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 Facebook, or UMC St. Mark’s Oro Valley on YouTube. World Communion Sunday is a great day to invite others. All are invited to our Communion celebration – have a piece of bread or cracker and juice or another beverage ready so you can join in. Last month we asked you to submit photos of your home Communion, which have been put into a lovely video to be shown on Sunday. And, because it’s Communion Sunday, the sermon on “Sacrifice” (first in the series on “Hard Words”) is only about 11 ½ minutes long! See you in worship.

There are still openings in some of the worship sessions of “We Gather Together,” which begins this Monday, Oct. 5. This is our first opportunity to worship in person in a long time. Small-group sessions will meet for four weeks, have 10 or fewer people and follow safety procedures (masks, distance, etc.). The open sessions are: 9 a.m. Monday; 7 p.m. Monday; 9 a.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Friday. See “Latest Update” on the home page to register.

Now, a prayer: Loving God, pour out your love, comfort, strength and peace upon us. We pray for our church, our community, our state, our country and our world. Challenges, struggles, dark words and actions, disease and hopelessness confront us at every turn. We turn to you. We turn our hearts and lives to you and ask that you comfort those who mourn, heal the sick, keep COVID from spreading more and calm our hearts. Give us wise words and careful actions as we deal with others. Guide our nation’s election process so all your people may know your healing power through wise leaders. Inspire us by your Spirit to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Blessings,
Sharon