28
Oct 2022
What do you know about Jurisdictional Conference? This week the United Methodist Church will be in the news again, and I want you to be aware of it before it happens. Next week I’ll talk more about the denomination, but this week let’s talk about Jurisdictional Conference. In our church structure, each church is a part of a conference. St. Mark’s is a member of the Desert Southwest Conference, which includes all of Arizona, parts of southwest Nevada, and a couple of smaller churches on the California side of the border. Each......
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A Praying Church
How is your prayer life? So many people picture their grandmother, sitting in her rocking chair with her Bible in her lap, eyes closed while she talked to God. The reality is, this...
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A Connectional Denomination
One of the defining characteristics of the United Methodist Church is our commitment to being a connectional church. This connection began with John Wesley, as he recognized the need for an organized system of...
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Help for Ukraine
As we watch the news from Ukraine, it’s easy to feel helpless and fearful. As in other times of social anxiety, our Methodist tradition has direction for us. The United Methodist Church speaks against...
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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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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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