Sunday, November 21, 2021

In just a very few days, many will gather at tables with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. Normally, and nostalgically, we expect this event to be centered around a great meal, rich conversation, and warm connection. Increasingly, we are realizing that this Norman Rockwell like hope does not always translate into reality. In America, many will not be traveling due to concerns about COVID. Also, however, political disputes, tensions vaccines, and an uneasy discussion about race hang like a cloud over the table. Many families choose to avoid these topics, and in some cases the family gathering, altogether. It is both ironic and sad that this day that promises to help us bond and share gratitude is now, for many, a symbol of our broken connection. We are in danger of becoming strangers to each other.

Fortunately, our faith has much to teach us about the “stranger.” The ancient people of faith were specifically taught to welcome and love the stranger, or sojourner, because they too had once been sojourners. The well-known text in the letter to the Hebrews (13:3) encourages showing such hospitality, because some had entertained angels without knowing it. And in the Biblical text for the day, Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, the story offers a surprise when religious leaders fail to help a wounded traveler, but a member of disliked ethnic group does offer aid.

So, we’ll reflect on this in worship on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, which is also the “Reign of Christ” Sunday, the last day of the liturgical year. The sermon is titled, “A Stranger Came to Town”, and arises from Luke 10: 25-37, which will be read by Claire Carney. We will receive new members during this service, and have prayers, hymns and a moment for children. The Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Matthew Wachtman, will lead us in worship.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the live stream at www.smumc.church at 10:30am Sunday morning!

Sunday, November 7, 2021

We live in a world created by stories, and there are so many stories that still wait to be told. In her book, Cloister Walk, Kathleen Norris tells about a conversation with a monk that showed her something remarkable. After he had introduced her to other monks at the monastery, he said, “It’s time for you to meet the rest of the community.” She said he walked her over to the cemetery, and as they passed each grave, her host would tell her stories about the deceased. He had lived there for sixty years, and he knew them all.

Into such a world strides All Saints Day, and not a moment too soon. Some of us have forgotten the power of an openhearted tribute, and feel overwhelmed at the rancor and impatience we see all too frequently in our culture. And we may even feel that our saints have left us too early, and without adequate resources. But they have bequeathed us these qualities and stories, things that are just waiting to be named in the world, so that they might bless us all. As the writer of the letter to the Hebrews said, “By faith they still speak.”

Jesus modeled this in a story we read in the Gospel of Mark. He was watching people of great wealth leave large sums during the public worship. But he called the attention of the disciples to a “poor widow” who is putting two small copper coins in the treasury. Jesus wants his disciples to know that while the others gave from their abundant wealth, she gave all that she had to live on. Her story must be told, for in the telling, the community can be changed.

This is what we celebrate this Sunday in our worship. During the service, we will read the names of those in the St. Mark’s community who have died in the past year. We will also invite anyone to come to light a candle in honor of someone they are remembering. Those watching online will be invited to light a candle at home. The sermon is titled “The Power of Sacred Tribute.” Kathryn Holden will read the Gospel Lesson, which is Mark 12: 38-44. The Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Matthew Wachtman, will present an anthem. We will have hymns, prayers and a moment for children.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the live stream at www.smumc.church at 10:30am Sunday morning!

Sunday, October 31, 2021

This Sunday is St. Mark’s 67th birthday! October 31, 1954 was the date of first worship service of this new congregation. In those early days, relationship with neighbors was essential. As there was no church building, Day Funeral Home welcomed St. Mark’s to hold worship in one of their rooms at no cost. Other local businesses reached out, as well.

In the first 7 months, Rev. Dick Hamilton, knocked on 398 doors of neighboring homes to invite people to join. First Methodist provided some financial help, and a few families from there came to St. Mark’s for a time to help get this new church started. The St. Mark’s community also partnered with neighbors in addressing needs in our local and global community, and advocating for peace with justice for all.

As people of faith, we again challenge ourselves to discern some of our next steps to live out Jesus’ call to us “to love our neighbors as ourselves”. That includes being open to the wisdom and diversity of those across generations and life experiences.

We will explore this together on Sunday. The sermon is titled, “Take the Next Step: Embracing the Wisdom of Generations” (including reflections from a conversation with John & Helen McFarland and Arianna Ray). The scripture passage is based on Mark 12:28-34, which will be read by Yena Park. Amy and James Thomas will share a Stewardship Reflection. Stephanie Conklin will lead us in singing, with Matthew Wachtman accompanying. We will have a moment for children, prayers and reflections, hymns, and the gift of community.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the live stream at www.smumc.church at 10:30am Sunday morning!

Sunday, October 24, 2021

Writer Anne Lamott has some interesting friends. One of her very bright friends experiences God as a low seated easy chair with very long and upholstered arms that will actually hold her. Another friend is a Ph.D. who goes to a church based on Star Wars, and says, “May the Force be with you” to everyone. And when one of her friends found sobriety, he began praying to a local mountain. She adds, “But you know what? When he and my other friends and I have run out of good ideas on how to fix the unfixable, when we finally stop trying to heal our own sick, stressed minds with our sick, stressed minds, when we are truly at the end of our rope and just done, we say the same prayer. We say, “Help.”

They ask for help. They ask. As Jesus says, “Ask and you shall receive.” There may be all sorts of reasons why asking is difficult for us. Perhaps we think we should be able to fix things all on our own. Maybe we have asked and don’t think we have gotten results. Maybe we are not sure what to ask. But one of the core competencies of Christian faith is learning to practice the art of the ask.

The Gospel of Mark tells a story about a man named Bartimaeus who could not see, and who sat on the outskirts of Jericho asking for money. But when Jesus walked by one day, Bartimaeus shouted out, asking for mercy. Jesus then asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And Bartimaeus said, “Let me see again.” And Jesus responded, “Your faith has made you well.” Or perhaps better, “Your faith has saved you.”

We’ll talk about this “art of the ask” in the sermon on Sunday, which is titled, “Take the Next Step: Bartimaeus, a Failed Stewardship Campaign, and the Big Ask.” The sermon arises from Mark 10:36-42, which will be read by Gene McClain. The Sanctuary Singers, with Matthew Wachtman accompanying, will present, “I Will Go On My Way.” We will have a moment for children, a stewardship moment, prayers and hymns.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the live stream at www.smumc.church at 10:30am Sunday morning!

Sunday, October 17, 2021

What would you take with you if you had to quickly leave home in the event of an emergency? With hurricanes and wildfires in this country, and earthquakes and unrest internationally, many have had to make these kinds of decisions. Emergency officials can offer us lists of suggestions for what to take: water, food, clothing, food, photographs and important documents. When we have to make these decisions, we are in essence deciding what is of utmost importance to us. We are deciding what matters.

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells the story of a rich landowner whose crops produced abundantly, so much so that his produce exceeded his capacity to store it. So, this person had a decision to make, and opts to build bigger barns to store the excess grains and goods. This leads to a great deal of complacency and self-satisfaction for the landowner. But, as the story goes, the landowner dies in the middle of the night, and loses any ability to benefit from the wealth. So Jesus adds the tagline, “So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.” The story invites us to consider what really matters most to us as people of God.

This season of stewardship at church provides us with a framework for asking some penetrating and spiritually redemptive questions: What matters most to us? What do our possessions mean to us? Which ones are most valuable and why? Do the things we own help us develop a sense of gratitude toward life, and an openness to things of Spirit? Do the things we own help us connect with others in deep community? As Wendell Berry would have it, a real community is a commonwealth, where the values and gifts of the community are commonly shared. The community is a place where deep human needs are honored: practical, social and spiritual needs, chief among them is the need to need one another.

We’ll talk about this in worship on Sunday morning. The sermon is titled, “Take the Next Step: Choosing What Really Matters.” The sermon arises from Luke 12: 13-21, which will be ready by Cissy Mooney. There will also be a stewardship moment from Sheri Walter. The Sanctuary Singers will present the anthem, “The Road Not Taken.” There will also be a children’s moment, as well as prayers and hymns.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the live stream at www.smumc.church at 10:30am this Sunday!

Sunday October 10, 2021

Dear St. Mark’s Family and Friends, I suspect that many of us, at some point, have gone to see a trusted doctor, exercise trainer, therapist, friend or mentor for guidance. They may ask challenging questions to ponder, or suggest important next steps for us to become healthier in our bodies, minds, relationships or in discerning God’s call to us. We may embrace their guidance, or choose other guides who don’t nudge us out of our comfort zone.

This week, we reflect on the scripture passage (from Mark 10:17-31), in which a man of faith, with wealth and status, comes to Jesus for guidance. Jesus doesn’t chastise him but looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ The man left grieving. New Testament scholar, David Lose, suggests that perhaps this may also be a story of one who is heartsick, because he knows he is still missing something, something important, and seeks healing.

This may guide us, as individuals and as a community of faith, to embrace this time when we focus on stewardship. What might be our next steps as people of faith and love, in the sharing of our time, talents, care and resources? Where are the places that we may still be missing something, something important, and can grow together in wisdom, healing, courage and generosity and to partner together as stewards of the whole of God’s creation.

In our time of worship, we will share inspiring music including hymns and musical offerings from our Sanctuary Singers and a solo from Brianna Murray (accompanied by Matthew Wachtman). We will also share a children’s moment, prayer and reflection, a Stewardship Reflection from Charlie Nelms and Andy Cron, and a reading of the scripture passage from Eleanor Lahr, based on Mark 10:17-31. The sermon title is “Embracing the Vision of the Beloved Community: Taking the Next Step”.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the live stream at 10:30am this Sunday!

Sunday, October 3, 2021

What do you remember, if you were even alive then, about October of 1998? Perhaps you recall that the New York Yankees won yet another World Series. Or that Eric Rudolph was charged with six bombings, including the 1996 bombing at the Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta. Some might even note that John Glenn, who in 1962 became the first American to orbit the earth, returned to space aboard space shuttle Discovery to perform experiments on aging.

But perhaps the most impactful event of that year happened in a field in Wyoming on October 6, 1998? On that evening, a young gay man named Matthew Shepard was taken to a field, beaten within inches of his life, and was left to die hanging on a barbed wire fence. He was eventually found, and taken to the Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he died six days later. His death, the heartfelt witnesses from his father and mother, and the trials that followed were deeply impactful in American life, and led to the passage of significant hate crime legislation.

Craig Hella Johnson has composed profound oratorio titled “Considering Matthew Shepard”. As another article in this newsletter notes, the Bloomington Chamber Singers (BCC), which is directed by Gerry Sousa, will present this oratorio at the Buskirk Chumley on October 9 and 10. Johnson’s piece is written following the pattern of Bach’s Passion, and indeed, interprets Matthew’s story as one of redemptive suffering. The work is a fusion of styles, and the readings and lyrics are quite moving.

We at St. Mark’s have a special opportunity to share in part of this powerful musical witness this Sunday as members of the BCC, accompanied by Matthew Wachtman, will present four movements of the oratorio in our Sunday morning Worship service. Mary Beth and Jimmy will also offer brief reflections, which connect to the biblical passage for the day, Matthew 22: 36-40. There will also be a moment for children, prayers and hymns. We hope you join us either in person or on the Live Stream.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or on the live stream at www.smumc.church at 10:30 am this Sunday!

Sunday, September 26, 2021

In the story of the “Shattering of the Vessels,” sixteenth century Jewish Rabbi Isaac Luria offered an intriguing expansion on the creation stories. In his version, God created a number of vessels that were filled with light and sent these vessels out into the darkened world. But those vessels proved to be too fragile, and inevitably, they would shatter. As they did, this primordial light would scatter into the world. Humanity’s task is to gather up all of these sparks, and complete the task of tikkun olam, which means to “repair the world.”

Most religions have stories, sometimes multiple stories, that explain what has gone wrong in the world, and how to seek to make it right. In Christian faith, that has included the confession of sin, both on an individual as well as on a more communal basis. And while it would be easy to demonstrate the many ways confession has been badly used in the church, it remains the case that disciples of Jesus are called to name their hard truths. That confession has, when done well, always involved some element of penance…making amends. As Barbara Brown Taylor has it, “…penance was not punishment. Penance was repair.”

We live in a time in which it has become highly fashionable to point out the failing of others. And to be sure, the prophetic task remains one of the great callings of the Church. But in a culture that celebrates “mic drops”, the saying of words intended to put others in their place, is it possible that we have neglected the great power of confession to create a more sensitive public willingness to embrace hard truths? As Baptist theologian Susan Shaw says it, “Do I want to repair the word, or do I want to burn it down?”

We’ll chat about this in our Sunday worship, as the sermon is titled, “The Church that Honors Difficult Truths”, arising from James 5: 13-20. The scripture reading will be read by Cheryl Bainbridge. The Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Matthew Wachtman, will present an anthem. We’ll have a moment for children, prayers and hymns.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or on the live stream at www.smumc.church at 10:30am this Sunday!

Sunday, September 19, 2021

In “Star Wars: the Empire Strikes Back,” there is a scene in which Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing spacecraft has sunk into a swamp. The young hero wannabe surveyed his predicament, and entered into a despair in the presence of the sage, Yoda. Luke said, “Oh, no. We’ll never get it out now.” Yoda responded, “So certain are you. Always with you it cannot be done. Hear you nothing that I say?” After a failed attempt, Yoda, using the “Force”, guided the spacecraft to a safer space. Luke responded, “I don’t…I don’t believe it.” Yoda says to him, “This is why you fail.”

This scene in the Star Wars fantasy is something of an archetypal narrative of our longing for a deeper wisdom, perhaps embodied in a wise one, that will help us find a way through the messes in which we find ourselves. In the Biblical writings, scholars have noted a “wisdom tradition”. It is contained in a collection of writings like the Psalms, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. It also present more narrative ones, such as the stories of Solomon. In the teaching of Jesus, you can see it in saying such as “No servant can serve two masters,” or “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” In the Letter of James, we see this tradition deeply embodied. His brief epistle has no real story and little doctrine, but it does offer, in proverb and in reflection, what Godly wisdom looks like.

So for the person of faith, what is wisdom and how does one find it? I have read many definitions, but one of the best comes from Eric Greitens who said that wisdom is “the ability to figure out what to do while at the same time knowing what is worth doing.” So, there is a practical component (How can we do this?) but also a deeply valued based component as well (Is this the right thing to do?). In our world that is facing crisis upon crisis, God knows we need this deeper wisdom.

We’ll talk about this on Sunday, as the sermon is titled, “The Way of Wisdom: Loving What is Deeply True”. The sermon arises from James 3: 13-18. The Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Matthew Wachtman, will present the anthem, “Be Thou My Vision”. We’ll have congregational singing, prayers and a moment for children. We hope you join us.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or on the live stream at 10:30am this Sunday!

Sunday, September 12, 2021

I remember when. . . I remember where I was when I heard/learned that . . .

How might you complete one of those sentences? It may come from a memory that is personal, or one that is communal. The images, sounds and feelings you recall may make you smile and your heart warm, or may bring you back to a deep ache. Our collective memories are shaped by age, where we’ve lived, cultural and life experiences, etc. These are passed down to the generations that follow.

This week, as we remember the 20th anniversary of 9/11, many of us recall when and where we were on that day. There is also a growing number of young people who have no living memory of that day, but are shaped through ours, and learn from them.

This Sunday, in worship, we spend some time in the Book of Genesis with the story of Joseph, his brothers and their father. To say this was a complicated relationship would be an understatement. There was great harm and tragedy, but also opportunity for reconnecting. This week and next, our Jewish siblings celebrate the High Holy Days. This includes Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which is recognized as the holiest day of the year. We all are invited to consider the importance of remembering, repenting and approaching forgiveness and reconciliation as entering into new relationship.

In our time of worship, we will also share inspiring music including hymns and musical offerings from our Sanctuary Singers (accompanied by Matthew Wachtman), a children’s moment (with Mary Beth and Rodney Long), prayer and reflection (led by Brenda Bailey-Hughes), and a sharing of the scripture passage from Cooper Tucker and Rodney Long, based on based on Genesis 50:15-21. The sermon title is “Living Into and Beyond our Remembering”.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or joining on the live stream at 10:30am this Sunday!

Sunday, September 5, 2021

Early each morning, while it is still quite dark at this time of year, I walk our dogs. There is a quiet stillness, occasionally punctuated by the sounds of birds I cannot identify calling from the nearby woods. And of course, there is wildlife: creatures who have become accustomed to humans settling in their terrain…rabbits, deer, sometimes coyotes and occasionally, a fox. When I see a fox, I am reminded of a poem from Mary Oliver, who writes about walking on the dunes when she came across a red fox sleeping under a pine tree. She concludes that poem with these words:

So I stood on the pale, peach-colored sand, watching the fox as it opened like a flower, and I began softly, to pick among the vast assortment of words that it should run again and again across the page that you again and again should shiver with praise.

“Shiver with praise.” For people of faith, praise is at the core of who we are. God “inhabits our praises,” says the psalmist. Praise, rightly practiced, takes us from places of boredom and discontent, and helps construct a world in which we live in love and wonder. Praise takes our breath away as we sense the deep goodness, the captivating beauty and the graceful truth of the Divine Love. Praise helps us trust the goodness of life.

But what happens when we misplace our praise? What can we do when we cannot find that part of us which easily welcomes wonder when she presents herself? The hymn writer says, “Let the Amen sounds from God’s people again.” But how can the Amen be readily spoken or sung when other realities are making themselves known: discord, despair, hate and injustice? How can we praise then?

We’ll talk about this on Sunday in worship. The sermon is titled “Finding Our Amen,” arising from Psalm 146, which will be read by Jeff Fender. Patrick Conklin, accompanied by Matthew Wachtman, will sing a solo. We’ll sing hymns, have a moment for children, and pray together. We’ll also celebrate Levi Fender’s accomplishment in becoming an Eagle Scout, and receive him as a church member.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here or on the live stream at www.smumc.church at 10:30am this Sunday!

Sunday, August 29, 2021

During the seventh inning stretch at many baseball parks, those in attendance sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”. This became a deeply loved tradition at Wrigley Field in Chicago when former television announcer Harry Caray brought his own unique flair to the moment. Since his death, each game a different famous guest singer leads the crowds. One of the more memorable singers was Mike Ditka, who at the time was the rough and rowdy coach of the Chicago Bears. He arrived late to the booth, and was out of breath when he began. When he sang, he did so at a rapid, breathless pace, easily racing past the organist who was desperately trying to keep up. In music, in life, and in faith, tempo matters.

The writer of the Letter of James, believed by many scholars to be one of the earliest writings in the New Testament, agreed. “Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.” As “emotional intelligence” theorists tell us, when our brain speeds ahead, we get caught up in reactive process, typically fight or flight.

There is no one right tempo for faith. But in a world in which we stay too busy, and in a culture that is increasingly angry, perhaps one of the gifts of grace would be to find a way to slow down. Perhaps our music can help us reflect, and to attentively engage our friends and neighbors.

We’ll talk about that in worship on Sunday. The sermon is titled “The Tempo of Grace”, and flows from James 1:17-27, which will be read by Cooper Tucker. The Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Matthew Wachtman, will present the anthem. We’ll have a moment for children, hymns and prayers. We will also have a blessing for our new sanctuary piano.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here or on the live stream at www.smumc.church at 10:30am this Sunday!

Sunday, August 22, 2021

They’re back! If you ventured out of your home this week onto State Road 46 or drove near the vicinity of the Indiana University Bloomington campus, you realized that students have returned. Of course, a large percentage of them have never been here before, and many are attending other schools than IU. But they all have something in common: they are travelers on a journey, literally and metaphorically moving from one place to another. They are redefining relationships with family and familiar friends, and are forging new connections, some of whom will be a part of their forever community. They are finding new places to sleep, new businesses to patronize, new establishments to frequent, and new communities of faith in which to worship and service. They are, in effect, pilgrims. They share a continuing journey in search of a better and more whole life. They do not do this alone.

In a sense, we are all pilgrims. We have those places we call home, and that True North in our spirits that calls us to our deeper home. But we also realize that we find ourselves, sometimes knowingly and sometimes not, in difficult and unexpected spiritual and emotional places. These are the places we visit, sometimes for very long periods of time. Part of the skill of pilgrimage is the ability to strengthen ourselves when we become weak and discouraged on the journey.

Many scholars believe that Psalm 84 is the song of a pilgrim, one who was on the difficult path to Jerusalem for one of the three large festivals. The singer begins, “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord.” The weary pilgrim is sustained in the journey by song, by the community of travelers, and by the vision of the place where God dwells.

For those of us weary from pandemic, from society’s tensions, and from the difficulties of our own spiritual walk, this psalm speaks with power. The sermon Sunday arises from Psalm 84, and is titled “Good News for Weary Pilgrims.” The Scripture will be read by Marlen Rust, and we will have hymns, prayers and a time for children. The Sanctuary Singers, under the direction of Gerry Sousa, and accompanied by Matthew Wachtman, will sing “How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place” from Brahms’ A German Requiem. And we will have a time of consecration and dedication for the Chancel Accessibility Ramp.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here or on the live stream at www.smumc.church at 10:30am this Sunday!

Sunday, July 11, 2021

In her poem “In the Storm”, Mary Oliver invites us into a snowstorm in which birds, of various feathers, come together and shelter each other in the midst of the tumult. She notes some may find this hard to believe. Yet, she writes,

“Belief isn't always easy. But this much I have learned, if not enough else— to live with my eyes open.” (Oliver, 2006)

Oliver then muses about miracles, and invites us to consider kindness as a miracle. This Sunday, we enter into a familiar story of Jesus and a few disciples out in a boat during a strong storm. Jesus remains asleep. Filled with fear, the disciples call out to him and he stills the storm. We will spend some time this week considering how this story might invite us to consider the role fear, belief and the sense of miracle in our lives as individuals and community.

In our time of worship, we will also share inspiring music including hymns and musical offerings from our Sanctuary Singers (accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs), solo by Stephanie Conklin, a children’s moment, prayer and reflection, and a reading of the scripture passage based on Mark 4:35-41 by Connie Shakalis. The sermon title is “Asking For A Miracle, And Unexpected Grace Appears”. If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here in-person or on the live stream at 10:30am this Sunday.

(Oliver, Mary. Thirst. Beacon Press, 2006.)

Sunday, July 4, 2021

In 1940, Thomas Wolfe’s novel, You Can’t Go Home Again, was published (posthumously). It is the story of a man named George Webber who has written a widely acclaimed book about his family and hometown. The trouble is, when he does go back to that town, he discovers that unlike others who loved his book, the citizens of his home town hate it, and are offended at his portrayal of them. In the book, Webber names his discovery: "You can't go back home to your family, back home to your childhood ... back home to a young man's dreams of glory and of fame ... back home to places in the country, back home to the old forms and systems of things which once seemed everlasting but which are changing all the time – back home to the escapes of Time and Memory."

Once Jesus returned to his hometown, and the reports of his teaching and healing ministry had preceded him. The folks from Nazareth, his hometown, can’t quite figure this out. They know him as the carpenter, as the son of Mary, and as part of a collection of siblings. Nothing that they have known of him has prepared them for this new understanding of Jesus. Mark says that they take offense at him. Jesus, reflecting on this less than welcoming reception, said, “Prophets are not without honor except in their hometown.”

This is a striking observation. Could it mean that a certain kind of familiarity with Jesus, or anyone, can prevent one from accepting new light? And if so, what does that mean for those of us who through decades of Christian teaching are very “familiar” with Jesus? For that matter, what can that mean for this country, celebrating its birthday this week, in which Christianity is a widely “familiar” faith tradition, but there exist such widely divergent opinions about what Jesus is calling us to do?

We’ll talk about this on Sunday morning. The sermon is titled, “A Case of Mistaken Familiarity,” arising from Mark 6: 1-13. In the service, we’ll share hymns, pray and have a moment for children. And the Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs, will lead us musically.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with those of you here or on the live stream at 10:30am this Sunday. You can find the livestream link at www.smumc.church. There also is an intimate Service of Holy Communion in the SMUMC Library at 8:30 AM.