Order of Worship for March 6

CENTERING PRAYER                                                                                                                     

God of wilderness and nighttime, as we devote these forty days to you, shape us by your Holy Spirit into the image of Christ our Lord, so that we may be ready, by your grace, to confront the power of death with the promise of eternal life. Amen.

 

PRELUDE (Sunday Worship)                        Concerto del Signor Meok I                              Walther (1684-1749)                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS         

CALL TO WORSHIP  Psalm 99                                                                                                                                                       

The season of Lent sets us on a journey. 

   The journey begins in the wilderness. 

    We follow the way of Jesus, who faced trials, trouble, temptation, and testing. 

    Like Jesus, we are not alone. The Holy Spirit is with us. God’s Word is on our lips 

    Our call is to trust in God alone, to do God’s will in all things. 

              For God leads us not only into the wilderness.

    

† HYMN                                               “I Will Call Upon the Lord”                                  Hymnal# 621

                                                           

PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                                                                                     

O God, our refuge and fortress, forgive us when we fail to trust in you. We fall to temptation; we are swayed by false words; we speak false words of our own. We choose our ease and comfort over your demanding claims upon us and upon the world. In turning from you, we settle for less than the abundant generosity you intend. Forgive us, we pray. Do not let us be put to shame, O God. Hear us as we call to you and show us your salvation. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen. (Silent Confession)

 

ASSURANCE OF GRACE

 

† SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

                              The peace of Christ be with you.

                              And also with you.

 

†GLORIA PATRI  Hymnal #581                                                                                                                          

TIME WITH CHILDREN (Sunday Worship)

(Children 5th grade and younger may leave to attend Sunday School)

 

SCRIPTURE     Luke 4:1-13                                                                                                                                      

 

SERMON                                               “Oh, I Would Say Thank You!”                                  Rev. MP Panco

 

† AFFIRMATION OF FAITH                                                                                  The 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.

OFFERING                                               Lenten Mediation                                                      Althouse                                

                                                                         Chancel Choir

                                                                         

† THE DOXOLOGY                                                                                                           Hymnal #606

 

THE CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION

                      Invitation to the Table 

                      Great Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Lord’s Prayer                                                

                      Words of Institution   

                      Sharing of the Bread & Cup   

                      Prayer After Communion

 

† HYMN                                 “You Who Dwell in the Shelter of the Lord”                     Hymnal #43

 

† CHARGE AND BLESSING

                               

† BENEDICTION                                     “Shalom, chaverim”         

(Sunday Worship)                                                  See below               

                                                                                                            

POSTLUDE (Sunday Worship)                           Fugue in d minor                                     Pachelbel (1653-1706)

                               

† You are invited to stand, as you are able                                                                                                        

Scripure for March 6

 Luke 4:1-13

Christ in the Wilderness by Ivan Kramskoy, 1872

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’[b]”

5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’[c]”

9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[d]”

12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[e]”

13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Read full chapter

Daily Prayer March 4

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

Daily Readings for Friday, March 4, 2022

• Morning Psalms 22; 148
• First Reading Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32
• Second Reading Philippians 4:1-9
• Gospel Reading John 17:9-19
• Evening Psalms 105; 130

O Lord God, you led your people through the wilderness and brought them to the Promised Land. So guide us, that, following our Savior, we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come. Almighty God, in signs and wonders your Son revealed the greatness of your saving love. Renew your people with your grace, and sustain us by your power, for we can do nothing without you. By your power, great God, our Lord Jesus healed the sick and gave new hope to the hopeless. Though we cannot command or possess your power, we pray for those who want to be healed. Mend their wounds, soothe fevered brows, and make broken people whole again. Help us to welcome every healing as a sign that, though death is against us, you are for us, and have promised renewed and risen life in Jesus Christ the Lord. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

May the God of peace make you holy in every way, and keep your whole being, spirit, soul, and body, free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Optional masks: March 2022

 Dear Friends,

As we begin a new month, I am reminded of writing you all a very difficult message in March of 2020. We did not know much about coronavirus at the time, and nobody could have expected its impact locally, nationally, and internationally. It was such a joy to return to in-person worship ten months ago, but it was also necessary to put several safety measures in place. The St. Mark Session has monitored the situation carefully throughout the pandemic. Due to the widespread access to vaccines and the falling transmission numbers in our area, the Session unanimously approved a motion to make masking optional for all activities effectively immediately. The one exception is Claymont Preschool which is allowed to make its own safety decisions.

We will continue to provide a section in our sanctuary with pews blocked off for social distancing. Masks will be required in these areas. We appreciate your care, your patience, and your mutual forbearance as we continue to navigate, with God’s help, these uncertain times. The Session will continue to monitor the situation moving forward. Please contact the church office with any questions.

 

In Hope and Confidence,

Pastor Dave

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

SEVEN WORDS: Friday Bible Study

  

SEVEN WORDS: Listening to Christ from the Cross is a clear, eloquent, deeply felt guide to a Lenten journey that is not afraid to walk through the valley on the way to Easter joy. Seven Words is grounded in current Scriptural scholarship and graced by relatable stories, not only from the author's personal and pastoral life, but also from history and contemporary culture. Bible study meets in person, with an online Zoom option, Fridays at 9:00am in room 102. Our March dates are the 11th,18th and 25th. April dates are the 1st, 8th, and 15th . Contact pastor MP at mpanco@discoverstmark.org for a Zoom link or more information about this Bible Study

23rd Psalm: My Travel Guide

 

Duke Kahanamoku with open arms
welcoming visitors to Waikiki.

The Lord is my Travel Guide, I have no need for travel agents.

You help me plan carefully; 

You lead me to scenes of quiet beauty.

You restore my amazement of your creation; 

You guide me on spectacular hiking trails.

Even though my plane flies through turbulence; I try to have no fear, for I keep reminding myself that you are with me; Surely your guidance to those that designed and maintain the plane will keep it from crashing.

You prepare a travel plan for me that I know will be altered by so many people in so many ways; But I hear your voice reminding me to be tolerant and patient.

Surely my vacation travel will result in memories that I will cherish all the remaining days of my life, And I look forward to sharing the highlights with all that have an interest.

Loren Polak

While studying the Psalms in Sunday School Class, Pastor Dave Burgess, encouraged us to think about other ways of stating the 23rd Psalm since most of us don't really have shepherds in our lives.   We are grateful for all who agreed to share their thoughts.

LAFAYETTE WORK CENTERS: Annual Report (excerpts)

 

This past year, 2021, was another very challenging year (seems like they all are, don’t they!), but we again were able to stay safe and stay open! We saw several of our long-time employees retire, but we were able to hire 24 new workers despite all of what 2021 brought, and provided our unique program service to 424 individuals the past year. We continue to be very blessed. Our dedicated employees who had to stay home in 2021 but performed training via Zoom, or worked at home, transitioned back to work during the year, and we eventually reached 98% attendance back in the shops by September. 

Once again, as I have stated over and over, what a pleasure it is to work with people who love having a job! We again received great financial support from our sponsors throughout the year which enabled us to employ those new folks and keep everyone following safety protocols. This year, we conducted free COVID vaccination shots; round 1 & 2 in the Spring, and then the booster shot in late Fall. In between there were free flu shots as well! We served over 4,000 individual free healthy lunches. 

In September to celebrate our 45th anniversary, we held our Employee family celebration and picnic in person—with an attendance of almost 400! At the end of the year we again awarded 5 more gold watches (for 25 years of service), bringing the total to 98 that we have given out in the last 16 years. Is that not something special! 

On the business side of our operation. We again produced close to 10 million packages. As you recall in October 2020 we entered into a partnership with McArthur’s bakery in Kirkwood to open up the “Pioneer Café” on Kirkwood’s main street. McArthur’s runs the bakery, and we train persons with intellectual disabilities. Well, this has been a tremendous success, as we received a State-wide award for innovation, and the program was interviewed by all the major TV stations in St. Louis, PBS, and NBC’s Today show! 

I again would like to convey my personal thanks for your continuous support and constant prayers as well as thank those St. Mark private donors who made contributions, as well as the St. Mark Presbyterian Women and the Deacons who support us every year. 

Unfortunately, 2021 saw the passing of R. McLuen, who, along with his wife Ethel and several noted individuals, founded Lafayette. Bob was a determined visionary that resulted in the betterment of thousands of lives. We all will be forever in debt and gratitude to Bob, Ethel, and our other selfless Founders for making such a difference in those -- and our lives -- as well. There would be no Lafayette Industries were it not for the McLuen’s and a handful of other families who, back in 1976, were looking for a post-schooling work opportunity for their adult children with disabilities. 

With funding from the state of Missouri, they opened a modest, one room warehouse with an oil- and grease-filled floor in Valley Park, Missouri. There were 16 workers originally, including the McLuen’s son, Kenny. Today there are 411. Wow. 

Speaking of Kenny, our very 1st employee, he celebrated his 45th year of employment in September, and retired on Dec. 13, 2021. What an inspiration for us all. The vision that founded Lafayette continues to hold true today as it did in 1976---to provide employment to deserving folks that gives them Dignity through work and the opportunity to use their God-given talents and abilities, just like the rest of us. 

To Bob and Ethel, Boots and Bob, Rev. Howard and Rosella Gleason, Bev and Bob, and to the St. Mark’s community----we are forever indebted to you. Thank you once again, may God continue to bless you all very much, and here’s to a Safe and Happy 2022! 

Respectfully submitted, Rob Libera CEO & Executive Director