The Kingdom of God is like Scotch Broom...
June 18, 2018 6:12 PM
Retired Pastor David Nelson said that after a few week’s worth of Mark’s ‘conflict’ Gospels (they’ll be back later in the year), we now have wonderful little stories. Today’s story is about the mustard seed. The smallest of small seeds. In Jesus’s time, no one planted mustard seeds!
... Read MoreA House Divided
June 10, 2018 9:55 PM
Mark 3:20-35 tells the story of how a house divided cannot stand. Pastor David Nelson pointed out how Mark uses conflict in his gospels and even more so in today’s gospel. Jesus is in conflict with his family and the scribes who have come to question him. His family, Mary and her other children, show up to where
... Read MoreLaws vs. Love
June 3, 2018 12:32 PM
On this second Sunday of Pentecost, our Gospel of Mark (2:23-3:6) continues with a theme of conflict. The laws of the Sabbath were examined when the Pharisees questioned Jesus about his disciples plucking grain to eat, and Jesus healing a man’s withered hand, both on the Sabbath. Jesus defends the laws of Sabbath
... Read MoreTrinity
May 27, 2018 12:36 PM
On this Trinity Sunday, Retired Pastor David I. Nelson reminded us that God is all about relationship. The Three-in-One is just as easily the One-in-Three. As we pray to God as Jesus did, the Spirit prays within us, creating between us and God the same relationship Jesus has with God. God is intimacy, community, plurality,
... Read MoreAre You Concerned about the Poor?
May 23, 2018 7:22 AM
Are you concerned about the discrepancy between the wealth of the poor and the wealth of the rich? Watch this short video and you will be.
... Read MoreDay of Pentecost
May 21, 2018 11:04 AM
Today we celebrated the Spirit, through whom and in whom the people of God are created and re-created. The Holy Spirit is everywhere infused in us. After Jesus’s resurrection, he told his disciples that he would see them down the road in Galilee. Pastor Eric sang a new song that he wrote: “I’ll see you
... Read MoreLove Never Fails
May 14, 2018 7:01 PM
Today we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. Pastor Beth pointed out that the disciples rejoiced but then must have had a time of ‘Now what?’. A time of sorrow, grief, loss, and uncertainty. Two people, dressed in white, appeared to them and asked them why they were looking up at heaven since there
... Read MoreCelebrating Baptism and Graduations!
May 14, 2018 12:39 PM
Sunday morning, May 13th was extra special! Not only was it Mother’s Day and Ascension Sunday, but also we were blessed to celebrate the gifts of Holy Baptism and High School graduations. Baptized into the family of God was precious child of God, Derek. We rejoice with you and your family! Graduating from area high
... Read MoreConfirmation Sunday
May 7, 2018 11:55 AM
On Sunday, May 6th, we celebrated the Affirmation of Baptism and Rite of Confirmation for our students Adam and Alex. These young men were baptized and grew up in the church, participated in Confirmation classes with Pastor Beth and Dan B., were presented by their families, and affirmed their faith as loved and forgiven
... Read MoreAbide
April 29, 2018 1:30 AM
The dictionary definition of the word “abide” includes, “to accept or act in accordance with; to follow, keep, hold or stand by; to respect”. Does this sound like your relationship with Jesus? In today’s Gospel (John 15:1-8), the image of the vine and the branches is used to illustrate how
... Read MoreEarth Day statement from ELCA presiding bishop
April 26, 2018 12:49 PM
4/16/2018 1:20:00 PM As members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), we share a deep love for all of God’s creation and a profound responsibility for it. Made in the image of God, we are called to continue what God is already doing for the earth (Psalm 104), enabling it to flourish. God assigns humans
... Read MoreThe Voice
April 22, 2018 10:54 AM
In the spirit of Christ, Pastor Eric chose several “C” words to describe the voice of Jesus…each providing us with things we need: Captain (assurance), Coach (instructing), Critic (assessing) and Choir (inspiration). We are given Courage and Certainty, Care and wise Counsel. When we take the time to listen,
... Read MoreRepentance and Forgiveness
April 16, 2018 6:05 PM
The gospel for the third Sunday of Easter is always one in which the risen Christ shares food with the disciples, meals that are the Easter template for the meal we share each Lord’s day. Jesus both shares the disciples food and shows them the meaning of his suffering, death, and resurrection through the scriptures:
... Read MoreIt is not easy to step out in Faith.
April 10, 2018 8:18 AM
The story of Easter continues as the risen Lord appeared to his disciples. The disciples were captive and living in fear behind locked doors. Jesus told them that He was the way, the truth of God. God does not want us to live in fear or doubt withholding the love of God from those who need it the most. Pastor Beth challenged
... Read MoreEaster Gallery of Images
April 3, 2018 7:49 PM
Below is a gallery of pictures taken during the Easter Service of 2018. These pictures display the congregation, the Easter Art Wall, the choir, the bell choir, the added musicians, and the pastor. Click on any image to expand it.
... Read MoreEaster Gospel Sermon & Art Slideshow
April 2, 2018 12:20 PM
He has Risen! He has Risen indeed. Pastor Eric said, according to today’s text, “The promise is Jesus is ahead of you”. Resurrection is powerful, intense and it can scare us. In our lives, what keeps us going is the Resurrection promise of Jesus that there is more. We are challenged, that if we believe
... Read MoreSt. Mark Community Garden 2018 Potato Planting and other News
March 29, 2018 5:34 PM
The 2018 gardening season is beginning and here is some news you can use! Work Parties: Saturday April 7th will be our first work party for the year, and you can mark your calendar for every other Saturday morning from 9-11am. We provide the garden implements – hoes, rakes, shovels, trowels – and you apply
... Read MoreSunday School Garden Planting
March 29, 2018 3:10 PM
The 2018 gardening season for the St. Mark Community Garden was kicked off on a beautiful, sunny day by the St. Mark Sunday School children on March 25. With the guidance of teachers and parents, the children planted Oregon Sugar Snap peas. It will be fun to see the expressions on their faces when they come back to the
... Read MoreAs We Begin Holy Week...
March 25, 2018 1:32 PM
Each year, we begin Holy Week by waving palms and exclaiming, “Hosanna in the highest!” We remember Christ’s journey to the cross so that we may have life. Today, on Palm Sunday, we heard Mark’s passion story told through song and scripture readings. Members of our congregation inserted narrative
... Read MoreLenten Banners Slideshow
March 20, 2018 2:51 PM
A series of Lenten banners have been appearing on our back wall behind the altar over the course of the Sundays of Lent and for the Wednesday Lenten services. These wonderful artistic images on banners are the creation of Josh E. We have a long history at St Mark of seeing both artistic banners and hand painted pictures
... Read MoreAs Jesus talks about seeds planted in the ground.
March 18, 2018 9:10 PM
Living, dying, loving, hating. There is a whole lot of mystery in our Gospel today, John 12:20-33, as Jesus talks about seeds planted in the ground. It is almost as if Jesus is speaking to his disciples and to us in a type of code. He uses things of the earth to describe things of heaven. His words can leave us feeling
... Read More"I Know How the Flowers Felt"
March 11, 2018 11:19 AM
Pastor Beth began her sermon today with the Robert Frost’s poem, “Lodged”. “The rain to the wind said, ‘You push and I’ll pelt.’ They so smote the garden bed That the flowers actually knelt, And lay lodged – though not dead. I know how the flowers felt.” Many of us
... Read MoreThird Sunday in Lent
March 4, 2018 9:03 PM
John 2:13-22, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” Jesus drives the money changers and people selling doves sheep and cattle out of the temple. Pastor Eric told us that stories are memory devices and so are songs and sayings. There are thousands of songs about Love. There are sayings that we have heard over
... Read MoreCrayons in God's Hands
February 25, 2018 9:14 PM
Mother Teresa is quoted as saying, “I’m a little pencil in the hands of a writing God who is sending love letters to the world.” Pastor Eric suggested that perhaps rather than a pencil, we are crayons in God’s hands. Sometimes whole, sometimes broken, always a community of many colors. Our scripture
... Read MoreBaptism Wilderness Proclamation
February 18, 2018 5:15 PM
Today was the First Sunday in Lent. Pastor Eric said that, sometimes in life, we need to remember the big picture and that is what today’s text is all about. We are divinely endorsed creatures of God, who are gloriously and curiously, broken and beloved, forgiven appendages of God. But, who are we? What are we supposed
... Read MoreA Mountaintop Experience
February 11, 2018 12:13 PM
In today’s Gospel (Mark 9), Jesus takes his three closest friends, Peter, James and John, to the top of a mountain where they see Jesus dazzlingly transfigured before them, and they hear the words, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” This miracle on the mountain is interpreted as a preview of
... Read MoreThe Healing Jesus
February 4, 2018 9:46 PM
This was the 5th Sunday after Epiphany and the Gospel was from Mark 1:29-39 where we hear Mark tell of Jesus healing people wherever He goes. The essence of everything is in today’s text. Pastor Eric feels it captures the mystery of our Faith because it is the intimate Jesus lifting us up. Jesus goes ahead of us
... Read MoreApproach the Unapproachable
January 28, 2018 5:21 AM
Throughout the Bible, there are stories of Jesus approaching the unapproachable. In our Gospel (Mark 1:21-28) for this fourth Sunday after Epiphany, as Jesus began teaching inside the synagogue a man with an unclean spirit began shouting at Him. The force of the man’s accusations struck fear in those around him.
... Read MoreHe will make them fish for people.
January 21, 2018 7:25 PM
The Third Sunday after Epiphany’s Gospel is from Mark1:14-20 in which Jesus, who comes upon some men fishing, gathers more followers by saying that He will make them fish for people. Pastor Eric, with his fishing tackle box, talked of how different lures trick different fish to bite the fishing hook. Jesus did not
... Read MoreELCA Presiding Bishop Responds to Reported Racist Comments
January 19, 2018 3:12 PM
1/12/2018 1:30:00 PM “I am very disappointed and disturbed by the remarks that President Donald Trump is reported to have said yesterday – and confirmed by others who were present – in the context of a discussion about immigration. Regardless of the context, references of that kind have no place in our civil discourse
... Read MoreCan anything good come out of Nazareth?
January 15, 2018 10:36 PM
Today’s Gospel is from John, Chapter 1. Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Pastor Eric drew our attention to two phrases from it: The word ‘found’, which comes from the Greek word eureka, and ‘heavens are open’. He asked us what is something we have found in our life after sharing an
... Read MoreBeloved, Be Loved, Be Love
January 8, 2018 9:37 AM
Jan Richardson, author, says, “Beloved…it comes like a mercy to the ear.” On this Sunday, the baptism of our Lord is remembered in the Gospel of Mark 1:4-11. As Jesus is being baptised by John, the heavens opened up and a voice spoke, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
... Read MoreEndings and Beginnings
December 31, 2017 6:58 PM
On the last day of the year, we celebrated together the end of 2017 and the anticipation of the new year. As we “meditate on endings and beginnings, we watch and keep vigil for the coming of God’s justice”. Our scripture lessons for the service reminded us of the light that Jesus’s birth brings
... Read MoreSt Mark Christmas Eve Music
December 26, 2017 9:52 PM
The St Mark Chancel Choir and St Mark Bell Choir provided the following Music for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. For those of you who were unable to attend this 10PM service (or just want to listen to it again), the audio of these numbers was recorded and is provided below. (The gospel and sermon for this service
... Read MoreChrist's Light Shines
December 24, 2017 10:02 PM
Tonight, we heard the glorious story of Jesus’ birth, as we gathered on Christmas Eve for our traditional candle light service. We were reminded that Jesus was not only born in Bethlehem, but he is born among us, again and again and again. His light reaches us in the darkest corners of our lives, and we are never
... Read MoreJesus: The Impossibility of God
December 24, 2017 3:02 PM
Mystically conceived, born in a “nowhere” town, parented by an underaged mother, a King who behaved as a servant. How is this all possible? On this 4th Sunday of Advent, we hear the story of the angel Gabriel (Luke 1: 26-38) appearing to the virgin Mary saying, “Greetings favored one! The Lord is with
... Read MoreThe Light
December 17, 2017 7:49 PM
Our Gospel reading for today, the 3rd Sunday of Advent, is from John 1:6-8, 19-28, which starts off as ‘There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.’
... Read MoreIt's a Super Christmas!
December 10, 2017 10:58 PM
The St. Mark Sunday School students shared the Second Sunday in Advent’s hope-filled message. The students offered their Christmas Program and the debut showing of “It’s a Super Christmas.” (An original play, “Super Christmas” was written by Heather Unti. Pastor Beth rewrote it for the
... Read MoreGod's love is always shaping us. (includes video)
December 3, 2017 6:49 PM
First Sunday of Advent The First Reading for today is Isaiah 64:1-19, ….”You, o God, are the potter and we are the clay–the work of your hand.” Pastor Beth ‘threw’ a wedge of clay on the potter’s wheel while she spoke to us of God’s love. Like an artist, God is always shaping
... Read MoreArt of Christmas - December 17th
December 3, 2017 6:39 PM
The 3rd Annual St. Mark “Art of Christmas” is coming on Sunday, December 17 at 5pm. The Art of Christmas is a church-wide art show presented by anyone at St. Mark who has some art to share! Your art can be something you’ve made like metal yard art, painting, drawing, woodworking, singing, playing an instrument,
... Read MoreADVENT FAIR - This Sunday 12/3/17
November 29, 2017 10:00 AM
You won’t want to miss this inspiring hour that never fails to get you into the holiday spirit. Advent Fun and Festivities, our 2017 Advent Fair, will be “happening” in the Parish Hall, 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m, Sunday December 3. Come enjoy some Christmas crafts and lots of fun for all ages. Please bring
... Read MoreChildren's Christmas Program - December 10th
November 27, 2017 7:08 PM
Who is this new, promised Superhero that is coming to Earth? Is he a villain or will he use his powers for good? Many of our favorite Superheroes are banding together on Sunday, December 10, at both our 8:30am and 11:00am services to search for the great Superhero who will save the earth. “It’s a SUPER Christmas!”
... Read MoreChrist the King Sunday
November 26, 2017 10:29 PM
Christ the King Sunday is the final Sunday of the church year and we hear Matthew’s Gospel, 25:31-40, tell the story of what is done for the least of those who belong to Jesus is truly also done to Him. Today at St Mark, we were led in worship by our college and high school youth who had attended the ELCA Western
... Read More4th Sunday in Advent - December 24th at 10:00am
November 26, 2017 7:28 PM
Mark your calendars, please! …On Sunday, December 24th, we will worship with one service at 10:00am for the 4th Sunday in Advent. Our evening services at 5:00pm and 10:00pm will be our Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Services.
... Read MoreAdvent Wednesdays, December 6, 13, & 20 - Moving toward the Manger
November 26, 2017 7:25 PM
As Christmas approaches, would you appreciate some intentional time to pause and remember what this holiday season is all about? St. Mark will be “Moving Toward the Manger” on Wednesdays December 6th, 13th, and 20th during the season of Advent. We invite you to join us in the Parish Hall at 5:45pm for a potluck
... Read MoreStories Along The Way Home
November 19, 2017 10:18 AM
This morning, the Gospel of Matthew (25:31-46) was musically illustrated during a service titled “Stories Along the Way Home”. The music was performed by a band of musicians and singers from St. Mark, featuring Josh Everson, Benjamin Martin, John Martin, Terry Shaw, Luna Smith, Pastor Eric, Jennifer Shaw, Vicki
... Read MoreRemember the Lamp Oil
November 12, 2017 8:40 PM
In today’s Gospel reading, Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus uses lamp oil in his parable about readiness. Citing the wise bridesmaids who remembered to bring oil for their lamps to the wedding, Jesus reminds us to always be ready for his second coming and the invitation to the Kingdom of Heaven. Pastor Eric used a compass
... Read MoreAll Saints Day
November 5, 2017 5:07 PM
All Saints Day is one of the nine festivals that many main stream churches celebrate. Over the years, the church’s calendar filled up with the names of bigger saints or super saints so one Sunday was designated to be a celebration of all saints, big or little. It is a day to celebrate and remember all the people
... Read MoreQuilting Ministry
November 3, 2017 3:38 PM
For all those who worshipped with us last Sunday, you saw the beautiful quilts done by the women of St. Mark’s Quilting Ministry and helped take part in the blessing of the quilts. On Wednesday, the quilts were boxed up and shipped and will eventually be distributed around the world through Lutheran World Relief. A total
... Read MoreAll Saints Sunday
October 30, 2017 11:55 AM
All Saints Sunday, November 5, 2017, celebrates the people of God, living and dead, who are the Body of Christ. We remember the promises of God in the sacrament of Holy Baptism. We gather at the Lord’s Table with the faithful of time and place and participate in the meal Jesus gave us to remember we are the Body
... Read More