Sunday, January 14, 2024

The scripture passage this Sunday is based on 1 Samuel 3: 1-10. God calls a boy named Samuel, who is under the tutelage of Eli, an older priest whose sight has grown dim. God calls to Samuel in the night. Samuel believes it is Eli calling him. Eli tells him he did not call, and to go back to sleep.

The third time Samuel hears a call and comes to Eli, the old priest recognizes that it is God calling Samuel. Eli tells Samuel to “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ Samuel doesn’t come to the realization of his calling on his own. He is guided by those who raised him, and others who walk with him on his journey. They recognize promise and possibility within him.

The same may be true for many of us. Who, and what experiences, have guided you in life and where you may have felt a calling? We will explore this together, and the connection of our reflections with the life and calling of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and others who inspire us.

In worship, we will first gather and greet one another. All children are invited to ring us into worship. The Chancel Choir, accompanied by Lois Leong, will lead us in music. There will also be a Children’s Moment. We will pray and reflect. Sam King will read our scripture passage. We will also have the blessing of celebrating the baptism of Lyla Grace King, daughter of Travis and Sam. The sermon title is inspired by words from Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel “Finding our Calling: a Pilgrimage of the Heart.”

If this will be your first time visiting with us, or you have long connections at St. Mark’s, we’ll be delighted to connect with you at 10:30 in the sanctuary. Should you choose to join online, visit www.smumc.church at 10:30, and click on the Livestream banner.

Sunday, January 7, 2024

Howard Thurman, influential African American preacher, theologian and civil rights leader of the last century, tells a great story about his baptism. When he was twelve, he presented himself to the deacons of his church as a candidate for baptism. The deacons did not think he was “Christian” enough and sent him away until he could convince them otherwise. When Howard told this story to his grandmother, she took his hand and led him back down to the church and to those deacons, to have a very direct conversation. She informed the deacons that twelve-year-old Howard had been a Christian long before coming to see them, and that they were going to accept him for baptism and church membership “right away”. She was apparently quite persuasive, and the next Sunday, the congregation processed with Howard down to the river where he was baptized. In Howard’s story, we see that baptism is intended to be a compelling witness that, whatever anyone else or even our own discouraged hearts may say, we are indeed children of God, with all that this means.

The Gospel story for Sunday comes from the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark, verses 1-11. In this story, Jesus comes to be baptized by his cousin, John (the Baptist). John is in the “wilderness” calling people to repentance, and if, and only if, they do seek to change their ways, baptizes them. When Jesus presents himself for baptism, John is confused and feels unworthy to do the baptism, and initially refuses. But Jesus, like Howard’s grandmother, is apparently very persuasive, and John agrees. In this story, when the Baptism happens, the “heavens are torn apart,” and the Holy Spirit comes to confirm that Jesus indeed is God’s beloved.

What does this mean for our own baptisms? What do our baptisms mean for us? We’ll talk about this in worship on Sunday, as the sermon is titled, “Being the Baptized: A Little Water Goes a Long Way.” Jim Schaffer will read the Gospel Lesson. We’ll celebrate Holy Communion, and in the same movement also have a Remembrance of Baptism. This ritual invites baptized congregants to have their hands or foreheads touched with water, and also includes the offering of a blessing for anyone who wishes who is not baptized. The Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Lois Leong, will lead us musically. We’ll sing, pray and have a time for children. We hope you join us.

If this will be your first time visiting with us, or you have long connections at St. Mark’s, we’ll be delighted to connect with you at 10:30 in the sanctuary. Should you choose to join online, visit www.smumc.church at 10:30, and click on the Livestream banner.

Sunday, December 31, 2023

This Sunday falls on New Year’s Eve. For some, this day includes celebration with friends, or being allowed to stay up until midnight as a kid, or watching TV as the ball drops at midnight in New York City's Times Square. It is also a reflective time for many: of the year that is ending, of where we find ourselves in the present, and, perhaps, our hopes and resolutions for the year ahead. It reminds us that we are part of the whole of God’s creation, and that each of us has a role in the sacred dance of past, present and future. This day can be one of those touchpoints when we recognize and reflect on our connection with one another. What role(s) might we play, as individuals and as a community of faith, in that sacred dance?

The scripture passage this Sunday (based on Luke 2:22-40) gives us a glimpse into how Mary and Joseph, devout Jews, raised Jesus in the traditions, beliefs and practices of their faith. They travel, with their infant child, for Jesus’ presentation at the Temple. In the Temple, they meet a devout man. Simeon and the prophet Anna. Both were waiting for many years, preparing for the birth of this child that God had promised. As Biblical scholar, Fred Craddock, wrote about his passage, “God is doing something new, but it is not really new because hope is always joined to memory.”

We will first gather and greet one another. All children are invited to ring us into worship. The Chancel Choir, accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs, will lead us in music. There will also be a Children’s Moment. We will pray and reflect. The scripture passage is from the Gospel according to Luke (Luke 2:22-40). The sermon is titled “The Sacred Dance of Past, Present and Future”.

To connect to our livestream worship Sunday morning, click the link on our website www.smumc.church. The service starts at 10:30am. Livestream starts at 10:25am.

Sunday, December 24, 2023

Christmas Eve Sunday Morning 10:30 AM Worship Article

It is a wonderful thing to be inspired at Christmas by the enthusiastic delight of children. As that great theologian Erma Bombeck said it, “There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.” So those of us more seasoned must ask, “How is it in our experience, especially our faith experience, that we experience delight?” Often faith is thought to be something that involves many statements about what we “ought” to do. I certainly understand that. But faith has at its core the capacity to find delight, exhilaration, and joy. As the actual theologian Thomas Aquinas said it, “No one can live without delight.”

In the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel, we read about Elizabeth, the woman who would be the mother of John the Baptist. Both women were pregnant when Mary, who would be the mother of Jesus, came to see her. When she heard Mary’s voice, Elizabeth exclaimed in a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” In this moment of excitement, she felt the little baby within her “leap for joy”. In and around Elizabeth that day, there was an energetic moment of delight and joy. She stands as a witness of the glory coming to us, one that cannot be dismantled by chatter, but which can only be known in the experience of delight. As a more contemporary Catholic theologian, Karl Rahner, would say it, “If God’s incomprehensibility does not grip us in a word, if it does not draw us into superluminous darkness, if it does not call us out of the little house of our homely, close-hugged truths, we have misunderstood the words of Christianity.”

Let’s work with this on Sunday in worship at St. Mark’s, which will be Christmas Eve morning and the fourth Sunday of Advent. The sermon is titled, “Advent Exhilaration: Waiting for Deep Joy to Emerge”. The sermon flows from Luke 1: 39-45, which will be read by Brenda Bailey Hughes. Tom, Beth and Kaiainne Mooradian will lead the call to worship and light the Advent Candle. We will be led musically by our choir, and accompaniment by organ, flute and cello. Two of our hymns have been chosen by a survey of the congregation to discover their favorite Christmas carols. And of course, we will pray and have a time for children.

If this will be your first time at St. Mark’s, you are especially welcome. Join us in the sanctuary at 10:30, or join online at that time by visiting www.smumc.church, and clicking on the Livestream banner.

Christmas Eve 11:00 PM Worship Article

Have you ever had something remarkable happen to you in the dead of a dark night? On Christmas Eve 1906, Reginald Fessenden, a university professor, and former chemist for Thomas Edison, undertook something that at the time was considered astonishing. Using a newly developed device, Fessenden spoke into a microphone and, for the first time ever, a human voice was broadcast over the airwaves. He read the Christmas story found in the Gospel of Luke. “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all​ the world should be taxed.” After his reading, he picked up the violin and played the first song ever sent out over the airwaves, “O Holy Night”.

That night, this message and music stunned radio operators on ships wireless radio operators at newspapers as their working communications were interrupted by scripture and song. It was almost as though surprised shepherds, keeping their sheep, were serenaded by a band of angels who had opened the heavens with newly minted praise. That, too, was a holy night. And it is often in the night that the holy thing happens.

This late-night traditional service on Christmas Eve, is a wonderful way to bring in the joyful celebration of the Nativity. The sermon during this service is titled, “ Holy Night: A Thrill of Hope for a Weary World.” The service will also include carols, solos, readings of the Christmas story, changing of the paraments, and candle lighting during the singing of Silent Night. The music will be accompanied organ, harp, flute, piano and cello.

We would love for you to join us in-person or on livestream.

Sunday, December 17, 2023

While I do not believe this is what Einstein had in mind when he was studying the “space-time continuum”, Star Wars fans, in the late 1990’s/early 2000’s, were invited into “prequels”. The stories, in these movies, took place sometimes over 30 years before the events of the original Star Wars movie. The lectionary (suggested) readings for this Advent season also take us on a non-linear journey across time and space. This includes the scripture passage for this Sunday, which is based on the words of the writer of the Gospel of John 1:6-8, 19-28.

As Biblical scholar, Karoline Lewis, writes “Smack dab in the middle of an out of this world, beyond time and space beginnings of the Gospel of John, is John (the Baptist)- interrupting this cosmic birth story…* The Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus and John were close in age. Yet, this week’s scripture passage has John already grown up, while we won’t celebrate Jesus’ birth until the next week. However, the importance is not the space-time continuum, but who Jesus is, and who John is called to be as a witness.

As we receive New Members this Sunday, they will each be asked if they will agree to the promises of membership: Will you be loyal to Christ through the United Methodist Church, and uphold it by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness? What might it mean for each of us to be a witness, as a follower of Jesus? We will explore this together in worship, on Sunday.

We will first gather and greet one another. All children are invited to ring us into worship. The Chancel Choir, accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs, will lead us in music. The Degener family will light the Advent Candle. A group of children, and the young at heart, will share “Away in a Manger” as a newly formed Chimes Choir (led by Lois Leong and Stephanie Conklin). There will also be a Children’s Moment. We will pray and reflect and have the blessing of receiving our New Members. Sue Sgambelluri will read our scripture passage (John 1:6-8, 19-28). The sermon is titled “Called to Witness”.

(*https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/third-sunday-of-advent-2/commentary-on-john-16-8-19-28)

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for a long time, a short time, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the livestream.

Sunday, December 10, 2023

I’ve heard people say that they cannot “carry a tune in a bucket.” I became curious about the origin of the phrase. Turns out, in the 19th century, the word “carry”, which means to “transport”, became associated with sound. Someone’s voice, it was said, “carried with the wind.” I guess it makes some sense that the phones we “carry” around give us access to thousands of songs. Speaking more humanly, we each carry songs in our minds and hearts that we learned in church, at school, or on our various media. But what if music also carries us?

This past May, I went to England and Ireland with my children, Courtney and Jeremy. On Sunday morning in London, as my son took off to watch a soccer match, my daughter and I attended worship at Westminster Abbey. The line to get in would be long, we were told, so we got there early. Upon entering, we realized we were not going to be able to choose our own seats. Instead, we were guided by hosts to the place where we would be sitting. As it turned out, we were directed to seats in the nave, which were directly behind a row of adult male singers in the choir. There was a great deal of singing in the liturgy, some by the choir only, and some sung by everyone. While I can carry an easy tune in a bucket, I certainly do not have a trained voice. That day, however, when we sang with that choir, it felt like we were singing with great power. In those moments, it felt like the music was carrying us.

This is one of the reasons we sing. Our music can fortify us, allowing us to connect with others and with the deep themes of love, justice and mercy at the heart of our faith. That is uniquely true during the Advent and Christmas season. This Sunday, our service will be filled with wonderful music. At points in the service, the choir will sing “In Dulci Jubilo”, “Magnificat”, and “Glory to God in the Highest”. Our Bell Choir will ring “All Bells in Paradise,” and will do so in memory of Barbee Benbow. The sermon, which flows from Mary’s Magnificat, as recorded in Luke 1: 39-45, is titled “Advent Singing: Waiting for one’s Truest Music to Emerge.” We’ll sing together, pray together, and have a moment for children. We would love for you to join us.

If this will be your first time at St. Mark’s, you are especially welcome. Join us in the sanctuary at 10:30, or join online at that time by visiting www.smumc.church, and clicking on the Livestream banner.

Sunday, December 3, 2023

Many in my generation remember the powerful words of the Simon and Garfunkel song, “The Sound of Silence”. The song, written and performed in an era of civil and racial unrest, the Vietnam war, and growing protests, reflects the different ways silence may bless or harm us. The early verses of the song note the relative peacefulness of the dark and silent night. As the lyrics progress, the singer notes that in troubling times, people did not want say what was true, for that would “disturb the sound of silence”. In the last verse, we hear that “silence like a cancer grows,”, and that the words of the prophets are written on “subway walls and tenement halls,” but only whispered in the sounds of silence. Silence can be a sacred and generative blessing, but it can also be an indication of our cooperation with unholy forces.

“When are we to be silent?” “When are we to speak?” These questions come to us powerfully as we in the Christian community enter the season of Advent. We read in the Gospel of Luke the story of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. When he doubted the message from the angel Gabriel that he, at his late age, would become a father of a prophet, this priest discovered himself unable to speak. It was only when he was asked what name should be given this child, and he answered, “His name is John,” that he was finally able find and use his words. Zechariah stands as an enduring witness that one of the sacred uses of silence is to prepare us to speak truth with clarity and courage.

Let’s talk about this in the worship service on Sunday. The sermon is titled, “Advent Silence: Waiting for Our Sacred Voice to Emerge.” It arises from Luke 1: 8-20; 59-64, which will be read by Dian Ludlow. The Chancel Choir, accompanied by Lois Leong and directed by Gerry Sousa, will lead us musically. Dana and Nate Thomas and their family will light the Advent Candle. We’ll also celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion. Join us as we sing, pray and have a time for children.

We look forward to connecting with you this first Sunday of Advent. Join us at 10:30 in the sanctuary, or visit www.smumc.church, and click on the Live Stream banner.

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Photojournalist Ted Jackson is one of my high school friends and a long-time staff member and contributor to the New Orleans Times Picayune. Ted and the rest of the staff received much acclaim for their coverage of New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He read on Facebook last night where I posed the questions, “Was there ever a time when you thought life was over, only to see it emerge in ways you never imagined? Speaking more socially, have you seen a community come alive after it was presumed that its life was over?” Ted’s response was, “New Orleans after Katrina, for sure. People here had mostly lost all hope for their future. After our staff won a Pulitzer for our coverage, our editor told us our new job was “to love our city back to life.” And that they most certainly did. Their Omega story helped New Orleans find new Alpha stories.

Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, the language of the New Testament. In the Book of the Revelation of John, Jesus is called the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Commenting on this, Barbara Brown Taylor develops the notion of Alpha stories and Omega stories. Alpha stories are stories of beginning: Tell me about the day I was born. Where did you grow up? How did you get your start in your career? They help tell us who we are. Omega stories are destination stories. They tell us where we are going. “Before I die, I want to learn to play the piano.” “Now that I am at the end of my career, I have some great stories.” “The world as we know it will come to an end.” They help define, and determine, our destination. In the life of faith of a faithful disciple, Omega stories can become Alpha stories, where new journeys begin.

We’ll talk about this in the worship service on Sunday, which is “Reign of Christ” Sunday, the last Sunday of the Christian calendar. The sermon is titled, “In Our End is Our Beginning: Alpha Stories, Omega Stories.” The sermon arises from Psalm 100, which will be read by Susan Hollis Bassett, and Revelation 22:1-14, to be read by Bryan Mitsdarffer. Stephanie and Patrick Conklin, accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs will sing “Wondrous Love”, arranged by Richard Walters. We’ll sing, pray, and have a time for children.

We hope you and those you love have a lovely Thanksgiving. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Sunday, November 19, 2023

One of the great things about having children in the church building is the unexpected conversations I get to share. A few days ago, a Nursery School/Kindergarten family was preparing a classroom snack in the kitchen. The preschooler started telling me about superheroes, and seemed impressed that I knew about Batman and Robin. He also reminded me how Robin often started sentences with “Holy (word or phrase) Batman!” The word/phrase related to the situation at hand, and some carried more than one meaning.

This week I had been mulling over the Gospel reading for this Sunday (Matthew 25:14-30), which is known as the Parable of the Talents. It is a complicated parable to unpack with a landowner leaving on a trip, trusting three of his “servants” with different amounts of his wealth. Upon his return, his different treatment of each of them may feel quite disconcerting.

As Nadia Bolz-Weber wrote about this scripture passage (in Christian Century, 6-11-2012) “This morning, my breakfast cereal box did not contain a parable decoder ring… That’s not how parables are. They aren’t to be studied and interpreted so much as to be experienced.” And, we will reflect on, and experience, this parable together on Sunday.

We will first gather and greet one another. All children are invited to ring us into worship, with the bells. The Chancel Choir, accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs, will lead us in music. There will also be a Children’s Moment. We will have the blessing of celebrating the baptism of Benjamin Matthew Revel Ferguson. We will also pray and reflect. Lillette Pratter Wood will read our scripture passage (Matthew 25:14-30a). The sermon is titled “Blessed Risk-Taking”.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for a long time, a short time, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the livestream.

Sunday, November 12, 2023

Do you know an individual or community whose story, against significant odds, burns bright with hope? Thomas Coombes, who works with Amnesty International, tells an intriguing story about a woman named Sara. One night in her country, she learned secret police were coming to apprehend her. To escape, she and her husband undertook a dangerous trip to leave their country. When they got to the border, they stared at a barrier, a high fence with barbed wire at the top. Her husband lost heart, and urged them to turn back. But though she was pregnant, she knew her life and the life of her infant were in grave danger. She scaled that fence, cutting herself many times, and her reluctant spouse came with her. On the other side, the border guards were reluctant to deport a pregnant women. They asked her, “Why are you seeking asylum?” She replied, “Because I am a Jew.” She was fleeing the Gestapo in her home country of France to find refuge in Switzerland. Thomas, speaking of her determined hope, says, “If she hadn’t survived, I would not be here. Sara was my grandmother.”

Jesus tells a story about bridesmaids who, in the Jewish custom of the day, were waiting for the bridegroom to arrive so he could be escorted to the wedding feast. Because the groom was delayed, the bridesmaids grew weary and fell asleep. Five of the ten had adequate oil in their lanterns, and their light remained bright. The others were not prepared, and had to go to seek oil for their lamps. When the bridegroom came, they were absent, and they missed the great moment. Jesus summarizes that faithful disciples are to keep awake, because they do not know when the great moment will happen. They are to do all they can to keep hope alive.

How do we as disciples keep hope alive in world with growing darkness. We’ll talk about this in worship on Sunday morning, as the sermon is titled, “Lights of Hope in a Darkening World.” The sermon arises from Matthew 25: 1-13, which will be read by Mike Sonneborn. The Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Lois Leong, will lead us musically. We will have a Mission Moment by Deb Davis, inviting us to give to those who will benefit from a nutritious Thanksgiving Meal. We’ll also sing, pray and have a moment for children.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for a long time, a short time, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the livestream.

Sunday, November 5, 2023

As we approach our observance of All Saints Day at St. Mark’s, I wonder who are the saints you see in your mind’s eye. My Mom was no spring chicken when she and Dad welcomed me to the world. In my adult years, and her older years, I lived at some distance from Mississippi, our home state. In Sunday afternoon long distance conversations with Mom, she would frequently tell me about the many funerals she had been attending. I was concerned that so much attention to so much grieving would drag her down. But I clearly misunderstood. This was my Mom’s way of honoring her friends, of saying goodbye to them, and bearing witness to their faith. She was shining a light on those who had “come out of the great ordeal.”

That phrase “those who have come out of the great ordeal” comes from the seventh chapter of the Revelation of John. In this widely misunderstood but poetically beautiful book, the writer points to a procession of those who are dressed in white. These are, most specifically, those who have died as martyrs during persecution, and are kept by God’s undying love. Still, the text also hints that these are all the children of God. For all, at some point or another, or in some way or another, “come through the great ordeal,” which is death.

This will be the theme of our service at St. Mark’s as we honor our saints. The text for the sermon comes from the Revelation of John, chapter 7, verses 9-17, which will be read by Glenda Murray. The sermon is titled, “Those Who Have Come out of the Great Ordeal: An All Saints Day Reflection.” During the service, we will read names, toll bells, and light a candle for those connected to our congregation who have died in the past year. We will also celebrate Holy Communion, as well as give congregants a chance to individually light candles for others they are remembering. The Sanctuary Choir, accompanied by Lois Leong and directed by Gerry Sousa, will lead us musically. We will sing, pray and have a time for children.

Sunday, October 29, 2023

Greg Boyle is a Catholic priest who lives in Los Angeles, where he established a ministry with gang members called “Homeboy Industries.” Often, when Greg travels to other cities to speak, he will take a couple of trainees from the ministry with him. On a recent trip, he encouraged the two to go buy gifts for their families to give them on their return. Jose chose a Build a Bear dressed as a nurse, because his significant other is a nurse. He programmed the bear to say, “I love you with all my heart. Come here and give me a kiss.” As they moved through TSA at the airport, the agents would grab the bear and hear, “I love you with all my heart. Come here and give me a kiss.” Many laughed, transforming that necessary but grumpy moment into a more lighthearted few seconds of real human connection.

The apostle Paul wrote that “God loves a cheerful giver.” Generosity practiced well changes the nature of connection both within the giver and in the community receiving the gift. One of the apostle’s long-term projects, even while he was establishing communities of faith, was to collect money from Christians in the regions of Macedonia and Achaia to give to poor Christians in Jerusalem. Surely, the apostle was interested in meeting the emergency needs of those suffering from famine. He also was seeking to further reconciliation between disparate groups, reflection the generosity of Jesus. He believed that generosity moves the giver away from grumpiness to deeply sacred connection.

We’ll talk about this in worship on Sunday, as the sermon is titled, “Coming Full Circle: The Joy of Sacred Generosity.” The sermon flows from II Corinthians 8: 1-9; 9: 6-9, which will be read by Tony Mescher. The Gospel reading that comes from Matthew 6:25-34, will be read by Tom Shafer. The Chancel Choir, accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs, will lead us musically. Patti Wright will offer a stewardship testimony. We’ll sing, pray and have a moment for children. We hope you join us.

Sunday, October 22, 2023

Miriam Wright Edelman, president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund, shared in a Ted Talk that she credits how her parents raised her, and her siblings, to the work she continues to do in life. Our parents said, “If you see a need, don't ask why somebody doesn't do something about it. See what you can do.”

Sunday, October 22 is this year’s observance of “Children’s Sabbaths” across faith and spiritual traditions. We are encouraged to focus our prayers, worship, learning opportunities, and actions around the urgent challenges and needs facing children. We are all called to address these needs in our community and beyond, and to nurture the next generations to do the same. We will explore what this means for us in worship this Sunday.

After we gather and greet one another, the children are invited to ring us into worship, with the bells. We will have a jazz ensemble leading us in music, along with the Chancel Choir and Ilze Akerbergs. There will also be a Children’s Moment. We will pray and reflect. Cooper Tucker will read our first scripture passage (Isaiah 58:10-12), followed by a Stewardship Moment from Marcia Lloyd. Whitney, Olive and Arlo Sullivan will read second scripture passage (Matthew 19:13-15). The sermon is titled “Coming Full Circle: Our Call to Nurture Current and Future Generations”.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for a long time, a short time, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the livestream.

Sunday, October 15, 2023

In one of her sermons, Barbara Brown Taylor recalls that when she was little, she liked to stand on her head. She said that doing this allowed her to see things in new ways—trees grew down and building blocks would fall up. She suggests that this kind of reversal is what Jesus taught the disciples in naming blessings; that is, they turned the predictable world upside down. Upside down blessings have a way of capturing our imagination, don’t they?

Christian Smith and Doctoral Candidate Hilary Davidson, both from the University of Notre Dame, wrote a book titled, “The Paradox of Generosity: Giving We Receive, Grasping We Lose.” In it, they write, “By grasping onto what we currently have, we lose out on better goods that we might have gained. In holding onto what we possess, we diminish its long-term value to us.” Generosity, accordingly, is one of these upside down blessings.

The irony of this moves in the direction of what Jesus meant by saying, “It is more blessed to give than receive.” Common understandings of “blessings” suggest that the most dramatic and fortuitous of blessings consist in the beneficial things that come our way. This is understandable, because God has given us a world full of goodness and provision for us to enjoy. While we must guard against the tendency to crave and hoard, or the perversions found in the “Prosperity Gospel”, it is still true that receiving good gifts is a wonderful blessing. But if receiving is good, Jesus would say, giving is better. Jesus’ blessing turns notions of giving and receiving upside down.

We’ll discuss this in service on Sunday, as the sermon is titled, “Coming Full Circle: A Theology of Blessed Generosity.” The sermon flows from Psalm 84, read by Charlie Nelms, and from Acts 20: 32-38, which will be read by Laura Baich. Charlie Nelms will also bring a stewardship testimony. The Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs, will lead us musically. We’ll, sing, pray and have a time with children.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for a long time, a short time, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the livestream.

Sunday, October 8, 2023

Do you hold memories of moving to a different location, or to a new place, that you would later call home? I believe my family moved around ten times, in my growing up years. This included four different states with moves to apartments, flats, military housing, staying with grandparents, and then our own family homes. Anticipating a move can bring a myriad of emotions: excitement, anxiousness, wonder, fear, sadness, curiosity and hope. It may be taking a leap of faith. Yet, in the midst of this kind of change, there are often unexpected blessings we receive from those we meet along the way, or in the new place we call home.

This Sunday, we will spend some time in the Book of Genesis, which our Children’s Sunday School classes have been exploring. We enter into the story of Abram (Abraham). The translation from “The Commentary on the Torah” (based on Genesis 12:1, 2b) reads “And YHWH said to Abram, ‘Go from your land and from your birthplace and from your father’s house to the land that I’ll show you . . . I’ll bless you and make your name great. And be a blessing!” As with many journeys, it was not without challenges, but also one that brought great blessings. We’ll explore this together in worship.

After we gather and greet one another, the children are invited to ring us into worship, with the bells. The Chancel Choir will lead us in music, accompanied by Lois Leong. There will also be a Children’s Moment. We will pray and reflect. We will also be offering a Sending Forth blessing for friends in our St. Mark’s family who are moving to other places. Mark Cox will offer a moment of sharing, and read our scripture passage (Genesis 12:1-9). The sermon is titled “Taking a Leap of Faith, Blessed by Circles of Care & Generosity”.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for a long time, a short time, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the livestream.