4th Weekend after Epiphany

"Come and Follow and Encounter Blessings"

God shows up in the midst of our lives in unexpected places.

Instead of rolling out the red carpet, hobnobbing with the rich and powerful, and sitting at tables with presidents and rulers, God chooses to be with those caught in the grip of economic hardship, those stuck in grief, spiritual exiles, and the powerless.

When God shows up in our midst in these situations, mercy, liberation, peace, endurance, and purity of heart are the results. God's example inspires us to be human and care for one another.

Deacon David will reference a reflection from the ELCA's National Day of Racial Healing Celebration from last week. 

If you'd like to watch it beforehand you can find it here.         

The link will start the video at Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown's reflection: "Blessed are the Nosebleed Seats."

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

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

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

3rd Weekend after Epiphany

"Come and Follow"

In this season after Epiphany, Jesus has invited us to see and hear God. 

This Sunday, we're invited to come and follow Jesus into a more loving and just way of life. 

This Sunday we will celebrate and re-commit to our Reconciling in Christ (RIC) identity as a congregation. 

We will also review the year 2025 with gratitude as we come together for our congregational meeting after worship. 

We're all invited to follow Jesus together this year as he leads and guides us. 

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

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

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

2nd Weekend after Epiphany

"Come and See with the Eyes of Faith"

The gospel this week continues the theme of listening for God's voice we reflected on last week, but shifts the invitation to come and see what God is up to. 

In this season of tumultuous news cycles and unexpected tragedies it can be hard to "come and see," so we'll talk about how our faith gives us the chance to look in different ways, more deeply, and with the eyes of faith in the midst of easy news cycles and difficult ones.

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

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

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

Baptism of Our Lord

"Baptized IN and WITH Christ"

Throughout the season after Epiphany, the lectionary readings feature stories in which Jesus is shown forth as Christ, our Savior.

The gospel for this coming weekend tells of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus and a voice from heaven naming Jesus the Son of God.

We who are baptized are also called children of God.

Come to worship, to remember and celebrate your own baptism.

We will also have an opportunity to remember our godparents and godchildren!

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

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

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

Epiphany

We celebrate the revelation of God incarnate, God enfleshed, on Epiphany with rituals and the gospel story of the Magi coming to pay homage to the child, after following the star and setting Herod on edge. For us it marks the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of God's revelation that Jesus is the messiah.

"Magi Parade"

During worship on Epiphany, we will have a procession of the Magi, the wise ones.

"Threshold Blessing"

During Worship we will also bless the threshold of the church to celebrate the magi blessing the home of the Holy Family on Epiphany, as well as Jesus blessing our earthly home in his incarnation.

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

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

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

1st Weekend of Christmas

"It's Still Christmas!"

As we celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas, the gospel for this weekend confronts us with the death of innocent children at the hands of Herod.

The birth of Christ does not remove the power of evil from our world, but its light gives us hope as we walk with all the “holy innocents” of past generations and today who have suffered unjustly.

In our gathering around word and meal, God continues to redeem us, lift us up, and carry us as in days of old.

Come to worship this weekend as we continue to sing Christmas carols, celebrate the birth of Christ and learn the story behind the 16th century English Christmas carol, The Coventry Carol.

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

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

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

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, we celebrate God being born on earth as a poor Jewish child, whom we call Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

With the angels we sing, “Glory to God!” 

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

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

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

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, we celebrate God being born on earth as a poor Jewish child, whom we call Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

With the angels we sing, “Glory to God!”

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

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

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

“Kaleidoscope to Christmas”

Presented by Music Ministry

The Music Ministry at St. Mark's is ready to help you celebrate the season with a Kaleidoscope look at all the aspects of the Christmas Story surrounding the birth of Jesus.

The adults will share a Kaleidoscope of Christmas Carols from around the world following the reading of the different and unique birth stories from the bible. 

You will hear bells, voices, flute, percussion, soloists, and the moving accounts of Jesus Birth. 

In short, all the musical and biblical beauty of the season.

Please join us for this amazing musical event!

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

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

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

3rd Weekend of Advent

"Advent Joy"

On this third weekend of Advent, we're exploring joy and how it can help us in the waiting as we prepare to come close to the mystery of Christmas. Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Jesus all point us toward joy, something different than happiness, entertainment, or contentment.

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

We invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

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