PASTORAL THOUGHTS FOR

NOVEMBER 2009

Our celebration of fifty years of ministry at St. Mark will soon draw to a conclusion. This month’s event will feature a special banquet on November 21. Tickets can still be purchased from Nancy Wallman, Rhonda McQuiston, or Joani Laginess.

I don’t know that we’ve had a dinner (beyond a fundraiser) for which tickets were sold. So why start now? Because we want it to be a celebration, a different kind of event. We don’t have a special opportunity like this often – so we want it to be special.

Having said that, if the ticket cost will keep you from attending, please see me. A few folks have made donations to help with the tickets for people who find themselves in a difficult financial situation. It’s a reality now, and like I said, we don’t want anyone not to attend because of expense.

Maybe you wonder – why go to so much trouble?

Because, by God’s grace, we are still here.

When I showed up fourteen years ago, it didn’t look like this ministry would see its forty-fifth anniversary.

By God’s grace....

We aren’t celebrating our accomplishment. Sure, folks have put in lots of time, but what we are celebrating is this amazing gift – a community of people committed to following Jesus, walking side by side.

This truly is a gift.

Jesus had lots of kingdom of God parables. I can imagine one sounding something like this:

The kingdom of God is like this; people grieving the death of a good and faithful man gathered together, bringing food, so that after the tears and prayers and thanksgiving for this good man, many could eat together. And then the next day they had a party for kids. People from all over were welcomed. And the following day they remembered, and gave thanks for all God had done in their lives. Those three days are a glimpse of the kingdom of God.

What a gift God has given us.

In Christ,

Pastor Julianne R. Smeck