What do you notice when tasting a new dish at
home or at a restaurant? If you prepare most of your
own food, what ingredients do you rely on for a
flavorful and satisfying meal? For me, the answer
resides in the cabinet that always stays open the
longest when I’m in the kitchen: spices.
Spices are often over looked during regular food
drives, but can make a world of difference for people
as they prepare meals for their families. During
February, the deacons are encouraging you to
participate in a spice drive. Please visit the cooking
aisle in your grocery store and pick up some
seasonings to share with our sisters and brothers
served by Isaiah 58 and Circle of Concern.
Donations may be placed on the table in front of
Pastor Dave’s office.
Suggested spices include:
Chili powder Italian seasoning Garlic powder Dried onion flakes Cinnamon Cumin Red pepper flakes Basil leaves Bay leaves Paprika Ginger powder Mrs. Dash (all flavors)
Isaiah 58 Ministries, located at Compton Heights
Christian Church, seeks to meet the needs of low
income individuals through direct services including
a food pantry, thrift store, healthy lifestyles
program, and a women’s group.
http://i58ministries.org/ Circle of Concern feeds the hungry and provides
assistance services to low-income families living in
west St. Louis County.
http://www.circleofconcern.org/
CENTERING PRAYER:Loving God, no matter what I am facing today—mourning or gladness, buying or selling—help me to focus on you throughout it all. Then bring me home safely to you. Amen.
CALL TO WORSHIP (from Psalm 62)
From God comes my salvation.
For God alone my soul waits in silence.
God alone is my rock and my salvation.
God is my fortress; I shall never be shaken.
Let us worship our giving and forgiving God together.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Forgiving God,we repent of all the ways we turn from you.You call, but we do not listen;you show us your path, but we prefer our own way.Forgive us, heal us, and lead us back to you,that we might show mercy to others.In Jesus’ name we continue to pray. (Silent Confession)
† AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Apostles’ Creed)
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Genesis 18:1-16; Hebrews 10:26-39; John 6:16-27
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.)
Please join us for
Presbyterian Women’s Annual Tea
As part of the program guests are asked to bring
something that they have taken off the wall
and share the story of the item.
The tea table will be set with an off the wall array of tasty morsels.
Wednesday, January 31 at 1:00 and 6:30 p.m.
Reserve your place at the PW Table in the Narthex.
Not for women only!
Save the date:
St. Mark Women’s Retreat "Seaside Escape" February 23-24, 2018
Registration starts January 15
In the first six months after my husband’s death my children and I were flooded with cards, e-mails, letters, texts, phone calls, Facebook messages, books on grief and even one surprise visit at our doorstep by a church we had never heard of, wanting to pray with us (yes, I’ll be honest, that last one made me a bit uncomfortable).
While the words of support came from a diverse range of ages, religious backgrounds and geographic locations, certain common themes began to emerge. Most cards bore an image of a fluttering butterfly, a serene beach, an autumn leaf twisting in the wind or a secluded lake at sunset. Books covered the basics of “what to expect when you’re grieving;” I flipped through a few in hopes of coming across a random photo of Adam Levine, but seeing none, never actually got around to reading them. And text messages frequently included a link to a blog article that inevitably explained why no matter how bleak or hopeless things felt I must never, ever blame God for what had happened. In fact, seldom did a week pass in those first six months that someone didn’t advise me, “People will tell you this is God’s will, but it’s not.” The funny thing is, not one person actually told me that my husband’s death at the age of 41 was God’s will or part of God’s plan. No one. Not once. But plenty of people told me that it wasn’t.
So instead, I was left with two possibilities: A) His heart attack was random, which meant there was no plan, and my broken little family was now in a complete and total free fall, or B) His heart attack was someone’s fault, and therefore could have been prevented.
Maybe it was my husband’s fault for loving his IPA a bit too much, and for refusing to take up golf, which I was certain was a much safer hobby than running. Or maybe it was my fault for contributing to his high blood pressure by letting him eat cheeseburgers and arguing with him over what were ultimately petty issues (did it really matter whose turn it was to unload the dishwasher?), and for not having his running route memorized so I’d know where to look if he didn’t come home on time. Blaming myself was much easier than blaming my husband, because I always loved him too much to stay angry with him for long. So I spent months lying in bed at night listing all the reasons it was my fault; I counted reasons to blame myself the way others count sheep.
But whatever you do, don’t blame God.
In the midst of one of those long, sleepless nights, I heard a voice in the back of my head—Harry Anderson’s voice, because that’s how I picture God—telling me, “It’s okay to blame me, Kathy. I can take it.” To finally be able to put our loss in God’s hands gave me a tremendous sense of peace.
God had, in his divine wisdom, seen fit to make sure we met at a young age. He filled my husband’s short life with three beautiful children, a rewarding career and a “smokin’ hot wife,” as my husband, a “Talladega Nights” fan, used to call me. We had shared not one, but many fairytale endings. Others point to their happy endings as evidence that God exists. They say that he has blessed them by providing large houses, fat bank accounts, good health and long, happy marriages—in short, answering their prayers. But sometimes, when those answered prayers turn out to be temporary and those fairytale endings fleeting, God makes his presence felt simply by taking on our anger, taking up our burden of guilt and loving us regardless.
St. Mark Presbyterian has a Grief Share program that meets on Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30. For more information, click here.
CENTERING PRAYER:As I rise this day, O God, I give you thanks for breath and life, for the people I will see today, for family, neighbors, and friends, and for those whose ways are challenging to my serenity. Help me to give thanks especially for the people who pull me to new understandings and show me sides of life that I have not known or do not welcome. Urge me to follow you today; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
CALL TO WORSHIP (from Psalm 139)
O LORD, you have searched us and known us.
You know when we sit down and when we rise up;
you discern our thoughts from far away.
You search out our paths and our lying down, and are acquainted with all our ways.
How weighty to us are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
We try to count them - they are more than the sand;
We come to the end - we are still with you.
Come, let us worship the God who formed us and is reforming the world.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy God, you see into each of us and know us fully as creatures in need of your constant care. We confess we have neither heard your word nor followed your will. We have failed our nation, neighbors, families, friends, and ourselves. Give us ears to hear your wisdom and lives to follow your call. Lead us to honesty and faith so that we may begin again with renewed strength; We continue to pray in Jesus’ name. (Silent Confession)
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
…God of grace, hear our prayer.
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
[Prayer requests may be given to one of the pastors before the service.]
† AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – Confession of 1967 – 9.07
In Jesus Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself. Jesus Christ is God with humankind. He is the eternal Son of the Father, who became human and lived among us to fulfill the work of reconciliation. He is present in the church by the power of the Holy Spirit to continue and complete his mission. This work of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the foundation of all confessional statements about God, humanity, and the world. Therefore, the church calls all people to be reconciled to God and to one another.
Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Genesis 12:9-13:1; Hebrews 7:18-28; John 4:27-42
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.)
January is the beginning of a new semester for
students everywhere. Many of those students
are off to college, far from home and their home
church. We hope our young people continue
their spiritual journey. It is in this spirit that the
deacons support UKirk, a “University Church” -
a ministry of the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy.
UKirk is a worshipping community
that sings, reflects, prays, and celebrates
communion together; they serve together, play
together, and rejoice in Christ together.
So what does UKirk St. Louis do?
From their
website:
Sunday Dinner & Worship with
Communion: We gather as a whole
community from 6 PM to 8 PM on
Sunday evenings for dinner and worship
with communion at Trinity
On Campus Small Groups: UKirk gathers
mid-week for Bible study and discussion.
In Spring 2016, we gathered at WashU on
Tuesday nights and SLU on Wednesday
nights
Service & Fellowship Events: In addition to
Sunday evenings, UKirk gathers during
the week for fellowship and service
events, as we learn more about St. Louis
and the ways that we can love our
neighbors in this space
Want to learn more? Check out their website
at http://www.ukirkstl.org. Or ask one
of your deacons!
St . Mark will join other
churches in our Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery in reading
‘Waking Up White’ by
Debby Irving for our first
2018 book! We plan to get
some copies soon to be
available to buy in the
church office. Or grab a
copy off Amazon or at the
bookstore and join in our upcoming discussions
which will be announced sometime during
Winter 2018.
“Waking Up White is a wake up call for white
people who want to consciously contribute to
racial justice rather than unconsciously
perpetuate patterns of racism. With honesty and
humility, Debby Irving shares her own story of
transformation…a journey of learning about the
realities of racism and the unintended impacts of
white privilege.” Terry Keleher
Amazon says:
Waking Up White is the book Irving wishes someone had handed her decades ago. By sharing her sometimes cringe-worthy struggle to understand racism and racial tensions, she offers a fresh perspective on bias, stereotypes, manners, and tolerance. As Irving unpacks her own long-held beliefs about colorblindness, being a good person, and wanting to help people of color, she reveals how each of these well-intentioned mindsets actually perpetuated her ill-conceived ideas about race. She also explains why and how she's changed the way she talks about racism, works in racially mixed groups, and understands the antiracism movement as a whole. Exercises at the end of each chapter prompt readers to explore their own racialized ideas. Waking Up White's personal narrative is designed to work well as a rapid read, a book group book, or support reading for courses exploring racial and cultural issues.
We welcome members to share their thoughts about this book through discussions or on this blog.
PRAYER IN PREPARTION: Living God, maker of light, thank you for the gift of this day. Let me be a light in your world so that people will look at me and see the goodness of your creation; in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
CALL TO WORSHIP
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The Spirit of God swept over the face of the waters;
then God said: Let there be light, and God saw that it was good.
At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus was baptized by John. The heavens opened, and the Spirit descended like a dove;
then God said: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Let us worship our loving, creating, and creative God together.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of all glory, you look from heaven and see us as we are—not worthy to kneel at your feet, not ready to welcome your way. Forgive us, gracious God. In Christ, stoop down to save us; loosen the ties that bind us to sin and set us free to love and serve you. We continue to pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
† AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – Westminster Confession of Faith Shorter Catechism Question One
What is our chief end?
Our Chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy God forever
Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name
of the Lord Jesus.
Isaiah 49:1-7; Revelation 21:22-27; Matthew 12:14-21
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 Group for grades 6-12 will now be Sundays 4-6p.m. unless otherwise indicated & Bible Study for grades 6-12 will be Wednesdays 6:30-7:30p.m. Youth Group will have elements of recreation, mission projects, music, and biblical discussion tying into the lectionary. It will reinforce the sermon from morning worship, and will be the same scripture as Pastor Susan’s adult Sunday School class, creating fluidity on Sundays.
Bible Study, held on Wednesdays, will be more topical, and will continue the Fruits of the Spirit theme. January’s Fruit is Faithfulness. While we will all be meeting together, there will time for breakout groups according to ages, to have varying degrees of conversation, as age group allows. For further information, contact Katie Sternhagen, Stacey Caplinger, or Pastors Susan and Dave.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
YOUTH GROUP (Sundays 4-6p.m.)
January 21 Youth Group
January 26 Bowling for Brandon
January 28 OUTING: Incredible Pizza
BIBLE STUDY (Wednesdays 6:30-7:30 p.m.)
January 10 Spiritual Fruit: Faithfulness
January 17 Spiritual Fruit: Faithfulness
January 24 Spiritual Fruit: Faithfulness
SOUPER BOWL OF CARING The Youth will once again be collecting cans and money for Souper Bowl of Caring! Our goal is to raise $500 and 500 cans! Vote for whom YOU think the winner of the Big Game that day! No amount is too small! Stay tuned for ways to contribute leading up to the Big Game! Feb. 4.
BLUES HOCKEY GAME Join our St. Mark family at the Blues Game on February 11 as the Blues take on the Penguins! Look for details to come!
BOWLING FOR BRANDON We are having a bowl-a-thon for Brandon Main at West County Lanes January 26. Cost is $30 per person, which covers shoes, bowling, and snacks. Start making your team! Registration forms are in the Narthex!
TRIVIA NIGHT 2018 Hey Daddy-O’s! Grab seven of your Coolest Cats and flat out join us at the 1950’s themed fundraiser on March 3rd! Don’t be a drag and make your table of 8. Cost is $200 for a table, or $25 for individual tickets. You are sure to have a swell time! To register, call or email Katie Sternhagen.
MONTREAT There are THREE SPOTS LEFT for Montreat 2018: Life Every Voice! We will head to the mountains for Week I, June 2-9. Cost is $365, and of course, scholarships are available! For additional questions call or email Katie Sternhagen!
Rev. Susan Hayes preached on Sunday, December 31st, 2017 at St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Ballwin, Missouri. Click here if the video doesn't appear. You can check out additional information about the church at www.discoverstmark.org.
Psalm 148
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his host!
Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded and they were created.
He established them for ever and ever;
he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling his command!
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and women alike,
old and young together!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!
In December of 2016, Brandon M. was completely paralyzed due to a virus that, along with his own immune system, attacked his spinal cord. Brandon has endured months of physical, occupational, and recreational therapy. This life-changing event has created physical challenges for him and financial challenges for him and his family. Let’s help them meet these mounting medical expenses with this fundraising event!
Save the Date for January 26, 2018! We are
having a bowl-a-thon for Brandon at
West County Lanes. Cost is $30 per person,
which covers shoes, bowling, and snacks. Start
forming your team. Click here for more details.
Please complete and return this form, along with your registration fee, to St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 601 Claymont Drive, Ballwin, MO 63011. Checks can be made payable to St. Mark, and the registration deadline is January 15, 2018.
PRAYER IN PREPARATION -. Amazing God, you have confounded the wisdom of this world by coming to us in the form of a human baby, frail and vulnerable. Help us to comprehend the great love with which you open yourself to our world, that we in turn may risk to open ourselves in love toward all your children, and that we may find the source of our lives in Jesus Christ. Amen
CALL TO WORSHIP
Out of the busyness of our worlds,
Out of the crankiness and boredom of life-as usual
Out of the darkness, we have seen a great light
Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness: on them has light shined.
The birth of a baby calls us to something special.
Let our worship be our new beginning. Amen
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Eternal God, who can make all things new, we humbly bring before you the record of our lives in the year now ending. Where life has been good to us, do not let us take more of the credit than we deserve. Where we have been good to others, help us to forget all thoughts of honor and reward. Where we have fallen short, forgive us, and free us from brooding over what is past. Cleanse us by your mercy, guide us by your truth, fill us with your love, lead us forward in your all-conquering hope. Through the grace of Jesus Christ. Amen
SCRIPTURE Psalm 148; Luke 2:22-40 Sermon "Impossible is Nothing" Click here if it doesn't appear below
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men[a] and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising,[b]until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped,[c] they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
"In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” 7Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”
9When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
13Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
How do you tell the Christmas Story? I spent most of last December going through and clearing out all the things my parents had left behind in the big family home, and hearing the echoes of all that had been lived there over the generations- including the passages from Luke and Matthew as read by my Father on Christmas Eve. Every year he was, as well, in high demand for his Christmas Star presentation (he used to describe himself as a Southern Baptist Scots-Irish Mystic Teacher Physicist Astronomer. I've provided the links The Christmas Star Part 1 of 2 (Dr. J. W. (Bill) Northrip 1982) The Christmas Star Part 2 of 2 (Dr. J. W. (Bill) Northrip 1982), so you can hear for yourself how that all works together!) He didn't see a conflict between Faith and Science, was able to share both in a wide variety of settings with people of many beliefs, and included scripture in his maxim "the best questions don't lead to answers, they lead to better questions." I remember a great conversation we had when his colleague at MSU Dr. Juris Zarins published research indicating that the idea of the Three Kings might be due to a translation error, and how taking gold out of the story might have changed the celebration of the season. http://articles.latimes.com/1992-12-13/news/mn-3989_1_precious-metal
I try to keep these ways of telling the story alive, as well as trying to stay open to the newness that every year brings. For the last couple of days I have thought about a video clip shown at our St. Mark midweek conversation about Incarnation led by Pastor Dave Burgess (whose father completes a MSU trifecta for this blog, having been a colleague of my father and Dr. Zarins!) by Parker Palmer (Click here) that speaks to me of birth, and rebirth, and is truly the story of the Season:
"And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth." John 1:14
Prayer-
Dear God, thank you for coming into the world as we all have, and through your example giving us the gift of being reborn in your love. Amen.
Suggested spices include:
