E-News - Weekly Announcements

Saturday, January 28, 2012

St. Mark's Celebrates Epiphany

From Pastor Alan...

Is there somebody you want to invite to come to church with you this Sunday?

We will continue our series on Listening for God and the day's theme will be Listening for God with in My Work.
Some of grew up in families where we had powerful experiences of God's presence and others have experienced little of God's presence in their homes. How have you heard God speaking through your parents? siblings? children? Have you experienced friendship in such a way that you sense God speaking through your friends?

I will be joined in the pulpit by Adrian Bourgeois, whom many of us know best as Brent's son, the guitar playing singer in the 11 o'clock service. Adrian is a very thoughtful and perceptive Christian, who has excellent insights into life. Adrian's commitment to his faith and his music enable him to see the world, including his family and friends, through a very creative and optimistic lens.

Sunday's reading is the great statement of God as love in 1 John 4:16b-21 (New Revised Standard Version)

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, 'I love God', and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

So how does this passage speak to you? Is "love" a good definition of God for you? Does being loved somehow make you more Godly?

We are celebrating the end of 2011 with a balanced budget! In fact, your giving exceeded the budget, including apportionments paid 100%! The preliminary figure shows an approximate excess of $1200. God has provided for our needs through your faithfulness and generosity. Thanks be to God, and thanks be to you!

MEMORIAL SERVICES

Shirley Mack's memorial service will be held this Saturday, January 14th, at 2:00pm

The memorial service for the founding pastor of St.Mark's, Rev. Dave MacMurdo will be held this Sunday afternoon, January 15th at 1:00pm. Bishop Warner Brown will be preaching at the service.
Under Dave's leadership, 70 charter members were recruited in 1951 and by 1966 there were more than 1,200 adult members as well as 915 children and youth. His pastoral warmth and unfailing sense of humor have been an inspiration to generations of the church.

Bob McKibben's memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 22nd, at 2:00pm

Noel Glasgow's memorial service will be on Saturday, January 28th, at 2:00pm

For those interested in learning more about the Christian faith and the life of the church at St. Mark's, there is a Membership Class starting on Sunday, January 22, at 12:00. Several leaders will be sharing information about the life of faith and about the United Methodist Church, its history and beliefs. I'll be leading the first class on at Living Faith and Worship. If you would like to be part of this class, please register by calling the church office, 483-7848.

The January issue of Markings is now available on the website. Click here to read it now.

Kevin Jenkins tells me that we still need of people to sign up for the various tasks for the Winter Homeless Shelter each evening from January 15th to 21st, especially Tuesday evening. Please either sign up or let Kevin know what you are planning to do. People are needed to provide food, cook the meals, offer foot washing, cleanup and be table hosts. We will have 117 guests, so large crews are needed.