Ash Wednesday

Prayer of Confession

Lord, as we prepare for this Lenten season, of remembering your suffering, death, and resurrection, we must confess that we fail miserably in our attempt to live as you want us to. We fail to admit that we are weak and need your strength. We refuse to carry each other's burdens because of the pain it might cause. We crave power, riches and pleasure, instead of righteousness. We areseeking praise from the world, rather than from you. We are quick to call for vengeance rather than showing mercy. We deny our faith in you rather than face ridicule from those around us. Because we live this way, our hearts have become covered with impurities which causes us to hide from your presence.

Forgive us Lord and purify our hearts so that we may see you and live so that in your eyes we may be truly blessed. We pray this in the name of your Son who gave His life for us. Amen.

Begin your Lenten Journey with Ash Wednesday Worship 6:30-7:30 (or come for dinner at 5:15 and stay for worship) at St. Mark Presbyterian Church

Blood Drive 2015

St. Mark's first blood drive of 2015 will be held on Sunday, February 22nd, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM in Gleason Hall.  The need is great for your donation.  The Red Cross makes it very convenient for us to donate by showing up at our doorstep.  This is a great opportunity for us to help save lives.

 Did you know . . . That about 5 million Americans receive blood transfusions each year.  Every pint counts!

Prayers for Worship February 8

PRAYER IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP:  God of wonder and mystery, today we remember how you surprise us in every age.  Into the gloom of fear and want, you bring light; into emptiness, you bring abundance; into the cold, you bring warmth.  Into the hardness of the world, you bring the greatest power we have known, in the seemingly powerless form of an infant.  Enter now, Holy One, among us and within us, and move us to joyful adoration of your mystery and wonder.  Amen

CALL TO WORSHIP (A paraphrase of Psalm 103:10-13)

Leader:        God does not treat us as our sins deserve;

People:       or repay us according to our iniquities.

Leader:        For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

People:       so great is His love for those that revere Him.

Leader:        As a father has compassion on his children,

People:       so the Lord has compassion on those who revere Him.                   

Leader:        Let us worship the God who loves us like a father.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord, we don’t mean to ignore You, but we do.  We get so caught up in the rush of our lives that we move You to the background, saying that we will get to You later.  When we do this, we proclaim that You are not as important as all of the stuff we have to get done.  We take You for granted and rarely give You the place You deserve.  Forgive us for ignoring You and remind us that You are waiting for us to open the door of our lives to You.  As we do, Lord, please come in and take Your rightful place.

Click here for the sermon on February 9

G Force VBS 2015

Save the Date

We are looking forward to a great and exciting time at

St. Mark Presbyterian VBS this year.

July 20 – 24, 2015

Kids experience God’s unstoppable love and discover 
how to fuel up and move in and through life with God.

Pancakes on Sunday Feb. 15

Mardi Gras is just around the corner. The Fellowship Committee at St. Mark Presbyterian is having their Second Annual Shrove Tuesday on Sunday Pancake & Sausage Extravaganza on Sunday, Feb 15.

Last year we also had moon pie tossing, races with pancakes on head, and of course, the exciting pastor pancake flipping contest!!  What is in store for this year?  Join us!

This will be a free-will offering with a portion of the profits donated to our Circle Of Concern Children's Birthday supplies.

Lost Luggage

Anyone who travels a lot, has their luggage lost at least once.  If it is the beginning of a trip, there is alot of anxiety on how to "get along" without those items.

Terri Rider, former St.Mark member,  recently had luggage lost for a few days, but reflected on the lesson to be learned from lost luggage:

* New things, never been used things were in the luggage. We’re given spiritual gifts. What if those were never used. It would be such a waste to reach heaven and still have new, unused things.

* Costly things – not yet worn out or used completely. Jesus gave us the most costly item – His life. We should make the most of our life because of the price He paid for us.

* Hand-made items made with love – so much thought went into making a specific, personal item. That is how God made us; each individually with love. With our life’s journey in mind, He put into us something practical and purposeful for our needs. God also gave us enjoyment of receiving His hand-made items for us.

* Gifts to give others were additional items in the lost luggage. We have such a precious gift of knowing the Son. What good is that gift if it remains in our “lost luggage.” Gifts are meant to share with others.  A gift is not a gift until it is given away.

Terri Rider iDEAS www.ideasworld.org 720.283.9100 7852 S. Elati St Ste 202 Littleton CO 81037 digeridootoo@hotmail.com

Worship from Feb 1, 2015

PRAYER IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP:  Almighty God, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world.  May your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments,

shine with the radiance of his glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen

CALL TO WORSHIP (A paraphrase of Psalm 67:1-4)

Leader:      May God be gracious to us and bless us,

People:      and make His face shine upon us,

Leader:      that God's ways may be known on earth,

People:      and God's salvation among all the nations.

Leader:      May the peoples praise you O God; may all the peoples praise you.

People:      We will be glad and sing for joy, for you rule us justly.

Leader:      Let us praise our God.    

   PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord, we thank You for the gifts that You have given to us, so that we might each serve You and each other.  You have not only given us the gifts, but You have promised to guide us as we use them.  Forgive us for failing to fully use our talents for the benefit of Your Kingdom.  Help us as we listen for Your voice and use our gifts as You direct us, so that Your Kingdom might increase on earth and Your body might be built up through us.  Amen.

Click here for the sermon on Feb. 1, 2015

February Youth Events

If you still need to reserve your table for Trivia Night, do so NOW! It is offsite this year, and more open to the community. BYOB, register today!

NO MIDDLE SCHOOL FELLOWSHIP THIS WEEK

We will all meet Sunday, February 8^th after 10:30 worship for RESCHEDULED skating at Steinberg. Bring money for lunch and $11 for skate rental & ticket.

Wednesday, February 11^th: A Lenten Journey Party for Middle School 6-7 p.m. in the Youth Lounge at St. Mark Presbyterian Church.

NO FELLOWSHIP February 15^th: President’s Day Weekend

Wednesday, February 18^th: Ash Wednesday Service

February 21^st: TRIVIA NIGHT PRICE INCREASES… RSVP TODAY!!!

February 22^nd: Senior High Easter Experience 11:30-1 p.m. in the Youth Lounge

February 23^rd: ALL DONATIONS FOR TRIVIA NIGHT DUE

February 25^th: Middle School Easter Experience 6-7 p.m. in the Youth Lounge

Midweek February 4

Midweek Program at St. Mark Presbyterian on February 4 will provide information on activity and wellness for older adults presented by Dawn Dubois.  Dawn is an Exercise Physiologist at St. Luke's Hospital.  An exercise physiologist is a health professional who identifies mechanisims  underlying physical activity and regular exercise that is addressed with the analysis, improvement, and maintenance of physical and mental health fitness.

Worship Prayers January 25, 20115

PRAYER IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP:  O God, whose Eternal Word became flesh

and lived among us, we thank you for all your blessings.  Grant us calmness and quietness of spirit, that we might know your grace; through Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.  Amen

  

CALL TO WORSHIP (A paraphrase of Mark 1:2-3)

Leader:      The Lord has sent a messenger before us,

People:      To prepare us for the coming of the Lord;

Leader:      Listen to the voice of one crying in the wilderness,

People:      We will prepare a way for the Lord in our hearts.

Leader:      Let us open our hearts in worship to God.

   PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord, You are the source of our strength.  As we live our lives connected to You, we find the strength to flourish in a world that is often hostile to You and to those that follow You.  It is that connection to You that lets Your love flow through us, so that we may love and care for each other, and beyond that, have the strength to reach out to our hurting world. 

Forgive us for the times we have failed to let our connection to You be a conduit for Your love.  Help us to allow your strength to flow through us so that we may be a sign to our world that they may experience Your love as well.  AMEN.

Click here for the sermon on January 25.