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Nov 2020
There are days when it seems easy to be grumpy. One reason for this is that many things nowadays seem to take so much energy and effort. Learning new technology, figuring out whether it’s safe to go stores or other places, making alternate plans for … just about everything! I think sometimes that grumpiness also comes from grieving our losses, like not being able to do usual things, such as large family or friend gatherings or worshiping indoors. It seems to me that grieving over losses from this time is a human,......
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Compassion
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...
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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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