A MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT

OF ST. MARK'S

CONSISTORY

 

FEBRUARY 

2026

February is known as the month of love.  We celebrate our love with our significant others, family and friends.  But in today's world of chaos, it can sometimes feel hard to love one another.  Opinions and perceptions differ from person to person, and they all seem to be shouting at us through the news and social media.  There are days it can feellike we just want to stay in bed and wait for the world to be at peace.  But what is peace?  When researching this article I came across an interesting quote.

 

"Peace.  It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work.  It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."  Author Unknown

 

Hmm, "to be in the midst of those things," God never promised us a world without turmoil.  What he did promise is:

 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.  John 14:27

 

Peace comes when we trust God.  Peace an only truly come when we put our trust in someone who is bigger than us and no one is bigger than God.  God does not want us burying our heads in the blankets, but He wants us out there doing the hard work and showing all those around us love that he showed us by sending us Jesus.

 

By continuing the work that Jesus did when on this planet and remembering to put God first in all we do, we can truly find peace and love in our heart.  I know it becomes hard on some days, but that is when we need to remember to pray, read and meditate on God's words and share Jesus love with the world around you.  The more people share Jesus' love, the quieter the chaos becomes.

 

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.