WORSHIP ARTICLE

In the life of faith, one of the great callings of our lives is the art of dealing with fear. Fear is a human reality we cannot escape, and for long ages has usefully served to warn us of impending danger. Frankly, there are frightening things that really happen. Listening to fear in those moments wisely allows us to take vital, lifesaving action. At the same time, giving over to fear as the dominant motivating force in our lives can lead us to run into hiding, engage in unholy fights, or freeze dead in our tracks. How can we allow our fear to guide us to more sacred places?

Gareth Higgins grew up in Northern Ireland during the “Troubles,”, that period of violent conflict between Catholics and Protestants. Years later, long after he lived in more peaceful times, he found himself dealing with issues caused by PTSD reactions to events from his youth. Working with this, Gareth tells us in his book, How Not to Be Afraid, he realized that there was a way to allow the fear to help us tell more loving and sacred stories.

In the Christian Scriptures, the First Letter of John was written to a community in need of deeper connection with God and each other. In particular, the community’s fear was encroaching upon its loving connection. The writer of the letter wanted to be clear that in real love, there is no fear. In fact, “perfect love casts out fear.” Fear is overcome in the power of community. And as Mary Oliver wrote, when fear lifts its thumb, “We are so alive.”

We’ll talk about this in worship on Sunday, as the sermon is titled “Lifting the Thumb of Fear.” It arises from I John 4: 11-21, which will be read by Sue Sgambulleri. The Chancel Choir, directed by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Ilze Akerbergs, will lead us musically. We will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion, and have a time for children.



If you are new to St. Mark’s, or a long time member of our community, we look forward to connecting with you. We worship in person in the sanctuary at 10:30.

As we commemorate seven decades of cherished memories, we invite you to be part of this milestone celebration! Your experiences have shaped our journey, and we’d love to hear about your favorite moments at St. Mark’s.

Take Our Short Survey: Share your stories, anecdotes, and treasured recollections. Whether it’s a heartwarming service, a riveting classroom discussion, or a fun moment with others, every memory counts.

Why Participate? By participating in the survey, you contribute to our collective tapestry of St. Mark’s history. Your insights will guide us as we continue to foster a vibrant and nurturing environment for generations to come.

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. Let’s celebrate the past, embrace the present, and look forward to the next 70 years together!

GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HAS BEGUN

HERE'S HOW TO KEEP UP TO DATE

There are several ways that you can keep up with the movement and decisions in Charlotte.

(Don’t be confused. This conference is considered, ironically, the 2020 General Conference, since that one was postponed due to COVID.)

The overall website for this General Conference has an abundance of information:

https://www.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/general-conference-2020

Here is the United Methodist News website, and its page dedicated to news coming from the General Conference:

https://www.umnews.org/en/landing-pages/general-conference-news-and-commentary

BE A LITURGIST/READER IN WORSHIP

Would you like to participate in worship by reading one of the scriptural lessons or another part of the liturgy. We would love for you to volunteer to do so.

All are invited to take part. We look forward to having a deeply diverse and multigenerational roster of readers. If you wish to practice the reading ahead of time, one of our pastors or staff members would be very happy to work with you. Our ramp system makes the chancel area more accessible, and allows those who use a walker or wheelchair to participate as well. We look forward hearing from you. 

RECONCILING MINISTRIES

MAY NEWSLETTER

Keep up to date with Reconciling Ministries by reading their monthly Newsletter. To read the full Newsletter click the button below.

Prefer to talk to someone in a smaller setting about what Reconciling Ministries is or how to be a part of the group: representatives from the Reconciling Ministries Committee will be in the St. Mark’s library before church from 9:30-10:15 on May 26, 2024. This will be available on a monthly basis. 

CHILDREN'S CHIMES IS BACK! 

We are thrilled to be bringing back our fabulous Children's Chimes ensemble this Spring! All ages and abilities are welcome to join us in preparing and performing a simple song in worship on May 12th! Lois will conduct us, and adults will be available to assist with reading and playing as needed.



Rehearsals will be held May 5th right after church (11:45ish), and before service on the 12th at 10am. If you can't make both rehearsals that is OK! We would be thrilled to have you join the ensemble in whatever way works best for your family. We look forward to seeing you in rehearsal!

The Mountain Mission truck will be making a stop at our church on Monday, May 20th. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to come together and support those in need.

Urgent Needs Include:

1. Bedding: As the nights get cooler, let’s provide warmth and comfort. Donations of blankets, pillows, and sleeping bags are crucial.
2. Socks and Underwear: These essentials are often overlooked but are incredibly important. Let’s ensure everyone has clean, fresh basics.
3. Swimwear: With summer approaching, many folks seek refuge from the heat. If you have gently used swimwear, consider donating it.
4. Pots and Pans: A warm meal can make all the difference. Let’s collect pots and pans to help those who rely on communal kitchens.

You can drop off your donations at St. Mark’s between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM Monday - Friday. Every contribution matters, no matter how big or small.

Upcoming Events for All Sponsored by United Women in Faith

      Thanks for the overwhelming response to the call for shoeboxes. Right now we have enough shoeboxes to get us through July. Please hold onto any extra shoeboxes until after June! It's not that we don't appreciate them--we've run out of storage space!

Monday, May 6th, 9:30–in Garton Hall—Fill decorated shoeboxes with personal hygiene products and “fun” items for children. Current needs include crayons and bars of soap.

May 16th at 1:00 - Food for Thought will meet in the Sun Room at Bell Trace. The current book is The Book of Rosy. This emotional narrative by a Guatemalan mother describes the separation from her two sons at the border and the support she received from an unlikely group of women.

May 20th - 1:30 - 3:00pm. Crafting Adventures will meet in room 1. Bring a project that you're working on, or come to work on making fabric bags that hold personal hygiene items for patrons of MCUM.

NOMADS - Room 8

The Nomads class meets on Sunday mornings at 9:30am. The class is a diverse group which shares ideas about world religions, social justice & creation care with the help of articles, books & videos. On May 5th the Nomads will watch & discuss the short documentary The ABC's of Book Banning which includes interviews of teens about the mass banning of books relating to LGBT topics and issues of race. Visitors are always welcomed.

CONVERSATIONS ON LIFE MEN'S DISCUSSION GROUP - Room 8

Conversations on Life is an opportunity for men to discuss topics of spiritual, religious, and social issues of interest. Their meetings are typically held on Fridays at 1:00pm. For more information contact the church office. On May 3rd the group will watch & discuss a video on the what the Bible & archeologists tell us about rise of the Assyrians & their impact on ancient Israel. Visitors are always welcomed.

WOMEN OF WONDER AND FAITH - Room 8

Women of Wonder and Faith is a group of journeying disciples sharing conversation with each other around a book study and topics of life. The group meets on Thursdays at 11:00am. Contact the church office for the meeting location. Starting in late March we will be reading "Poverty, by America" by Matthew Desmond. If you have any questions contact the church office. 

St. Mark's United Methodist Church | www.smumc.church

Published Thursday, May 2, 2024