A MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT

OF ST. MARK'S

CONSISTORY

 

JUNE/JULY 2025

 

When the honeybee queen dies, the worker bees in the hive immediately take steps to ensure the colony's survival by raising a new queen.  The process involves choosing a suitable larva and feeding it a special diet that no other larvae receives.  It is known as royal jelly.  This royal jelly is the nutrient needed to become a queen, and it is only this selected larva to receive it.

 

Honeybees have always fascinated me.  There are many different roles that the worker bees take to keep their hives alive and flourishing.  A worker bee can be on housekeeping duty, brood care (care of the larvae), attendants to the queen, guard duty, and comb building to name a few.  The bees also switch their roles during their life.

 

This honeybee process reminds me of being a member of a church.  The church is like the hive.  The members are the worker bees, and the queen is the pastor.  It is our role to do the everyday work that needs to be completed to keep the church running and successful.  Do you know all the roles that need to be completed to keep your church running smoothly?  There is the maintenance of the church, housekeeping, taking care of plants/flowers out front, stewardship, consistory, worship committee, education committee, and visiting ministry to name a few.  Do you know how the church gets decorated for the holidays?  Who updates the altar for the differnet church seasons or how are the candles filled with oil?  Have you ever thought about who decorates the different bulletin boards in the church?  Who helps to get the newsletter sent out or pays the bills or keeps our budget on par?

 

The list above can go on and on.  I ask, what is your role?  God has given us all a spiritual gift or two.  These spiritual gifts fit into many roles that need to happen not only to keep us running smoothly daily but to ensure that it will be here in the future.  The time commitment for these different roles is as different as the roles themselves but I assure you, there is a role for everyone.

 

The pastor (queen bee) is no longer with us and the search committee is doing their role in finding us a new pastor.  This is a long process, and we are only in the beginning stages of the process.  So, I ask my fellow worker bees...What role are you willing to take to keep Your church running smoothly?  Remember, be the church so the church can continue being here for you, your family and your community in the future.

 

Blessings from your Consistory President

Heather Stone

 

1 Peter 4:10-11  "All believers have received at least one spiritual gift from God, and they are not to hoard these gifts but use them faithfully as stewards of God's grace."

 

"No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey,

you are always welcome here."

 

 

ST. MARK'S

UNITED CHURCH

OF

CHRIST

30 Pottsville Street

Cressona, PA  17929

570-385-0242

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Resuming on September 7, 2025

9:00 AM

Nursery through Elementary School-Age Children

WORSHIP DURING JULY 2025

July 6, 2025

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

"Surprising Prophets"

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Worship     10:30 AM

Gospel Reading

Luke 10: 1-11; 16-20

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Tw0

Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man

You are always welcome here!

PLEASE NOTE

Due to technical difficulties, St. Mark's livestream of the Choral Musical (Cantata) "Once Upon a Morning" was not recorded.  However, if you click on the button below, St. John's recording of the cantata is available for you to view.

 

PLEASE CLICK ON THE BUTTON BELOW TO VIEW

THE CANTATA "ONCE UPON A MORNING."

 

Button

 

Click here for LIVE Worship Services
Sunday morning 10:30 am

 

Click on LIVE link above for the Fireman's Memorial Service

on Sunday, August 20th at 6pm

 

Click here for recordings of past worship services

PLEASE NOTE:

The KID'S KORNER has been moved to a separate page.  In the MENU, please click on KID'S KORNER and it will take you to the new page.  

CLICK ON "ABOUT US"

IN THE MENU.

Our faith is over 2,000 years old, but our thinking is not.

FROM

PASTOR KARL'S DESK

 

APRIL 2025

 

During Lent we have been seeking a better understanding of God's greatest gift to us -- his greatest act of love for us -- the gift of Jesus.  Why did God give us this gift?  "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not persih but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

 

The month of April presents us with an amazing opportunity to accept that gift of love into our lives.  We begin the conclusion of the Season of Lent, ending with Paschal Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday).  I hope you share community, betrayal, forgiveness and unconditional love.

 

That is followed by seven weeks of the Easter season, that teaches us that love has the last word.  As we go through this season on the way to Pentecost, if we listen, we hear God saying, "I did it just for you."

 

Jesus calls us to ponder the Scriptures, to accept him as Savior, to be faithful witnesses (even during difficult times) to let our lives reflect our experience of him, and seek the help of the Holy Spirit, and to remember that he is with us at all times.

 

I look forward to greeting you and sharing these seasons with you.

 

Shalom,

Pastor Karl

 

At the current time St. Mark's does not have a full-time pastor.  Pastor Kevin's last service with St. Mark's was September 15, 2024.  The transition team, consisting of members of both St. Mark's and St. John's, have completed the short profile for a new pastor.  The profile has been submitted to the Penn Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ and has been made available online for perspective candidates for pastor.  In the meantime, worship services are being conducted by the church's former pastor (1986--2006) Karl W. Jones and lay minister Jennie Strauch. 

OUTREACH

MINISTRIES

GO OUTSIDE THE WALLS

AND SERVE ALL PEOPLE

"Go forth into the world to serve God with gladness; be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honor all people; love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit."

"TAKE ACTION, FOR IT IS YOUR DUTY, AND WE ARE WITH YOU; BE STRONG, AND DO IT."

EZRA 10:4 

Hello!  We are excited to describe to you the scope of our outreach ministry. The above commission and scripture embody St. Mark's role in its benevolent mission outreach. More details about our mission outreach can be found on the Ministries Page 0f this website. Without your support of the benevolent ministries of St. Mark's, none of this would be possible. Thank you again for allowing us to serve others!

 27%

LOCAL OUTREACH

St. Mark's plays an important role in providing assistance to those in need in the community of Cressona and the surrounding area.  In addition, the church is a member of the Schuylkill Haven and Vicinity Council of Churches that provides assistance to residents in the borough of Schuylkill Haven as well as the surrounding areas. 

Funds from St. Mark's 2021 Lenten and Easter Offerings support Locust Lake Ministries, the Lancaster Seminary Scholarship Fund, and the Council of Churches Utility Fund.

This year income from St. Mark's Advent/Christmas Offerings was designated for the Pottsville Soup Kitchen.

Through the end of 2021, St. Mark's has contributed over $2,284.00 to these benevolent ministries.

 73%

WIDER CHURCH OUTREACH

As a member church of the United Church of Christ, St. Mark's supports the work of the national church and its special and emergency offerings to help  those in need.  Also, the local church provides financial support to a variety of nondenominational assistance efforts. 

The ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING Offering is received during the Lenten season.  OGHS  supports partners in countries with ministries that fund health, education and agricultural development,    emergency relief   and refugee ministries, both as a domestic and as an international response.

At Pentecost, St. Mark's participates in the STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH  Offering.

On World Communion Sunday in October, the church receives the NEIGHBORS IN NEED Offering.

In December, St. Mark's also participates in THE CHRISTMAS FUND, providing financial support to retired clergy.  A percentage of the church's Advent/Christmas Offerings is designated for THE CHRISTMAS FUND.

In addition, monies are received for GOD IS STILL SPEAKING  as well as other special offerings of the wider church outreach.

Through Church World Service, the church has participated in the Blanket Program and the Emergency Bucket Program.

Through the end of 2021,  St. Mark's has contributed over $4,822.00 to these special offerings and programs.

OUR CORE VALUES

01)

WE BELIEVE IN THE TRIUNE GOD.

Creator, resurrected Christ, the sole Head of the church, and the Holy Spirit, who guides and brings about the creative and redemptive work of God in the world.

02)

WE BELIEVE THAT EACH PERSON IS UNIQUE AND VALUABLE.

It is the will of God that every person belong to a family of faith where they have a strong sense of being valued and loved.

03)

WE BELIEVE THAT THE UCC IS CALLED TO BE A PROPHETIC CHURCH.

As in the tradition of the prophets and apostles, God calls the church to speak truth to power, liberate the oppressed, care for the poor and comfort the afflicted.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

OUR IN-CHURCH MINISTRIES

EDUCATION MINISTRY

St. Mark's Education Ministry is a ministry dedicated to developing one's faith by helping others understand the Bible, by showing its relationship to everyday living, by encouraging loving relationships between all peoples, and by teaching the importance of stewardship and instilling Christian values. We would love for you to visit our ministry and see what it is all about. More details about our Education Ministry can be found on the Ministries Page of this website.

MUSIC MINISTRY

Music has been a part of St. Mark's worship since the formation of the church in 1876. Our services provide a wide variety of sacred music from classical to traditional to contemporary music. Throughout the year the choirs (vocal and handbell), guest instrumentalists, as well as our pipe organ and piano, enrich the worship experience.  More details about our Music Ministry can be found on the Ministries Page of this website,

​​​​​​​WORSHIP MINISTRY

The Worship Ministry of St. Mark's is overseen by the Worship Committee consisting of lay people and the  pastor.  The committee assists the pastor and the director of music in planning the regular Sunday services as well as special services during Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. Encouraging each person to be a part of the worship experience according to their gifts is a priority in St. Mark's family.  More details of the Worship Ministry can be found on the Ministries Page of this website.

CONTACT US

Phone: 570-385-0242
Address: 30 Pottsville Street

Cressona, PA  17929
The church office hours are 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM.
E-mail: stmarkscressona@gmail.com

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