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Nov 2020
This morning I woke up thinking about all that’s challenged us in 2020. I felt a tightness in my neck and a gnawing in my stomach as I thought about this year – continually learning new things about technology, trying to make wise decisions about dealing personally and as a church with the pandemic, paying attention to the struggles of people throughout our country, making our way through a contentious election, and watching people and businesses just trying to stay afloat during these times. Then I thought about how easy it is......
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Baptism
On Wednesday, Nov. 4, someone asked me if I was going to talk or write about the presidential election. I said, “Well, I imagine it will take a while for us to know the...
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Temperatures Falling—and Rising
With doors and windows open, I hear our patio wind chimes this morning. Mornings and evenings are cool enough now that we can open the house. We’re entering our most appealing time of the...
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Changing the World
“Changing the world through Christ by caring for all people.” At St. Mark’s we’ve sought to embrace this mission statement for almost 10 years. Truly the spirit behind these words has always been part...
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The Meaning of Power
“We lost power during that storm.” “Our internet doesn’t have enough power.” “That person is such a powerful speaker.” Think of all the ways we use the word “power.” That’s our word for this...
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World Communion Sunday and a Prayer
You probably know someone who would be blessed by coming to worship this Sunday, Oct. 4. Tell them they can worship at St. Mark’s at 9:45 a.m. by going to umcstmarks.org/live-worship, St. Mark’s Tucson...
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Revelation
Three months ‘til Christmas! That’s sobering, isn’t it? How much has changed since last Christmas? How could we have anticipated all the ways we’d be upended this year? When I began last fall to...
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Info and a Prayer
We often think of repentance as something that requires a dramatic turning of our lives – an about-face. Sometimes that’s true. On Sunday, Sept. 20, I’ll be talking about another perspective on repentance as...
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Grace
I woke up this morning with grace on my mind. Grace is undeserved, unearned love that is showered upon us. Most often we think of God’s grace poured out on us, but as Jesus’...
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Labor Day
When I was growing up outside Detroit, Labor Day weekend was the last gasp of summer. School always began the day after Labor Day, so the weekend was full of barbecues, family gatherings, remembering...
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