Worship Prayers for April 30

PRAYER IN PREPARATION:  God of life and light, on those days following the first Easter, you walked through the closed doors of our doubts and fears.  You held us tight until the warmth of your grace softened our hearts.  You handed us the gift of peace to calm our frightened faith.  Encourage us with your presence again , that we may be emboldened to live as faithful witnesses to your hope and mercy.  Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP

We gather in the name of the risen Lord.

         In us, among us, the peace of Jesus.

We gather as sisters and brothers of the resurrected one.

         In us, among us, the presence of Jesus.

We gather to share our faith and to worship God.

         In us, among us, God's light and God's love.

We gather to proclaim the good news of Easter.

         Christ is risen!  Alleluia!

   PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Living God, you have called us into covenant, but we have chosen instead to go our own way.  You have given us light and we have preferred to walk in shadows.  We try to fool others and end up deceiving ourselves.  In our stressful world, you give love and joy to our lives, yet we fear that your gifts are too good to be true.  You offer us life itself, but we choose not to receive it.  Forgive us, O God, draw us again into your marvelous light.  Help us to trust in Christ's victory over sin and death, that we may live righteously and abundantly with you and all your people.

   SCRIPTURE                                                                                                                   John 20:19-31, p. 115

Daily Prayer April 29

SATURDAY

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Daniel 3:19-30; 1 John 3:11-18; Luke 4:1-13

God, our creator, you have given us work to do and call us to use our talents for the good of all. Guide us as we work, and teach us to live in the Spirit who made us your sons and daughters, in the love that made us sisters and brothers. Remember, O God, your church. Unite it in the truth of your Word and empower it in ministry to the world. Remember the world of nations. By your Spirit renew the face of the earth; let peace and justice prevail. Remember our family and friends. Bless them and watch over them; be gracious to them and give them peace. Remember the sick and the suffering, the aged and the dying. Encourage them and give them hope. Rejoicing in the communion of saints, we remember with thanksgiving all your faithful servants, whom you have called from this life. We are grateful that for them death is no more, nor is there sorrow, crying, or pain, for the former things have passed away. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

Go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.)

LIBRARY CORNER

 

Patricia C McKissack lived in Chesterfield and wrote books for children, some of them also informative for adults.  Following are three from the shelves of our library:

 

Let My People Go, Bible Stories Told by a Freeman of Color - Charlotte Jefferies and her father Price, a former slave, introduce us to twelve best loved Bible tales from Genesis to Daniel.  These stories were written for young people, but are also valuable for adults.

 

Run Away Home and be Free is a story written for older elementary and middle school youth.  It is based on very real events and much research.  Occurring in the late 1880s it tells the story of a young Indian boy who escaped from a train shipping his people from Florida to Oklahoma territory,and is rescued by a black family of former slaves.

 

When Do You Talk to God?  Prayers for Small Children invites young children to talk to God, to pray, at all sorts of times and in all kinds of situations.

 

These books can normally be found in either the Adult or Children’s Libraries. For this month, they are available on the bookshelf outside the Adult Library.

 

COME IN AND CHECK US OUT!

Presbyterian Children's Home Thanks Us

Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services:  Please accept our heartfelt gratitude for the total sum
of $3,580 gathered through the Christmas Alternatives initiative for children of Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services residing at the Farmington Treatment Center.

Christmas can be a very difficult time of year for our kids. For some, they feel sad because they are not able to see family. For others, it serves as a reminder that their families have inflicted pain and humiliation upon them. To help make their Christmas extra nice this year, it was decided to use your donation to purchase a new shirt or blouse for each child and take them all out to dinner. It was a festive occasion and everyone enjoyed having this special time together. As you know, our job is not an easy one. When young hearts have been torn by broken dreams and disillusionment, it takes dedication and understanding to warm them to the reality that there are good people, like the members of St. Mark, who truly do care about them. 

Together you helped to put smiles on these kids’ faces, and that’s not an easy thing to do. Thank you for helping to make this a memorable Christmas for our children. Knowing that you all made such an effort for them will go a long way in teaching them they are worthy of kindness. 

Blessings, Debra Paulus, Senior Development Officer

For more on Presbyterian Children's Home and Services, Click here.

Worship Prayers for April 23

PRAYER IN PREPARATION:  Almighty God, you have gathered your people to sing your praises eternally.  Join our song with all of heaven as we worship you and proclaim the reign of your kingdom.  Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

         Worship the Lord with gladness; come into God's presence with singing.

Know that the Lord is God.  It is God that made us, and we are his;

we are his, and the sheep of his pasture.

         Enter God's gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.

         Give thanks to God, bless his name.

For the Lord is good; God's kingdom endures forever.

         And God's faithfulness endures throughout the generations.

   PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Merciful God, hear our prayer as we confess our shortcomings.  We proclaim your reign in our lives, yet our hearts are hardened to the needs of others.  We proclaim your light that outshines all darkness, yet we are trapped by despair and doubt.  We proclaim our mission is to live out the gospel message, yet we often lack the courage to speak the truth in love.  Forgive us, O God.  Embolden us to live our lives with intentionality and purpose; encourage us to live into our full potential as Christ's disciples.

SCRIPTURE READINGS                                                John 21:1-19, p. 115 and Acts 10:34-43, p. 129

Daily Prayer April 22

SATURDAY April 22

Mound Ridge Camp

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Isaiah 25:1-9; Acts 4:13-21 (22-31); John 16:16-33

God, our creator, you have given us work to do and call us to use our talents for the good of all. Guide us as we work, and teach us to live in the Spirit who made us your sons and daughters, in the love that made us sisters and brothers. Remember, O God, your church. Unite it in the truth of your Word and empower it in ministry to the world. Remember the world of nations. By your Spirit renew the face of the earth; let peace and justice prevail. Remember our family and friends. Bless them and watch over them; be gracious to them and give them peace. Remember the sick and the suffering, the aged and the dying. Encourage them and give them hope. Rejoicing in the communion of saints, we remember with thanksgiving all your faithful servants, whom you have called from this life. We are grateful that for them death is no more, nor is there sorrow, crying, or pain, for the former things have passed away. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

Go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.)

Youth News

Hat DaySunday, May 7

On May 7, the students are asking you to have Hats On! for Cancer. This is a fundraiser to benefit Friends of Kids with Cancer, a local organization that provides assistance to children, youth, and their families when faced with a cancer diagnosis. For a tiny $1 donation, we will be wearing our hats in worship! Please plan on wearing a hat on May 7!

Cape Mission Update
To date we have made over 50 capes! We hope to make another 25 in April and deliver them to our friends at Cardinal Glennon. Thank you to all who have sewn, donated fleece and other materials! Our Youth and our friends at Cardinal Glennon are grateful for your support!!

All-Church Earth Day Retreat

The Annual all-church Earth Day Retreat has been postponed to August 26-27, 2017 due to weather concerns.  Watch for sign ups later this summer!

THE CHURCH IS LEAVING THE BUILDING !

The Second Annual All-Church Earth Day Retreat at Mound Ridge Retreat and Mission Center, Inc.

Friday, April 28 – Sunday, April 30
Come down on Friday night, or come down on Saturday morning.

Campfire, Trails, Fishing, Labyrinth, Rock Skipping, Outdoor Worship, Wading, S’Mores

This will be a wonderful time of Fellowship and Worship for our St. Mark Family!

Sign up in the narthex on Sundays or download a copy of the Retreat Registration Flyer here!

Click here for photos from last year.

Returning to Stillness

"Remember the stillness in you is always there to come back to." -Pastor Susan

Without a doubt, Tuesday yoga brings me to a better place than I was before practice. Yesterday, though, was a bit different.

For the past five weeks of Lent, each Tuesday, I have found myself drawn to a collage of post-its & pictures on the wall next to where I typically park my yoga mat. The collage is from the 3rd-5th grade Sunday School class. There is a picture of two hands joining two fingers & both thumbs in the shape of a heart & framing the sun. There is also a piece of paper with the word "Forgiveness". 

That word...it made me uneasy. It almost felt like a challenge. And although I would leave yoga feeling lighter, my head space was anything but still.
But yesterday, the collage didn't intimidate me as much. So instead of challenging it, I tried to invite it into my practice for the entire hour I was on my mat. 

Today, I have seen at least a dozen hearts. I believe they are always there, hanging out, waiting to be noticed. Sometimes, I live life too fast & I forget to look. Today, I think I came back to my place of stillness where I remembered to look. #iseeheartsallthetime #tuesdayismyspiritday

N. Douglas

Yoga St. Mark Presbyterian 

Tuesdays from 9:30am-10:30am in Room 17-19 Bring a mat.

Nicaragua Partnership

The Nicaragua Partnership: Thank you so much for the very generous gifts from St. Mark to the 
Nicaragua Community Partnership. We are especially gratified by the special gifts in memory of Dick Fuller. What a wonderful man and a great way to honor him. We just heard that 33 students started school on February 6, so they are off and running! We’re processing the 1st installment of scholarships, so the money will soon be on its way. Please do keep this mission in your hearts and prayers. I hope to hear from the members Clarice has referred to our trip in July. We’d love to have some folks from St. Mark. 

Fondly, Harriet Hall

For more on this, Click here.

2017 Mission Trip to Nicaragua

Join our annual delegation to visit Plan Grande #2!

July 8-16, 2017

Estimated costs $1600

Easter

PRAYER IN PREPARATION:  We gather today to rejoice, O God, we come to celebrate the power of life over death.  We gather in wonderment:  the empty tomb confounds our wisdom, and breaks our worldview.  We gather with a touch of fear:  fear of the death that comes before resurrection, fear of the transformed life that comes after it.   As we gather today, fill us with the promise of new life, and may we leave this place renewed in hope, ready to proclaim resurrection to the world around us.  Alleluia!  Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP (based on Psalm 118)

Alleluia!  Christ is Risen!

         Alleluia!  Christ is Risen indeed!

O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good, God’s steadfast love endures forever.

         The Lord is my strength and my might; God has become my salvation.

Ring the chimes, make a joyful noise; join the dance of merrymakers!

         This is the day that the Lord has made: we will rejoice and be glad in it!

Alleluia!  Christ is Risen!

         Alleluia!  Christ is Risen indeed!

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Holy God, our hearts ache for hope, our souls crave some fresh word of grace.  Yet we are sophisticated people, and we are not easily surprised.  We come this Easter morning neither frightened nor amazed.  Our conclusions about the way the world works have long been made up, closed up, and sealed tight.  Have mercy on us, O God, forgive us.  Shake us with the astounding goodness of this day.  Crack open our hearts and minds to fresh possibilities of life made new.  Astonish us with your forgiveness.  Grant that we may come to know the depth of joy this day holds forth.  Amen.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

We believe in Jesus Christ, born of Mary, who came healing the broken, serving the poor, liberating the burdened, and reconciling heaven and earth.  Condemned by the religious and crucified by the State, Jesus died forsaken.  No pain in our hearts or throughout the whole earth is unknown to Christ.

Yet, redeeming even death, God raised Jesus from the grave.  Christ ascended into heaven to be everywhere present so that nothing is beyond the reach of God’s healing touch.

Christ calls us by name to celebrate life, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen.  In life, in death, in life beyond death, we belong to God. Alleluia!  Amen.

Holy Saturday

Prayer in Preparation  God of passionate and vulnerable love, whose body, broken on the cross, rebukes us still:  Save us, hold us, and forgive us, so that you, both victim and victor, might lead us from death to life; through Christ our Savior.  Amen.

Call to Worship (Isaiah 53:4)

Surely he has borne our griefs

            and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken

            smitten by God, and afflicted.

Unison Prayer

Almighty God, look with mercy on your family for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and to be given over to the hands of sinners and to suffer death on the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession

God the Merciful, we come to you having missed your way.  We confess our abiding concern for our own interests and our thoughtlessness of others.  We confess our self defeating anxieties and fears.  Where we have clung to old errors and distrusted your truth, where we have put our faith in power and security, grant us a portion of your love for humanity and for the world you have made.  Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, grant us the strength to begin again.  This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Good Friday

Call to Worship

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

            have mercy on me, a sinner.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

            have mercy on me, a sinner.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

            have mercy on me, a sinner.

John 19:16-42New International Version (NIV)

16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth,the king of the jews. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

“They divided my clothes among them
    and cast lots for my garment.”[a]

So this is what the soldiers did.

25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman,[b] here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus

28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crossesduring the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled:“Not one of his bones will be broken,”[c] 37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”[d]

The Burial of Jesus

³⁸ Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. ³⁹ He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.^[e] 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. ⁴¹ At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. ⁴² Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.