A MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT

OF ST. MARK'S

CONSISTORY

 

APRIL 2025

 

April has arrived and hopefully with it some nicer spring weather.  The end of March was busy, and I missed the newsletter deadline.  As we approach Easter, may this season be a time of renewed hope and joy, reminding us of the promise of new life and the enduring love of Christ.

 

Our combined Lenten journey with St. John's has been going well on Wednesday evenings.  It has been a time of fellowship, singing, praying, learning and self-reflection.  The good news is it is not too late join us for the last two before we enetr Holy Week.  Our next Wednesday service will take place at St. John's on April 2 at 6:30 PM and the last Wednesday service will be at St. Mark's on April 9.  For St. Mark's dinner is served at 5:00 PM followed by the service at 6:30 PM.

 

Holy Week services will take place at St. Mark's beginning with our Palm Sunday service.  This will be followed later in the week by Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services.  These two services will take place at 6:30 PM.

 

Participation in Holy Week services is a time of reflection of understanding the suffering, betrayal, and sorrow of Jesus went through before his triumphant rising from the dead.  I believe to fully understand the awe and wonder of Easter, time needs to be taken to commemorate and pray on the events leading up to the resurrection.  Each event from Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to his final meal with his disciples and washing their feet, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, and Jesus' journey to his  death on the cross are all separate chapters of Jesus' life.  Hearing and learning about each helps bring us closer to understanding the full impact of Jesus' resurrection on us today.

 

Until next time,

Blessings,

Heather Stone

 

"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 8, 2024

9:00 AM

Nursery through Elementary School-Age Children

WORSHIP DURING APRIL 2025

Please scroll past the information on Maundy Thursday's Service and on Good Friday's Service to access the recording of the Palm Sunday Service.

APRIL 17, 2025

MAUNDY THURSDAY

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Worship     6:30 PM

GOSPEL READINGS

Selected Verses

from

Gospel of Luke (Chapters 19 and 22)

Gospel of John (Chapters 13, 17 and 18)

Jesus and the Cleansing of the Temple

The Last Supper

Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

Jesus Prays

The Arrest of Jesus

ONLINE VIEWERS ON APRIL 17, 2025

 

Thank you for joining us this evening.

 

Tonight's Message is told through selected Gospel readings centered around the events of the Last Supper, Jesus' Washing of the Disciples' Feet, Jesus' Prediction of Peter's Denial and the Arrest of Jesus.  Tonight St. Mark's remembers Jesus' last meal with his disciples through the Sacrament of Holy Communion.  Please scroll down the page past the Good Friday Service information to access tonight's livestream. 

APRIL 18, 2025

GOOD FRIDAY

Stations of the Cross

Worship     6:30 PM

GOSPEL READINGS

Selected Verses

from the Gospels of 

Matthew (Chapters 26 and 27)

Mark (Chapter 15)

Luke (Chapters 22 and 23)

John (Chapter 19)

Jesus Prays in the Garden of Olives

The Betrayal of Jesus by Judas

Jesus is Condemned to Death

Jesus is Denied by Peter

Jesus is Judged by Pilate

Jesis is Flogged

Jesus Carries the Cross on His Journey to Golgatha

Jesus Carrying the Cross is Helped by Simon of Cyrene

Jesus Encounters the Women on the Way to Golgatha

Jesus is Crucified

Jesus and the Two Thieves

Jesus on the Cross with His Mother and Disciple Looking On

Jesus Dies on the Cross

Jesus in Placed in the Tomb

ONLINE VIEWERS ON APRIL 18, 2025

 

Tonight's message is told through selected verses from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John detailing the events of the Garden of Olives (Jesus Praying and the Betrayal by Judas), the condemnation to death by the members of the Sanhedrin, the Denial of Peter, Jesus before Pontius Pilate, the Flogging of Jesus and the Crown of Thorns, Jesus' Journey to Golgatha with the help of Simon of Cyrene, the Crucifixion of Jesus, Jesus and the Two Thieves on the Crosses, Mary and Disciple John near the Cross, the Death of Jesus, and the Burial of Jesus.  Please scroll down the page to access tonight's livestream.

You are always welcome here!

 

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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