Sunday, September 30, 2018

Worship Prayers Sept. 23

CENTERING PRAYER  Thank you, God, for this good night and day, for time to sleep and wake, for dark and light, for silence and noise, for stillness and movement, for my body, mind, and heart.  Give me the strength today to bear my cross with patience so that whomever I meet will find a moment of calm in my presence because of you.  I pray this in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP
Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good.
        God’s steadfast love endures forever.
The last are first in the realm of God;
        the least are welcomed in Jesus’ name.
Let us all worship God together.


   PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, we confess we have not followed your way.  We sow the seeds of conflict while you seek the harvest of peace.  We argue about who is the greatest while you welcome in the least and last.  Forgive us, God of grace.  Draw near to us this day with the wisdom of your Word, and teach us how to serve you.  We continue to pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Silent Confession)

Click here for the sermon "Enough is Enough"


SCRIPTURE READING                                                 James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a

   SERMON                                           “Enough Is Enough”
Rev. Dr. Dave Burgess


Saturday, September 29, 2018

Scripture for Sept. 30

James 5:13-20 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Photo by Rosie Fraser on Unsplash

The Prayer of Faith

13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.
19 My brothers and sisters,[a] if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, 20 you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s[b] soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Footnotes:

  1. James 5:19 Gk My brothers
  2. James 5:20 Gk his
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Friday, September 28, 2018

Daily Prayer Sept. 28

FRIDAY
You, O Lord, are full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger, and rich in kindness.
Esther 8:1-8, 15-17; Acts 19:21-41; Luke 4:31-37
God our creator, you made all things in your wisdom, and in your love you save us. We pray for the whole creation. Overthrow evil powers, right what is wrong, feed and satisfy those who thirst for justice, so that all your children may freely enjoy the earth you have made, and joyfully sing your praises. Take all our doubts and uncertainties, O God, and fill us with such faith that we may be confident of your love and loyal in the service of him who died and yet lives for us, Jesus Christ the Lord. Merciful God, you bear the pain of the world. Look with compassion on those who are sick; cheer them by your word, and bring healing as a sign of your grace. God of comfort, stand with those who sorrow; that they may be sure that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, shall separate them from your love. (Add your prayers,) Amen.
As God's own, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, and patience, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, and crown all these things with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
 Amen.

(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.)

Monday, September 24, 2018

Thank you St. Mark Congregation

Once again the ABC sale is just a memory. The racks and hangers have been put away, awaiting the

gathering, sorting and selling of treasures next year. It took so many of you contributing goods, time and talent to make the 2018 all-church rummage sale a grand success! The total reached nearly $12,000. What is important about that figure is that it will enable the Board of Deacons to reach out into the community with a helping hand and to hopefully make a difference in so many of the lives of our neighbors. The deacons will deliberate carefully in order to make meaningful choices.

In addition to the cash that was received and that will go right back out into our area, real goods were donated to a variety of places. During the week of the sale, a trailer from Remains sat outside in the back parking lot, ready to accept recyclable goods. After the sale, trucks pulled up to the front of the church, two from the Salvation Army and one from the Kidney Foundation to load unsold items from all departments except for clothing. The clothing went out the door by the kitchen into the truck from Isaiah 58. The loading was done by department workers and a “Takedown” committee, along with hardworking Boy Scouts and their leaders from the St. Mark troop. (We promised them many more spaghetti supper tickets would be sold next year!) Boxes of books were taken to the Veterans Administration to share at the hospital there. Suits, shirts, pants and suitcases were donated to the parole system so that those going out to find jobs would have interview clothing that they needed.

Organizations within the church benefit, too. The Christmas Boutique, the Claymont Preschool at St. Mark, the Fellowship Committee, Presbyterian Women, the Property Committee and Children’s Ministry all received items that they needed.

The sale actually continues year-round in yet another way. J. Morgan faithfully lists some unique treasures on EBay in the months to come in order to make additional funds for the Deacons to delegate. She takes on the task of monitoring this, shipping items all over in order to make the ABC event even better.

There are so many of you to thank, and we inevitably find that we have left someone out. The problem is that this all happens so quickly in the space of one week, and we often don’t have time to jot your name down or to have a sign-in sheet at a key place. Therefore we are not including a list with this article. Please know that we are grateful for each and every one of you, and we hope that you know that! By name we do need to thank Carol Pfeil, Jim Brewer and the Burgess family for all that they did during the week of the sale. And all of the rest of you (nearly 100) can feel certain that you have made a difference as you were doing God’s work. We pray that you will continue to help us next year; see you August 2, 3, 2019 - and the intense week before!

With love, C. Bartell, V. Chabot, B. Pierce

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Worship Prayers for Sept. 16

CENTERING PRAYER  As I open my eyes, I can see the heavens that tell of your glory.  Allow me to be part of this creation that proclaims your handiwork and your real presence in the world.  Amen.

     
CALL TO WORSHIP
Look at the heavens!
        They are shouting the glory of God.
The days and the nights declare the magnificence of God’s creative works.
        Their voice goes through all the earth, and their words reach the ends of the world.
Let our words of praise be acceptable to you.
        Our Lord, our rock, our redeemer!

   PRAYER OF CONFESSION
You have called us, O God, and we have refused to listen; you have stretched out your hand, and we have not taken it.  We have taken what you have given us and used those gifts to hurt others and defy you.  We have refused to be tamed by your wisdom.  Forgive our inability to recognize you and live out the reality of your gospel.  Give us the insight we need to understand your place in our livesso that our words and actions reflect the glory of God in the lives of others.  In the name of the Messiah we continue to pray.  (Silent Confession)


SCRIPTURE READING                                                            James 3:1-12


† 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.

For the sermon "Burn Ban", click here.

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Scripture for September 23

James 3:13-4:3 New International Version (NIV)

Two Kinds of Wisdom

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving,considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Submit Yourselves to God

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

James 4:7-8a New International Version (NIV)

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Come near to God and he will come near to you. 

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblical

Photo by Nikki Douglas

Friday, September 21, 2018

Daily Prayer for Sept. 21

FRIDAY

You, O Lord, are full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger, and rich in kindness.
Esther 1:1-4, 10-19; Acts 17:1-15; John 12:36b-43
God our creator, you made all things in your wisdom, and in your love you save us. We pray for the whole creation. Overthrow evil powers, right what is wrong, feed and satisfy those who thirst for justice, so that all your children may freely enjoy the earth you have made, and joyfully sing your praises. Take all our doubts and uncertainties, O God, and fill us with such faith that we may be confident of your love and loyal in the service of him who died and yet lives for us, Jesus Christ the Lord. Merciful God, you bear the pain of the world. Look with compassion on those who are sick; cheer them by your word, and bring healing as a sign of your grace. God of comfort, stand with those who sorrow; that they may be sure that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, shall separate them from your love. (Add your prayers,) Amen.
As God's own, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, and patience, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, and crown all these things with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

(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.)

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Discover St. Mark: a Sunday in Photos

On Sunday, Sept 9th, we had our first annual Discover Sunday.  It was an opportunity for committees to share with the congregation and visitors what they do.
Scouts

Fellowship Committee

Choir

Caregiving Committee

Monday, September 17, 2018

Mission Money: Receiving and Giving

Mission Committee
Monetary donations that are given to our core mission partners are sourced from Session allocated funds, designated donations from St. Mark members, along with the majority of funds being generated through fundraisers such as The ABC Sale, Christmas Alternatives, Christmas Tea for Lydia's House, Circle of Concern Golf Tournament, PW Christmas Boutique.

This financial support is in addition to ongoing hands-on volunteer activities and in-kind gifts collected during back to school drives, Thanksgiving food drive, Children's/Youth Ministries Christmas gift drives for designated mission partners, and ongoing food pantry donations to name a few. A list of our core local and international mission partners are listed below. To ensure that we are good stewards of the resources we share with our mission partners, there is a direct connection between St. Mark and each of our core mission partners.

Local Mission Partners: BBJ, Lydia’s House, Circle of Concern. Mound Ridge, Isaiah 58, Peace Meal, Lafayette Industries, Presbyterian Children Homes & Services, U-Kirk

International Mission Partners: Marion Medical Mission, PCUSA Mission Co-Workers, Medical Benevolence Foundation, Haiti-Mark Hare, Partners for Just Trade, Peru-Jed Koball, PCUSA Nicaragua PG2 Scholarship Fund

If you have any questions or suggestions about St. Mark Mission activities-or-want to get involved, please contact C. Polak, C. Hutchens or J. Blackwell, Committee Co-Chairs or call the church office 636-394-2233

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Worship Prayers for Sept. 9

CENTERING PRAYER  Generous God, you are my maker and I trust in you.  Surround me with your favor today that I may hear the cry of those in need and share my resources with the poor; in the excellent name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord.  Amen.

     
CALL TO WORSHIP
Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good.
        God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Be strong; do not fear!  God is with us.
        The Lord will come to save us.
Let us worship our God together.


   PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of favor, we have not been true to you.  You have chosen the poor in the world, but we have dishonored them.  You plead the cause of the afflicted, but we crush them.  We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  We have favored the rich and despised the poor.  We have dismissed the needy with empty words.  Soften our hearts and make straight our ways. Heal our unbelief and turn us back to you.  (Silent Confession)

SCRIPTURE READING                                                  James 2:1-10; 14-17

  
† 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.

For the sermon "All My Favorites", click here.