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."

 

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.