Moderator's Report

 

 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NRSV.) 

St. Mark Presbyterian Church experienced several different seasons over the past year. There are the ones we recognize easily because of our liturgy and the changes in the worship space, but I’m not talking about Lent, Easter, Advent, or Christmas. The church went through many unique periods in 2023, and it’s appropriate to remember, to celebrate, and to examine ways we can continue to grow spiritually as individuals and as a church.

 A Time to Grow: Our congregation continued its strong connection with our neighbors by hosting many Claymont Neighborhood Association events in the facility and on the parking lot. These events provide a fellowship opportunity for our community, and I am thrilled to see so many St. Mark people at these gatherings. We’ve also seen an increase in the number of firsttime visitors and returning guests at our Sunday worship service. I believe this is directly tied to our initiatives to welcome more people to our campus. I am excited about the broad age-range of those getting involved at the church. I love how much we have grown as a welcoming congregation over the years. 

A Time to Keep Silent: St. Mark made a bold, healthy, and helpful decision several years ago to establish a clergy sabbatical program. I was able to disconnect from the congregation for three months last summer. I know the time away caused anxiety among some, but I believe the hard work of Pastor MP, Pastor Carol, and the rest of the staff helped to alleviate these fears. The period away provided me an opportunity to spend more time with my family, travel to several Civil War battlefields, and sharpen my pastoral axe. I returned to the church in early September with a renewed energy for my call here at St. Mark.

 A Time to Weep: 2023 was not without its own share of difficult challenges. We said goodbye to several longtime friends who finished their earthly race and who now rest from their labors. The session also made the difficult decision to conclude the Saturday evening worship service. The church started the service in the late 1990s as an alternative for people who could not attend Sunday morning. The internet was still in its infancy, and Facebook, YouTube, and other social media sites did not exist. A lot has changed in the past 25 years, and everyone is now able to participate in the Sunday morning service remotely or watch it ondemand. I, along with many others, mourn the conclusion of the Saturday service, but it served its purpose for many years, and, for that, we give God the glory! 

A Time to Seek: I am so excited about what God is doing in, with, and through us here at St. Mark. Along with the increase in attendance and participation, I see a renewed emphasis in 7 education, mission, and civic engagement. I trust we will all continue to live out our CREDO as we SEEK, DISCOVER, and SHARE the good news of Jesus Christ with all of our neighbors.

 In Hope and Confidence, Pastor Dave 

Worship Prayers for January 28

 CENTERING PRAYER (Jonah 2:2-9)

 

“I called to the Lord out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. Then I said, “I am driven away from your sight; how shall I look again upon your holy temple?” The waters closed in over me; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped around my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me for ever; yet you brought up my life from the Pit, O Lord my God. As my life was ebbing away, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. Those who worship vain idols forsake their true loyalty. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Deliverance belongs to the Lord!”

 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 30)

 

I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up,

and did not let my foes rejoice over me.

O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you healed me.

O LORD, you brought up my soul from Sheol,

restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.

Sing praises to the LORD, O you his faithful ones,

and give thanks to his holy name.

For his anger is but for a moment; his favour is for a lifetime.

Weeping may linger for the night,

but joy comes in the morning.

“Hear, O LORD, and be gracious unto us!

O LORD, be our helper!”

 

 

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. You pardon our sins, but we cannot forgive our enemies. You provide abundant blessings, but we remain stuck in anger, swallowed up by our grievances. Forgive us, heal us, and lead us back to you, that we might show mercy to others. We continue to pray in Jesus’ name. (Silent Confession)

 

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – The Apostles’ Creed

 

 

OFFERING

 

Invitation to the Offering

 

God is our rock and our fortress. Let us celebrate our salvation by fearlessly giving a portion of what has already been given to us.

 

 

Prayer after Offering

 

Let us pray…Merciful God, you saved us for a purpose. We dedicate these gifts as we dedicate our lives to you. Please use these offerings to further your kingdom of justice, mercy, and peace. Amen.

 

Scripture for January 28

 Jonah 3:1-4:1

Jonah Goes to Nineveh

Jonah Preaching to the Ninevites (1866)
by Gustave Doré,
La Grande Bible de Tours

3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:

“By the decree of the king and his nobles:

Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”

10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion

4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.

Daily Prayer Jan. 26

 

You, O Lord, are full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger, and rich in kindness.

Daily Readings for Friday, January 26, 2024

• Morning Psalms 88; 148
• First Reading Genesis 17:15-27
• Second Reading Hebrews 10:11-25
• Gospel Reading John 6:1-15
• Evening Psalms 6; 20

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.)

Worship Prayers for Jan. 21, 2024

 

CENTERING PRAYER*                                                                                                                                          

Your love, which breathed this world into being, established a covenant people,

brought them out of captivity and into a promised land. Hallelujah!
Your love, which, from the moment of our birth, has known and called us by name

from out of this world’s slavery into the kingdom of God. Hallelujah!
Your love, poured into the heart of Jesus who endured the nails of our sin,

defeated death to rise again and causes our hearts to sing Hallelujah!

 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP (From Psalm 25)

 

Make me to know your ways,

O Lord; teach me your paths.

Lead us in your truth, and teach us,

for you are the God of our salvation.

Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your

steadfast love, for they have been from old.

Good and upright is the LORD;

therefore, God instructs sinners in the way.

God leads the humble in what is right,

and teaches the humble the way.

All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love

and faithfulness, for those who keep

God’s covenant and God’s decrees.

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Redeeming God, we confess we do not love you with our whole heart, and we do not love our neighbors as we ought; we stray from your commandments and forget your covenants. Do not remember our sins, but forgive our iniquities, that we may fix our eyes on you and sin no more. We continue to pray in Jesus’ name. (Silent Confession)

 

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – The Apostles’ Creed

 

 

OFFERING

 

Invitation to the Offering

 

Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and takes on new life, it remains just a single grain. With grateful hearts, let us bring the fruit of lives to God.

 

 

Prayer after Offering

 

Let us pray… Loving God, your covenant of love never fails. Please use these gifts we return to you today to glorify you and bless the world. May you make them perfect through Christ. Amen.

*(J. Birch, www.faithandworship.com)