|
Dear Saint Mark Family
God’s love and peace be yours,
Last week I invited us, as Saint Mark, to take to heart the message of “All are Welcome,” and let it be one of our spiritual practices as we go through the year. This effort will begin with the practice of true hospitality, in all its forms. Recently I read an excerpt from “The Wounded Healer,” by theologian and writer, Henri J. Nouwen, that tells the headways that can be made through hospitality. He writes, “Hospitality is the virtue that allows us to break through the narrowness of our own fears and to open our houses to the stranger, with the intuition that salvation comes to us in the form of a weary traveler. Hospitality makes anxious disciples into powerful witnesses, makes suspicious owners into generous givers, and makes closed-minded sectarians into recipients of new ideas and insights.”
The healing power that lies within hospitality can transform the hearts of its giver and its recipient. I pray we will take on and continue the practice of hospitality, so all whom we encounter will know they are God’s beloved and are welcomed.
Tomorrow begins Black History Month, during which the accomplishments of African Americans and their significant contributions to our country and the larger world will be highlighted. Throughout the month, we will have members of our congregation and guest speakers share in worship and at our Wednesday night suppers. I encourage you to be intentional about learning the ways in which you can promote the accomplishments of, support, and speak up for your black siblings.
This Sunday, we will begin a new series called “Under Pressure,” focusing on mental health. Throughout the series, we will look at the different ways life’s responsibilities can stretch our capacities, and how we are called to care for others and ourselves in wholesome ways. This will be an opportunity for us to slow down, pace ourselves, and learn anew how to practice balance.
Finally, I want to thank each of you, again, for a wonderful 2024. Your presence, prayers, gifts, service, and witness made Saint Mark grow in so many wonderful ways. I wanted to capture memories of the year, to celebrate some of the good and fruitful ministries we did. I invite you to watch this clip to see our year in review. Click on the link here.
Peace and all that is good,
| 
