Pastoral message on the verdicts concerning the murder of Ahmaud Arbery 11/24/2021 3:20:00 PM In response to the verdicts in the trial of Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael and William Bryan in Brunswick, Ga., for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, we offer a word of prayer and healing. We pray for Arbery’s family because no verdict can ease the…
A pastoral message on the Rittenhouse acquittal 11/19/2021 4:00:00 PM Dear church, In the book of Leviticus we read: “You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor” (19:15). Our social message on Community Violence urges us to become…
On September 11, the Sierra Pacific Synod of the ELCA installed Bishop Megan Rohrer. Rev. Rohrer, the first openly transgender pastor on the ELCA roster, was ordained by the Extraordinary Candidacy Project (which became Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries) in 2006, when the ELCA did not yet allow LGBTQIA+ rostered ministers to serve openly. In 2010, Rohrer…
A People of Hope: Until All Are Fed An online benefit for ELCA World Hunger When: Thursday, Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m. Central time Where: Zoom webinar Dear friend in Christ, You’re invited to join me and Rick Steves, guidebook author and travel TV host, as we celebrate World Food Day! This online benefit for ELCA…
This week Thurston County updated mask guidelines to “strongly encourage” and Washington State to “highly recommend” we mask indoors in public spaces regardless of our vaccination status. These changes were made to be in compliance with new CDC guidelines which state the same. These updates are a result of newer findings in COVID-19 transmission and…
With the re-opening of our State, we are delighted to begin re-opening things at St. Mark! We are loosening some of our restrictions while also desiring to keep everyone safe. Church Council will re-evaluate this plan at the July 20th meeting. The re-opening plan for St. Mark is as follows: We will continue to have two…
4/20/2021 5:50:00 PM The trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minnesota police officer charged with the killing of George Floyd, has riveted our national attention these past weeks, and now a verdict has been reached. Together with people around the world, we have anticipated the jury’s decision with troubled hearts. As members of the community…
January 14, 2021 Dear Friends, Surrounded by turmoil and violence in our nation, it is more important than ever for Christ’s church to be a visible, public church. Filled with God’s grace and Spirit, we are set free to courageously bring God’s love, healing, and justice to all around us. In our Lutheran tradition, we describe…
3/19/2021 3:20:00 PM My enemies trample on me all day long, for many fight against me. O Most High, when I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid; what can flesh do to me? (Psalm 56:2-4). As a nation, we continue…
On Saturday, February 6th, a small group of family and friends of Laura Goeres gathered outside at St. Mark with Pastor Beth to give thanks for Laura’s life and to plant a crabapple tree in remembrance of her. Laura passed away unexpectedly on December 20, 2020 at Providence St. Peter Hospital. Laura is remembered for…