Day 15, Friendship Pads – Linda Larimer
“Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7)
Most of us who attend worship regularly can go into autopilot during certain parts of the service. The signing and passing of the ritual of friendship pad is something we don’t always think about and maybe some of us skip it altogether. When I was part of the membership committee I started to notice this small part of our church service more. The committee reviews these pages for visitors who are comfortable enough to mark that they are new or are considering joining the church. Although members might feel that they would recognize anyone who is new to St Mark, that isn’t always the case.
One Sunday a few years ago, for some reason that I can’t remember, I sat in a different part of the sanctuary and the lady next to me asked if I was a visitor and I replied that I had been a member for twenty years. She and I hadn’t interacted in those years. Beyond welcoming visitors, the committee also tries to determine if a congregant hasn’t been in church for a while so someone can reach out to that person.
But, the friendship pads aren’t only useful for the membership committee. On some Sundays, it is just nice to be reminded of the names of the people sitting near you. Take time to see others sharing worship, those that we’ve known for years and maybe some that are just starting their faith journey at St Mark. We are all gathered in worship, in community, for the glory of God.
“Dear Lord who created us all and sees us all, help us to see each other. Show us how to welcome all into your holy spaces. Amen.”
Day 16, Finding Sacred Space – Pastor MP
"Jesus said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat” (Mark 6:31.)
There’s something about sacred spaces—those places that invite us to pause, reflect, and become more aware of God’s presence. I am reminded of the time I walked a hilltop labyrinth. At first, I was distracted—beeping trucks, hammering sounds, and other various noises breaking into the quiet. But as I focused on the path ahead, I became aware of the sound of my own footsteps, the soft shuffle, and the crunch of gravel beneath my feet. I noticed how the sun cast my shadow along the winding path. This, I thought, is a sacred space.
The new Library in the pastor’s hallway has become one of those sacred places in our church. It’s a space where preschool families linger, shifting from the energy of the classroom to the rhythm of home. A place where people waiting for a friend or a meeting can sit, breathe, and relax. And sometimes, it becomes a quiet refuge—where someone in grief or uncertainty finds a moment of comfort and peace.
Sacred spaces don’t have to be grand or set apart in faraway places like the top of a hill—they can be places that are already part of our daily lives. In Isaiah 30:15, God says, “In quietness and trust is your strength.” Strength isn’t always found in movement, in productivity, in doing more. Sometimes, strength is found in the pause. In the quiet. In the space where we simply exist with God and with one another. In these spaces Jesus calls us simply to be present, taking a moment to notice the sights and sounds around us and within us, while listening for the quiet shuffles of life so that we can begin to see how God is at work in our midst.
“God of sacred spaces, make us aware of the moments when our lives cross paths with others. Let us be bearers of peace, comfort, and welcome in every space we inhabit. Amen.”
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