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Today Isaiah prophesies that a young woman will bear a son and name him Emmanuel. The gospel is Matthew’s account of the annunciation and birth of the one named Emmanuel, God-with-us. During these final days of Advent we pray, “O come, O come, Emmanuel,” a beloved hymn based on the O Antiphons, ancient prayers appointed…
A note of joyful expectation marks today’s worship. Isaiah announces that the desert shall rejoice and blossom, and Jesus points to the unexpected and transforming signs of God’s reign. We wait with patience for the coming of the Lord, even as we rejoice at his presence among us this day: in word and holy supper,…
I grew up in Canada, mostly in B.C., and moved to the U.S. as an adult in 1999. I first lived in Portland, Oregon, then moved to Renton, Washington in 2012 for a new role at my organization. While I’m new to St. Mark, I’ve been part of various church communities since the 1980s. I’m…
At the heart of our Advent preparation stands John the Baptist, who calls us to repent and make a new beginning. As the darkness increases, we turn toward the approaching light of Christ. For Christians he is the root of Jesse, the righteous judge who welcomes all, especially the poor and meek of the earth.…
The new church year begins with a wake-up call: Christ is coming soon! In today’s readings both Paul and Jesus challenge us to wake from sleep, for we know neither the day nor hour of the Lord’s coming. Isaiah proclaims the day when God will gather all people on the holy mountain and there will…
Jeremiah’s promise of the execution of “justice and righteousness in the land” finds ironic fulfillment in the execution of Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. It appears utterly contradictory that a king should be crucified with a criminal. This victory appears for all the world as humiliating defeat. Yet through the gate of…
The end is near. There is no doubt about it. The warnings are dire. The tone of today’s texts is ominous. But the baptized know how to live in the meantime. The baptized are strengthened for the living of these days in word and sacrament.
Mary and Rick became new members of St. Mark in October of 2025. Mary grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and Rick grew up in Portland, Oregon. They have attended multiple churches during their lives. Most recently, they attended LCMS Lutheran churches in the San Francisco Bay area in California. Both Mary and Rick are…
In October 2025, Debora was welcomed into St. Mark as a new member. Debora was raised in a variety of locations as her father was serving in the military. Her early years were spent in Germany, Texas, and Washington, her adolescent years in Hawaii and Washington again. Both of her parents were from Tacoma, so…
We worship on the first day of the week because Jesus was raised on that day. Every Sunday is a little Easter. This Sunday feels more like Easter than many as the appointed texts celebrate the reality of the resurrection. Live it up this Lord’s day. Our God is the God of the living.