A MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT

OF ST. MARK'S

CONSISTORY

 

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

2026

St. Mark's has officially been on its journey of not having a pastor for two years.  The Search and Call Team of St. Mark's and St. John's has worked and prayed hard over the past tw our prayers will be answeredo years to find the right person for our churches.  The team has interviewed several pastors.  There are different reasons why these ended up just being interviews.  Just like the numbers in churches have been decreasing, the number of people following God's call to be a pastor has decreased.  The team has not received a profile since last spring.  God is calling us to remain patient while we wait for the right pastor.

 

I do believe if we continue to pray and have patience, when the time is right our prayers will be answered.  I shared an article I read with the consistory by Dale A. Robbins  When Your Church Is Without a Pastor, https://www.victorious.org/pub/without-pastor-170.  Mr. Robbins believes that during a pastoral vacancy, congregation members must remain committed and increase their attendance and volunteer more than usual.  This transitional period requires unified prayer and active suppport for remainng leaders to prevent division and spiritual discouragement.  Ultimately, the church should trust in divine guidance while navigating the search for a permanent pastor.  In encourage you to take time to read the full article contained in the link.

 

Blessings,

Consistory President Heather Stone

From Pastor Jennie

 

Well, it is that time of the year once again when we prepare to say good-bye to the current year and look forward to the New Year.  Not only on the Calendar but also the Church Year.  We end the church year at the end of November, the month of Thanksgiving.  And so it is a wonderful time to thank all of the people who have made the past year possible.  So many people have been involved that it is hard to name everyone and capture all the work that has been done throughout the year.  So I am going to break it down in two groups for this writing.  Those involved in the Anniversary planning and those I have personally asked to do something.

 

As you read this, the Anniversary Celebration is a thing of the past and yet it came together because many people pitched in and ran with their part -- Anniversary Service, the Celebratory Meal with memorial gift, the creation of the History of the church presented in a museum type presentation and powerpoint presentation.

 

The second group includes everyone I asked to do something throughout the year.  Whether it was help with a service or Children's moment; Help with VBS; Teaching in Sunday School.  I have been blessed that I heard from everyone I asked to help with a resounding "Yes".  While this paragraph is short, it cannot adequately show the large number of people I have asked to participate and the number who said yes. 

 

You have no idea how it has helped and how appreciative I am!!

 

As we close another church year, we will begin another with the season of Advent.  This year we will experience Advent through a series called "A Thrill of Hope".

 

In the season of Advent, we wait for the Messiah who will save us.  And on this path toward Christmas, a thrill of hope creeps over the weary world.

 

We watch for the Messiah not only in ancient stories, but in the living world around us.  We look for signs of God's kin(g)dom wherever people choose mercy over cruelty, generosity over greed, and courage over fear.  We expect Christ to meet us in classrooms and courtrooms, at kitchen tables and hospital bedsides, in protests and prayer circles, in shelters, sanctuaries, and neighborhoods longing for peace.  The miracle of Immanuel did not end in Bethlehem.

 

The thrill of hope persists.

 

I hope you will join us as we anticipate the coming of Christ.

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

you are always welcome here."

 

BLUE CHRISTMAS

Blue Christmas, also referred to as "The Longest Night," is a day in the Advent season when Christian denominations hold a quiet and contemplative worship service as an alternative to the the more traditional holiday gatherings.  For those experiencing grief and struggling with loss, the service is a recognition of the stress, sadness and loneliness experienced by those who have loss loved ones -- family and/or friends.

The service is traditionally held on or around the longest night of the year, falling on or around December 21st, the Winter Solstice.  Opportunities for expression of grief, pain, and heartbreak are often included in the worship service as well as the opportunity to focus on the promise of hope found in Christ during the Christmas season.

Amid many of their Christmas services, many United Church of Christ congregations are honoring those mourning the loss of a loved one.

"Advent, Christmas and the New Year create opportunities for us to minister to people's spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being," said reverend Sarah Lund, U.C.C. Minister for Disabilities and mental Health Justice in December 2022.  "It's a time of the yeare where we are vulnerable to additional stress, anxieties, feeling overwhelmed, loneliness and feelings of sadness.  We may turn to coping mechanisms that are harmful to us and others.  Some people are triggered this time of year as they navigate personal histories of trauma and unresolved grief.  It's a season that calls forth the faithful witness of the church to share  messages of hope and love for people experiencing mental health challenges and their loved ones."

While congregations are preparing for the upcoming Christmas season, many are also mindful of pain in their communities and are making space in their spiritual practices for those who may be struggling.  One of the ways that UCC churches support grieving members is through the Blue Christmas Service.

"UCC Congregations are providing meaningful worship and connection by offering Blue Christmas gatherings, a time of authentic worship during Advent and Christmas that acknowledges the complex feelings this time of years brings," Lund said.  "At a Blue Christmas Service, it is OK to not be OK.  It is OK to not feel happy, jolly, or bright.  It's OK if it is not the most wonderful time of the year."

Here at St. Mark's the opportunity exists for those experiencing grief and struggling with loss.  St. Mark's worship service usually draws small, inimate groups of those mourning the loss of a loved one.