Sunday, March 27, 2022

At the heart of David Whyte’s poem, “The Winter of Listening”, are the lines,

Inside everyone is a great shout of joy waiting to be born.

We are in the midst of the season of Lent, during days that can be described as complicated. To the relief of many, we are seeing a receding in the numbers and severity of COVID cases, but the aftershocks of the first rounds of the pandemic are still with us. We have seen many people working so well together in the midst of strain, and we also are a divided people with a contentious public conversation. And while we can be excited locally about things as delightful as a Sweet Sixteen appearance by the IU Women’s basketball team, at every turn we hear reports from a devastating war in Ukraine that many fear could spill out of that country, and could include devastating weapons of mass destruction. Can joy be born in the midst of all of that?

This season during Lent, we are concentrating weekly on the lives of “saints”, those who have modeled the virtues on which we are reflecting. Toward the end of their lives, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama collaborated on a book called, “The Book of Joy”. Noting that each has had painful experiences in life, both were deeply joyful people, and had an equally joyful connection with each other. The Archbishop would say, “Discovering more joy does not, I'm sorry to say, save us from the inevitability of hardship and heartbreak. In fact, we may cry more easily, but we will laugh more easily, too. Perhaps we are just more alive.”

So what would it mean to honor the delight of joy in the heart of Lent, and in the midst of crisis? We’ll chat about this on Sunday morning, as the sermon is titled, “Waiting to Be Born: Finding Joy During Lent”, arising from Philippians 4: 1-9. It is also a Jazz Sunday at St. Mark’s, with Jazz musician Pat Harbison and several Jacobs School of Music Students leading us musically. Join us for this time of hymns, prayers and a moment with children.

We do hope, whether you have been a part of St. Mark’s for a while, or are just engaging us, that you join us in person or online. For the livestream, visit www.smumc.church, and click on the Live Stream banner at 10:30 on Sunday morning.

Sunday, March 20, 2022

Once up on a time, there was a family with two children. The older child was nineteen, and had always been responsible, holding down jobs even while in school. The 18 year old…not so much. But as Spring Break approached, the younger one begged to take one of the family credit cards on the trip to Florida. As one might predict, the charges piled up. Then, with a couple of days left, they lost all contact with their child. Perhaps the cellphone was out of charge, but they were deeply worried. Finally, on Sunday night, a ragged and weary younger child staggered in through the door. Both parents immediately dropped what they were doing, and with tearful embraces, kept saying to this hot mess of a kid, “I love you so much.” This display was too much for the older child, who blurted out, “This is sickening! Aren’t you even going to voice your displeasure?” And they said, “We were just so worried. We feared the worst. And now, we just want to have a party.” And the older child walked out of the house. As it turns out, there is more than one way to leave home.

This is an updated, folksy retelling of Jesus’ story in Luke 15, commonly called the parable of the prodigal son. But as Amy Jill-Levine suggests, it is better named as the story of the father with two sons. It is, indeed, a story of an entitled child who asks so much of a parent. But it is also the story of an elder child who cannot tolerate such unbridled love. It is a story of conversion, and there are many in this tale.

During Lent, we are looking at “saints”, those who have modeled faith in unique ways. The saint this week is Augustine, whose life and work spanned the latter fourth and early fifth century. He was quite like the younger brother in Luke 15, as he did not come quickly to faith. His young adulthood was as wild as the worst parody of Spring break bad behavior. His prayer in those days, he would later quip, was “Lord, give me chastity, but not yet.” But as the prayers and pleadings of his mother, Monica, surrounded him, he met a pastor in Rome named Ambrose who guided him toward a deep Christian conversion. Augustine became one of the leading voices in the Church. He came home, and then some.

These stories raise questions for us. Have we ever strayed away, or kept away, from our best life? How did we find our way back home? What did we miss? Who supported us? Were there those who were not so happy when we showed up? Are we still staying away?

We’ll talk about this in worship on Sunday morning as the sermon is titled, “A Return from a Really Long Spring Break: A Sermon for Those Who Leave Home” . It arises from Luke 15: 11-30, which will be read by Jeff White. We’ll have a moment for children, sing hymns, and offer prayers. And the Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Matthew Wachtman, will present the anthem.

We do hope, whether you have been a part of St. Mark’s for a while, or are just engaging us, that you join us in person or online. For the livestream, visit www.smumc.church, and click on the Live Stream banner.

Sunday, March 13, 2022

In this Lenten season, we are considering the lives of some of the “saints” who have come before us. This Sunday, we learn from the wisdom, courage and faith of Mahatma Gandhi. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote “I had about concluded that the ethics of Jesus were only effective in individual relationship. The “turn the other cheek” philosophy and the “love your enemies” philosophy were only valid, I felt, when individuals were in conflict with other individuals; when racial groups and nations were in conflict a more realistic approach seemed necessary. But after reading Gandhi, I saw how utterly mistaken I was.” In this time of unrest, conflict and war in our world, what might we learn from Gandhi, and those he inspired, to live as people of love, faith, courage and hope? (https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/my-pilgrimage-nonviolence#fn10)

In the scripture passage this Sunday (based on John 12:1-8, and also found in Matthew), Jesus is sharing a meal with friends. As Mary anoints his feet with perfume, Jesus foreshadows his impending death. Some harshly criticized Mary’s gift of grace, as wasteful. However, Jesus did not. Perhaps, that blessing, of love and care, also strengthened him in the hardest days that were ahead, as he was willing to give the ultimate gift of his life.

We will explore this together on Sunday. The sermon is titled, “Gifts of Grace, Gifts of Self”. Our Sanctuary Singers, with Matthew Wachtman accompanying, will present a scene from Bach's St. Matthew Passion, depicting the passage in Matthew's gospel where Jesus gathers with others at a home in Bethany. There a woman anoints him. When the disciples complain that the oil could have been sold to feed the poor, Jesus calms them in a beautiful aria in which he foreshadows his death. The scene concludes with a reflection sung by the alto who represents our relationship to Christ. There will be a moment for children, prayers and reflections, hymns, and the gift of community.

Remember the time change! Set your clock ahead one hour on Saturday night.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for a long time, a short time, 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.

Sunday, March 6, 2022

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “wilderness”? There are likely a few of things. First, while the amount of wilderness territory is diminishing, there are those untamed parts of the world where any hiker or camper relinquishes convenience and safety. In those places, nature is most alive, and if you allow, it will speak to you. Second, if you have had a long exposure to the Scriptures, you will remember that the Israelites wandered for forty years in the “wilderness”, and that after being baptized, Jesus went to the “wilderness” to be tempted. Third, drawing on those blended meanings, wilderness can be used to describe a spiritual season of uncertainty, struggle and “wildness”.

So, is the wilderness an experience to be feared and avoided? Emma Gatewood did not feel that way. She was the first woman, and only the fifth person, to hike the entire Appalachian Trail, and she was 67 when she did so. She was a mother, a grandmother and a great grandmother, and she walked the entire distance without tent or backpack. She only carried a small knapsack, and relied on her trusty Keds sneakers. But, many in the admiring public did not know she had endured thirty years of a violently abusive marriage. She would escape from her husband’s rampages by running into the woods, and came to view the wilderness as a safe and restoring place. And, when the marriage ended, she headed for the trail.

The wilderness, both the literal and metaphorical wilderness, holds for us a place where we find ourselves and experience the power of God. Belden Lane would say, “Desert and mountain places, located on the margins of society are locations of choice in luring God’s people to a deeper understanding of who they are. Yahweh frequently moves to the boundary in order to restore the center, calling a broken people back to justice and compassion.” In Lent, we are called to move to the boundary. We are called to wilderness.

We’ll discuss this in service on Sunday, the first Sunday of the Lenten Season. The sermon is titled, “Tending the Wild and Precious Life We are Given.” It arises from Luke 4: 1-13, which will be read by Rev. Sarah Gettie McNeill. The Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Matthew Wachtman, will sing “Prayer for Ukraine”. We will also celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion, have a moment for children, and sing and pray together.

We do hope, whether you have been a part of St. Mark’s for a while, or are just engaging us, that you join us in person or online. For the livestream, visit www.smumc.church, and click on the Live Stream banner.

Sunday, February 27, 2022

On January 12, 2010, United Methodist pastor Jamalyn Peigh Williamson was walking up the side of a mountain in Fondwa, Haiti, where she had taken a mission team of Indiana Methodists. The ground began to violently shake, as the country was hit with an earthquake that measured 7.0 on the Richter Scale. Homes and infrastructure were destroyed in an instant. Chantal Fowler, a member of Jamalyn’s congregation in Indiana who travelled there with her, said, “I remember thinking I should have died. I just held on to the necklace my daughter gave me and prayed out loud, ‘Thank you, God!’”

Later in the evening, with continuing aftershocks, they agreed that it sounded like the mountains were falling. The team eventually made it back to the United States on US Air Force cargo planes. Jamalyn and her husband, David, have continued their work with the people of Haiti, and in 2018, established Zanmi Fondwa, an organization committed to building houses in that area. Their faith, their love for the people of Fondwa, and their experience with this earthquake have come together to form the foundation of this piece of their ministry.

Have you ever had a time when something you considered deeply reliable, personally or more globally, was shaken, leaving you shaken as well? An illness, a broken friendship or family relationship, a job loss or a faith crisis are just of few of the things that can leave us rattled. And there are times when an encounter with God, whatever that looks like for you, can move us to new places, because the old ways just don’t work anymore. These times of deconstruction put us on the search for more solid footing, and a move to new ground.

Jesus once told the disciples that someone who listens deeply to the Word, and acts on that Word, is like one who built a house on solid rock, enabling it to withstand natural disaster. Any of Jesus’ prophetic words can be unsettling, leading us to what theologian Paul Tillich called “The Shaking of the Foundations”. But in the irony of faith, this shaking can take us to the place where we find the trustworthy, reliable Word is a platform for this dynamic faith we are called to embrace.

We’ll talk about this on Sunday, as the sermon is titled, “The Invisible, Loving Foundation of Life and Faith,” arising from Luke 6: 39-49. Laura Baich will read the Biblical text. The Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Matthew Wachtman, will present an arrangement of “It is Well With My Soul.” We will 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 joining on the live stream. Visit www.smumc.church at 10:30 AM and click on the Live Stream banner.

Sunday, February 20, 2022

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once stated that South Africa had “the world’s worst racism”, with the atrocities of Apartheid. When Nelson Mandela (who spent 27 years in prison for opposing apartheid) and the white South African President F.W. de Klerk jointly accepted the Nobel Peace Prize (for their work to end apartheid regime), it felt like a betrayal for some. How could each dare to join with the “enemy”?

In the scripture passage this Sunday (based on Luke 6:27-38), Jesus talks about loving our enemies. That doesn’t mean putting ourselves in unsafe situations, or ignoring our pain. It does invite us not to respond to hate with hate, to recognize the complexity of each of us, and to open ourselves to the healing power of love and forgiveness.

We will explore this together on Sunday. The sermon is titled, “The Redemptive Power of Loving Our Enemies”. The scripture passage will be read by Nicole Griffin. Our Sanctuary Singers will lead us in singing, with Matthew Wachtman accompanying. There will be 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.

Sunday, February 13, 2022

I remember the first time someone asked me to bless their home. I was a pastor at a Baptist church, and a young couple was just moving into a new house. We Baptists did not bless houses very much or, for that matter, any other inanimate thing. As one of my pastoral colleagues said to me when I asked for advice, “That sounds like a pretty Catholic thing to do.” He didn’t intend that as a compliment. But in fact, one of the partners did come from a Catholic background, and it was clear this blessing would be deeply meaningful to them. I prepared as best I could, but when I got to the house, my senses took over. You could smell the new woods. You could hear the sounds as new doors would open and close. One could see the cleanliness and care that had gone into the décor and arrangement of every space. And so I blessed those things, and the potential they had for welcoming in friends and family. I blessed the good that would enter that space, and blessed the power that would keep evil away. As we went from room to room, you could see this couple live into the grace that their shared space was blessed.

The power to bless does not just belong to ministers. As honored as pastors are when asked to pray at meetings or in homes, it is delightful to us when someone other than the pastor pronounces blessings. And when deep blessings are pronounced, it becomes clear that the act of blessing has the power to change the circumstances in the space. An old urban legend has it that when someone would sneeze, their hearts would stop. And the “God bless you” that followed was a prayer that one’s heartbeat would be revived. Blessing allows us to find our heart, in individuals, in homes and in community.

This was at least some of what Jesus intended when in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus pronounces “beatitudes”. “Blessed are the poor.” “Blessed are the hungry.” “Blessed are those who weep.” The blessings Jesus offers both describe a way of seeing the world that counters prevailing wisdom, and open channels for hope and goodness to flow. Blessings change us.

We’ll talk about this in the service on Sunday. The sermon is titled, “Called to Bless the World”, and arises from Luke 6:17-26. The passage will be read by Ken Beckley, and the pastoral prayer will be offered by Rev. Peggy Good. We will be led musically by the Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Matthew Wachtman. There will be 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 joining on the live stream.

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Every pastor knows what to expect when the service runs a little long. But what about the church in the Netherlands that had a service last for 96 days? In October of that year, a family of refugees from Armenia began hiding in a church in the Hague. The church had relied on an obscure Dutch law that forbad the government from entering a church during worship services. So the church decided that it would maintain a continuous liturgy to provide safety for the Tamrazyan family, which feared for their safety if they returned to Armenia. Over 1000 people from many congregations kept the service going, to keep the family safe. Eventually the church secured a commitment from the government that they would be allowed to stay in the Netherlands in freedom. This was a Jubilee moment.

In Luke 4, we read that Gospel’s account of Jesus’ first sermon, which he preached in his hometown of Nazareth. In this sermon, Jesus draws both a passage from Isaiah, as well as the Jubilee tradition, to frame his vision for the reign of God. The Book of Leviticus states that every 50th year was to be a Jubilee year. In that year, prisoners and slaves were to be freed, debts forgiven, and ownership of land surrendered in financial crisis would revert to the original land owners. Jesus says that this grand vision for a world set straight, for this great reversal to happen, is a fitting way to describe the reign of God he proclaims.

While initially received well, the crowd started to take offense at the sermon when Jesus said that the Isaiah passage was being fulfilled in their hearing. Apparently, it was fine to preach of a grand view of the reign of God, as long as it was in the distant future, keeping the current structures and ways of life intact. But Jesus’ great offense was to say that the Jubilee happens now, if we are open enough to see it, and faithful enough to help bring it about.

What are Jubilee moments? How can we note them? How can we participate? We’ll talk about this in worship on Sunday, as the sermon is titled, “It’s Going to be a Very Good Year: Jubilee in Christian faith.” The sermon arises from Luke 4: 14-20 which will be read by Dan Hughes. The Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Matthew Wachtman, will lead us in music. We’ll have a moment for children and prayers.

We will also shift our COVID protocols this week, with music to be sung only by the Sanctuary Singers and by urging parishioners to use N95 or KN95 masks, or to double mask. We also will not have children of youth Sunday School the next two weeks, or until we are past this latest spike in cases. We do encourage the use of Live Stream, especially for those who are not fully vaccinated, or who have underlying health concerns.

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. Visit www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream Banner at 10:30 AM on Sunday morning.

Sunday, January 16, 2022

Dear St. Mark’s Family and Friends,

Can you remember a moment when someone seemed to have faith in you, in a way you did not see in yourself? Perhaps, they recognized an ability, or gift emerging in you, that could grace the world. Or, they nudged you to consider an opportunity, small or large, that opened paths you hadn’t imagined or believed you were ready to embrace.

Our scripture passage this Sunday (John 2:1-11) is often titled the Wedding at Cana. Jesus (likely around 30 years old) is a guest at this wedding, along with his disciples and his mother. The wine had run out, with the guests still there. Jesus’ mother simply tells her son “They have no wine”. Jesus’ response to her is that his hour has not yet come. So, she goes to the servants and tells them to do whatever Jesus tells them. They did, and there was wine. It was Jesus’ first sign (miracle) in this Gospel.

This weekend, we recognize the birthdate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and recall his words and actions, and so many others, in a non-violent movement against segregation and for civil rights. Along with Dr. King, many of those who spoke at the 1963 March on Washington were in their 20’s and 30’s (Myrlie Evers, John Lewis, Diane Nash…). They were supported and nudged by others, and did the same for those younger and those older, in a shared journey. We too share in this ongoing journey in faith and our call to embrace, in words and actions, peace with justice for all of God’s children. Are we still willing to be nudged?

We will explore this together on Sunday. The sermon is titled, “Nudges of Grace”. The scripture passage will be read by Glenda Murray. Our Sanctuary Singers will lead us in singing, with Matthew Wachtman and Rodney Long on organ and piano. There will be a video reflection, a moment for children, prayers, great 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.

Sunday, January 9, 2022

One of the great stories of Baptism comes from John Buchanan, who was for many years the pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. It was Epiphany Sunday, one of the days that church had designated to perform baptisms. Many small children can feel overwhelmed by the experience of baptism, but one toddler named Christopher looked to be quite at peace with the whole event. He was not fussing or crying, and was easily contented going into the pastor’s arms. He did not flinch when John touched his head with the water, and pronounced the name of the Trinity over him. But, as was John’s practice, immediately after touching the child with water, he said, “Christopher, you are a child of God, and you belong to Jesus Christ forever.” At that moment, the child looked the pastor in the eye and said, clearly and articulately, “Uh-oh.”

Who said children do not understand what we are doing in church? Oh, it’s true there are many “Oh, yes” moments in Baptism, when we are assured that Christ is with us, and that we are held in God’s arms. But there are also “Uh-oh” moments, when the implications of what we have done, collectively and individually, in Baptism, come home to us. We see both the assurance and the challenge of the waters of Baptism.

This Sunday is the First Sunday after Epiphany, and is also called “Baptism of the Lord” Sunday. It is customary on this Sunday to remember the Baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan River. This event marks the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus, and comes near the end of the ministry of John the Baptist. John would soon be imprisoned and executed by King Herod who was angered that John had rebuked him for his bad behavior. Truly sacred moments can include “Uh-oh” moments as well.

We’ll talk about this on Sunday in worship. The sermon is titled “What the Water Says”, and arises from Luke 3: 15-22. During the service, we will have a time of remembering our own baptism. The Sanctuary Singers, accompanied by Matthew Wachtman, will lead us in music. 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 (masks required. If you are joining online, visit www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream banner Sunday morning at 10:30 AM.

Sunday, January 2, 2022

Channeling the ancient Magi (the wise men), W. H Auden wrote in his great poem, “Christmas Oratorio”:

At least we know for certain that we are three old sinners, that this journey is much too long, that we want our dinners, and miss our wives, our books, our dogs, but have only the vaguest idea why we are what we are. To discover how to be human now Is the reason we follow this star.

Often, long journeys are worth the trouble. Of course, some people just love to travel. The thought of going somewhere, anywhere, fills them with a sense of adventure. As the poet Edna St. Vincent Milay wrote, “…there isn’t a train I wouldn’t take, no matter where it’s going.” Others travel because there is someone they really want to see, or have a spot they long to visit. And some travel out of necessity, as work or personal or family crisis has made it critical to hit the road. Literally or metaphorically, long journeys are especially challenging for the traveler, but as the poet said, they help us discover how to be human.

It seems fitting during the season of Christmastide, moving into the season of Epiphany, that travel is on our minds. The Magi, these mysterious travelers whose faith and vocation included the observation of the stars, had undertaken a long journey from “the East” to search for a promised ruler. Song, poetry and legend have embellished the story of the Magi, but it is clear that the scriptural witness is that their journey was long, and full of both danger and wonder. Some journeys are just like that.

Faith, and life, are like that, too. Sometimes we know where we are going, and sometimes we don’t. But things rarely resolve as quickly as we had hoped, so genuine faith is always in motion. We’ll talk about this in this service as the sermon is titled “A Blessing for Those Who Have Far to Travel,” arising from Matthew 2: 1-12. This is the last Sunday of the Christmas season, and we will sing carols, share in a time of prayer, and have 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 (masks required) or joining on the live stream at www.smumc.church at 10:30 AM.

Sunday, Decmber 19, 2021

Jan Richardson has a poem in which she speaks of a blessing of sanctuary...of being welcomed in, but that this blessing will not "leave you alone, or let you linger in safety." That is, this blessing, full of grace and love, will eventually ask something risky of you. Even during this season of peace and goodwill, and in the Biblical story of the nativity, there is the presence of danger, calling for the family of Jesus to make difficult decisions. That is what love must do.

In the Advent biblical text for Sunday, John the Baptist appears once more, calling for his hearers to take specific actions of repentance. Everyone is to be generous with their discretionary funding. Roman soldiers were told not to extort others by threat, and tax collectors were to not to collect more than required. Repentance is shaped by the life experience of the one repenting. Those who do so are to “risk” arranging life differently. In every case, the costly action opens the way for a deeper experience of the Spirit.

This is what we will be talking about this Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Advent, the last Sunday before Christmas. The sermon is titled, “The Advent Practice of Faithful Action,” arising from Luke 3: 7-18. Claire Tafoya, Lisa Kurz, and Stephanie Conklin, accompanied by Matthew Wachtman, will sing John Rutter’s “Nativity Carol”. We will sing carols, pray and have a moment for children, and we will light the Advent Candle.

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 (Please wear masks) or joining on the live stream at www.smumc.church at 10:30am Sunday morning!

Sunday, Decmber 12, 2021

Anne Lamott writes of her early days of attending a small Presbyterian church, the one that helped facilitate her embrace of faith, or perhaps better said, God’s embrace of her. Even as she struggled with her own addictions, she was particularly drawn to the singing of that little congregation. She writes in Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith, “Then the singing enveloped me. It was furry and resonant, coming from everyone’s very heart. There was no sense of performance or judgment, only that the music was breath and food.”

Have you ever been part of an experience of group singing that had a powerful impact on you? A growing body of research affirms that singing in groups has significant benefits for health and for our inner well-being. But we also know that singing together strengthens the connection and energy of the singing community. This is one of the reasons people are drawn to choirs, and why during the pandemic, many developed online choral experiences. It was not simply a love of music. It was a reflection of the deep longing for and profound delight in community.

Sunday at St. Mark’s, we’ll sing together some of the carols of the season. The Sanctuary Singers will present a choral version of Mary’s Magnificat composed by Alan Bullard, as well as an arrangement by Anthony Pitts of “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming.” Patrick Conklin will sing “Gifts for the Child of Winter” and Anthony Josep will sing, “Sweet Little Jesus Boy”. Organist Matthew Wachtman and harpist Aubrey Shumway will accompany them. We will read a selection of Biblical lessons, and sing carols as a congregation, offer prayers and have a moment for children. Mary Beth and Jimmy will each offer brief reflections.

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, December 5, 2021

On the day you were born, and perhaps when you turned 18, who was the President (or other leader if outside of the US)? Who were local leaders (i.e., governor, mayor…)? Who were the religious authorities? And, how did their presence, and the culture of the time, help shape your vision of the world and your dreams now of what it can be?

As we approach the second Sunday of Advent, our minds might be drifting to stories of shepherds, angels and magi. However, our scripture reading (based on Luke 3:1-6) begins with a listing of political and religious leaders in a repressive Roman regime. We then encounter John the Baptist, who is living in the wilderness, baptizing and preaching repentance.

Episcopal Vicar Judith Jones writes that “repentance (Greek metanoia) is not mere regret for past misdeeds. It means far more than saying, ‘I’m sorry. Please forgive me.’ Metanoia means a change of mind and heart, the kind of inner transformation that bears visible fruit.” How might we nurture that kind of Advent dreaming together in this season?

We will explore this together on Sunday. The sermon is titled, “The Practice of Advent Dreaming”. The scripture passage will be read by Suzie Rimstidt. Our Sanctuary Singers will lead us in singing, with Matthew Wachtman accompanying. We will have the lighting of the Advent Candle by Dana, Nathan, Dean, Cam and Maia Thomas, 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!

(Jones, J. (2015, December 6). Commentary on Luke3:1-6. Working Preacher. https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/second-sunday-of-advent-3/commentary-on-luke-31-6-3)

Sunday, November 28, 2021

Blogger Rita Kowats once reflected on a famous painting by Paul Gauguin titled, “Vision After the Sermon.” The work is Gauguin’s interpretation of the Biblical story from Genesis of Jacob wrestling with an angel. Gauguin depicts a congregation of twelve watching the contest. Kowats says that when she first viewed it, she felt angry at the “viewers” in the painting for watching and doing nothing. But in a later reflection, she had an epiphany. “They are not spectators. They hold vigil for Jacob.”

Perhaps you can relate. Have you ever kept vigil? Have you ever waited attentively while someone you love was having a surgery? Having a baby? Entering their last hours? Perhaps you have attended a vigil that was a prelude to a worship event. Or maybe you have been a part of a community candlelight vigil following an act of senseless violence.”

Advent invites us to the important spiritual practice of holding vigil. To engage in vigil allows us to transform our inaction or voyeurism, our sense of avoidance or fear, into a prayerful attentiveness to what is about to happen. Vigil opens us to the possibility of seeing the presence of God as our lives unfold. And the Church, in its wisdom, has encouraged us to enter into this deep attentiveness as we enter Advent.

We’ll talk about this in worship on Sunday morning. The sermon is titled “The Advent Practice of Keeping Vigil”, arising from Luke 21: 25-36. In the service, we will light the first candle on the Advent wreath. We will celebrate communion together for the first time since we have returned to in person worship. We will also welcome children to come forward for the children’s moment. We ask that an adult accompany very young children, and that all children age three or older be masked.

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!