Being the Church

By Rev. Lynn Bartlow

St. Mark’s has shown once more what an amazing community you are.

You have lived out our mission to care for all people as you stepped in after Pastor Kim’s car accident. Earlier this week, I delivered a Ties That Bind quilt you prayed over and a stack of cards showing your care. You have offered to help fill in while she’s recovering, including retired pastors Evy McDonald and Judy Boroto, who will be visiting those who are hospitalized. (Pastor Kim is improving daily, by the way. Thanks for your continued prayers.) Your caring nature is not just a mission statement but a way of life.

You also have embraced two campuses of one church. You have invited and asked to include members from both campuses as we have done life together this summer. You pitched in to help get the space ready for the relaunch of worship. You attended the first service on the Sanctuary Campus.

You live out your faith not by simply showing up on Sunday, but by doing. We have three choirs that started their rehearsals this week, possible only because you are a part of them. We continue to do ministry through our missions projects and our commitments to such places as Primavera and Nash and Interfaith Community Services. We continue to learn and grow in our faith through the opportunities offered through our Adult Spiritual Growth team. We are doing, not just showing up.

And you will invite others to come to worship, filling our worship spaces at both campuses with your friends and neighbors who will see the caring and active community that seeks to change the world through Christ. We have room to grow. Who will you invite?

Thanks for being the church.
See you soon.
Pastor Lynn

SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE
• 8:30 and 10 a.m. Traditional service in Magee Campus sanctuary and child care in Rm 15
• 10 a.m. Modern service at Sanctuary Campus
• 10 a.m. Magee Campus youth and children’s Sunday School (except fifth Sundays) and child care
• 10 a.m. Traditional service livestream premieres on YouTube and website

Worship online at 10 a.m. on Sundays at umcstmarks.org/live-worship or YouTube UMC St. Mark’s AZ. You can also watch the service at a later time.

Summer Office Hours – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday thru Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon Friday
The church office will be CLOSED Monday, Sept. 4, in observance of Labor Day.
New Office Hours begin Tuesday, Sept. 5 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mon-Thurs, 9 a.m. to noon Friday