weekly corporate worship.  

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Worship, Serve, Repeat" 

The Infinity Sign can represent coming into worship, then going out to serve the world in Christ's name.  

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Bloodiest Wedding Ever"

- What's the appropriate mood for Communion? 

 - Do I cup my hands or reach for the bread with my fingers? 

 - What's going on at the Altar before Communion? 

 - What happens to the left-over bread and wine? 

 - Where is God in all of this? 

These questions and more will be addressed in part through the funny story of the bloodiest wedding ever. 

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Preparation for Prom" 

What do you have to do for a big event, like prom? 

What preparation needs to be done? 

How do you know if you've prepared enough? 

Does that kind of getting ready make you more worthy than others at the prom? 

And what does that have to do with being ready for Communion?  

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Stop! Peace! Thanks!" 

In our series on the parts of worship, we've made it to half way point in the general order of worship, the Formula of the Mass. We are moving into the 3rd section: the Meal.  Here in worship, there is space for a complete stop, an internal inventory, and a response to what we have heard in the Word. 

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"CREATED TO BE" 

St. Mark's high school youth will be sharing their experiences from the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans.  

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Prayer in Worship" 

When did you start becoming who you are? For many in Aurora, the old YMCA help shape who you have become. That old building has been demolished, but the memories, patterns of exercise and friendships have remained. The Y shaped who you are. 

From the days of the earliest church, Christians have been a praying people in worship. In prayer together we experience the great love God has for us in Jesus Christ. 

Prayer has always been a part of worship, molding us and shaping us. With the opening prayer of the day, intercessory prayer, the Lord's Prayer, and many other communal prayers, prayers teach and shape us in worship into who we are, and who we are becoming in Christ. 

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Marks of a good sermon" 

How do you know what a good sermon is? 

How can you tell? 

If it makes you ponder, laugh, cry, or puts you to sleep, does that make it good? 

And why are there sermons anyway? 

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Word Alive"

 "The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me… A simple layman armed with Scripture is to be believed above a pope or a cardinal without it." 

-Martin Luther

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Baptism" 

It starts with water . . .  

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Born to Lead" 

When we think of who leads worship we usually think of a pastor. Some may think of the person who reads the scripture and prayers. Some may also think of the professional musician that accompanies all the singing. All of those are certainly Worship Leaders. However, the list is much longer than that. This weekend we look at what it means to lead worship, who is qualified, and how God calls them. 

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"What the heck is Liturgy?" 

The summer preaching series on worship continues. 

Every Sunday we Lutherans join with other Christians around the world and through the centuries to do the "worship of the people," the liturgy. Following a Prelude, the liturgy has four parts: 

• Gathering, 
• Word, 
• Meal, and
• Sending

Lutheran liturgy is both historic and Biblical. 

ELCA liturgical worship is historic and Biblical. 

Liturgy is both what the pastor(s) lead and what the congregation participates in. More than just the regular worship service, liturgy includes rites like baptisms, affirmation of baptism, weddings, and funerals. The roots of today's liturgy goes back to the infant church, and even to Jewish patterns. Who would have ever thought so much rich history, vibrant tradition, and deep thoughtfulness goes into it? 

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Music in Worship" 

This week we look at how music fits into worship. We will look at some of the history of worship music specifically for Lutherans. We'll also look at where traditional and contemporary worship music are alike and where they may differ. 

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Worship" 

This weekend, we start the Summer Sermon Series by taking a closer look at our Summer themed worship.

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"It Doesn't Mean What You Think It Means"

Do you ever hear somebody using a word or phrase and think, "I don't think that's what that means?" Or maybe you've been corrected by others at the use of words. This weekend, we meet Nicodemus who asks Jesus a question. He is confused by the answer that Jesus gives. So Jesus explains he is not thinking about the wording correctly. Then Jesus gives one of the most often quoted verses from the gospels, which is almost as often misused or misunderstood. Join us as we shuffle through the confusion. 

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Pentecost"

This Sunday, we celebrate Pentecost and the many gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Death into Life" 

God has given so much good news. There are many times we do not believe that good news. Yet God in Christ keeps on keeping on with the good news of resurrection! 

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Love is . . ."

This weekend, we hear a fairly familiar description of what love is and is not; of what love does and does not do. Most often, it is used to describe love at a wedding. Yet, it was not written for that purpose. We also have a reminder of Jesus' command to love. We will look at how the two intertwine and what that means for us and love today. 

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Installation for Pastor Paul Kopka"

Pastor Sunitha Mortha, Associate to the Bishop, from the Metro Chicago Synod ELCA, will preside over the installation rite for Pastor Paul Kopka, and will also be preaching. 

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Change is hard . . . yet God's mission remains."

This weekend's message shares how God's church has change, Even with change, God continues to work! 

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

"Tots and Pears"

We live in a culture with a bunch of cynics. Have you seen people complain about and mock others who offer thoughts and prayers to those in need? So how ARE we expected to respond? This weekend we see Jesus and the disciples helping people in need, mostly through healing. We'll look at their example and how that translates to us today. 

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

 "Can I get a witness?"

In the old favorite hymn we sing, I love to tell the story, telling the story is fun and sometimes is really easy. We're all storytellers in some way. Jesus wants us to be witnesses. Is there a difference? This weekend we'll look at that.

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.

Worship Focus

Easter Sunday

Come, experience the joy of the story that changed everything. Celebration of the Risen Christ through Proclamation, Holy Communion and Special Music. 

Download the Order of Worship here to join in the singing, readings, and prayers.