05
Nov 2021
In worship on Sunday, we will observe All Saints’ Day. This is often set aside as a Catholic thing, but the Methodist Church has a strong tradition of observing the day. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, loved and celebrated All Saints’ Day and invited followers to join in. He admonished early Methodists to give thanks for those who have gone before us in the faith. These would be the “communion of Saints,” as the Apostles’ Creed names them. Hebrews 12 names them as the “great cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us,......
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Being United Methodist
This last week, your three pastors and two of our lay leaders went to the Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City for a Large Church and Young Adult Conference. We spent 25...
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Support
I have a confession: I am addicted to Facebook. There. I said it. I find it to be a fabulous way to see what many of you are up to, and a way to...
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Presence
As I write this, I’m preparing for vacation. I’m checking off all the tasks I need to do in order to walk away without leaving anything on my to-do list. In reality, I’ve narrowed...
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Keeping Your Vows
Have you ever thought of your membership vows to the church? If you’re like me, the answer is no. I joined the church after my Confirmation class in seventh grade. I stood before First...
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Sharing Life
I spent two nights at Mingus Mountain United Methodist Camp this week. Like Pastor Sharon before me, I serve on the Board of Ordained Ministry. I believe it’s my fifth year? Time has escaped...
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Change is Afoot
Can you feel it? Fall is in the air! Maybe I’m just wishful thinking, but I can feel the cooler air when the sun sets. I have started sitting on my back porch for...
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Thank You, Volunteers / Additions to Worship
Thank You, Volunteers Have you thought about what it takes to make a church function? A church the size of St. Mark’s has a large staff – four administrative staff, four program staff, three...
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Influence for Good
When I was in my teens, I spent several years on staff at our local Girl Scout camp. One summer, we had a fire in the main lodge. The story as I remember it...
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Caring for All People
While I grew up in the United Methodist Church, I made the conscious decision as an adult to remain United Methodist. The denomination has its weaknesses for sure—the US church is mostly white, mostly...
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