Pentecost Season

Blessing of the Animals Sermon: The Joy of Animals

October 1, 2023 • Pastor Jim Mericle • Matthew 6:25–27, Matthew 6:33–34, Job 12:7–10

Today we celebrate animals and especially our pets that are such wonderful companions to us, bringing us love, joy and comfort. Whether, they are hard working animals do services for us or are our pets at home, we give thanks for them. We will also hear from our Children's Choir and share in Holy Communion

Sermon: Pentecost Season - God is so Unfair!

September 24, 2023 • Pastor Jim Mericle • Philippians 1:1–16, Matthew 20:1–16

Today we celebrate worship with our 3rd graders from our school. Our theme for this Sunday focuses on the Parable of the Laborers of the Vineyard and presents a scenario that does not seem to be fair to some. We will explore this and the question of why God is not always fair or at least seems that way.

Pentecost Sunday: The Power of Forgiveness and Reaching Out

September 17, 2023 • Pastor Jim Mericle • Psalm 103:4–10, Matthew 18:21–35

This Sunday we focus on Jesus' parable that reminds us that God's mercy is beyond measure and that we are called to forgive others as we have been forgiven by God. We will also look at the power of connection when we share that message with others. We also will be celebrating Holy Communing and saying farewell and thank you to our youth minister, Melissa Magdaleno.

Pentecost Season: God's Work, Our Hand's Sunday

September 10, 2023 • Pastor Jim Mericle • Psalm 119:33–40, Matthew 18:15–22

To we celebrate 10 years of service ministry on this 2nd Sunday of September with ELCA churches across the country. We lift up the value and importance of service for those who are served and the one who serves. We will also have the 6th graders from our Day School join us to sing and play bells.

Pentecost Season: It is Hard to Work for God

September 3, 2023 • Pastor Jim Mericle • Matthew 16, Jeremiah

Rally Day: Do not Conform, but Transform

August 27, 2023 • Pastor Jim Mericle • Romans 12:1–8, Matthew 16:13–21

Today is our annual day to celebrate the beginning of the school year and install our School Staff and Sunday School and Youth Volunteers. Our theme is about seeking to live a life that is living out Jesus' call on your lives and to dare to be different when society is calling to you to conform to things that often are not what God desires for us.

Pentecost Season: Expanding the Vision

August 20, 2023 • Pastor Jim Mericle • Matthew 15:21–28, Isaiah 56:1–10

Pentecost Season: Jesus Walking on the Water

August 13, 2023 • Pastor Jim Mericle • Matthew 14:22–36, Romans 10:5–15

Today we rejoice with a mother and daughter on their baptism. In addition our focus for the day is the miracle story of Jesus and Peter walking on the water. What does this story say to us today? Life can be scary but when we keep our focus on Jesus, we can do accomplish more that we ever imagined.

Pentecost Season: Bread, Fish and so much More

August 6, 2023 • Pastor Jim Mericle • Romans 9:1–5, Matthew 14:13–21

Today we celebrate the Baptism of one of our young adults and welcome him into God's community. We also will be serving Holy Communion today. Our theme today focuses on the miracle story of Jesus' feeding of 5000 plus people and what it means to enjoy the bread of life in Jesus and also to see that when we share what we have it can become so much more when combined with others.

Pentecost Season: No Separation

July 30, 2023 • Pastor Jim Mericle • Matthew 13:44–52, Romans 8:31–39

This week we hear the words of Paul to the community of Rome about how nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ! Nothing! In a world that keeps trying to separate us from each other, from our communities, from our planet, Paul proclaims that there is No Separation from God's Love!

Pentecost Season: Learning to Leave It to God

July 23, 2023 • Pastor Jim Mericle • Romans 8:12–25, Matthew 13:24–43

So often when we try to make things better and end up making them worse. Today we hear the parable of the Wheat and the weeds and that in the midst of good, evil will also grow. It is up to us to seek the nourishment of God and bear good fruit and when the time is right, God will separate out the weeds in our lives and harvest the goodness we bear. In life, it is often the case, we need to be patient and allow things to mature so that the good fruit is realized.

Pentecost Season: It's a Seedy World!

July 16, 2023 • Matthew 13:1–9, Matthew 13:18–23, Romans 8:1–11

Welcome to worship at St. Mark's. Today we hear Jesus' parable known as the The Sower of the Seed! What does this parable say about God, about our culture, about us? Let's Explore! Holy Communion is also served. All who are baptized are welcome to receive communion and anyone may come a receive a blessing.

Pentecost Season: The Burden is Light

July 9, 2023 • Pastor Jim Mericle • Matthew 11:16–30, Song of Songs 2:8–13, Romans 7:15–25, Psalm 145

Welcome to our worship service. This week we have a vintage worship which will come from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) hymnal. We hope you will appreciate this traditional service of the word with a Bible-based sermon that will reflect today's challenges.

Pentecost: The challenge of being a Christian and a good citizen

July 2, 2023 • Pastor Jim Mericle • Psalm 89:1–4, Psalm 89:15–18, Matthew 10:40–42

Today we gather to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and invite you to receive him in Holy Communion. We also acknowledge and give thanks for this country we live in as we celebrate Independence Day on Tuesday.

June 25, 2023 • Pastor Deborah Andersen • Romans 6:1–11, Matthew 10

Today we welcome guest pastor, Deborah Andersen to St. Mark's. She will leading worship and preaching today