Worship, Welcome & Witness

A Message from Pastor Dave

​Thank you St. Mark’s for your worship, welcome, and witness, especially over the last several weeks that included Reformation/Confirmation, All Saints, and New Members Sundays! We remembered our baptism into Christ Jesus, celebrated and blessed nine confirmands, remembered the blessings of the Saints who lived and served among us, and we welcomed new co-workers into this faith place. Emmie Wemyss was also baptized on November 13 and this weekend we will welcome Mia Alexandra Hatch and Sloan Ivy Cooper into the body of Christ through Holy Baptism! We worship, welcome, and witness with faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name.
Jesus has shown us how to do this, as have others. If All Saints Sunday had not changed the lectionary, we would have read Mark 12:41-44. Those verses tell the story of a poor widow who came to the Temple and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Jesus watched her, then said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."
The widow is an excellent example of worship, witness and faith, hope and love. Who does she remind you of, widowed or single, young or old? Who do you think of – in addition to yourself – as someone who is a model of worship, welcome, witness, faith, hope and love? How often have we heard the widow’s story, and then increased our weekly contribution a few dollars? What this woman did seems to us a leap of faith—a giant mighty leap—and we do not know what happened to her or her copper coins after that. We also are asked to take leaps of faith in our lives, sometimes with our money, sometimes with other parts of our lives. Perhaps that leap is to reach out and get to know a confirmand or a new member, to walk with them in faith, hope, and love. Perhaps it is to contribute a special Thanksgiving offering or year-end financial gift. Like the widow, we often do not know whether our contribution or our actions were beneficial to others or not. Or we may only find out years later. That is also faith and hope. Hope that we were able to help and faith that it was the right thing to do at the right time.
Thank you for returning your “Committed & Engaged” forms for 2022. Thank you for your participation at the Congregation Meeting this past Sunday. Thank you for your worship, welcome and witness, your faith, hope and love. You, the Communion of Saints, make a difference in the life of St. Mark’s, in the lives of the baptized, and in the kingdom of God.
-Pastor Dave